AIJR Journals
Not a member yet
475 research outputs found
Sort by
The 14-3-3 (YWHA) Proteins in Signalling and Development of the Fruit Fly, Drosophila melanogaster
Get PDFThe 14-3-3 (YWHA or Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/Tryptophan 5-Monooxygenase Activation proteins) are a family of highly conserved, homologous proteins critical to diverse cellular events including cell cycle, signal transduction and embryonic development. Various species-specific isoforms of 14-3-3 exist, encoded by separate genes. They are expressed in a wide variety of organisms ranging from plants to animals, including the fruit fly or Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila is one of the most universally accepted model systems to study complex cellular mechanisms of signalling and development. However, regulation of these processes in fruit flies by the 14-3-3 proteins have not been entirely understood. This mini review encapsulates the expression, distribution, interactions and regulatory roles of the 14-3-3 proteins in Drosophila. The analysis would help to elucidate some of the molecular bases of key cell-signalling mechanisms and development
Comparison of Fructose and Glycerol as Plasticizers in Cassava Bioplastic Production
Get PDFThis research paper is an investigation into the effects of fructose and glycerol as plasticizers in cassava bioplastic production. The experiments were carried out at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton Department of Chemistry. The objectives of the research were to produce cassava-based bioplastics in the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton Chemistry Department Laboratory, to investigate the use of fructose and glycerol as plasticizers in the production of the cassava-based bioplastics and to conduct physical and chemical quality tests on the bioplastics to determine which plasticizer is best for industrial use. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used in the experiments. The parameters measured were film thickness, density, moisture content, solubility in water, water absorption, swelling index, and biodegradability test. Overall, fructose as a plasticizer is recommended over glycerol and over fructose and glycerol
Effect of Salinity Difference on Lipid Content from Chaetoceros muelleri on Continuous Reactors
Get PDFChaetoceros muelleri is a microalgae class of Bacillariophyta (diatom) which is generally only used as feeds for fishes and shellfish larvae. Nevertheless, the biochemical content of this species is quite high and has the potential to be developed. This research aims to explain the effect of different salinity on the growth and lipid content of Chaetoceros muelleri cultured in a continuous photobioreactor. This research was carried out in August 2018 - February 2019. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Marine Microbiology and the Laboratory of Bioprocess and Bioprospection of Natural Materials, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Padjadjaran University. The samples of Chaetoceros muelleri isolates were obtained from the Jepara Brackish Water Aquaculture Center. The methods used for the study was a ‘Completely Randomized Design’ (CRD) with four treatments. The salinity used is 15, 25, 35 and 45 ppt. The main parameters observed were growth and lipid content, while the supporting parameters were temperature, and pH. The results of this study showed that the highest lipid content was a salinity treatment of 35 ppt with a value of 25.37% of total dry weight obtained at the end of the culture. Based on growth, the highest density occurred in 25 ppt salinity with a maximum density of 3.80 ± 0.49 x 106 cells. ml-1 and maximum growth rate of 0.36 ± 0.008 div. day-
Green Peptide–nanomaterials; A Friendly Healing Touch for Skin Wound Regeneration
Get PDFThe complex phenomenon by which the body responds to any injury of skin or tissue is known as wound healing. A number of phases like exudative, proliferative, and extracellular matrix remodeling are orchestrated events to be occurred involving blood cells, parenchymal cells, and different soluble mediators. Different internal, as well as external factors, regulate the speed and quality of healing. The delay in wound healing process causes the chronic wound or scar formation. At the present moment, the upscale research for identification of agents causing accelerated healing is important. Moreover, the biocompatibility of the accelerators needs to be investigated. Recent biomedical researches for wound care target to provide antimicrobial protection as well as matrix scaffolding for quick repairing of the skin tissue. In recent studies with natural peptides have shown that they are important components in developing the nano-medicines for their usefulness and therapeutic efficiency. New therapeutic formulations can be developed using these natural peptides utilizing different nanoparticle delivery system. This review deals with the developmental study on efficient wound care system where the possible use of natural peptides in combination with nanomaterials has been explored. A trial has also been made on the findings made over the past few years on the use of peptides as tissue regenerating agents through effective wound healing pathway
A Predictive Model for the US Non-profit Market; A Macro to a Micro Perspective
Get PDFThe Non-Profit Sector contributes almost $1 trillion to the US economy, representing 5.4% of GDP, and generating over 12 million jobs in 2017. Researchers suggest that a better understanding of the factors that affect fundraising would be of great interest to policy makers and fundraisers. However, the workings of the sector are subject of much debate. Some relate its size to the Theory of Government Failure, while others propose that government funding does have a positive effect on revenues. Some have suggested they swing with Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but others contradict this view and contend that macroeconomic variables do not affect short-run dynamics. Some research found that non-profit revenues react more to economic upswings than downturns, but nationwide organizations relate the ups-and-downs to certain events, as they influence public awareness. Predictive modeling overall has focused on big-donor analytics, aimed at identifying potential sponsors. Our research set out instead to define a working model for the US Non-Profit Sector. After an exhausting search, we located complete time series for an emblematic segment, the environmental cause, Factor Analysis allowed us to pinpoint the independent variables. We found that Non-Profit Revenues (NPR) depend largely on Public Awareness, as measured by TV coverage, and on Disposable Personal Income (DPI), specifically:
NPR = -4401.542 + 528.327(DPI) +23.121(TVCoverage) + Ɛ
We replicated prior research, which sought out relationships between macro-economic variables and NPR. That study had discarded the correlation between GDP and NPR as obvious, but did not explore DPI as the determining factor, and stuck to single variable searches, finding a correlation between the Standard & Poors index and lagged NPR figures, with a correlation coefficient of 0.636. Our model’s Pearson's R came up to 0.935, with perfect significance levels. Confirmatory Factor Analysis reaffirmed the fit of our equation, with an R² of 0.87
Implication of Socio-economic Factors on Land Use and Forest Cover Changes in and Around Magamba Nature Reserve in Tanzania: Perception of Local Stakeholders
Get PDFRural settlements in mountainous regions are a typical process that occurs in many places around the world and have a number of implications on the landscape. Among them is a threat it possesses to the conservation and management of Afromontane ecosystems. This study assessed the socio-economic factors that drive the changes in land use and forest cover and the extent of land use and vegetation cover in and around Magamba Nature Reserve. Focus group discussion, direct field observation and household survey were used to acquire socio-economic information that impacts land use and forest cover. Through the use of Remote Sensing and GIS methods Landsat satellite images of 1995, 2008 and 2015 were employed to identify the extent of the changes in land use and forest cover. The perceived factors for the changes include education level, unemployment, landless/limited, landholding, population pressure, expansion of built-up areas and agricultural land at the expense of other land covers. This study revealed the transformation of natural forest and associated vegetation from one form to another. There was a decrease in natural vegetation from 61.06% in 1995 to 26.02% in 2015 and increase in built-up areas by 6.69% and agricultural areas by 4.70%. This study recommends conservation monitoring and strong law enforcement relating to natural resources so as to promote sustainable use of resources to rescue the diminishing ecosystem services
Socio-Economic Benefit of Lake Ecosystem (In Case of Lake Ziway)
Get PDFThis study focused on the socio-economic benefit of the Western shoreline of Lake Ziway ecosystem. Lake Ziway great importance for food and water for both groups of respondents and additional sources of raw material, energy, cultivation, organic fertilizers, genetic and medicinal plants. Lake Ziway also has a major economic benefit for both groups of respondents. The respondent fishermen caught a mean amount of 2,524Kg per year with a minimum and maximum amount of fish 504Kg and 16,800Kg per year respectively and with this fish-catching, they got an average income of 51,398 Birr (360) and 288,000 Birr (386) and with a range of 13,714 Birr ($686) per year respectively. this incurred that wetland ecosystem has a lot of socio-economic benefit for the people live nearby especially for developing countries like Ethiopia they are more dependent on a natural ecosystem like of Lake Ziway
Prospects and Challenges of Population Health with Online and other Big Data in Africa: Understanding the Link to Improving Healthcare Service Delivery
Get PDFBig data analytics offers promises to many health care service challenges and can provide answers to many population health issues. Big data is having a positive impact in almost every sphere of life in more advanced world while developing countries are striving to meet up. Even though healthcare systems in the developed world are recording some breakthroughs due to the application of big data, it is important to research the impact of big data in developing regions of the world, such as Africa and identify its peculiar needs. The purpose of this review was to summarize the challenges faced by big data analytics and the prospects that big data opens in health care services in Africa. The systematic review examined the key research questions to address whether big data applications can improve healthcare service delivery in Africa especially during epidemics or health crises and through the population health system. The paper examined prospects and challenges that are associated with the use of big data and healthcare service in relation to population health needs through influencing factors. In this study, literatures are reviewed to present cases of big data applications in healthcare in Africa and to understand the prospect and challenges of such applications to population health
Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Potential of Selected Nigerian Vegetables
Get PDFReducing power activities of ten vegetables commonly consumed in Katsina State, Nigeria have been assessed with the view of establishing their antioxidant capacities. Preliminary, the phytochemicals of the individual plants were screened, and it was found that various constituents were present. In particular, flavonoids and anthraquinones were found in Ficus glumosa which also appeared to demonstrate the best reducing power activity (4.898 at 25 mg/L)
Identification of Novel Key Biomarkers in Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS): Evidence from Bioinformatics Analysis
Get PDFThe Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS) or overgrowth Syndrome is an uncommon genetic X-linked disorder highlighted by macrosomia, renal defects, cardiac weaknesses and skeletal abnormalities. The purpose of the work was to classify the functional nsSNPs of GPC3 to serve as genetic biomarkers for overgrowth syndrome. The raw data of GPC3 gene were retrieved from dbSNP database and used to examine the most damaging effect using eight functional analysis tools, while we used I-mutant and MUPro to examine the effect of SNPs on GPC3 protein structure; The 3D structure of GPC3 protein is not found in the PDB, so RaptorX was used to create a 3D structural prototype to visualize the amino acids alterations by UCSF Chimera; For biophysical validation we used project HOPE; Lastly we run conservational analysis by BioEdit and Consurf web server respectively. Our results revealed three novel missense mutations (rs1460413167, rs1295603457 and rs757475450) that are that are more likely to be responsible for disturbance in the function and structure of GPC3. This work provides new insight into the molecular basis of overgrowth Syndrome by evidence from bioinformatics analysis. Three novel missense mutations (rs757475450, rs1295603457 and rs1460413167) are more likely to be responsible for disturbance in the function and structure of GPC3; therefore, they may be assisting as genetic biomarkers for overgrowth syndrome. As well as these SNPs can be used for the larger population-based studies of overgrowth syndrome