Descriptive characterization of a Nigerian heterogeneous rabbit population - factors affecting litter traits

[EN] This study evaluated the effect of female body weight at conception (FWC), season of mating (SM), type of mating (TM) and litter size at birth (LSB) on the litter performance in a heterogeneous Nigerian population of rabbits. Data on 116 litters from 10 bucks and 48 does across three parities were analysed. Reproductive traits evaluated included LSB, number born alive (NBA), litter sizes and weights at 7, 14 and 21 d post-kindling, pre-weaning survival rate (SR) and daily weight gain of kits from kindling to weaning (DWG). A fi xed linear model that included FWC (light and heavy does), TM (homospermic and heterospermic matings), LSB classes (low, medium and large) and SM (rainy or dry) was used. Results showed that heavier does at concenption showed higher performance for LSB and NBA (P<0.05) than lighter does. Average weight of kits at kindling and at 28 d, as well as kit SR and DWG, were signifi cantly higher in low-sized litters, when compared with intermediate- and large-sized litters (P<0.05). LSB, NBA and litter size at weaning were higher in litters produced by heterospermically mated does compared with homospermically mated does. Season of mating affected LSB and NBA (P<0.05), being signifi cantly larger the litters in the rainy season.The authors gratefully acknowledge the International Foundation for Science (IFS) of Sweden for its financial support (through grant B3871-1). The efforts and assistance of Jimi Talabi and Nike Olabode in data collection are appreciated.Oseni, S.; Ajayi, B. (2010). Descriptive characterization of a Nigerian heterogeneous rabbit population - factors affecting litter traits. World Rabbit Science. 18(2). doi:10.4995/WRS.2010.18.1418

Effect of gasket of varying thickness on spark ignition engines

In the study of Toyota, In-line, 4 cylinders, spark ignition engine using gaskets of varying thicknesses (1.75mm, 3.5mm, 5.25mm, 7mm and 8.75mm) between the cylinder head and the engine block, the performance characteristics of the engine was investigated via the effect of engine speed on brake power, brake thermal efficiency, volumetric efficiency and exhaust temperature. To evaluate the performance characteristics for definite gasket (GK) thickness, the engine was operated between 200 – 4000 rpm, under steady state condition. The investigation reveals worsening engine performance with increasing gasket thickness though with improved volumetric efficiency for any given speed range.KEYWORDS: Brake thermal efficiency, volumetric efficiency, Exhaust temperatur

Toxicological and Nutritional Evaluations of Milk Bush (Thevetia neriifolia) Seed Oil-Based Diet in Albino Rats

The seed oil of milk bush Thevetia neriifolia have been analyzed to provide some physical data for the oil and growth performance and toxicity evaluation in rats using the seed oil-based. The fatty acid composition of the oil was identified using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS). The oil consist of 97.583%  fatty acid of which the most abundant is the monounsaturated  (C18H34O2) Oleic acid (52%), and the others are saturated fatty acids  (C18H36O2) Stearic acid (25%) and the other Palmitic acid (C16H32O2). The physicochemical studies of the seed oil showed: acid value of 0.515 ± 0.27; 117.125±2.38 mgKOH/g saponification value and 74.145 ± 0.784 iodine value. Growth performance was investigated in Wistar albino rats following a feeding period of 6weeks, using 5 %, 10 % and 15% of the oil compounded feed. We observed a significant decrease in body weight gain and feed intake in 10% and 15% oil-based feed group compared to control. The enzymatic antioxidant, biomarkers of kidney/liver toxicity and histopathology of visceral organs were evaluated. There was a significant (p &lt; 0.05) increase in serum AST, and ALT of treated groups with respect to control group. Which explain its toxic nature. Keywords: chemical composition, characteristics, feed formulation, growth performance, toxicological evaluation

Transport of pollutants through the water and subsurface soil using simulated acid rain

The mobility of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni) was studied in the laboratory acidic leaching two different soils around Ibadan with simulated acid rain. The sampling was carried out from two different sites viz: Orogun and Ilupeju respectively. For Orogun site a depth of 128cm was reached (consisting of four horizons). Different length of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes were cut for different soil horizon depth as observed on the field. The PVC pipes were packed with requires masses of soil. This is then leached using simulated acid rain of different pH of 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 after spiking with known volume of standard solution of metals of interest. It was found that simulated acid rain enhanced the mobility of metals in solution. The pH, Cation Exchange capacity, % clay and organic matter were found to contributed majority to the mobility of metals. Generally as observed, the mobility of metal was to follow the order Zn>Ni>Pb>Cd as the soil is becoming more acidi

Sickle erythrocytes enhance phenylephrine and histamine contractions of isolated rabbit carotid arteries

The  mechanisms  of  altered  vascular  reactivity  induced  by  sickle  erythrocyte-endothelium interaction   remain  unclear. The  goal  of  the  present  study was  to  examine,  comparatively the influence of sickle erythrocyte on contractile responses induced by phenylephrine and histamine. Concentration-dependent contractile responses were examined in control rabbit carotid artery rings as well as in rings exposed for 30 min to various erythrocyte components obtained from subjects of different haemoglobin (Hb) genotypes (AA, AS and SS), under standard  organ  bath  conditions,  as  described  previously:  2  mm  arterial  rings  preparations were placed in 20ml organ baths containing physiological salt solution (PSS) bubbled with 95% O2, 5% CO2, at 37oC and pH 7.4 and isometric contractions measured, under an initial load of 2g. Arterial rings were equilibrated for 60 minutes and then exposed to 50µl of each of the erythrocyte constituents at an adjusted haematocrit of 0.6. The respective EC50 (M) values for phenylephrine (PE) and histamine (H) contractions in control carotid arterial rings were 5.1 (±1.4) x10-6 (n=7) and 6.3± (1.7) x10-5 (n=11). PE contractions were uninfluenced by Hb SS RBCs but significantly enhanced by RBCs from Hb AA and AS subjects: EC50 (M) = 7.3 (±6.6) x10-7, n=6 and 2.5 (±2.3) x 10-6, n=6 respectively. H contractions were significantly enhanced by only RBCs from Hb AS and SS subjects: EC50 values for H is 4.1 (±2.0) x 10-5, n=6 and 4.6 (± 2.1) x 10-5, n=7 respectively. The EC50 ratios for PE contractions following exposure to erythrocytes from Hb AA and AS subjects (6.94 and 2.032) respectively are greater than for H contractions following exposure to erythrocytes from Hb AA, AS subjects (0.971, 1.563) respectively, P&lt;0.05. These ratios show greater enhancement of PE contractions in the order AA RBC &gt; AS RBC. SS RBC did not significantly alter PE contractions but significantly enhanced H contractions. The greater RBC-induced enhancement of histamine contractions, compared with phenylephrine (in AS and SS), suggests a possible role for histamine in the increased vascular tone and vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease

Bacterial load, composition and succession in the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) held at ambient temperatures.

Microorganisms, especially bacteria are the major causes of spoilage in fresh fish. In the coastal areas of developing tropical countries where ambient temperatures are usually high and access to modern preservation and processing technologies is low, fish is often left under ambient conditions for long periods after capture, resulting in quality deterioration and spoilage with attendant increases in post harvest losses. This study was carried out to identify, characterize and estimate the number of colony forming units (CFU) of microorganisms associated with freshly slaughtered African catfish, Clarias gariepinus held at ambient temperatures. Microorganisms were isolated from the flesh, gills, guts, mouth and skin of fish samples at successive 6-hour intervals post-slaughter for 42 hours when the fish were adjudged spoilt by a 5-member trained assessment panel. Determination of viable bacterial count was carried out by introducing aliquots of three dilutions of samples into nutrient agar plates, incubating at 37oC for 24hrs and counting the number of CFU. Microorganisms were thereafter identified using colonial and morphological characteristics and biochemical tests. Organoleptic assessment of fish samples were carried out by a 5-man trained panel. Results showed that a total of eleven microorganisms of pathogenic and/or spoilage importance were isolated at various intervals from fish samples, including Acinetobacter spp, Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, K. pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas lundensis and Staphylococcus aureus. Generally the number of CFU from various parts of fish increased significantly (P < 0.05) as time interval increased

Effects of some plant extracts on some biological parameters of catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

Preliminary studies on the antimicrobial properties of various methods of extraction of Carica papaya (Pawpaw) seeds, Citrus paradisa (Grapefruit peel) and Piper guineese (Black pepper) seeds against eleven bacteria ( Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter sp, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, Pseudomonas lundensis, Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter cloacae) associated with fresh catfish spoilage were investigated using the cup-plate diffusion method. Cold water, hot water and ethanol were the different extraction solvents used while the concentrations were 0.1g/ml, 0.2g/ml, 0.3g/ml, 0.4g/ml and 0.5g/ml. Generally, hot water extraction of the plant materials was most effective (p < 0.01) with the highest mean zone of inhibition of 4.42 ~c 0.38mm followed by ethanol extraction (3.55 ~c 0.47mm). The most susceptible bacteria was Enterobacter cloacae with the highest mean zone of inhibition of 22.6 ~c 3.50mm. This investigation indicates that the antimicrobial compounds in grape peel and black pepper are best liberated when extracted with ethanol while that of pawpaw is best extracted with hot water

Monetary Implication of Environmental Disamenities on Housing Investment in Lagos State: The Ojota Scenerio

Numerous studies have ascertained the diminutionary tendencies of disamenities such as solid waste landfills on real estate investments despite previous mixed conclusions. This study examines one of the four landfills in Lagos State- Olusosun landfill located in Ojota, Lagos and its estimated financial implication on the real estate market in Lagos State, Nigeria. A relational distance of 1 200m radius was established between the landfill and residential properties by which property values were measured based on consistent intervals of 300meters up to 1 200 meters in concentric rings. The study indicated within the Olusosun landfill neighbourhood, an increase in property values were evident as distance away from the landfills increased indicating that residential houses in close proximity to the landfills suffered value loss. Property appreciation relative to distance averaged 6% within the concentric rings of the landfill while the an estimated total loss on the real estate market via the landfill found to be approximately =N=2.1billion. The study recommended that if improved technology could not be utilised in the effective management of the various sanitary landfills within developed areas of the state, the current landfills in operation be closed down and relocated to the outskirts of the city to forestall a consistent appreciation in real estate investment in the state

Organisational Support, Knowledge Sharing and Utilisation as Correlates of Social Capital of Insurance Managers in Lagos Metropolis

Managers in insurance companies in Nigeria went through a difficult period after the recapitalization which was aimed at achieving a consolidation that will produce companies capable of meeting claims obligations, compete at the continental and global levels, increase the industry’s low retention capacity which had stunted its growth among others. This study therefore examined the organisational support, knowledge sharing and utilisation as correlates of social capital of insurance managers in Lagos metropolis. This research adopted the correlation type of descriptive survey design to determine the direction and degree of the relationship or association between variables. Total enumeration technique called census coupled with a self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data on a population size of 280 managers in 23 insurance companies in Lagos metropolis, out of which 211 responded giving a response rate of 75.4 percent.The study found out that organisational support, knowledge sharing and utilisation had significant multiple effect on social capital of the respondent (R = 0.656, p &lt; 0.05). In addition, each of the independent variables, namely, organisational support, knowledge sharing and utilisation significantly predicts the social capital of the respondents respectively.The study recommends among others that knowledge utilisation and information literacy education should be inculcated in the training of managers since they are the critical decision makers in the firm. This may improve the managers’ ability to exploit the sum of the actual and potential resources embedded within, available through, and derived from the their network of relationships. This may also encourage the managers to freely exchange ideas, insight, information and knowledge.. Keywords: Organisational support, knowledge sharing, knowledge utilisation, Insurance companies, Nigeria

Assessment of Open Grown Trees Composition and Diversity in Selected Research Institutes in Peri-Urban Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria

Urban green spaces are rapidly deteriorating in most parts of Nigeria. The study assessed open grown trees composition and diversity in selected Research Institutes within Ibadan Region with the aim of comparing the ecological diversity in the study locations. This was achieved through species identification and mensuration of all open grown trees species that were accessible in the study areas. Open grown trees with Diameter at breast height ≥ 10cm were assessed for growth characteristics of total height and diameter at breast height. Basal area and volume were estimated from measured growth characteristics. Tree species were identified by a taxonomist at Federal Herbarium in Ibadan. Biodiversity indices of Shannon diversity index, species evenness and species dominance were computed to see variation in tree community of the areas. The Shannon diversity index calculated was higher in IITA with a value of 3.04 compared to that of CRIN with a value of 2.36. A dominance value of 0.15 and 0.05 was obtained for CRIN and IITA respectively. The study concludes that both institutes are repository of large diversity of tree species thereby, helping in the conservation of biodiversity while ameliorating weather. It is recommended that educational institutions from all levels located within the region as well as private organizations and individuals should plant trees within their domains in order to create conducive green environments that would promote sustainable environment in the region. This is possible when government provide adequate incentive and annual rewards for establishments with the best green environments