Effect of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies on plasma cholinesterase in Nigerian women

Background: Pre-eclampsia can be devastating and life-threatening for both mother and baby, particularly in developing countries. It is a major cause of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis and management are very important to the reduction of mortality and morbidity. A sensitive diagnostic and prognostic marker will therefore be of great value. There is paucity of data on the effect of pre-eclamptic pregnancy on plasma cholinesterase activity especially in Nigerians. Objective: Our aim was to determine the changes in plasma cholinesterase concentration in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies in Nigerians. Setting: Antenatal Clinic and Prenatal Diagnostic and Therapy Centre in a Tertiary University Teaching Hospital in Lagos. Patients and Methods: Plasma cholinesterase concentration was determined using a colorimetric method in 30 healthy non-pregnant, 30 healthy pregnant, 30 and 27 pregnant women with mild and severe pre-eclampsia, respectively, between 28 and 41 weeks of gestation. Cholinesterase activity was re-assessed 6 weeks postpartum. Results: The mean plasma cholinesterase levels in healthy non-pregnant women, women with normal pregnancy, pregnant women with mild pre-eclampsia and those with severe pre-eclampsia were 3594±1042, 2135±422, 1781±330 and 1630±326 (m/L), respectively. Six weeks postpartum, the mean cholinesterase levels in the normal pregnant, mild eclamptic and severe eclamptic groups were 3212±346, 3157±750 and 2864±700 (/L), respectively. Conclusions: Our study suggests that normal pregnancy, mild and severe pre-eclampsia cause a significant (p< 0.01) reduction in plasma cholinesterase activity compared to non-pregnant state, with the greatest decrease in severe pre-eclamptic pregnancy. This decline does not return to normal non-pregnant state in subjects with severe pre-clampsia within six weeks postpartum. The place of plasma cholinesterase concentration as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnancies should be further explored. Keywords: Cholinesterase, Eclampsia, Pre-eclampsia, Pregnancy, Succinylcholine

Improvement of the Index and Compaction Characteristics of Black Cotton Soil with Palm Kernel Shell Ash

The expansive soil obtained from Baure in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area was rich in clay mineral (montmorillonite), unstable and difficult to use for construction purposes. The soil treated with up to 12% palm kernel shell ash (PKSA an agro – waste) by weight of dry soil to improve index properties and compaction characteristics of the soil using PKSA.&nbsp; Index tests were carried out to classify the natural soil, while the moisture-density relationships were determined by compaction tests on the natural and treated soils using three energy levels viz, British Standard light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS) and British Standard heavy (BSH). BCS used in the study was classified as A-7-5 (20) using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and CH group in the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). Tests results show that specific gravity of the soil increased from 2.29 for the natural to 2.34 at 12% treatment. Liquid limit decreased from 76.2% for natural to 73.4% at 10% PKSA content. Plastic limit increased from 40% for the natural soil to 47.1% at 12% PKSA content treatment. Maximum dry density (MDD) values decreased from 1.44Mg/m3, 1.5Mg/m3 and 1.65Mg/m3 for the natural soil to 1.38Mg/m3 at 10%, 1.45Mg/m3 at 10% and 1.56Mg/m3 at 6%&nbsp; PKSA content for BSL, WAS and BSH compaction energy levels respectively. On the other hand, optimum moisture content (OMC) value decreased from 28.5% and 22.4% for the natural soil to 22.4% and 21.0% at 12% PKSA content for BSL and WAS energies respectively while the value for BSH energy increased from 18.2% to 19.0% at 8% PKSA content. Results show that PKSA is suitable for the improvement of the index properties and compaction characteristics of BCS; and its beneficial use will reduce the attendant disposal problem on the&nbsp;&nbsp; environment

Microanalysis and Compactive Efforts Study of Black Cotton Soil Treated With Cement Kiln Dust

An expansive clay, also known as Black cotton soil (BCS) was treated with up to 10 % cement kiln dust (CKD) using three different compactive efforts; British Standard light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS) and British Standard heavy (BSH) energies. Laboratory tests were performed on the natural soil and CKD treated soil samples in accordance with BS 1377 (1990) and BS 1924 (1990) respectively with the aim of improving the deficient soil to meet engineering requirements. Preliminary evaluations on the natural black cotton soil showed that it fell under A-7-6 (16) using AASHTO classification and CL according to Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). Results of laboratory tests carried out on soil specimens show that the properties of the soil generally improved with CKD treatment. Peak unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values of 357.07, 382.49 and 528.82 kN/m2 and California bearing ratio (CBR) of 7, 10 and 19 % as well as resistance to loss in strength of 44, 55 and 55 % were recorded at 10 % CKD treatment, respectively, for BSL, WAS and BSH compactive energies. Reduction in the particle sizes with curing period was observed when samples were viewed through the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The study showed that CKD can be beneficially used to improve the subgrade of lightly trafficked roads and as admixture in lime stabilization during construction of flexible pavements over expansive soil.Keywords: California bearing ratio; Cement kiln dust, Durability; Expansive soil; Microanalysis, Unconfined compressive strength; Scanning electron microscope

Foreign Direct Investment, Aggregate Demand Conditions and Exchange Rate Nexus: A Panel Data Analysis of BRICS Economies

In this study, we attempt to provide underlying theoretical and empirical explanations for exchange rate appreciation due to foreign capital influx and aggregate demand conditions in the BRICS economies. The empirical analysis is based on a panel dataset of BRICS countries over the time period 1992–2013 to substantiate our theoretical findings. For panel co-integration, Pedroni and Johansen-Fisher panel co-integration tests are conducted to compare co-integration among panel countries. We also analyze the results from Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality test among variables and use Granger Causality to test for the causal patterns in each of the individual countries. Our findings showed that the exchange rate volatility is directly affected by the flows of FDI, GDP per capita, Capital formulation and House hold consumption. The results have profound implications in terms of exchange rate stability in the BRICS countries and associated risks

The bii4africa dataset of faunal and floral population intactness estimates across Africa's major land uses

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordCode availability: R code for calculating aggregated intactness scores for a focal region (e.g., ecoregion or country) and/or taxonomic group can be downloaded with the bii4africa dataset on Figshare; see Data Records section.Sub-Saharan Africa is under-represented in global biodiversity datasets, particularly regarding the impact of land use on species' population abundances. Drawing on recent advances in expert elicitation to ensure data consistency, 200 experts were convened using a modified-Delphi process to estimate 'intactness scores': the remaining proportion of an 'intact' reference population of a species group in a particular land use, on a scale from 0 (no remaining individuals) to 1 (same abundance as the reference) and, in rare cases, to 2 (populations that thrive in human-modified landscapes). The resulting bii4africa dataset contains intactness scores representing terrestrial vertebrates (tetrapods: ±5,400 amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and vascular plants (±45,000 forbs, graminoids, trees, shrubs) in sub-Saharan Africa across the region's major land uses (urban, cropland, rangeland, plantation, protected, etc.) and intensities (e.g., large-scale vs smallholder cropland). This dataset was co-produced as part of the Biodiversity Intactness Index for Africa Project. Additional uses include assessing ecosystem condition; rectifying geographic/taxonomic biases in global biodiversity indicators and maps; and informing the Red List of Ecosystems.Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Gran

Linguistic creativity in Nigerian newspaper advertising

Published papers not filmed for copyright reasonsAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX171749 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo