Funding, Communication and Marketing as Correlates of Library Service Delivery to Persons With Hearing Impairment, PWHI, in Nigeria

This study investigated the extent to which funding, communication and marketing predict library service delivery to Persons With Hearing Impairment, PWHI, in Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. Two states were randomly selected from each of North-Central, North-West, South-South and South-West geo-political zones. They are the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Niger State, Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Edo State, Delta State, Oyo State and Ondo State respectively. FCT was considered a state in the study because, it has a standard facility for the research. One school of the deaf with standard library was randomly selected from each of the eight states. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, being the only higher institution for special students in Nigeria, and also to select one public library from each of the eight states. Moreover, random sampling technique was used to select one academic library from each of the eight states. Finally, purposive sampling technique was used to select one each of central market, church, mosque in the states capital so as to interview the public PWHI. Total enumeration sampling technique was used to select 687 respondents comprising 218 senior class two students, 148 NCE III students of FCE (Special) Oyo, who made use of PWHI resources in the college library, 8 school of the deaf librarians, 13 FCE (Special) librarians, 97 academic librarians, 48 public librarians and 168 pubic PWHI. Three instruments were used: Library Service Delivery to Students with Hearing Impairment Questionnaire (x=0.84) (Students), Library Service Delivery to People with Hearing Impairment Questionnaire (x=0.81) (librarians) and Interview Checklist (x=0.69) (Public PWHI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment correlation and multiple regression

Disruption of Lipid Profile and Alteration of Hepatic Lipoprotein Metabolism Gene Expression in Anaemia‐induced Rat

Background and Objective: Iron metabolism in animals is altered by haemolytic anaemia induced by phenylhydrazine (PHZ), however, its effects on lipid metabolism remains elusive. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of anaemia on lipid profiles and lipoprotein metabolism gene expression in rats. Materials and Methods: Fourteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly classified into normal control and anaemia‐induced group (n = 7), respectively. Anaemia was induced in rats by daily administration of PHZ at 10 mg kg–1 for 8 consecutive days, after which blood was collected and liver excised. Lipid profiles of plasma and liver were determined spectrophotometrically while the expression of genes associated with lipid and lipoprotein metabolism was assayed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: The induced‐anaemia resulted in hypotriglyceridemia and hypophospholipidosis, with concurrent hypercholesteromia compared to control, respectively. Liver triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol were observed to be up‐regulated. Anaemic rats showed a significant (p<0. 05) up‐regulation of the relative expression of hepatic lecithin‐cholesterol acyltransferase (Lcat), paraoxonase‐1 (Pon‐1), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), 3‐hydroxy‐3‐ methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase (Hmgcr) and down‐regulation of Scavenger Receptor Class B Type I (Scarb1). Conclusion: The induced‐anaemia alter the expression of lipoprotein metabolizing genes which might be the underlying mechanism of anaemia to disrupt lipid metabolism

Biocatalytic Sensors: Potentials, Maxims and Mechanisms for Optimal Performance

Biocatalytic sensors are devices which consist of bioactive functionally grafted layers of catalysts or analytical pieces which are in contact with transducers that help to convert biological signals into electrical pulses. They are essentially distinct materials whose design, application, immobilization, and transducing capacities induce/infuse distinct properties that offer several advantages in science, engineering, and medicine. The essentiality of biocatalytic sensors cannot be overemphasized; however, for successful application, it is necessary to understand their origins, nature, mechanism of operation, as well as their behavioral activities in different media within favorable conditions. Hence, three categories of biosensors, whose mechanisms of operation would be discussed include the biocatalytic, bioaffinity, and microbial groups. In addition, the synthesis and mechanisms of immune, DNA, thermal, and piezoelectric biosensors, will be discussed in relation to their indispensable functionalities in multitudinous facets, such as the food industry, where quality checks are conducted to detect poisonous substances and glucose levels, in metabolic engineering, where in vivo assessments and monitoring of cell responses to metabolism are carried out and in medicine, where drugs, heart diseases, and the human papilloma virus can be X-rayed; biosensors also find application in defense/military technology and marine science, just to mention a few. In today’s world, a myriad of biosensors, assume the form of membrane-bound microorganisms/enzymes, antibodies, receptors, or multilayered (matrixenzyme) nanocomposites, all geared towards the maximization of the synergistic effect which these combinations offer in order to advance humanity. With the advent of newly discovered hyperthermophiles, it would be an interesting thing to consider their usage in biosensing especially at temperatures that can sometimes be twice above 50 °C, which may be unfavorable for most enzymes. However, the potentials of these biosensors are yet to be exploited maximally owing to the dearth in the understanding of the basic principles underlying the conditions within which they work best. To effectively optimize the potentials/performances of biosensors, a good understanding of the nature/characteristics of such systems, the principle on which they operate alongside the system’s pH, temperature, and type of medium, which either favor or mare their activities are required. Hence, this chapter’s discourse will essentially focus on the mechanisms and modes of operation of existing biosensors as well as recent/futuristic applications of potential bioactive materials, anchored on graphene and other potential substrates

EFFECT OF FRACTIONATED EXTRACTS AND ISOLATED PURE COMPOUNDS OF SPONDIAS MOMBIN (L. ANACARDIACEAE) LEAVES ON NOVELTY-INDUCED REARING AND GROOMING BEHAVIOURS IN MICE

This study attempted to elucidate the neurotransmitter systems involved in the neurophysiological properties of ethanolic extract, fractions and pure isolates of Spondias mombin leaves in mice (n = 6) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) route of administration. The crude ethanolic extract of spondian mombin leaves was fractionated using the partitioning method to obtain the ethylacetate, butanolic and aqueous fractions. Open column chromatographic fractionation of the ethylacetate fraction yielded seven sub-fractions, out of which the pure coumaroyl, quercetine and gallic acid derivatives were obtained after purification on Sephadex LH 20. The ethanolic extract, butanolic fractions, ethylacetate subfractions and pure isolates of the spondian mombin leaves were tested on novelty-induced rearing and grooming behaviours in mice with standard pharmacological tools using the open field method. The extract and its fractions decreased novelty-induced rearing in a dose-dependent manner. While the Coumaroyl derivative had no effect on novelty-induced rearing, it significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of yohimbine, propranolol and haloperidol on novelty-induced rearing. Quercetin significantly potentiated the inhibitory effect of yohimbine on novelty-induced rearing. Naloxone significantly potentiated the quercetine-induced suppression of novelty-induced rearing. Gallic acid derivative significantly potentiated the inhibitory effect of yohimbine on novelty-induced rearing. Naloxone, atropine and haloperidol pretreatments significantly potentiated gallic acid derivative-induced suppression of novelty-induced rearing . The extract and its fractions had biphasic effect on novelty-induced grooming in mice. Coumaroyl derivative significantly increased novelty-induced grooming, while quercetine and gallic acid derivative decreased novelty-induced grooming significantly. The three pure isolates significantly reversed the effects of yohimbine and atropine on the novelty-induced grooming in mice. Propranolol-induced increase in novelty-induced grooming was significantly reversed by coumaroyl and gallic acid derivatives. Pre-treatment with naloxone significantly increased the gallic acid derivative-induced suppression of novelty-induced grooming. Pre-treatment with haloperidol reversed the effect of coumaroyl derivative and potentiated the inhibitory effect of quercetine derivative and gallic acid derivative significantly. This study suggested that adrenergic and dopaminergic neuro-transmissions are strongly involved in the neural mechanisms of the effect of the three pure isolates derivative, while opioid neuro-transmission is strongly linked with the neural mechanism of behavioural effect of coumaroyl derivative

Evaluation of Efflux-Mediated Resistance and Biofilm Formation in Virulent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Associated with Healthcare Infections

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant pathogen identified with healthcare-associated infections. The present study evaluates the role of biofilm and efflux pump activities in influencing high-level resistance in virulent P. aeruginosa strains in clinical infection. Phenotypic resistance in biotyped Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 147) from diagnosed disease conditions was classified based on multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices and analysed with logistic regression for risk factors. Efflux pump activity, biofilm formation, and virulence factors were analysed for optimal association in Pseudomonas infection using receiver operation characteristics (ROC). Agespecificity (OR [CI] = 0.986 [0.946–1.027]), gender (OR [CI] = 1.44 [0.211–9.827]) and infection sources (OR [CI] = 0.860 [0.438–1.688]) were risk variables for multidrug resistance (MDR)-P. aeruginosa infection (p < 0.05). Biofilm formers caused 48.2% and 18.5% otorrhea and wound infections (95% CI = 0.820–1.032; p = 0.001) respectively and more than 30% multidrug resistance (MDR) strains demonstrated high-level efflux pump activity (95% CI = 0.762–1.016; p = 0.001), protease (95% CI = 0.112–0.480; p = 0.003), lipase (95% CI = 0.143–0.523; p = 0.001), and hemolysin (95% CI = 1.109–1.780; p = 0.001). Resistance relatedness of more than 80% and 60% to cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors (ceftazidime, ceffproxil, augumentin, ampicillin) and, DNA translational and transcriptional inhibitors (gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, nitrofurantoin) were observed (p < 0.05). Strong efflux correlation (r = 0.85, p = 0.034) with MDR strains, with high predictive performances in efflux pump activity (ROC-AUC 0.78), biofilm formation (ROC-AUC 0.520), and virulence hierarchical-clustering. Combine activities of the expressed efflux pump and biofilm formation in MDR-P. aeruginosa pose risk to clinical management and infection control

ZRANB3 is an African-specific type 2 diabetes locus associated with beta-cell mass and insulin response.

Genome analysis of diverse human populations has contributed to the identification of novel genomic loci for diseases of major clinical and public health impact. Here, we report a genome-wide analysis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in sub-Saharan Africans, an understudied ancestral group. We analyze ~18 million autosomal SNPs in 5,231 individuals from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. We identify a previously-unreported genome-wide significant locus: ZRANB3 (Zinc Finger RANBP2-Type Containing 3, lead SNP p = 2.831 × 10-9). Knockdown or genomic knockout of the zebrafish ortholog results in reduction in pancreatic β-cell number which we demonstrate to be due to increased apoptosis in islets. siRNA transfection of murine Zranb3 in MIN6 β-cells results in impaired insulin secretion in response to high glucose, implicating Zranb3 in β-cell functional response to high glucose conditions. We also show transferability in our study of 32 established T2D loci. Our findings advance understanding of the genetics of T2D in non-European ancestry populations

ZRANB3 is an African-specific type 2 diabetes locus associated with beta-cell mass and insulin response

Abstract: Genome analysis of diverse human populations has contributed to the identification of novel genomic loci for diseases of major clinical and public health impact. Here, we report a genome-wide analysis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in sub-Saharan Africans, an understudied ancestral group. We analyze ~18 million autosomal SNPs in 5,231 individuals from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. We identify a previously-unreported genome-wide significant locus: ZRANB3 (Zinc Finger RANBP2-Type Containing 3, lead SNP p = 2.831 × 10−9). Knockdown or genomic knockout of the zebrafish ortholog results in reduction in pancreatic β-cell number which we demonstrate to be due to increased apoptosis in islets. siRNA transfection of murine Zranb3 in MIN6 β-cells results in impaired insulin secretion in response to high glucose, implicating Zranb3 in β-cell functional response to high glucose conditions. We also show transferability in our study of 32 established T2D loci. Our findings advance understanding of the genetics of T2D in non-European ancestry populations

High-depth African genomes inform human migration and health

The African continent is regarded as the cradle of modern humans and African genomes contain more genetic variation than those from any other continent, yet only a fraction of the genetic diversity among African individuals has been surveyed1. Here we performed whole-genome sequencing analyses of 426 individuals—comprising 50 ethnolinguistic groups, including previously unsampled populations—to explore the breadth of genomic diversity across Africa. We uncovered more than 3 million previously undescribed variants, most of which were found among individuals from newly sampled ethnolinguistic groups, as well as 62 previously unreported loci that are under strong selection, which were predominantly found in genes that are involved in viral immunity, DNA repair and metabolism. We observed complex patterns of ancestral admixture and putative-damaging and novel variation, both within and between populations, alongside evidence that Zambia was a likely intermediate site along the routes of expansion of Bantu-speaking populations. Pathogenic variants in genes that are currently characterized as medically relevant were uncommon—but in other genes, variants denoted as ‘likely pathogenic’ in the ClinVar database were commonly observed. Collectively, these findings refine our current understanding of continental migration, identify gene flow and the response to human disease as strong drivers of genome-level population variation, and underscore the scientific imperative for a broader characterization of the genomic diversity of African individuals to understand human ancestry and improve health