Journal of Science Research and Reviews
type: channel
description: The Journal of Science Research and Reviews (JOSRAR) is the official scientific publication of the ERDEL Scientific Research Group (ESRG), Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria. Publishing Schedule The Journal of Science Research and Reviews (JOSRAR) shall publish issues bimonthly. Covering January-February, March-April, May-June, July-August, September-October & November-December Issues. Indexing: Crossref, Google Scholar, Researchgate, etc. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70882/josrar
publisher: Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria
language: en
publication name: Journal of Science Research and Reviews
issn: 1595-9074
copyright: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
items: Development and Feasibility Demonstration of a Smartphone-Based Virtual Reality Prototype for Student Wellness in a Resource-Constrained University Environment
items: Species Composition and Diversity of Reptile in Hadejia Wetlands National Park Jigawa State, Nigeria
items: Soil Fertility Improvement through the Influence of Organic Mulch: Comparative Assessment of Leafy Biomass from Selected Tree Species in Sudan Savannah
items: Assessment of Intergrade Contamination in Refined Petroleum Products Using UV-Vis Spectrophotometry
items: Deep Learning Enhanced Energy-Aware Task Scheduling for Efficient Cloud Datacenter Management
items: Investigation of Optical Properties of Fluorspar Using XRF, UV-Vis and FTIR Spectrometry
items: Asymmetric Effect of Oil Price Shocks on Inflation Rate in Nigeria
items: The Nature of Highrise Residential Estates: A Comparative Analysis of Design Characteristics and Typologies
items: Reliability Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Active Parallel System with Interactions of Three Failure Types Using Copula Linguistic
items: Assessment of Environmental and Health Impacts of Microbial Exposure to Harmattan and Dust Storms in Damaturu, Nigeria
items: Integrated Assessment of Groundwater Sustainability in a Semi-Arid Confined Aquifer: A Modelling and Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Suitability Study of the Zinder Aquifer, Niger
items: Statistical Analysis of Artisanal Mining Practices and Occupational Health Risks in Anka Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Nigeria
items: Numerical Investigation of a Fractional-Order Dengue Fever Model via the Generalized Adams–Bashforth–Moulton Technique
items: Barriers and Enablers to Renewable Energy Adoption in Rural Northern Nigeria: A Systematic Review (2018–2025)
items: Assessment of the Functional Nature of Contemporary City Malls in Nigeria
items: Coupled VOC Oxidation Pathways and the Integrated Formation of Tropospheric Ozone and Secondary Organic Aerosols: A Systematic Review of Mechanistic Insights and Modelling Challenges
items: Impact of Forest Fragmentation on Aboveground Biomass Carbon Stock in selected Arid-Savanna Forest Landscape in Nigeria
items: Review of Modern Web Development Frameworks and Productivity Tools
items: Fractional-Order Mathematical Modeling of HIV/AIDS Transmission Dynamics via a Generalized Adams–Bashforth–Moulton Numerical Scheme
items: Assessment of Elemental Composition of Rice Husk from Darma Rice Mills, Katsina State, Nigeria
items: Groundnut Vegetative Growth Rate Prediction Using IoT and Machine Learning
items: Optimization of Biosurfactant Production Using Bacteria Isolated from Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil
items: Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Indigenous Bacteria from Tannery Effluent and Their Potential for Bioremediation of Heavy Metals
items: A Quantile Regression Approach to Understanding Socioeconomic and Environmental Predictors of Students’ Academic Outcomes in Plateau State
items: An Enhanced Hybrid Model with Adaptive Learning for Robust Ransomware Detection: A Three Tier Stacked Ensemble Approach
items: Systematic Review of Learning Algorithms for Large-Scale Fuzzy Cognitive Maps
items: Potentials of Adansonia digitata linn. Seed and Leaf: Proofs from Two Provenances and Implications for Human Diet
items: Airborne Particulate Matter–Bound Heavy Metals in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Sources, Exposure Pathways, and Public Health Risk Assessment
items: Mechanistic Evaluation of the Antidiabetic Potential of Newbouldia laevis: Evidence from Phytochemical Profiling and Enzyme Inhibition Studies
items: https://josrar.esrgngr.org/index.php/josrar/article/view/177

Development and Feasibility Demonstration of a Smartphone-Based Virtual Reality Prototype for Student Wellness in a Resource-Constrained University Environment
type: item
description: The increasing prevalence of stress among university students has become an important concern due to its potential impact on academic performance, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. Research has explored tools like virtual reality (VR) for managing stress and improving well-being. While VR has shown promise as a supportive technology for wellness applications, many existing solutions rely on expensive hardware and sophisticated software that are often inaccessible in developing countries. This study demonstrates the development and feasibility of a low-cost smartphone-based virtual reality prototype designed to provide immersive relaxation experiences for university students in a resource-constrained environment. A design-oriented research approach was adopted to develop a prototype using commercially available smartphones, inexpensive VR headsets, and freely available 360-degree panoramic videos. The implementation process involved VR content preparation, smartphone optimization, system deployment, and a small-scale demonstration involving undergraduate students within a controlled university environment. The demonstration showed that the prototype could be successfully deployed using affordable hardware with minimal technical infrastructure. Participants generally found the immersive experience engaging and relaxing, although practical challenges including smartphone overheating, internet dependency for online content, device compatibility, and initial user orientation were observed. These findings indicate that smartphone-based VR systems can be implemented at relatively low cost within Nigerian universities and may serve as a practical foundation for future research involving structured usability assessments and controlled evaluations of student wellness interventions. The findings may assist educators, researchers, counselors, and institutional administrators interested in exploring affordable immersive technologies for student support services.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Immersive Technology
  topic: keywords
subject: Low-Cost Computing
  topic: keywords
subject: Smartphone-Based VR
  topic: keywords
subject: Student Wellness
  topic: keywords
subject: Virtual Reality
  topic: keywords
creator: Breakthrough Temitope Olanrewaju
creator: Faith O. Echobu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Breakthrough Temitope Olanrewaju, Faith O. Echobu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-18
publication date: 2026-07-18
starting page: 61
ending page: 71
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i4.247

Species Composition and Diversity of Reptile in Hadejia Wetlands National Park Jigawa State, Nigeria
type: item
description: Reptiles are among the most threatened vertebrate groups globally, however, baseline ecological information remains scarce for many African biodiversity hotspots, including Hadejia Wetlands National Park, Nigeria. This study assessed the species composition, distribution, and diversity of reptiles across forest, savannah, and aquatic habitats during dry and wet seasons using visual encounter surveys and active search techniques. A total of 141 individuals representing 21 species were recorded during the wet season, while 127 individuals representing the same number of species were documented during the dry season. Forest habitats consistently supported the highest reptile abundance, whereas water bodies recorded the lowest abundance. Agama agama was the dominant species in both seasons, contributing 23.94% and 19.12% of wet and dry season records, respectively. Other relatively abundant species included Trachylepis perrotetii, Mochlus guineensis, and Pelusios castaneus. Diversity analyses showed that forest and savannah habitats generally exhibited higher Shannon–Wiener diversity (H′ = 2.455, H′ = 2.354) and species richness values (3.592, 3.501) compared to water bodies (0.2899, 1.82), while evenness was highest in aquatic habitats (0.8258, 0.9172). Seasonal variation influenced reptile abundance and distribution patterns, with several arboreal and aquatic species occurring in low numbers. The study provides important baseline ecological data for reptile conservation in Hadejia Wetlands National Park and highlights the significance of reptiles as indicators of wetland ecosystem health and environmental stability.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Composition
  topic: keywords
subject: Distribution
  topic: keywords
subject: Diversity
  topic: keywords
subject: Reptiles
  topic: keywords
subject: Wetlands
  topic: keywords
creator: Tukur Yahuza Nasir
creator: Ali Abubakar
creator: Callistus Akosim
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Tukur Yahuza Nasir, Ali Abubakar, Callistus Akosim (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-14
publication date: 2026-07-14
starting page: 31
ending page: 43
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i4.239

Soil Fertility Improvement through the Influence of Organic Mulch: Comparative Assessment of Leafy Biomass from Selected Tree Species in Sudan Savannah
type: item
description: Continuous cropping, erosion, and low organic matter cause declining soil fertility and reducing crop productivity. Farmers possess inadequate access to inorganic fertilizers, while tree leafy biomass remains underutilized as mulch despite its potential to recycle nutrients and improve soil structure. This study, therefore evaluates and compares the effect of organic mulch from selected tree species in sudan savannah. A split-plot design was conducted in a forest nursery using leafy biomass mulch from Azadirachta indica, Tamarindus indica, Parkia biglobosa, and Moringa oleifera. A 10 × 10 m area was divided into 20 micro-plots of 1.5 m × 1.5 m, with 0.25 m buffers. Five treatments including control were replicated four times. Mature leaves were applied at 5 t ha⁻¹. Surface soil (0–15 cm) was sampled at 4 and 8 weeks after application. Soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. Data were subjected to two-way ANOVA and means separated with Least Significant Differences at p < 0.05. All mulches maintained a stable, slightly basic soil pH (7.9–8.47), favorable for crop and microbial activity. Parkia biglobosa mulch produced the highest soil organic carbon (3.13%), total nitrogen (0.29%), and magnesium, significantly improving soil fertility. Neem gave the highest available phosphorus, while Moringa provided the highest calcium and potassium levels. Tamarindus indica showed the lowest contributions to organic carbon and nitrogen. P. biglobosa and A. indica were most effective for enhancing soil fertility, with species-specific nutrient benefits supporting targeted mulch selection based on soil deficiencies. Tree leaf mulches from Parkia, neem and Moringa significantly enhanced soil fertility in the Sudan Savannah. Parkia was most effective, boosting organic carbon, nitrogen, and magnesium. A. indica enriched phosphorus while offering pest control, and Moringa increased calcium and potassium.…
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Organic Mulch
  topic: keywords
subject: Soil Fertility Improvement
  topic: keywords
subject: Leafy Biomass
  topic: keywords
subject: Tree Species
  topic: keywords
creator: Kaseem Dele Salami
creator: Olayinka Ajani Iroko
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Salami Kaseem Dele, Iroko Olayinka Ajani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-14
publication date: 2026-07-14
starting page: 19
ending page: 30
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i4.238

Assessment of Intergrade Contamination in Refined Petroleum Products Using UV-Vis Spectrophotometry
type: item
description: Intergrade contamination, the adulteration of refined petroleum products (PMS, DPK, and AGO) with other petroleum fractions, poses serious risks to safety, public health, and mechanical integrity. This study validates a method for rapid and quantitative measurement of intergrade contamination in binary fuel blends using UV-Vis spectrophotometers. Binary fuel blends of premium motor spirit (PMS), dual-purpose kerosene (DPK), and automotive diesel oil (AGO) were prepared in 20% increments. Spectroscopic analysis revealed characteristic overlapping absorbances in the 220–360 nm range, which are attributed to the aromatic hydrocarbon content of the fuels. Quantitative analysis using the Beer-Lambert law yielded linear calibration curves relating absorbance (a.u.) to contaminant concentration (%). The correlation coefficients (R2) of the linear models were 0.9028 for PMS and AGO, 0.7308for DPK and PMS, and 0.9155 for AGO and DPK. These high R2 values ​​demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the method, establishing UV-Vis spectrophotometers as an accessible and effective analytical tool for fuel quality control and regulatory compliance.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Contamination
  topic: keywords
subject: Concentration
  topic: keywords
subject: AGO
  topic: keywords
subject: DPK
  topic: keywords
subject: PMS UV VIS
  topic: keywords
creator: John Chidowerem Agomuo
creator: Alike Romanus Emeka
creator: Olumide Oluwasanmi Ige
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 John Chidowerem Agomuo, Alike Romanus Emeka, Olumide Oluwasanmi Ige (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-02
publication date: 2026-07-02
starting page: 187
ending page: 195
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.235

Deep Learning Enhanced Energy-Aware Task Scheduling for Efficient Cloud Datacenter Management
type: item
description: Energy efficiency in cloud computing has become a critical concern due to the growing energy demands of large-scale datacenters, operational costs and environmental impacts. This research proposes Deep Learning-Enhanced Energy-Aware Task Scheduling (DL-EATS), a novel solution that combines LSTM-based workload prediction with a hybrid multi-objective optimization model integrating Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm refinement. DL-EATS intelligently schedules tasks to virtual machines or containers by anticipating workload variations, thereby minimizing energy consumption, ensuring SLA compliance and maximizing system throughput. The method was evaluated against state-of-the-art algorithms, including Reinforcement Learning-based Virtual Machine Placement (RLVMP), Enhanced Adaptive Moth-Flame Optimization (EA-MFO), Q-Learning-based Resource Dynamic Optimization (Q-RDO) and Task Scheduling using Grey Wolf Optimizer (TS-GWO), under identical cloud workload scenarios. Experimental results demonstrate that DL-EATS achieves the lowest energy consumption (480 kWh), shortest makespan (38 s), minimal SLA violation rate (1.2%) and highest resource utilization (92%), representing an 18.5% improvement in energy efficiency over the next best method and substantial gains across all performance metrics. These findings confirm that integrating predictive deep learning with hybrid heuristic optimization provides a scalable, reliable and energy-efficient solution for modern cloud datacenter management.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Energy Efficiency
  topic: keywords
subject: Cloud Computing
  topic: keywords
subject: Task Scheduling
  topic: keywords
subject: Deep Learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Hybrid Optimization
  topic: keywords
creator: Abdulmumini Adamu
creator: Adebayo A. Abdulwasiu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Abdulmumini Adamu, Adebayo A. Abdulwasiu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-07
publication date: 2026-07-07
starting page: 12
ending page: 18
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i4.234

Investigation of Optical Properties of Fluorspar Using XRF, UV-Vis and FTIR Spectrometry
type: item
description: Recently, the Nigerian Senate passed a Bill mandating 30% utilization of all mineral resources in the country before their export. This has attracted more attention to critically examine the structure and properties of the available minerals in Nigeria. In this research, the optical properties of fluorspar have been investigated using different analytical tools such as XRF, UV-Vis and FTIR. The XRF result reveals the presence of rare earth elements; Ce and Dy which may occur as substitutes for Ca in the CaF2 crystal structure due to their atomic sizes. These were found responsible for causing the fluorite’s fluorescence in different colours. The UV-Vis result has shown that absorption peaks at 225 nm and 370 nm were key aspects of fluorite's absorption characteristics. These were not expected to have had impact on the colour of the fluorspar. However, these may be linked to electronic transitions and defects within the crystal structure, which determine how fluorite absorbs light across different wavelengths. Furthermore, these peaks were specifically attributed to electrons and holes trapped in the Ca²⁺ interstitial and vacancy, respectively. The FTIR analysis revealed absorption bands corresponding to CO₂ and CO₃²⁻ stretching vibrations from CaCO₃, as well as OH stretching vibrations due to water presence in the samples. The study shows a clear effect of these impurities or inclusions on the fluorspar optical performance.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Fluorspar
  topic: keywords
subject: XRF
  topic: keywords
subject: UV-Vis
  topic: keywords
subject: FTIR
  topic: keywords
subject: Optical Properties
  topic: keywords
creator: Shehu Gidado
creator: Rufai Usman Ahmed
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Shehu Gidado, Rufa’i Usman Ahmed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 58
ending page: 64
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2025.v2i6.232

Asymmetric Effect of Oil Price Shocks on Inflation Rate in Nigeria
type: item
description: Crude oil remains one of the most critical energy resources in modern industrial economies. The oil price shock is argued to have a significant impact on a number of important macroeconomic factors, including the real GDP, exchange rate, inflation rate, and oil revenue, to name a few. Hence, the broad objective of the study is to analyze the effect of oil price shocks on Inflation in Nigeria using time series techniques, and econometric models of the Non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lags (NARDL) model. The oil price, and inflation rate data were collected for the periods of 44 years (1981 – 2024) from the Central Bank of Nigeria, and US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The results show that the control variable: exchange rate, real GDP and oil revenue have positive and significant relationships with inflation. In the long run, the effect of oil price shocks on inflation rate show that Other explanatory variables, such as: inflation, real GDP, and oil revenue, are statistically insignificant in explaining the long-term behavior of the exchange rate indicating a gradual upward trend in the exchange rate over time, likely reflecting structural depreciation pressures and cumulative macroeconomic developments. The short-run coefficients show that immediate oil price changes have differential effects on the exchange rate. Notably, positive oil price shocks are associated with a significant short-run depreciation. In contrast, lagged positive shocks and negative shocks are statistically insignificant in the short run. The study therefore, recommends that government/CBN should take the following appropriate measures such as: Strengthen monetary and fiscal policy coordination, and Improve oil production and security in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Crude Oil Price
  topic: keywords
subject: Inflation Rate
  topic: keywords
subject: Exchange Rate
  topic: keywords
subject: NARDL
  topic: keywords
subject: Nigeria
  topic: keywords
creator: Buhari Bello
creator: Sadiq Idris Dabo
creator: Umar Yero Tabari
creator: Aminu Abdullahi Abubakar
creator: Lawal JIbril Sani
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Buhari Bello, Sadiq Idris Dabo, Umar Yero Tabari, Aminu Abdullahi Abubakar, Lawal JIbril Sani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-07
publication date: 2026-07-07
starting page: 1
ending page: 11
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i4.229

The Nature of Highrise Residential Estates: A Comparative Analysis of Design Characteristics and Typologies
type: item
description: This study examines the nature of high-rise residential estates through a comparative analysis of seven case studies selected from Nigeria, Italy, Australia, and Israel. Using a mixed-method research approach, the study evaluates building height distribution, apartment typologies, provision of essential services, prototype variation, and building orientation patterns. Qualitative methods included visual observation, architectural analysis, and case study examination, while quantitative methods involved descriptive statistical analysis of measurable building characteristics. The findings reveal those high-rise residential buildings within the selected cases range between 14 and 34 storeys. Nigerian examples predominantly fall within the 14–26 storey range, whereas international examples demonstrate greater verticality. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments were identified in all case studies (100%), indicating a universal preference for family-oriented housing. Essential facilities such as elevators, staircases, balconies, terraces, and parking were also universally provided across all developments. Prototype variation differed significantly among the case studies: 1004 Housing Estate contained six prototypes, Eko Court Complex had three, Bosco Verticale and One Central Park featured two each, while Bourdillon, A&A Towers Eko, and Tel Aviv Tower each adopted a single prototype configuration. In terms of orientation, 71% of the buildings adopted a north–south orientation to optimize ventilation and solar control. The study contributes baseline typological data for understanding contemporary high-rise residential development and provides practical recommendations for architects, urban planners, and policymakers involved in vertical housing design.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: High-rise residential estates
  topic: keywords
subject: Building typology
  topic: keywords
subject: Vertical housing
  topic: keywords
subject: Architectural design
  topic: keywords
subject: Residential towers
  topic: keywords
subject: Urban housing
  topic: keywords
creator: Isaiah Oluwatimilehin Adebambo
creator: Kolawole Opeyemi Morakinyo
creator: Sunday Favour Olawale
creator: Abdulrasheed Mustapha
creator: Seyi Oloyede Farodoye
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Isaiah Oluwatimilehin Adebambo, Kolawole Opeyemi Morakinyo, Sunday Favour Olawale, Abdulrasheed Mustapha, Seyi Oloyede Farodoye (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-11
publication date: 2026-06-11
starting page: 124
ending page: 132
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.227

Reliability Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Active Parallel System with Interactions of Three Failure Types Using Copula Linguistic
type: item
description: This study presents a novel reliability modelling framework for a unit active parallel system subjected to three interacting failure types—minor, medium, and major—using a copula linguistic approach. Traditional reliability models often rely on the assumption of failure independence and binary operational states, which do not accurately reflect the complex failure interactions observed in real-world systems. To address this limitation, we integrate linguistic fuzzy logic with copula theory to capture the dependencies among heterogeneous failure modes while accommodating imprecise failure information. The proposed model accounts for component-level interactions, realistic repair strategies, and escalation pathways among failure types. Analytical expressions are derived for key performance metrics, including availability, mean time to failure (MTTF), and system downtime. Numerical evaluations and sensitivity analyses demonstrate the model’s robustness and practical relevance in identifying critical dependence structures and supporting maintenance decision-making. The approach provides a flexible, interpretable, and computationally viable solution for reliability assessment in safety-critical active parallel systems.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Interaction
  topic: keywords
subject: Parallel
  topic: keywords
subject: Reliability
  topic: keywords
subject: Copula
  topic: keywords
creator: Kabiru Garba Ibrahim
creator: Ibrahim Yusuf
creator: Hamisu Ismail Ayagi
creator: Abdullahi Sanusi
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Kabiru Garba Ibrahim, Ibrahim Yusuf, Hamisu Ismail Ayagi, Abdullahi Sanusi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-10
publication date: 2026-06-10
starting page: 93
ending page: 106
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.226

Assessment of Environmental and Health Impacts of Microbial Exposure to Harmattan and Dust Storms in Damaturu, Nigeria
type: item
description: Harmattan winds and episodic dust storms transport mineral dust and biological agents, potentially exacerbating respiratory and systemic morbidity in Sahelian regions like Damaturu, Nigeria. This study assessed household health impacts and microbial loads (bacteria/fungi) in settled dust and airborne samples during Harmattan and Dust storm periods in 2019. A mixed-methods study was conducted using household surveys (n=230 per period) to document health status and microbiological culture of indoor dust and bioaerosols. Households were primarily cement/mud structures with suboptimal ventilation. During Harmattan, children reported high incidences of pneumonia (35%), RTIs (22%), and GITs (18%). Microbial analysis revealed high concentrations: mean fungal loads reached 1.97×105 CFU g−1, 1.97×105 CFU g−1 in dust, with dominant genera including Aspergillus and Penicillium. Findings indicate a significant correlation between dust exposure and increased morbidity, likely amplified by poor ventilation. The microbial loads exceed historical health-based guidelines, suggesting high biological risk. The study relied on morphological microbial identification and lacks concurrent particulate matter (PM) mass monitoring. We recommend seasonal public-health preparedness, including household-level dust-reduction strategies, alongside future studies employing molecular identification and standardized clinical confirmation to better quantify the environmental-health nexus.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Harmattan haze
  topic: keywords
subject: Dust storm
  topic: keywords
subject: Bioaerosols
  topic: keywords
subject: Exposure
  topic: keywords
subject: Respiratory infections
  topic: keywords
creator: Fatima Sule Mohammed
creator: Muhammad Lawan Kamaludden
creator: Mohammed Alhaji Abubakar
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Fatima Sule Mohammed, Muhammad Lawan Kamaludden, Mohammed Alhaji Abubakar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-14
publication date: 2026-07-14
starting page: 44
ending page: 51
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i4.224

Integrated Assessment of Groundwater Sustainability in a Semi-Arid Confined Aquifer: A Modelling and Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Suitability Study of the Zinder Aquifer, Niger
type: item
description: The history of estimating aquifer properties is intertwined with the evolution of hydrogeology and the growing recognition of the vital role groundwater plays in sustaining human societies. This study combines pumping test data interpreted using the Cooper-Jacob and Theis methods to estimate the hydraulic characteristics of a constrained aquifer in the Zinder region of Niger. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of two traditional analytical techniques for aquifer characterisation, as well as to comprehend the regional variability of important physical parameters, such as transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, and storativity. Using aquifer test software, parameters were determined for each of the 22 wells that were examined. The findings reveal notable variation in transmissivity values ranging from 2.08 to 141.36 m²/day and hydraulic conductivity, which ranges from 0.0321 to 2.28 m/day. Low values correlated with clay-rich lithologies, while high values were typically linked to wells that penetrated conglomerate and coarse sandstone layers. Although the Cooper-Jacob approach provided more variation in storativity values, it consistently yielded higher estimates of transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity than the Theis method. The significance of method selection in hydrogeological research is emphasised by this comparison analysis, especially for limited aquifers in semi-arid locations. The study offers important insights into aquifer behaviour by combining geological data with pumping test analysis. These discoveries have implications for future model calibration in comparable situations and sustainable groundwater management.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Aquifer
  topic: keywords
subject: pumping
  topic: keywords
subject: conductivity
  topic: keywords
subject: transmissivity
  topic: keywords
subject: confined
  topic: keywords
creator: Sani Yakubu Khalifa
creator: Mohammed Aliyu Aliyu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Sani Yakubu Khalifa, Mohammed Aliyu Aliyu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-11
publication date: 2026-06-11
starting page: 112
ending page: 123
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.220

Statistical Analysis of Artisanal Mining Practices and Occupational Health Risks in Anka Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Nigeria
type: item
description: Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a major livelihood activity in Anka Local Government Area (LGA), Zamfara State, Nigeria, but it poses significant occupational health risks. This study aimed to assess artisanal mining practices and determine their association with respiratory and musculoskeletal health outcomes among miners in Anka LGA. A cross-sectional design was employed involving 120 artisanal miners using structured questionnaires and observational assessments. Most respondents were male (90.0%) and aged 18–45 years (86.7%), with over two-thirds having at least two years of mining experience. Mining activities were predominantly dust-intensive, particularly crushing and grinding (44.2%), while personal protective equipment (PPE) use was generally low, with 52.5% reporting no PPE use. Respiratory symptoms were reported by 55.8% of miners, with chronic cough (48.3%) and wheezing (38.3%) being the most common. Musculoskeletal complaints were reported by 65.0% of respondents, with back pain (60.0%) and joint pain (53.3%) predominating. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses identified key occupational risk factors. Working more than eight hours per day, engagement in crushing and grinding activities, heavy manual lifting, and non-use of PPE significantly increased the odds of respiratory and musculoskeletal symptoms (p < 0.05). Model diagnostics indicated good fit, with Hosmer–Lemeshow p-values of 0.634 and 0.709 for the respiratory and musculoskeletal models, respectively, and no evidence of multicollinearity. The findings highlight the need for interventions promoting PPE use, regulating working hours, mechanizing dust-intensive tasks, and providing ergonomic training to reduce occupational health risks among artisanal miners.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artisanal mining
  topic: keywords
subject: Occupational health
  topic: keywords
subject: Risk factors
  topic: keywords
subject: Anka LGA
  topic: keywords
subject: Statistical analysis
  topic: keywords
creator: Mubarak Hassan Augie
creator: Salisu Saleh
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Mubarak Hassan Augie, Salisu Saleh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-23
publication date: 2026-06-23
starting page: 179
ending page: 186
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.219

Numerical Investigation of a Fractional-Order Dengue Fever Model via the Generalized Adams–Bashforth–Moulton Technique
type: item
description: The rapid transmission and the increasing prevalence of Dengue fever make it a great public health challenge in the world, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. For this study, a fractional-order mathematical model was formulated to study the Dengue fever transmission dynamics and control. Important epidemiological parameters, including vaccination, treatment, and effective contact rates, were included in the model. Qualitative analysis confirmed that the model solutions exist, are unique, positive, and bounded, and that the basic reproduction number is computable to determine the conditions for the persistence and control of the disease. They found that higher vaccination and treatment coverage translates into decreased transmission and the reproduction number becoming less than 1, which is a good indicator of disease elimination. On the other hand, high contact rates were seen to be favorable for the spread and persistence of the infection. The analytical results were also supported with numerical simulations, contour plots, and surface plots, which showed that the prevalence of Dengue fever can only be reduced if intervention strategies are implemented in all aspects, such as vaccination, treatment, vector control, and reduction of transmission pathways. The results of this study help to understand the dynamics of Dengue transmission and offer valuable information to policy makers, health workers, and researchers for prevention, control, and potentially eradication of Dengue fever in endemic areas in the context of achieving sustainable solutions.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Dengue fever
  topic: keywords
subject: Fractional
  topic: keywords
subject: Adam-Bashforth-Moulton
  topic: keywords
subject: Transmission
  topic: keywords
subject: Control
  topic: keywords
subject: Strategies
  topic: keywords
creator: Enejoh Jalija
creator: Jeremiah Amos
creator: David Omale
creator: William Atokolo
creator: Benjamin Adamu
creator: Eunice Ajifa Isah
creator: Emmanuel Abah
creator: Bolarinwa Bolaji
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Enejoh Jalija, Jeremiah Amos, David Omale, William Atokolo, Benjamin Adamu, Eunice Ajifa Isah, Emmanuel Abah, Bolarinwa Bolaji (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-17
publication date: 2026-06-17
starting page: 164
ending page: 178
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.216

Barriers and Enablers to Renewable Energy Adoption in Rural Northern Nigeria: A Systematic Review (2018–2025)
type: item
description: Northern Nigeria continues to experience very low rural electrification rates despite significant solar potential. National efforts to promote decentralized renewable energy technologies (RETs) have not yet translated into widespread household and community adoption in many northern rural areas. This systematic review synthesizes available peer-reviewed evidence published between 2018 and 2025 on the barriers and enablers influencing renewable energy technology adoption in rural Northern Nigeria. A PRISMA 2020-compliant search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online. Key peer-reviewed studies focusing on rural Northern Nigeria were identified and thematically synthesized. Financial and affordability constraints emerged as the most significant barrier. Technical capacity and maintenance challenges, socio-cultural and gender-related factors, and gaps in policy implementation were also important. Promising enablers included flexible financing models and community engagement. The available evidence base remains limited and geographically concentrated. Adoption of renewable energy technologies in rural Northern Nigeria is constrained by interconnected financial, technical, and institutional barriers. Integrated interventions and expanded primary research are needed to support more effective deployment.
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: renewable energy; rural electrification; Northern Nigeria; solar home systems; mini-grids; barriers; enablers; systematic review; energy access
  topic: keywords
creator: Sule Muhammad Zubairu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Sule Muhammad Zubairu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-11
publication date: 2026-06-11
starting page: 107
ending page: 111
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.218

Assessment of the Functional Nature of Contemporary City Malls in Nigeria
type: item
description: Shopping malls in Nigeria have evolved from basic retail facilities into multifunctional urban complexes that accommodate shopping, entertainment, recreation, and social interaction. Despite this transformation, concerns remain regarding their functional efficiency, accessibility, and spatial performance. This study assesses the functional performance of contemporary city malls in Nigeria with emphasis on spatial configuration, wayfinding, accessibility, atrium design, and urban integration. A mixed-method research approach was adopted using case studies, observational checklists, questionnaire surveys, and space syntax analysis. Twelve shopping malls across Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun State were examined, while five malls were selected for detailed appraisal. Findings reveal that although most malls effectively provide retail and recreational functions, major deficiencies exist in accessibility provisions, wayfinding systems, and integration with public transportation networks. Linear floor plan configurations demonstrated superior intelligibility and ease of navigation compared with racetrack layouts. Only 26% of the malls examined provided both Braille signage and audio guidance systems, while none provided designated parking spaces for persons with disabilities. The study concludes that functional mall design requires early integration of universal design principles, efficient spatial planning, and effective wayfinding strategies. The paper recommends the adoption of inclusive design standards, improved fire safety systems, enhanced public transport integration, and better regulatory enforcement to ensure that shopping malls adequately serve all categories of users.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Accessibility
  topic: keywords
subject: Functional Efficiency
  topic: keywords
subject: Nigeria
  topic: keywords
subject: Shopping Malls
  topic: keywords
subject: Universal Design
  topic: keywords
subject: Wayfinding
  topic: keywords
creator: Sunday Favour Olawale
creator: Kolawole Opeyemi Morakinyo
creator: Olatunde Folaranmi Adedayo
creator: Tope Samuel Alonge
creator: Oluwatimilehin Isaiah Adebambo
creator: Seyi Oloyede Farodoye
creator: Abdulrasheed Mustapha
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Sunday Favour Olawale, Kolawole Opeyemi Morakinyo, Olatunde Folaranmi Adedayo, Tope Samuel Alonge, Oluwatimilehin Isaiah Adebambo, Seyi Oloyede Farodoye, Abdulrasheed Mustapha (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-05-31
publication date: 2026-05-31
starting page: 61
ending page: 72
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.214

Coupled VOC Oxidation Pathways and the Integrated Formation of Tropospheric Ozone and Secondary Organic Aerosols: A Systematic Review of Mechanistic Insights and Modelling Challenges
type: item
description: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key precursors of both tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOA), which are two major air pollutants in the troposphere. O3 and SOA are often treated as two different species and are studied independently, while evidence of their formation coupling through shared VOC oxidation pathways is growing. Here, we performed a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines to summarize current understanding of the mechanistic links between VOC oxidation, ozone formation and SOA production. A total of 3,425 articles retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar were screened, and 36 peer-reviewed papers were selected based on defined criteria for qualitative synthesis. The review found that organic peroxy radical (.RO2) is an important intermediate that dictates the competition between ozone producing pathways and aerosol forming pathways. It was shown that elevated NOx concentrations favours O3 formation through the RO2 + NOx reaction, whereas low-NOx conditions lead to autoxidation and RO2 + HO2 pathways that favour the formation of highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) and SOA mass. The review also identified several persistent challenges with atmospheric models such as the incomplete treatment of intermediate-volatility organic compounds (IVOCs), uncertainties in RO2 branching chemistry and shortcomings in multiphase process and autoxidation mechanism representations. The results demonstrate the necessity for integrated multi-pollutant control strategies and robust atmospheric models that represent the coupled O3-SOA system. We link gas-phase oxidation chemistry and aerosol microphysics to provide an overall framework to advance air quality forecast and climate forcing estimate.
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: VOC Oxidation,
  topic: keywords
subject: Tropospheric Ozone
  topic: keywords
subject: Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA),
  topic: keywords
subject: Autoxidation
  topic: keywords
subject: Peroxy Radicals
  topic: keywords
subject: Atmospheric Modelling
  topic: keywords
creator: Lami Karimatu Abdullahi
creator: Idirisu Jibril Limangba
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Lami Karimatu Abdullahi, Idirisu Jibril Limangba (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-07
publication date: 2026-07-07
starting page: 215
ending page: 227
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.212

Impact of Forest Fragmentation on Aboveground Biomass Carbon Stock in selected Arid-Savanna Forest Landscape in Nigeria
type: item
description: Forest structure in the arid regions of Nigeria is experiencing intense degradation due to its fragmentation. Forest Fragmentation (FF) associated with loss of Forested Land Cover (FLC) and aboveground biomass carbon stock (AGBC). Understanding the impact of fragmentations on FLC and AGBC in Jigawa State is necessary for conservation efforts. Hence this study was conducted. Baturia Forest Reserve (BFR) was purposively selected based on satellite imagery and accessibility. It was stratified into: Interior (I), Edge (E), and Matrix (M). A sample plot (20 x 20 m) with three replicates were randomly established in each stratum for the estimation of AGBC (kg ha-1) using established allometric equations. Ground biomass was collected from 1 m2 subplots laid at each opposite corners and the middle of the sample plots. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and correlation at α0.05. The forest cover area in BFR is fragmented from 45,210 (ha) in year 2000 to 28,340 (ha) in year 2024. Agriculture and built-up areas increased from 62,500 to 78920, and 4,200 to 8900 ha respectively. The number of medium forest patches (>10 ha) increased from 48 to 72 between the years. The AGBCS varied significantly from 28.6±1.84 Mg C ha-1 (I), 17.4±1.42 Mg C ha-1 (E) and 4.8±0.65 Mg C ha-1 (M). Significant relationship was obtained between forest patches and AGBCS (r = 0.71) showing high influence of FF on AGBCS. Forest interior is the less fragmented forest land-cover and most supports AGBCS in BFR, Jigawa State.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Forest fragmentation
  topic: keywords
subject: Aboveground biomass
  topic: keywords
subject: Carbon stock
  topic: keywords
subject: Baturia Forest Reserve
  topic: keywords
subject: Land-cover
  topic: keywords
creator: Abdulhakeem Ahmad Lawal
creator: Kaseem Dele Salami
creator: Abbas Nazil
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Abdulhakeem Ahmad Lawal, Kaseem Dele Salami, Abbas Nazil (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-05-25
publication date: 2026-05-25
starting page: 33
ending page: 39
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.209

Review of Modern Web Development Frameworks and Productivity Tools
type: item
description: The rate of dissatisfaction over the intransigent website provided by web development companies to government, organizations and businesses, not meeting their routine operational demands has increased in recent time. In this light, we explore the modern web development frameworks and productivity tools by considering the distinctions amongst the types of web applications and the different tools that are used for building website which have posed serious problems, confusions and debates amongst developers and their clients. We equally examined the features of the different types of the website and the tools that would enable organizations determine the type of web app they need and the corresponding tools most effective for actualizing the overall goal of the business. Finally, we compared the web frameworks to enable clients decide the tools appropriate for their type of businesses websites that would reduce the cost of building and maintaining the website, enhance performance and productivity that would stand the taste of time.
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Static website
  topic: keywords
subject: Dynamic websites
  topic: keywords
subject: Hybrid website
  topic: keywords
subject: Content Management System
  topic: keywords
subject: Website Builder
  topic: keywords
subject: Hand-coded Website
  topic: keywords
subject: Frameworks
  topic: keywords
subject: APIs
  topic: keywords
creator: Sunday C. Agu
creator: Felix Elugwu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Sunday C. Agu, Felix Elugwu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-05-07
publication date: 2026-05-07
starting page: 113
ending page: 117
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i2.200

Fractional-Order Mathematical Modeling of HIV/AIDS Transmission Dynamics via a Generalized Adams–Bashforth–Moulton Numerical Scheme
type: item
description: HIV/AIDS remains one of the major global public health challenges due to its high transmission rate, long-term health complications, and socio-economic impact on affected populations. Despite several intervention strategies, the disease continues to spread, particularly in regions with inadequate access to treatment and preventive measures. Motivated by the need to better understand the transmission dynamics of HIV/AIDS and the impact of treatment strategies, this paper focuses on the dynamics of HIV/AIDS transmission using a fractional-order mathematical model to assess the effect of treatment and contact rates on HIV/AIDS. The model presents the existence and uniqueness of the solution in the fractional-order sense, demonstrating the well-posedness of the model. The model's stability is analysed to understand the dynamics of the disease, including the basic reproduction number. These findings show treatment rates of exposed, asymptomatic, and symptomatic individuals play a critical role in reducing the reproduction number below one, implying control of the disease, whereas contact rates increase disease transmission and maintain the disease's presence. Sensitivity and simulation analyses show that transmission-related parameters have a positive impact on disease transmission, while treatment-related parameters have a negative sensitivity, leading to a reduction in the disease burden. The dynamics of population states for different treatment and contact rates are discussed using the fractional Adams–Bashforth–Moulton numerical scheme. Further contour and surface plots reveal that increased treatment and lower contact rates result in a significant reduction in the HIV/AIDS incidence, while poor control measures and increased contact rates increase the infection. The results highlight that early treatment of exposed individuals and treatment of infected individuals (asymptomatic and symptomatic) are key to reducing the disease burden. In summary, the study underlines…
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: HIV/AIDs
  topic: keywords
subject: Fractional
  topic: keywords
subject: Adam-Bashforth-Moulton
  topic: keywords
subject: Transmission
  topic: keywords
subject: Control
  topic: keywords
subject: Strategies
  topic: keywords
creator: Enejoh Jalija
creator: Jeremiah Amos
creator: David Omale
creator: William Atokolo
creator: Emmanuel Abah
creator: Johnson Juwon Orugun
creator: Bolarinwa Bolaji
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Enejoh Jalija, Jeremiah Amos, David Omale, William Atokolo, Emmanuel Abah, Johnson Juwon Orugun, Bolarinwa Bolaji (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-05-18
publication date: 2026-05-18
starting page: 16
ending page: 32
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.198

Assessment of Elemental Composition of Rice Husk from Darma Rice Mills, Katsina State, Nigeria
type: item
description: Rice husk (RH), an abundant agricultural by-product obtained during rice milling, has attracted increasing attention due to its potential applications in agriculture, environmental remediation, and industrial production. However, its elemental composition may change depending on environmental conditions, cultivation practices, and processing methods, leading to the possible contamination with toxic heavy metals that pose environmental and health concerns. This study investigated the elemental composition of rice husk obtained from Darma Rice Mill, Katsina State, Nigeria, using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. The rice husk samples were collected, prepared, and analyzed to determine the concentration of major and trace elements. The results revealed the presence of several elements at varying concentrations, with silicon (Si) identified as the dominant beneficial element due to the naturally siliceous nature of rice husk. Other essential elements such as potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), sulfur (S), and aluminum (Al) were also detected. However, lead (Pb) recorded an exceptionally high concentration and exceeded the permissible limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), indicating possible environmental contamination. Trace elements including niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), tin (Sn), tantalum (Ta), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were detected at relatively low concentrations. The findings highlight the potential environmental and public health risks associated with improper reuse or disposal of contaminated rice husk and emphasize the need for continuous monitoring, proper management, and treatment strategies to minimize heavy metal contamination.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Rice husk
  topic: keywords
subject: Elemental composition
  topic: keywords
subject: EDXRF
  topic: keywords
subject: Heavy metals
  topic: keywords
subject: Lead contamination
  topic: keywords
subject: Katsina State
  topic: keywords
creator: Abdullahi Tanimu
creator: Naziru Saminu
creator: Shamsuddeen Sani Alhassan
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Abdullahi Tanimu, Naziru Saminu, Shamsuddeen Sani Alhassan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-10
publication date: 2026-06-10
starting page: 87
ending page: 92
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.196

Groundnut Vegetative Growth Rate Prediction Using IoT and Machine Learning
type: item
description: The fusion of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies within agriculture has revolutionized crop management, enhancing both output volume and quality while minimizing labor expenses and boosting farmer revenues through intelligent modernization. Precise monitoring of environmental conditions, soil properties, and plant physiology is critical for forecasting agricultural outcomes, with IoT sensors providing the necessary high-resolution field data. This research focused on groundnut cultivation across twenty controlled pots over a 120-day cycle, generating 480 data points by continuously tracking temperature, soil moisture, and essential nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK). The primary objective was to model crop growth rates specifically in response to varying NPK levels using machine learning algorithms enhanced by bagging techniques, including Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Random Forest (RF), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN). Model efficacy was assessed via R-squared, MAE, MSE, RMSE, and RMSLE metrics. In the specific context of predicting growth dynamics driven by NPK inputs, the MLP architecture demonstrated distinct superiority over its counterparts. It achieved the highest coefficient of determination (R² = 0.52) alongside the lowest error rates, recording an MAE of 1.3499, MSE of 2.7220, RMSE of 1.6498, and a remarkably minimal RMSLE of 0.0024. Conversely, RF and KNN exhibited comparatively lower predictive accuracy for this specific task. These findings highlight the unique capability of neural network-based approaches like MLP in deciphering complex nutrient-growth relationships, offering farmers a powerful tool for optimizing fertilizer application and resource allocation to maximize crop development.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Groundnut Vegetative Growth
  topic: keywords
subject: IoT
  topic: keywords
subject: Prediction
  topic: keywords
creator: Abdullahi Ali Bala
creator: Nura Shafi’u
creator: Oyenike Mary Olanrewaju
creator: Eli Adama Jiya
creator: Faith Oluwatosin Echobu
creator: Joseph Nda Ndabula
creator: Emmy Danny Ajik
creator: Yusuf Idris Muhammad
creator: Abubakar Auwal Idris
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Abdullahi Ali Bala, Nura Shafi’u, Oyenike Mary Olanrewaju, Eli Adama Jiya, Faith Oluwatosin Echobu, Joseph Nda Ndabula, Emmy Danny Ajik, Yusuf Idris Muhammad, Abubakar Auwal Idris (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-17
publication date: 2026-06-17
starting page: 154
ending page: 163
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.172

Optimization of Biosurfactant Production Using Bacteria Isolated from Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil
type: item
description: Biosurfactants are surface-active biomolecules produced by microorganisms that have different applications in many environmental problems. This research was aimed to isolate biosurfactant producing bacteria and optimize the conditions like pH, carbon source and incubation time for maximum biosurfactant production. Samples were collected from three points of hydrocarbon contaminated soil in Sokoto Metropolis. Primary screening test including hemolytic activity, drop collapse technique and oil displacement method were performed and species with the best results were picked for complementary screening test like emulsification activity and foaming activity. The viable aerobic heterotrophic bacterial count of all the samples ranges from 13.8x107cfu/g to 2.5x107 cfu/g. A total of sixteen isolates were identified. During primary and complementary screening tests, eight species showed hemolytic activity, five species (5) had drop collapsing activity and eight species showed oil displacement activity. Optimization studies revealed that production of biosurfactant was optimal at pH 6.5, 3% carbon source and 96 hours incubation time respectively. Finally, two strains Psuedomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis with a high amount of biosurfactant production were identified molecularly with their best hit match similarity was source from the GenBank of NCBI. Therefore, there is need to use biotechnology approaches with a view to improving the performance of bacterial strain.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Biosurfactant
  topic: keywords
subject: Hydrocarbon
  topic: keywords
subject: Bacteria
  topic: keywords
subject: Soil
  topic: keywords
subject: Bioremediation
  topic: keywords
creator: Asiya Gidado Yabo
creator: Aliyu Sarkin Baki
creator: Abdullahi Bako Rabah
creator: Aliyu Mamuda
creator: Umar Musa Abdullahi
creator: Aisha Habibu
creator: Hannatu Bello
creator: Aisha Aminu Mode
creator: Bahira Bello Yabo
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Asiya Gidado Yabo, Aliyu Sarkin Baki, Abdullahi Bako Rabah, Aliyu Mamuda, Umar Musa Abdullahi, Aisha Habibu, Hannatu Bello, Aisha Aminu Mode, Bahira Bello Yabo (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-05-25
publication date: 2026-05-25
starting page: 40
ending page: 60
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.195

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Indigenous Bacteria from Tannery Effluent and Their Potential for Bioremediation of Heavy Metals
type: item
description: Tannery effluent refers to as wastewater from the process of converting skin and hides into leather. This study was aimed at the Isolation and molecular characterization of indigenous bacteria from Tannery effluent sites including Unguwar Karaye A (UKA), Unguwar Karaye B (UKB), Unguwar Rogo A (URA) and Unguwar Rogo B (URB). Effluent Sample were collected in sterile bottles and serially diluted (10-1 to 10-7) before being inoculated on to nutrient agar using spread or pour plate techniques., after incubation at 30co to 37oc for 24 to 48hours, distinct colonies were isolated, and identified through Gram staining, biochemical test and molecular methods such 16S rRNA sequencing. The physicochemical analysis showed acidic pH ranging from 5.25±0.19 to 6.87±0.29 with temperatures between 34oc±0.82 and 37oc±1.25. Total viable bacterial count ranges from 1.32×107 to 1.75×107cfu/g. Twelve (12) bacterial species were identified, with Bacillus subtilis being the most predominant (21.1%), followed by Exiguobacterium profundum (10.5%), Bacillus pumilus (10.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (10.5%), while Bacillus licheniformis (5.3%), Pseudomonas fluorescence (5.3%), Pseudomonas putida (5.3%), Enterobacter cloacae (5.3%), Enterobacter aerogenes (5.3%), Escherichia coli (5.3%) and Acinetobacter baumanii (5.3%) were the least prevalent. Chromium concentration from 400mg/L was reduced by bacteria Exiguobacterium profundum to 0.523 ±0.004 and 0.175±0.02 within 48hours and 96hours, outperforming Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Molecular identification confirmed the most efficient isolate as Exiguobacterium profundum strain 10C. This study highlights its strong potential for chromium bioremediation in tannery effluents.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Bacteria
  topic: keywords
subject: Tannery Effluents
  topic: keywords
subject: Heavy Metals
  topic: keywords
subject: Contamination
  topic: keywords
subject: Bioremediation
  topic: keywords
creator: Umar Musa Abdullahi
creator: Anas Haruna
creator: Musa Maina
creator: Umar Musa Ruwa
creator: Sherif Abdullahi
creator: Abdullahi Abubakar Danwanzam
creator: Haliru Shu’aibu
creator: Aminu Yusuf Fardami
creator: Ahmadu Ali Farouq
creator: Mustapha Yusuf
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Umar Musa Abdullahi, Anas Haruna, Musa Maina, Umar Musa Ruwa, Sherif Abdullahi, Abdullahi Abubakar Danwanzam, Haliru Shu’aibu, Aminu Yusuf Fardami, Ahmadu Ali Farouq, Mustapha Yusuf (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-05-18
publication date: 2026-05-18
starting page: 1
ending page: 15
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.194

A Quantile Regression Approach to Understanding Socioeconomic and Environmental Predictors of Students’ Academic Outcomes in Plateau State
type: item
description: This study applies a quantile regression framework to examine how socioeconomic and environmental factors shape academic outcomes among a sample of undergraduate students across five tertiary institutions in Plateau State, Nigeria. While previous studies have relied predominantly on mean-based analyses that do not account for the heterogeneity in student achievement, this study extends the literature by examining how predictor effects vary across the full distribution of cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Anchored in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Bourdieu’s theory of capital, the analysis integrates multidimensional indicators of socioeconomic status, institutional environment, accommodation conditions, academic engagement, and demographic factors. Results reveal substantial distributional asymmetries in the determinants of academic performance. Study hours, environmental quality, and socioeconomic status exhibit significant but varying effects across quantiles, indicating that students at different achievement levels respond differently to similar conditions. Environmental qualities that capture facilities, digital access, hostel adequacy, and security exert a consistent positive influence across all quantiles, with stronger effects among high achievers. On the other hand, socioeconomic disadvantage most strongly constrains performance at the lower tail of the CGPA distribution. Accommodation type and institutional affiliation also show differentiated impacts, particularly among low achievers, whereas gender and age display no meaningful effects. These findings highlight the inadequacy of uniform academic policies and show the need for separate interventions tailored to students’ positions in the achievement distribution. The study contributes methodologically by demonstrating the utility of quantile regression for Nigerian higher-education research and offers evidence-based guidance for institutional reforms aimed at enhancing educational equi…
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Socioeconomic status
  topic: keywords
subject: Environmental quality
  topic: keywords
subject: Quantile regression
  topic: keywords
subject: Academic achievement
  topic: keywords
subject: Plateau State
  topic: keywords
creator: Segun Peter Alade
creator: Wazahada Pius Lkama
creator: Olukemi Dayok
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Segun Peter Alade, Wazahada Pius Lkama, Olukemi Dayok (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-03
publication date: 2026-06-03
starting page: 73
ending page: 86
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.191

An Enhanced Hybrid Model with Adaptive Learning for Robust Ransomware Detection: A Three Tier Stacked Ensemble Approach
type: item
description: Ransomware attacks have become one of the most severe cybersecurity threats globally, demanding detection frameworks that can adapt to rapidly evolving attack vectors. This paper presents a three-tier stacked ensemble hybrid model integrating Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) with an adaptive meta-learner for robust ransomware detection. Evaluated on the UGRansome dataset comprising 29,809 samples across benign, ransomware, and suspicious traffic classes the proposed framework achieves an overall accuracy of 99.40% and an F1-score of 0.99 across all classes. The adaptive learning component, implemented via SGD partial_fit updates, enables incremental retraining without full model reconstruction, ensuring resilience against concept drift. Comparative analysis against conventional baselines including Random Forest (97.2%), standalone XGBoost (98.1%), and SVM (96.5%), as well as recent hybrid approaches such as CNN–LSTM ensembles (98.3%) and RF–XGBoost combinations (98.7%), confirms that the proposed architecture delivers consistent improvements of 0.7–1.1 percentage points. Detection latency averaged 25–40 ms per sample, supporting real-time deployment. These results underscore the viability of adaptive ensemble architectures as scalable, self-learning defenses against modern ransomware.
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: Ransomware detection
  topic: keywords
subject: Stacked ensemble
  topic: keywords
subject: LSTM
  topic: keywords
subject: XGBoost
  topic: keywords
subject: Stochastic Gradient Descent
  topic: keywords
subject: Adaptive learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Cybersecurity
  topic: keywords
subject: Machine learning
  topic: keywords
creator: Anas Ibrahim
creator: Darius Tienhua Chinyio
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Anas Ibrahim, Darius Tienhua Chinyio (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-07-07
publication date: 2026-07-07
starting page: 196
ending page: 206
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.189

Systematic Review of Learning Algorithms for Large-Scale Fuzzy Cognitive Maps
type: item
description: <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) are an important and versatile tool for modeling systems with complex dynamics in various domains like medicine, engineering, environmental monitoring, financial systems, among others to aid in decision-making. These domains usually datasets with large number of nodes and connections leading to large-scale maps. This paper reviews learning algorithms for FCMs under Hebbian, Population-based and hybrid classifications. While Hebbian-based algorithms suffer from local optima and generalization issues, population-based algorithms are generally computationally prohibitive from large-scale exploration, which also affects the global search component of hybrid algorithms. A number of algorithms have been developed specifically for large-scale FCMs by adopting problem decomposition, parallelization, sparsity inducement, and multi-agent-based techniques. Considering the great potential of FCMs as a modeling tool in domains with large, complex systems, research on algorithms tailored to large-scale systems remain limited and needs to be explored further.
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Fuzzy Cognitive Maps
  topic: keywords
subject: Large-Scale Maps
  topic: keywords
subject: Learning Algorithms
  topic: keywords
creator: Faith O. Echobu
creator: Oyenike M. Olanrewaju
creator: Zaharaddeen Sani
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Faith O. Echobu, Oyenike M. Olanrewaju, Sani Zaharaddeen (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-12-30
publication date: 2025-12-30
starting page: 175
ending page: 183
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2025.v2i5.188

Potentials of Adansonia digitata linn. Seed and Leaf: Proofs from Two Provenances and Implications for Human Diet
type: item
description: This study aims to assess the nutritional contents of Adansonia digitata (Linn) seeds and leaves from two provenances. The prevalence of malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, particularly in developing regions, and the underutilization of baobab's nutritional potential. The study seeks to explore the nutritional value of baobab seeds and leaves and their contribution to human diet. Study was conducted at the Nutrition Laboratory of Biochemistry complex, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State. Samples of Adansonia digitata leaf and seed were collected from two locations (Dutse, Jigawa and Ilorin, Kwara). Purposive sampling was used to select the communities and mother trees. Parameters such as moisture, ash, fat, protein, carbohydrate, and crude fibre were assessed. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test to compare the nutritional content of seeds and leaves. The results showed significant variations in moisture, ash, fat, protein, carbohydrate, and crude fibre content among the samples. Results revealed that Ilorin seeds and leave had the highest moisture (9.217±0.617), (6.159±0.541), protein content (20.235±0.946), (14.219±0.675) Fat (13.846±1.078), (2.797±0.619), while Dutse seeds and leave had the highest carbohydrate content (59.299±1.295), (77.641±0.910) and crude fibre respectively. Adansonia digitata seeds and leaves from Dutse and Ilorin exhibit notable nutritional variations influenced by provenance. Ilorin samples showed higher moisture, protein, and fat contents, while Dutse samples were richer in carbohydrates and crude fibre. These findings highlight the plant’s nutritional versatility. It is recommended that both provenances be promoted for dietary use, while further studies should explore environmental factors affecting nutrient composition and support their inclusion in food and nutrition programs.
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Potentials
  topic: keywords
subject: Adansonia digitata
  topic: keywords
subject: Seed
  topic: keywords
subject: Leaf
  topic: keywords
subject: Human Nutrition
  topic: keywords
creator: K. Suleiman Bidemi
creator: Olayinka Ajani Iroko
creator: D. Kaseem Salami
creator: A. Umar Jibo
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Science Research and Reviews https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-04-07
publication date: 2026-04-07
starting page: 17
ending page: 23
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i2.182

Airborne Particulate Matter–Bound Heavy Metals in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Sources, Exposure Pathways, and Public Health Risk Assessment
type: item
description: Particulate matter in air (PM2.5/PM10) is a major environmental problem throughout Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the inherent toxicity of this pollutant relies heavily on the presence of associated heavy metals. Using this systematic review that aggregates evidence from 96 studies, the primary sources, atmospheric processing, routes of human exposure and health risk of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni and As) bound to PM across the SSA are systematically assessed. The dominant sources derived from framework-based analysis include the combustion of fuels from a depreciating vehicle fleets, open burning of solid wastes including e-waste, biomass combustion from cooking activities, artisanal and industrial activities such as mining, and seasonal influx of dust from Saharan storms contributing to a regional blend of PM sources. Further, atmospheric ageing processes combined with acid-driven processing in tropical condition render heavy metals more soluble and bioavailable, thus increasing the toxicity. The main route of human exposure is inhalation while ingestion of resuspended dust significantly contributes to the risks encountered by children. Reported human health risk assessments mostly result in Hazard Index (HI) values >1.0 and Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) values >10 -6 (mainly concerning Cr and Ni in urban and industrial areas), which are above acceptable thresholds of human health risk. However, the legislative framework for metallic PM in SSA is scattered, and many African nations do not have specific limits on PM bound metallic content. The absence of long-term monitoring data and limited development of regional specific source profiles are among the key gaps of knowledge. Addressing these requires harmonized air quality standards, adopted component specific regulatory mechanisms, and green chemistry based pathway development for the industrial sector in SSA.
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sub-Saharan Africa;
  topic: keywords
subject: Particulate matter;
  topic: keywords
subject: Heavy metals;
  topic: keywords
subject: Source apportionment;
  topic: keywords
subject: Health risk assessment;
  topic: keywords
subject: Bioavailability.
  topic: keywords
creator: Jibril Limangba Idirisu
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Jibril Limangba Idirisu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-04-30
publication date: 2026-04-30
starting page: 94
ending page: 112
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i2.181

Mechanistic Evaluation of the Antidiabetic Potential of Newbouldia laevis: Evidence from Phytochemical Profiling and Enzyme Inhibition Studies
type: item
description: Newbouldia laevis is widely utilized in traditional medicine for the management of metabolic and inflammatory disorders; however, its pharmacological properties require scientific validation. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities of the crude aqueous leaf extract of Newbouldia laevis. Standard phytochemical screening methods and spectrophotometric assays, including DPPH, nitric oxide scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), protein denaturation, proteinase inhibition, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibition assays, were employed, with IC₅₀ values determined. The extract contained alkaloids (12.52 mg/100 g) in moderate amounts and lower levels of flavonoids (8.62 mg/100 g), saponins (5.95 mg/100 g), tannins (3.42 mg/100 g), phenols, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and steroids. It exhibited notable antioxidant activity in DPPH (IC₅₀ = 6.33 µg/ml) and FRAP (IC₅₀ = 7.73 µg/ml) assays, indicating high radical scavenging and reducing capacity comparable to ascorbic acid/BHT under similar conditions, alongside moderate nitric oxide scavenging (IC₅₀ = 28.45 µg/ml), and anti-inflammatory activities. The extract also demonstrated notable α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 9.29 µg/ml) and α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 17.88 µg/ml); however, it exhibited lower potency than acarbose, with approximately 3-fold and 2.8-fold higher IC₅₀ values for α-amylase (9.29 vs. 3.17 µg/ml) and α-glucosidase (17.88 vs. 6.37 µg/ml), respectively. These findings suggest that the extract could possess multi-target bioactivity mediated by its phytochemical constituents. It may be concluded that Newbouldia laevis has significant therapeutic potential; therefore, further in vivo studies and isolation of active compounds are recommended, contributing novel evidence to its pharmacological validation
subject: Research Articles
  topic: section
subject: α-Amylase inhibition
  topic: keywords
subject: α-Glucosidase inhibition
  topic: keywords
subject: Antidiabetic activity
  topic: keywords
subject: Medicinal plants
  topic: keywords
subject: Oxidative stress
  topic: keywords
subject: Phytochemicals
  topic: keywords
creator: Shirley Onagbonfeoana Ebhohon
creator: Paschal Chikama Akubuiro
creator: Udoka Isimhenmhen Edward
creator: Pongri Wazakarda Adarki
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Shirley Onagbonfeoana Ebhohon, Paschal Chikama Akubuiro, Udoka Isimhenmhen Edward, Pongri Wazakarda Adarki (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-04-30
publication date: 2026-04-30
starting page: 87
ending page: 93
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i2.179

https://josrar.esrgngr.org/index.php/josrar/article/view/177
type: item
title: A Comprehensive Review of the Nutritional Composition, Bioactive Phytochemicals, and Therapeutic Potential of Jackfruit Seeds (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.): Implications for Functional Foods and Waste Valorization
description: Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is widely cultivated in tropical regions, however, its seeds, which constitute up to 15% of the fruit’s total mass, are often discarded as waste. Despite this, jackfruit seeds are rich in macronutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins, essential minerals including potassium and magnesium, and a wide range of bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and lectins. This review consolidates current knowledge on the nutritional composition, phytochemical profile, therapeutic properties, and industrial applications of jackfruit seeds. Drawing on evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies, the review highlights their antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic activities. Special emphasis is placed on their role in sustainable food systems through waste valorization and circular bioeconomy strategies. Although jackfruit seeds show significant promise as functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals, challenges related to bioavailability, standardization, safety, and industrial scalability remain. Further research is required to fully harness their nutritional, therapeutic, and commercial potential.
subject: Review Articles
  topic: section
subject: Jackfruit seeds
  topic: keywords
subject: Nutritional composition
  topic: keywords
subject: Bioactive compounds
  topic: keywords
subject: Antioxidant activity
  topic: keywords
subject: Functional foods
  topic: keywords
creator: Tijjani Modu Abubakar
creator: Shettima Mustapha Abubakar
creator: Yerima Abdulrahman
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Tijjani Modu Abubakar, Shettima Mustapha Abubakar, Yerima Abdulrahman (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2026-06-16
publication date: 2026-06-16
starting page: 143
ending page: 153
doi: 10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i3.177