Effect of Corruption on Corporate Governance in Selected Area Offices of Deposit Money Banks in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study seeks to examine the effect of corruption on corporate governance in selected area offices of deposit money banks in Enugu State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; (i) determine the extent to which bribery affects the board of directors\u27 functions, (ii) ascertain the extent to which fraud affects the managers\u27 accountability, and (iii) identify the nature of the relationship existing between money laundering and shareholders\u27 investment in selected area offices of deposit money banks in Enugu State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 1197, which comprised the senior and junior staff members of the five selected banks (United Bank for Africa Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Skye Bank Plc.). The sample size of 316 was obtained from the population using Freud and William\u27s formula at 5% error tolerance and 95% level of confidence. Data collection was done via a questionnaire and an oral interview guide. Simple Linear Regression Analysis and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used for data analysis

The role of the academic library in providing outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies

This study investigated the role of academic library in providing outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies in Nsukka prison library. The research adopted qualitative inquiry approach for the processes and procedures of the research. It was guided by five objectives which includes – the outreach services provided by the academic library to the prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies, the mobile tools and technologies used for the provision of outreach services to the prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies, the benefits of outreach services as provided by prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies, problems encountered in the provision of outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies and strategies for enhancing the provision of outreach services to prison inmates by means of mobile tools and technologies. Data obtained from the questionnaire was analysed using mean and percentages while the ones obtained from focus group discussion was analysed in prose narrative. Among other things, the findings revealed that outreach services are provided to the prison inmates by the academic library. Other findings from the research revealed that mobile tools and technologies are being introduced to the delivery of outreach services in the prison library, the prison inmates support the delivery of outreach services to them by means of mobile tools and technologies, the prsion authority/administration permits the academic librarian’s provision of outreach services to the prison inmates. However, inadequate fund, personnel and mobile tools forms the major part of the problems encountered in the delivery of outreach servises to the inmates. Based on the findings, it was recommended among other things that there should be provision of adequate mobile tools and technologies for the delivery of outreach services, there should be integration of outreach services with other educational programmes, there should be training and retraining of both the prison inmates and the academic library on the use of mobile devices among others. More importantly, there should be provision of a functional prison library to accommodate resources – tool, technologies, personnel for the provision of library services to the inmates

Does Multilateralism Crowd Out Intra-Group Trade? Evidence From Some Developing Regions

The literature is ambiguous on the nature of the relationship between multilateral trade negotiations and growth of intra-group trade. However, both the WTO and proponents ofliberalization maintain that the relationship is positive and that the WTO supports regional bodies and intra-group trade. But does evidence support this? It is possible that the WTO supports regional bonding, while its existence discourages growth of actual trade and development of institutions within regions. Our findings seem to support this view, particularly for southern countries as shown by trends in intra-group trade captured in this work

A systematic CRISPR screen defines mutational mechanisms underpinning signatures caused by replication errors and endogenous DNA damage.

Mutational signatures are imprints of pathophysiological processes arising through tumorigenesis. We generated isogenic CRISPR-Cas9 knockouts (Δ) of 43 genes in human induced pluripotent stem cells, cultured them in the absence of added DNA damage, and performed whole-genome sequencing of 173 subclones. ΔOGG1, ΔUNG, ΔEXO1, ΔRNF168, ΔMLH1, ΔMSH2, ΔMSH6, ΔPMS1, and ΔPMS2 produced marked mutational signatures indicative of being critical mitigators of endogenous DNA modifications. Detailed analyses revealed mutational mechanistic insights, including how 8-oxo-dG elimination is sequence-context-specific while uracil clearance is sequence-context-independent. Mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency signatures are engendered by oxidative damage (C>A transversions), differential misincorporation by replicative polymerases (T>C and C>T transitions), and we propose a 'reverse template slippage' model for T>A transversions. ΔMLH1, ΔMSH6, and ΔMSH2 signatures were similar to each other but distinct from ΔPMS2. Finally, we developed a classifier, MMRDetect, where application to 7,695 WGS cancers showed enhanced detection of MMR-deficient tumors, with implications for responsiveness to immunotherapies

Common genetic variation drives molecular heterogeneity in human iPSCs.

Technology utilizing human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) has enormous potential to provide improved cellular models of human disease. However, variable genetic and phenotypic characterization of many existing iPS cell lines limits their potential use for research and therapy. Here we describe the systematic generation, genotyping and phenotyping of 711 iPS cell lines derived from 301 healthy individuals by the Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Initiative. Our study outlines the major sources of genetic and phenotypic variation in iPS cells and establishes their suitability as models of complex human traits and cancer. Through genome-wide profiling we find that 5-46% of the variation in different iPS cell phenotypes, including differentiation capacity and cellular morphology, arises from differences between individuals. Additionally, we assess the phenotypic consequences of genomic copy-number alterations that are repeatedly observed in iPS cells. In addition, we present a comprehensive map of common regulatory variants affecting the transcriptome of human pluripotent cells

Loss of IL-10 signaling in macrophages limits bacterial killing driven by prostaglandin E2

Loss of IL-10 signaling in macrophages (Mφs) leads to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from an infantile-onset IBD patient lacking a functional IL10RB gene. Mφs differentiated from IL10RB−/− iPSCs lacked IL-10RB mRNA expression, were unable to phosphorylate STAT3, and failed to reduce LPS induced inflammatory cytokines in the presence of exogenous IL-10. IL-10RB−/− Mφs exhibited a striking defect in their ability to kill Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, which was rescuable after experimentally introducing functional copies of the IL10RB gene. Genes involved in synthesis and receptor pathways for eicosanoid prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were more highly induced in IL-10RB−/− Mφs, and these Mφs produced higher amounts of PGE2 after LPS stimulation compared with controls. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of PGE2 synthesis and PGE2 receptor blockade enhanced bacterial killing in Mφs. These results identify a regulatory interaction between IL-10 and PGE2, dysregulation of which may drive aberrant Mφ activation and impaired host defense contributing to IBD pathogenesis

Single-cell RNA-sequencing of differentiating iPS cells reveals dynamic genetic effects on gene expression

Abstract: Recent developments in stem cell biology have enabled the study of cell fate decisions in early human development that are impossible to study in vivo. However, understanding how development varies across individuals and, in particular, the influence of common genetic variants during this process has not been characterised. Here, we exploit human iPS cell lines from 125 donors, a pooled experimental design, and single-cell RNA-sequencing to study population variation of endoderm differentiation. We identify molecular markers that are predictive of differentiation efficiency of individual lines, and utilise heterogeneity in the genetic background across individuals to map hundreds of expression quantitative trait loci that influence expression dynamically during differentiation and across cellular contexts

Waste orange seeds (Citrus sinensis seed) transformation, a viable industrial bio-oil: Oil extraction, physicochemical characterization and vital instrumental analyses studies

The processing of Petroleum-based oil has contributed to environmental challenges such as climate change. Recently, research attention has been shifted to oil extraction from different non-edible seeds as a suitable substitute. Accordingly, this study examines the physiochemical characterization, and the effect of extraction temperature on the yield of waste Citrus sinensis seed [orange seed (OS)] bio oil. Studies on the prevalent functional group, fatty acid methyl ester compositions and thermal oxidative stability were carried out using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GCMS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The oil content of the OS bio oil was 46.26%w/w. The high iodine number (31.47 mg/100 g) and low pour point (4.50 °C) of the OS bio oil showed its high content of unsaturated fatty acid. The FTIR functional group of the OS bio oil showed predominantly alkane of CH stretching, aldehydes, esters, and carboxylic acid. The chemical composition of the OS bio oil as determined by GCMS (massHunter/library/NIST 14.1) showed the occurrence of octadecadienoic and oleic acids as poly-saturated and saturated fat found in plant glycosides and vegetable fats and oil. The DSC thermal stability analysis showed the possible existence of mixed triglycerides. Finally, the result from the physiochemical characterization compositions, and functional group the OS bio oil indicated its potential as a suitable substitute for petroleum-based oil

Successful Generation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Blood Samples Held at Room Temperature for up to 48 hr

The collection sites of human primary tissue samples and the receiving laboratories, where the human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs) are derived, are often not on the same site. Thus, the stability of samples prior to derivation constrains the distance between the collection site and the receiving laboratory. To investigate sample stability, we collected blood and held it at room temperature for 5, 24, or 48 hr before isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and reprogramming into IPSCs. Additionally, PBMC samples at 5- and 48-hr time points were frozen in liquid nitrogen for 4 months and reprogrammed into IPSCs. hIPSC lines derived from all time points were pluripotent, displayed no marked difference in chromosomal aberration rates, and differentiated into three germ layers. Reprogramming efficiency at 24- and 48-hr time points was 3- and 10-fold lower, respectively, than at 5 hr; the freeze-thaw process of PBMCs resulted in no obvious change in reprogramming efficiency