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In recent years, various energy sources and methods have been used to heat water in domestic and commercial buildings. Water heating methods for large households or commercial buildings include electrical heating elements, gas heaters, and solar energy (solar concentrators, flat plate collectors, evacuated tube collectors, etc.). In recent decades, the focus of water heating has shifted to solar energy, which is abundantly available in most African countries. The weather condition of a region has a huge impact on the system's performance. South Africa is characterised by four different weather seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn), unlike most African countries. Therefore, this study focuses on the impact of weather seasons on the system's performance for water heating through the combined use of solar energy and solar concentrator techniques. The system performance was modelled by using Matlab Simulink®, where historical weather data for Pretoria, South Africa, was fed into the model. Based on the weather data input, the system behaviour varied per season due to the change in solar intensity. The average outlet temperatures of the absorber, in the order of magnitude, were 333, 332, 328, and 325 K during the autumn, summer, spring, and winter seasons, respectively. Similarly, the average storage tank temperatures, in the order of magnitude, were 366, 364, 363, and 360 K in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. From this study, it is concluded that the different weather seasons in South Africa, have a direct impact on the performance of the system. Irrespective of the season, the system produced the required volume of hot water required throughout the year.

- In Ghana, mining of minerals at small-scale and large-scale is widespread across many districts, leading to significant heavy metal pollution in the environment. In this study, the concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) in the different drinking water samples collected from households, institutions, water points and surface water in two mining districts namely the Wassa East and Asutifi North were analyzed. The water types collected included boreholes, wells, piped water into yards, public standpipes, rainwater, sachet water, and surface water. The results indicated that the levels of Fe and Mn were higher than As and Hg in all the drinking water samples. The levels of As and Hg in drinking water from households and institutions were higher in the Wassa East district compared to the Asutifi North district. However, the metal levels at water points were similar in both districts. In surface water, Fe levels were higher in the Wassa East district compared to the Asutifi North district with median values of 1243 μg/L and 860 μg/L for the Wassa East and Asutifi North districts, respectively. In contrast, the Mn levels were higher in the Asutifi North district than the Wassa East district with median values of 9.5 μg/L and 90 μg/L for Wassa East and Asutifi North districts, respectively. All the metals (Mn, As, and Hg) studied except Fe were within the recommended WHO level. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) values for the different water types in households, institutions and water points were all below the critical limit of 100. The Water Quality Index (WQI) indicates that the boreholes, piped water into yards, and public standpipes in both districts were classified as excellent or good, making them suitable for drinking. However, the wells and surface water in both districts were classified as very poor and unfit for drinking, respectively.

High-resolution remote sensing platforms are crucial to map land use/cover (LULC) types. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has been widely used in the northern hemisphere, addressing the challenges facing low- to medium-resolution satellite platforms. This study establishes the scalability of Sentinel-2 LULC classification with ground-linked UAV orthoimages to large African ecosystems, particularly the Burunge Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania. It involved UAV flights in 19 ground-surveyed plots followed by upscaling orthoimages to a 10 m × 10 m resolution to guide Sentinel-2 LULC classification. The results were compared with unguided Sentinel-2 using the best classifier (random forest, RFC) compared to support vector machines (SVMs) and maximum likelihood classification (MLC). The guided classification approach, with an overall accuracy (OA) of 94% and a kappa coefficient (k) of 0.92, outperformed the unguided classification approach (OA = 90%; k = 0.87). It registered grasslands (55.2%) as a major vegetated class, followed by woodlands (7.6%) and shrublands (4.7%). The unguided approach registered grasslands (43.3%), followed by shrublands (27.4%) and woodlands (1.7%). Powerful ground-linked UAV-based training samples and RFC improved the performance. The area size, heterogeneity, pre-UAV flight ground data, and UAV-based woody plant encroachment detection contribute to the study’s novelty. The findings are useful in conservation planning and rangelands management. Thus, they are recommended for similar conservation areas.

# Background Adequate glycemic control prevents acute complications and reduces the risk of long-term complications, the use of services, and societal costs. In clinical practice, achieving good glycemic control for a diabetic patient over the long term is a challenge, considering the complexity of the factors. No study to date has been carried out on diabetic patients and the factors that may be linked to poor glycemic control in Haiti. The main objective of this study was to identify factors related to poor glycemic control in diabetic patients. # Methods This analytical cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the long-term management of diabetic patients. Patients seen in an outpatient clinic in Saint-Nicolas Hospital (Saint-Marc, Haiti) from March to May 2022 were recruited. During this period, 268 diabetic patients were seen during their routine medical visits, of which 226 met our criteria and agreed to participate. They were interviewed by the examiners, with questions that allowed us to assess the association of poor glycemic control according to the American Diabetes Association objectives, with demographic and clinical factors identified from our literature review. The analysis included descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression using Epi Info 7.2.2.6. P value \

Portions of Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte Provinces, and Dinagat Islands are pre-identified by the Department of Energy (DOE) as potential deployment sites of tidal energy. In this study, a new approach to estimating tidal velocities is implemented by generating a synthetic tidal velocity profile over the area of interest using available data from tidal simulations and actual point measurements. Tidal current devices were tested over the area to estimate the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and further assessed for deployment feasibility. It was found that Evopod E1000 had a 0.14 × 106 kW indicative potential capacity with at least 0.16 $/kWh cost of energy.

Abstract With the rise of affordable next‐generation sequencing technology, introgression—or the exchange of genetic materials between taxa—has become widely perceived to be a ubiquitous phenomenon in nature. Although this claim is supported by several keystone studies, no thorough assessment of the frequency of introgression across eukaryotes in nature has been performed to date. In this manuscript, we aim to address this knowledge gap by examining patterns of introgression across eukaryotes. We collated a single statistic, Patterson's D, which can be used as a test for introgression across 123 studies to further assess how taxonomic group, divergence time, and sequencing technology influence reports of introgression. Overall, introgression has mostly been measured in plants and vertebrates, with less attention given to the rest of the Eukaryotes. We find that the most frequently used metrics to detect introgression are difficult to compare across studies and even more so across biological systems due to differences in study effort, reporting standards, and methodology. Nonetheless, our analyses reveal several intriguing patterns, including the observation that differences in sequencing technologies may bias values of Patterson's D and that introgression may differ throughout the course of the speciation process. Together, these results suggest the need for a unified approach to quantifying introgression in natural communities and highlight important areas of future research that can be better assessed once this unified approach is met.

Abstract Background Mortality from chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) is extremely high along the Pacific coast of Central America, particularly among sugarcane workers. The Mesoamerican Nephropathy Occupational Study (MANOS) is a prospective cohort study of CKDu among agricultural and non-agricultural workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua. The objective of this manuscript is to describe the MANOS cohort recruitment, baseline data collection, and CKDu prevalence after two rounds. Methods Workers with no known diabetes, hypertension, or CKD were recruited from sugarcane, corn, plantain, brickmaking, and road construction industries (n = 569). Investigators administered questionnaires, collected biological samples, and observed workers for three consecutive workdays at the worksite. Serum specimens were analyzed for kidney function parameters, and used to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). At six months, serum was collected again prior to the work shift. CKD at baseline is defined as eGFR ≤ 60 ml/min/1.73m2 at both timepoints. Age-standardized prevalence was calculated by industry, country, and demographic measures. Kidney function parameters were compared by CKD status. Results Prevalence of CKD at baseline was 7.4% (n = 42). Age-standardized prevalence was highest in Salvadoran sugarcane (14.1%), followed by Salvadoran corn (11.6%), and Nicaraguan brickmaking (8.1%). Nicaraguan sugarcane had the lowest prevalence, likely due to kidney function screenings prior to employment. Conclusion Despite efforts to enroll participants without CKD, our identification of prevalent CKD among agricultural and non-agricultural workers in the MANOS cohort indicates notable kidney disease in the region, particularly among sugarcane workers.

Habitat condition is a vital ecological attribute in wildlife conservation and management in protected areas, including the Burunge wildlife management areas in Tanzania. Traditional techniques, including satellite remote sensing and ground-based techniques used to assess habitat condition, have limitations in terms of costs and low resolution of satellite platforms. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Green NDVI (GNDVI) have potential for assessing habitat condition, e.g., forage quantity and quality, vegetation cover and degradation, soil erosion and salinization, fire, and pollution of vegetation cover. We, therefore, examined how the recently emerged Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platform and the traditional Sentinel-2 differs in indications of habitat condition using NDVI and GNDVI. We assigned 13 survey plots to random locations in the major land cover types: three survey plots in grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands, and two in riverine and mosaics cover types. We used a UAV-mounted, multi-spectral sensor and obtained Sentinel-2 imagery between February and March 2020. We categorized NDVI and GNDVI values into habitat condition classes (very good, good, poor, and very poor). We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and linear regression model in R-software. The results revealed higher sensitivity and ability of UAV to provide the necessary preliminary diagnostic indications of habitat condition. The UAV-based NDVI and GNDVI maps showed more details of all classes of habitat conditions than the Sentinel-2 maps. The linear regressions results showed strong positive correlations between the two platforms (p < 0.001). The differences were attributed primarily to spatial resolution and minor atmospheric effects. We recommend further studies to test other vegetation indices.

Packaging materials play a significant role in the meat, fish, and seafood, pharmaceutical, beverages, and electronics industries. These materials protect the contents during handling and transportation from damage, contamination, and loss of quality, thus enhancing the shelf life of the products being packaged. Several materials, like paper and cardboard, plastics, metals, and glass, have been widely used. However, the vast consumption of these materials leads to high waste generation due to increasing demands globally. This article considers some aspects of recycling waste packaging materials, the need for recycling in terms of environmental impacts, and the energy-saving and economic benefits. It also provides some highlights on the sustainability of the processes of recycling and how the government and public can influence recycling operations. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on packaging systems and solid waste management is also highlighted. This study also provides a short note on the possible future methods to be adopted in the recycling process of waste packaging materials.

Biogas bioslurry, which is normally a bio-digestion product from livestock refuse, can be utilized as an inorganic fertilizer, thus boosting not only soil fertility but also crop growth and yield. Its use can mitigate climate change by reducing methane gas emissions, which are associated with the direct application of fresh animal manure. The current study was carried out on farmer’s fields based at Wusi-Kishamba and Werugha wards in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, and it aimed at investigating the effect of bioslurry coupled with synthetic fertilizer on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) growth and yield. There were four treatments: sole bioslurry, sole fertilizer (DAP), bioslurry + DAP, and control, which were replicated five times in a randomized, complete block-designed layout. Data were collected on plant growth (plant height and leaf length) and yield (marketable and unmarketable tubers and the number of tubers plant−1). The results indicated a general increase in plant height from week one to week seven, where peak values were noted with sole slurry, sole fertilizer, and bioslurry + DAP treatments, which recorded 9, 18, and 43% taller plants, respectively, relative to control. Further, the combined application of bioslurry and DAP fertilizer significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved potato growth and yield. For instance, there was a higher (23.3 t ha−1) yield in bioslurry + DAP treatment compared to the respective least record of 14.2 t ha−1 in control. Therefore, the study recommends a synergistic application of synthetic fertilizer (DAP) and bioslurry to potato crops for optimal crop growth and production.

Abstract Fluorescence‐guided surgery (FGS) aids surgeons with real‐time visualization of small cancer foci and borders, which improves surgical and prognostic efficacy of cancer. Despite the steady advances in imaging devices, there is a scarcity of fluorophores available to achieve optimal FGS. Here, 1) a pH‐sensitive near‐infrared fluorophore that exhibits rapid signal changes in acidic tumor microenvironments (TME) caused by the attenuation of intramolecular quenching, 2) the inherent targeting for cancer based on chemical structure (structure inherent targeting, SIT), and 3) mitochondrial and lysosomal retention are reported. After topical application of PH08 on peritoneal tumor regions in ovarian cancer‐bearing mice, a rapid fluorescence increase (< 10 min), and extended preservation of signals (> 4 h post‐topical application) are observed, which together allow for the visualization of submillimeter tumors with a high tumor‐to‐background ratio (TBR > 5.0). In addition, PH08 is preferentially transported to cancer cells via organic anion transporter peptides (OATPs) and colocalizes in the mitochondria and lysosomes due to the positive charges, enabling a long retention time during FGS. PH08 not only has a significant impact on surgical and diagnostic applications but also provides an effective and scalable strategy to design therapeutic agents for a wide array of cancers.

Aim: The aim of the study was to report the etiology, pattern, and spectrum of ocular injuries in patients with maxillofacial injuries seen at a tertiary care hospital in northern Nigeria. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective evaluation of the etiology, spectrum, and treatment of ocular injures seen in patients with midfacial fractures, who presented at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika-Zaria, Nigeria, a tertiary care hospital in northern Nigeria. Cases were seen at the oral and maxillofacial clinic for those presenting with midfacial fractures, whereas those presenting with ocular injuries due to midfacial injuries were referred from the ophthalmology department. Data were collected on their demographics, etiology of injuries, body part(s) involved, and treatment. Results: A total of 256 patients had midfacial injuries during the period, of which 219 patients had 357 associated ocular injuries. The age range was between 3 and 76 years. There were more males (83.8%) than females (16.2%), giving a male-to-female ratio of 5.2:1; the 21–30 years' age bracket was most frequently affected (38.4%). The predominant etiology of injuries was road traffic accidents (RTAs) (90.1%), followed by assault (4.9%). Zygomatic complex fractures (38.6%) and orbital wall fractures (24.7%) were the common midfacial injuries. There were 357 ocular injuries, giving a patient: injury ratio of 1:1.6, with subconjunctival hemorrhage (32.5%) and ruptured globe (20.0%) being common. Treatments performed were reduction and immobilization of midfacial fractures plus evisceration (32.0%), followed by reduction and immobilization of fractures alone (23.9%) and reduction and immobilization plus grafting of soft tissues (21.2%). Conclusion: Ocular injuries are quite common in patients with midfacial injuries, with a ratio of 1.6:1. RTA was the most common etiology, with zygomatic complex fractures as the most common midfacial injury. Subconjunctival hemorrhage was the most common ocular injury manifestation, with young adults (21–30 years of age) being most affected. Treatment often involved reduction and immobilization of midface fractures with evisceration and grafting of ocular tissues.

Breast cancer is now the commonest cancer in most sub-Saharan African countries. Few studies of the epidemiology and genomics of breast cancer and its molecular subtypes in these countries have been done. The African Female Breast Cancer Epidemiology (AFBRECANE) study, a part of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative, is designed to study the genomics and epidemiology of breast cancer and its molecular subtypes in Nigerian women. We link recruitment of breast cancer cases at study sites with population-based cancer registries activities to enable ascertainment of the incidence of breast cancer and its molecular subtypes. We use centralized laboratory processing to characterize the histopathological and molecular diagnosis of breast cancer and its subtypes using multiple technologies. By combining genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from this study with that generated from 12,000 women participating in our prospective cohort study of cervical cancer, we conduct GWAS of breast cancer in an entirely indigenous African population. We test associations between dietary intakes and breast cancer and focus on vitamin D which we measure using dietary intakes, serum vitamin D, and Mendelian randomization. This paper describes the AFBRECANE project, its design, objectives and anticipated contributions to knowledge and understanding of breast cancer.

The complexity of a water distribution network (WDN) allows human imposition where accidental or intentional attack is possible. These attacks sometimes result in the contamination of water that has been treated at the treatment plant, and can eventually, be consumed by the society. However, the use of contaminated water has gross negative public health and socioeconomic implications on the society. Technically, being able to identify the source of contamination is particularly important for decision makers, so as to take immediate control strategies in order to minimize the consequences that can ensue from the use of contaminated water. There are two types of WDN analysis problem, which are: the steady state and the transient state conditions. In order to detect the continuous contamination that may be present in a WDN, this study considered a steady state condition. In this work, an approach for estimating the sources of contamination and the magnitude of concentration of the contaminant is proposed. Given a set of measurements, and by applying superposition technique, a model that embeds and relates the contaminant distribution to a set of given measurement in order to estimate the sources of contamination is formulated and, algorithm for solving it, is developed. The application of the proposed model is demonstrated on a water network with multiple injection contamination sources. The results of the estimated corresponding coefficient of determination for three cases are estimated (Case 1: 0.99894, Case 2: 0.99937 and Case 3 is 0.99974) while the corresponding root mean square were also obtained (Case 1: 0.000364, Case 2: 0.000351, Case 3: 0.000299) for a noise level of (5%). The same parameters were also obtained at a noise level of (10%). The obtained results verified the feasibility of the proposed novel approach, which can be applied to a larger water distribution network.

In the 21st century, energy demand and the attendant environmental degradation, are among the most challenging issues. The concern is due to the high dependence, globally on fossil fuels as a form of energy generation. Over 6.5 billion people worldwide require approximately 13 Terawatts of energy for their day-to-day needs. In order to achieve the required energy demand, there is a need to diversify into other forms of energy; in this case, renewable energy. In so doing, there is the need to study, extensively, alternative materials and sources needed for energy generation, storage, distribution and application. There has been a significant advancement in energy generation, conversion and storage, such as fuel cells and solar cells, photovoltaic cells, supercapacitors, batteries, etc. The emergence of nanostructured and composite materials has resulted in some significant contributions towards the improvement in the energy industry development. Renewable energy, such as wind and solar energies, depend considerably, on the environmental conditions, which are not always stable. Hence, in order to harness the energy from these sources and to adequately store such energy, there is a need for a high-performance energy conversion and storage system for the energy generation process. In this regard, carbon nanomaterials, metallic sulphides, titanium oxide and many other nanostructured materials have been studied, to a large extent, for energy conversions and storage devices. The importance of nanostructured and composite materials has shown, from researches, to resolve the issues surrounding energy from generation to storage. Keywords: Nanostructured, Composites, Renewable energy, Energy application

The present study investigated the trace metal levels in sediments, enrichment in sediments, and its bioaccumulation in mollusks collected from the intertidal sediments of the coast of Accra, Ghana, which is influenced by anthropogenic activities. The metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Zn) were analyzed in sediments. The metals (Mn, Cu, Cr, and Zn) were analyzed in the soft tissue of the mollusks collected from the different coastal areas. The results indicate that although Accra is the capital city and the coast receives tons of anthropogenic wastes, trace metal levels were low and there was no enrichment for the metals analyzed except Cu which showed minor to moderate enrichment in the coastal sediments. There was bioaccumulation of the trace metals in the soft tissue of the mollusks, and the results suggest that the mollusks studied, the gastropods (Agaronia razetoi) and the bivalves (Tivela tripla), can be used for biomonitoring.

Urban riverine systems serve as conduits for the transport of plastic waste from the terrestrial dumpsites to marine repositories. This study presented data on the occurrence of microplastics in water, sediment, Bagrid Catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) and Black-chinned Tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) from the Densu River, an urban riverine system in Ghana. Microplastics were extracted from the samples collected from both the lentic and lotic sections of the river. The results indicated widespread pollution of the Densu River with microplastics in all the compartments studied. The average numbers of microplastic particles deposited in the Dam (2.0 ± 0.58) and Delta (2.50 ± 0.48) sections of the river were not affected by the differences in their hydrology. However, the stagnant water system of the Dam promoted the floating of larger-sized microplastics while the flowing waters of the Delta did not show any selectivity in the deposition of microplastics between sediment and the water column. The number of microplastics ingestions by the Bagrid Catfish (2.88 ± 2.11) was similar to the Black-chinned Tilapia (2.38 ± 1.66) but both species ingested lower numbers of microplastics than reported for marine fish species in coastal Ghana.

The brief opening mode of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) serves as a calcium (Ca2+) release valve to prevent mitochondrial Ca2+ (mCa2+) overload. Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a stress-induced arrhythmic syndrome due to mutations in the Ca2+ release channel complex of ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2). We hypothesize that inhibiting the mPTP opening in CPVT exacerbates the disease phenotype. By crossbreeding a CPVT model of CASQ2 knockout (KO) with a mouse missing CypD, an activator of mPTP, a double KO model (DKO) was generated. Echocardiography, cardiac histology, and live-cell imaging were employed to assess the severity of cardiac pathology. Western blot and RNAseq were performed to evaluate the contribution of various signaling pathways. Although exacerbated arrhythmias were reported, the DKO model did not exhibit pathological remodeling. Myocyte Ca2+ handling was similar to that of the CASQ2 KO mouse at a low pacing frequency. However, increased ROS production, activation of the CaMKII pathway, and hyperphosphorylation of RyR2 were detected in DKO. Transcriptome analysis identified altered gene expression profiles associated with electrical instability in DKO. Our study provides evidence that genetic inhibition of mPTP exacerbates RyR2 dysfunction in CPVT by increasing activation of the CaMKII pathway and subsequent hyperphosphorylation of RyR2.

Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are tick-borne rickettsial diseases that cause significant economic losses in the livestock industry worldwide. Although bovine anaplasmosis is known to be endemic in the Philippines, epidemiological data is fragmented. Moreover, little is known about bovine ehrlichiosis in the country. In this study, the prevalence of Anaplasma marginale and Ehrlichia in cattle and water buffalo from provinces in the southern part of Luzon, Philippines, was investigated through PCR. Blood samples from 620 animals comprised of 512 cattle and 108 water buffalo and 195 tick samples were subjected to nested PCR targeting the groESL gene of Anaplasmataceae. Positive samples were further subjected to another nested PCR and conventional PCR to amplify the A. marginale groEL gene and the Ehrlichia dsbA gene, respectively. Selected A. marginale-positive samples were also subjected to nested PCR targeting the msp5 gene. Regardless of the animal host, the overall prevalence in blood samples obtained was 51.9% for Anaplasmataceae, 43% for A. marginale, and 1.1% for Ehrlichia. No water buffalo were positive for Ehrlichia. Meanwhile, 15.9, 6.7, and 2% of the tick samples, all morphologically identified as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, were positive for Anaplasmataceae, A. marginale, and Ehrlichia, respectively. Sequence analysis of selected A. marginale msp5 amplicons showed that the isolates from the region share 94–98% identity to reported A. marginale from other countries. The phylogenetic tree showed clustering of isolates in the region and a close relationship with A. marginale isolates from other countries. Sequences of Ehrlichia amplicons from cattle and ticks were 97–100% similar to reported Ehrlichia minasensis isolates. This study showed the high prevalence of A. marginale in Luzon, Philippines, and provided the first molecular evidence of E. minasensis in the country.

Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and its associated risk factors, sera from 830 horses bled on a single occasion in Northwest Nigeria between October 2019 and January 2020 were screened for antibodies to A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) using the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. Antibodies were detected in 71.3% (592/830, 95% CI: 68–74%) of horses (SRH area ≥ 0.5 mm2). Although there were statistically significant univariable associations between seropositivity and age, sex, breed, purpose and coat colour, only age remained significant when included with each of the other variables in bivariable analyses. There was a clear trend for increasing odds of seropositivity with increasing age: OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05–2.40 (p = 0.03) for 5–14-year-olds and OR 8.13, 95% CI: 2.75–24.1 (p < 0.001) for ≥15-year-olds compared to horses 2 (median = 88 mm2, interquartile range = 0–121 mm2) with only 9% of the horses having an SRH value > 150 mm2, considered sufficient to protect against clinical disease and virus shedding. Comparative screening of a subset of the horses (n = 118) with a 2019 H3N8 virus (A/equine/Worcestershire/2019) revealed a significantly greater seropositivity (p = 0.0001) than A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 consistent with exposure of the population during a widespread outbreak of EI in the region in 2019. In conclusion, there was an insufficient level of protection against EI in the region and introduction of a vaccination programme with vaccines containing recently circulating virus is recommended to mitigate against further outbreaks of EI in Nigeria.

Cardiovascular disorder (CVD) is a common comorbidity in people living with HIV (PLWH). Although the underlying mechanisms are unknown, virotoxic HIV proteins, such as the trans-activator of transcription (Tat), likely contribute to CVD pathogenesis. Tat expression in mouse myocardium has been found to induce cardiac dysfunction and increase markers of endothelial toxicity. However, the role that Tat may play in the development of CVD pathogenesis is unclear. The capacity for Tat to impact cardiac function was assessed using AC16 human cardiomyocyte cells and adult male and female transgenic mice that conditionally expressed Tat [Tat(+)], or did not [Tat(−)]. In AC16 cardiomyocytes, Tat increased intracellular calcium. In Tat(+) mice, Tat expression was detected in both atrial and ventricular heart tissue. Tat(+) mice demonstrated an increased expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end products and superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD-2) in ventricular tissues compared to Tat(−) controls. No changes in SOD-1 or α-smooth muscle actin were observed. Despite Tat-mediated changes at the cellular level, no changes in echocardiographic measures were detected. Tat(+) mice had a greater proportion of ventricular mast cells and collagen; however, doxycycline exposure offset the latter effect. These data suggest that Tat exposure promotes cellular changes that can precede progression to CVD.

Transition to renewable and sustainable energy from fossil fuels (natural gas, coal, and oil) has dominated the research cycle. The shift is as a result of increasing population growth, industrialisation, decreasing oil reserves and hazardous environmental impact of energy generation from fossil fuels. The new methods of energy generation demand functional materials that are smart and strong for generation and storage of energy. Polymeric composite materials have been widely used. With the recent material performance demand, there is a need to improve the properties of the composite. The improvement can be achieved by reinforcing with fibres and/or nanoparticles as the matrix alone does not possess the required properties. The influence of incorporating fibres and/or fillers into the polymeric matrix has been largely reported in many studies. Recent advancement in the development and use of polymeric composites and nanocomposites is discussed for energy applications. The discussion includes material property improvements, processing methods and improving interface adhesion that may arise when compounding the materials. Various areas, in the energy sector where these materials, can be used are equally highlighted.

Rickettsia and Coxiella burnetii are zoonotic, tick-borne pathogens that can cause febrile illnesses with or without other symptoms in humans, but may cause subclinical infections in animals. There are only a few reports on the occurrence of these pathogens in cattle and water buffalo in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. In this study, molecular detection of Rickettsia and C. burnetii in the blood and in the Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks of cattle and water buffalo from five provinces in Luzon Island of the Philippines was done. A total of 620 blood samples of cattle and water buffalo and 206 tick samples were collected and subjected to DNA extraction. After successful amplification of control genes, nested PCR was performed to detect gltA of Rickettsia and com1 of C. burnetii. No samples were positive for Rickettsia, while 10 (cattle = 7, water buffaloes = 3), or 1.6% of blood, and five, or 1.8% of tick samples, were C. burnetii-positive. Sequence analysis of the positive amplicons showed 99–100% similarity to reported C. burnetii isolates. This molecular evidence on the occurrence of C. burnetii in Philippine ruminants and cattle ticks and its zoonotic nature should prompt further investigation and surveillance to facilitate its effective control.

The rising incidence of emerging infectious diseases (EID) is mostly linked to biodiversity loss, changes in habitat use and increasing habitat fragmentation. Bats are linked to a growing number of EID but few studies have explored the factors of viral richness in bats. These may have implications for role of bats as potential reservoirs. We investigated the determinants of viral richness in 15 species of African bats (8 Pteropodidae and 7 microchiroptera) in Central and West Africa for which we provide new information on virus infection and bat phylogeny. We performed the first comparative analysis testing the correlation of the fragmented geographical distribution (defined as the perimeter to area ratio) with viral richness in bats. Because of their potential effect, sampling effort, host body weight, ecological and behavioural traits such as roosting behaviour, migration and geographical range, were included into the analysis as variables. The results showed that the geographical distribution size, shape and host body weight have significant effects on viral richness in bats. Viral richness was higher in large-bodied bats which had larger and more fragmented distribution areas. Accumulation of viruses may be related to the historical expansion and contraction of bat species distribution range, with potentially strong effects of distribution edges on virus transmission. Two potential explanations may explain these results. A positive distribution edge effect on the abundance or distribution of some bat species could have facilitated host switches. Alternatively, parasitism could play a direct role in shaping the distribution range of hosts through host local extinction by virulent parasites. This study highlights the importance of considering the fragmentation of bat species geographical distribution in order to understand their role in the circulation of viruses in Africa.

Objective: To define the incidence of, and factors contributing to the complications of colostomy and colostomy closure at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Patients and Method: Retrospective review of hospital records of all the patients that had colostomy/colostomy closure in the hospital from 1985 to 1994 was conducted. Two hundred and sixty nine colostomies were performed, 154 of which were fully evaluated. Loop colostomies on the sigmoid (35.7%) and transverse colon (27.3%) were most commonly performed. Indications for colostomy in adults were rectal carcinoma, acquired fistulae, colorectal injury and colonic obstruction. Anorectal anomalies and Hirschsprung's disease were the indications in children. Complications and deaths related to colostomy and colostomy closures were noted. Results: Death rate was 17.6% mostly from sepsis. Mortalities were higher (p

Background: Pleurodesis is an effective treatment for malignant pleural effusion but the ideal agent that will combine efficacy with safety and ease of administration remains under debate. Injectable tetracycline used to be the preferred agent for sclerosis for many clinicians but it has been withdrawn from the market. There is thus an ongoing search for suitable and better alternatives. In a third world environment, cost is a major determinant of use of some agents. Some patients have already been heavily pretrcated with systemic cytotoxic drugs while some are too weak for agents with cytotoxic activity. All these limit the choice of agents available to us. Patients and Methods: Capsules of tetracycline were dissolved in sterile water and this was injected through a thoracostomy tube in patients with malignant pleural effusion from breast cancer. The efficacy was measured by its ability to the control effusion for at least 30 days as evidenced by non recurrence of clinical xsfeatures of effusion necessitating re-treatment and/or chest radiology showing more than 50% fluid re-accumulation. Results: Twelve pleural effusions were treated with capsule tetracycline pleurodesis. Eleven effusions satisfied evaluation criteria. Eight of eleven evaluable pleural effusions (72.7%) were controlled for at least 30 days or until patient′s death or loss to follow up. The reactions following the use of the agent were minimal comprising only of mild to moderate chest pain, an episode of fever, body aches and vomiting. All the symptoms were controlled by simple measure like analgesics. Conclusion: Capsule tetracycline has shown good promise as a sclerosing agent for pleurodesis. A prospective randomized trial comparing it with other known agents is warranted.

Familial adenomatous polyposis is rare. Three cases were previously reported in Nigeria. An intriguing feature of this case is an ulcerated jejunal carcinoma which was metastatic rather than synchronous carcinoma. This patient presented with partial large bowel obstruction and the pathological analysis revealed 4 invasive adenocarcinomas, 3 in the colon and 1 in the jejunum (Dukes stage D). Palliative pancolectomy and jejunal tumour resection with chemotherapy was offered to him. He died eight months after surgery from disease progression. The challenges of managing a hereditary cancer syndrome in a resource poor country are highlighted.

Multi-agent systems (i.e. systems comprising many agents) have been proposed for many Internet and distributed applications. The proposed systems have little or no consideration of the effects of this multi-agent approach on network resources. In this paper, we presented a simulation assessment of the effect of multi-agent systems on network resources. The routing scheme of the agents was formulated based on the travelling salesman problem. Lightweight agent (LWA) controller was modelled using a fuzzy logic toolbox in the MATLAB environment. The performance metrics of bandwidth usage, response time and throughput were used to compare the network resources usage by different groups of LWAs (10 LWAs, 40 LWAs, 100 LWAs, 150 LWAs) during their computational task on the network. Java programs were written for the implementation of lightweight agents in the simulation. The inputs to the system were realised by multiplicative pseudorandom number generation during the simulation. The simulation result analysis was carried out based on the performance metrics stated above for the four groups of agents. Increasing the number of LWAs in a simulated multi-agent system decreased the response time but increased the throughput and the bandwidth usage. All these performance measures should be considered for developing countries with bandwidth shortages, because having too many agents in a multi-agent system could result in bandwidth wastages.

Functionally analogous enzymes are those that catalyze similar reactions on similar substrates but do not share common ancestry, providing a window on the different structural strategies nature has used to evolve required catalysts. Identification and use of this information to improve reaction classification and computational annotation of enzymes newly discovered in the genome projects would benefit from systematic determination of reaction similarities. Here, we quantified similarity in bond changes for overall reactions and catalytic mechanisms for 95 pairs of functionally analogous enzymes (non-homologous enzymes with identical first three numbers of their EC codes) from the MACiE database. Similarity of overall reactions was computed by comparing the sets of bond changes in the transformations from substrates to products. For similarity of mechanisms, sets of bond changes occurring in each mechanistic step were compared; these similarities were then used to guide global and local alignments of mechanistic steps. Using this metric, only 44% of pairs of functionally analogous enzymes in the dataset had significantly similar overall reactions. For these enzymes, convergence to the same mechanism occurred in 33% of cases, with most pairs having at least one identical mechanistic step. Using our metric, overall reaction similarity serves as an upper bound for mechanistic similarity in functional analogs. For example, the four carbon-oxygen lyases acting on phosphates (EC 4.2.3) show neither significant overall reaction similarity nor significant mechanistic similarity. By contrast, the three carboxylic-ester hydrolases (EC 3.1.1) catalyze overall reactions with identical bond changes and have converged to almost identical mechanisms. The large proportion of enzyme pairs that do not show significant overall reaction similarity (56%) suggests that at least for the functionally analogous enzymes studied here, more stringent criteria could be used to refine definitions of EC sub-subclasses for improved discrimination in their classification of enzyme reactions. The results also indicate that mechanistic convergence of reaction steps is widespread, suggesting that quantitative measurement of mechanistic similarity can inform approaches for functional annotation.

The aging process happens during an individual's lifespan. Everybody is involved in this process and none can escape it. Almost half the community where old individuals dwell report daily pain, which mostly concerns pain in muscles and joints. Joint pain often affects functioning, in terms of mobility, functional independence, participation in social activities, as well as quality of life and is among the ten leading causes of disability-adjusted life years in high income countries. Exercise has been known over the years to be of great value to health and as a tool for treatment and rehabilitation. The purpose of this study therefore is to assess the effects of flexion exercise programme on the health related fitness components of selected older adults in Lagos State. The experimental research design was adopted. The population for this study comprised older adults living in the Government owned Old Peoples' home, Lagos State and the sample comprised 20 older adults (age range 66-87yrs) who both volunteered and gave their consent to participate in the study. The participants were placed on a graded flexion exercise programme, three times every week, 30 minutes each session for a period of six weeks. The resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, body weight, body fat, handgrip strength, knee girth and range of motion were determined. The descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, graphical illustrations and the inferential statistics of t-test at 0.05 alpha level were used in analysing the data. There were no significant effects on heart rate; blood pressure; body weight; body fat; hand grip strength and knee girth. But there was significant improvement on the range of motion of participants. The study justifies the adoption of flexion exercise programme for improving the range of motion in older adults. The study recommends a graded, moderate to high intensity long-term exercise programme for individuals including the provision of exercise facilities for older adults in Lagos State.