Studies on the Energy Properties and Fuel Potentials of Selected Indigenously Processed Plant-Based Bio-Resources Used as Sources of Sustainable Flame in North Central Nigerian Communities

In this work, the stems of two matured shrubby plants identified as wild bitter leaf (Vernonia  colorata) & kenaf (Hibiscus canabinus) were studied for their energy properties and fuel potentials.  The indigenously processed and dried stems of these plants have historically been used as sources of sustainable bright flame in communities within north central Nigeria. The two samples were collected, dried, pulverized and extracted using appropriate solvents to isolate the volatile combustible compounds believed to be responsible for the bright flame on combustion. The isolates are being purified to be detected using appropriate instrumentations such as GCMS and LCMS (ongoing). Prior to isolation, the physical energy properties which include; total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), fixed carbon, ash content, ultimate values, calorific value, moisture contents (MC) were determined. The gases emitted by these plants materials on combustion were also detected using multigas detector (Altair 5x Multigas). The results obtained indicate the concentrations of gases emitted such as CO, SOx and, NOx from the processed substances on combusting are within acceptable standard limits set for these gases, which suggest it is environmentally friendly. The technology employed in making the plants provide more sustainable flame for the light will eventually be studied by collecting samples of substances used in the process (water, mud, algae) for characterization. Keywords: Energy, fuel, bio-resources, sustainable flame DOI: 10.7176/JETP/9-6-02 Publication date: August 31st 201

New compounds based on 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b] pyridine as potent TNIK inhibitors against colorectal cancer cells. Molecular modeling studies

Cancer is a disease caused by the incorrect transformation of cells that proliferate abnormally, and it is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. As a result, new compounds with potential anticancer activity must be designed. In this article, three – dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship is used to study thirty-one compounds of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives as potent TNIK inhibitors against colorectal cancer cells. Their pIC50 varied from 7.37 to 9.92. The two contours, Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) and Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices (CoMSIA) are critical in determining the nature of the groups that enhance or reduce activity. The models CoMFA and CoMSIA indicate strong reliability with (Q2 = 0.65; R2 = 0.86; rtest2 = 0.97) and (Q2= 0.74; R2 = 0. 96; rtest2 = 0. 95), respectively. Based on the good findings produced by the contour maps generated by the approach model, we have suggested five drugs with strong activity against colorectal cancer cells. In addition, the ADMET characteristics of these newly designed compounds were examined in silico. These compounds were further evaluated by molecular docking, showing that two molecules, Y4 and Y5, exhibit favorable interactions with the targeted receptor and a high total score. Our vision is to develop new medicines with strong TNIK inhibitory activities that target Traf2 and Nck-interacting kinase TNIK as a therapeutic target

Parking functions, labeled trees and DCJ sorting scenarios

In genome rearrangement theory, one of the elusive questions raised in recent years is the enumeration of rearrangement scenarios between two genomes. This problem is related to the uniform generation of rearrangement scenarios, and the derivation of tests of statistical significance of the properties of these scenarios. Here we give an exact formula for the number of double-cut-and-join (DCJ) rearrangement scenarios of co-tailed genomes. We also construct effective bijections between the set of scenarios that sort a cycle and well studied combinatorial objects such as parking functions and labeled trees.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Some new observations on the Volvariella genus Speg. 1898

Three fungal species of the Volvariella genus were described in this study. Volvariella bombycina and Volvaria speciosa were harvested at the level of the Mamora forest. V. media was collected from one garden grass in the city of Kenitra, this species is new to the Moroccan fungal flora

Incentivizing the Use of Quantified Self Devices: The Cases of Digital Occupational Health Programs and Data-Driven Health Insurance Plans

Initially designed for a use in private settings, smartwatches, activity trackers and other quantified self devices are receiving a growing attention from the organizational environment. Firms and health insurance companies, in particular, are developing digital occupational health programs and data-driven health insurance plans centered around these systems, in the hope of exploiting their potential to improve individual health management, but also to gather large quantities of data. As individual participation in such organizational programs is voluntary, organizations often rely on motivational incentives to prompt engagement. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms employed in organizational settings to incentivize the use of quantified self devices. We therefore seek, in this exploratory paper, to offer a first structured overview of this topic and identify the main motivational incentives in two emblematical cases: digital occupational health programs and data-driven health insurance plans. By doing so, we aim to specify the nature of this new dynamic around the use of quantified self devices and define some of the key lines for further investigation