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In contemporary data analysis, the need for flexible and adaptable probabilistic models capable of capturing complex dependencies and tail behaviors in real-life datasets has become increasingly apparent. In light of this demand, A new trigonometric generalized family of distribution, the "Transmuted Cosine Topp-Leone G Family" is proposed in this study. Established on the foundations of, this family combines the adaptability of the Topp-Leone distribution with the periodicity of the cosine function and transmutation theory to produce a flexible framework that may be used to represent a wide range of real-life phenomena. We derive some of the statistical properties of the introduced family such as; survival and hazard functions, and moment and moment-generating functions. Moreover, the model parameters are estimated using the Maximum Likelihood method, and a Monte Carlo simulation was performed to ascertain the behavior and the consistency of the estimates. We investigate the shape of the distribution parameters which results in distributions with left-skew, right-skew, increasing, and decreasing shapes. Lastly, through empirical demonstrations, we showcase the efficacy of the family TrCTLG models in fitting lifetime datasets.

This research was carried out to assess the extension workers’ nutrition education competency level and training needs in Katsina state, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to sample 90 extension workers from the three agricultural zones in the state. Seven categories of 49 specific nutrition education competency items were adapted for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the sampled respondents. The mean competency rating for each competency item was computed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. A Mean scale to interpret the computed mean values. While mean weight discrepancy score was used to determine the areas of training needed by the extension workers. The findings showed that 85.6% of the respondents were males with a mean age of 44 years. It also revealed that the extension workers had a high level of literacy and vast years of working experience of 20-25 years. In terms of their nutrition education competency level, the findings showed that 71.42% of the extension workers have an average competency level on basic nutrition knowledge, nutritional needs of different household members, Hygiene and sanitation, Post-harvest handling and food safety, as well as on Gender and nutrition. However, the extension workers were found to have a low competency level in planning and resource allocation for household food security which also featured to be the prioritized area of training needed by the extension workers. It was finally recommended that nutrition education should be integrated into the extension worker's professional training in the study area.

Abstract Background Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an essential source of edible oil and livestock feed, as well as a promising source of biofuel. Breeding crops with an ideal root system architecture (RSA) for high phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) is an effective way to reduce the use of phosphate fertilizers. However, the genetic mechanisms that underpin PUE in rapeseed remain elusive. To address this, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 327 rapeseed accessions to elucidate the genetic variability of 13 root and biomass traits under low phosphorus (LP; 0.01 mM P +). Furthermore, RNA-sequencing was performed in root among high/low phosphorus efficient groups (HP1/LP1) and high/low phosphorus stress tolerance groups (HP2/LP2) at two-time points under control and P-stress conditions. Results Significant variations were observed in all measured traits, with heritabilities ranging from 0.47 to 0.72, and significant correlations were found between most of the traits. There were 39 significant trait–SNP associations and 31 suggestive associations, which integrated into 11 valid quantitative trait loci (QTL) clusters, explaining 4.24–24.43% of the phenotypic variance observed. In total, RNA-seq identified 692, 1076, 648, and 934 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to HP1/LP1 and HP2/LP2 under P-stress and control conditions, respectively, while 761 and 860 DEGs common for HP1/LP1 and HP2/LP2 under both conditions. An integrated approach of GWAS, weighted co-expression network, and differential expression analysis identified 12 genes associated with root growth and development under LP stress. In this study, six genes (BnaA04g23490D, BnaA09g08440D, BnaA09g04320D, BnaA09g04350D, BnaA09g04930D, BnaA09g09290D) that showed differential expression were identified as promising candidate genes for the target traits. Conclusion 11 QTL clusters and 12 candidate genes associated with root and development under LP stress were identified in this study. Our study's phenotypic and genetic information may be exploited for genetic improvement of root traits to increase PUE in rapeseed.

Abstract Background Gossypium hirsutum undergoes rapid clonal propagation to regenerate a mature plant through tissue culture. However, the correlation between cotton leaf regeneration, callus induction, and regeneration ability was still obscure. In this research, cotton leaf regeneration level for 21 accessions in the field (new leaves) was observed after the first harvest, and a comparison between field regeneration level and callus induction with its regeneration capacity (new shoots and roots) for the same 21 accessions was carried out. Agronomic traits, including plant height, leaf area, fresh leaf weight, dry leaf weight, the number of flowers and bolls, and biochemical (proline content) and physiological (chlorophyll and carotenoid content) traits during the flowering stage of 21 upland cotton accessions, were investigated. Result A significant correlation between physiological parameters and callus induction was discovered. Callus induction and regeneration capacity of roots and shoots for hypocotyl, cotyledons, and shoot tip tissues were used to validate field leaf regeneration level after the first harvest. CCRI 24 showed significant leaf regeneration in the field and callus induction capacity through callus induction and regeneration. Conclusion We found a substantial relationship between field regeneration capability and callus induction with its regeneration capacity for the hypocotyl, cotyledons, and shoot tip. The results showed that ZS061, Lumian 378, Jimian 863, and ZS065 have the highest moisture retention capacity, while CCRI 24, Liaoyang Duomaomian, and Beizhe Gongshemian have the lowest moisture retention capacity. CCRI 24 has the highest leaf regeneration capacity in the field, while Beizhe Gongshemian has the lowest leaf regeneration capacity. All our result provides a clue for checking the regeneration capacity through leaf regeneration level in the field.

Abstract Background The cotton crop is universally considered as protein and edible oil source besides the major contributor of natural fiber and is grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world Unpredicted environmental stresses are becoming significant threats to sustainable cotton production, ultimately leading to a substantial irreversible economic loss. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is generally considered essential for recognizing environmental stresses through phosphorylating downstream signal pathways and plays a vital role in numerous biological processes. Results We have identified 74 MAPK genes across cotton, 41 from G. hirsutum, 19 from G. raimondii, whereas 14 have been identified from G. arboreum. The MAPK gene-proteins have been further studied to determine their physicochemical characteristics and other essential features. In this perspective, characterization, phylogenetic relationship, chromosomal mapping, gene motif, cis-regulatory element, and subcellular localization were carried out. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the MAPK family in cotton is usually categorized as A, B, C, D, and E clade. According to the results of the phylogenic relationship, cotton has more MAPKS genes in Clade A than Clade B. The cis-elements identified were classified into five groups (hormone responsiveness, light responsiveness, stress responsiveness, cellular development, and binding site). The prevalence of such elements across the promoter region of these genes signifies their role in the growth and development of plants. Seven GHMAPK genes (GH_A07G1527, GH_D02G1138, GH_D03G0121, GH_D03G1517, GH_D05G1003, GH_D11G0040, and GH_D12G2528) were selected, and specific tissue expression and profiling were performed across drought and salt stresses. Results expressed that six genes were upregulated under drought treatment except for GH_D11G0040 which is downregulated. Whereas all the seven genes have been upregulated at various hours of salt stress treatment. Conclusions RNA sequence and qPCR results showed that genes as differentially expressed across both vegetative and reproductive plant parts. Similarly, the qPCR analysis showed that six genes had been upregulated substantially through drought treatment while all the seven genes were upregulated across salt treatments. The results of this study showed that cotton GHMPK3 genes play an important role in improving cotton resistance to drought and salt stresses. MAPKs are thought to play a significant regulatory function in plants' responses to abiotic stresses according to various studies. MAPKs' involvement in abiotic stress signaling and innovation is a key goal for crop species research, especially in crop breeding.

Shortly after Nigeria attained its independence on the 1st October, 1960 it experienced numerous challenges of Nation-building, this is because, the conquest and imposition of colonial rule with its divide and rule tactics and other attendant consequences has set different ethnic groups in Nigeria at logger beads, mistrust has gained ground in the body polity of the Nation, couple with devastated economy, poor infrastructural facilitates. This informed the need for vibrant political parties in that critical period with good manifestoes to serve as check and balance instrument towards resolving Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges with a view to build a strong and prosperous Nation-state became imperative, therefore, this paper will examine the role of 196 0-1966 political parties in providing the required evaluation mechanisms in checkmating the excesses in democratic governance. The paper adopted the use of qualitative data obtained through; primary and secondary sources of information as well as the use of relevant existing literature. The paper finally established the impact of political parties in resolving some crisis of governance in the period under review.

Root system architecture (RSA) is the primary predictor of nutrient intake and significantly influences potassium utilization efficiency (KUE). Uncertainty persists regarding the genetic factors governing root growth in rapeseed. The root transcriptome analysis reveals the genetic basis driving crop root growth. In this study, RNA-seq was used to profile the overall transcriptome in the root tissue of 20 Brassica napus accessions with high and low KUE. 71,437 genes in the roots displayed variable expression profiles between the two contrasting genotype groups. The 212 genes that had varied expression levels between the high and low KUE lines were found using a pairwise comparison approach. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional classification analysis revealed that the DEGs implicated in hormone and signaling pathways, as well as glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, were all differently regulated in the rapeseed root system. Additionally, we discovered 33 transcription factors (TFs) that control root development were differentially expressed. By combining differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) results, four candidate genes were identified as essential hub genes. These potential genes were located fewer than 100 kb from the peak SNPs of QTL clusters, and it was hypothesized that they regulated the formation of the root system. Three of the four hub genes’ homologs—BnaC04G0560400ZS, BnaC04G0560400ZS, and BnaA03G0073500ZS—have been shown to control root development in earlier research. The information produced by our transcriptome profiling could be useful in revealing the molecular processes involved in the growth of rapeseed roots in response to KUE.

Highlights pH and CEC influence lead (Pb) concentration in contaminated areas Pb concentration from all the areas is within the EPA 400 mg/kg threshold The concentration of Pb is high at the depth between 0 and 20 cm in all the sites The overall status of all the soil studied is within the safety limit All the maize grown on the cultivated soil from the studied sites are safe for consumption

Abstract Background Nigeria has a high burden of Tuberculosis (TB) including Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) and hearing loss. Despite several efforts directed toward its control, many patients fail to respond to treatment, having developed DR-TB. Lack of adherence to the DR-TB guidelines/improper implementation of the guideline has been identified as one of the factors impeding on effective treatment. This study sought to measure the implementation fidelity of health workers to management guidelines for hearing loss resulting from DR-TB treatment and to identify its determinants. Method A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Kano. Implementation fidelity of the Programmatic Management guidelines for the treatment of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis was measured under the four domains of content, coverage, duration and frequency. The determinants examined are intervention complexity, facilitation strategies, quality of delivery and participant responsiveness as proposed by the Carroll et al. framework. Other determinants used are age, sex, professional cadre and work experience of healthcare providers. Results The Implementation fidelity score ranged from 40 to 64% with a mean of 47.6%. Quality of delivery, intervention complexity, participants’ responsiveness, and being a medical doctor exerted a positive effect on implementation fidelity while facilitation strategy, age and work experience exerted a negative effect on implementation fidelity. Conclusion The implementation fidelity of management guidelines for hearing loss resulting from DR-TB treatment was low. Implementation fidelity should be assessed early and at intervals in the course of implementing the Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis guideline and indeed, in the implementation of any intervention.

BackgroundSince the emergence of COVID-19, mandatory facemask wearing has been implemented around the world to prevent viral transmission, however, the impact of wearing facemasks on patients with COPD was unclear.MethodsThe current study undertakes a systematic review and meta-analysis of a comprehensive literature retrieval from six databases, based on the pre-determined eligibility criteria, irrespective of language. The risk of bias was assessed using an established instrument. We primarily focused on analyzing ETCO2, SpO2, and heart and respiratory rates, and also considered the impacts on physiological and exercise performance. A descriptive summary of the data and possible meta-analysis was performed. Forest plots were generated to pool estimates based on each of the study outcomes.ResultsOf the 3,751 publications considered, six publications were selected for a systematic review and two publications were included for meta-analysis, however, the quality of these six studies was relatively low overall. In the case of inactivity, the facemask wearing COPD cohort had higher respiratory rates than that of the non-facemask wearing cohort (MD = 1.00 and 95% CI 0.47–1.53, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in ETCO2 (MD = 0.10 and 95% CI −1.57–1.78, P > 0.05) and heart rate (MD = 0.40 and 95% CI −3.59–4.39, P > 0.05) nor SpO2 (MD = −0.40 and 95% CI −0.84–0.04, P > 0.05) between the COPD patients with and without facemasks. Furthermore, it was observed that the only significant differences between the COPD patients with and without facemasks undertaking different activities were FEV1 (%) (MD = 3.84 and 95% CI 0.14–7.54, P < 0.05), FEV1/FVC (%) (MD = 3.25 and 95% CI 0.71–5.79, P < 0.05), and blood lactate (MD = −0.90 and 95% CI −1.73 to −0.07, P < 0.05).ConclusionWearing facemasks decreased the exercise performance of patients with COPD, however, it had minimal impact on physiological indexes. Further investigations will be performed on the high-quality data from randomized control studies.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=326265, identifier: CRD42022326265.

Plants rely on root systems for nutrient uptake from soils. Marker-assisted selection helps breeders to select desirable root traits for effective nutrient uptake. Here, 12 root and biomass traits were investigated at the seedling stage under low nitrogen (LN), low phosphorus (LP), and low potassium (LK) conditions, respectively, in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, which was generated from Brassica napus L. Zhongshuang11 and 4D122 with significant differences in root traits and nutrient efficiency. Significant differences for all the investigated traits were observed among RILs, with high heritabilities (0.43–0.74) and high correlations between the different treatments. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping identified 57, 27, and 36 loci, explaining 4.1–10.9, 4.6–10.8, and 4.9–17.4% phenotypic variances under LN, LP, and LK, respectively. Through QTL-meta analysis, these loci were integrated into 18 significant QTL clusters. Four major QTL clusters involved 25 QTLs that could be repeatedly detected and explained more than 10% phenotypic variances, including two NPK-common and two specific QTL clusters (K and NK-specific), indicating their critical role in cooperative nutrients uptake of N, P, and K. Moreover, 264 genes within the four major QTL clusters having high expressions in roots and SNP/InDel variations between two parents were identified as potential candidate genes. Thirty-eight of them have been reported to be associated with root growth and development and/or nutrient stress tolerance. These key loci and candidate genes lay the foundation for deeper dissection of the NPK starvation response mechanisms in B. napus.

Background: There are millions of workers in the world, who engage in activities associated with welding operations but are not classified as full-time metal workers. The present study aimed to determine the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in blood of laboratory animals exposed to welding fumes. Methods: Welding fumes were obtained from Kofar Ruwa, Kano by a skilled welder. 130 albino rats were purchased from the Animal Section of Department of Biological Sciences and were divided into 12 groups. They were given doses equivalent to the workers’ real life exposure regimes, and 1 group was selected as control group. They were administered intratracheally following anesthetization once weekly for twelve weeks. The rats were euthanized and serum samples were collected. Then, AChE activity was evaluated spectrophotometrically using ELISA kit (Sunlong Biotech Company). Results: The mean values of AChE ranged from 23.1 to 25.05 ng/mL with the control having a value of 24.7 ng/mL. Thus, there was a decrease in the values of AChE in the blood of treated groups, which was significantly different from the control (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Metal welding fumes negatively affected the AChE by reducing its mean values. This implies that welding fumes possesses neurotoxic effects, which can lead to some neurodegenerative diseases.

In this paper, simulation studies and applications of the New Weibull-Inverse Lomax (NWIL) distribution were presented. In the simulation studies, different sample sizes ranging from 30, 50, 100, 200, 300, to 500 were considered. Also, 1,000 replications were considered for the experiment. NWIL is a fat tail distribution. Higher moments are not easily derived except with some approximations. However, the estimates have higher precisions with low variances. Finally, the usefulness of the NWIL distribution was illustrated by fitting two data sets

PURPOSEColorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rates are increasing among individuals < 50 years of age (early-onset CRC) globally with causes unknown. Racial/ethnic disparities in early-onset CRC have also grown more pronounced, because Black individuals have higher early-onset CRC incidence and poorer survival compared with White individuals. We describe the prevalence and burden of early-onset CRC among Africans in Nigeria and African Americans (AAs) in the United States.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe identified Black individuals diagnosed with a first primary CRC ages 18 to 49 years between 1989 and 2017 at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, Nigeria (Nigerians), and in the United States (AAs) using the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute’s SEER program of cancer registries. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate clinical and demographic differences between Nigerians and AAs with early-onset CRC, adjusted for age, sex, tumor site, and histology.RESULTSA total of 5,019 Black individuals were diagnosed with early-onset CRC over the study period (379 Nigerians; 4,640 AAs). Overall, approximately one third of young Black patients were diagnosed with rectal tumors (35.8%). Nigerian individuals with early-onset CRC were eight-fold more likely to be diagnosed with rectal tumors (odds ratio [OR], 8.14; 95% CI, 6.23 to 10.62; P < .0001) and more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.86 to 0.89; P < .0001) compared with young African Americans in adjusted models.CONCLUSIONCompared with AA individuals diagnosed with early-onset CRC, Nigerian individuals harbor distinct features of early-onset CRC. Additional investigation of the histopathologic and biologic heterogeneity of early-onset CRCs among Black individuals is critical for understanding racial disparities in susceptibility and outcomes, which may have implications for tailored early-onset CRC prevention, detection, and treatment strategies.

Acetophenone derivatives are eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors to prevent corrosion of mild steel (MS) in acidic medium. In this work, the inhibition effect of 3-nitroacetophenone (3-NA) on the corrosion of MS in acidic medium (1 N HCl) was investigated using weight loss measurements, electrochemical measurements, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry analysis. The studies were performed using different concentrations of inhibitors and at different temperatures. The results indicated that the inhibition efficiency of 3-NA increases with an increase in inhibitor concentration and reaches to a maximum of 64% at inhibitor concentration of 250 ppm at 30°C. The potentiodynamic polarization measurement indicated that 3-NA acts as mixed category of interdict. The adsorption of 3-NA on MS surface followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The mode of adsorption of 3-NA on MS surface was further studied by quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The results plainly revealed that 3-NA performs fairly as corrosion interdict for MS in acidic medium.

Roots are essential organs for a plant’s ability to absorb water and obtain mineral nutrients, hence they are critical to its development. Plants use root architectural alterations to improve their chances of absorbing nutrients when their supply is low. Nine root traits of a Brassica napus association panel were explored in hydroponic-system studies under low potassium (K) stress to unravel the genetic basis of root growth in rapeseed. The quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes for root development were discovered using a multilocus genome-wide association study (ML-GWAS). For the nine traits, a total of 453 significant associated single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci were discovered, which were then integrated into 206 QTL clusters. There were 45 pleiotropic clusters, and qRTA04-4 and qRTC04-7 were linked to TRL, TSA, and TRV at the same time, contributing 5.25–11.48% of the phenotypic variance explained (PVE) to the root traits. Additionally, 1360 annotated genes were discovered by examining genomic regions within 100 kb upstream and downstream of lead SNPs within the 45 loci. Thirty-five genes were identified as possibly regulating root-system development. As per protein–protein interaction analyses, homologs of three genes (BnaC08g29120D, BnaA07g10150D, and BnaC04g45700D) have been shown to influence root growth in earlier investigations. The QTL clusters and candidate genes identified in this work will help us better understand the genetics of root growth traits and could be employed in marker-assisted breeding for rapeseed adaptable to various conditions with low K levels.

Evasion of apoptosis is associated with treatment resistance and metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Various cellular processes are associated with evasion of apoptosis. These include overexpression of pro-apoptotic proteins (including p53 and PD-L1), anti-apoptotic proteins (BIRC7/Livin and Bcl-2), chemokine receptors (including DARC), and dysregulation of DNA mismatch repair proteins (including MSH2 and PMS2). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of folinic acid, 5-FU and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) as a single agent and aspirin plus FOLFOX in various combinations on the aforementioned proteins in human CRC, SW480 cell line and rat models of N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea (NMU)-induced CRC. In addition, effects of the NMU-induced CRC and chemotherapeutic regimens on haematological and biochemical parameters in the rat models were studied. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and immunoblot techniques were used to study the expression pattern of the related proteins in the human CRC cells pre- and post-treatment. Double contrast barium enema, post-mortem examination and histological analyses were used to confirm tumour growth and the effect of the treatment in vivo in rat models. Notably, we found in human mucinous CRC, a significant increase in expression of the BIRC7/Livin post-FOLFOX treatment compared with pre-treatment (p = 0.0001). This increase provides new insights into the prognostic role of BIRC7/Livin in evasion of apoptosis and facilitation of treatment resistance, local recurrence and metastasis particularly among mucinous CRCs post-FOLFOX chemotherapy. These poor prognostic features in the CRC may be further compounded by the significant suppression of DARC, PD-L1, PMS2 and overexpression of MSH2 and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and p53 proteins observed in our study (p < 0.05). Importantly, we found a significant reduction in expression of BIRC7/Livin and reactivation of DARC and PD-L1 with a surge in Annexin V expression in rat models of CRC cells post-treatment with a sequential dose of aspirin plus FOLFOX compared with other treatments in vivo (p

Even foreseeable, the migration wave of 2015 did confuse Europe profoundly. For long time one argued on “push and pull” or on implantation in the demographic transition as the backgrounds of immigration. Moreover, an enforced and constant immigration was claimed for the Central European countries in order to assure the life standard. On the other side, it was impossible to develop standards for migration and flight- beyond the Geneva Convention. In parallel to that, the weight of the “informal” part of production and trade was widely neglected on the official as on the academic level. Thus, a – time wise – tight connected economic system of drug trade/traffic and the transport of migrants or refugees developed since the 1990s. By now, it is interwoven with the various terror-groups, militias or officials too. Both parts of that well-organised system see Europe as their main destination, but Africa is systematically developed as a future market for drugs too. It is clear, that the civil population is suffering most in all the regions. Maps for five time slices – the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1990s, 2015, and 2018 will present the different interconnections of drug traffic and migration/flight. They show the traditional system of migration and flight up to the 1990s, when the international drug traffic interconnected with the various terror groups and shaped a new economic system. The initiatives of the European Union to stop or channelize migration and future chances for the region will have to cope with them.

Background: In the last few years, statisticians have introduced new generated families of univariate distributions. These new generators are obtained by adding one or more extra shape parameters to the underlying distribution to get more flexibility in fitting data in different areas such as medical sciences, economics, finance and environmental sciences. The addition of parameter(s) has been proven useful in exploring tail properties and also for improving the goodness-of-fit of the family of distributions under study. Methods: A new three parameter family of distributions was introduced by using the idea of T-X methodology. Some statistical properties of the new family were derived and studied. Results: A new Topp Leone Kumaraswamy-G family of distributions was introduced. Two special sub-models, that is, the Topp Leone Kumaraswamy exponential distribution and Topp Leone Kumaraswamy log-logistic distribution were investigated. Two real data sets were used to assess the flexibility of the sub-models. Conclusion: The results suggest that the two sub-models performed better than their competitors.

Background/AimsColorectal cancer (CRC) is now a major public health problem with heavy morbidity and mortality in rural Africans despite the lingering dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs consumption. Studies have shown that increased intake of dietary fiber which contribute to low fecal pH and also influences the activity of intestinal microbiota, is associated with a lowered risk for CRC. However, whether or not the apparent high dietary fiber consumption by Africans do not longer protects against CRC risk is unknown. This study evaluated dietary fiber intake, fecal fiber components and pH levels in CRC patients.MethodsThirty-five subjects (CRC=21, control=14), mean age 45 years were recruited for the study. A truncated food frequency questionnaire and modified Goering and Van Soest procedures were used.ResultsWe found that all subjects consumed variety of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs. There is slight preponderance in consumption of dietary fiber by the control group than the CRC patients. We also found a significant difference in the mean fecal neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin contents from the CRC patients compared to the controls (P

Roots are complicated quantitative characteristics that play an essential role in absorbing water and nutrients. To uncover the genetic variations for root-related traits in rapeseed, twelve mature root traits of a Brassica napus association panel were investigated in the field within three environments. All traits showed significant phenotypic variation among genotypes, with heritabilities ranging from 55.18% to 79.68%. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using 20,131 SNPs discovered 172 marker-trait associations, including 103 significant SNPs (−log10 (p) > 4.30) that explained 5.24–20.31% of the phenotypic variance. With the linkage disequilibrium r2 > 0.2, these significant associations were binned into 40 quantitative trait loci (QTL) clusters. Among them, 14 important QTL clusters were discovered in two environments and/or with phenotypic contributions greater than 10%. By analyzing the genomic regions within 100 kb upstream and downstream of the peak SNPs within the 14 loci, 334 annotated genes were found. Among these, 32 genes were potentially associated with root development according to their expression analysis. Furthermore, the protein interaction network using the 334 annotated genes gave nine genes involved in a substantial number of interactions, including a key gene associated with root development, BnaC09g36350D. This research provides the groundwork for deciphering B. napus’ genetic variations and improving its root system architecture.

Background: The global incidence of snakebite has become a major concern to the community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mango seed kernel methanol extract on metalloproteases in Carpet Viper (Echis ocellatus) venom. Methods: Mango seed kernel methanolic extract was evaluated in vitro for its anti-venom activity and inhibition of metalloproteases of Carpet Viper's (Echis ocellatus) venom. Metalloprotease portion was partially purified from the venom of E. ocellatus with a yield of 71%, a purification fold of 2.63 and a specific activity of 19.00 µmol/min/mg protein. Results: The enzyme appeared as a band on SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of 23 kDa. The kinetic properties of the enzyme showed a Km of 0.31 mg mL-1 and a Vmax of 9.09 µmol min-1. When the enzyme was incubated with the extract, kinetic studies revealed a mixed non-competitive pattern of inhibition with Km values of 0.56 and 1.11 mg mL-1 and Vmaxvalues of 6.67 and 4.17-µmol min-1 for 5% and 20% inhibitor concentrations, respectively. An estimated Ki value of 0.168 mg mL-1 was obtained from a secondary plot demonstrating that the extract had a high affinity for the partially purified enzyme; thus, could serve as an effective inhibitor. Conclusion: Methanol extract of mango seed kernel has a high affinity for the partially purified enzyme, and it might provide an inexpensive and readily available alternative to sheep serum in the management of snakebite envenomation. Therefore, further in vivo studies are necessary to assess its effectiveness and safety.

Cotton production is hampered by a variety of abiotic stresses that wreak havoc on the growth and development of plants, resulting in significant financial losses. According to reports, cotton production areas have declined around the world as a result of the ongoing stress. Therefore, plant breeding programs are concentrating on abiotic stress-tolerant cotton varieties. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are involved in plant growth, stress responses, and the hormonal signaling pathway. In this research, three abiotic stresses (cold, drought, and salt) were analyzed on GhMPK3 transformed Arabidopsis plants. The transgenic plant’s gene expression and morphologic analysis were studied under cold, drought, and salt stress. Physiological parameters such as relative leaf water content, excised leaf water loss, chlorophyll content, and ion leakage showed that overexpressed plants possess more stable content under stress conditions compared with the WT plants. Furthermore, GhMPK3 overexpressed plants had greater antioxidant activities and weaker oxidant activities. Silencing GhMPK3 in cotton inhibited its tolerance to drought stress. Our research findings strongly suggest that GhMPK3 can be regarded as an essential gene for abiotic stress tolerance in cotton plants.

Nigeria is one of the developing countries with a very weak and incomprehensive regulatory framework for clinical trials. Past abuses of human subjects in clinical trials and cases of negligence and outright fraud necessitate the need for a stronger legal framework. An outbreak of meningitis in Nigeria in 1996 led to clinical trial of Trovan Drugs by Pfizer, which left many of the research subjects seriously impaired. Some died while some suffered paralysis and brain damage. It was obvious Nigeria has a weak regulatory frame work from the incident that took place in the mentioned above at the Infectious Dieses Hospital (IDH) Kano. Available literatures have also shown that at the time of the trial in Kano, there was no ethics committee to ensure ethics review process and monitor the ongoing trial. Objectives: This research aimed at examining the Nigerian regulatory framework to bring out its weaknesses. It will also examine the strength and weakness of the current regulatory agencies, and suggest better regulatory framework that will make Nigerians less vulnerable to manipulation and fraud in clinical trials. Methodology: Library research is used to study both primary and secondary legal resources. Finding: Lack of standard regulatory body and lack unified legal framework is the cause of failure to protect human subject in Nigeria.

Abstract: Euthanasia is one of the concepts that stifled debate among academics, lawyers, religious scholars and even politicians. The reason being that it is killing human being although forcompassionate reason, and with voluntary consent of the victim. Opponents of legalizing it, rely on the fear of slippery slope, sacred nature of life and question of inheritance. Despite the aforementioned factors, some countries legalised it while it remains a crime in the majority of other countries including Nigeria. We wrote this paper with the aim of highlighting and reinforcing the prohibition of the practice using Nigerian laws. Doctrinal method was employed to achieve the above objectives. In the process both primary and secondary legal materials were fully considered. The scope of the paper was limited to substantive provisions of both the penal code and the criminal code of Nigeria respectively. The aforementioned laws deal with the offence of murder by conduct or omission. However, there is no mention of the direct act of euthanasia, but from the reading of the laws inference can be drawn relating to withholding and withdrawing medical treatment leading to death. The finding of the paper is that although there is an elaborate provision regarding the prohibition of euthanasia under the criminal code, the law is not so adequate under the penal code and both laws are independent of themselves. Since both laws are applied at different geopolitical zones in Nigeria, the inadequacy of the laws will affect the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria. The paper therefore suggests an amendment to the penal code to fill the gap it has created. Keywords: Euthanasia, Physician assisted suicide, Slippery slope, Murder, Nigeria. Abstrak: Euthanasia telah menimbulkan konflik antara ahli akademik, peguam, tokoh agama dan juga ahli politik. Ini adalah kerana ia mematikan atau membunuh manusia sekalipun dilakukan atas dasar simpati dan dengan persetujuan mangsa. Pihak yang menentang euthanasia berpegang kepada faktor-faktor ‘slippery slope’, kesucian nyawa dan isu peninggalan. Walaupun begitu, terdapat negara yang mempraktikkan euthanasia manakala negara yang tidak berbuat demikian adalah kerana mengganggap ia sebagai satu jenayah termasuklah Nigeria. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk membincangkan berkaitan larangan perlaksanaan euthanasia berdasarkan undang-undang yang ada di Nigeria. Kaedah doktrinal digunakan untuk mencapai objektif kajian. Kedua-dua data primer dan sekunder turut digunakan dalam proses ini. Skop kajian pula hanya memfokuskan kepada peruntukan undang-undang ada dalam kanun keseksaan dan kanun jenayah. Undang-undang ini ada kaitan dengan kesalahan membunuh sama ada melalui melakukan sesuatu perbuatan atau ketinggalan. Walaupun tidak dinyatakan secara langsung, tetapi perbuatan menahan dan menarik balik rawatan perubatan yang membawa kepada kematian boleh dianggap sebagai euthanasia. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa walaupun terdapat peruntukan berhubung larangan terhadap euthanasia di bawah kanun jenayah, tetapi ia tidak mencukupi di bawah kanun keseksaan dan kedua-dua undang-undang ini adalah bebas daripada satu sama lain. Memandangkan kedua-dua undang- undang ini digunakan di zon yang berbeza di Nigeria, kelemahan undang-undang ini akan mempengaruhi pentadbiran keadilan jenayah di Nigeria. Oleh itu, artikel ini mencadangkan pindaan dilakukan kepada kanun jenayah bagi mengatasi masalah ini. Kata Kunci: Euthanasia, ‘Physician assisted suicide’, ‘Slippery slope’, Bunuh, Nigeria.

Chromate reductase is an enzyme that converts toxic and carcinogenic Cr6+ to non-carcinogenic and less soluble Cr3+. A hypothetical protein (ref.XP-001388504.1) from Aspergillus niger has been identified as chromate reductase using bioinformatics techniques. The techniques involved Clustal W alignment and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). Using Clustal W alignment the motifs VTPEYN and LKNAID motifs were identified to be common among the different chromate reductase homologues aligned. The same motifs reappeared when the hypothetical protein was aligned with other chromate reductase homologues. The BLAST search was able to also identify VTPEYN and LKNAID motifs on the A. niger genome indicating the likelihood of the hypothetical protein being chromate reductase. The homologue was recovered as putative chromate reductase gene encoded by an open reading frame of 2227 bp nucleotide sequence. These findings clearly demonstrate the hypothetical protein is likely to be chromate reductase.

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-Plasmodium berghei activities of some extracts from Indigofera pulchra leaves. Six groups of mice were intraperitoneally infected with chloroquine sensitive P. berghei (NK 65) among which two groups were orally treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of methanol leaves extract while another two groups were treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg of n-butanol fraction derived from the methanol extract. Another infected group was treated with chloroquine (25 mg/kg) whereas the remaining infected group was left untreated. All infected treated groups possessed a significantly (p

HIV-1 CRF02_AG and subtype G (HIV-1G) account for most HIV infections in Nigeria, but their evolutionary trends have not been well documented. To better elucidate the dynamics of the epidemic in Nigeria we characterised the gag and env genes of North-Central Nigerian HIV-1 isolates from pregnant women. Of 28 samples sequenced in both genes, the predominant clades were CRF02_AG (39%) and HIV-1G (32%). Higher predicted proportion of CXCR4-tropic (X4) HIV-1G isolates was noted compared to CRF02_AG (p = 0.007, Fisher's exact test). Phylogenetic and Bayesian analysis conducted on our sequences and all the dated available Nigerian sequences on the Los Alamos data base showed that CRF02_AG and HIV-1G entered into Nigeria through multiple entries, with presence of HIV-1G dating back to early 1980s. This study underlines the genetic complexity of the HIV-1 epidemic in Nigeria, possible subtype-specific differences in co-receptor usage, and the evolutionary trends of the predominant HIV-1 strains in Nigeria, which may have implications for the design of biomedical interventions and better understanding of the epidemic.

Based on the limitations of the Inverse Lomax distribution and exponential distribution as outlined in the literature, a new extension of the exponential distribution is introduced in this paper. Some statistical properties of the ILOEED such as mean, variance, skewness, quantile function, moment, moment generating function, as well as kurtosis were demonstrated. The shapes of the hazard function of the proposed distribution suggest that it can be used to fit a dataset with increasing and bath-tube shapes. A simulation study for three different cases was also presented. The result of the simulation for three different cases (I, II, and III) indicated that ILOEED’s estimates are consistent. Lastly, an application to Industry datasets was demonstrated based on the ILOEED. Having minimum values of the Goodness-of-fit criteria and Goodness-of-fit statistics, the ILOEED can be recommended to fit these three datasets, in preference to other distributions considered in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary data analysis, there is a growing recognition of the need for flexible and adaptable probabilistic models that can effectively capture complex dependencies and tail behaviors in real-life datasets. In response to this demand, this study proposes a new trigonometric generalized family of distribution called the "transmuted cosine Topp-Leone G family". Built upon this family, the proposed framework combines the adaptability of the Topp-Leone distribution with the periodicity of the cosine function and the concept of transmutation theory. This combination results in a highly flexible framework that can accurately represent a wide range of real-life phenomena. The study also explores various statistical properties of the introduced family, including survival and hazard functions, as well as moment and moment-generating functions. The model parameters are estimated using the Maximum Likelihood method, and to ensure the reliability and consistency of the estimates, a Monte Carlo simulation is conducted. Additionally, the study examines the impact of the distribution parameters on the shape of the resulting distributions, which can exhibit left-skew, right-skew, increasing, or decreasing patterns. Finally, empirical demonstrations are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the TrCTLG family models in fitting lifetime datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we delve into the modeling and analysis of lifetimes, which hold substantial importance across various scientific and industrial fields. Our focus is on introducing a novel distribution termed the Type I Half-Logistic Exponentiated Frechet (TIHLEtF) Distribution, which is an extension of the Frechet distribution. We have derived a crucial representation of the density function for this distribution. Furthermore, we explore several statistical properties associated with the TIHLEtF distribution. These properties encompass explicit expressions for the quantile function, probability-weighted moments, moments, moments generating function, reliability function, hazard function, and order statistics. To estimate the model parameters, we employ the maximum likelihood estimation technique and present the results of a simulation study. To emphasize the superiority of our newly introduced distribution, we apply it to two real datasets. The outcomes of our analysis reveal that the TIHLEtF distribution outperforms the other considered distributions in terms of fitting the data in these real-world cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lelna people of Zuru, Kebbi State, North-western Nigeria, predominantly prefer the use of medicinal plants as viable treatments against different ailments, including trypanosomiasis, as the area is endowed with viable medicinal plants, despite a gradual decrease in the traditional knowledge of usage. This study seeks to document medicinal plants used for the treatment of trypanosomiasis among lelna people. A survey was conducted from October 2021 to January 2022 among the lelna tribes. Information was collected from 104 respondents using the purposive sampling technique and interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. The survey documented 34 medicinal plant species belonging to 31 genera and 20 families. The highest fidelity level and relative frequency of citation of commonly mentioned plants were observed for Rogeria adenophylla J. Gay and Ricinus communis Linn. Fabaceae family, represented by 8 species, appears to be the most commonly utilized family. The most frequently cited species were wild-derived trees or shrubs and most herbal remedies were mainly prepared by decoction (45%) and administered orally (100%). Leaves (39%) and stem bark (16%) accounted for the highest proportion of the biological parts of plants used in remedy preparation. Parasitic diseases presented the highest informant consensus factor (ICF = 0.68) among the cited species. This study has documented potential traditional medicinal plant species for treating trypanosomiasis in Zuru, Kebbi State. Pharmacological studies to identify the active principles of the cited species are required to validate their uses and unveil new potential trypanoside agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the dimensions of available data for analysis continues to grow rapidly, it becomes imperative to develop new probability distributions that can more accurately represent various phenomena. In this research paper, we introduce a novel continuous probability distribution known as the Type II Half-Logistic Exponentiated Frechet Distribution, characterized by four positive parameters. This distribution expands upon the traditional Frechet distribution by introducing two additional parameters. We derive a significant density representation for this distribution. Furthermore, we delve into several statistical and mathematical properties associated with the Type II Half-Logistic Exponentiated Frechet distribution. This includes explicit expressions for key metrics such as the quantile function, probability weighted moments, moments, moments generating function, reliability function, hazard function, and order statistics. To estimate the model parameters effectively, we employ a maximum likelihood estimation technique and present the results of a simulation study. Our research underscores the superiority of this new distribution by applying it to two real-world datasets. Notably, the findings demonstrate that the Type II Half-Logistic Exponentiated Frechet distribution outperforms other considered distributions in fitting the two real datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in 2023 at the Pasture plot of the Department of Animal Production Teaching and Research Farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Gubi Campus, Bauchi State. Grass-legume mix ratios of Brachiaria mulato (BM) and Centrosema pascuorum (CP) at different mix rates (B. mulato only, 3 part B.M: 1 part C.P, 1 part B.M: 1 part C.P, 1 part B.M: 3 parts C.P and C. pascuorum only) were studied to determine their growth rate, yield and quality of the forages. Forages across treatments were fertilized at 150 kg/ha of Single Super Phosphate (SSP) in full application at 2 and 5 weeks of age. Plant mix ratios constituted the main plots and stage of harvest (4, 6, 8, 10 & 12 weeks) were the sub factor in a Completely Randomized Block Design layout. The highest (P<0.05) plant height was obtained at 1B.M: 3C.P plant mix ratio for both B. mulato (57 cm) and C. pascuorum (67.67 cm) plants separately. Plant height and tiller number were observed to have increased (P<0.05) as pasture weeks increased from week 4 to 6. Soil cover percentage was significant (P<0.05) and was highest (80.30%) in sole C. pascuorum followed by 53.33% in sole B. mulato and 1B.R: 1C.P mixtures. Plant mix rates significantly (P<0.05) increased leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter yield of B. mulato & C. pascuorum mixtures. The highest (P<0.05) total fresh (32.90 t/ha) and dry matter yield (10.31 t/ha) were in 1BM: 3C.P mix ratio at week 12 (31.55 & 9.35 t/ha, respectively). Similarly, the chemical composition showed 1BM:3C.P had the best (P<0.05) Crude protein (16.02%), NDF (51.94%) and ADF (40.98%) values compared to other treatments except sole C. pascuorum while week 10 had the best CP (17.28%), NDF (49.01%) and ADF (44.53%). Hence, B. mulato and C. pascuorum are recommended for planting at a mixed rate of 1B.M: 3C.P (1: 3) and harvested at 10 weeks old for best productivity for improved animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, irreversible but preventable disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms. The mortality rate of COPD is predicted to reach 5.4 million by the year 2060. Despite its heavy burden on healthcare expenditure worldwide, only 15% of cases are medically identified. The potential benefits of facemask-wearing for COPD patients remain a topic of debate. Methods: We will conduct a systematic review of all randomized trials and non-randomized controlled trials to evaluate the impact of facemasks on COPD patients. Our review will be based on literature obtained through a comprehensive search strategy across multiple electronic databases, including the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, the Chinese Biomedical Database (SinoMed), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), with no restrictions on language or date of publication. Two independent researchers will extract and assess all relevant data using pre-designed data extraction forms. The included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane RoB2 tool and the suggested risk of bias criteria proposed by the Effective Practice and Organization of Care reviews group of the Cochrane collaboration. The quality of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. We will use Review Manager 5.4 software for statistical analysis. Discussion: In the context of COVID-19, it is important for COPD patients to wear facemasks. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive and systematic assessment of the impact of facemasks on the physiology and activity of COPD patients. Trial registration: PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022326265. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the area of distribution theory, statisticians have proposed and developed new models for generalizing the existing ones so as to make them more flexible and to aid their application in a variety of fields. In this article, we present a new distribution called the Type I Half-Logistic Exponentiated Weibull (TIHLEtW) Distribution with four positive parameters, which extends the Weibull distribution by two parameters. Some statistical properties of the TIHLEtW distribution, such as explicit expressions for the quantile function, probability weighted moments, moments, generating function, Reliability function, hazard function, and order statistics are discussed. A maximum likelihood estimation technique is employed to estimate the model parameters and the simulation study is presented. The superiority of the new distribution is illustrated with an application to two real data sets. The results showed that the new distribution fits better in the two real data sets amongst the range of distributions considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are natural enemies which affect insect population and have long been recognized as biological control agents against many insect pests. Some isolates have also been established as endophytes, benefiting their host plants without causing any symptoms or negative effects. Here we demonstrated two entomopathogenic fungal species, Isariajavanica (Frieder. & Bally) Samson & Hywel-jone 2005 and Purpureocillium lilacinum (Thom) Luangsa-ard, Hou-braken, Hywel-Jones & Samson (2011) as endophytes in tomato plants by using the seed inoculation method and examined their effect on plant growth, B. tabaci mortality, and adult emergence. Our study indicated that tomato seeds treated with a fungal suspension of I. javanica and P. lilacinum enabled their recovery from plant tissues (root, stem and leaf) up to 60 days after inoculation (DAI). Both endophytic isolates also caused significant mortality of adult B. tabaci on seedlings inoculated with, I. javanica (51.92±4.78%), and P. lilacinum (45.32±0.20%) compared to the control treatment (19.29±2.35). Adult emergence rates were significantly high in the control treatments (57.50±2.66%) compared to I. javanica (15.00±1.47%) and P. lilacinum (28.75±4.78%) treatments. This study provides evidence that endophytic isolates of I. javanica and P. lilacinum have a biocontrol potentials for used against whiteflies and could also explored as plant growth promoters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]