Sokoto State University

We demonstrate a numerical approach to simultaneously determine linear and two-photon absorption coefficients in CsLiB6O10 (CLBO) crystals under focused 221 nm irradiation. By analyzing transmittance through thick samples, we obtained intrinsic values of α = 0.047 /cm and β = 1.93 cm/GW. Furthermore, by scanning the crystal along the focused beam axis, we spatially resolved the photo-induced absorption coefficient, which reached a peak of 1.47 /cm at the beam waist. This enhancement, scaled with the square of the pump intensity, indicated that defect formation is driven by two-photon absorption. This method provides a useful approach for investigating deep-ultraviolet optical degradation mechanisms.

We investigated the effects of reabsorption of water impurities on the second-harmonic generation (SHG) characteristics of CsLiB 6 O 10 (CLBO) crystal and found that repeated reabsorption and desorption cycles of water impurities lead to degradation of SH output. Raman spectroscopy revealed that heat treatment at 150 °C after reabsorption induces the diffusion of H 2 O molecules, which were initially localized at the crystal surface, into the crystal interior, suggesting the formation of defect precursors during this process. In addition, based on numerical simulations of SHG, we considered that defect accumulation associated with these cycles contributes to increased ultraviolet absorption and subsequent output degradation. These results indicate that suppressing water reabsorption is essential for achieving stable operation of CLBO-based high-power deep-ultraviolet laser sources.

The article underscores the Socio-Cultural and Economic Factors Impeding the Sustainable Development of Girl-Child Education in Northern Nigeria. It was based on the literatures which were reviewed. It also begins with some conceptual clarifications—of girl-child, girl-child education and sustainable development; and in addition, the article has been underpinned by a feminist theory of “gender inequality” propounded by Marx. The education of the girl-child is something that is of paramount importance but, despite that, there are a lot of factors which have been identified as the challenges of girl-child education in the northern part of Nigeria—social, cultural and economic factors. The social factors, for example, are numerous—illiteracy/ ignorance, educational inaccessibility, poor educational infrastructures in schools, social insecurity and sexual harassment. Under the cultural factors, there are gender stereotyping, early marriage, forced marriage, and interpretation of religious doctrines. However, economically, there are also some challenges or factors impeding the development of girl-child education—low economic incomes of parents, commercial value of girls, unemployment, commercial child labour and commercial sex. Lastly, there are also the conclusion and recommendations in the article. It was recommended that, the girl-child education should be re-intensified and some cultural practices deterring the development of girl-child education in the north should be abolished. The religious leaders are expected to play some fundamental roles in the development of the girl-child education and there should be an effective “Criminal Justice System” for social security. However, the “Poverty Alleviation Programmes” of the governments should be re- intensified and more parents should be provided with job opportunities. The essence of doing that is to cater for the daily needs of the families and their development.

Highly oxidation-prone Co 2 (OH) 3 Cl was employed as a trigger, and combined with a stable CoFe 2 O 4 catalyst to engineer a Co 2 (OH) 3 Cl@CoFe 2 O 4 composite electrode, which efficiently drove the oxygen evolution reaction in brine electrolytes.

Water supply is the provision of water from different sources, such as public utilities, commercial organizations and community vendors usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Water is essential to life everywhere. Despite the necessity of water, the natural systems that allow water to be cleaned, maintained, and distributed are fragile and sensitive to changes. These natural systems are disrupted due to human activity and overuse. As the global population continues to grow the need for clean water increases. From a macro perspective, the paper looks at the nature and extent of population growth and water supply in Kebbi State, with a focus on Birnin Kebbi. At the micro level, an analysis of the water supply chain in Birnin Kebbi urban area, focusing on distribution, sources, quantity and quality received by the inhabitants. A descriptive method was employed in the analysis of data obtained from both primary and secondary sources. A total of 61 questionnaires were designed and administered to the sample respondents selected using Yamane’s formula. The study participants include both male and female age 15-55 years. Tables, charts, frequencies and simple percentages were used to show the findings. The result indicates various sources and level of water supply in the study area. This includes sources of water, frequency of supply, and water needs of the people. The findings revealed that majority (72.1%) of the respondents obtained water from the tap, while only 8.2% procured water from community water vendors. In terms of water need and adequacy, the study discovered more half (50.8%) of the survey participants had sufficient water and 49.2% have not. The study therefore, concludes that there is adequate and uneven distribution of water within the study area, irrespective of the sources and availability of it. However, in other to ensure sustainable development, the study recommends that the government should take the advantage of the abundant sunlight resources of the area, to provide modern solar-powered boreholes to the underserved communities, this will carter for the increasing urbanization being experienced in the area.

This study investigates the influence of social media usage on the academic performance of students in Adamawa State College of Health Science and Technology, Michika. With the proliferation of digital platforms among Nigerian students, understanding how these tools impact learning outcomes has become increasingly important. A sample of 150 students across nine departments, including Pharmacy Technicians, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Health Education and Promotion was surveyed using structured questionnaires. The study employed descriptive statistics, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and regression analysis to examine the relationship between social media usage patterns and cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Findings revealed that academic-oriented social media usage (e.g., WhatsApp, YouTube, and Telegram) positively correlated with higher CGPAs, particularly among students in technical departments. In contrast, entertainment-driven usage (e.g., TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat) showed a significant negative correlation with academic performance. Social interaction usage had no statistically significant effect. The results underscore the importance of intentional digital engagement and suggest that the academic impact of social media depends largely on how students utilize these platforms. The study concludes that while social media is a pervasive tool among students, its influence on academic success is shaped by purpose and discipline. Recommendations include integrating digital literacy into curricula, promoting academic use of social media, and establishing mentorship programs to guide responsible usage.

The rapid growth of digital communication has created an urgent demand for advanced cryptographic techniques that ensure both security and efficiency. As reliance on digital platforms increases, so does the risk of cyber threats and data breaches. Robust cryptography is, therefore, essential to protect sensitive information and maintain trust in digital transactions. This research proposes an improved composed hybrid cryptosystem that integrates Transposition, Caesar, and Hill ciphers, followed sequentially by RSA encryption. The study examines how a hybrid of four ciphers can be attacked when treated as a composite function. To further enhance security, a sequence of Reduced Residue System (RRS) values was introduced to replace ASCII characters after the third cipher (Hill cipher), adding an additional layer of residue-based encryption before the final RSA stage. The findings demonstrate that the improved hybrid cryptosystem significantly enhances data security and key generation efficiency, adding a new level of complexity that makes it more challenging for attackers to guess or compute decryption keys.

To evaluate the usefulness of Doppler of the ophthalmic artery performed between 19 and 25 weeks of gestation to predict the occurrence of preeclampsia. This was a prospective longitudinal study conducted among pregnant women between the 19th and 25th weeks of gestation. The study was carried out from October 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, in the Departments of Radiology and Medical Imaging and Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital in Lomé (Togo). The Doppler parameters were compared between pregnant women who developed preeclampsia and those who did not during follow-up. A total of 313 pregnant women were enrolled, including 80 cases of preeclampsia. Only the first systolic peak, the second systolic peak, the pulsatility index, and the ratio of systolic peaks were significantly associated with the occurrence of preeclampsia. The first peak of systolic velocity had a sensitivity of 78.75% and a specificity of 63.51% for a cut-off value of 40 cm/s, with an area under the curve of 0.769 (95% CI: 0.709-0.830). The second peak of systolic velocity had a sensitivity of 76.28% and a specificity of 84.97% for a cut-off value of 23.28 cm/s, with an area under the curve of 0.853 (95% CI: 0.801-0.905). The PSV ratio had a sensitivity of 72.50% and a specificity of 63.94% for a cut-off value of 0.80, with an area under the curve of 0.718 (95% CI: 0.587-0.718). Ophthalmic artery Doppler may play a crucial role in early screening of preeclampsia, allowing timely intervention and treatment.

Abstract Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated hepatic steatosis, the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, poses a growing public health challenge due to its high global incidence and risk of progression to cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, using Doppler ultrasound, hemodynamic changes in the hepatic artery and the portal vein in patients with hepatic steatosis. Materials and methods This was a case–control study with prospective data collection conducted at the Sokodé Regional Hospital Centre (Togo) between August 2023 and March 2024. The study consecutively included 60 patients with ultrasound signs of diffuse liver steatosis and 60 healthy volunteers with normal liver parenchymal echotexture and echogenicity. Results The maximum systolic velocity of the hepatic artery was significantly higher in patients than in controls (41.72 ± 8.79 cm/s vs. 35.94 ± 7.56 cm/s; p < 0.01). The resistance index (RI) of the hepatic artery was significantly higher in controls than in patients (0.76 ± 0.11 vs. 0.72 ± 0.04; p < 0.01). The maximum portal vein systolic velocity was 17.50 ± 3.55 cm/s in patients and 19.58 ± 2.17 cm/s in controls ( p < 0.001), while the maximum time average velocity (TAMV) was 13.23 ± 2.52 cm/s and 15.39 ± 2.61 cm/s, respectively ( p < 0.01). These variations in the Doppler index of the hepatic artery and the portal vein were correlated with the grade of liver steatosis. Conclusions Doppler ultrasound evaluation of hepatic vessels may serve as a valuable tool to detect early signs of hepatic hemodynamic dysfunction and could help to detect hepatic steatosis.