Bayesian causal relation effect in quantiles regression models

Analysis of causal relationships held an important part of the theoretical and empirical contribution in quantitative economic theory. This research explored the performance of Bayesian quantile regression with Granger causality showing that Bayesian inference can be undertaken in the context of quantiles regression. Causality Bayesian inferences in the context of quantile regression were achieved by applying the framework of the generalized linear model using asymmetric Laplace distribution for the error term. The developed scheme allows assessing the impact of the explanatory variables on all quantiles range of the conditional distribution of GDP growth. In Practical usage of macroeconomics variables, the scheme can be used to estimate parameters with causality effect which is synonyms to time series data. This research contributed to the versatile application of quantile regression in the contest of statistical research, the study estimated the regression quantiles parameter estimate applying Bayesian procedures. Furthermore, compared to frequentist estimates, Bayesian estimates established the superiority of the Bayesian regression method to the frequentist approach

The Potential for Wolbachia-Based Mosquito Biocontrol Strategies in Africa

The three foremost medically important mosquito species of public health importance belong to the genera Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex. The Anopheles mosquito is the most important in the transmission of human malaria, while members of the genera Culex and Aedes are more important in the transmission of arboviruses. Reducing the number of competent vectors has been identified as a logical method for the control of malarial and arboviral vector-borne diseases. This chapter provides an update on the potentials of biological vector control, specifically the release of endosymbionts to help limit the reproductive capability of mosquitoes, thereby reducing the population of the disease vectors in Africa. There are examples of successful suppression of mosquito-borne diseases by the establishment of Wolbachia in mosquito populations elsewhere, however, there has been no such report from the African continent. Although the establishment of stable maternally transmissible Wolbachia in natural mosquito populations is yet to be achieved in Africa, this area of research is experiencing unprecedented progress within the past decade. Many of the research efforts are hereby highlighted, including the problems and prospects of establishing a Wolbachia-based biocontrol program in Africa

Effects of Deep-Fat Frying using Canola Oil, Soya Oil and Vegetable Oil on the Proximate, Vitamins and Mineral Contents of Unripe Plantain (Musa x paradisiaca)

Musa x paradisiaca (plantain) isamong the major tropical staple foods. This study was designed to determine the proximate, mineral and fat soluble vitamins constituents of unripe plantain fried with three different oils (canola oil, soya oil and vegetable oil) and unripe plantain oven dried sample was used as the control. The vitamins were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The result of the proximate analysis showed that the dried samples had higher levels of protein (25.2%), carbohydrate (50.1%), moisture content (13.3%), ash content (2.02%), crude fibre (7.73%) but low level of crude fat in comparison with the fried samples. Plantain fried with vegetable oil had the lowest levels of protein (20.84%), carbohydrate (26.93%), moisture content (13.1%), ash content (1.72%) and crude fibre (6.57%) but the highest level of crude fat (30.84%). Plantain fried with vegetable oil had the highest level of calcium (211.80±0.1 mg gG1) while the dried plantain samples had high level of sodium (233.80±0.07 mg gG1). Lead (Pb) was absent in the dried plantain samples. Dried plantain samples gave a higher value of vitamins A (0.08±0.01 mg gG1), D (0.02±0.01 mg gG1), E (0.01±0.00 mg gG1), K (0.05±0.00 mg gG1) compared to plantain sample fried with canola oil which gave low level of vitamin D (0.03±0.00 mg gG1), E (0.25±0.00 mg gG1) and K (0.03±0.00 mg gG1). However, there was a very high level in vitamin A (0.72±0.02 mg gG1). The result showed that drying in oven retains the nutritional contents of plantain compared to deep-fat frying. Canola oil is recommended for frying although soya oil is also good

Partial Purification and Characterization of Cellulase from the Haemolymph of the African Giant Land Snail (Archachatina marginata)

The aim of this study is to partially purify and characterize the cellulase extracted from the snail haemolymph of the African giant land snail of the species, Archachatina marginata. The protein concentration of the haemolymph was found to be 168 mg mLG1 and the specific activity of the crude cellulase was found to be 0.007 U mgG1 protein using Carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) as the substrate. The partial purification on Sephadex G-200 produced two activity peaks. The molecular weights of the two cellulase fractions were estimated to be 112,202 and 67,000. The Michealis Menten constant (km) for cellulase was 4.3 and 2.8 mg mLG1 for the higher and lower molecular weight fractions, respectively. The multiplicity of cellulase complexes indicated that the haemolymph of A. marginata may convert derived cellulose in foodstuffs such as garlic, mushrooms and domestic wastes into sources of fuel. It is suggested that the enzyme can be used to produce value-added products, such as ethanol, citric acid, amino acids and vitamins including primary metabolites from cellulosic wastes

Evaluation of Lifetime Cancer Risk in Some Vegetables and Soil Samples in Two Main Cities in Ogun State: Human and Ecological Risk

The spate of health challenges via the ingestion of radionuclides is still of concern especially in regions that have no clear documentation 14 of background of radioactive sources. The present study evaluated the activity concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive nuclides 15 in plants and their corresponding soil collected at Ibeshe and Covenant University community areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. The activity 16 concentrations and other radiological risks from consuming the leafy vegetables were also estimated. The results show that the mean 17 concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K in the agricultural soil were found to be 24.18±2.31, 20.93±2.27, 20.95±1.9 for Ibeshe and 58.76±4.84, 18 26.06±1.93, 33.87±2.23, respectively for Covenant University. Whereas, for the leafy vegetables, the mean concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, 19 40K were found to be 5.02±0.9, 7.98±1.70, 427.82±29.75 for Ibeshe and 17.57±2.35, 22.19±3.0, and 424.17±25.15 for Covenant 20 University Community. In comparison, all these values are within the recommended limits of 32.00 and 45.00, 420.00, Bqkg-1for 226Ra, 21 232Th, 40K according to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation (UNCEAR) except the mean value 2 for Covenant University soil for 232Th which is slightly higher. The values obtained were comparable 22 to the internationally recommended 23 values. The mean value for excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for Ibeshe North is 31.08, while that of Canaanland (CU) is 239.03, 24 respectively is lower than the recommended limits of other published papers 1.72 x 104 according to International Commission on 25 Radiological Protection (ICRP). These lower radiological risks indicate apparently that the chemical carcinogenic pollutants in the 26 samples may be the major risk, inducing chemical parameters in the study area. This study will serve as a baseline data for any 27 radiologically induced diseases. Significantly, it will serve as a baseline data for any radiologically induced diseases from vegetables in 28 Nigeria and suggests further research on chemical toxicity risks on the same samples

Partial Purification and Characterization of Cellulase from the haemolymph of the African Giant Land Snail (Archachatina marginata)

The aim of this study is to partially purify and characterize the cellulase extracted from the snail haemolymph of the African giant land snail of the species, Archachatina marginata. The protein concentration of the haemolymph was found to be 168 mg mLG1 and the specific activity of the crude cellulase was found to be 0.007 U mgG1 protein using Carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) as the substrate. The partial purification on Sephadex G-200 produced two activity peaks. The molecular weights of the two cellulase fractions were estimated to be 112,202 and 67,000. The Michealis Menten constant (km) for cellulase was 4.3 and 2.8 mg mLG1 for the higher and lower molecular weight fractions, respectively. The multiplicity of cellulase complexes indicated that the haemolymph of A. marginata may convert derived cellulose in foodstuffs such as garlic, mushrooms and domestic wastes into sources of fuel. It is suggested that the enzyme can be used to produce value-added products, such as ethanol, citric acid, amino acids and vitamins including primary metabolites from cellulosic wastes