Dysregulation of the miR-30c/DLL4 axis by circHIPK3 is essential for KSHV lytic replication

Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) regulatory networks are emerging as critical regulators of gene expression. These intricate networks of ncRNA:ncRNA interactions modulate multiple cellular pathways and impact the development and progression of multiple diseases. Herpesviruses, including Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, are adept at utilising ncRNAs, encoding their own as well as dysregulating host ncRNAs to modulate virus gene expression and the host response to infection. Research has mainly focused on unidirectional ncRNA-mediated regulation of target protein-coding transcripts; however, we identify a novel host ncRNA regulatory network essential for KSHV lytic replication in B cells. KSHV-mediated upregulation of the host cell circRNA, circHIPK3, is a key component of this network, functioning as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-30c, leading to increased levels of the miR-30c target, DLL4. Dysregulation of this network highlights a novel mechanism of cell cycle control during KSHV lytic replication in B cells. Importantly, disruption at any point within this novel ncRNA regulatory network has a detrimental effect on KSHV lytic replication, highlighting the essential nature of this network and potential for therapeutic intervention

Influence of Price Volatility on Herding Behaviour: A Study of Nigerian Stock Market

Price volatility in the stock market could lead to irrational behaviour of investors which might tantamount result into herding behaviour. This study evaluated the influence of price volatility on herding behaviour in Nigerian stock market with focus on Consumer goods, Financial services, Health care and Industrial goods sectors. Monthly data of stock prices for fifteen years from 2001 – 2015 were used and 97 companies' stocks from the four sectors were considered. OLS model was used to determine the existence and extent of herding behaviour in these sectors. The results showed that price volatility had influence on herding behaviour, but there was no evidence of herding noticed in any of the sectors, except Financial services sector which was not statistically significant. The study recommended that NSE should make information available to all market participants in order to boost their confidence in making investment decisions. Keywords: Herding behavior; Price volatility; Nigerian Stock Market; Stock price DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-10-09 Publication date:May 31st 201

An Evaluation of the Applications of Quantitative Techniques (QTs) to Production Planning and Control in Manufacturing Industries

This study examined the factors that affect applications of Quantitative Techniques (QTs) to production planning and control in selected Nigerian manufacturing industries. Data were collected using questionnaire administered on 160 staff of 20 companies randomly chosen from each of the 8 purposively selected Nigerian Small-Scale Industries. Analysis of data was done descriptively and quantitatively using cross tabulations, percentages and inferential statistical tools respectively. Specifically, student t test was used to test the significance of the number of companies that apply QTs, The results showed that the types of QTs commonly in use include: Graphical and Charting Techniques, Control Charts, Forecasting Techniques (Simple Regression and Time Series Analyses), Inventory Model, Range, Variance and Standard Deviation, Capacity Utilization Model, and Acceptance Sampling. Control Charts topped the list with 14 (35 %). Also, 40 companies (25 %) of the 160 surveyed actually apply QTs. This number was significant at 0.05 level with t= 8.819. Metal Works industry led others in the applications of QTs with 8 (40 %) of the 20 companies surveyed in each selected industry; it also recorded 8 (20 %) of the 40 companies from all the selected industries. The study concluded that certain QTs are being applied to production planning and control by a significant number of companies from the selected Nigerian small-scale industries. Lack of adequate financial resources was the most important of all the assessed factors. Keywords: Product planning and control, Operations research models, resources utilization decision makin

PSO Tuned Flatness Based Control of a Magnetic Levitation System

Investigation on the application of flatness-based feedback linearization to the magnetic levitation model of INTECOTm Maglev system is presented in this paper. The MAGLEV system dynamics studied consists of a set of third order nonlinear differential equations. Using computational techniques proposed by Levine, it is verified that the ball position is the flat output. The derived flat output is applied in the construction of a nonlinear control law used to control the levitation to a set point as well as tracking a sine function trajectory. The controller gains are obtained and optimized using particle swarm optimization. The simulation results compared very well with the default PID control. Real-time and non real-time simulation using the MATLAB/ SIMULINK real workshop environment is presented

Awareness, Acceptance and Usage of Mobile Banking Services by Academic Librarians in Nigeria.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent to which academic librarians are aware and use mobile banking services in Nigeria. The study used the quantitative research design. Data was collected using online questionnaire designed using SurveyMonkey. The population of the study consisted of academic librarians in tertiary institutions in Nigeria who are customers to various banks in Nigeria. In total 210 academic librarians across Nigeria responded to the survey. The study found that the majority of the academic librarians are aware and mostly used mobile banking services such as buying airtime (self), transfer money, check account balance, get account statement, buy airtime for others, make transaction enquiry, and SMS alerts. Almost all the academic librarians agree and strongly agree that adoption of mobile banking services hasten funds transfer, makes enquiries on account faster, saves time of the customers, enhance prompt response, more convenient to customers, and saves cost. Network failure during transactions, chances of fraud, lack of information privacy, concerns related to non-delivery of transactions, system security is not guaranteed in case of loss of phone where identified as the challenges associated with use of mobile banking services in Nigeria. Adoption and use of mobile banking services will save the time of the customer by conducting their transactions quickly without having to queue up and to use paper documents. The study reported the present level of awareness, acceptance and use of mobile banking services by academic librarians who are customers to various banks in Nigeria

Protectant, insecticidal and antimicrobial potentials of Dalbergia saxatilis Hook f. (fabaceae)

The protectant, insecticidal and antimicrobial potentials of the Nigerian plant, Dalbergia saxatilis (Fabaceae) were investigated. The dried powdered leaves of D. saxatilis were established as a control agent for the cowpea pest, Callosobruchus maculatus. Damage was drastically reduced when cowpea seeds were treated with dry powdered leaves of D. saxatilis. Doses of 0.75 g/150 seeds and above significantly reduced crop damage, oviposition and larval development without affecting the viability ofthe seeds. Similarly, the crude 95% ethanol extract and the aqueous methanol and hexane fractions of the bark extract showed insecticidal activity against adult mosquitoes at 0.2% concentration in ethylacetate. The crude 95% ethanol extracts of the leaves and bark were screened against six pathogenic microorganisms (ATCC). While the leaves extract was active against only Staphylococcus aureus at minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) 1000 mg/ml, the bark extract displayed broad and interesting antimicrobial spectra. The bark extracts gave activity at MICs 250, 125, 1000 and 1000 mg/ml against S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. The above properties demonstrate the great potentials of D. saxatilis for use in agriculture and medicine. The relevance of bioassay-guided fractionation in ensuring consistency and enhancement of efficacy and quality of phyto-medicines and bio-pesticides is discussed

Particle Swarm Optimization Tuned Flatness-Based Generator Excitation Controller

An optimal transient controller for a synchronous generator in a multi-machine power system is designed using the concept of flatness-based feedback linearization in this paper. The computation of the flat output and corresponding controller for reduced order model of the synchronous generator is presented. The required feedback gains used to close the linearization loop is optimized using particle swarm optimization for maximum damping. Typical results obtained for transient disturbances on a two-area, four-generator power system equipped with the proposed controller on one generator and conventional power system stabilizers on the remaining generators are presented. The effectiveness of the flatness-based controller for multi-machine power systems is discussed

The effect of resveratrol supplementation on haematological parameters and trypanocidal efficacy of diminazene aceturate in dogs

Trypanosomosis is a debilitating, fatal disease of man and animals often associated with anaemia. The trypanocides currently used in the management of the disease are far from giving desired results. This study investigated changes in haematological indices and the treatment outcome of diminazene aceturate (DA) against Trypanosoma brucei in dogs supplemented with resveratrol. A total of twenty (20) male Nigerian local breed of dogs (NBD) aged 6 to 12 months were used for the study. The dogs were randomly assigned into five groups (I-V) of four dogs per group. Group I was uninfected and unsupplemented; group II, was infected, untreated, and unsupplemented; group III, infected unsupplemented, treated with DA, group IV was infected and supplemented but untreated with DA, and group V was infected and supplemented DA-treated. The mean pre-patent period of Trypanosoma infection was 5.75±0.96 and 9.00±0.82 days for the infected unsupplemented and the infected resveratrol-supplemented groups, respectively. There was a complete parasite clearance from peripheral blood within 24-48 hours following treatment with DA on day 10 post-treatment (PT) in the supplemented and 24-72 hours in the unsupplemented treated groups. The supplemented treated did not show any relapse of infection, whereas the un-supplemented, DA-treated showed relapse on day 25 PT. It was concluded that resveratrol supplementation enhanced the efficacy of diminazene aceturate with no risk of relapse, minimized the effects of the parasite in the animals, and increased survival time

Effect of fermentation on the chemical composition of wheat (triticum aestivum) and maize (zea mays) flours and sensory evaluation of biscuits made from their flours

Background: Fermentation improves the nutritional value, acceptability and safety of foods. Objective: This study assessed the effect of fermentation on the chemical composition of wheat and maize flours and consumer acceptability of biscuits made from their flours. Methods: Fermentation of wheat and maize: Wheat and maize grains were sorted respectively and were divided into five parts of 200g each. They were labelled as W ,W ,W ,W and W for wheat and M ,M M ,M and M for 0 1 2 3 4 0 1, 2 3 4 maize samples. Each sample was washed with tap water three times. W and M were not fermented while W ,W ,W 0 0 1 2 3 and W and M M ,M and M were soaked in 500mls of water in a bowl and were fermented for 24 hours, 48 hours, 4 1, 2 3 4 72 hours and 96 hours respectively. The flour of each sample was used for baking biscuits. Proximate, mineral and vitamin content of the flour samples and the sensory properties of the biscuits produced from their flour were evaluated using standard analytical methods. One way analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test were used to separate the means among the samples. Result: The highest ash (2.14%), crude fibre (2.03%) and fat (4.24%) values were observed in sample M . Sample 0 M , W and W had the highest moisture (9.67%), protein (11.62%) and carbohydrate (77.89%) values respectively. 4 4 0 Sample M had the highest magnesium (35.62mg), potassium (162.59mg) and sodium (13.79mg) values, M had 0 1 the highest iron (0.76mg) content while the highest calcium (18.77mg) zinc (0.75mg) and phosphorus (132.59mg) values were observed in sample W . The highest vitamin B (0.59mg), vitamin B (0.24mg), vitamin A (18.76μg) 0 1 3 and folic acid (41.64mg) were observed in sample M while the highest vitamin B (0.04mg) value was found in 0 2 both sample M and sample M Sample W had the highest vitamin C (6.36mg) and vitamin B (1.87mg) content. 0 1. 0 6 There was no significant(p>0.05) difference in the acceptability of the biscuit samples. However, the taste, aroma,texture and general acceptability of the biscuits produced from all the samples had appreciable ratings. Conclusion: Fermentation improved the nutritional quality of cereals while biscuits produced from fermented cereals were generally acceptable