Effects of jackbean seed meal on the intestinal mucosa of juvenile Heterobranchus longifilis

Juvenile Heterobranchus longifilis were fed diets that were isonitrogenous (CP 30%) and isocaloric (ME 2900 Kcal/kg) comprising the control diet without jackbean seed meal (JBSM) and those containing raw and 60 min boiled JBSM at different inclusion levels. At the conclusion of the 56 days feeding study, histological examination of the intestinal mucosa of H. longifilis indicated that those fed the control diet remained normal. However, progressive damage to the epithelial mucosa of H. logifilis intestines was observed with increasing dietary level of JBSM. While fish fed diets with 10% fishmeal substituted by raw JBSM showed minor degeneration of the intestinal mucosa, those fed with 100% fishmeal substituted by raw JBSM showed severe damage. Boiling JBSM however moderated the adverse effect of high dietary JBSM since fish fed diet with 80% fishmeal substituted by boiled JBSM showed only early signs of mucosal degeneration. The findings suggest that boiled JBSM could be used to substantially replace fishmeal in fish diets with no negative effect on fish intestinal mucosa. This development impacts positively on fish production by reducing the cost of fish feed given the comparatively lower cost of JBSM with respect to fishmea

THERMAL ANALYSIS OF A SMALL SCALE SOLID WASTE-FIRED STEAM BOILER FOR POWER GENERATION IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Thermal analysis of a small scale solid waste-fired steam generator is presented in this paper. The analysis was based on the chosen design specifications which are operating steam pressure and temperature of 20bar and 400℃ respectively, solid waste consumption rate of 3.6ton/hr and a furnace utilizing grate-fired technology. The boiler is designed as a possible waste management option in Benin Metropolis and Nigeria at large with energy recovery. The average daily municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in Benin Metropolis was considered in order to assess the availability of the feed stock. A calorific value of 17.49MJ/kg was obtained for the solid waste using Dulong’s formula. Calculations based on energy balance in the boiler show that about 7.63kg/s of air is required to combust 1kg/s of MSW to produce about 3.437kg/s of steam. Further calculations show that about 1.4MW of electrical power can be obtained from the produced steam. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i3.1

Some haematological changes in hybrid catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis x Clarias gariepinus) fed different dietary levels of raw and boiled jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) seed meal

Changes were observed in some haematological parameters of juvenile hybrid catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis x Clarias gariepinus) fed raw and 60 min-boiled jackbean seed meal (JBSM) at different dietary levels for 56 days. The haematocrit (packed cell volume, PCV), red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing dietary JBSM level. Though the mean values of the blood parameters of fish fed diets containing boiledJBSM (PCV = 29.93%; RBC = 1.2 x 106 mm-3; WBC = 15.91 x 103 mm-3; Hb = 8.31 g/100 ml) showed significant improvement when compared with those fed raw JBSM diets (PCV = 28.68%; RBC = 1.13 x 106 mm-3; WBC = 14.63 x 103 mm-3; Hb = 8.31 g/100 ml) they were, however, lower and significantly (P<0.05) different from those fed the control diet (PCV = 35.50%; RBC = 1.43 x 106 mm-3; WBC = 20.42 x 103 mm-3; Hb = 10.62 g/100 ml). However the observed reduction of the blood parameters did not go below the normal range of values recorded for catfish. Further investigation to improve the quality ofboiled JBSM is suggested

A frailty model for (interval) censored family survival data, applied to the age at onset of non-physical problems

Family survival data can be used to estimate the degree of genetic and environmental contributions to the age at onset of a disease or of a specific event in life. The data can be modeled with a correlated frailty model in which the frailty variable accounts for the degree of kinship within the family. The heritability (degree of heredity) of the age at a specific event in life (or the onset of a disease) is usually defined as the proportion of variance of the survival age that is associated with genetic effects. If the survival age is (interval) censored, heritability as usually defined cannot be estimated. Instead, it is defined as the proportion of variance of the frailty associated with genetic effects. In this paper we describe a correlated frailty model to estimate the heritability and the degree of environmental effects on the age at which individuals contact a social worker for the first time and to test whether there is a difference between the survival functions of this age for twins and non-twins. © 2009 The Author(s)

The Children’s Hospital X Project: A Case Study in Benefit and Cost Analysis of a Lean-IPD Project

Lean processes have been utilized in healthcare design and construction, bringing both benefits and costs to the owners of healthcare projects. It is important to understand and detect the benefits and costs associated with lean processes, because if the benefits are greater than the costs, lean processes will become increasingly attractive to those who are interested in lean processes, but who are more risk averse than early adopters, and have therefore not yet adopted its processes. However, it is unclear which metrics should be tracked to measure the benefits and costs associated with Lean-IPD. Researchers are particularly interested in understanding how Lean-IPD benefits and costs compare to the more extreme and linear delivery methods of Design-Bid-Build (DBB). This research presents analysis of the Target Value Design process of a case study healthcare building. It is an attempt to collect benefit and cost data related to lean processes adopted by the project. An electronic database where design and estimating documents were stored served as the data source for this research. The collected benefits and costs data helped to build a framework for the basis of future benefit and cost analyses. In this case study, the benefits generated from lean processes were shown to outweigh costs incurred

Evaluation of waste-to-energy potential of domestic solid wastes in Benin Metropolis, Nigeria

The solid waste crisis in the fast urbanizing Benin metropolis is the result of inability of the local government authorities to effectively handle the huge amount of waste generated daily. A large percentage of the solid waste in the metropolis ends up on illegal waste dumpsites. The aim of this paper was to investigate the waste-to-energy potentials of domestic solid wastes in Benin metropolis, Nigeria using a three-phase study plan - study of current waste management activities, characterization of domestic solid waste and determination of the waste-to-energy potentials of domestic solid waste. The results obtained reveal that about 13.18% of combustible solid waste is generated in Benin metropolis with average calorific value (CV) of 20,198.89 kJ/kg producing an energy value of 36.95 MW/day.Key Words: Characterisation, Waste-to-Energy Potentials, Domestic Solid Waste, Benin Metropoli

Timing of Drought Affected the Growth, Physiology, and Mortality of Mongolian Pine Saplings

Background and Objectives: More frequent and severe droughts are occurring due to climate change in northern China. In addition to intensity and duration, the timing of droughts may be decisive for its impacts on tree growth, mortality, and the whole forest ecosystem. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of drought occurring in the early- and mid-growing season on the growth and physiology of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv.) saplings. Materials and Methods: Four-year-old container saplings that were about to sprout were exposed to three treatments: (i) regular irrigation throughout the growing season (CTRL), (ii) no irrigation in the early growing season (weeks 1–5) followed by regular irrigation (EGD), (iii) no irrigation in the mid growing season (weeks 5–10), and regular irrigation in the early and late growing season (MGD). We measured the root and shoot growth, sapling mortality, and the physiological changes in the roots and needles periodically. Results: Drought in the mid growing season was more harmful than in the early growing season in terms of chlorophyll fluorescence, electrolyte leakage of needles, needle length, stem diameter increment, and sapling mortality. The high mortality in the mid growing season might be attributed to the joint effect of drought and high temperature. Drought in the early growing season decreased root growth, and the starch and soluble sugars in roots as much as the drought in the mid growing season. Abscisic acid concentration increased in fine roots, but decreased in old needles after drought. Conclusions: Special attention should be paid on forest sites susceptible to drought during afforestation in the face of ongoing climate change

Timing of Drought Affected the Growth, Physiology, and Mortality of Mongolian Pine Saplings

Background and Objectives: More frequent and severe droughts are occurring due to climate change in northern China. In addition to intensity and duration, the timing of droughts may be decisive for its impacts on tree growth, mortality, and the whole forest ecosystem. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of drought occurring in the early- and mid-growing season on the growth and physiology of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv.) saplings. Materials and Methods: Four-year-old container saplings that were about to sprout were exposed to three treatments: (i) regular irrigation throughout the growing season (CTRL), (ii) no irrigation in the early growing season (weeks 1–5) followed by regular irrigation (EGD), (iii) no irrigation in the mid growing season (weeks 5–10), and regular irrigation in the early and late growing season (MGD). We measured the root and shoot growth, sapling mortality, and the physiological changes in the roots and needles periodically. Results: Drought in the mid growing season was more harmful than in the early growing season in terms of chlorophyll fluorescence, electrolyte leakage of needles, needle length, stem diameter increment, and sapling mortality. The high mortality in the mid growing season might be attributed to the joint effect of drought and high temperature. Drought in the early growing season decreased root growth, and the starch and soluble sugars in roots as much as the drought in the mid growing season. Abscisic acid concentration increased in fine roots, but decreased in old needles after drought. Conclusions: Special attention should be paid on forest sites susceptible to drought during afforestation in the face of ongoing climate change