First detection of intestinal microsporidia in Northern Nigeria

Microsporidia are intracellular spore-forming protozoa that are increasingly being recognized as pathogens in humans. Faecal samples were taken from 2250 HIV/AIDS and 1050 HIV-negative patients from Kano and Makurdi in Northern Nigeria, and were investigated for microsporidial infections by Giemsa staining technique (Light microscopy). In Kano, Enterocytozoon bienuesi was detected in 8 (14.17%) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis in 5 (2.60%) out of 192 HIV/AIDS patients screened. A mixed infection of both 0.52% was observed. Results from Makurdi showed that Enterocytozoon bienuesi was detected in 13 (0.65%) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis in 96 (4.78%) out of 2008 HIV/AIDS patients examined. No mixed infection was observed. Microsporidial spores were not found in 1050 HIV-negative patients screened from both areas. There was a significant difference (X2, p<0.05) in infection rates between the HIV/AIDS and HIV-negative patients. This study aimed at detecting the prevalence of intestinal microsporidia to provide baseline data on the status of this disease in Nigeria. Detection of Microsporidia in Immuno-compromised patients has not been described previously in this area

Analyzing powers Ayy, Axx, Axz and Ay in the dd->3Hen reaction at 270 MeV

The data on the tensor Ayy, Axx, Axz and vector Ay analyzing powers in the dd->3Hen obtained at Td= 270 MeV in the angular range 0 - 110 degrees in the c.m. are presented. The observed negative sign of the tensor analyzing powers Ayy, Axx and Axz at small angles clearly demonstrate the sensitivity to the ratio of the D and S wave component of the 3He wave function. However, the one-nucleon exchange calculations by using the standard 3He wave functions have failed to reproduce the strong variation of the tensor analyzing powers as a function of the angle in the c.m.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables. Submitted to EPJ

Reaction mechanism and characteristics of T_{20} in d + ^3He backward elastic scattering at intermediate energies

For backward elastic scattering of deuterons by ^3He, cross sections \sigma and tensor analyzing power T_{20} are measured at E_d=140-270 MeV. The data are analyzed by the PWIA and by the general formula which includes virtual excitations of other channels, with the assumption of the proton transfer from ^3He to the deuteron. Using ^3He wave functions calculated by the Faddeev equation, the PWIA describes global features of the experimental data, while the virtual excitation effects are important for quantitative fits to the T_{20} data. Theoretical predictions on T_{20}, K_y^y (polarization transfer coefficient) and C_{yy} (spin correlation coefficient) are provided up to GeV energies.Comment: REVTEX+epsfig, 17 pages including 6 eps figs, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Polarization transfer measurements for 12C(p⃗,n⃗)12N(g.s.,1+)^{12}{\rm C}(\vec{p},\vec{n})^{12}{\rm N (g.s.},1^+) at 296 MeV and nuclear correlation effects

Differential cross sections and complete sets of polarization observables are presented for the Gamow-Teller $^{12}{\rm C}(\vec{p},\vec{n})^{12}{\rm N}({\rm g.s.},1^+)$ reaction at a bombarding energy of 296 MeV with momentum transfers $q$ of 0.1 to $2.2{\rm fm}^{-1}$. The polarization transfer observables are used to deduce the spin-longitudinal cross section, $ID_q$, and spin-transverse cross sections, $ID_p$ and $ID_n$. The data are compared with calculations based on the distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA) using shell-model wave functions. Significant differences between the experimental and theoretical results are observed for all three spin-dependent $ID_i$ at momentum transfers of $q \gtrsim 0.5{\rm fm}^{-1}$, suggesting the existence of nuclear correlations beyond the shell model. We also performed DWIA calculations employing random phase approximation (RPA) response functions and found that the observed discrepancy is partly resolved by the pionic and rho-mesonic correlation effects.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Proteostasis Dysregulation in Pancreatic Cancer

The most common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), has a dismal 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Radical surgical resection, in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy, provides the best option for long-term patient survival. However, only approximately 20% of patients are resectable at the time of diagnosis, due to locally advanced or metastatic disease. There is an urgent need for the identification of new, specific, and more sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction to improve the treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients. Dysregulation of proteostasis is linked to many pathophysiological conditions, including various types of cancer. In this review, we report on findings relating to the main cellular protein degradation systems, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy, in pancreatic cancer. The expression of several components of the proteolytic network, including E3 ubiquitinligases and deubiquitinating enzymes, are dysregulated in PDAC, which accounts for approximately 90% of all pancreatic malignancies. In the future, a deeper understanding of the emerging role of proteostasis in pancreatic cancer has the potential to provide clinically relevant biomarkers and new strategies for combinatorial therapeutic options to better help treat the patients.Peer reviewe

Measurement of the vector A

The data on the vector Ay and tensor Ayy, Axx, Axz analyzing powers for the $\overrightarrow{d}d\rightarrow{}^3$H p reaction have been obtained at the energy of the initial deuteron of 200 MeV in the angular range of 0–95 degrees in the c.m.s. The calculations performed within one-nucleon exchange model with the use of the standard three-nucleon bound state wave functions fail to reproduce the data on the tensor analyzing powers