Chemical composition of Senecio biafrae leaf

This study examined the proximate, mineral, fatty acid, amino acid and vitamin compositions of Senecio biafrae leaves grown mostly in western part of Nigeria. From the results, Senecio biafrae leaves were found to be a good source of protein (14.26±2.01%) and fiber (15.78±0.13%) by using AOAC method. The observed minerals content carried out using atomic absorption spectrophotometer were: sodium, iron, potassium, aluminum, calcium, zinc, selenium, magnesium and cobalt. The leaves also has essential fatty acid by using gas chromatograph technique (Linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids), indispensable amino acid (threonine, valine, isoleucine, leucne, tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and histidine) which was determined by using gas chromatography technique and vitamins such as vitamins E, C, K, A and vitamin B complex was detected by using both AOAC and gas chromatography technique.. Therefore, Senecio biafrae can be considered as a useful source of essential nutrients for both animals and livestock

Assessment of Consumers’ Preference for Local Rice in South West, Nigeria

The research work examine consumers preference for local rice in South west, Nigeria. It specifically described the socioeconomic characteristics of local rice consumers in the study area. Data of 150 household was collected through a wellstructured questionnaire. Tobit regression model and likert type of measurement were used to measures the collected parameters.The results of the analysis shows that consumption is consistent among 59.3% of the respondent.The choice of local rice consumption is evident by their positive perceptions that local rice is healthy, have good taste and superior in quality than polish rice. Although some claim less utility in local rice consumption because it’s less attractive, look dirty and less friendly in term of cooking, Ofadabrand of local rice is still the most preferred. The study also reveals thathousehold size, quality, ease of cooking and market price have significant influence on the consumer’s decisio

Response of quality, yield and growth of amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) and soil chemical properties on application of organic and inorganic nutrients

Poultry manure (PM) is limited by large quantity required for large scale vegetable production, to avert this problem, integrating inorganic (urea) with organic (PM) fertilizers is recently been advocated. Hence, two field experiments were carried out in years 2016 and 2017 at Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria to evaluate the effects of sole and integrated applications of poultry manure (PM) and urea fertilizer (UF) on soil chemical properties, growth, yield and quality of green Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus). The study was laid out in 2 × 4 × 4 factorial experiment with two years (2016 and 2017), four levels of PM (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha) and four levels of UF (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha) application. The sixteen treatment combinations were arranged in a randomized complete block design having four replications. Results showed that UF and PM alone or their integration improved soil organic matter (OM), N, P, K, Ca, Mg (urea alone did not increase OM, P and K significantly), yield and growth indices, minerals (urea alone only increased leaf N), moisture, fibre, protein, dry matter, ash and reduced fat content of Amaranthus leaves compared with the control. Although fresh plant weight /plot (yield), plant height, leaf N and moisture contents of Amaranthus increased up to 120 kg N/ha, for both sole UF and PM (yield was 280 kg in 2016 and 310 kg in 2017 for PM while yield for UF was 250 kg in 2016 and 247 kg in 2017, plant height was 0.75 m in 2016 and 0.81 in 2017 for PM while UF was 0.67 m in 2016 and 0.65 m in 2017, Leaf N was 2.98% in 2016 and 3.41% in 2017 for PM while UF was 2.50% in 2016 and 2.44% in 2017, moisture content was 87.60% in 2016 and 90.20% in 2017 for PM and 86.4% in 2016 and 89.60% in 2017 for UF), soil and leaf K, Ca and Mg, ash, protein, dry matter and fibre were increased only up to 80 kg N/ha for PM and 40 kg N/ha for UF. This levels (80 kg N/ha for PM and 40 kg N/ha for UF) correspond to the optimum level for the production of quality Amaranthus in the agro ecological zone or similar soil elsewhere. For improving the overall quality, integrating UF at 40 kg N/ha with PM at 80 kg N/ha is recommended. Key words : Amaranthus hybridus, leaf quality, mineral composition, poultry manure, soil chemical properties, urea fertilize

Chapter 31 - Application of nanochitosan in tagging and nano-barcoding of aquatic and animal meats

Nanochitosans obtained from crustacean shells are biodegradable and biocompatible offering valuable functional, nutritional, and binding properties. Their low toxicity favors diverse industrial applications in various research models and can enable their use in the tagging of commercially sold aquatic and animal meat, easily contaminated by microbial sources during packaging, storage, and transportation. In this capacity, nanochitosans have been applied in fingerprinting for tracking and identifying the manufacturing and expiry dates of commercially sold meats and fish, as well as delivery of antioxidants and antimicrobials in these food products without affecting product consistency, composition, and organoleptic property. This chapter reviews current research on chitosan-based nanoparticles as barcodes and biosensors in tagging and monitoring aquatic and animal meats; and highlights methods of fish tagging and coding, and the benefits as well as the properties of materials used as biosensors in nano-barcoding of fish and meat

Nanochitosan derived from marine bacteria

Nanochitosans are polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent deacetylation of chitin and comprise a series of 2‐deoxy‐2 (acetylamino) glucose linked by ß‐(1‐4) glycosidic linkages. These are naturally formed from the deacetylation of shellfish shells and the exoskeleton of aquatic arthropods and crustaceans. Reports of chitosan production from unicellular marine bacteria inhabiting the sea, and possessing distinct animal‐ and plant‐like characteristics abound. This capacity to synthesize chitosan from chitin arises from response to stress under extreme environmental conditions, as a means of survival. Consequently, the microencapsulation of these nanocarriers results in new and improved chitosan nanoparticles, nanochitosan. This nontoxic bioactive material which can serve as an antibacterial agent, gene delivery vector as well as carrier for protein and drug release as compared with chitosan, is limited by its nonspecific molecular weight and higher composition of deacetylated chitin. This chapter highlights the biology and diversity of nanochitosan‐producing marine bacteria, including the factors influencing their activities, survival, and distribution. More so, the applications of marine bacterial nanochitosans in transfection and gene delivery; wound healing and drug delivery; feed supplement development and antimicrobial activity are discussed

Chapter 21 - Utilization of nanochitosan in the sterilization of ponds and water treatment for aquaculture

Water pollution constitutes the leading cause of infant mortality, neonatal deformities, and shrinkage of man’s average life expectancy. Pollutants come from point and nonpoint sources; and water pollution arises from the discharge of wastewater containing undesirable impurities used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. More so, high nutrient and wastewater runoffs from fish production systems contribute to the fouling and eutrophication of recipient water bodies. Hence, aquaculture which is inextricably linked to the natural environment is challenged by the dearth of appropriate water quantity and quality, militating against fish, and fishery production. Nanochitosans as polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent deacetylation of chitin, comprise a series of 2-deoxy-2 (acetylamino) glucose linked by ß-(1-4) glycosidic linkages. They are naturally formed from the deacetylation of shellfish shells and exoskeletons of aquatic arthropods and crustaceans. The unique attributes of chitin confer a wide range of biotechnological applications on the polymer, observed in flocculation as a wastewater treatment and purification route initiated by chitosan. This chapter highlights nanochitosan properties of aquaculture relevance; and elucidates the purification potentials of nanochitosan, compared to inorganic coagulants and organic polymeric flocculants. Effects of chitosan on contaminants and microorganisms, as well as applications in fish pathogens detection, fish disease diagnosis, and control are discussed

Utilization of nanochitosan for enzyme immobilization of aquatic and animal-based food packages

Studies have identified the properties of enzymes, functionalized molecules, and compounds in food industry applications as edible coatings and encapsulations, that assure prolonged food quality and standards. These molecules present benefits of longer shelf-life by delayed deterioration and inhibition of the proliferation of spoilage and mycotoxigenic microorganisms. However, challenges of reduced nutrient levels, miniaturized size, and low chemical stability remain concerning. Chitosan polymers naturally formed from the deacetylation of shellfish shells and exoskeletons of aquatic arthropods and crustaceans offer improved benefits when functionalized into nanoparticles as nanochitosans. These polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent deacetylation of chitin, comprise a series of 2-deoxy-2 (acetylamino) glucose linked by ß-(1-4) glycosidic linkages. This chapter considers the health impacts and

Teachers’ perception of the causes and prevalence of gender based violence among primary school pupils in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State

Generally, the world today is faced with lots of challenges such as rape and insecurity to mention but few which may have resulted in different forms of gender-based violence (GBV). This research investigated Teachers’ Perception of the Causes and Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence in Ifelodun local Government Area of Kwara State. Explanatory mixed-method research design was used for this study. The population for the study comprised all public primary school teachers. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 26 schools out of 167 schools, Simple random technique was also used to select 11 teachers from each of the 26 schools used to make a total of 286 respondents and 10 teachers for qualitative interview. Two research questions were also raised, eight interview questions were raised. The research instruments that were used to obtain data from the respondents was questionnaire titled “Teachers’ Perception on the Causes and Prevalence of Gender Based Violence (TPCPGBV)” with a reliability coefficient of 0.80 and Interview guide with reliability coefficient of 0.75. The research questions were tested using Frequency count, percentage and mean. The results showed that gender discriminatory norms, family environment and poverty were the most frequent causes of Gender Based Violence. Teachers’ perception of the prevalence of gender-based violence among primary school pupils in Ifelodun local Government Area of Kwara State is high. The study concluded that Gender Based Violence is caused by different factors. It was therefore recommended that Government should organize seminars to educate teachers and pupils on Gender Based Violence so that they will be knowledgeable on the problem. The Government needs to curb the occurrence of Gender Based Violence by organizing enlightenment program for them with the use of social media to address the pupils

Assessment of Consumers’ Preference for Local Rice in South West, Nigeria

The research work examine consumers preference for local rice in South west, Nigeria. It specifically described the socioeconomic characteristics of local rice consumers in the study area. Data of 150 household was collected through a well�structured questionnaire. Tobit regression model and likert type of measurement were used to measures the collected parameters.The results of the analysis shows that consumption is consistent among 59.3% of the respondent.The choice of local rice consumption is evident by their positive perceptions that local rice is healthy, have good taste and superior in quality than polish rice. Although some claim less utility in local rice consumption because it’s less attractive, look dirty and less friendly in term of cooking, Ofadabrand of local rice is still the most preferred. The study also reveals thathousehold size, quality, ease of cooking and market price have significant influence on the consumer’s decision

Characterization of rumen microbiome and immune genes expression of crossbred beef steers with divergent residual feed intake phenotypes

Abstract We investigated whole blood and hepatic mRNA expressions of immune genes and rumen microbiome of crossbred beef steers with divergent residual feed intake phenotype to identify relevant biological processes underpinning feed efficiency in beef cattle. Low-RFI beef steers (n = 20; RFI = − 1.83 kg/d) and high-RFI beef steers (n = 20; RFI = + 2.12 kg/d) were identified from a group of 108 growing crossbred beef steers (average BW = 282 ± 30.4 kg) fed a high-forage total mixed ration after a 70-d performance testing period. At the end of the 70-d testing period, liver biopsies and blood samples were collected for total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. Rumen fluid samples were also collected for analysis of the rumen microbial community. The mRNA expression of 84 genes related to innate and adaptive immunity was analyzed using pathway-focused PCR-based arrays. Differentially expressed genes were determined using P-value ≤ 0.05 and fold change (FC) ≥ 1.5 (in whole blood) or ≥ 2.0 (in the liver). Gene ontology analysis of the differentially expressed genes revealed that pathways related to pattern recognition receptor activity, positive regulation of phagocytosis, positive regulation of vitamin metabolic process, vascular endothelial growth factor production, positive regulation of epithelial tube formation and T-helper cell differentiation were significantly enriched (FDR < 0.05) in low-RFI steers. In the rumen, the relative abundance of PeH15, Arthrobacter, Moryella, Weissella, and Muribaculaceae was enriched in low-RFI steers, while Methanobrevibacter, Bacteroidales_BS11_gut_group, Bacteroides and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 were reduced. In conclusion, our study found that low-RFI beef steers exhibit increased mRNA expression of genes related to immune cell functions in whole blood and liver tissues, specifically those involved in pathogen recognition and phagocytosis regulation. Additionally, these low-RFI steers showed differences in the relative abundance of some microbial taxa which may partially account for their improved feed efficiency compared to high-RFI steers