USF binding sequences from the HS4 insulator element impose early replication timing on a vertebrate replicator

The nuclear genomes of vertebrates show a highly organized program of DNA replication where GC-rich isochores are replicated early in S-phase, while AT-rich isochores are late replicating. GC-rich regions are gene dense and are enriched for active transcription, suggesting a connection between gene regulation and replication timing. Insulator elements can organize independent domains of gene transcription and are suitable candidates for being key regulators of replication timing. We have tested the impact of inserting a strong replication origin flanked by the β-globin HS4 insulator on the replication timing of naturally late replicating regions in two different avian cell types, DT40 (lymphoid) and 6C2 (erythroid). We find that the HS4 insulator has the capacity to impose a shift to earlier replication. This shift requires the presence of HS4 on both sides of the replication origin and results in an advance of replication timing of the target locus from the second half of S-phase to the first half when a transcribed gene is positioned nearby. Moreover, we find that the USF transcription factor binding site is the key cis-element inside the HS4 insulator that controls replication timing. Taken together, our data identify a combination of cis-elements that might constitute the basic unit of multi-replicon megabase-sized early domains of DNA replication

Awareness, perception and attitude of Gboko residents on Urban Forestry, Benue State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to assess the level of awareness and perception of urban forestry among residents of Gboko town, Benue State, Nigeria. Stratified Random Sampling Technique was adopted for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for data analysis. The results showed that majority of the respondents’ (56.6%) were male, 65.1% were married and 52.6% had tertiary education. The results also showed that a good number of the respondents (36.2%) were within the age bracket of 31- 40 years. Edible fruits/leaves/seeds/ oils was ranked as number one perceived benefit of urban forestry, fallen leaves and flowers was ranked as number one perceived risk posed by trees. Majority (52%) of the respondents identified lack of proper care for urban trees as the major problem faced by urban trees in the area. Most of the respondents (65.1%) were willing to volunteer time for urban tree planting enlightenment/campaigns. The results also showed that 68.1% of the respondents have never participated in urban forestry activities, (44.7%) agreed they visit parks/gardens once or twice a month and (61.3%) said they visited Parks for relaxation purposes. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) on the relationship between respondents’ sex and their awareness of urban trees and between respondents’ sex and their perceived problems posed by urban trees. However, there was significant difference (p<0.05) between male and female respondents’ perceived aesthetic value of urban trees. It was established that urban trees in the area not well cared for. It was recommended that local and state governments should reawaked interest in urban forestry.Keywords: perceived benefit, ecosystem services, perceived problems, perceived risk, voluntee

Anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of the methanolic extract of Bombax buonopozense leaves in rats and mice

Methanolic extract of Bombax buonopozense was evaluated for possible anti-nociceptive, antiinflammatory and anti-pyretic activities in mice and rats. Acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test in mice and formalin test in rats were used to investigate the antinociceptive effect of the extract. Studies were carried out on yeast-induced pyrexia and egg albumin-induced anti-inflammatory activity in rats. The extract produced a significant decrease in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and inhibition of late phase of the formalin pain test in rats. The methanolic extract of B. buonopozense leaf also produced a potent antipyretic effect and significant inhibition of egg  albumin-induced antiinflammatory activity in rats. The result suggests that B. buonopozense contains biologically active substances with potential values for the treatment of fever, painful and inflammatory conditions.Keywords: Bombax buonopozense; analgesic, inflammation, pyrexia

The IĸB protein BCL3 controls osteogenesis and bone health.

OBJECTIVE: IĸB protein B-cell lymphoma 3-encoded protein (BCL3) is a regulator of the NF-κB family of transcription factors. NF-κB signalling fundamentally influences the fate of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts, but the role of BCL3 in bone biology has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate BCL3 in skeletal development, maintenance and osteoarthritic pathology. METHODS: To assess the contribution of BCL3 to skeletal homeostasis, neonatal mice (n = 6-14) lacking BCL3 (Bcl3-/- ) and WT controls were characterised for bone phenotype and density. To reveal the contribution to bone phenotype by the osteoblast compartment in Bcl3-/- mice, transcriptomic analysis of early osteogenic differentiation and cellular function (n = 3-7) were assessed. Osteoclast differentiation and function in Bcl3-/- mice (n = 3-5) was assessed. Adult 20-week Bcl3-/- and WT mice bone phenotype, strength and turnover were assessed. A destabilisation of the medial meniscus (DMM) model of osteoarthritic ostephytogenesis was utilised to understand adult bone formation in Bcl3-/- mice (n = 11-13). RESULTS: Evaluation of Bcl3-/- mice revealed congenitally increased bone density, long bone dwarfism, increased bone biomechanical strength and altered bone turnover. Molecular and cellular characterisation of mesenchymal precursors showed that Bcl3-/- cells display an accelerated osteogenic transcriptional profile that leads to enhanced differentiation into osteoblasts with increased functional activity; which could be reversed with a mimetic peptide. In a model of osteoarthritis-induced osteophytogenesis, Bcl3-/- mice exhibit decreased pathological osteophyte formation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cumulatively, these findings demonstrate that BCL3 controls developmental mineralisation to enable appropriate bone formation, whilst in a pathological setting it contributes to skeletal pathology

Resilient Design Strategy: Engaging Amphibious Structures to Combat Flood in the Development of an Internally Displaced Persons Settlement Scheme in Nigeria

Flooding is a natural disaster that has been on the increase in many parts of the world. In the last two decades, this unforeseen destructive occurrence has led to the loss of millions of lives and properties valued at millions of dollars in many countries, including Nigeria. Though several attempts have been advanced as possible solutions to help curb the devastating consequences of flooding in the past, many of the solutions have proven not to be as effective as expected. This paper, examined the potentials amphibious structures present as a resilient strategy to combat flood, to develop an architectural design proposal of a sustainable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) settlement, that can withstand the peculiar challenges caused by flooding in Nigeria. The study adopted qualitative research approaches. Data consulted to develop the design proposal were assembled through random search of the internet from archival documents related to the subject and the data were analysed by thematic textual analysis. The findings were presented with texts, architectural two-dimensional and 3- dimensional drawings, tables and plates. Useful information from the analysed data became the conceptual framework on which the scheme was developed. The outcome of the study is the development of an architectural design scheme that utilised a combination of amphibious structures strategy and simple sustainable innovative design measures to proffer solution to an environmental problem, as well as the peculiar social, cultural and religious issues associated with the study area. The conceptual base on which the model was developed is for the settlement to co-exist with flood, rather than the common concept of resisting flood. Though the design was developed for a location in Girei, Adamawa State in the Northern part of Nigeria, the scheme is a useful guide for designing settlements and addressing issues in floodprone areas in other parts of the globe, as well as a valuable educational material on issues pertaining to the development of settlements in flood-prone area

The systematic literature review process: a simple guide for public health and allied health students

YesA literature review is a key part of all academic research that informs researchers of the existing body of knowledge. Reviews conducted systematically are becoming more appealing to the researcher about two reasons. Firstly, they are robust, strong, comprehensive and reproducible and can appropriately serve the background review of any primary research. Secondly, they are qualified to be a stand-alone piece of academic work that contributes to the scientific body of knowledge. Although researchers and students in higher education who wish to write their dissertations are informed about the need for generating a literature review for primary research, when it comes to conducting a full systematic review, they may have some confusion and doubt on the distinction between a traditional literature review and a systematic review. This paper aims to clarify what a systematic review entails and take the readers' attention through the practical steps in conducting a systematic review. So, more of a practical step-by-step guide, rather than theoretical discussion of content, has been included. This paper would benefit early-career researchers, undergraduate students and many post-graduate students who wish to write their papers or dissertations based on a systematic review

Measuring capacity building in communities: a review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although communities have long been exhorted to make efforts to enhance their own health, such approaches have often floundered and resulted in little or no health benefits when the capacity of the community has not been adequately strengthened. Thus being able to assess the capacity building process is paramount in facilitating action in communities for social and health improvement. The current review aims to i) identify all domains used in systematically documented frameworks developed by other authors to assess community capacity building; and ii) to identify the dimensions and attributes of each of the domains as ascribed by these authors and reassemble them into a comprehensive compilation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Relevant published articles were identified through systematic electronic searches of selected databases and the examination of the bibliographies of retrieved articles. Studies assessing capacity building or community development or community participation were selected and assessed for methodological quality, and quality in relation to the development and application of domains which were identified as constituents of community capacity building. Data extraction and analysis were undertaken using a realist synthesis approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighteen articles met the criteria for this review. The various domains to assess community capacity building were identified and reassembled into nine comprehensive domains: "learning opportunities and skills development", "resource mobilization", "partnership/linkages/networking", "leadership", "participatory decision-making", "assets-based approach", "sense of community", "communication", and "development pathway". Six sub-domains were also identified: "shared vision and clear goals", "community needs assessment", "process and outcome monitoring", "sustainability", "commitment to action" and "dissemination".</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The set of domains compiled in this review serve as a foundation for community-based work by those in the field seeking to support and nurture the development of competent communities. Further research is required to examine the robustness of capacity domains over time and to examine capacity development in association with health or other social outcomes.</p

The architecture and effect of participation: a systematic review of community participation for communicable disease control and elimination. Implications for malaria elimination

Community engagement and participation has played a critical role in successful disease control and elimination campaigns in many countries. Despite this, its benefits for malaria control and elimination are yet to be fully realized. This may be due to a limited understanding of the influences on participation in developing countries as well as inadequate investment in infrastructure and resources to support sustainable community participation. This paper reports the findings of an atypical systematic review of 60 years of literature in order to arrive at a more comprehensive awareness of the constructs of participation for communicable disease control and elimination and provide guidance for the current malaria elimination campaign.Evidence derived from quantitative research was considered both independently and collectively with qualitative research papers and case reports. All papers included in the review were systematically coded using a pre-determined qualitative coding matrix that identified influences on community participation at the individual, household, community and government/civil society levels. Colour coding was also carried out to reflect the key primary health care period in which community participation programmes originated. These processes allowed exhaustive content analysis and synthesis of data in an attempt to realize conceptual development beyond that able to be achieved by individual empirical studies or case reports.Of the 60 papers meeting the selection criteria, only four studies attempted to determine the effect of community participation on disease transmission. Due to inherent differences in their design, interventions and outcome measures, results could not be compared. However, these studies showed statistically significant reductions in disease incidence or prevalence using various forms of community participation. The use of locally selected volunteers provided with adequate training, supervision and resources are common and important elements of the success of the interventions in these studies. In addition, qualitative synthesis of all 60 papers elucidates the complex architecture of community participation for communicable disease control and elimination which is presented herein.The current global malaria elimination campaign calls for a health systems strengthening approach to provide an enabling environment for programmes in developing countries. In order to realize the benefits of this approach it is vital to provide adequate investment in the 'people' component of health systems and understand the multi-level factors that influence their participation. The challenges of strengthening this component of health systems are discussed, as is the importance of ensuring that current global malaria elimination efforts do not derail renewed momentum towards the comprehensive primary health care approach. It is recommended that the application of the results of this systematic review be considered for other diseases of poverty in order to harmonize efforts at building 'competent communities' for communicable disease control and optimising health system effectiveness

Properties Of Lipase (Ec 3.1.1.3) From Different Varieties Of Maize

Lipase activity was studied in four varieties of Corn (Zea mays) namely: Local yellow (LY), Westernyellow (WY), Western white (WW) and Pop corn (POP). Using emulsified olive oil as substrate, lipase was found to be present in the dry seeds of maize. Lipase activity increased with germinationand reached it\'s peak on the first day of germination for WY and LY, third day for POP and sixth dayfor WW. Lipase activity was tested for its ability to hydrolyze different emulsified oils such as groundnut oil, palm kernel oil, and soybean oil. The hghest activity was with soybean oil. This highactivity was correlated with high speciicity of corn lipase on linoleic acid. Thermal inactivation studies showed that the enzyme was stable up to 50oC and showed rapid inactivation above this temperature. Its optimum temperature was 50oC and the optimum pH, 8 Keywords: Lipase, Enzymes, Maize, Thermal stability, Substrate specificitiesAnimal Research International Vol. 4 (2) 2007 pp. 650-65