AIM To analyse cumulative loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosomal regions and tumor suppressor genes in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) from 20 southern African blacks. METHODS p53, RB1, BRCA1, BRCA2, WT1 and E c...AIM To analyse cumulative loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosomal regions and tumor suppressor genes in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) from 20 southern African blacks. METHODS p53, RB1, BRCA1, BRCA2, WT1 and E cadherin genes were analysed for LOH, and p53 gene was also analysed for the codon 249 mutation, in tumor and adjacent non tumorous liver tissues using molecular techniques and 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers. RESULTS p53 codon 249 mutation was found in 25% of the subjects, as was expected, because many patients were from Mozambique, a country with high aflatoxin B 1 exposure. LOH was found at the RB1, BRCA2 and WT1 loci in 20%(4/*!20) of the HCCs, supporting a possible role of these genes in HCC. No LOH was evident in any of the remaining genes. Reports of mutations of p53 and RB1 genes in combination, described in other populations, were not confirmed in this study. Change in microsatellite repeat number was noted at 9/*!10 microsatellite loci in different HCCs, and changes at two or more loci were detected in 15%(3/*!20) of subjects. CONCLUSION We propose that microsatellite/genomic instability may play a role in the pathogenesis of a subset of HCCs in black Africans.展开更多
Background: To determine mortality causes and the associated factors. Patients and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to May 2015 (1 year) in the department of cardiology at University and...Background: To determine mortality causes and the associated factors. Patients and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to May 2015 (1 year) in the department of cardiology at University and teaching Hospital of Brazzaville. Patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases were included. Patients admitted for cardiovascular disease in other departments of the hospital, or without cardiovascular diseases were not included. Results: In total, 1035 patients, 605 women (5804%) were included. Mean age was 57.1 ± 7 years (range: 18 - 85 years). The patients were: elderly (n = 498, 48.1%), educated (n = 809, 78.1%), low-income (n = 253, 24.2%). The medical history of patients was: hypertension (n = 440, 42.5%), diabetes (n = 316, 30.5%), reduced physical activity (n = 154, 14.9%), excessive alcohol intake (n = 56, 5.4%). Heart failure was reported in 386 cases (37.3%). The mortality rate was 8% (n = 83);the mean age of deceased was 61.9 ± 7.3 years (p s in death were dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 37, 44.6%, OR 5, 95%CI 3.1 - 8, p -3.3, p = 0.002), atrial fibrillation (n = 24, 29%, OR 3.6, 95%CI 2.2 - 6, p - 9.8, p = 0.005). The associated death comorbidities were: acute respiratory infection (n = 44, 53%, OR 10.1, 95%CI 6.2 - 16, p - 10 p - 6.8, p Conclusion: Hypertension, heart failure and cardiomyopathies are the leading causes of mortality in the department of cardiology. Prevention and patient education in a low-income environment are essential elements to reduce this morbidity.展开更多
Background: Fibroadenoma is the commonest benign tumour of the breast affecting the majority of young females below the age of thirty in our environment. It is a source of concern and psychological problems in females...Background: Fibroadenoma is the commonest benign tumour of the breast affecting the majority of young females below the age of thirty in our environment. It is a source of concern and psychological problems in females requiring medical attention in our hospitals. Aim: This study describes the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibroadenoma in Eastern Nigerian Igbo females. Methodology: The archives of the Department of Pathology Federal Medical Centre, Owerri was used for the data collection and analyzed using simple statistics. Results: 504 fibroadenomas were analyzed. The average size was 1.99 cm with a range of 0.5 cm to 18 cm. The average age of the patients was 22.6 ± 6.7 years with a range of 9 to 60 years. The peak age of incidence was in the 11 - 20 (44.64%) age group followed closely by the 21 - 30 (43.45%) age group. The ratio of involvement of the left to the right breast was 1:1.2. Fibroadenoma was 18% multiple and 10.7% bilateral. 5.3% (27), 0.6% (3), and 0.2% (1) of the cases were giant, complex fibroadenoma and malignant breast disease in fibroadenoma respectively. Conclusion: This study has provided insights into the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibroadenoma among Nigerian Igbos and calls for more research in this area in other parts Nigeria and elsewhere.展开更多
The accession of an African-American Obama to the U.S. Presidency in 2008 is an epoch-making event. The thesis focuses on the current situation of the blacks in U.S. to highlight the prophetic nature of Faulkner, the ...The accession of an African-American Obama to the U.S. Presidency in 2008 is an epoch-making event. The thesis focuses on the current situation of the blacks in U.S. to highlight the prophetic nature of Faulkner, the Nobel Prize winning American novelist＇s exploration of the blacks throughout his career, namely, the miserable living states of the blacks, racial segregation against the blacks in the sphere of education and religion, racial discrimination against the blacks with regard to civil rights, racial persecution against the blacks in legal cases, and the dependency upon the black leadership to salvage the multi-ethnic nation and so on. The paper comes up with the conclusion that Faulkner is accurate in his prophecy that the savior of the nation, the blacks shall suffer and lead.展开更多
"Nigger Jeff"is a short story,It was written by Theodore Dreiser,a famous American novel-ist in the twentieth century. It was no accident that such a work snould appear during the era of racial discrimanatio..."Nigger Jeff"is a short story,It was written by Theodore Dreiser,a famous American novel-ist in the twentieth century. It was no accident that such a work snould appear during the era of racial discrimanation.The setting of the story is the South. The balcks were slaves before the Civil War there. They re-mained the second class citizens after. Southern whites often used lynching without trial to pur-nish imdividuals and intimeidate the balcks in general. In this story,Jeff,a typical of all the展开更多
Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was shown to be present in 75% of Black Africans with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom the tumor was hitherto not thought to be caused by chronic HBV infection. The assoc...Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was shown to be present in 75% of Black Africans with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom the tumor was hitherto not thought to be caused by chronic HBV infection. The association between chronic HBV infection and the development of the tumor is thus even closer than was originally thought. HBV viral load was found to be significantly higher in patients with HCC than in Black African controls. As in other populations, HBV e antigen-positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had significantly higher viral loads than patients negative for this antigen. The significance of this finding is discussed. The risk for HCC development with genotype A of HBV, the predominant genotype in African isolates, has not been investigated. Genotype A was shown to be 4.5 times more likely than other genotypes to cause HCC in Black Africans, and tumours occurred at a significantly younger age. Increasing numbers of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV co-infection are being reported to develop HCC. A preliminary case/control comparison supports the belief that HIV co-infection enhances the hepatocarcinogenic potential of HBV. A study from The Gambia provides the first evidence that dietary exposure to afltoxin B1 may cause cirrhosis and thatthis may play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of aflatoxin-induced HCC. An animal model has provided experimental support for the clinical evidence that dietary iron overload in the African is directly hepatocarcinogenic, in addition to causing the tumor indirectly through the development of cirrhosis.展开更多
The authors conducted a retrospective study over a period of 6 months in a hypertensive population in order to determine the correlation between serum uric acid on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and estimated serum ...The authors conducted a retrospective study over a period of 6 months in a hypertensive population in order to determine the correlation between serum uric acid on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and estimated serum potassium with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and obesity. This study enrolled 122 patients including 63 women (51.6%). The mean age was 55.9 ± 10.6 years (range 30 to 74 years). Obesity weight was found in 38 cases (31.1%) of which 20?were men (33.9%) and 18 women (28.6%). Abdominal obesity was found in 104 cases (85.2%). The average serum uric acid in patients with obesity weight was 63.3 ± 18.9 mg/L vs 62.4 ± 14.2 mg/L for no-obese patients (p?= 0.63). The average serum potassium in obese patients was 4.06 ± 0.42 mEq/L vs 4.02 ± 0.46 mEq/L for no-obese (p?= 0.65). The average GFR was 73.4 ± 21.4 ml/L in obese patients vs 66.6 ± 22.6 ml/min in no-obese (p?= 0.03). The LVH was found in 81 cases (66.4%). The LVH was found in 65 (62.5%) obese patients vs?16 (88%) non-obese patients (OR = 4.8, 95% 1.04?-?22?p?= 0.02). Only abdominal?obesity has been correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy after multivariate analysis. Emphasis must be focused on public health actions for effective and appropriate measures against obesity and hypertension, whose prevalence is increasing in our region.展开更多
Countries around the world have been making efforts to reduce pollutant emissions. However, the response of global black carbon(BC) aging to emission changes remains unclear. Using the Community Atmosphere Model versi...Countries around the world have been making efforts to reduce pollutant emissions. However, the response of global black carbon(BC) aging to emission changes remains unclear. Using the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 with a machine-learning-integrated four-mode version of the Modal Aerosol Module, we quantify global BC aging responses to emission reductions for 2011–2018 and for 2050 and 2100 under carbon neutrality. During 2011–18, global trends in BC aging degree(mass ratio of coatings to BC, R_(BC)) exhibited marked regional disparities, with a significant increase in China(5.4% yr^(-1)), which contrasts with minimal changes in the USA, Europe, and India. The divergence is attributed to opposing trends in secondary organic aerosol(SOA) and sulfate coatings, driven by regional changes in the emission ratios of corresponding coating precursors to BC(volatile organic compounds-VOCs/BC and SO_(2)/BC). Projections under carbon neutrality reveal that R_(BC) will increase globally by 47%(118%) in 2050(2100), with strong convergent increases expected across major source regions. The R_(BC) increase, primarily driven by enhanced SOA coatings due to sharper BC reductions relative to VOCs, will enhance the global BC mass absorption cross-section(MAC) by 11%(17%) in 2050(2100).Consequently, although the global BC burden will decline sharply by 60%(76%), the enhanced MAC partially offsets the magnitude of the decline in the BC direct radiative effect, resulting in the moderation of global BC DRE decreases to 88%(92%) of the BC burden reductions in 2050(2100). This study highlights the globally enhanced BC aging and light absorption capacity under carbon neutrality, thereby partly offsetting the impact of BC direct emission reductions on future changes in BC radiative effects globally.展开更多
Black nickel coatings have emerged as a research hotspot in materials science due to their excellent performance and broad application prospects.In this study,nickel-based black coatings were fabricated on low-carbon ...Black nickel coatings have emerged as a research hotspot in materials science due to their excellent performance and broad application prospects.In this study,nickel-based black coatings were fabricated on low-carbon steel substrates via photo-assisted electrodeposition.A systematic investigation was conducted on the effects of cerium ion concentration and nano-ceria(CeO_(2))particle content in the electrolyte on the coating properties,along with an analysis of the temporal evolution of coating’s corrosion resistance.When the cerium ion concentration in the electrolyte was 0.05 mol/L,the coating exhibited a uniform black appearance with a light absorption rate of 95%,an emissivity of 0.87,maximum impedance,and the lowest corrosion tendency,demonstrating optimal comprehensive performance.The coating prepared with a nano-ceria concentration of 6 g/L in the electrolyte exhibited an emissivity of 0.9,achieved a 5B adhesion grade(ASTM D3359-09),and demonstrated a one-order-of-magnitude reduction in corrosion current density compared to coatings fabricated without nano-ceria in the electrolyte.With prolonged storage time,the coating's impedance slightly increased,leading to improved corrosion resistance.展开更多
以钛网为基底,采用两步法(阳极氧化和电还原)成功制备了三维黑色TiO_(2)纳米管(3D Black TiO_(2)NTs)光电极。通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)分别对3D Black TiO_(2)NTs光电极的表面形貌和结构进行了表征。结果表明,Black TiO...以钛网为基底,采用两步法(阳极氧化和电还原)成功制备了三维黑色TiO_(2)纳米管(3D Black TiO_(2)NTs)光电极。通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)分别对3D Black TiO_(2)NTs光电极的表面形貌和结构进行了表征。结果表明,Black TiO_(2)NTs管径约为130 nm,管壁厚度为10 nm。通过线性伏安扫描(LSV)和电化学交流阻抗(EIS)对光电极的光电催化电化学活性进行了研究。研究发现在TiO_(2)NTs晶格引入Ti^(3+)之后,可以提高光生载流子的产生与分离速度,从而使得光电流密度显著提高。同时,Ti^(3+)自掺杂也有效增强了材料的电荷分离与传输性能,从而大大提高了电极的光电催化活性。将该光电极应用于光电催化降解亚甲基蓝(MB),降解120 min后MB完全降解,总有机碳(TOC)降解率高达86%。研究表明,3D Black TiO_(2)NTs光电极在有机废水处理中具有广阔的应用前景。展开更多
In this study,we present a comprehensive analysis of a modified Frolov black hole(BH)model that incorporates two types of topological defects,a global monopole(GM)and a cloud of strings(CS).This composite BH solution ...In this study,we present a comprehensive analysis of a modified Frolov black hole(BH)model that incorporates two types of topological defects,a global monopole(GM)and a cloud of strings(CS).This composite BH solution is examined from multiple theoretical perspectives to explore the impact of these modifications on the BH's geometric,thermodynamic and dynamical properties.We begin by studying the geometrical optics of the spacetime,focusing on the motion of null geodesics.Key features,such as the effective potential,photon sphere,the force acting on photons and the stability of circular photon orbits,are analyzed in detail.Our results show that the presence of GM and CS significantly affects the spacetime geometry and photon dynamics.In addition,the thermodynamic behavior of the modified BH is also investigated.We derive essential quantities such as the Hawking temperature and entropy,demonstrating how the inclusion of GM and CS leads to deviations from the standard thermodynamic relations observed in classical BH solutions.These deviations may offer valuable insights into quantum gravity and the role of topological defects in BH physics.Furthermore,we examine the BH shadow as an observational signature of the underlying geometry.Our analysis shows that the Frolov parameter tends to reduce the apparent size of the shadow,while the presence of topological defects,particularly GM and CS,enlarges it.In addition,we investigate the perturbative dynamics of the BH by studying both scalar(spin-0),fermionic(spin-1/2)and electromagnetic(spin-1)fields through the massless Klein-Gordon and Maxwell equations,respectively.Using the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approximation,we compute the quasinormal modes(QNMs)for scalar and electromagnetic field perturbations.The results confirm the stability of the BH under small perturbations and show that the QNM frequencies and damping rates are strongly influenced by the Frolov parameter,electric charge,GM and CS.展开更多
The rapid growth of the automobile industry has substantially increased end-of-life tires(ELT)production with over 2300 million units manufactured in 2022.Despite known processes to recover materials and energy from E...The rapid growth of the automobile industry has substantially increased end-of-life tires(ELT)production with over 2300 million units manufactured in 2022.Despite known processes to recover materials and energy from ELT,a significant number of tires still end up in landfills,posing environmental problems.Pyrolysis offers a promising alternative to produce energy and marketable products like recovered carbon black(rCB).Incorpo-rating rCB into rubber matrices shows potential for partially replacing commercial carbon black,but more research is required to understand its reinforcing effects and recyclability through repeated pyrolysis cycles.Furthermore,tire composition variability affects rCB quality,challenging consistent production for market ap-plications.Post-treatments like activation and demineralization enhance rCB properties but pose challenges,with higher activation degrees improving pore structure but reducing carbon content while demineralization removes impurities but raises concerns about chemical use and equipment wear.Further research is needed to develop scalable and economically viable post-treatments along with their life cycle assessment.Here,a comprehensive literature review on rCB activation and demineralization is presented and,since the ultimate goal is to reuse rCB in the production of new tires,the rCB incorporation into rubber matrices is also reviewed.展开更多
In this study,we explore a spherically symmetric charged black hole(BH)with a negative cosmological constant under the influence of a Kalb-Ramond field background.We compute the photon sphere and shadow radii,validati...In this study,we explore a spherically symmetric charged black hole(BH)with a negative cosmological constant under the influence of a Kalb-Ramond field background.We compute the photon sphere and shadow radii,validating our findings using observational data from the Event Horizon Telescope,with a particular emphasis on the shadow images of Sagittarius A^(*).Furthermore,we investigate the greybody factors,emission rate,and partial absorption cross section.It is shown that the Lorentz-violating parameter l has an important effect on the absorption cross section.Our analysis also includes an examination of the topological charge,temperature-dependent topology,and generalized free energy.In particular,we regard the AdS charged BH with an antisymmetric tensor background as a topological defect in the thermodynamic space,then the system has the same topological classification to the charged Reissner-Nordström-AdS BH.展开更多
The Moroccan populations of Alnus glutinosa(L.)Gaertn.(Betulaceae)They are located at the southern limit of the species'distribution and are represented by tetraploid cytotypes.Assessing phenotypic variability in ...The Moroccan populations of Alnus glutinosa(L.)Gaertn.(Betulaceae)They are located at the southern limit of the species'distribution and are represented by tetraploid cytotypes.Assessing phenotypic variability in reproductive traits is crucial for understanding the persistence,evolution,and range dynamics of plant populations.However,no previous studies have analyzed the relative importance of variability in explaining inter-or intra-population differences in reproductive traits.To address this gap,we investigated phenotypic variation in reproductive organs by examining 10 traits in 3.600 male catkins,3.600 female catkins,and seeds from 12 populations across the Moroccan Rif Mountains.Our results highlighted the significance of inter-population variability.However,we found that the contribution of within-tree variation to total phenotypic variability was greater than that of both inter-and intra-population variation.Principal component analysis(PCA)revealed a phenotypic gradient among populations,primarily driven by female catkin size,though this gradient was not associated with geographic conditions.This finding was further supported by Mantel test results,which showed no correlation between phenotypic variability and population conditions.These findings have important implications for the genetic improvement,conservation,and resource management of Alnus glutinosa in the future.展开更多
The increasing global threat of water pollution demands advanced multilayer sensing technologies with efficacy to detect contaminants with high sensitivity and adaptability in complex aquatic environments.In this theo...The increasing global threat of water pollution demands advanced multilayer sensing technologies with efficacy to detect contaminants with high sensitivity and adaptability in complex aquatic environments.In this theoretical analysis,we investigated a novel multilayer surface plasmon resonance(SPR)system as an optical sensing platform to detect water pollutants and salinity concentrations.The proposed sensor comprised silver,barium borate(BBO),and black phosphorus(BP)layers on a Borokon 7(BK7)prism,which formed a tunable and highly responsive configuration under the Kretschmann geometry.It employed the transfer matrix method(TMM)and angular interrogation in the visible regime to evaluate reflectance spectra and key sensing parameters.The outcomes revealed that the sensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for refractive index(RI)variations corresponding to polluted water samples,including sodium chloride(NaCl)concentrations.The system exhibited strong plasmonic coupling and interfacial interactions,yielding the maximum sensitivity(138.7°/RIU)and figure of merit(73.57 RIU^(-1))toward water samples with 4%NaCl and chemical contamination,respectively.At refractive index of 1.33 and 1.34,by varying the layers of BBO and BP,the maximum sensitivity achieved was 320°/RIU with six BBO layers and a monolayer of BP.These results demonstrated that the proposed SPR sensor configuration,which successfully differentiated between various water quality levels based on refractive index variations,had tremendous potential for next‐generation real‐time water quality monitoring.展开更多
The effective density(ρ_(eff))is a key parameter of black carbon-containing(BCc)particles and is related to their morphologies,deposition processes,and optical properties.In this study,a tandem system was established...The effective density(ρ_(eff))is a key parameter of black carbon-containing(BCc)particles and is related to their morphologies,deposition processes,and optical properties.In this study,a tandem system was established and used to determine theρ_(eff)of ambient BCc particles.The results showed that theρ_(eff)distribution of ambient BCc particles exhibited a bimodal pattern with a left peak located at 0.69 g cm^(-3)and a right peak at 1.45 g cm^(-3).The averageρ_(eff)of BCc particles over the entire observation period was 1.38 g cm^(-3).Theρ_(eff)of BCc particles showed a clear diurnal pattern with a relatively stable distribution at night and large variations during the daytime.Theρ_(eff)value was demonstrated to be a good indicator of BCc particle morphology.BCc particles became more regular with increasingρ_(eff)related to the increasing coating thickness.More coating led to morphological restructuring of BCc particles.The restructuring could be more efficient under high relative humidity conditions.The observed data were further used in a dry deposition scheme,and it was found that the dry deposition velocity of fresh emitted BCc could be largely influenced by its irregular shape.This study reveals the presence of a significant amount of low-density/irregularly shaped black carbon in the environment with rapid morphological changes occurring during the daytime and highlights the need to consider morphological influences in future research on the physicochemical properties of BCc.展开更多
In this study,Bacillus mojavensis and Lactiplantibacillus herbarum were used to co-treat kitchen waste(KW)with Black soldier fly larvae(BSFL).The effects on the physicochemical properties,heavy metal content,and micro...In this study,Bacillus mojavensis and Lactiplantibacillus herbarum were used to co-treat kitchen waste(KW)with Black soldier fly larvae(BSFL).The effects on the physicochemical properties,heavy metal content,and microbial community of the BSFL sand were determined.Compared to the control group,the L.herbarum inoculation reduced 19.04%of the soluble salt(TSS),15.48%of Ni,and 13.04%of Zn in the residues;the B.mojavensis inoculation reduced 23.84%of TSS,13.61%of Pb,and 20.32%of the Ni in the residues;the L.herbarum and B.mojavensis inoculation reduced 29.53%of Cr,20.23%of Pb,18.06%of Ni,and 25.68%of the Zn in the residues.The microbial inoculants significantly enhanced the BSFL sand microbial diversity(Tukey,P<0.05).The dominant phylum and genus in the BSFL sand were Firmicutes(53.08%)and Corynebacterium(47.01%),respectively.The microbial inoculants resulted in an approximate 12%reduction in Corynebacterium.The linear discriminant analysis effective size analysis showed that the Corynebacterium abundance was significantly reduced.The microbial inoculants significantly affected the Corynebacterium relative abundance by significantly altering the substrate TSS,moisture content,and Ni.In conclusion,the effect of B.mojavensis and L.herbarum on the BSFL treatment of KW was beneficial,and their potential should be further exploited.展开更多
To deal with a polluted by-product of coal production,central China’s Shanxi Province has explored a governance path that addresses both the symptoms and root causes.
This study presents an integrated assessment of sedimentological,granulometric,physico-chemical,and biological characteristics in three Romanian coastal lakes,based on 2022 field surveys.A total of 59 sediment samples...This study presents an integrated assessment of sedimentological,granulometric,physico-chemical,and biological characteristics in three Romanian coastal lakes,based on 2022 field surveys.A total of 59 sediment samples were analyzed lithologically and granulometrically,and 12 were examined for macrozoobenthic community composition.Water samples were assessed for nutrient and pigment concentrations to evaluate trophic status and ecological condition.Sediments were predominantly silty-clayey,indicating low-energy depositional environments.Organic matter content was highest in Lakes Agigea and Tuzla,suggesting enhanced primary productivity and organic detritus accumulation,while Lake Costinești showed higher biogenic carbonate content from mollusc shells.Macrozoobenthic assemblages were dominated by taxa tolerant to organic enrichment and hypoxia,including Chironomidae larvae,Oligochaeta,and Cyprideis torosa.Water quality analysis indicated good ecological status in Agigea Lake,whereas Tuzla Lake was severely eutrophic,with phosphate and nitrite in Class Ⅳ and chlorophyll-a exceeding Class Ⅴ thresholds(>250μg/L),consistent with cyanobacterial blooms.Elevated sulfate(Class Ⅲ)and suspended solids further impaired Tuzla’s transparency.In Costinești,marine taxa presence and variable salinity reflected periodic seawater exchange.Anthropogenic influences were evident-nutrient enrichment from fisheries in Tuzla and marine species introduction in Costinești-highlighting system vulnerability to human pressure.The integration of sediment,water quality,and biological indicators emphasizes the need for continuous,interdisciplinary monitoring to track ecological shifts,support adaptive management,and conserve biodiversity and ecosystem integrity in Romanian coastal lakes.展开更多
文摘AIM To analyse cumulative loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosomal regions and tumor suppressor genes in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) from 20 southern African blacks. METHODS p53, RB1, BRCA1, BRCA2, WT1 and E cadherin genes were analysed for LOH, and p53 gene was also analysed for the codon 249 mutation, in tumor and adjacent non tumorous liver tissues using molecular techniques and 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers. RESULTS p53 codon 249 mutation was found in 25% of the subjects, as was expected, because many patients were from Mozambique, a country with high aflatoxin B 1 exposure. LOH was found at the RB1, BRCA2 and WT1 loci in 20%(4/*!20) of the HCCs, supporting a possible role of these genes in HCC. No LOH was evident in any of the remaining genes. Reports of mutations of p53 and RB1 genes in combination, described in other populations, were not confirmed in this study. Change in microsatellite repeat number was noted at 9/*!10 microsatellite loci in different HCCs, and changes at two or more loci were detected in 15%(3/*!20) of subjects. CONCLUSION We propose that microsatellite/genomic instability may play a role in the pathogenesis of a subset of HCCs in black Africans.
文摘Background: To determine mortality causes and the associated factors. Patients and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to May 2015 (1 year) in the department of cardiology at University and teaching Hospital of Brazzaville. Patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases were included. Patients admitted for cardiovascular disease in other departments of the hospital, or without cardiovascular diseases were not included. Results: In total, 1035 patients, 605 women (5804%) were included. Mean age was 57.1 ± 7 years (range: 18 - 85 years). The patients were: elderly (n = 498, 48.1%), educated (n = 809, 78.1%), low-income (n = 253, 24.2%). The medical history of patients was: hypertension (n = 440, 42.5%), diabetes (n = 316, 30.5%), reduced physical activity (n = 154, 14.9%), excessive alcohol intake (n = 56, 5.4%). Heart failure was reported in 386 cases (37.3%). The mortality rate was 8% (n = 83);the mean age of deceased was 61.9 ± 7.3 years (p s in death were dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 37, 44.6%, OR 5, 95%CI 3.1 - 8, p -3.3, p = 0.002), atrial fibrillation (n = 24, 29%, OR 3.6, 95%CI 2.2 - 6, p - 9.8, p = 0.005). The associated death comorbidities were: acute respiratory infection (n = 44, 53%, OR 10.1, 95%CI 6.2 - 16, p - 10 p - 6.8, p Conclusion: Hypertension, heart failure and cardiomyopathies are the leading causes of mortality in the department of cardiology. Prevention and patient education in a low-income environment are essential elements to reduce this morbidity.
文摘Background: Fibroadenoma is the commonest benign tumour of the breast affecting the majority of young females below the age of thirty in our environment. It is a source of concern and psychological problems in females requiring medical attention in our hospitals. Aim: This study describes the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibroadenoma in Eastern Nigerian Igbo females. Methodology: The archives of the Department of Pathology Federal Medical Centre, Owerri was used for the data collection and analyzed using simple statistics. Results: 504 fibroadenomas were analyzed. The average size was 1.99 cm with a range of 0.5 cm to 18 cm. The average age of the patients was 22.6 ± 6.7 years with a range of 9 to 60 years. The peak age of incidence was in the 11 - 20 (44.64%) age group followed closely by the 21 - 30 (43.45%) age group. The ratio of involvement of the left to the right breast was 1:1.2. Fibroadenoma was 18% multiple and 10.7% bilateral. 5.3% (27), 0.6% (3), and 0.2% (1) of the cases were giant, complex fibroadenoma and malignant breast disease in fibroadenoma respectively. Conclusion: This study has provided insights into the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibroadenoma among Nigerian Igbos and calls for more research in this area in other parts Nigeria and elsewhere.
文摘The accession of an African-American Obama to the U.S. Presidency in 2008 is an epoch-making event. The thesis focuses on the current situation of the blacks in U.S. to highlight the prophetic nature of Faulkner, the Nobel Prize winning American novelist＇s exploration of the blacks throughout his career, namely, the miserable living states of the blacks, racial segregation against the blacks in the sphere of education and religion, racial discrimination against the blacks with regard to civil rights, racial persecution against the blacks in legal cases, and the dependency upon the black leadership to salvage the multi-ethnic nation and so on. The paper comes up with the conclusion that Faulkner is accurate in his prophecy that the savior of the nation, the blacks shall suffer and lead.
文摘"Nigger Jeff"is a short story,It was written by Theodore Dreiser,a famous American novel-ist in the twentieth century. It was no accident that such a work snould appear during the era of racial discrimanation.The setting of the story is the South. The balcks were slaves before the Civil War there. They re-mained the second class citizens after. Southern whites often used lynching without trial to pur-nish imdividuals and intimeidate the balcks in general. In this story,Jeff,a typical of all the
文摘Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was shown to be present in 75% of Black Africans with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom the tumor was hitherto not thought to be caused by chronic HBV infection. The association between chronic HBV infection and the development of the tumor is thus even closer than was originally thought. HBV viral load was found to be significantly higher in patients with HCC than in Black African controls. As in other populations, HBV e antigen-positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had significantly higher viral loads than patients negative for this antigen. The significance of this finding is discussed. The risk for HCC development with genotype A of HBV, the predominant genotype in African isolates, has not been investigated. Genotype A was shown to be 4.5 times more likely than other genotypes to cause HCC in Black Africans, and tumours occurred at a significantly younger age. Increasing numbers of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV co-infection are being reported to develop HCC. A preliminary case/control comparison supports the belief that HIV co-infection enhances the hepatocarcinogenic potential of HBV. A study from The Gambia provides the first evidence that dietary exposure to afltoxin B1 may cause cirrhosis and thatthis may play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of aflatoxin-induced HCC. An animal model has provided experimental support for the clinical evidence that dietary iron overload in the African is directly hepatocarcinogenic, in addition to causing the tumor indirectly through the development of cirrhosis.
文摘The authors conducted a retrospective study over a period of 6 months in a hypertensive population in order to determine the correlation between serum uric acid on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and estimated serum potassium with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and obesity. This study enrolled 122 patients including 63 women (51.6%). The mean age was 55.9 ± 10.6 years (range 30 to 74 years). Obesity weight was found in 38 cases (31.1%) of which 20?were men (33.9%) and 18 women (28.6%). Abdominal obesity was found in 104 cases (85.2%). The average serum uric acid in patients with obesity weight was 63.3 ± 18.9 mg/L vs 62.4 ± 14.2 mg/L for no-obese patients (p?= 0.63). The average serum potassium in obese patients was 4.06 ± 0.42 mEq/L vs 4.02 ± 0.46 mEq/L for no-obese (p?= 0.65). The average GFR was 73.4 ± 21.4 ml/L in obese patients vs 66.6 ± 22.6 ml/min in no-obese (p?= 0.03). The LVH was found in 81 cases (66.4%). The LVH was found in 65 (62.5%) obese patients vs?16 (88%) non-obese patients (OR = 4.8, 95% 1.04?-?22?p?= 0.02). Only abdominal?obesity has been correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy after multivariate analysis. Emphasis must be focused on public health actions for effective and appropriate measures against obesity and hypertension, whose prevalence is increasing in our region.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42505149,41925023,U2342223,42105069,and 91744208)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2025M770303)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (14380230)the Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent,and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Climate Change。
文摘Countries around the world have been making efforts to reduce pollutant emissions. However, the response of global black carbon(BC) aging to emission changes remains unclear. Using the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 with a machine-learning-integrated four-mode version of the Modal Aerosol Module, we quantify global BC aging responses to emission reductions for 2011–2018 and for 2050 and 2100 under carbon neutrality. During 2011–18, global trends in BC aging degree(mass ratio of coatings to BC, R_(BC)) exhibited marked regional disparities, with a significant increase in China(5.4% yr^(-1)), which contrasts with minimal changes in the USA, Europe, and India. The divergence is attributed to opposing trends in secondary organic aerosol(SOA) and sulfate coatings, driven by regional changes in the emission ratios of corresponding coating precursors to BC(volatile organic compounds-VOCs/BC and SO_(2)/BC). Projections under carbon neutrality reveal that R_(BC) will increase globally by 47%(118%) in 2050(2100), with strong convergent increases expected across major source regions. The R_(BC) increase, primarily driven by enhanced SOA coatings due to sharper BC reductions relative to VOCs, will enhance the global BC mass absorption cross-section(MAC) by 11%(17%) in 2050(2100).Consequently, although the global BC burden will decline sharply by 60%(76%), the enhanced MAC partially offsets the magnitude of the decline in the BC direct radiative effect, resulting in the moderation of global BC DRE decreases to 88%(92%) of the BC burden reductions in 2050(2100). This study highlights the globally enhanced BC aging and light absorption capacity under carbon neutrality, thereby partly offsetting the impact of BC direct emission reductions on future changes in BC radiative effects globally.
文摘Black nickel coatings have emerged as a research hotspot in materials science due to their excellent performance and broad application prospects.In this study,nickel-based black coatings were fabricated on low-carbon steel substrates via photo-assisted electrodeposition.A systematic investigation was conducted on the effects of cerium ion concentration and nano-ceria(CeO_(2))particle content in the electrolyte on the coating properties,along with an analysis of the temporal evolution of coating’s corrosion resistance.When the cerium ion concentration in the electrolyte was 0.05 mol/L,the coating exhibited a uniform black appearance with a light absorption rate of 95%,an emissivity of 0.87,maximum impedance,and the lowest corrosion tendency,demonstrating optimal comprehensive performance.The coating prepared with a nano-ceria concentration of 6 g/L in the electrolyte exhibited an emissivity of 0.9,achieved a 5B adhesion grade(ASTM D3359-09),and demonstrated a one-order-of-magnitude reduction in corrosion current density compared to coatings fabricated without nano-ceria in the electrolyte.With prolonged storage time,the coating's impedance slightly increased,leading to improved corrosion resistance.
文摘以钛网为基底,采用两步法(阳极氧化和电还原)成功制备了三维黑色TiO_(2)纳米管(3D Black TiO_(2)NTs)光电极。通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)分别对3D Black TiO_(2)NTs光电极的表面形貌和结构进行了表征。结果表明,Black TiO_(2)NTs管径约为130 nm,管壁厚度为10 nm。通过线性伏安扫描(LSV)和电化学交流阻抗(EIS)对光电极的光电催化电化学活性进行了研究。研究发现在TiO_(2)NTs晶格引入Ti^(3+)之后,可以提高光生载流子的产生与分离速度,从而使得光电流密度显著提高。同时,Ti^(3+)自掺杂也有效增强了材料的电荷分离与传输性能,从而大大提高了电极的光电催化活性。将该光电极应用于光电催化降解亚甲基蓝(MB),降解120 min后MB完全降解,总有机碳(TOC)降解率高达86%。研究表明,3D Black TiO_(2)NTs光电极在有机废水处理中具有广阔的应用前景。
基金financial support from EMU, TÜBİTAK, ANKOS and SCOAP3
文摘In this study,we present a comprehensive analysis of a modified Frolov black hole(BH)model that incorporates two types of topological defects,a global monopole(GM)and a cloud of strings(CS).This composite BH solution is examined from multiple theoretical perspectives to explore the impact of these modifications on the BH's geometric,thermodynamic and dynamical properties.We begin by studying the geometrical optics of the spacetime,focusing on the motion of null geodesics.Key features,such as the effective potential,photon sphere,the force acting on photons and the stability of circular photon orbits,are analyzed in detail.Our results show that the presence of GM and CS significantly affects the spacetime geometry and photon dynamics.In addition,the thermodynamic behavior of the modified BH is also investigated.We derive essential quantities such as the Hawking temperature and entropy,demonstrating how the inclusion of GM and CS leads to deviations from the standard thermodynamic relations observed in classical BH solutions.These deviations may offer valuable insights into quantum gravity and the role of topological defects in BH physics.Furthermore,we examine the BH shadow as an observational signature of the underlying geometry.Our analysis shows that the Frolov parameter tends to reduce the apparent size of the shadow,while the presence of topological defects,particularly GM and CS,enlarges it.In addition,we investigate the perturbative dynamics of the BH by studying both scalar(spin-0),fermionic(spin-1/2)and electromagnetic(spin-1)fields through the massless Klein-Gordon and Maxwell equations,respectively.Using the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approximation,we compute the quasinormal modes(QNMs)for scalar and electromagnetic field perturbations.The results confirm the stability of the BH under small perturbations and show that the QNM frequencies and damping rates are strongly influenced by the Frolov parameter,electric charge,GM and CS.
基金financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES(PIDDAC)the support of“H2 Driven Green Agenda”,nr.C644923817-00000037,investment project nr.50+1 种基金financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan(PRR)by European Union-Next Generation EU.
文摘The rapid growth of the automobile industry has substantially increased end-of-life tires(ELT)production with over 2300 million units manufactured in 2022.Despite known processes to recover materials and energy from ELT,a significant number of tires still end up in landfills,posing environmental problems.Pyrolysis offers a promising alternative to produce energy and marketable products like recovered carbon black(rCB).Incorpo-rating rCB into rubber matrices shows potential for partially replacing commercial carbon black,but more research is required to understand its reinforcing effects and recyclability through repeated pyrolysis cycles.Furthermore,tire composition variability affects rCB quality,challenging consistent production for market ap-plications.Post-treatments like activation and demineralization enhance rCB properties but pose challenges,with higher activation degrees improving pore structure but reducing carbon content while demineralization removes impurities but raises concerns about chemical use and equipment wear.Further research is needed to develop scalable and economically viable post-treatments along with their life cycle assessment.Here,a comprehensive literature review on rCB activation and demineralization is presented and,since the ultimate goal is to reuse rCB in the production of new tires,the rCB incorporation into rubber matrices is also reviewed.
基金supported by the Doctoral Foundation of Zunyi Normal University of China (BS [2022] 07)Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado da Paraíba (FAPESQ)+5 种基金Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientíıfico e Tecnológico (CNPq)-[150891/2023-7] for the financial supportsupported by the Q-CAYLE project, funded by the European Union-Next Generation UE/MICIU/Plan de Recuperacion, Transformacion y Resiliencia/Junta de Castilla y Leon (PRTRC17.11)by project PID2023-148409NB-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033Financial support of the Department of Education of the Junta de Castilla y LeonFEDER FundsExcellence project Fo S UHK 2203/2025-2026 for the financial support
文摘In this study,we explore a spherically symmetric charged black hole(BH)with a negative cosmological constant under the influence of a Kalb-Ramond field background.We compute the photon sphere and shadow radii,validating our findings using observational data from the Event Horizon Telescope,with a particular emphasis on the shadow images of Sagittarius A^(*).Furthermore,we investigate the greybody factors,emission rate,and partial absorption cross section.It is shown that the Lorentz-violating parameter l has an important effect on the absorption cross section.Our analysis also includes an examination of the topological charge,temperature-dependent topology,and generalized free energy.In particular,we regard the AdS charged BH with an antisymmetric tensor background as a topological defect in the thermodynamic space,then the system has the same topological classification to the charged Reissner-Nordström-AdS BH.
文摘The Moroccan populations of Alnus glutinosa(L.)Gaertn.(Betulaceae)They are located at the southern limit of the species'distribution and are represented by tetraploid cytotypes.Assessing phenotypic variability in reproductive traits is crucial for understanding the persistence,evolution,and range dynamics of plant populations.However,no previous studies have analyzed the relative importance of variability in explaining inter-or intra-population differences in reproductive traits.To address this gap,we investigated phenotypic variation in reproductive organs by examining 10 traits in 3.600 male catkins,3.600 female catkins,and seeds from 12 populations across the Moroccan Rif Mountains.Our results highlighted the significance of inter-population variability.However,we found that the contribution of within-tree variation to total phenotypic variability was greater than that of both inter-and intra-population variation.Principal component analysis(PCA)revealed a phenotypic gradient among populations,primarily driven by female catkin size,though this gradient was not associated with geographic conditions.This finding was further supported by Mantel test results,which showed no correlation between phenotypic variability and population conditions.These findings have important implications for the genetic improvement,conservation,and resource management of Alnus glutinosa in the future.
文摘The increasing global threat of water pollution demands advanced multilayer sensing technologies with efficacy to detect contaminants with high sensitivity and adaptability in complex aquatic environments.In this theoretical analysis,we investigated a novel multilayer surface plasmon resonance(SPR)system as an optical sensing platform to detect water pollutants and salinity concentrations.The proposed sensor comprised silver,barium borate(BBO),and black phosphorus(BP)layers on a Borokon 7(BK7)prism,which formed a tunable and highly responsive configuration under the Kretschmann geometry.It employed the transfer matrix method(TMM)and angular interrogation in the visible regime to evaluate reflectance spectra and key sensing parameters.The outcomes revealed that the sensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for refractive index(RI)variations corresponding to polluted water samples,including sodium chloride(NaCl)concentrations.The system exhibited strong plasmonic coupling and interfacial interactions,yielding the maximum sensitivity(138.7°/RIU)and figure of merit(73.57 RIU^(-1))toward water samples with 4%NaCl and chemical contamination,respectively.At refractive index of 1.33 and 1.34,by varying the layers of BBO and BP,the maximum sensitivity achieved was 320°/RIU with six BBO layers and a monolayer of BP.These results demonstrated that the proposed SPR sensor configuration,which successfully differentiated between various water quality levels based on refractive index variations,had tremendous potential for next‐generation real‐time water quality monitoring.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFC3701000,Task 4)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42207126 and 41877314)。
文摘The effective density(ρ_(eff))is a key parameter of black carbon-containing(BCc)particles and is related to their morphologies,deposition processes,and optical properties.In this study,a tandem system was established and used to determine theρ_(eff)of ambient BCc particles.The results showed that theρ_(eff)distribution of ambient BCc particles exhibited a bimodal pattern with a left peak located at 0.69 g cm^(-3)and a right peak at 1.45 g cm^(-3).The averageρ_(eff)of BCc particles over the entire observation period was 1.38 g cm^(-3).Theρ_(eff)of BCc particles showed a clear diurnal pattern with a relatively stable distribution at night and large variations during the daytime.Theρ_(eff)value was demonstrated to be a good indicator of BCc particle morphology.BCc particles became more regular with increasingρ_(eff)related to the increasing coating thickness.More coating led to morphological restructuring of BCc particles.The restructuring could be more efficient under high relative humidity conditions.The observed data were further used in a dry deposition scheme,and it was found that the dry deposition velocity of fresh emitted BCc could be largely influenced by its irregular shape.This study reveals the presence of a significant amount of low-density/irregularly shaped black carbon in the environment with rapid morphological changes occurring during the daytime and highlights the need to consider morphological influences in future research on the physicochemical properties of BCc.
文摘In this study,Bacillus mojavensis and Lactiplantibacillus herbarum were used to co-treat kitchen waste(KW)with Black soldier fly larvae(BSFL).The effects on the physicochemical properties,heavy metal content,and microbial community of the BSFL sand were determined.Compared to the control group,the L.herbarum inoculation reduced 19.04%of the soluble salt(TSS),15.48%of Ni,and 13.04%of Zn in the residues;the B.mojavensis inoculation reduced 23.84%of TSS,13.61%of Pb,and 20.32%of the Ni in the residues;the L.herbarum and B.mojavensis inoculation reduced 29.53%of Cr,20.23%of Pb,18.06%of Ni,and 25.68%of the Zn in the residues.The microbial inoculants significantly enhanced the BSFL sand microbial diversity(Tukey,P<0.05).The dominant phylum and genus in the BSFL sand were Firmicutes(53.08%)and Corynebacterium(47.01%),respectively.The microbial inoculants resulted in an approximate 12%reduction in Corynebacterium.The linear discriminant analysis effective size analysis showed that the Corynebacterium abundance was significantly reduced.The microbial inoculants significantly affected the Corynebacterium relative abundance by significantly altering the substrate TSS,moisture content,and Ni.In conclusion,the effect of B.mojavensis and L.herbarum on the BSFL treatment of KW was beneficial,and their potential should be further exploited.
文摘To deal with a polluted by-product of coal production,central China’s Shanxi Province has explored a governance path that addresses both the symptoms and root causes.
基金financed by the Ministry of Research and Innovation-“Program Nucleu”-13N/08.02.2019-PN19-20-04-01The APC was funded by PN 23.30.02.02,PN 23.30.01.03.
文摘This study presents an integrated assessment of sedimentological,granulometric,physico-chemical,and biological characteristics in three Romanian coastal lakes,based on 2022 field surveys.A total of 59 sediment samples were analyzed lithologically and granulometrically,and 12 were examined for macrozoobenthic community composition.Water samples were assessed for nutrient and pigment concentrations to evaluate trophic status and ecological condition.Sediments were predominantly silty-clayey,indicating low-energy depositional environments.Organic matter content was highest in Lakes Agigea and Tuzla,suggesting enhanced primary productivity and organic detritus accumulation,while Lake Costinești showed higher biogenic carbonate content from mollusc shells.Macrozoobenthic assemblages were dominated by taxa tolerant to organic enrichment and hypoxia,including Chironomidae larvae,Oligochaeta,and Cyprideis torosa.Water quality analysis indicated good ecological status in Agigea Lake,whereas Tuzla Lake was severely eutrophic,with phosphate and nitrite in Class Ⅳ and chlorophyll-a exceeding Class Ⅴ thresholds(>250μg/L),consistent with cyanobacterial blooms.Elevated sulfate(Class Ⅲ)and suspended solids further impaired Tuzla’s transparency.In Costinești,marine taxa presence and variable salinity reflected periodic seawater exchange.Anthropogenic influences were evident-nutrient enrichment from fisheries in Tuzla and marine species introduction in Costinești-highlighting system vulnerability to human pressure.The integration of sediment,water quality,and biological indicators emphasizes the need for continuous,interdisciplinary monitoring to track ecological shifts,support adaptive management,and conserve biodiversity and ecosystem integrity in Romanian coastal lakes.
