The new motion picture: Can interactivity in mobile AR enhance storytelling in modern filmmaking

The title of the thesis Is - The New Motion Picture: Can Interactivity in AR Enhance Storytelling In Modern Filmmaking? For the theory, I will be exploring how AR has developed from the history of its many applications to its current implementation in smartphones and how current filmmakers are working with this technology to produce new content. For production, I will create one or multiple spatial AR scenes using real-world locations that incorporate elements of a short film story for users to interact with. This may include 3d assets, paths and destinations e.t.c. The theory paper will introduce readers to the concepts and various uses of mobile AR while providing a new short film story/script that will be visually presented using a smartphone and spatial AR. The theory will help us understand how all the various tools are used to craft a film in mobile AR

In-vitro Anti-cercarial activity of extracts and steroidal alkaloids from the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda (G. Don) Dur. & Schinz

Context: Schistosomiasis continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the neglected tropical diseases. Apart from the high cost of chemotherapy, concerns over drug resistance and tolerance have been raised in the past decade. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anticercarial activity of extracts and compounds from the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda on cercaria of Schistosoma haematobium. Methods: Hydroethanolic and alkaloidal extracts from the stem bark of H. floribunda were tested on cercaria at concentrations between 500.00 and 15.625 μg/mL for 180 minutes and assessing the percentage viability at time intervals of 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. Praziquantel, used as reference drug, and the isolated compounds were tested at similar concentrations. The cercaria mortalities and IC50 of extracts and compounds were estimated after 30 minutes of incubation. Results: The 70 %v/v ethanol extract showed the highest activity (IC50=20.09±1.11 μg/mL) with praziquantel giving IC50 of 695.50±1.12. The alkaloids holonamine, holadienine and conessine, isolated from the stem bark, showed considerable cercaricidal activity with the latter recording an IC50 of 33.28±1.04. Conclusion: The study gives first-hand knowledge of the anti-cercarial activity of H. floribunda and its steroidal alkaloids. This gives credence to the traditional uses of the plant as an anti-parasitic agent

Differential effects of prebiotics on the gut mucosal immune response within the Peyer’s patches compared to the lamina propria of c57bl/6 female mice

This study was designed to examine the effects of two difference prebiotics (i.e., tart cherry and fructooligosaccharides) on cytokines and chemokines that regulate T cell homing, differentiation and activation within gut-associated lymphoid tissue of the small intestine. 8-wk-old female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to treatments in a 2 x 3 factorial with antibiotics (+ or – ABX) and diet (control, tart cherry [TC] or fructooligosaccharides [FOS]) as factors. At the end of 10 wks of treatment, whole body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were performed, intestinal samples were collected. Fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFAs) were analyzed using gas chromatography techniques. RNA was extracted from Peyer’s patches and genes of interest were assessed using RT-PCR. Data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA followed by post hoc testing with significant main effect or interaction was detected. FOS supplementation and not TC increased whole body BMC and BMD. The benefits of FOS on bone were unaltered in presence of antibiotics. T regulatory cells were increased within the lamina propria of the ileum with FOS and this response was suppressed with antibiotics. No changes occurred in the pro-inflammatory, Th17 cells, with FOS. Fecal SCFAs were upregulated with both TC and FOS diets, but FOS had a greater effect. Antibiotics suppressed the increase in SCFA induced by the prebiotics. Neither prebiotic increased gene expression of CCR5 and CCR9 in the Peyer’s patches, but antibiotics increased CCR9 expression. An unanticipated increase in IL-6 gene expression was noted with the TC and FOS, but the antibiotic treatment blocked this response. Although antibiotics suppressed IL-10 expression, neither TC nor FOS had an effect on this anti-inflammatory cytokine. However, both the TC and FOS suppressed the expression of the highly pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-17. We conclude that alterations in gene expression in the Peyer’s patches with FOS supports a decrease in the IL-17 and no change in IL-10, which differs from the alterations in Th17 and Treg cell populations in the lamina propria. Furthermore, our findings indicated that FOS’s effects on bone may be mediated by some other mechanism than SCFAs’ effects on T regulatory cells via the gut-bone axis.Lew Wentz FoundationNutritional Science

Recognition and Employees’ Behavioural outcomes: A Case of Covenant University, Nigeria

Background: This study is focused on talent retention strategies and employees’ behavioural outcomes in Nigeria. The study is based on the Nigerian higher education sector and uses Covenant University, Ota, as a case study. Methodology: The sample of the study consists of four hundred and forty-four (444) academic staff in the four (4) colleges of the University. The study used a semi-structured questionnaire to gather relevant data for analysis and interpretation. The Heterotrait-monotrait discriminant (HTMT) ratio of correlation was utilised in ascertaining the Partial List - Equation Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) was engaged in understanding the predictive relevance of the measurement construct. Results and Recommendation: From the analysis, recognition significantly influences employees’ behavioural outcomes. The study recommends that there is a need for an organisation to embrace continuous evaluation and adjustment of recognitionpolicies to maintain its talent retention competencies. It is also recommended for the case study organisation’s management to consistently project career support initiatives for the enhancement of staff behavioural outcomes

Incorporating Green Chemistry Concepts into the Senior Secondary School Curriculum

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Reduced estrogen signaling contributes to bone loss and cardiac dysfunction in interleukin‐10 knockout mice

Abstract Characterization of the interleukin (IL)‐10 knockout (KO) mouse with chronic gut inflammation, cardiovascular dysfunction, and bone loss suggests a critical role for this cytokine in interorgan communication within the gut, bone, and cardiovascular axis. We sought to understand the role of IL‐10 in the cross‐talk between these systems. Six‐week‐old IL‐10 KO mice and their wild type (WT) counterparts were maintained on a standard rodent diet for 3 or 6 months. Gene expression of proinflammatory markers and Fgf23, serum 17β‐estradiol (E2), and cardiac protein expression were assessed. Ileal Il17a and Tnf mRNA increased while Il6 mRNA increased in the bone and heart by at least 2‐fold in IL‐10 KO mice. Bone Dmp1 and Phex mRNA were repressed at 6 months in IL‐10 KO mice, resulting in increased Fgf23 mRNA (~4‐fold) that contributed to increased fibrosis. In the IL‐10 KO mice, gut bacterial β‐glucuronidase activity and ovarian Cyp19a1 mRNA were lower (p < 0.05), consistent with reduced serum E2 and reduced cardiac pNOS3 (Ser1119) in these mice. Treatment of ileal lymphocytes with E2 reduced gut inflammation in WT but not IL‐10 KO mice. In conclusion, our data suggest that diminished estrogen and defective bone mineralization increased FGF23 which contributed to cardiac fibrosis in the IL‐10 KO mouse

Allanblackia floribunda Seed Extract Attenuates the Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats via the Inhibition of TNF-α and INF-γ Levels and Modulation in the Expression of Ki67 Protein

Allanblackia floribunda has been used to treat an upset stomach in African traditional medicine, but its efficacy and safety have not been scientifically studied. The present research is aimed at assessing the antiulcer property of the seed extract of the plant to validate its traditional claim. Rats were pretreated with three doses of aqueous extract of A. floribunda (AFE) at 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg or omeprazole 10 mg/kg for 1 hr before the acute gastric ulcer was induced by oral administration of 5 mL/kg of 98% ethanol. The animals were sacrificed under anesthesia, and the stomach and blood were collected. The gross histology of the stomach, percentage protection conferred by the treatment, gastric pH, and serum TNF-α and INF-γ were assessed as well as the expression of Ki67 antigens. The antioxidant properties as well as the acute toxicity profile of the plant extract were also assessed. The results show that A. floribunda conferred significant protection on the rats against gastric ulceration with % protection of 46.15, 57.69, and 65.38 for AFE 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, respectively, as well as 69.23% for omeprazole 10 mg/kg. The plant extract caused marked reductions in gastric pH, TNF-α, and INF-γ with statistical significance (p<0.001) for AFE 300 mg/kg and omeprazole 10 mg/kg. Also, the plant showed good antioxidant activity comparable to gallic acid. Furthermore, the plant extract modulated the expression of Ki67 antigens. All animals survived the 14-day delayed toxicity test with no significant differences in physical, hematological, and biochemical parameters between rats orally administered with supratherapeutic doses of AFE (5000 mg/kg) or normal saline. The study established that the gastroprotective effect of the seed extract of A. floribunda is attributable to its antisecretory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, the plant was found to promote ulcer healing via the modulation of the expression Ki67 and was safe at supratherapeutic doses