Seepage Investigation on an Existing Dam using Integrated Geophysical Methods

Integrated geophysical methods involving VLF-electromagnetic, magnetic intensity and electrical resistivity (ER), were employed to investigate the probable internal seepage at University of Ilorin Dam, Kwara State, Southwestern Nigeria.  Five (5) profiles were established in the south-north and west-east orientations, along the dam and reservoir axis. VLF-em conductivity response from -65 % to 50 % with estimated average anomalies of -7.5 % and; magnetic susceptibility distribution range between 2.27 nT and 756.24 nT, with average response of 163.6 nT suggests resistive basement rock contrasts in the area. Twenty seven (27) vertical electrical sounding (VES) points using the schlumberger array configuration were distributed along the profile lines. The lithologic units delineated with geo-electric sections established; 22 % wet/gravelly topsoil and 78% hard lateric pan – granitic outcrop having resistivity variation between 28.8 Ωm and 2612.8 Ωm with average response of 870 Ωm and thickness range of 0.8 m to 2 m; straddled with 22 % clayey - sand and 78 % sandy – clay, having resistivity distribution between 63.2 Ωm and 316 Ωm with average response of 148 Ωm and thickness range of 3.4 m to 8 m and; fresh bedrock. The area is underlain by fairly thin superficial soil (overburden) materials with an average thickness of 6.5 m which shows that the bedrock is close to the surface and serves as support to the dam. The clay materials which could serve as conduit, exist within the shallow overburden and has been excavated during construction. It is therefore concluded that the dam retains its strength and the observed reduction in reservoir water level could be a result of other environmental factors. Keywords: Unilorin Dam, internal seepage, anomalies, conductivity, weathered zones, geo-electric section

Faktor-faktor yang Mempengaruhi Perilaku Wirausaha Mompreneur (Studi Kasus : Komunitas Bunda Online)

Rapid development of mompreneur in Indonesia become economic potential. Join the community to become one of the characteristics that can strengthen the mompreneur in running the business Komunitas Bunda Online (KBO) is one of the active community of mompreneurs who provide support to their members. The purpose of this study to determine what factors affect the entrepreneurial behavior of mompreneurs, especially those who join the community The sample in this study were 41 respondents, selected using judgment sampling technique that is based on the criteria of owning a business and having at least one child. This study analyzes the influence of individual factors and external factors on entrepreneurial behavior with the approach of Partial Least Square (PLS). The result shows that the individual factor that has the most positive effect on the behavior is the achievement desire. External factors proved to positively affect the behavior in which the growth of e-commerce in Indonesia gives a strong influence

Demonstration Of High Detoxification Efficiency Of Glassy Polymer-Metal Hydroxide Composites Toward Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants

The design and development of polymeric composites that can effectively capture and destruct toxic chemicals with a fast detoxification rate is of high importance for protecting the military, first responders, and civilians. Here we report the synthesis and assessment of zirconium hydroxide (Zr (OH)4)-incorporated Ultem, Matrimid, and PIM-1 composites for detoxification of dimethyl 4-nitrophenylphosphonate (DMNP), as a type G toxic nerve agent simulant. Maintaining homogeneity, three different loadings (8, 20, 30 wt %) of Zr (OH)4 were incorporated into the polymers, and the thin films of composite materials were developed for subsequent hydrolysis tests. Our results indicated that increasing the Zr (OH)4 loading enhances the hydrolysis rate and the amount of DMNP converted for all three polymers. While the surface area and porosity of PIM-1 reduced upon increasing Zr (OH)4 loading, 30%-Zr (OH)4@PIM-1 was found to be the best performing material to achieve ∼100% conversion in 2 h with a hydrolysis rate of 5.5 x 10-3 μmol/s at room temperature. It was also observed that the performance of 30%-Zr (OH)4@PIM-1 is drastically improved at 60 °C by exhibiting a conversion rate of 4.9 μmol/s, while achieving 100% conversion almost instantaneously (within 5 s). Our findings represent a substantial improvement of this class of materials over previously reported polymer-metal hydroxide composites toward the detoxification of toxic gases

Utviklingsprosjekter for bedriftsnettverk: Erfaringer fra to prosjekter i hotellnæringen

Denne rapporten markerer avslutningen av Agderforsknings følgeforskningsprosjekt av to HF-finansierte utviklingsprosjekter i reiselivsbransjen. Disse var Kommunikasjon og Medvirkning (KomMed) - prosjektet i Buskerud og Vestfold, og Best sammen-prosjektet (Best sammen) i Agder-fylkene og Telemark. Begge utviklingsprosjektene har vært rettet mot hotellnæringen, og er blant de første HF-finansierte utviklingsprosjektene for bedriftsnettverk innen reiselivsbransjen. Rapporten inneholder en oppsummering av intervjuer gjennomført med ledere, tillitsvalgte og ansatte i deltakende bedrifter for å få mer kunnskap om hvilke prosjektaktiviteter deltakerne har syntes har vært mest nyttige, hvilke resultater de oppfatter prosjektet har hatt og hva slags tiltak som kan sikre at resultater som er skapt i prosjektperioden, videreføres etter prosjektslutt.publishedVersio

Primary breast sarcoma in a middle age lady: a rare presentation

Sarcoma is an aggressive, malignant condition of a breast. It is a rare condition, which makes it difficult to diagnose at clinicopathological study. We are reporting a case of a primary breast sarcoma in a 54-year-old menopausal lady that came with painless fast growing right breast lump within 6 months of duration. Clinically, there was a huge mobile painless right breast lump without discoloration of skin noted. Both axilla and supraclavicular lymph node were not palpable. A mammogram showed large lobulated dense mass 8.3cm x 10.0cm in size occupying right upper outer quadrant correspond to BIRADS 4 lesion. A trucut biopsy reported as a papillary lesion. Repeated trucut biopsy reported as mesenchymal lesion with smooth muscle differentiation. With this histopathology report, she was diagnosed with mesenchymal tumor of right breast. She underwent an uneventful mastectomy. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen reported as tumor with mesenchymal differentiation which requiring further confirmation by breast-endocrine pathologist as primary breast sarcoma. She was subjected to post op radiotherapy to the chest wall followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. © 2018 International Islamic University Malaysia

EFFECTS OF AESTIVATION DURATION ON TESTOSTERONE, HAEMOLYMPH BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND REPRODUCTIVE TRACT DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT OF GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL (Archachatina marginata) DURING DRY SEASON

Aestivation is a process of metabolic inactivity under which energy reserve are manipulated for survival. Reproductive apparatus and haemolymph biochemical agents also undergo phase manipulation as the duration continues. To determine the physiological influence on key hormone of reproduction and reproductive apparatus, seventy five A. marginata snails were used for this study. The snails were divided into five treatments with fifteen replicate each. Treatment include: Zero (0) week, Three (3) weeks, Six (6) weeks, nine (9) weeks and six (6) weeks post-aestivation. Parameters measured were: Testosterone concentration, haemolymph biochemical parameters (Total protein, albumin, globulin, Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT), dimensions (length) and weight of the organs and tissues of the reproductive tracts (Ovo-testis, penis, vaginal, oviduct, little hermaphrodite duct, common hermaphrodite duct, vas deferens and albumen gland) gonado-somatic index and percentage mortality. Result showed that level of testosterone at three and six weeks of aestivation significantly reduced compared to the control. Also, at nine weeks of aestivation, the reduction was significantly greater than what was recorded at both three and six weeks of aestivation. But the testosterone levels were reversed at nine weeks post aestivation. Total protein and globulin were significantly influenced with both reaching a peak value at 9 weeks of aestivation while ALT, AST and albumin were not significantly affected. So also, of all the reproductive tract parts measured, organ weight, ovo-testis weight, penis weight and length were significantly influenced (P<0.001; P<0.001; P<0.05; P<0.001). Similarly, vaginal weight, oviduct weight, little hermaphrodite duct weight and length were also significantly affected  together with vas deferens  length and albumen gland length while aestivation duration had no significant influence on reproductive tract weight, ovo-testis length, vaginal length, oviduct length, little hermaphrodite duct length, vas deferens weight and albumen gland weight. Similarly, gonado-somatic index was also not significantly affected by aestivation duration. It was also obvious from this study that the highest mortality was recorded at 6 weeks of aestivation, followed by 9 weeks of aestivation while 3weeks and 6 weeks post-aestivation had the least mortality with the control intact. In conclusion, it is clear from this study that aestivation duration significantly influenced testosterone concentration, haemolymph biochemical parameters and some selected reproductive apparatus of A. marginata.       &nbsp

Photoreversible interconversion of a phytochrome photosensory module in the crystalline state.

A major barrier to defining the structural intermediates that arise during the reversible photointerconversion of phytochromes between their biologically inactive and active states has been the lack of crystals that faithfully undergo this transition within the crystal lattice. Here, we describe a crystalline form of the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterases/adenylyl cyclase/FhlA (GAF) domain from the cyanobacteriochrome PixJ in Thermosynechococcus elongatus assembled with phycocyanobilin that permits reversible photoconversion between the blue light-absorbing Pb and green light-absorbing Pg states, as well as thermal reversion of Pg back to Pb. The X-ray crystallographic structure of Pb matches previous models, including autocatalytic conversion of phycocyanobilin to phycoviolobilin upon binding and its tandem thioether linkage to the GAF domain. Cryocrystallography at 150 K, which compared diffraction data from a single crystal as Pb or after irradiation with blue light, detected photoconversion product(s) based on Fobs - Fobs difference maps that were consistent with rotation of the bonds connecting pyrrole rings C and D. Further spectroscopic analyses showed that phycoviolobilin is susceptible to X-ray radiation damage, especially as Pg, during single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, which could complicate fine mapping of the various intermediate states. Fortunately, we found that PixJ crystals are amenable to serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) analyses using X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). As proof of principle, we solved by room temperature SFX the GAF domain structure of Pb to 1.55-Å resolution, which was strongly congruent with synchrotron-based models. Analysis of these crystals by SFX should now enable structural characterization of the early events that drive phytochrome photoconversion

IgE actions on CD4+ T cells, mast cells, and macrophages participate in the pathogenesis of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) activates mast cells (MCs). It remains unknown whether IgE also activates other inflammatory cells, and contributes to the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This study demonstrates that CD4+ T cells express IgE receptor FcεR1, at much higher levels than do CD8+ T cells. IgE induces CD4+ T-cell production of IL6 and IFN-γ, but reduces their production of IL10. FcεR1 deficiency (Fcer1a−/−) protects apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe−/−) mice from angiotensin-II infusion-induced AAAs and reduces plasma IL6 levels. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells (but not CD8+ T cells), MCs, and macrophages from Apoe−/− mice, but not those from Apoe−/− Fcer1a−/− mice, increases AAA size and plasma IL6 in Apoe−/− Fcer1a−/− recipient mice. Biweekly intravenous administration of an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody ablated plasma IgE and reduced AAAs in Apoe−/− mice. Patients with AAAs had significantly higher plasma IgE levels than those without AAAs. This study establishes an important role of IgE in AAA pathogenesis by activating CD4+ T cells, MCs, and macrophages and supports consideration of neutralizing plasma IgE in the therapeutics of human AAAs

Comparing serial X-ray crystallography and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) as methods for routine structure determination from small macromolecular crystals.

Innovative new crystallographic methods are facilitating structural studies from ever smaller crystals of biological macromolecules. In particular, serial X-ray crystallography and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) have emerged as useful methods for obtaining structural information from crystals on the nanometre to micrometre scale. Despite the utility of these methods, their implementation can often be difficult, as they present many challenges that are not encountered in traditional macromolecular crystallography experiments. Here, XFEL serial crystallography experiments and MicroED experiments using batch-grown microcrystals of the enzyme cyclophilin A are described. The results provide a roadmap for researchers hoping to design macromolecular microcrystallography experiments, and they highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the two methods. Specifically, we focus on how the different physical conditions imposed by the sample-preparation and delivery methods required for each type of experiment affect the crystal structure of the enzyme