Deep carbon and the life cycle of large igneous provinces

Carbon is central to the formation and environmental impact of large igneous provinces (LIPs). These vast magmatic events occur over geologically short timescales and include voluminous flood basalts, along with silicic and low-volume alkaline magmas. Surface outgassing of CO2 from flood basalts may average up to 3,000 Mt per year during LIP emplacement and is subsidized by fractionating magmas deep in the crust. The large quantities of carbon mobilized in LIPs may be sourced from the convecting mantle, lithospheric mantle and crust. The relative significance of each potential carbon source is poorly known and probably varies between LIPs. Because LIPs draw on mantle reservoirs typically untapped during plate boundary magmatism, they are integral to Earth's long-term carbon cycle.</jats:p

Language Study: Language and Socio-Cultural Values: An Analysis of Ibibio Proverbs

Language is an important tool in the human society. Apart from the fact that it makes communication and integration possible, it is an important aspect of the socio-cultural life of a people. To this extent, language is closely knit with culture as it embodies the society’s value system and patterned way of life. This paper explores proverb as an embodiment ofthe socio-cultural values of the Ibibio people. This is done through the analysiGs of some Ibibio proverbs which reflect the ethical values and philosophy of the people

A rare image of spontaneous enterocutaneous fistula in morbidly obese patient with metabolic syndrome

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Social Aspects of Malaria among Students in Two Tertiary Institutions in Lagos, Nigeria

Studies were carried out on the social aspects of malaria among 600 students. Three hundred students (150 male, 150 females) were randomly selected from two tertiary institutions in Lagos, Nigeria. These schools are Lagos State University (LASU) and AOCOED (Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education). A structured questionnaire elicited relevant information on knowledge, perception and social aspects of malaria. Students aged 21-23, from faculty of arts and in their second year participated mostly in the study with no significant difference between the two schools. In LASU, 223(74.3%) and 211(70.3%) in AOCOED knew the cause of malaria (P&gt;0.05). In LASU, 282(94%) and 192(64%) in AOCOED believed that malaria could be prevented (P&lt;0.05). In LASU, 283(96%) and 283(94.3%) in AOCOED believed malaria could be treated (P&gt;0.05). 109 (36.3%) respondents in LASU and 112(37.3%) in AOCOED thought that malaria was contagious (P&gt;0.05). Fever was the most recognised symptom of malaria in both schools and self-medication was more popular in AOCOED. In LASU, 284(94.6%) and AOCOED, 273(91%) had malaria in the past one year (P&gt;0.05). 146(48.7%) of the students who participated in LASU and 206(68.6%) in AOCOED had been admitted for malaria within the past one year (P&lt;0.05). Class absenteeism and low academic performance were significantly higher in AOCOED than LASU. However, our results suggested that the LASU students were more informed about malaria than the AOCOED students because their knowledge and perception was better. The students, despite their academic backgrounds need intensified health education on malaria incorporated into their schools&rsquo; curriculum.Keywords: Academic performance, Knowledge and perception, Malaria, Socioeconomic status, Student

Gene expression and molecular evolution of sxtA4 in a saxitoxin producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium produce the neurotoxin saxitoxin (STX), responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and accumulates in marine invertebrates. The recent identification of STX biosynthesis genes allowed us to investigate the expression of sxtA4 at different growth stages in Alexandrium catenella Group IV. We found no significant differences in expression of sxtA4, despite significant differences in STX levels at different growth stages (P < 0.023). Three reference genes were tested for normalisation: actin, cytochrome b (cob), and the large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rDNA). cob was most stably expressed but the combination of two reference genes, actin and cob, resulted in the best stability factor. Most genomic sequences of sxtA4 from A. catenella were in a clade that included sequences from Alexandrium fundyense Group I, however, one paralogue was not related to the others, suggesting recombination or lateral transfer. A comparison of the sxtA4 cDNA sequences with genomic DNA sequences indicated the possibility of transcript editing and the preferential transcription of certain genomic DNA loci. The results show that, in dinoflagellates, post-transcriptional mechanisms play a major role in the regulation of saxitoxin biosynthesis

The application of tannin extract from Anogeissus leiocarpus plant as wood adhesives

This work reports the extraction and application of tannins as wood- adhesives from Anogeissus leiocarpus plant using water, acetone or a mixture of these as solvent. In terms of the quantity of extracts from polyphenolic extract of Anogeissus leiocarpus bark, water was the most effective solvent, followed sequentially by acetone and solvent mixture (90% acetone and 10% water). The use of solvent mixture in tannin extraction yielded high tannin content. The poly condensation reaction of Anogeissus leiocarpus bark extract is influenced significantly by amount of formaldehyde (9.0 ml), tannin (2.5 g), glycerol (0.6 ml), cure temperature 80OC, types and pH 7.5 of the adhesive medium. Adhesive joint of significant bond strength were obtained from Anogeissus leiocarpus tannin adhesive. Prolonged cure periods particularly at elevated temperature have adverse effect on the strength properties of these joints, especially with wood- panels as substrates. Joint prepared with adhesive derived from these extracts were tested for strength properties.Keywords: Anogeissus leiocarpus, tannin, polycondensation, Formaldehyde, cure temperature

Development of amino resins for emulsion paint formulation: effect of aldelhydic group and degree of substitution

In our continuous effort to develop a paint binder from amino resins, amino resins from different aldehydic groups were synthesized to produce urea, formaldehyde (UF), urea acetaldehyde (UA), ureaproparaldehyde (UP) and urea butaldehyde (UB) at different degree of substitution (Mono – tetra). Some physical properties of these resins were evaluated. The viscosity, gel time, density and refractive indexof the resins (except UB) were found to increase with increase in alkyl length of the aldehydic group while turbidity (except UF) increased with increase in alkyl length of the aldehydic group. On the otherhand, melting point and moisture uptake decreases with increase in alkyl length of the aldehydic group. In the case of the degree of substitution the viscosity, turbidity, melting point and moisture uptakeincreases with increase in the degree of substitution while the gel time and refractive index were found to decrease with increase in the degree of substitution. However, an initial rise followed by a gradualfall was recorded for density for the different degree of substitution for all the resins. Samples for UF and UA with the exception of monoethylol urea were too hard brittle and has low water resistance whilethose of UP and UB resins were too soft and remained as semi solid in the cured state at room temperature (30oC). This result indicates that these resins cannot be used alone as paint binder.However, monoethylol urea seems to have sieved itself out as a compromise candidate who is neither brittle nor too soft. A comparison of monoethylol urea with some physical properties of someconvectional paint binders present it as a potential binder which may be used in the coating industry

Assessment of cotton-seed (Gossypium species) meal as ingredient in the diet of Clarias gariepinus juveniles

The effect of feeding graded levels of cotton GossypiumSpp. seed meal as an inclusion in the diet of Clariasgariepinus juveniles for growth performance was analysed in comparison with the conventional commercial fish feed. Six experimental rations formulated were cotton-seed Gossypium spp. meal replaced fish meal at graded levels of 20%, 30%, 40% 50%, and 100% and were fed to Clarias gariepinus juveniles for 56 days. The experiment was conducted in six outdoor concrete tanks in the Department of Biological Sciences Garden, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Data for each parameter were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the means for various experimental diets were compared for significant differences at 0.05% level of inclusion. The results showed that fish fed with diet contained 20% cottonseed meal (D1) gave the best Body Weight Gain (81.28g), Specific Growth Rate (2.23), and Condition Factor (1.49), while diet contained 30% cottonseed meal (D2) gave the least Weight Gain (49.67g), Specific Growth Rate (1.58) Conversion Ratio (3.64) and Condition factor (0.79). The results were significantly different (p&lt;0.05) for both growth and feed utilization parameters. Therefore, cotton-seed meal can be used as a replacement for fish meal at 20% level of inclusion. The results established significant reduction in production cost while optimal production is achieved.Keywords: Cotton-seed (Gossypium species), Diet, Growth performance, Clariasgariepinus juvenile

Roles of family dynamics on adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/AIDS at a tertiary hospital in Osogbo, south-west Nigeria

Background: Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been proven to be the only effective treatment for HIV/AIDS worldwide. Good adherence to HAART might require good family support.Objective: To determine the family dynamics and social support of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and its roles on HAART adherence at an ARV treatment clinic in Osogbo, NigeriaMethod: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Consenting PLWHA on HAART were interviewed using pre-tested semistructured questionnaire incorporating Perceived Social Support- Family Scale and Family APGAR. HAART adherence was measured using patient self report.Results: A total of 379 PLWHA were interviewed. Their mean age was 40.8 (SD=9.9) years. Most (60.7%) were females. More than half (55.7%) were currently married and the majority (72.1%) had secondary education and were Yoruba (86.3%). Most respondents (95.5%) were adherent to HAART. Over 90% were satisfied with support received from their family while 82.3% were treated like other family members. Most attributed their HAART adherence to the care and support received from their family.Conclusion: Most PLWHA had good social support and were adherent to HAART.Keywords: Family dynamics; HAART adherence; NigeriaAfrican Health Sciences 2013; 13(4): 920 - 92

Socio-economic predictors of stunting in preschool children – a population-based study from Johannesburg and Soweto

Background. Stunting continues to be a child public health concern in many African countries, including South Africa. This study uses data from the Birth to Twenty study, held in Johannesburg, to investigate a range of household-level socioeconomic and social support predictors of stunting in children aged less than 30 months.Design. Logistical regression models were constructed using aconceptual framework to investigate the association between early life measures of socio-economic status and stunting