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Cellulases are enzymes used in various manufacturing processes and their production is faced with a number of challenges including high cost of raw materials, low product recovery due to the nature of microbial cells and unfavorable growth conditions leading to high cost of the finished products. This study was therefore designed to investigate the optimum physicochemical conditions that could support the production of large amount of cellulase by Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum using agricultural wastes as substrates. Each of the fungal species was grown in a mineral salt media containing either of paper, sugar cane bagasse or wheat bran as sole carbon source at various concentrations. Cellulase activity was observed to be optimum at 5 % w/v using the substrates after 96 hours incubation. The effect of temperature and pH were then assessed and wheat bran was shown to support optimum cellulase activity (5.36 IU and 3.62 IU) at pH 5 and temperature of 30°Cusing both organisms. Using paper however, the optimum enzyme activity (1.28 IU and 1.26 IU) was observed at pH 6 and temperature ranging from 35°C (A. niger) to 45°C (P. chrysogenum). pH 5 was observed to be optimum for cellulase activity using sugar cane bagasse but P. chrysogenum performed better (1.01 IU) at 40°C than A. niger (0.91 IU) at 50°C. Cellulase activity using the two latter substrates was significantly (p< 0.05) lower than that of wheat bran under the said conditions. This study therefore, revealed that the two fungal species are excellent cellulase producers under optimum conditions of 30°C and pH 5 using wheat bran at 5% concentration; hence their potentials for large scale cellulase production.

This protocol presents a multilevel cluster randomized study in 24 communities in Cape Town, South Africa. The study comprises four specific aims. Aim 1, conducted during the formative phase, was to modify the original Couples Health CoOp (CHC) intervention to include antiretroviral therapy/pre-exposure prophylaxis (ART/PrEP), called the Couples Health CoOp Plus (CHC+), with review from our Community Collaborative Board and a Peer Advisory Board. Aim 1 has been completed for staging the trial. Aim 2 is to evaluate the impact of a stigma awareness and education workshop on community members' attitudes and behaviors toward young women and men who use AODs and people in their community seeking HIV services (testing/ART/PrEP) and other health services in their local clinics. Aim 3 is to test the efficacy of the CHC+ to increase both partners' PrEP/ART initiation and adherence (at 3 and 6 months) and to reduce alcohol and other drug use, sexual risk and gender-based violence, and to enhance positive gender norms and communication relative to HIV testing services (n = 480 couples). Aim 4 seeks to examine through mixed methods the interaction of the stigma awareness workshop and the CHC+ on increased PrEP and ART initiation, retention, and adherence among young women and their primary partners. Ongoing collaborations with community peer leaders and local outreach staff from these communities are essential for reaching the project's aims. Additionally, a manualized field protocol with regular training, fidelity checks, and quality assurance are critical components of this multilevel community trial for successful ongoing data collection. Trial registration. Clinicaltrials.gov Registration Number: NCT05310773. Pan African Trials: pactr.samrc.ac.za/ Registration Number: PACTR202205640398485. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a cytokine with important involvement in biological processes related to the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease (SCD), including endothelial and vascular dysfunction, inflammation, and hematopoietic homeostasis. This study is aimed at investigating associations between levels of TGF-β1 and classical laboratory biomarkers and inflammatory mediators, as well as the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), in pediatric patients (n=123) with SCD in steady state: 84 with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) and 39 with hemoglobin SC disease (HbSC). A healthy control (HC) group of 59 individuals was also included. Hematological and biochemical analyses were carried out using electronic methods. TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and MMP-9 plasma quantifications were performed by ELISA. TGF-β1 plasma levels were higher in HbSS individuals than in HbSC and HC. In individuals with HbSS, TGF-β1 levels were positively correlated with red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, and TIMP-1. In addition, HbSS individuals with TGF-β1 levels above the median (≥72.29 ng/mL) also presented increased monocyte counts and decreased albumin levels. In patients with HbSC, TGF-β1 levels were positively correlated with leukocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets, as well as levels of TIMP-1, VLDL-C, triglycerides, heme, and AST. Additionally, HbSC individuals with TGF-β1 levels above the median (≥47.80 ng/mL) presented increased leukocyte and platelet counts, as well as increased levels of triglycerides, VLDL-C, MMP-9, and TIMP-1, and decreased HDL-C. Our findings suggest that TGF-β1 may play important roles in vascular remodeling, vasculopathy, angiogenesis, and inflammation in pediatric patients with SCD.

Cancer is a debilitating disease that is on the increase in both developed and developing countries. Anticancer drugs are often expensive, have narrow spectrum of activities, and are associated with toxicities and side effects such as myelosuppression, immunosuppression, gastrointestinal disturbance, alopecia, skin toxicity, and hepatotoxicity. Plants have been the major source of anticancer drugs both in orthodox and traditional medicine. Many of the plants claimed by the traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) to be effective in the treatment of cancer are yet to be evaluated scientifically. In this work, five medicinal plants used by TMPs in Borno State, Nigeria, were tested against two brain tumor cell lines. Ethanol extracts of Securidaca longepedunculata, Andira inermis subsp. rooseveltii, Annona senegalensis, Carissa edulis, and Parinari polyandra were used. U87 and U231 brain tumor cell lines were used for proliferation assay, U251 cell line was used for the invasion assay in collagen V coated inserts, and U87 cell line was used for the western blot detection of cleaved Poly-ADP-Ribose-Polymerase (PARP). The result revealed that all tested extracts significantly (p

Abstract Background Poor quality of health services and socio-cultural dynamics may severely limit utilization of health services. Facility health committees were established in several states in northern Nigeria to reduce these barriers. The committees were charged with mobilizing communities, improving quality of health services, and promoting utilization of maternal and child health services. This study assessed this intervention. Methods To obtain a comprehensive picture of facility health committees’ influence on maternal and child health services, we selected 33 facilities in three states in northern Nigeria (Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano) where the intervention was active. For each of these facilities we interviewed committee members (n = 399), conducted focus group discussions with a subset of committee members (18 focus groups), interviewed facility health providers (two providers from each facility), and conducted client exit interviews (n = 501). Results Facility health committees appear to have a positive influence on quality of maternal and child health services in the selected facilities. Committee members, health providers, and facility clients all agree that the committees have a tangible positive effect. The most important roles of the committees are to mobilize the community and increase demand for maternal and child health services, in a region where demand is very low. Committee activities further improve health services in many ways, including advocacy, community-facility coordination, fund raising, money donation, and problem mitigation. Conclusion Facility health committees can be invaluable in contributing to improved demand for and access to quality maternal and child health services in health facilities in northern Nigeria. They provide strong linkages between community members and the health facilities, directly work to increase demand for services, and address supply-side challenges that often limit utilization of services in health facilities. The intervention can be improved by more broadly communicating committee activities in the community, and by incentivizing facility health committee members.

This study examined the knowledge and perceptions of sexual education and teenage pregnancy among Indigenous people in Pekan, Malaysia. The research aimed to address the high rates of teenage pregnancy, particularly among unmarried teenagers, in the country. Through qualitative methods, including semistructured interviews with Indigenous participants, several themes emerged. These themes included the sources of sexual education, such as formal and informal channels, first sexual experiences, safe-sex beliefs, and the importance of sexual education for children. The study also explored perceptions of teenage pregnancy, identifying factors like young marriage and premarital dating. Participants shared their views on premarital motherhood among those under 20 years old, as well as the acceptance and responses of parents and the responsibility of the baby's father. The study highlighted the complications of teenage pregnancy for both the baby and mother. The findings revealed a lack of sexual education knowledge among Indigenous participants, attributed to limited access to facilities like mobile phones and limited interaction with outsiders. The study recommends further research and the dissemination of awareness and knowledge about sexual education, particularly through campaigns and outreach efforts to Indigenous communities, while also emphasise the need to review the effectiveness of these initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyophila involuta (Hook) Jaeg., a sample collected from a natural population in the Biological Garden, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, was sorted into non-sporophytic and sporophytic gametophytes. This was with a view to investigating the possible influence of sporophyte emergence on the bioactive constituents and the antimicrobial potentials of the moss plant. Aqueous extracts of each of the non-sporophytic and the sporophytic gametophyte samples were prepared, and each was subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses, and antimicrobial potentials tests on selected bacteria and fungi following standard procedures. The results showed both extracts testing positive for alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, and steroids. Quantitatively, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides concentrations were higher in the non-sporophytic than in the sporophytic gametophytes. Nevertheless, the saponins content was higher in sporophytic gametophytes. GC-MS analyses revealed 40 and 46 bioactive compounds in the non-sporophytic and the sporophytic gametophyte samples respectively. The most prominent compound was 1, 13-tetradecadiene (13.62%) in the non-sporophytic gametophyte but cycloheptasiloxane tetradecamethyl- (13.78%) in the sporophytic game-tophyte. Furthermore, the sporophytic gametophyte extract inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Candida pseudotropicalis while the non-sporophytic gametophyte extract only inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 40 mg/mL except for C. pseudotropicalis (20 mg/mL). This study, therefore, provided insight for investigating the medicinal values of bryophytes and concluded that the emergence of sporophytes on gametophytes of a bryophyte species can vary significantly the synthesis of its biologically active compounds and its antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study has utilized the response surface methodology (RSM) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approaches for the modeling of polymer solution viscosity. In the absence of reports in the previous study on applying these two approaches, the main objective of this study has been to compare the performance of these methods toward the viscosity modeling of a polymer solution. By utilizing RSM technique, the effects of three independent parameters including shear rate, polymer concentration, and sodium chloride concentration on viscosity of polymer solution were examined. The RSM results showed that all the parameters were not equally important in the polymer solution viscosity. Moreover, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also carried out and indicated that there was no evidence of lack of fit in the RSM model. As a second approach for polymer solution viscosity modeling, ANFIS was utilized with two rules constructed based on the first-order Sugeno fuzzy approach and trained by back propagation neural networks algorithm. High coefficient of determination (R 2) values ( >99%) showed that the prediction ability of both the ANFIS and RSM models was good enough for the response when the interpolation ability of the models was considered. In order to evaluate the extrapolation abilities of the two developed models, two data sets lying beyond the originally considered data were also taken into account. The results showed that their extrapolation predictive ability was poor. The reason could simply be the inherent behavior of the polymeric solution, i.e., the correlational structure seen in the sample used in the training step did not continue outside the sample space.

This paper describes the development of a new geoid-based vertical datum from airborne gravity data, by the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia, on land and in the South China Sea out of the coast of East Malaysia region, covering an area of about 610,000 square kilometres. More than 107,000 km flight line of airborne gravity data over land and marine areas of East Malaysia has been combined to provide a seamless land-to-sea gravity field coverage; with an estimated accuracy of better than 2.0 mGal. The iMAR-IMU processed gravity anomaly data has been used during a 2014-2016 airborne survey to extend a composite gravity solution across a number of minor gaps on selected lines, using a draping technique. The geoid computations were all done with the GRAVSOFT suite of programs from DTU-Space. EGM2008 augmented with GOCE spherical harmonic model has been used to spherical harmonic degree N = 720. The gravimetric geoid first was tied at one tide-gauge (in Kota Kinabalu, KK2019) to produce a fitted geoid, my_geoid2017_fit_kk. The fitted geoid was offset from the gravimetric geoid by +0.852 m, based on the comparison at the tide-gauge benchmark KK2019. Consequently, orthometric height at the six other tide gauge stations was computed from HGPS Lev = hGPS - Nmy_geoid2017_.t_kk. Comparison of the conventional (HLev) and GPS-levelling heights (HGPS Lev) at the six tide gauge locations indicate RMS height difference of 2.6 cm. The final gravimetric geoidwas fitted to the seven tide gauge stations and is known as my_geoid2017_fit_east. The accuracy of the gravimetric geoid is estimated to be better than 5 cm across most of East Malaysia land and marine areas

Heat stress on broiler chickens has an impact on the value of feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass weight, and abdominal fat content. These impacts can be reduced by administering plant extracts, such as salix plant extract. However, the effect of this plant extract on normal condition is still unknown. This study aimed to determine the effect of salix extract to the value of feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, and abdominal fat content in chickens with heat stress and compared with chickens in normal conditions. This study used 30 samples of 21-day old broiler chickens. This research was conducted using a complete factorial randomized design with 2 x 3 treatment factors and 5 repetitions. The first factor consisted of two treatment conditions, namely heat stress (HS) and no heat stress (nHS), while the second factor consisted of three doses of salix extract treatment, dose 0 (ES-0), 50 (ES-50), and 100 (ES-100) mg/L of drinking water. Heat stress was conducted by increasing the temperature of the cage to 34 ± 1 °C for 4 hours per day. Salix extract was added in drinking water and given 2 hours before the temperature reached 34 ± 1 °C. Chickens without heat stress were kept in the cage at 25 ± 1 °C using air-condition (AC). Data were analyzed using two way ANOVA using SPSS 20. The results showed that administration of salix extract on heat stress chickens did not affect the FCR value and carcass weight, but had a significant effect (P ≤ 0.05) on abdominal fat weight. Fat content in the abdominal was higher (P≤ 0.05) in chickens with heat stress and given salix extract than non heat stress.