Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of heavy metals in Musa paradisiaca, Zea mays, Cucumeropsis manii and Manihot esculenta cultivated in Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria

Franklyn O. Ohiagu,Kelechi C. Lele,Paul C. Chikezie,Andrew W. Verla,Christian E. Enyoh 환경독성보건학회 2020 환경독성보건학회지 Vol.35 No.2

This study was carried out to investigate heavy metals concentrations: lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) in Musa paradisiaca (plantain), Zea mays (maize), Cucumeropsis manii (melon), Manihot esculenta (cassava) and soil samples from dumpsites in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. The plant leaf and soil samples were measured for heavy metals concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The health risk index (HRI) of the heavy metals following the consumption of these plant materials by the populace was estimated using standard protocols. The heavy metals concentrations in the leaf samples ranged from 0.012–14.712 mg/kg, whereas those of the soil samples were within the range of 2.543–16.459 mg/kg. Cd concentrations in the soil and leaf samples were above the maximum permissible level according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The bioaccumulation of the heavy metals followed the trend: (M. paradisiaca) Zn > Pb > Co > Mn > Cu > Cd > Ni; (Z. mays) Mn > Pb > Co > Zn > Cu > Cd > Ni; (C. mannii) Mn > Co > Pb > Cu > Zn > Cd > Ni; (M. esculenta) Zn > Pb > Mn > Cu > Co > Ni > Cd. The highest bioaccumulation of the heavy metals occurred in M. esculenta. The estimated HRI of Pb in M. esculenta was greater than 1. HRI > 1 was indicative that the consumer population is not safe. Cassava-based meals from the dumpsites contained Pb at toxic level, whereas Co, Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Mn concentrations in plantain-, maize- and melon-based meals were relatively within safe limits.

Surgical Outcomes Associated with Operable Gastric Cancer in a Tertiary Care Indian Hospital

Franklyn, Joshua,George, Sam V.,Yacob, Myla,Abraham, Vijay,Chandran, Sudhakar,Sebastian, Tunny,Samarasam, Inian The Korean Gastric Cancer Association 2017 Journal of gastric cancer Vol.17 No.1

Purpose: Data on operable gastric cancer from India is sparse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical details, histopathological demographics, and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) associated with operable, non-metastatic gastric cancer in a dedicated upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgical unit in India. Materials and Methods: Data for patients diagnosed with operable gastric cancer between January 2006 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Data were collected from electronic hospital records in addition to mail and telephonic interviews when possible. Results: A total of 427 patients were included. The tumor was located in the pyloro-antral region in 263 patients (61.7%). Subtotal gastrectomy was performed in 291 patients and total gastrectomy in 136 patients. Tumor stage classification revealed 43 patients (10.0%) with stage I, 40 patients (9.4%) with stage IIA, 59 patients (13.9%) with stage IIB, 76 patients (17.8%) with stage IIIA, 96 patients (22.5%) with stage IIIB, and 113 patients (26.4%) with stage IIIC disease. Follow-up data were available for 71.6% of the patients with a mean duration of 32.4 months. Five-year DFS and OS were 39% and 59%, respectively. Conclusions: Despite presenting at an advanced stage, the 5-year DFS and OS of patients with operable gastric cancer treated at a dedicated upper GI unit of a tertiary care center in India was good.

Surgical Outcomes Associated with Operable Gastric Cancer in a Tertiary Care Indian Hospital

Joshua Franklyn,Sam V. George,Myla Yacob,Vijay Abraham,Sudhakar Chandran,Tunny Sebastian,Inian Samarasam 대한위암학회 2017 Journal of gastric cancer Vol.17 No.1

Despite presenting at an advanced stage, the 5-year DFS and OS of patients withoperable gastric cancer treated at a dedicated upper GI unit of a tertiary care center in Indiawas good.

Light and Electron Microscopic Observations on Erythrolobus coxiae gen.etsp. nov. (Porphyrideophyceae, Rhodophyta) from Texas U.S.A.

Joseph L. Scott,John A. West,Franklyn D. Ott,Bart Baca 한국조류학회I 2006 ALGAE Vol.21 No.4

Low molecular weight carbohydrates, phycobilin pigments and cell structure using light and transmission electron microscopy were used to describe a new genus of unicellular red algae, Erythrolobus coxiae (Porphyridiales, Porphyrideophyceae, Rhodophyta). The nucleus of Erythrolobus is located at the cell periphery and the pyrenoid, enclosed by a cytoplasmic starch sheath, is in the cell center. The pyrenoid matrix contains branched tubular thylakoids and four or more chloroplast lobes extend from the pyrenoid along the cell periphery. A peripheral encircling thylakoid is absent. The Golgi apparatus faces outward at the cell periphery and is always associated with a mitochondrion. Porphyridium and Flintiella, the other members of the Porphyrideophyceae, also lack a peripheral encircling thylakoid and have an ER-mitochondria-Golgi association. The low molecular weight carbohydrates digeneaside and floridoside are present, unlike both Porphyridium and Flintiella, which have only floridoside. The phycobilin pigments B-phycoerythrin, R-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin are present, similar to Porphyridium purpureum. The cells have a slow gliding motility without changing shape and do not require substrate contact. The ultrastructural features are unique to members of the Porphyrideophyceae and recent molecular analyses clearly establish the validity of this new red algal class and the genus Erythrolobus.

Light and Electron Microscopic Observations on Erythrolobus coxiae gen.et sp.nov. (Porphyridiophyceae, Rhodophyta) from Texas U.S.A.

Scott , Joseph L.,Baca, Bart,Ott, Franklyn D.,West, John A. 한국조류학회(藻類) 2006 ALGAE Vol.21 No.4

Low molecular weight carbohydrates, phycobilin pigments and cell structure using light and transmission electron microscopy were used to describe a new genus of unicellular red algae, Erythrolobus coxiae (Porphyridiales, Porphyrideophyceae, Rhodophyta). The nucleus of Erythrolobus is located at the cell periphery and the pyrenoid, enclosed by a cytoplasmic starch sheath, is in the cell center. The pyrenoid matrix contains branched tubular thylakoids and four or more chloroplast lobes extend from the pyrenoid along the cell periphery. A peripheral encircling thylakoid is absent. The Golgi apparatus faces outward at the cell periphery and is always associated with a mitochondrion. Porphyridium and Flintiella, the other members of the Porphyrideophyceae, also lack a peripheral encircling thylakoid and have an ER-mitochondria-Golgi association. The low molecular weight carbohydrates digeneaside and floridoside are present, unlike both Porphyridium and Flintiella, which have only floridoside. The phycobilin pigments B-phycoerythrin, R-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin are present, similar to Porphyridium purpureum. The cells have a slow gliding motility without changing shape and do not require substrate contact. The ultrastructural features are unique to members of the Porphyrideophyceae and recent molecular analyses clearly establish the validity of this new red algal class and the genus Erythrolobus.

The Roles of Political Network Diversity and Social Media News Access in Political Participation in the United States and South Korea

이선경,Kyun Soo Kim,Amanda Franklyn 충남대학교 아시아여론연구소 2022 Asian journal for public opinion research Vol.10 No.3

Two surveys for exploring communicative paths toward political participation were conducted with relatively large samples of Americans (N = 1001) and South Koreans (N = 1166). Hierarchical regression modeling of the relationships among demographics, personal networks, news consumption, and cross-cutting discussion and political participation demonstrated mostly commonalities between the two samples, including the interaction between political diversity and Twitter usage for news access but with distinct effect sizes of cross-cutting discussion on political participation. We attribute the differences to the two countries’ distinct histories of democracy and culture, and the commonalities to the general relationships between cross-cutting discussion and political participation moderated by strong ties political homogeneity.

Trisodium citrate-assisted synthesis of BiOBr nanostructure catalyst for efficient activity under visible light

Weiming Zhou,Yifan Jiang,Shichang Sun,Mingxin Zhang,Ibrahim Lawan,Gerard Franklyn Fernando,Liwei Wang,Zhanhui Yuan 한국화학공학회 2020 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.37 No.2

A simple one step wet-chemical method assisted by trisodium citrate was employed in the synthesis of BiOBr applied as a photocatalyst. Photocatalytic activity of the BiOBr was investigated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation (>420 nm). The results indicated that trisodium citrate is more favorable to the formation of hierarchical architectures and reduces the particle size of BiOBr photocatalyst. BiOBr with hierarchical architectures exhibiting significantly higher catalytic activity than that with ordinary nanostructure. The significant improvement could be attributed to the high specific surface area (24.14m2·g1), average pore sizes (34.09 nm) and average pore volume (0.24 cm3·g1).

Anosmin-1 contributes to brain tumor malignancy through integrin signal pathways

Choy, Catherine T,Kim, Haseong,Lee, Ji-Young,Williams, David M,Palethorpe, David,Fellows, Greg,Wright, Alan J,Laing, Ken,Bridges, Leslie R,Howe, Franklyn A,Kim, Soo-Hyun Bioscientifica Ltd 2014 Endocrine-related cancer Vol.21 No.1

<P>Anosmin-1, encoded by the <I>KAL1</I> gene, is an extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated protein which plays essential roles in the establishment of olfactory and GNRH neurons during early brain development. Loss-of-function mutations of <I>KAL1</I> results in Kallmann syndrome with delayed puberty and anosmia. There is, however, little comprehension of its role in the developed brain. As reactivation of developmental signal pathways often takes part in tumorigenesis, we investigated if anosmin-1-mediated cellular mechanisms associated with brain tumors. Our meta-analysis of gene expression profiles of patients' samples and public microarray datasets indicated that <I>KAL1</I> mRNA was significantly upregulated in high-grade primary brain tumors compared with the normal brain and low-grade tumors. The tumor-promoting capacity of anosmin-1 was demonstrated in the glioblastoma cell lines, where anosmin-1 enhanced cell motility and proliferation. Notably, anosmin-1 formed a part of active β1 integrin complex, inducing downstream signaling pathways. ShRNA-mediated knockdown of anosmin-1 attenuated motility and growth of tumor cells and induced apoptosis. Anosmin-1 may also enhance the invasion of tumor cells within the ECM by modulating cell adhesion and activating extracellular proteases. In a mouse xenograft model, anosmin-1-expressing tumors grew faster, indicating the role of anosmin-1 in tumor microenvironment <I>in vivo</I>. Combined, these data suggest that anosmin-1 can facilitate tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival. Therefore, although the normal function of anosmin-1 is required in the proper development of GNRH neurons, overexpression of anosmin-1 in the developed brain may be an underlying mechanism for some brain tumors.</P>

Structural dependencies of protein backbone²<i>J</i>_NC′couplings

Juranić,, Nenad,Dannenberg, J.J.,Cornilescu, Gabriel,Salvador, Pedro,Atanasova, Elena,Ahn, Hee-Chul,Macura, Slobodan,Markley, John L.,Prendergast, Franklyn G. Wiley (John WileySons) 2008 Protein science Vol.17 No.4

<P>Protein folding can introduce strain in peptide covalent geometry, including deviations from planarity that are difficult to detect, especially for a protein in solution. We have found dependencies in protein backbone (2)J(NC') couplings on the planarity and the relative orientation of the sequential peptide planes. These dependences were observed in experimental (2)J(NC') couplings from seven proteins, and also were supported by DFT calculations for a model tripeptide. Findings indicate that elevated (2)J(NC') couplings may serve as reporters of structural strain in the protein backbone imposed by protein folds. Such information, supplemented with the H-bond strengths derived from (h3)J(NC') couplings, provides useful insight into the overall energy profile of the protein backbone in solution.</P>