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The landscape of cancer treatment has witnessed a paradigm shift with the emergence of immunotherapy, particularly the inhibition of immune checkpoints like programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1. While these therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment, a substantial proportion of patients still fail to respond, highlighting the need to explore alternative immune checkpoints. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), a member of the B7 family, has orchestrated significant attention. Abundantly expressed in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, VISTA's role in regulating immune responses, especially in breast cancer, hints at its potential as a linchpin in breast cancer immunotherapy. This research focuses on molecular docking simulations of a diverse array of immuno-oncology compounds to identify potential VISTA inhibitors. Three promising candidates (Compound_6784, Compound_14718, and Compound_34839) exhibited favorable binding affinities with VISTA, forming key interactions with critical amino acid residues. ADME-Tox profiling revealed these compounds to be highly druggable, displaying minimal toxicity risks, making them suitable for clinical trials and drug development. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations provided insights into the structural dynamics of these compounds. The metrics underline the superior stability of Compound_14718, making it the most promising candidate for further research and drug development. This research lays a robust foundation for the development of novel immunotherapies targeting VISTA in cancer treatment. The identified compounds present promising candidates for further investigation and drug development, offering hope for improved cancer immunotherapy strategies.

Since its outbreak in December 2019 in China, COVID-19 has spread like wild fire to affect many communities of the world. The high infectivity and case fatality rates of the disease among the general population and the severely ill patients respectively drew the attention of the global community. Our review showed that socio-demographic and lifestyle-related risk factors and underlying comorbid diseases were directly and indirectly associated with increased susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. These factors included older age (⩾60 years), male gender, and ethnic minority groups (especially blacks), smoking, low serum level of vitamin D, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity (with poor exposure to sunlight), overweight/obesity, high blood pressure/hypertension, high blood cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases (like stroke and coronary heart disease), diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and some cancers (like leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma). The literature further revealed that the clinical progression of the majority of these associated risk factors can be modified through effective and comprehensive risk reduction through healthy living and lifestyle modification. COVID-19 preventive and treatment guidelines that give adequate attention to risk reduction and healthy lifestyle among people—either in the pre-, peri-, or post-COVID-19 stage, should be developed by public health policymakers and clinicians. This will play a significant role in the global effort to combat the pandemic, and reduce its negative impact on the life expectancy and socio-economic development of the world particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Environmental factors causing low seedling emergence often observed in tropical maize (Zea mays L.) are poorly documented. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of weather factors on maize seedling emergence at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm (OAU TRF). Five maize varieties sown weekly, in 3-replicate RCBD experiments throughout the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons, were used to monitor emergence percentage (E %), emergence index (EI) and emergence rate index (ERI). Climatic data were obtained from the automatic weather station located on the farm. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) environmental effect for all traits. Soil moisture (Sm), relative humidity, air temperature, heat unit and soil heat flux (SHF) showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) correlation coefficients with all traits, but there was no relationship between the emergence traits and grain yield. Stepwise multiple regression and sequential path coefficient analyses indicated that increased Sm, rather than rainfall per se, increased the speed of emergence. Minimum air temperature and SHF with direct effects, and heat unit with indirect effect, negatively affected emergence the most. Relatively low Tmin and SHF, along with just enough Sm maximized seedling emergence in the rainforest agro-ecology of southwestern Nigeria.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple, as well as cash crop, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, its production is severely constrained by low soil nitrogen (low N). Fifty-four early-maturing hybrids developed during three breeding periods, (2008–2010, 2011–2013 and 2014–2016) were evaluated under low (30 kg ha−1) and high (120 kg ha−1) soil nitrogen (N) in Ile-Ife and Mokwa, Nigeria, from 2017 to 2019. The study was designed to (i) determine the genetic gains in grain yield of the early-maturing maize hybrids developed during the three breeding periods, (ii) determine the relationship between grain yield and other agronomic traits and (iii) identify the highest-yielding and most stable hybrids under low- and high-N environments. The 54 hybrids were evaluated using a 6 × 9 lattice design with three replications. Mean squares for hybrids were significant for measured traits under low- and high-N environments, except the mean squares for stalk lodging and EPP under low N. Annual genetic gains in grain yield were 75 kg ha−1 year−1 (2.91%) and 55 kg ha−1 year−1 (1.33%) under low- and high-N environments, respectively, indicating that substantial gains were achieved in the genetic enhancement of the early-maturing hybrids. The hybrids TZdEI 314 × TZdEI 105, TZdEI 378 × TZdEI 173, ENT 12 × TZEI 48 and TZdEI 352 × TZdEI 315 were identified as the highest-yielding and most stable across test environments and should be tested extensively on farms and commercialized in SSA.

This study was conducted to determine the optimum planting date for maize (Zea mays L.) to cope with the negative impacts of climate change in the marginal rainforest agro-ecology as typified at Ile-Ife, SW Nigeria. Five maize varieties were planted weekly, in 3-replicate randomized complete block design experiments at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm, throughout the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons. The varieties were monitored for seedling and adult plant traits including grain yield with its components. Statistical analysis showed significant effect of planting dates (DOP) on all traits. The first few DOPs in March and April had the highest grain yield which reduced with delayed planting till June and increased again mid July/August before finally dropping off thereafter. The higher yield in the earlier dates each year, was due to early flowering and taller plants with higher ear placement. Planting after the first few rains in March/April was the optimum for the first cropping season, and late July to mid-August was best for the second cropping season in this agroclimatic zone. Planting beyond these periods results in poor grain yield and pre-disposes the crop to terminal drought, which could result in complete crop failure.

Since its outbreak in December 2019 in China, COVID-19 has spread like wild fire to affect many communities of the world. The high infectivity and case fatality rates of the disease among the general population and the severely ill patients respectively drew the attention of the global community. Our review showed that socio-demographic and lifestyle-related risk factors and underlying comorbid diseases were directly and indirectly associated with increased susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. These factors included older age (⩾60 years), male gender, and ethnic minority groups (especially blacks), smoking, low serum level of vitamin D, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity (with poor exposure to sunlight), overweight/obesity, high blood pressure/hypertension, high blood cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases (like stroke and coronary heart disease), diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and some cancers (like leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma). The literature further revealed that the clinical progression of the majority of these associated risk factors can be modified through effective and comprehensive risk reduction through healthy living and lifestyle modification. COVID-19 preventive and treatment guidelines that give adequate attention to risk reduction and healthy lifestyle among people—either in the pre-, peri-, or post-COVID-19 stage, should be developed by public health policymakers and clinicians. This will play a significant role in the global effort to combat the pandemic, and reduce its negative impact on the life expectancy and socio-economic development of the world particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Audit timeliness is an important ingredient of quality financial reporting. Stale information might only benefit little to stakeholders in their decision making process. With the recent adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards in Nigeria, the work of the auditor has seemingly become complicated. The question then emerges, if such adoption affects the timeliness of audit reports. This study empirically investigates the impact of IFRS adoption and other associated explanatory variables on audit timeliness in Nigerian deposit money banks for the period 2010 to 2013. Panel regression analysis reveals a positive significant impact of IFRS adoption on audit timeliness. Results also indicate that firm age, firm size and auditor firm type are significant predictors of audit timeliness in Nigeria deposit money banks. The study recommends that auditor firms should make stringent efforts to acclimatize with the complexities of the IFRS transition process so as to reduce audit report delays. Also reporting agencies should come up with regulations, deadlines and benchmarks for issuance of independent audit reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]