Analysis of tumour angio-architecture and blood flow using microcomputed tomography and lattice Boltzmann simulations.

The precise architecture of the vascular system is critical to its many specialised functions. In sharp contrast tumour vascular architecture is highly disorganised and dysfunctional. The reason for this is the grossly abnormal angiogenic signalling prevalent in the tumour microenvironment. Aberrant tumour vasculature is a key determinant of spatial and temporal heterogeneities of blood flows. Additionally, irregularities in the tumour vascular wall, a lack of functional lymphatics and a severely retarded trans-mural hydrostatic pressure gradient also diminish convective transport out of the vessels. Diffusion therefore remains the dominant transport mode in tumours and presents a considerable barrier to macromolecular therapy (e.g. Antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT)). A number of recent studies of vascular morphology in both clinical and xenograft tumours have demonstrated the existence of type-specific architectures. Precisely how these type-specific architectures translate to blood flow through the vascular system had not been determined. To address this we have developed a method for studying the 3D architecture of the tumour and simulating flows through it. This technique uses corrosion casts to capture the 3D tumour vascular system. 3D morphometry was determined by stereoimaging and X-ray micro-computed tomography. A computational fluid dynamics model was then used to study the hydrodynamics of the vascular networks. My results show that vessel structure and architecture varies in clinical colon cancers, but these differences were substantially smaller than those of two human colorectal xenografts (LS147T and SW1222) commonly used in pre-clinical studies. The results also provide evidence that LS147T is, in general, a closer model to most clinical colorectal tumours than SW1222. To our knowledge this is the first attempt to utilise X-ray micro-computed tomography to study vascular corrosion casts of tumours, and using this data, produce 3D flow profiles

Occurrence of Acetaminophen, Amoxicillin, Diclofenac and Methylparaben in Lagos and Ologe Lagoons, Lagos, Nigeria

The occurrence of acetaminophen, amoxicillin, diclofenac and  methylparaben in Lagos and Ologe Lagoons was investigated by random sampling of the water bodies during rainy and dry seasons. Samples analysis was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography. For the two seasons, the mean environmental concentrations of acetaminophen in Lagos and Ologe Lagoons were 0.075 μg/L and 1.233 μg/L respectively. The mean environmental concentration of amoxicillin in Lagos Lagoon was 0.008 μg/L while 0.003 μg/L was the mean value in Ologe Lagoon. Diclofenac occurrence in Lagos Lagoon had a mean value of 0.136 μg/L while 0.519 μg/L was recorded in Ologe Lagoon. The environmental concentration of methylparaben in Lagos Lagoon was 0.453 μg/L while its means concentration in Ologe Lagoon was 0.089 μg/L. From the results, the environmental concentrations of acetaminophen and diclofenac inOloge Lagoon were higher than their level of occurrence in Lagos Lagoon. However, the levels of occurrence of amoxicillin and methylparaben in Lagos Lagoon were higher than their environmental concentrations in Ologe Lagoon. Methylparaben was the most frequently detected in the water bodies with 87.5% detection frequency. This was followed by diclofenac with 75%. Also, 50% of the water samples analysed contained acetaminophen while amoxicillin had the least (37.5%) frequency of occurrence. The study established that there are active pharmaceuticals compounds and excipients present in the Nigerian aquatic environment which are  micropollutants of emerging environmental concerns and of significant ecological risk. Therefore, there is need for environmental regulators to make concerted efforts towards environmental monitoring of this group of pollutants.Keywords: Acetaminophen, Amoxicillin, Diclofenac, Methylparaben, Environmental Occurrenc

Remote administration of ADHD-sensitive cognitive tasks: a pilot study

Objective: We assessed the feasibility and validity of remote researcher-led administration and self-administration of modified versions of two cognitive tasks sensitive to ADHD, a four-choice reaction time task (Fast task) and a combined Continuous Performance Test/Go No-Go task (CPT/GNG), through a new remote measurement technology system. Method: We compared the cognitive performance measures (mean and variability of reaction times (MRT, RTV), omission errors (OE) and commission errors (CE)) at a remote baseline researcher-led administration and three remote self-administration sessions between participants with and without ADHD (n = 40). Results: The most consistent group differences were found for RTV, MRT and CE at the baseline researcher-led administration and the first self-administration, with 8 of the 10 comparisons statistically significant and all comparisons indicating medium to large effect sizes. Conclusion: Remote administration of cognitive tasks successfully captured the difficulties with response inhibition and regulation of attention, supporting the feasibility and validity of remote assessments

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Wyzwania stojące przed rzeczoznawcami w wycenie sztuki i artefaktów w stanie Ogun w Nigerii

Contrary to the perception that estate surveyors and valuers are only concerned with the valuation of lands and buildings, their scope of work included art and artifact valuation. The valuation of art and artifacts can pose serious difficulties to a young valuer, as experienced valuers can establish expertise in the arts area. This study examines the possible challenges in the valuation of art and artifacts. Structured questionnaires were administered on 17 estate surveying and valuation firms in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The data was analyzed using the Relative Important Index. The results revealed that the valuation of art and artifacts requires more specialized knowledge and practical skills than what is required for valuing lands and buildings. The results further show that valuers are confronted with the challenges of a lack of information and inadequate access to past transaction records. This study recommends that, beyond the valuation of lands and buildings taught in schools, training on art and artifacts should also be incorporated in a curriculum and as well as professional training from time to time.Wbrew przekonaniu, że rzeczoznawcy majątkowi zajmują się wyłącznie wyceną gruntów i budynków, zakres ich prac obejmuje także wycenę sztuki i artefaktów. Działalność ta może stanowić poważny problem dla młodego rzeczoznawcy, natomiast doświadczeni rzeczoznawcy często posiadają umiejętność wyceny sztuki. W przeprowadzonych badaniach skoncentrowano się na wyzwaniach w zakresie wyceny sztuki i artefaktów. Przeprowadzono wywiady w 17 przedsiębiorstwach zajmujących się wyceną nieruchomości w Abeokuta w stanie Ogun. Dane analizowano przy użyciu indeksów względnych. Wyniki wykazały, że wycena dzieł sztuki i artefaktów wymaga bardziej specjalistycznej wiedzy i umiejętności praktycznych niż te wystarczające do wyceny gruntów i budynków. Wyniki pokazują ponadto, że rzeczoznawcy stoją w obliczu wyzwań związanych z brakiem informacji i niedostatecznym dostępem do danych na temat wcześniej zawartych transakcji. Autorzy rekomendują, aby w procesie kształcenia kandydatów na rzeczoznawców majątkowych, a także samych rzeczoznawców przeprowadzać poza szkoleniami z zakresu wyceny gruntów i budynków także szkolenia z zakresu wyceny sztuki i artefaktów

Haematology and Serum Indices of Weaner Pigs Fed Raw Pride of Barbados (Caesalpina pulcherrima) Seed Meal

Sixteen (16) weaner pigs with an average weight of 3-6kg were used in an 8th weeks feeding trial to evaluate the haematological and serological response of the pigs to four levels of raw pride of barbados based diets. The animals were alloted into four treatments groups comprising four animals per group and two animals per replicate. Four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated. Diet 1 which was the control diet, contained 0% of raw pride of barbados seed meal while diets 2, 3 and 4 contained 5%, 10% and 15% raw pride of barbados seed meal respectively. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from two animals per treatment for haematological and serological study. The results obtained for the haematological indices revealed that the inclusion of raw pride of barbados seed meal had significant effect (P<0.05) on the packed cell volume (22.50-30.50%), haemoglobin (7.50-10.00g%),red blood cell (3.82-4.82x10),white blood cell (3825.00-7000.00x10),mean corpuscular volume (57.41-63.34fl), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (18.89-30.77pg), eosinophil (1.50-2.50%), lymphocyte (39.00-41.50%) and monocyte (1.00-3.00%) while mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (32.79-33.33g/dl) and neutrophil (55.50-56.50%) were .not significant (P>0.05).For serum, significant difference(P<0.05) were obtained in the values recorded for total protein(7.35-8.90), albumin(3.65-4.55), globulin(3.70- 4.35) and creatinine (38.50-77.75) respectively. The results of this study suggest that weaner pigs can be fed with raw pride of Barbados up to 5% inclusion level in their diets without any detrimental effects on the haematological and serum indicesKeywords: Pride of barbados seed, haematology, serum, weaner pig

Hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity of gasoline fumes in albino rats

Toxic effects of gasoline fumes have been reported, but evidence of its hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity are rare. Therefore, this study assesses hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity of gasoline fumes on forty Albino rats randomly assigned to five experimental treatments (T) with eight rats per treatment (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5). T1(Control) was housed in a section of experimental animal house free from gasoline fumes while T2, T3, T4 and T5 were exposed to gasoline fumes in exposure chambers for one, three, five and nine hours daily respectively for twelve weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and histopathological examination of the liver tissues were used as diagnostic markers to assess liver dysfunction. Genotoxicity test was conducted on the lung tissues using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting polymerase chain reaction (RAPD PCR) technique. Significant increase (p < 0.05) in the level of ALT, AST and ALP for T2, T3, T4 and T5 compared to T1 were recorded. Photomicrograph examination of the liver sections of T1 showed hepatic tissue with normal liver cell architecture while that of T2, T3, T4 and T5 revealed degenerative changes in the ultrastructural integrity of the hepatic cells. Genotoxicity test revealed DNA bands at a reducing intensity from T1 to T5. Dendrogram showed DNA damage in the lungs of T3, T4 and T5 were closely similar and the genotoxic impact was more in T3. Frequent exposure to gasoline fumes was observed to induce hepatoxicity and genotoxicity, hence impairing the normal liver function and gene structure