Adsorption of crystal violet on rice husk activated carbon

The need to develop effective technology for the treatment of liquid effluent of dye-intensive industries such as textile, rubber, paint, and printing is synonymous with the need to save the life-threatening risks posed by these carcinogenic and mutagenic pollutants on human and aquatic lives. Isotherms of adsorption of crystal violet (CV) on activated carbon (AC) synthesized from rice husk are presented herewith to elucidate the mechanism of the adsorption process of crystal violet dye contaminated water on rice husk activated carbon. AC was synthesized from rice husk via a phosphoric acid activating agent at low temperatures. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR) isotherm studies were employed. The mean square values for Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and D-R models were 0.98, 0.91, 0.94, and 0.63, respectively. Analysis of the isotherms of the adsorption of crystal violet sorbate on the synthesized rice husk sorbent suggested that the adsorption process proceeded via a homogeneous monolayer mechanism. Langmuir isotherm gave the best fit of the adsorption process. Langmuir isotherm constant was –1.40 l/mg, and the equilibrium adsorption capacity was 13.53 mg/g

Geophysical Site Investigation for Groundwater Prospecting in the Permanent Site of Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Nigeria

Geophysical investigation of the permanent site of Federal University, Dutsin-Ma located in Katsina State site was carried out with the objective of investigating the subsoil conditions based on geophysical site exploration methodology in order to take precise engineering decisions on the best locations for different utilities and ground water profile establishment. The major instruments used in carrying out the fieldwork include: SAS 300, Reels of cables, sets of electrode, hammer, tapes and sealed battery. Six survey profiles were used with 200m length each. Dedicated geophysical software was used for the data processing. Results show that the thickness of the overburden which ranges between 2 m to 35 m is more in the southern part of the survey area than the northern part that has thin overburden thickness. This suggests that the thickness of the underground water aquifer will be more in the southern part of the survey area. Best locations of boreholes were recommended and alternative source of water was suggested based on observation.Keywords: Fresh basement, Geophysics, Resistivity imaging, Site investigation, Subsoil exploration, Aquife

Geotechnical Site Investigation for Proposed Minna City Centre Development in Niger State

This study was carried out to investigate and determine the geotechnical parameters required for adequate design and positioning of structures and facilities of the proposed Minna City Centre, at Minna the capital of Niger state. The soil samples used for the study were obtained from 10 SPT boreholes at 0.6, 2.1 and 3.6 m depths and all laboratory tests were conducted in accordance with BS 1377. Results show that soil particle sizes increases with boring depth up to the basement complex and values of cohesion and angle of internal friction show that the shearing resistance and bearing capacity of soils will be relatively high and favourable for the intended structures. Average allowable bearing capacity values in the range of 100 – 300 kN/m2 are recommended for use in the study area with embedment depth between 1 – 3 m

Strength Improvement of Weak Subgrade Soil Using Cement and Lime

The study investigate the suitability of subgrade soil in Baure Local Government Area of Kastina State Nigeria for road construction. The strength properties of the  subgrade was improved using lime and cement. Several analysis including the particle size distribution, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength and California bearing ratio tests were performed on natural and lime/cement treated soil samples in accordance with BS 1377 (1990) and BS 1924 (1990) respectively. Soil specimens were prepared by mixing the soil with lime and cement in steps of 0, 3, 6, and 9% by weight of dry soil in several percentage combinations. The Atterberg limits of the weak subgrade soils improved having a minimum plasticity index value of 5.70 % at 3%Lime/6%Cement contents. The maximum dry density (MDD) values obtained showed a significant improvement having a peak value of 1.66 kN/m3 at 9%Lime/9%Cement contents. Similarly, a minimum value of 18.50 % was observed for optimum moisture content at 9%Lime/9%Cement contents which is a desirable reduction from a value of 25.00 % for the natural soil. The unconfined compressive test value increased from 167.30 kN/m2 for the natural soil to 446.77 kN/m2 at 9%Lime/9%Cement contents 28 days curing period. Likewise, the soaked California bearing ratio values increased from 2.90 % for the natural soil to 83.90 % at 9%Lime/9%Cement contents. Generally, there were improvements in the engineering properties of the weak subgrade soil when treated with lime and cement. However, the peak UCS value of 446.77 kN/m2 fails to meet the recommended UCS value of 1710 KN/m2 specified by TRRL (1977) as a criterion for adequate stabilization using Ordinary Portland Cement.            Keywords: Weak subgrade soil, Lime, Cement, Atterberg limits, Maximum dry density, Optimum moisture content, Unconfined compressive strength, California bearing rati

Chemical and Physical Comparative Study of the Effect of Wet and Dry Beneficiation of Kankara Kaolin

Chemical and physical comparative effect of wet and dry beneficiation processes for purification of kaolin was studied. X-ray flourescence XRF and particle size analysis of kaolin clay before and after beneficiation were carried out. The Si/Al ratio of the raw kaolin which was 1.90 decreased by 1.6 and 17.9% after the wet and dry beneficiation processes respectively. The clay content of the raw clay which was 48 wt% was improved to 73 wt% after the dry beneficiation while the impurity content was reduced from 52 to 27wt%.http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i2.1

Functional screening of amplification outlier oncogenes in organoid models of early tumorigenesis

Genomics; Organoid; Squamous cancerGenómica funcional; Organoide; Cáncer escamosoGenòmica funcional; Organoide; Càncer escamósSomatic copy number gains are pervasive across cancer types, yet their roles in oncogenesis are insufficiently evaluated. This inadequacy is partly due to copy gains spanning large chromosomal regions, obscuring causal loci. Here, we employed organoid modeling to evaluate candidate oncogenic loci identified via integrative computational analysis of extreme copy gains overlapping with extreme expression dysregulation in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Subsets of “outlier” candidates were contextually screened as tissue-specific cDNA lentiviral libraries within cognate esophagus, oral cavity, colon, stomach, pancreas, and lung organoids bearing initial oncogenic mutations. Iterative analysis nominated the kinase DYRK2 at 12q15 as an amplified head and neck squamous carcinoma oncogene in p53−/− oral mucosal organoids. Similarly, FGF3, amplified at 11q13 in 41% of esophageal squamous carcinomas, promoted p53−/− esophageal organoid growth reversible by small molecule and soluble receptor antagonism of FGFRs. Our studies establish organoid-based contextual screening of candidate genomic drivers, enabling functional evaluation during early tumorigenesis.This work was supported by the NCI Cancer Target Discovery and Development (CTD∧2) Network (U01CA217851, C.J.K and C.C.; U01CA176058, W.C.H.). Support was also provided by NIH K08DE027730 and D.R. discretionary funds to A.A.S., AEI RYC2019- 026576-I, “LaCaixa” Foundation LCF/PR/PR17/51120011 to J.A.S., and NIH U54CA224081, NIH U01CA199241, Emerson Collective, Ludwig Cancer Research, and Stand Up To Cancer to C.J.K. This manuscript is dedicated to the memories of Dr. Daniela Gerhard and Dr. Kenneth Scott

The Need to Accelerate Cloud Adoption in Developing Countries of Africa

Cloud computing is an emerging computing paradigm that has been made very easy to use and adopt as a result of complex technological abstraction. It increases the economic benefit of individuals and organizations by reducing cost of system operation and maintenance. This has made some countries to embrace the technology in order to compete in the global village. The consequences of slow adoption of this promising technology in African countries need to be addressed. This study shifts ground from slow adoption to strategies of rapid acceptance of cloud computing in African developing countries. It compared the cloud readiness and level of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) of four Non-African developing countries (China, India, Brazil and Mexico) against four African developing countries (Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya and Ghana). Results indicated that African developing countries are lagging behind. This places them in a competitive disadvantage in the economy of the information age. The study suggests that African developing countries need to invest and give proper legislative attention to cloud economy in order to close the digital divide that keeps on widening as time passes by

Preclinical Evaluation of Artesunate as an Antineoplastic Agent in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic malignancy despite current first-line treatment with a platinum and taxane doublet. Artesunate has broad antineoplastic properties but has not been investigated in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel for ovarian cancer treatment. METHODS: Standard cell culture technique with commercially available ovarian cancer cell lines were utilized in cell viability, DNA damage, and cell cycle progression assays to qualify and quantify artesunate treatment effects. Additionally, the sequence of administering artesunate in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin was determined. The activity of artesunate was also assessed in 3D organoid models of primary ovarian cancer and RNAseq analysis was utilized to identify genes and the associated genetic pathways that were differentially regulated in artesunate resistant organoid models compared to organoids that were sensitive to artesunate. RESULTS: Artesunate treatment reduces cell viability in 2D and 3D ovarian cancer cell models. Clinically relevant concentrations of artesunate induce G1 arrest, but do not induce DNA damage. Pathways related to cell cycle progression, specifically G1/S transition, are upregulated in ovarian organoid models that are innately more resistant to artesunate compared to more sensitive models. Depending on the sequence of administration, the addition of artesunate to carboplatin and paclitaxel improves their effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Artesunate has preclinical activity in ovarian cancer that merits further investigation to treat ovarian cancer

Effectiveness of interventions to improve the anticholinergic prescribing practice in older adults: a systematic review

Background: Pharmacotherapy in older adults is one of the most challenging aspects of patient care. Older people are prone to drug-related problems such as adverse effects, ineffectiveness, underdosage, overdosage, and drug interactions. Anticholinergic medications are associated with poor outcomes in older patients, and there is no specific intervention strategy for reducing drug burden from anticholinergic activity medications. Little is known about the effectiveness of current interventions that may likely improve the anticholinergic prescribing practice in older adults. Aims: This review seeks to document all types of interventions aiming to reduce anticholinergic prescribing among older adults and assess the current evidence and quality of existing single and combined interventions. Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from January 1990 to August 2021. Only studies that examined the effect of interventions in older people focused on improving compliance with anticholinergic prescribing guidelines with quantifiable data were included. The primary outcome of interest was to find the effectiveness of interventions that enhance the anticholinergic prescribing practice in older adults. Results: We screened 3168 records and ended up in 23 studies that met the inclusion criteria. We found only single-component interventions to reduce anticholinergic prescribing errors in older people. Pharmacists implemented interventions without collaboration in nearly half of the studies (n = 11). Medication review (43%) and education provision (26%) to healthcare practitioners were the most common interventions. Sixteen studies (70%) reported significant reductions in anticholinergic prescribing errors, whereas seven studies (30%) showed no significant effect. Conclusion: This systematic review suggests that healthcare practitioner-oriented interventions have the potential to reduce the occurrence of anticholinergic prescribing errors in older people. Interventions were primarily effective in reducing the burden of anticholinergic medications and assisting with deprescribing anticholinergic medications in older adults

The relation of C - reactive protein to chronic kidney disease in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>African Americans have an increased incidence and worse prognosis with chronic kidney disease (CKD - estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 ml/min/1.73 m²) than their counterparts of European-descent. Inflammation has been related to renal disease in non-Hispanic whites, but there are limited data on the role of inflammation in renal dysfunction in African Americans in the community.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined the cross-sectional relation of log transformed C-reactive protein (CRP) to renal function (eGFR by Modification of Diet and Renal Disease equation) in African American participants of the community-based Jackson Heart Study's first examination (2000 to 2004). We conducted multivariable linear regression relating CRP to eGFR adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, total/HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, smoking, antihypertensive therapy, lipid lowering therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and prevalent cardiovascular disease events. In a secondary analysis we assessed the association of CRP with albuminuria (defined as albumin-to-creatinine ratio > 30 mg/g).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants (n = 4320, 63.2% women) had a mean age ± SD of 54.0 ± 12.8 years. The prevalence of CKD was 5.2% (n = 228 cases). In multivariable regression, CRP concentrations were higher in those with CKD compared to those without CKD (mean CRP 3.2 ± 1.1 mg/L vs. 2.4 ± 1.0 mg/L, respectively p < 0.0001). CRP was significantly associated with albuminuria in sex and age adjusted model however not in the multivariable adjusted model (p > 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CRP was associated with CKD however not albuminuria in multivariable-adjusted analyses. The study of inflammation in the progression of renal disease in African Americans merits further investigation.</p