Nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance of yankasa sheep fed varying proportions of ficus polita and Pennisetum pedicellatum supplemented with wheat-offal

The nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance of Yankasa sheep was evaluated on 16 Yankasa rams of approximately 1 - 11/2 years old with average initial weight of 25kg. Ficus polita was fed with Pennisetum pedicellatum at different proportions of 100:0 (F. polita: P. pedicellatum) 0:100, 60: 40, and 40:60 constituting diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Each animal was supplemented with wheat offal at the rate of 1% body weight per head per day. The total basal feed intake (DM basis) was highly significant (P <0.01) which increased with decrease in the inclusion levels of Ficus polita in the diets. Animals fed diet 1 (100% FP) recorded the least total basal feed intake of 676.76g/day, while those on the 100% PP diet obtained the highest value of 1280.94g/day. Daily dry matter intake (DDMI) values of 959.95, 1564.14, 114.28 and 1307.58g/day were obtained for animals fed diets 1,2,3, and 4 respectively, indicating that the DDMI also followed similar trend as the total basal feed intake. Other nutrients intake including crude protein intake (89.42-129.06g/day), crude fibre (209.78-391.46g/day) and nitrogen free extract (5 11.91-743.16g/day) followed similar pattern as DDMI. However, the intake of ether extract was highest (P<0.01) for animals on treatment 4 (40% FP/60%PP) (40.7g/day) and lowest for those on treatment 1 (100% FP) (25.99g/day). Water intake was not significant (P>0.05) across the treatments. The result of the daily weight gain showed significantly (P<0.05) higher values (47.57g/day) for animals fed diet 4 (40% FP/60% PP), while those on diet 1 (100% FF) recorded the least (26.14g/day). Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) result showed significant difference (P< 0.05) across the treatments, with animals in treatment 4 (40% FP/60%PP) having best FCR (27.48) while those fed diet 2 had the lowest (38.69), indicating that animals on diet 4 utilized their diets more efficiently compared to others. The result of nutrients digestibility showed that Crude Protein Digestibility (CPD) showed significant difference (P< 0.05), with animals on diet 1 (100% FP) having the least (44.29%) and highest for those on the other treatments. Feed cost per kg gain was least for animals fed diet 4 (N17.66), and high for animals on diet 1 (N32.13). It was concluded that feeding various levels of Ficus polita and Pennisetum pedicellatum supplemented with wheat offal to Yankasa sheep improved total dry matter intake which gave rise to daily weight gain of the animals and reduced feed cost per kg gain especially for animals feed diet 4 (40%FPL/60% PPG).Key words: Digestibility, Ficus polita, growth, nutrient intake, Pennisetum pedicellatum, wheat-offal, Yankasa shee

Chemical Compositions, FTIR and Larvicidal Activity of Essential Oils Extracted from Aromatic Plants

Essential oils are substances obtained from plant materials and are complex mixtures whose composition varies. In this study, the chemical composition, and larvicidal activity of extracted essential oils from some aromatic plants were evaluated. Modified steam distillation apparatus was used to extract essential oils from the Citrus limon linn leaf, Vitex trifolia seed and Cananga odorata. Furthermore, the plant materials were tested using FTIR, GC-MS, and larvicidal activity test. Citrus limon linn produced more amount of essential oil (1.4ml), Vitex trifola (0.7ml) and Cananga odorata (0.5ml) after 3hours ofsteam distillation. The result obtained from the infrared spectra indicates the functional groups of the compounds present in Citrus limon linn, Vitex trifolia and Cananga odorata. GC-MS analysis identified, 13, 12 and 24 chemical constituents present in Citrus limon linn , Vitex trifolia and Cananga odorata essential oil respectively. The three main essential oil and their percentage compositions are D-Limonene (22.82%), Citral (25.20 %), and Cis-Verbenol (20.43%) for Citrus limon linn. Leaf essential oil, Sabinene (39.14%), Caryophyllene (26.45%) and 1 R- α Pinene (15.20%) for Vitex trifolia seed essential oil, and Linalool (35.30%), Ascabiol (23.54%), Caryophyllene (20.30%), Copaene (12.76%) and Germacrene D (11.32%). However, the results from the larvicidal activity reveals that essential oil extracted from Citrus limon linn, Vitex trifolia and Cananaga odorata may serve as insecticide and can be used as potent insecticide for the control of mosquitoes

Determination of Selected Heavy Metals In Seasonal River In Maru Town, Zamfara State, Nigeria.

The presence of heavy metals in our environment has been of great concern because of their toxicity when their concentration is more than the permissible level. The main threats to human health from heavy metals are associated with exposure to Lead and Cadmium. These metals have been extensively studied and their effect on human health regularly monitored and reviewed by international bodies such as the WHO and USEPA. Total levels of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr were determined in seasonal river in the eastern part of Maru using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). The results of total metals concentration (ppm) in the river were 0.0211±0.0014, 0.177±0.0004, 0.0201±0.0031, 1.1367±0.0493 and 0.0058±0.0003 for Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr respectively. The study showed that the sample was contaminated with Zn when compared to others. The level of Cd and Pb were high when compared to their safety limit (0.01 and 0.10) by U.S.E.P.A. Keywords: Maru, Heavy Metals, Seasonal Rivers, Contamination

Evolution of 5G Network: A Precursor towards the Realtime Implementation of VANET for Safety Applications in Nigeria

  A crucial requirement for the successful real-time design and deployment of Vehicular Adhoc Networks (VANET) is to ensure high speed data rates, low latency, information security, and a wide coverage area without sacrificing the required Quality of Service (QoS) in VANET. These requirements must be met for flawless communication on the VANET. This study examines the generational patterns in mobile wireless communication and looks into the possibilities of adopting fifth generation (5G) network technology for real-time communication of road abnormalities in VANET. The current paper addresses the second phase of a project that is now underway to develop real-time road anomaly detection, characterization, and communication systems for VANET. The major goal is to reduce the amount of traffic accidents on Nigerian roadways. It will also serve as a platform for the real-time deployment and testing of various road anomaly detection algorithms, as well as schemes for communicating such detected anomalies in the VANET.   &nbsp

Exploring a combined biomarker for tuberculosis treatment response: protocol for a prospective observational cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: An improved understanding of factors explaining tuberculosis (TB) treatment response is urgently needed to help clinicians optimise and personalise treatment and assist scientists undertaking novel treatment regimen trials. Promising outcome proxy measures, including sputum bacillary load and host immune response, are widely reported with variable results. However, they have not been studied together in combination with antibiotic exposure. The aim of this observational cohort study is to investigate which antibiotic exposures correlate with sputum bacillary load and which with the host immune response. Subsequently, we will explore if these correlations can be used to inform a candidate combined biomarker predicting cure. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: All patients aged ≥ 18, diagnosed with drug-sensitive pulmonary TB (culture or molecular test), eligible for standard anti-TB treatment, at selected London, UK TB Services, will be invited to participate in this observational cohort study (target sample size=210). Patients will be asked to give blood for host transcriptomics and antibiotic plasma exposure, in addition to standard of care sputum samples for bacillary load. Antibiotic plasma concentrations will be quantified using a validated liquid chromatograph triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) assay and sputum bacillary load by mycobacterial growth incubator tube time to positivity. Expression from a total of 35 prespecified host blood genes will be quantified using NanoString®. Antibiotic exposure, sputum bacillary load and host blood transcriptomic time series data will be analysed using nonlinear mixed-effects models. Correlations between combinations of longitudinal biomarkers and microbiological cure at the end of treatment and remaining relapse free for 1 year thereafter will be analysed using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The observational cohort study has been approved by the UK's HRA REC (20/SW/0007). Written informed consent will be obtained. Results will be disseminated via publication, presentation and through engagement with institutes/companies developing novel anti-TB treatment combinations

Direct transcription methods based on fractional integral approximation formulas for solving nonlinear fractional optimal control problems

This paper presents three direct methods based on Grünwald–Letnikov, trapezoidal and Simpson fractional integral formulas to solve fractional optimal control problems (FOCPs). At first, the fractional integral form of FOCP is considered, then the fractional integral is approximated by Grünwald–Letnikov, trapezoidal and Simpson formulas in a matrix approach. Thereafter, the performance index is approximated either by trapezoidal or Simpson quadrature. As a result, FOCPs are reduced to nonlinear programming problems, which can be solved by many well-developed algorithms. To improve the efficiency of the presented method, the gradient of the objective function and the Jacobian of constraints are prepared in closed forms. It is pointed out that the implementation of the methods is simple and, due to the fact that there is no need to derive necessary conditions, the methods can be simply and quickly used to solve a wide class of FOCPs. The efficiency and reliability of the presented methods are assessed by ample numerical tests involving a free final time with path constraint FOCP, a bang-bang FOCP and an optimal control of a fractional-order HIV-immune system.publishe

Validation of Commercial SARS-CoV-2 Immunoassays in a Nigerian Population

Validated assays are essential for reliable serosurveys; however, most SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays have been validated using specimens from China, Europe, or U.S. populations. We evaluated the performance of five commercial SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays to inform their use in serosurveys in Nigeria. Four semiquantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) (Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein [NCP] immunoglobulin G [IgG], Euroimmun spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Mologic Omega COVID-19 IgG, Bio-Rad Platelia SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab) and one chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG) were evaluated. We estimated the analytical performance characteristics using plasma from 100 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive patients from varied time points post-PCR confirmation and 100 prepandemic samples (50 HIV positive and 50 hepatitis B positive). The Bio-Rad assay failed the manufacturer-specified validation steps. The Euroimmun NCP, Euroimmun spike, and Mologic assays had sensitivities of 73.7%, 74.4%, and 76.9%, respectively, on samples taken 15 to 58 days after PCR confirmation and specificities of 97%, 100%, and 83.8%, respectively. The Abbott assay had 71.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity on the same panel. Parallel or serial algorithms combining two tests did not substantially improve the sensitivity or specificity. Our results showed lower sensitivity and, for one immunoassay, lower specificity compared to the manufacturers' results and other reported validations. Seroprevalence estimates using these assays might need to be interpreted with caution in Nigeria and similar settings. These findings highlight the importance of in-country validations of SARS-CoV-2 serological assays prior to use to ensure that accurate results are available for public health decision-making to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. IMPORTANCE This study used positive and negative sample panels from Nigeria to test the performance of several commercially available SARS-CoV-2 serological assays. Using these prepandemic and SARS-CoV-2-positive samples, we found much lower levels of sensitivity in four commercially available assays than most assay manufacturer reports and independent evaluations. The use of these assays with suboptimal sensitivity and specificity in Nigeria or countries with population exposure to similar endemic pathogens could lead to a biased estimate of the seroprevalence, over- or underestimating the true disease prevalence, and limit efforts to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2. It is important to conduct in-country validations of serological SARS-CoV-2 assays prior to their widespread use, especially in countries with limited representation in published assay validations

Pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare is the main driver of the rise in non-tuberculous mycobacteria incidence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 2007–2012

BACKGROUND: The incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolation from humans is increasing worldwide. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland (EW&NI) the reported rate of NTM more than doubled between 1996 and 2006. Although NTM infection has traditionally been associated with immunosuppressed individuals or those with severe underlying lung damage, pulmonary NTM infection and disease may occur in people with no overt immune deficiency. Here we report the incidence of NTM isolation in EW&NI between 2007 and 2012 from both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary samples obtained at a population level. METHODS: All individuals with culture positive NTM isolates between 2007 and 2012 reported to Public Health England by the five mycobacterial reference laboratories serving EW&NI were included. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2012, 21,118 individuals had NTM culture positive isolates. Over the study period the incidence rose from 5.6/100,000 in 2007 to 7.6/100,000 in 2012 (p < 0.001). Of those with a known specimen type, 90 % were pulmonary, in whom incidence increased from 4.0/100,000 to 6.1/100,000 (p < 0.001). In extra-pulmonary specimens this fell from 0.6/100,000 to 0.4/100,000 (p < 0.001). The most frequently cultured organisms from individuals with pulmonary isolates were within the M. avium-intracellulare complex family (MAC). The incidence of pulmonary MAC increased from 1.3/100,000 to 2.2/100,000 (p < 0.001). The majority of these individuals were over 60 years old. CONCLUSION: Using a population-based approach, we find that the incidence of NTM has continued to rise since the last national analysis. Overall, this represents an almost ten-fold increase since 1995. Pulmonary MAC in older individuals is responsible for the majority of this change. We are limited to reporting NTM isolates and not clinical disease caused by these organisms. To determine whether the burden of NTM disease is genuinely increasing, a standardised approach to the collection of linked national microbiological and clinical data is required