Comparative Analysis of Mineralogical Characteristics of Clay-Rich Soil Samples obtained from Gbajimba, Angbaaye and Makurdi Areas of Benue State

The elemental concentrations and mineralogical composition of soil samples from Gbajimba, Angbaaye and Makurdi areas of Benue state were evaluated. Their clay fractions (particles smaller than 2 microns) studied through a series of mineralogical, chemical and physico-chemical analyses showed that the colour test of the sample showed brown to red. The study suggested that morphology of kaolinitic and quartz minerals is influenced by the parent material (i.e. feldspars or micas) and degree of chemical weathering. The pH values of pore water from clay samples showed acidity, ranging from 4.93 - 6.96. The electrical conductivities (EC) of the samples ranged from 2.68-3.48 mS/cm – 3.48mS/cm. The CEC results of the sample showed a 6.98-7.32 range. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characterization showed that the soil samples from these three areas with clay-rich soil were a mixtures of kaolinite, quartz, muscovite, microline, pyrite, chlorite and sylvite, showing quartz present in all samples. The results obtained from XRF showed that the clay samples mostly composed of silicon (IV) oxide in Gbajimba(51.538%), Angbaaye (49.107%) and Makurdi (64.826%); Aluminum in Gbajimba (18.883%), Angbaaye (22.419%) and Makurdi(16.319%);Iron in Gbajimba (8.3230%), Angbaaye (8.8611%) and Makurdi (4.2672%); Manganese, phosphorous, titanium etc. These are the proportion of the major expected elements. Hence, the results from the analysis fell within the same range of results from other works studied

Plasmodium sporozoites trickle out of the injection site

Plasmodium sporozoites make a remarkable journey from the skin, where they are deposited by an infected Anopheline mosquito, to the liver, where they invade hepatocytes and develop into exoerythrocytic stages. Although much work has been done to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which sporozoites invade hepatocytes, little is known about the interactions between host and parasite before the sporozoite enters the blood circulation. It has always been assumed that sporozoites rapidly exit the injection site, making their interactions with the host at this site, brief and difficult to study. Using quantitative PCR, we determined the kinetics with which sporozoites leave the injection site and arrive in the liver and found that the majority of infective sporozoites remain in the skin for hours. We then performed sub-inoculation experiments which confirmed these findings and showed that the pattern of sporozoite exit from the injection site resembles a slow trickle. Last, we found that drainage of approximately 20% of the sporozoite inoculum to the lymphatics is associated with a significant enlargement of the draining lymph node, a response not observed after intravenous inoculation. These findings indicate that there is ample time for host and parasite to interact at the inoculation site and are of relevance to the pre-erythrocytic stage malaria vaccine effort

The ripple effects of CBDC-related news on Bitcoin returns: insights from the DCC-GARCH model

Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have emerged as a potential substitute for current payment methods, and, as such, major announcements, events and policy discussions regarding CBDCs have the potential to influence cryptocurrency returns. In light of this, the present study undertakes an in-depth analysis of the CoinMarketCap data between August 1, 2017 and April 1, 2022 by implementing the dynamic conditional correlation-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (DCC-GARCH) model. The study reveals a noteworthy influence of news and events related to CBDCs on Bitcoin returns. Precisely, CBDC uncertainty index and CBDC attention index have resulted in significant fluctuations in Bitcoin returns, indicating that positive news can result in significant Bitcoin returns. The findings suggest that future expectations of investors regarding cryptocurrencies are shaped by CBDC-related news and events

Data for analysis of catechol estrogen metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Analysis of catechol estrogens (2 & 4 hydroxy-estrone and estradiol) has proven troublesome by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry due to their low concentrations, short half-lives and temperature-labile nature. Derivatization to methyl piperazine analogues has been reported for a panel of 9 estrogens in, “Derivatization enhances analysis of estrogens and their bioactive metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry” (Denver et al., 2019). Data show alteration of the base catalyst in this method was required to allow detection of catechol estrogens to low levels. Data also highlight the challenges faced in chromatographic separation of isomers and isotopologues, which were partially overcome by employing an extended column length and reduced oven temperature. In addition, data analysis displayed significant matrix effects during quantitation in plasma, following solid-phase extraction, despite efficient recoveries

Overlapping variants in the blood, tissues and cell lines for patients with intracranial meningiomas are predominant in stem cell-related genes

Objective: Bulk tissue genomic analysis of meningiomas identified common somatic mutations, however, it often excluded blood-related variants. In contrast, genomic characterisation of primary cell lines that can provide critical information regarding growth and proliferation, have been rare. In our work, we identified the variants that are present in the blood, tissues and corresponding cell lines that are likely to be predictive, tumorigenic and progressive. Method: Whole-exome sequencing was used to identify variants and distinguish related pathways that exist in 42 blood, tissues and corresponding cell lines (BTCs) samples for patients with intracranial meningiomas. Conventional sequencing was used for the confirmation of variants. Integrative analysis of the gene expression for the corresponding samples was utilised for further interpretations. Results: In total, 926 BTC variants were detected, implicating 845 genes. A pathway analysis of all BTC genes with damaging variants indicated the 'cell morphogenesis involved in differentiation' stem cell-related pathway to be the most frequently affected pathway. Concordantly, five stem cell-related genes, GPRIN2, ALDH3B2, ASPN, THSD7A and SIGLEC6, showed BTC variants in at least five of the patients. Variants that were heterozygous in the blood and homozygous in the tissues or the corresponding cell lines were rare (average: 1.3 +/- 0.3%), and included variants in the RUNX2 and CCDC114 genes. An analysis comparing the variants detected only in tumours with aggressive features indicated a total of 240 BTC genes, implicating the 'homophilic cell adhesion via plasma membrane adhesion molecules' pathway, and identifying the stem cell-related transcription coactivator NCOA3/AIB1/SRC3 as the most frequent BTC gene. Further analysis of the possible impact of the poly-Q mutation present in the NCOA3 gene indicated associated deregulation of 15 genes, including the up-regulation of the stem cell related SEMA3D gene and the angiogenesis related VEGFA gene. Conclusion: Stem cell-related pathways and genes showed high prevalence in the BTC variants, and novel variants in stem cell-related genes were identified for meningioma. These variants can potentially be used as predictive, tumorigenic and progressive biomarkers for meningioma

Measurement of the W+W-gamma Cross Section and Direct Limits on Anomalous Quartic Gauge Boson Couplings at LEP

The process e+e- -> W+W-gamma is analysed using the data collected with the L3 detector at LEP at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.8pb^-1. Based on a sample of 42 selected W+W- candidates containing an isolated hard photon, the W+W-gamma cross section, defined within phase-space cuts, is measured to be: sigma_WWgamma = 290 +/- 80 +/- 16 fb, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. Including the process e+e- -> nu nu gamma gamma, limits are derived on anomalous contributions to the Standard Model quartic vertices W+W- gamma gamma and W+W-Z gamma at 95% CL: -0.043 GeV^-2 < a_0/Lambda^2 < 0.043 GeV^-2 0.08 GeV^-2 < a_c/Lambda^2 < 0.13 GeV^-2 0.41 GeV^-2 < a_n/Lambda^2 < 0.37 GeV^-2