On comparison of Aunu permutation pattern and generalized permutation patterns using Wilf-equivalence

A large number of articles have been published in the last decade studying pattern avoidance on permutations. From the point of view of enumeration, one tries to examine permutations avoiding certain patterns according to their lengths. We tackle the problem of refining this enumeration by considering the statistics “first/last entry” in the case of generalized patterns as well as “first entry unity” in the case of Aunu patterns. We give results for classical patterns of type  (Aunu patterns) as well as for at least one of the mentioned statistics for every generalized pattern of type

Evaluation of Energy Potentials from Municipal Solid Waste: A Case Study of Yola, Nigeria

The dumpsites in Yola town have piled up with over 4393 tons of municipal solid waste generated in 2014 alone and 0.60 kg/capita/day as at the time of this research. This is alarming and obviously, some treatment needs to be put up. In this work, municipal solid waste in the town was sorted, characterized and subjected to exploration of energy potentials estimation. Proximate analysis was conducted to determine the calorific value of each component. Methane (a chief component of energy) was estimated using Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Methodology. Characterisation of the waste revealed the following compositions: food waste (42.45%), plastic (25.66%), paper (14.37%), rubber (1.93%), textile (2.69%), yard waste (7.71%), wood (0.90%), metal (0.81%), glass (1.83%), battery (1.56%) and diaper (0.09%). Proximate analysis (moisture content, volatile organic matter, ash content and fixed carbon) were carried out according to the random sampling method based on American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM, 1998). The waste was found to have calorific value of (118.58 MJ/Kg). Results also showed that 685.69 tons of methane was estimated from municipal solid waste generated from Yola between 2004-2014.Keywords: Solid Waste, Energy Potential, Proximate Analysis, Moisture Content, Calorific Valu

Elevated extracellular potassium ion concentrations suppress hippocampal oscillations in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome in-vitro

Background: Hippocampal hyperexcitability and seizure-like events have been consistently demonstrated in hippocampal slice preparations perfused with ≥ 5 mM high [K+] artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). Accordingly, high [K+] ACSF has been effectively employed as ionic model of seizure for in vitro experiments, but then, how reliable is this model when employed for in-vitro studies of brain tissues with dysregulated K+ homeostasis? To address this question, we examined how elevations of [K+]o affect hippocampal oscillations in Scn1a mutant mouse, a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, a devastating genetic-epilepsy associated with gliosis, a major cause of dysregulated K+ homeostasis in epileptic brain.Methods: To this end, performing local field potential (LFP) recordings from hippocampi of P30 to P38 Scn1a mutant mice (Scn1a +/-) and wild-type littermates (Scn1a +/+), maintained on a C57BL/6 genetic background, in brain slice preparations in normal and high K+ conditions, we studied the effect of 4 mM and 5 mM high [K+] ACSF(s) on hippocampal oscillations.Results: Hippocampal hyperexcitability was observed only in Scn1a +/+ but not in Scn1a +/- mice. In Scn1a +/- mice, spontaneous hippocampal hyperexcitability was observed in normal ACSF but was significantly suppressed by 4 mM and 5 mM high [K+] ACSF(s).Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings, for the first time, provide evidence of spontaneous hippocampal activity in Scn1a+/- mice older than P30 which may be potentially used as a target for screening anti-epileptic approaches, beneficial for the treatment of DS. Elevated [K+]o-induced depolarization block of neuronal action potentials is involved in epileptic brain tissues modulated in elevated [K+]o. This mechanism underlies the suppressing effect of high [K+] ACSF on hippocampal oscillations in Scn1a+/- mice in vitro. Future studies employing the high K+ ionic model for studies of epileptic brain tissues are required to determine how K+ homeostasis is handled by neurons and glial cells in epileptic brain tissues.Keywords: Dravet syndrome, artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF), Scn1a mutant mouse, depolarization bloc

Ct findings in patients with head injury at a teaching hospital in Nigeria

There is paucity of data on computed tomography findings in head injury patients from this part of Africa inspite of the high number of trauma cases seen. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of findings on Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the head in patients with head injury in our locality, with the aim of detecting the pitfalls to help make improvements. Material: Seventy-eight patients with head injury, who had CT scan of the head conducted in the Radiology department, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between September 2011 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed by two Radiology residents and a Consultant Radiologist. Data was retrieved from the CT record book in that unit. Results: Head injury sustained as a result of road traffic accident (RTA) is the most frequent indication for CT head imaging in our study, with the lowest coming from request in bomb blast patients. Linear skull fractures were the most frequent finding, while rupture of the globe and frontal sinomucoceole, amongst others were the least. Gender variation showed that males were four times more affected than females and the age range of patients was 9 -70 years. Conclusion: RTA was the most common cause of head injury for which request for CT scan was made, and linear skull fractures were the most frequent finding. Males between 20-40 years were the most affected. CT is the most efficient imaging tool for detection of injuries in acute cases

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Immunophenotypic characterisation of peripheral T lymphocytes in pulmonary tuberculosis

Background: The cellular immune response plays an important role in determining the outcome of infection and disease in Mycobacterium tuberculosis . Many studies of these disease interactions yield contradictory results. Aim: This study aims at determining the changes that take place in the subpopulations of T lymphocytes in the blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was done at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Flow cytometry was used to determine the absolute numbers and percentages of T CD3, T CD4, T CD8, T CD19 and natural killer (NK) T cells in 54 patients with active pulmonary TB before the commencement of treatment and in 25 healthy PPD negative volunteers. Statistical Analysis: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 11.5) was used for analysis. Results: There were significant differences in the values of CD3, CD4 and NK T cells among the groups. The numbers of CD3 and CD4 cells were lower in subjects than in controls [1091.9 ± 321.4 vs. 1364.6 ± 251.2; P < 0.001 and 639.8 ± 285 vs. 822 ± 189.9; P < 0.004, respectively] while numbers of NK T cells were much higher in patients than in controls (410.7 ± 286 vs. 182.3 ± 140; P < 0.001). The numbers of CD8 cells were not significantly changed with disease (609 ± 233.5 in subjects and 613.4 ± 170.3 in controls P = 0.761). Conclusion: There are significant changes in the cellular immune response particularly affecting the CD3, CD4 and NK T cells with the development of pulmonary TB. Therefore, further studies of these changes may have important implications on the development of diagnostic tools, vaccines and treatment modalities

Higher Education Administrators’ Perceived Politics of Education Control on Educational Development of Tertiary Institutions in Bauchi State, Nigeria

This paper focused on higher education administrators’ perceived impact of politics of control of&nbsp; education on educational development of tertiary&nbsp; institutions in Bauchi state, Nigeria. The study&nbsp; adopted qualitative research approach using case study design. Three specific objectives and three&nbsp; research questions were formulated to guide the study. The population consisted of senior higher education administrators from all the state’s&nbsp; tertiary institutions in the three geo-political zones of&nbsp; Bauchi state. The study had a sample of respondents drawn from the population using&nbsp; purposive&nbsp; sampling technique. The numbers that constituted the sample size were five and drawn from College&nbsp; of Education Azare, College for&nbsp; Legal and Islamic Studies Misau and College of Education&nbsp; Kangere within the three educational zone of Bauchi state. Area of the study is Bauchi&nbsp; state. Semistructured interview, observation and document analysis were used for data collection. Data&nbsp; collected were analyzed using content and&nbsp; thematic analyses to answer the research questions of&nbsp; this study. Based on the findings, it was concluded that politics affects tertiary institutions&nbsp; positively&nbsp; via impact of control of education in Bauchi state. It was recommended among others that politics&nbsp; of education control should be done&nbsp; bearing in mind that, it should be intended to improved tertiary&nbsp; institution for sustainable development and not the other way round. It is hoped&nbsp; that the recommendations would serves as solutions towards the politics of education control on tertiary&nbsp; institutions for sustainable development&nbsp; in Bauchi state