Use of diazepam and ketamine anaesthesia in prevention of capture myopathy in the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Capture or exertion myopathy (CM) is an attendant complication of manual restraint in ratites, asides physical injuries that handlers may suffer. CM arises from a combination of stress and anaerobic glycolysis during handling. This work was carried out to restrain and immobilize two ostriches (Struthio camelus) in a bid to facilitate their clinical examination and transportation from one location to another, without subjecting the birds to capture myopathy that arises from the stress and exertion associated with physical restraint and capture. Two ostriches, male and female, weighing 120kg and 105kg respectively, were requested to be immobilized for relocation over a distance of 15 kilometres within Ibadan metropolis of Oyo State, Nigeria. The birds were fasted for 16 hours overnight and fed little amounts of feed mixed with diazepam at 3mg/kg. Mild sedation was achieved with diazepam after one hour. Samples for haematology and coprology were obtained. Ketamine at 10mg/kg was then administered intramuscularly. The birds were successfully transported. Complete recovery was 3 hours post administration of ketamine. We conclude that the diazepam and ketamine combination is generally safe to use for restraint and transportation of ratites and at the same time prevent the risk of capture myopathy. We suggest that the current dose of diazepam might need to be increased if the oral route is to be employed in order to shorten the onset of sedation and increase the depth of sedation.Keywords: Capture myopathy, Chemical restraint, Haematology, Nigeria, Ostric

Potassium supplying capacity of representative soils of South Western Nigeria as measured by intensity, quantity and capacity factors.

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were undertaken to determine the usefulness of K Quantity, Intensity and Capacity factors in evaluating K supply capacities and in predicting K uptake by maize in 14 representative soils of South Western Nigeria. The results showed that the activity ratio was a poor index of the available K and was incapable of correct prediction of K uptake during prolonged cropping. The potential Buffer Capacity was higher in the soils on basement complex than in soils derived from sedimentary origin, indicating that depletion of K on cropping will be faster in soils derived from sedimentary rocks than those on the basement complex. The results also showed that the 'fixed K' Quantity factor and the Potential Buffer Capacity could provide useful information in characterising the differential Buffer behaviour of soils

HCME: An Environment-Friendly I.C. Engine Fuel

The study revealed that Hura crepitans oil is a good candidate for Hura crepitans methyl ester (HCME) production. Two steps (esterification and transesterification) production stages influenced the high yield of HCME. Three possible experimental runs were performed in each step, the best of the three conditions were 1.45 (% v/v) for H2SO4 conc., 5:1 for methanol/oil molar ratio, 40 min for reaction time which gave 1.06 % for FFA in the first step, in the second step, 92.70 %(w/w) of HCME was obtained at 0.55% KOH, 5:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, 60 oC temperature and 30 min reaction time. The produced HCME had fuel properties which satisfied both ASTME D6751 and EN 1424 standards. The fatty acid profile of the HCME revealed the dominant fatty acids were linoleic (64.50%), oleic (17.54%) and palmitic (12.70%). Exhaust emissions from an internal combustion (I.C.) engine revealed that there is 60% decreased in CO, 58% decreased in NOx, 60% decreased in HC, 39% decrease in smoke opacity and 42% decreased in BSFC at B20, respectively. Flue gas temperature increased by 12% at B20, 45% increased in BTE at B50 when compared to pure diesel (AGO). Hence, it can be concluded that B20 (20% HCME + 80% AGO) will provides the best emission reduction at the lowest cost

Evaluation of diazepam-ketamine combination for immobilization of African land tortoise (Testudo graeca)

Zoo and wildlife practitioners are constantly exposed to persistent dangers during physical restraint of wild animals. Chemical immobilization in reptiles is unpredictable due to their ectothermic nature. This study aims to  determine a safe and effective anesthetic protocol for immobilization in chelonians and other reptiles. Varied doses of diazepam ketamine  combinations were administered and evaluated in 16 healthy land tortoises (Testudo graeca). The tortoises were divided into four groups (4 per group) labeled DK-1 through DK-4. DK-1 had a combination of 44mg/kg of  ketamine with 0.25mg/kg of diazepam. DK-2 had 22mg/kg of ketamine with 0.25mg/kg of diazepam. DK-3 had 44mg/kg of ketamine with  0.5mg/kg diazepam while DK-4 had 22mg/kg of ketamine with 0.5mg/kg of diazepam. Anesthetic effects were monitored to determine the duration required for partial extension of the head and limbs, full extension of limbs, and complete recovery from anesthesia. These visual inspection of partial recovery and full extension were adapted as surface and deep anaesthesia respectively in describing the depth of anaesthesia. All the time intervals were recorded in minutes, and summarized as mean and standard deviation. ANOVA was used to test for significance across the groups. Full extension of head and limbs was achieved within mean periods of 10, 15.5 and 13 minutes in DK-1, DK-3 and DK-4 respectively. Tortoises in DK-2, which were only sedated, demonstrated only surface depth of anaesthesia. Complete recovery occurred in mean periods of 128, 25, 158 (p < 0.05) and 132 minutes for groups DK-1, DK-2, DK-3, and DK-4 respectively. Diazepam-Ketamine anaesthetic cocktail provides a safe protocol for chemical restraint in tortoises. A higher dose of diazepam produced a longer duration of complete recovery.Keywords: Anaesthesia, Diazepam, Immobilization, Ketamine, <i>Testudo graeca</i&gt

Dawning of Progressive Web Applications (PWA): Edging Out the Pitfalls of Traditional Mobile Development

Over the years, there has been a constant increase in the demand for mobile software due to the constant increase in the number of smart phones. Mobile developers have the liberty to adopt different development architectures or strategies which includes the native app, mobile web app, hybrid app and the new Progressive Web App (PWA). PWA which combines the features of the native and web development strategies emerged as a better alternative to other development approaches due to additional benefits such as offline capability, background synchronization and so on despite several concerns that have been raised towards the efficiency of PWAs. Hence, this research work aims at performing a comparative study on the existing mobile development architectures using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) technique, performing feature comparison on the native, hybrid and PWA architecture and finally argues for the PWA development architecture based on the comparisons. The comparison will aid researchers and development firm in understanding the concept of PWA thereby motivating them to adopt this strategy for further development

Determinants of adoption and intensity of use of balanced nutrient management systems technologies in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria

As part of a major effort to address soil fertility decline in West Africa, a project on Balanced Nutrient Management Systems (BNMS) has since 2000 been implemented in the northern Guinea savanna (NGS) of Nigeria. The project has tested and promoted two major technology packages, including a combined application of inorganic fertilizer and manure (BNMS-manure) and a soybean/maize rotation practice referred to as BNMS-rotation. This study employed Tobit model to examine factors that influence the adoption and intensity of utilization of BNMS technologies in the NGS of Nigeria. Results showed that less than 10% of the sample households adopted at least one of the two components of the technology package by the end of 2002. However, by 2005 the adoption of BNMS-rotation had reached 40% while that of BNMS-manure had reached 48%. A number of factors such as access to credit, farmers’ perception of the state of land degradation, and assets ownership were found to be significant in determining farmers’ adoption decisions on BNMS-manure while off-farm income was found to be significant in determining farmers’ adoption decisions on BNMS-rotation. Extension services and farmer-to-farmer technology diffusion channels were the major means of transfer of BNMS technologies.Adoption, BNMS-manure, BNMS-rotation, Northern Guinea Savanna (NGS)., Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Knowledge of recommended dietary cholesterol allowance in an academic community

This study was designed to assess the plasma cholesterol level and consumer awareness of recommended dietary cholesterol allowance in an academic environment. A total of 100 structured questionnaires were randomly distributed within Babcock University community, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. Ninety seven (97) completed questionnaires were retrieved. Venous blood samples of 60 volunteered participants were also collected for biochemical assays involving plasma levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose concentrations. Results showed that 53(54.6%), 75(77.3%) and 74(76.3%) of the females, nonvegetarians and respondents in sciences, respectively had previous knowledge of the term “dietary cholesterol”. Females 34(35.1%), non-vegetarians 48(49.5%) and respondents in sciences 50(51.5%), respectively were aware of the negative effect of excess dietary cholesterol consumption. In addition, 35(36.1%), 64(66%) and 40(41.2%) of females, non- vegetarians and respondents in sciences consumed poultry eggs at least once a week. Males 35(36.1%), females 35(36.1%), nonvegetarians 54(55.7%) and respondents in sciences 61(62.9%) had never checked their blood cholesterol level. Males 31(32%), non-vegetarian 47(48.5%) and respondents in sciences 40(42.2%) were not aware of the recommended dietary cholesterol allowance and they ate fried foods and confectionaries sometimes. Further study revealed that mean plasma total cholesterol (141.73 ± 20.51 mg/dl), LDLcholesterol (69.80 ± 9.86 mg/dl), triglyceride (209.16 ± 15.58 mg/dl), and glucose (52.27 ± 7.94 mg/dl) concentrations in males were slightly elevated compared to the total cholesterol (141.36 ± 9.75 mg/dl), triglyceride (205.43 ± 6.55 mg/dl), LDLcholesterol (55.52 ± 4.03 mg/dl) and glucose (48.93 ± 3.18 mg/dl) concentrations in females while HDL-cholesterol concentrations of males (30.10 ± 11.96 mg/dl) were significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to those of females (44.75 ± 9.21 mg/dl). Plasma lipid and glucose concentrations of the respondents under the normal body weight category were significantly low (P<0.05) compared to those in overweight and obese body weight categories. Thus, this investigation indicated an inadequate level of awareness and practice of the recommended dietary cholesterol allowance among the educated.Key words: Cholesterol, diet, glucose, knowledge, institution

Once-Weekly Exenatide Versus Once- or Twice-Daily Insulin Detemir: Randomized, open-label, clinical trial of efficacy and safety in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin alone or in combination with sulfonylureas

OBJECTIVEdThis multicenter, open-label, parallel-arm study compared the efficacy and safety of exenatide once weekly (EQW) with titrated insulin detemir in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin (with or without sulfonylureas). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSdPatients were randomized to EQW (2 mg) or detemir (once or twice daily, titrated to achieve fasting plasma glucose #5.5 mmol/L) for 26 weeks. The primary outcome was proportion of patients achieving A1C #7.0% and weight loss $1.0 kg at end point, analyzed by means of logistic regression. Secondary outcomes included measures of glycemic control, cardiovascular risk factors, and safety and tolerability. RESULTSdOf 216 patients (intent-to-treat population), 111 received EQW and 105 received detemir. Overall, 44.1% (95% CI, 34.7–53.9) of EQW-treated patients compared with 11.4% (6.0–19.1) of detemir-treated patients achieved the primary outcome (P , 0.0001). Treatment with EQW resulted in significantly greater reductions than detemir in A1C (least-square mean 6 SE, 21.30 6 0.08% vs. 20.88 6 0.08%; P , 0.0001) and weight (22.7 6 0.3 kg vs. +0.8 6 0.4 kg; P , 0.0001). Gastrointestinal-related and injection site–related adverse events occurred more frequently with EQW than with detemir. There was no major hypoglycemia in either group. Five (6%) patients in the EQW group and six (7%) patients in the detemir group experienced minor hypoglycemia; only one event occurred without concomitant sulfonylureas (detemir group). CONCLUSIONSdTreatment with EQW resulted in a significantly greater proportion of patients achieving target A1C and weight loss than treatment with detemir, with a low risk of hypoglycemia. These results suggest that EQW is a viable alternative to insulin detemir treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes with inadequate glycemic control using oral antidiabetes drugs