Oil spillage and its impact on the edible mangrove periwinkle, Tympanotonus fuscatus var Radula (l).

Oil spills are a regular occurrence in the oil industry in Nigeria, a process that results in the release of excess hydrocarbons into the environment, negatively impacting plant and animal species. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted on refined oil impacted and fire ravaged mangrove ecosystem to determine the effect of oil spillage on the edible periwinkle Tympanotus fuscatus. The results showed that recolonisation occurred one year after the pollution. Tympanotonus fuscatus was observed in higher numbers than other organisms that attempted recolonisation. Bioassays carried out to investigate the response of T. fuscatus to the refined oil product showed a 96hr Lc50 value of 104.68ml/L. Keywords: Tympanotonus fuscatus, impact, periwinkle, oil spillage, pollutio

Safety of fish from Nigerian coastal waters

The safety of seafood (fish) from Nigerian coastal waters was studied using heavy metals as index of pollution using finfish samples from four locations (Badagry, Nun River, Sambreiro River, and Cross River). Pb, Cr, and Cd were found to be moderately elevated in 50%, 37.1%, and 35% of the samples respectively. In contrast, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Fe exhibited no discernable elevation. the distribution of heavy metals in finfish and safety status of the fish samples are discussed. Keywords: Finfish, heavy metals, bioaccumulation, pollution, coastal water, seafood

Seasonal Variations in the Composition and Distribution of Planktonic Fauna in the Eastern Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

The composition and distribution of planktonic fauna (adult form of zooplankton and planktonic juvenile forms of higher animals) within the eastern part of the Lagos Lagoon were investigated in July, 2008 and March, 2009 representing rainy and dry season respectively. Samples of water and planktonic fauna were collected from twelve stations within the eastern axis of the Lagoon and analyzed using standard methods. The study area had brackish water characteristics with fresh water condition (0\u2030 salinity across the 12 stations) in the rainy season whereas the salinity ranged from 11.4\u2030 to 30.5\u2030 in the dry season. The adult forms zooplankton recorded in the rainy season were mainly Crustaceans, Chaetognathans and Rotifers while those collected during dry season belonged to Crustacean, Cnidaria and Chordata. Crustaceans dominate both adult zooplankton and planktonic juvenile fauna in the two seasons. The rainy season adult zooplankton count (515) was lower than that of dry season (580) but the reverse was the case for the juvenile stages count (520 and 325 in rainy and dry season respectively). Higher species abundance was recorded for both adult zooplankton (20) and juvenile stages (10) in rainy than dry season when 14 and 8 were recorded for the two groups respectively. Higher values were also of community structure indices (Margalef species richness and Shannon-Wiener species diversity) were recorded in the rainy than dry season for the two groups of planktonic fauna. The findings show the influence of salinity gradients on distribution of planktonic fauna of the Lagos Lagoon

New Results in the Analysis of the 16^{16}O+28^{28}Si Elastic Scattering by Modifying the Optical Potential

The elastic scattering of the $^{16}$O+$^{28}$Si system has been analyzed with a modified potential within the framework of the optical model over a wide energy range in the laboratory system from 29.0 to 142.5 MeV. This system has been extensively studied over the years and a number of serious problems has remained unsolved: The explanation of the anomalous large angle scattering data; the out-of-phase problem between theoretical predictions and experimental data; the reproduction of the oscillatory structure near the Coulomb barrier; the consistent description of angular distributions together with the excitation functions data are just some of these problems. We propose the use of a modified potential method to explain these problems over this wide energy range. This new method consistently improves the agreement with the experimental data and achieves a major improvement on all the previous Optical model calculations for this system.Comment: 19 pages with 8 figure

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 84.7%) were from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 62.8%), followed by strabismus (n = 429 10.2%) and proptosis (n = 309 7.4%). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 95% CI, 12.94-24.80, and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 95% CI, 4.30-7.68). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs. © 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

Seasonal Variations in the Composition and Distribution of Planktonic Fauna in the Eastern Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

The composition and distribution of planktonic fauna (adult form of zooplankton and planktonic juvenile forms of higher animals) within the eastern part of the Lagos Lagoon were investigated in July, 2008 and March, 2009 representing rainy and dry season respectively. Samples of water and planktonic fauna were collected from twelve stations within the eastern axis of the Lagoon and analyzed using standard methods. The study area had brackish water characteristics with fresh water condition (0‰ salinity across the 12 stations) in the rainy season whereas the salinity ranged from 11.4‰ to 30.5‰ in the dry season. The adult forms zooplankton recorded in the rainy season were mainly Crustaceans, Chaetognathans and Rotifers while those collected during dry season belonged to Crustacean, Cnidaria and Chordata. Crustaceans dominate both adult zooplankton and planktonic juvenile fauna in the two seasons. The rainy season adult zooplankton count (515) was lower than that of dry season (580) but the reverse was the case for the juvenile stages count (520 and 325 in rainy and dry season respectively). Higher species abundance was recorded for both adult zooplankton (20) and juvenile stages (10) in rainy than dry season when 14 and 8 were recorded for the two groups respectively. Higher values were also of community structure indices (Margalef species richness and Shannon-Wiener species diversity) were recorded in the rainy than dry season for the two groups of planktonic fauna. The findings show the influence of salinity gradients on distribution of planktonic fauna of the Lagos Lagoon

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level

This cross-sectional analysis reports the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis across the world during a single year, investigates associations between clinical variables and national income level, and investigates risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Key PointsQuestionIs the income level of a country of residence associated with the clinical stage of presentation of patients with retinoblastoma? FindingsIn this cross-sectional analysis that included 4351 patients with newly diagnosed retinoblastoma, approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, 49.1\% of patients from low-income countries had extraocular tumor at time of diagnosis compared with 1.5\% of patients from high-income countries. MeaningThe clinical stage of presentation of retinoblastoma, which has a major influence on survival, significantly differs among patients from low-income and high-income countries, which may warrant intervention on national and international levels. ImportanceEarly diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. ObjectivesTo report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and MeasuresAge at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. ResultsThe cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4\%) were female. Most patients (n=3685 {[}84.7\%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n=2638 {[}62.8\%]), followed by strabismus (n=429 {[}10.2\%]) and proptosis (n=309 {[}7.4\%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5\%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3\%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1\%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9\%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 {[}95\% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 {[}95\% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and RelevanceThis study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs

Search for supersymmetry in final states with missing transverse momentum and three or more b-jets in 139 fb−1^{-1} of proton–proton collisions at s=13\sqrt{s} = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

International audienceA search for supersymmetry involving the pair production of gluinos decaying via off-shell third-generation squarks into the lightest neutralino $(\tilde{\chi }^0_1)$ is reported. It exploits LHC proton–proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with an integrated luminosity of 139 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the ATLAS detector from 2015 to 2018. The search uses events containing large missing transverse momentum, up to one electron or muon, and several energetic jets, at least three of which must be identified as containing b-hadrons. Both a simple kinematic event selection and an event selection based upon a deep neural-network are used. No significant excess above the predicted background is found. In simplified models involving the pair production of gluinos that decay via off-shell top (bottom) squarks, gluino masses less than 2.44 TeV (2.35 TeV) are excluded at 95% CL for a massless $\tilde{\chi }^0_1.$ Limits are also set on the gluino mass in models with variable branching ratios for gluino decays to $b\bar{b}\tilde{\chi }^0_1,t\bar{t}\tilde{\chi }^0_1$ and $t\bar{b}\tilde{\chi }^-_1/\bar{t}b\tilde{\chi }^+_1.

Search for pair production of third-generation leptoquarks decaying into a bottom quark and a τ\tau -lepton with the ATLAS detector

International audienceA search for pair-produced scalar or vector leptoquarks decaying into a b-quark and a $\tau$-lepton is presented using the full LHC Run 2 (2015–2018) data sample of 139 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the ATLAS detector in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} =13$ TeV. Events in which at least one $\tau$-lepton decays hadronically are considered, and multivariate discriminants are used to extract the signals. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectation are observed and 95% confidence-level upper limits on the production cross-section are derived as a function of leptoquark mass and branching ratio $\mathcal {B}$ into a $\tau$-lepton and b-quark. For scalar leptoquarks, masses below 1460 GeV are excluded assuming $\mathcal {B}=100$%, while for vector leptoquarks the corresponding limit is 1650 GeV (1910 GeV) in the minimal-coupling (Yang–Mills) scenario

Luminosity determination in pppp collisions at s=13\sqrt{s}=13 TeV using the ATLAS detector at the LHC

The luminosity determination for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during Run 2 is presented, with $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. The absolute luminosity scale is determined using van der Meer beam separation scans during dedicated running periods in each year, and extrapolated to the physics data-taking regime using complementary measurements from several luminosity-sensitive detectors. The total uncertainties in the integrated luminosities for each individual year of data-taking range from 0.9% to 1.1%, and are partially correlated between years. After standard data-quality selections, the full Run 2 $pp$ data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $140.1\pm 1.2$ fb$^{-1}$, i.e. an uncertainty of 0.83%. A dedicated sample of low-pileup data recorded in 2017-18 for precision Standard Model physics measurements is analysed separately, and has an integrated luminosity of $338.1\pm 3.1$ pb$^{-1}$.The luminosity determination for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during Run 2 is presented, with pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. The absolute luminosity scale is determined using van der Meer beam separation scans during dedicated running periods in each year, and extrapolated to the physics data-taking regime using complementary measurements from several luminosity-sensitive detectors. The total uncertainties in the integrated luminosity for each individual year of data-taking range from 0.9% to 1.1%, and are partially correlated between years. After standard data-quality selections, the full Run 2 pp data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $140.1\pm 1.2$ $\hbox {fb}^{-1}$, i.e. an uncertainty of 0.83%. A dedicated sample of low-pileup data recorded in 2017–2018 for precision Standard Model physics measurements is analysed separately, and has an integrated luminosity of $338.1\pm 3.1$ $\hbox {pb}^{-1}$.The luminosity determination for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during Run 2 is presented, with $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. The absolute luminosity scale is determined using van der Meer beam separation scans during dedicated running periods in each year, and extrapolated to the physics data-taking regime using complementary measurements from several luminosity-sensitive detectors. The total uncertainties in the integrated luminosities for each individual year of data-taking range from 0.9% to 1.1%, and are partially correlated between years. After standard data-quality selections, the full Run 2 $pp$ data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $140.1\pm 1.2$ fb$^{-1}$, i.e. an uncertainty of 0.83%. A dedicated sample of low-pileup data recorded in 2017-18 for precision Standard Model physics measurements is analysed separately, and has an integrated luminosity of $338.1\pm 3.1$ pb$^{-1}$