Partial replacement of fish meal by earthworm meal (Libyodrilus violaceus) in diets for African catfish, Clarias gariepinus

A seven-week feeding trial was conducted to examine the possibility of replacing fish meal with earthworm meal in the diets of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fry. Fish meal protein was replaced by earthworm meal at 0% (D0); 15% (D15); 25% (D25); 35% (D35); and 50% (D50). The diets were isonitrogenous (54%) and fed thrice daily to triplicate groups of African catfish fry at 5% body weight. Diet had a significant effect on growth performance and feed utilization (p≤0.05). Final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, and specific growth rate, were highest in fish fed diet D25. A similar pattern of growth was observed for length measurements. Fish fed diets exceeding 25% replacement of fish meal with earthworm meal had depressed growth. Feed conversion ratio was highest in fish fed D35. Mortality was not dependent on diet. It is concluded that fish meal can be substituted with earthworm meal up to 25% in the diet of C. gariepinus fry without adverse effects on growth and nutrient utilizatio

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A LOW-COST CENTRIFUGAL HONEY EXTRACTOR

The traditional and screw press techniques were adopted and utilized extensively by Nigerian honey producers and these have led to the absence of a good quality and timely produced honey devoid of foreign materials and marketable by international standard. Ample information from literature survey showed that the Langstroth hive which is beyond the reach of common Nigerian bee farmer due to its high cost. A 750 W indigenous centrifugal honey extractor was developed using locally sourced materials.. The machine was tested at extraction speed levels of 272, 287, 351, 1445, 1730, 2300 and 2575 rpm. Quantifiable extractions were obtained at all speed levels except at a speed of 2575 rpm where a vicious crushed extract of honey and comb was observed. High speed extraction was not favorable as it resulted in the destruction of the honey comb. Honey extracted at the two lower speeds of 272 and 287 rpm were found to be purer with less foreign materials and of high quality.  This indigenous centrifugal honey extractor is also favorable for extraction of honey from other types of hives apart from the Langstroth hive and is marketable

Guideline for the management of acute asthma in adults: 2013 update

Acute asthma attacks (asthma exacerbations) are increasing episodes of shortness of breath, cough, wheezing or chest tightness associated with a decrease in airflow that can be quantified and monitored by measurement of lung function (peak expiratory flow (PEF) or forced expiratory volume in the 1st second) and requiring emergency room treatment or admission to hospital for acute asthma and/or systemic glucocorticosteroids for management. The goals of treatment are to relieve hypoxaemia and airflow obstruction as quickly as possible, restore lung function, and provide a suitable plan to avoid relapse. Severe exacerbations are potentially life-threatening and their treatment requires baseline assessment of severity, close monitoring, and frequent reassessment using objective measures of lung function (PEF) and oxygen saturation. Patients at high risk of asthma-related death require particular attention. First-line therapy consists of oxygen supplementation, repeated administration of inhaled short-acting bronchodilators (beta-2-agonists and ipratropium bromide), and early systemic glucocorticosteroids. Intravenous magnesium sulphate and aminophylline are second- and third-line treatment strategies, respectively, for poorly responding patients. Intensive care is indicated for severe asthma that is not responsive to first-line treatment. Antibiotics are only indicated when there are definite features of bacterial infection. Factors that precipitated the acute asthma episode should be identified and preventive measures implemented. Acute asthma is preventable with optimal control of chronic asthma

Comparative Nutritional Composition of Selected Medicinal Fruit Seeds

Fruits producing medicinal plants are particularly desirable, the seeds produced are considered as waste after the fruits are consumed. This study assessed the nutritional constituents of some fruits seeds by assessing the proximate, minerals and vitamins present in the seeds of Citrullus lanatus (Water melon), Malus pumila (Apple), Annona muricata (Sour sap), Persea americana (Avocado), Terminalia catappa (Almond fruit), and Carica papaya (Pawpaw). The proximate analysis, mineral and vitamin composition of the selected medicinal fruit seeds were investigated using the standard method of analysis. On the proximate composition, protein content ranged from 15.21-34.70%, crude fat: 13.82-33.15%, crude fibre: 6.96-21.71%, ash content: 2.62-5.90%, moisture content: 7.81-20.72% and carbohydrate: 12.19-26.58%; for mineral content, Sodium ranged from 26.2-832 mg/kg, Potassium: 571-4862 mg/kg, Calcium: 194-2070 mg/kg, Magnesium: 28-862 mg/kg, Phosphorus: 104-1070 mg/kg, Iron: 2.53-60.00 mg/kg, Manganese: 2.73-240 mg/kg, Copper: 1.64-73.00 mg/kg and Zinc: 3.42-84.00 mg/kg, while for vitamins, vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) content ranged from 1.26-23.54 mg/100g, vitamin E content ranged from 0.70-1.57 mg/100g; vitamin A (β-carotene) content ranged from not detected-5.61 mg/100g, while vitamin B content ranged from 0.02 mg/100g-2.67 mg/100g. The fruits’ seeds show a considerable amount of vital nutritional chemicals which makes them as good as the fruits and could serve as nutraceutical remedy

Vegetative Propagation: A Unique Technique of Improving Plants Growth

Vegetative propagation is any form of asexual reproduction occurring in plants in which a new plant grows from a fragment of the parent plant. Different methods of propagation can be used for plants because they respond differently. Based on plant growing uniformly, increasing the production of these plants, their resistance to pest and diseases, early bearing of fruits and having some certain traits in the new generated plants, various techniques of propagation have been designed for it. Plants can be propagated through sexual and asexual methods. Sexual one involves the use of seeds while asexual involves the vegetative parts of plant in raising new ones. The parts of the stem cutting mostly used are leaves, root, stems and terminal bud, due their simplicity. There are various trees on which stem cuttings can be done based on their maturity. It can be done on either herbaceous, hardwood, softwood or semi-hardwood due to their convenience and the stem cuttings of some more difficult to root than others. Asexual propagation involves stem cuttings, air layering, grafting, budding and micro propagation. Adoption of these forms of vegetative propagation has increased over the years and different species have been propagated through each of these methods with various degree of success. This paper aims at reviewing various techniques in propagating plant species

Medicinal Based Plants: A Call to Nature

Herbal plants play an unprecedented role in preventing and treating of human diseases. For many years, people have been using medicinal plants in traditional medicine. Human civilization around the world have been associated with plants, however, plants are known as a rich source of phytochemical compounds that enable it to have a medicinal value. In the development of herbal and conventional drugs, medicinal plants are potential sources. In the 21st century, medicinal plants have been considered due to its pharmacological effects as a promising drug for the management of diverse health implication. The resurgence of interest to discover medicinal plants as a potential source of new drug has become imperative. Even though synthetic drugs are gaining ground in the healthcare system all over the world, however, available evidences suggest that nature will be a pointer for drug discovery. Hence, there is a need to understand and discover the knowledge of medicinal plants as a rich source of herbal drugs knowing fully well its active compositions