N-octane diffusivity enhancement via carbon dioxide in silica slit-shaped nanopores – a molecular dynamics simulation

Equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to study the competitive adsorption and diffusion of mixtures containing n-octane and carbon dioxide confined in slit-shaped silica pores of width 1.9 nm. Atomic density profiles substantiate strong interactions between CO2 molecules and the protonated pore walls. Non-monotonic change in n-octane self-diffusion coefficients as a function of CO2 loading was observed. CO2 preferential adsorption to the pore surface is likely to attenuate the surface adsorption of n-octane, lower the activation energy for n-octane diffusivity, and consequently enhance n-octane mobility at low CO2 loading. This observation was confirmed by conducting test simulations for pure n-octane confined in narrower pores. At high CO2 loading, n-octane diffusivity is hindered by molecular crowding. Thus, n-octane diffusivity displays a maximum. In contrast, within the concentration range considered here, the self-diffusion coefficient predicted for CO2 exhibits a monotonic increase with loading, which is attributed to a combination of effects including the saturation of the adsorption capacity of the silica surface. Test simulations suggest that the results are strongly dependent on the pore morphology, and in particular on the presence of edges that can preferentially adsorb CO2 molecules and therefore affect the distribution of these molecules equally on the pore surface, which appears to be required to provide the effective enhancement of n-octane diffusivity

ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATIONS OF SOILS FROM DUMP SITES IN JOS METROPOLIS, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

A study was carried out to determine the heavy metal contamination of the soils in three refuse dumpsites in Jos metropolis located in Rayfield Resort, Dariye Park and Farin Gada within the Jos-Bukuru Complex of Younger Granite Province of northcentral Nigeria. Six (6) soil samples were collected at depth of 40 cm from the three dumpsites. The soil samples were subjected to X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis to determine the concentrations of heavy metals. The values of heavy metals in the soils from the three dumpsites were foundto be: zirconium (382.537-1045.734 ppm), strontium (54.584-185.030 ppm), uranium (8.496-12.055 ppm), rubidium (60.189-111.280 ppm), thorium (13.305-30.138 ppm), lead (26.790-277.342 ppm), arsenic (7.971- 27.819 ppm), zinc (129.790-734.643 ppm), copper (31.899-247.048 ppm), nickel (42.454-72.670 ppm), iron (22162.547-64319.262 ppm) and manganese (214.146-449.344 ppm).&nbsp

Checklist of medicinal plants used by traditional women for maternal health care in Lagos State, Nigeria

Traditional women in Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria have been using medicinal plants for maternal health care since time immemorial. However, there is no proper documentation of medicinal plants used in maternal health care, as information is passed from generation to generation orally. This study aimed at the identification and documentation of medicinal plants used in Lagos, Nigeria for maternal health care. Ethnobotanical studies were carried out in six local government areas namely, Agege, Alimosho, Badagry, Ejigbo, Mushin and Ojo. A Semi-structured questionnaire was designed to obtain information from 300 respondents, 50 from each local government area. The respondents included herbal merchants, herbal medicine practitioners, midwives, and traditional birth attendants. Information obtained included the names of the plants, plant parts used, mode of preparation and administration and dosage of the medicinal herbs. Forty-five (45) plants belonging to twenty-three (23) families were identified and documented in the study area. Most of the reported plants belong to the Fabaceae (13.52%), Malvaceae (8.41%) and Annonaceae (6.67%) families. Kigelia africana, Caliandra portoricensis, Nauclea latifolia and Securidata longepedunculata had the highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Fidelity Level (FL) of 0.96; 100% and 0.82; 100%, 0.92; 100 % and 0.78; 100% respectively. Most of the reported plants (73.47%) were herbs and shrubs and about 62.68% of the surveyed plants were wild. Leaves were the most frequently used (72.74%) plant’s part. Most of the herbs (80.45 %) were prepared as decoctions and preparations were mostly administered orally (88.64%). Strategies suggested to conserve the surveyed plants include the cultivation of medicinal plants to prevent their extinction

Evaluation of changes in sexual response and factors influencing sexuality during pregnancy among Nigerian women in Jos, Nigeria

Background: Pregnancy is characterized by physical, hormonal and psychological changes that could influence women’s sexuality. The study aimed at ascertaining changes in the women’s sexual domains as well as factors affecting their sexual responses.Methods: A total of 177 healthy heterosexual pregnant Nigerian women at term and in stable marital relationships were included in the study. Authors’ designed structured questionnaire featuring socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics as well as assessment of their sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, sexual satisfaction and pain compared to the pre-pregnancy period was used to collect the information. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 for windows.Results: Mean age of the women was 30.9 ± 4.7 years. Majority of them reported decline in sexual desire, arousal, frequency of orgasm and sexual satisfaction compared to the pre-pregnancy period. Reduce sexual desire was marked in the first trimester but sexual desire peaked in second trimester. Women aged ≥31 years were four times more likely to experience increase frequency of orgasm (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.9 – 8.7, P = 0.02) while those with tertiary education (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1 – 4.2, P = 0.02) and unplanned pregnancy (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8 – 5.0, P = 0.04) were more likely to experience decreased sexual satisfaction compared to the pre-pregnancy period.Conclusions: Pregnancy is associated with decline in all domains of female sexual response cycle among the women. Older maternal age positively impacts on frequency of attainment of orgasm while tertiary educational level and unplanned pregnancy negatively affect their sexual satisfaction during pregnancy

Improving postpartum care delivery and uptake by implementing context-specific interventions in four countries in Africa: a realist evaluation of the Missed Opportunities in Maternal and Infant Health (MOMI) project.

Postpartum care (PPC) has remained relatively neglected in many interventions designed to improve maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa. The Missed Opportunities in Maternal and Infant Health project developed and implemented a context-specific package of health system strengthening and demand generation in four African countries, aiming to improve access and quality of PPC. A realist evaluation was conducted to enable nuanced understanding of the influence of different contextual factors on both the implementation and impacts of the interventions. Mixed methods were used to collect data and test hypothesised context-mechanism-outcome configurations: 16 case studies (including interviews, observations, monitoring data on key healthcare processes and outcomes), monitoring data for all study health facilities and communities, document analysis and participatory evaluation workshops. After evaluation in individual countries, a cross-country analysis was conducted that led to the development of four middle-range theories. Community health workers (CHWs) were key assets in shifting demand for PPC by 'bridging' communities and facilities. Because they were chosen from the community they served, they gained trust from the community and an intrinsic sense of responsibility. Furthermore, if a critical mass of women seek postpartum healthcare as a result of the CHWs bridging function, a 'buzz' for change is created, leading eventually to the acceptability and perceived value of attending for PPC that outweighs the costs of attending the health facility. On the supply side, rigid vertical hierarchies and defined roles for health facility workers (HFWs) impede integration of maternal and infant health services. Additionally, HFWs fear being judged negatively which overrides the self-efficacy that could potentially be gained from PPC training. Instead the main driver of HFWs' motivation to provide comprehensive PPC is dependent on accountability systems for delivering PPC created by other programmes. The realist evaluation offers insights into some of the contextual factors that can be pivotal in enabling the community-level and service-level interventions to be effective

Changes in weight gain, faecal oocyst count and packed cell volume of Eimeria tenella-infected broilers treated with a wild mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) aqueous extract : article

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of a wild Ganoderma lucidum aqueous extract in coccidian-infected broilers. At 6 weeks of age the birds were randomly allocated to 6 treatment groups of 20 Ross broilers each in wire cages. Groups A, B and C were infected with Eimeria tenella Houghton strain at the rate of 36 250 sporulated oocysts/mℓ per bird. Theremaining 3 groups D, E and F were uninfected controls. At 7 weeks the birds in group A were treated with G. lucidum aqueous extract and those in B with amprolium in drinking water ad libitum at the rate of 200 mg/mℓ each for 7 days consecutively. Body weight gain, feed intake, faecal oocyst output and some haematological parameters were monitored. The result showed that all the infected birds in groups A, B and Chad clinical signs of weakness and reduced appetite on day 4 post-infection. By the 5th day post-infection their faeces became bloody and watery, and large numbers of E. tenella oocysts were present in the faeces. On day 3 after treatment the oocysts detected were considerably reduced in both treated groups A and B and slightly higher in the untreated group C. The faeces of the uninfected control groups were normal and free of coccidial oocysts. After treatment for 7 days no coccidial oocysts were found in faeces of the birds that had been treated. Infected, untreated birds showed a slight drop in feed intake and weight gain from 7 to 8 weeks of age. The final mean weight gain recorded in the treated groups A and B was comparable to that of the uninfected birds in the 3 control groups, while it was lower in the untreated group C. The feed to gain ratio was higher in C than in the other groups. A slight drop in packed cell volume was observed in groups A, B and C at 7 weeks of age, 1 week after infection. This study showed that treatment with G. lucidum results in a marked reduction in the number of E. tenella oocysts shed in the faeces, leading to improved weight gain and decreased weight loss. The results confirmed the virulence of the Houghton strain of E. tenella and the effectiveness of both amprolium and G. lucidum extract against E. tenella.</jats:p

Proximate, Minerals and Vitamin Composition of Synodontis ocellifer and Malapterurus electricus Freshwater Fish Species obtained from Ega Market in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria

The objective of this paper was to investigate the proximate, minerals and vitamin composition of Synodontis ocellifer and Malapterurus electricus freshwater fish species obtained from Ega Market in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria using standard procedure. The highest protein content was recorded for Synodotis ocellifer at 24.76±0.000a and for Malapteruru selectricus at 20.625±0.019b, highest moisture was recorded for Malapterurus electricus at 71.07±0.042a and for Synodontis ocellifer at 68.30±0.141b.The highest ash content was recorded for Synodontis ocellifer at 3.075±0.035aand forMalapterurus electricus at 2.875±0.356b.The highest crude fibre was recorded for Malapterurus electricus at 1.030±0.014a, while the lowest crude fibre was recorded in Synodontis ocellifer 0.140±0.028b.The highest Fat content was recorded Synodontis ocellifer at 3.110±0.014aand forMalapterurus electricus at 3.025±0.007b. The highest carbohydrate content was recorded for Malapterurus electricus at 1.38±0.084a and for Synodontis ocellifer at 0.705±0.134b. There is a significant difference between all the proximate compositions for Synodontis ocellifer and Malapteruru selectricus at p-value< 0.05.Synodontisocellifer, the highest mineral content was recorded for K at 942.10±0.14a followed by Ca at 317.950±0.214a, while the lowest was observed in Fe at 2.35±0.70b. For Malapterurus electricus, the highest mineral content was recorded for K at 610.70±0.00b followed by Ca at 203.40±0.14b, while the lowest was observed in Zn at 2.30±0.14b.There was a significant difference between all the mineral compositions for Synodontis ocellifer and Malapterurus electricus except for P, at p-value< 0.05. The highest Vitamin C content was recorded for Synodontis ocellifer at 5.35±0.035a, while the lowest Vitamin C content was recorded for Malapterurus electricus at 4.77±0.035b. The highest Vitamin A content was recorded for Synodontis ocellifer at 144.33±1.689a, while lowest Vitamin A content was recorded at 130.02±0.000b. There is a significant difference between all the vitamin compositions for Synodontis ocellifer and Malapterurus electricus at p-value< 0.05.The nutrient profile of these fish species will provide information to dieticians, livestock farmers, marketing industries and other fisheries stakeholders. Synodotis ocellifer has the highest protein content and could be recommended as a possible effective way to solve protein malnutrition

Subordinate Effect of -21M HLA-B Dimorphism on NK Cell Repertoire Diversity and Function in HIV-1 Infected Individuals of African Origin

Natural Killer (NK) cells play an important role in antiviral defense and their potent effector function identifies them as key candidates for immunotherapeutic interventions in chronic viral infections. Their remarkable functional agility is achieved by virtue of a wide array of germline-encoded inhibitory and activating receptors ensuring a self-tolerant and tunable repertoire. NK cell diversity is generated by a combination of factors including genetic determinants and infections/environmental factors, which together shape the NK cell pool and functional potential. Recently a genetic polymorphism at position -21 of HLA-B, which influences the supply of HLA-E binding peptides and availability of HLA-E for recognition by the inhibitory NK cell receptor NKG2A, was shown to have a marked influence on NK cell functionality in healthy human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) seronegative Caucasian individuals. In this study, -21 methionine (M)-expressing alleles supplying HLA-E binding peptides were largely poor ligands for inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), and a bias to NKG2A-mediated education of functionally-potent NK cells was observed. Here, we investigated the effect of this polymorphism on the phenotype and functional capacity of peripheral blood NK cells in a cohort of 36 African individuals with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)/HCMV co-infection. A similarly profound influence of dimorphism at position -21 of HLA-B on NK cells was not evident in these subjects. They predominantly expressed African specific HLA-B and -C alleles that contribute a distinct supply of NKG2A and KIR ligands, and these genetic differences were compounded by the marked effect of HIV-1/HCMV co-infection on NK cell differentiation. Together, these factors resulted in a lack of correlation of the HLA-B -21 polymorphism with surface abundance of HLA-E and loss of the NK cell functional advantage in subjects with -21M HLA-B alleles. Instead, our data suggest that during HIV/HCMV co-infection exposure of NK cells to an environment that displays altered HLA-E ligands drives adaptive NKG2C+ NK cell expansions influencing effector responses. Increased efforts to understand how NK cells are functionally calibrated to self-HLA during chronic viral infections will pave the way to developing targeted therapeutic interventions to overcome the current barriers to enhancing immune-based antiviral control

The RIO trial:rationale, design, and the role of community involvement in a randomised placebo-controlled trial of antiretroviral therapy plus dual long-acting HIV-specific broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs) in participants diagnosed with recent HIV infection—study protocol for a two-stage randomised phase II trial

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to dramatic improvements in survival for people living with HIV, but is unable to cure infection, or induce viral control off therapy. Designing intervention trials with novel agents with the potential to confer a period of HIV remission without ART remains a key scientific and community goal. We detail the rationale, design, and outcomes of a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of two HIV-specific long-acting broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs): 3BNC117-LS and 10-1074-LS, which target CD4 binding site and V3 loop respectively, on post-treatment viral control.Methods: RIO is a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded prospective phase II study. Eligible individuals will have started ART within 3 months of primary HIV infection and have viral sequences that appear to be sensitive to both bNAbs. It will randomise 72 eligible participants 1:1 to the following arms via a two-stage design. In Stage 1, arm A participants are given dual long-acting (LS-variants) bNAbs infusions, followed by intensively monitored Analytical Treatment Interruption (ATI) (n = 36); in arm B, participants receive placebo infusions followed by ATI. The primary endpoint will be time to viral rebound within 36 weeks after ATI. Upon viral rebound, the participant and researcher are unblinded. Participants in arm A recommence ART and complete the study. Participants in arm B are invited to restart ART and enroll into Stage 2 where they will receive open-label LS bNAbs, followed by a second ATI 24 weeks after. Secondary and exploratory endpoints include adverse events, time to undetectable viraemia after restarting ART, immunological markers, HIV proviral DNA, serum bNAb concentrations in blood, bNAb resistance at viral rebound, and quality of life measures.Discussion: The two-stage design was determined in collaboration with community involvement. This design allows all participants the option to receive bNAbs. It also tests the hypothesis that bNAbs may drive sustained HIV control beyond the duration of detectable bNAb concentrations. Community representatives were involved at all stages. This included the two-stage design, discussion on the criteria to restart ART, frequency of monitoring visits off ART, and reducing the risk of onward transmission to HIV-negative partners. It also included responding to thechallenges of COVID-19.Trial registration: The protocol is registered on Clinical.trials.gov and EudraCT and has approval from UK Ethics and MHRA.Keywords: HIV, Primary infection, Broadly neutralising antibodies, Antiretroviral therapy, Virological remission, T cell Immunity<br/

Booster vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 induces potent immune responses in people with HIV

BACKGROUND: People with HIV on antiretroviral therapy with good CD4 T cell counts make effective immune responses following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. There are few data on longer term responses and the impact of a booster dose. METHODS: Adults with HIV were enrolled into a single arm open label study. Two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 were followed twelve months later by a third heterologous vaccine dose. Participants had undetectable viraemia on ART and CD4 counts >350 cells/µl. Immune responses to the ancestral strain and variants of concern were measured by anti-spike IgG ELISA, MesoScale Discovery (MSD) anti-spike platform, ACE-2 inhibition, Activation Induced Marker (AIM) assay and T cell proliferation. FINDINGS: 54 participants received two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. 43 received a third dose (42 with BNT162b2; 1 with mRNA-1273) one year after the first dose. After the third dose, total anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG titres (MSD), ACE-2 inhibition and IgG ELISA results were significantly higher compared to Day 182 titres (P < 0.0001 for all three). SARS-CoV-2 specific CD4+ T cell responses measured by AIM against SARS-CoV-2 S1 and S2 peptide pools were significantly increased after a third vaccine compared to 6 months after a first dose, with significant increases in proliferative CD4 + and CD8+ T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 S1 and S2 after boosting. Responses to Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants were boosted, although to a lesser extent for Omicron. CONCLUSIONS: In PWH receiving a third vaccine dose, there were significant increases in B and T cell immunity, including to known VOCs