Evaluation of CD4+ T Cells in HIV Patients Presenting with Malaria at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Nigeria

CD4 count is an important immunological marker of disease progression in HIV seropositive patients. This study was carried out to determine the effect of malaria or fever of unknown origin on the population of CD4+ T lymphocytes of HIV seropositive patients attending the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. 36 subjects were selected for this study. Ongoing history of fever was used as a case definition for malaria and malaria was confirmed from microscopic examination of thick and thin film of blood sample obtained from the patients during presentation with fever. The CD4 count was evaluated during presentation of fever and post-fever using flow cytometry. There was significant decrease in CD4 count of the patients. However, upon classifying the patients into 2 groups - those that returned to the clinic after a week and those that returned after a month - a significant increase in CD4 count was noticed in the group that returned after a week, while a significant decrease was noticed in the group that returned after a month (at p value of 95%). Further classification of the patients based on presence of malaria parasite, and body temperature resulted in varying effects on CD4 count post-fever (in the general group, 27 were positive for malaria parasites. Of these 27, there was an increase in CD4 count in 9 (33.3%). However in the group that returned after a week, all 6 (100%) that were positive for malaria parasites showed increase in CD4 count. Five (26.3%) of the 19 patients that had body temperature within the range of 35.5-37.4^o^C showed an increase in CD4 count, while 7 (41.2%) the 17 patients that had body temperature of 37.5^o^C and above showed an increase in CD4 count. The results led to the conclusion that while some components of the immune response to malaria could strengthen the immune system of HIV seropositive patients by increasing their CD4 count, other components will suppress their immunity by decreasing their CD4 count, accelerating the progression to AIDS

Changes in levels of serum beta-carotene, vitamin A and cholesterol in breast cancer of pre and post menopausal Nigerian women

Twenty newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were assessed for serum vitamin A, β - carotene and total cholesterol levels with their matched control (n = 20). The mean age and standard deviation of pre-menopausal breast cancer patients was 34.75± 6.57 while the mean age and standard deviation for controls was 32.00 ±8.79 years. There was no statistical difference in age between the two groups (P< 0.05). There was evidence of decrease in the mean serum vitamin A with increasing stage of advanced breast cancer. However, the mean serum b-carotene level showed significant decrease in trend with increasing stage of advanced breast cancer (P< 0.05). Serum total cholesterol was negatively correlated with serum vitamin A but was found to be positively correlated though non-significantly with serum b-carotene in breast cancer patients and control (r = 0.10, p> 0.95 for cases; r = 0.05, p> 0.05 for control).Keywords: β-carotene, vitamin A, breast cancer, menopaus

Benchmarking RCGAu on the Noiseless BBOB Testbed

RCGAu is a hybrid real-coded genetic algorithm with “uniform random direction” search mechanism. The uniform random direction search mechanism enhances the local search capability of RCGA. In this paper, RCGAu was tested on the BBOB-2013 noiseless testbed using restarts till a maximum number of function evaluations (#FEs) of 105 × D are reached, where D is the dimension of the function search space. RCGAu was able to solve several test functions in the low search dimensions of 2 and 3 to the desired accuracy of 108. Although RCGAu found it difficult in getting a solution with the desired accuracy 108 for high conditioning and multimodal functions within the specified maximum #FEs, it was able to solve most of the test functions with dimensions up to 40 with lower precisions

The effects of curcumin on sperm parameters and nitric oxide production in varicocelized rats Efectos de la cúrcuma sobre los parámetros espermáticos y producción de óxido nítrico en ratas varicocelizadas

One of the proposed mechanism by which varicocele induces its damage is excessive release of nitric oxide (NO). Several studies have shown the role of NO in poor sperm quality in infertile patients with varicocele. Scientific studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of curcumin on the sperm parameters. Curcumin as an atoxic antioxidant can reduce production of NO. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of curcumin on NO levels and investigate if curcumin can improve sperm parameters in varicocelized male rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (V1 and V2 (varicocele), T (treatment), Sh (sham) and C was control). In groups V1, V2, T and Sh, the left renal vein was partially ligated to induce varicocele. In groups V1 and V2, sperm parameters and NO level were evaluated 8 and 16 weeks respectively after varicocele induction. Groups T and Sh received 100 mg/kg curcumin and placebo respectively, daily for 8 weeks after 2 months of induced varicocele. Sperm parameters (count, motility, viability and morphology), epididymis and testis weight and also NO concentration were measured. Sperm parameters (count, motility and viability) in groups V1, V2 and Sh were significantly low in comparison with control and treatment groups. The level of NO was significantly increased in serum of rats in groups V1 and V2, whereas group T rat serum in which curcumin was administered, showed decreased NO levels. The values of the epididymis and testis weight had no significant changes (P� 0.05) in all groups. Administration of curcumin as a free radical scavenger, can decrease NO level and improve sperm parameters in varicocelized male rats. © 2015, Universidad de la Frontera. All rights reserved

SANDCRETE BLOCK AND BRICK PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA - PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

Sandcrete blocks comprise of natural sand, water and binder. Cement, as a binder, is the most expensive input in to the production of sandcrete blocks. This has necessitated producers of sandcrete blocks to produce blocks with low OPC content that will be affordable to people and with much gain. The poverty level amongst West African Countries and particularly Nigerian has made these blocks widely acceptable among the populace so as to minimize the cost of construction works. Despite the cost benefit of sandcrete cost, the improper use of these blocks leads to microcracks on the walls after construction and this result to incessant collapse of buildings which has turned out to be a worrisome problem facing the construction industry in Nigeria. The main aim of this research is to evaluate how sandcrete blocks and bricks are produced for use in Nigeria, the laws and regulations guiding their production and the prospects and challenges facing the block production industry in Nigeria. A case study survey of about 15 block production factories was conducted to find out how block manufacturers produce sandcrete blocks and bricks for use in Nigeria. Three types of investigations, namely field survey (participant observation), literature review and interviews were carried out. This study found several factors are responsible for the collapse of buildings one of which is the use of poor quality of building materials such as blocks and bricks. It is therefore important to ensure that the production of this major masonry unit is not only standardized but regulated and adequately monitored to ensure qualit

The Influence of Architects’ Sensing-Intuitive Personality Characteristics on Design Morphology in Selected Nigerian Universities

Little or no record of the personality characteristics of the architectural design studio teachers and students has been made in schools, in the world over. This study employed a survey research designs in the architectural design studios of four (4) selected universities in South-West Nigeria. Five hundred (500) architectural students population study, out of which a sample of 498 was drawn while seventy five (75) represent teachers population study, out of which a sample of 49 was drawn, (N=49). Structured questionnaire patterned after Myers-Briggs (MBTI Indicator, 1997-2009) was used. This paper examined the influence of intuitive-sensing personality characteristics of design studio teachers‟ and students in the determination of architectural forms and structures. The key findings yielded seven (7) dimensions pedagogic perceptive indices to Life in Architectural Design Studio (iNintuitive, S-sensing); iN-S1, iN-S2, iN-S3, iN-S4, iN-S5, iN-S6, and iNS7 across the spectrum. The most significant index in the pedagogic spectrum was iN-S5 across the selected schools (iN= 15.8s, 4.0t; S= 63.4s, 85.7t) with higher sensing but skewed intuition indices for students and teachers respectively. It recommended a controlled engagement of intuition and sensing personality characteristics in fostering design products. This was to enable proficiency and competency rating of teachers, students and professionals in practice

Robust dynamic balance of AP-1 transcription factors in a neuronal gene regulatory network

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The octapeptide Angiotensin II is a key hormone that acts via its receptor AT1R in the brainstem to modulate the blood pressure control circuits and thus plays a central role in the cardiac and respiratory homeostasis. This modulation occurs via activation of a complex network of signaling proteins and transcription factors, leading to changes in levels of key genes and proteins. AT1R initiated activity in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), which regulates blood pressure, has been the subject of extensive molecular analysis. But the adaptive network interactions in the NTS response to AT1R, plausibly related to the development of hypertension, are not understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed and analyzed a mathematical model of AT1R-activated signaling kinases and a downstream gene regulatory network, with structural basis in our transcriptomic data analysis and literature. To our knowledge, our report presents the first computational model of this key regulatory network. Our simulations and analysis reveal a dynamic balance among distinct dimers of the AP-1 family of transcription factors. We investigated the robustness of this behavior to simultaneous perturbations in the network parameters using a novel multivariate approach that integrates global sensitivity analysis with decision-tree methods. Our analysis implicates a subset of Fos and Jun dependent mechanisms, with dynamic sensitivities shifting from Fos-regulating kinase (FRK)-mediated processes to those downstream of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Decision-tree analysis indicated that while there may be a large combinatorial functional space feasible for neuronal states and parameters, the network behavior is constrained to a small set of AP-1 response profiles. Many of the paths through the combinatorial parameter space lead to a dynamic balance of AP-1 dimer forms, yielding a robust AP-1 response counteracting the biological variability.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on the simulation and analysis results, we demonstrate that a dynamic balance among distinct dimers of the AP-1 family of transcription factors underlies the robust activation of neuronal gene expression in the NTS response to AT1R activation. Such a differential sensitivity to limited set of mechanisms is likely to underlie the stable homeostatic physiological response.</p

Review of Absorptive Capacity in Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms in Nigeria

The concept of Absorptive Capacity has been identified as an important tool for firms to sustain, grow and compete in their markets. A few authors have adopted the concept in their study in various dimensions. However, many of the researches emphasized on big firms with complex operating structures and strong research and development background. Not much research has addressed the theory in the perspective of Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms. Construction has been referred to as transaction-oriented business changing from the normal design-bid and builds process, to performance and innovative capacity based business. Due to the urge for Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms to acquire competencies and capabilities required for their sustenance in the face of increased competition by absorbing new skills, knowledge and technology through the recognition of valuable external information, acquiring and translating them through innovation to be able to successfully attain competitive advantage over others. The purpose of this study is to carry out a detailed literature review aimed at understanding the Absorptive Capacity of Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms as presented by earlier previous authors in this area of research. This study adds to existing body of knowledge on Absorptive Capacity by pointing out some important dimensions that are connected to the concept and adoption of new techniques in the perspective of Small and Medium Sized Construction Firm