Proximate, minerals and antinutrient assessment of the leaves and tenderstem of Leptadenia hastate (pers.) decne

The study evaluated the proximate, minerals and antinutrient contents of the plant Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) decne (Asclepiadaceae). Nutrient and antinutritional factors were determined using standard analytical methods and parameters subjected to statistical analysis. Manganese (Mn), Calcium (Ca) and Cobalt (Co) were found to be significantly (p<0.001) higher in the leaves when compared to the tender stem while Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and Magnesium (Mg) were found to be significantly (p<0.001) higher in the tender stems when compared to the leaves. The percentages of Moisture content, Crude proteins and Total ash were found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in the leaves when compared to the tender stem while crude fiber and Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the stem when compared to the leaves. Oxalate and phytic acid were anti nutrient found to be significantly (p<0.001) higher in the leaves when compared to the tender stem. However, Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Potassium (K) and Crude fat were not significantly (p>0.05) different when compared in the leaves and tender stem. Correlation analysis indicated that antinutrient contents in the tender stems will not affect the mineral absorption in the leaves while negative correlation between Fe and Cu in the stems could affect the absorption of iron. Therefore, Leptadenia hastata leave and tender stem consumed in soup and local salad in northern Nigeria proved to be rich in minerals and nutrients to support its dietary role as a consumed vegetable.Keywords: Leptadenia hastata, Minerals, Proximate, Antinutrients, Tender stems, Leave

Effect of Activated Lime and Kaolin as Partial Replacement for Cement in Concrete Structure

This research presents the effect of activated lime and activated kaolin as a cement replacement on the properties of concrete. A natural clay sample known as kaolin and lime was activated through thermal activation and used to partially replaced cement. %-¾ size aggregate was used in the casting of concrete cubes using 150mm x 150mm x 150mm for grades 20 and 25, and 150mm x 150mm x 150mm mould using a mix ratio of 1:2:4 for grade 20 and 1:1 ½: 3 for grade 25. The water-cement ratio adopted for the experiment was 0.55. A preliminary laboratory investigation was conducted include; sieve analysis, bulk density, specific gravity, aggregate impact value (AIV), aggregate crushing value (ACV), flakiness test, and elongation test. Also setting time of cement and standard consistency test was carried out. A Different replacement was cast and cured for 7, 14, and 28 days, and crushed. The compressive strength was gotten and conclusion a drawn

Performance Indices and Physiological Changes in Pearl Guinea Fowls (Numida Meleagris) Supplemented with Molasses Through Drinking Water

. The study was aimed at evaluating the performance indices and physiologic changes in pearl Guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) supplemented with molasses through drinking water. A total of thirty-two (n=32) day-old pearl Guinea fowls raised to 12-week-old were used for the study. The fowls were randomly allocated to two groups (control and experimental) of 16 fowls each, with each having two replicates. Experimental fowls were given 5 mL molasses per litre of drinking water for 8 weeks, while control fowls were given only drinking water. Performance indices which include: feed consumption, water intake and percentage weight gain were measured. Rectal temperature was measured and blood samples were collected to evaluate the changes in haematological parameters, serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations. Results revealed that the molasses-treated fowls had significantly (P<0.05) higher percentage weight gain, blood total protein, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular volume compared to control. However, the feed consumptionwas significantly lower (P<0.05) in the molasses-treated fowls compared to control. In both groups, rectal temperature increased significantly (P<0.05) during the afternoon hours and was lower (P<0.05) in molasses-treated fowls than control during the evening hours. There was no significant difference in other haematological parameters, serum glucose, T4 and T3 betweengroups. In conclusion, molasses supplementation decreased feed consumption, improved body weight gain and enhanced nutritional status and erythropoiesis in Guinea fowls

Perfil hematológico de cabras Saanen e mestiças (1/2 Saanen e 1/2 Anglo-nubiana) criadas em clima tropical do Ceará

Objetivou-se verificar a influência das condições climáticas sobre o perfil hematológico de cabras Saanen e mestiça (1/2 Saanen x 1/2 Anglo-nubiana), bem como determinar valores de referência para esses animais criados no Ceará. Foram utilizadas 30 cabras que tiveram o sangue coletado mensalmente durante a época chuvosa (fevereiro a maio) e seca (agosto a novembro) para realização do eritrograma e leucograma. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste t-Student e Mann Whitney, quando constatada distribuição paramétrica e não paramétrica dos dados, respectivamente, com significância quando p0,05). As hemácias e neutrófilos segmentados apresentaram uma correlação negativa com a temperatura ambiente, porém positiva com a umidade do ar e a temperatura retal (p<0,05). O hematócrito correlacionou-se positivamente com a temperatura ambiente e frequência respiratória (p<0,05). Os leucócitos e linfócitos mostraram uma correlação negativa com a temperatura retal (p<0,05). Conclui-se, portanto, que fêmeas Saanen sofrem mais influência das variações climáticas e a época chuvosa tem maior impacto negativo sobre os parâmetros hematológicos. Os valores obtidos poderão servir como referência para esses genótipos no Ceará

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B Surface antigen among apparently healthy primary school pupils in Batagarawa Local Government area of Katsina State, Nigeria

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus infection is a major public health problem worldwide. It is more infectious and more in Nigeria than the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It is a major risk factor for the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer in hyperendemic areas. This study was carried out between 8th January and 7th March, 2012, to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among apparently healthy primary school pupils in Batagarawa Local Government, Katsina state.Methods: Hepatitis B surface antigen was tested for in 240 apparently healthy primary school pupils in Batagarawa Local Government, Katsina state in North- Western Nigeria using commercial recombinant enzyme-based HBsAg test strip.Results: Of the 240 samples screened, 56 (23.3%) were seropositive. HBsAg seroprevalence was higher among children aged 7 – 9 years (7.9%), and among male (15.8%) than female (7.8%) subjects. Of the predisposing factors for HBV infection studied, traditional circumcision among the male subjects recorded the highest prevalence of 30%.Conclusion: The high prevalence of HBV infection amongst the subjects studied strongly suggests that urgent preventive measures, particularly health education of the general public on HBV infection and provision of universal HBV vaccination should be given urgent priority.Keywords: Children, HBsAg, Primary school, Seroprevalenc

Trend in Occurrence of Diseases Causing Abnormal Haematological Values In Domestic Animals Based on Haematological Records of Cases In Zaria And Its Environs

Haematology could be defined as a branch of medical science that studies the blood and blood-forming tissue and organs, which employ blood cells as principal effectors of the physiologic functions determination (Waugh and Grant, 2001). Blood is a specialized fluid that makes up the greatest percentage of total body fluid that serves as the major route of drugs, nutrients and oxygen transport to the body cells (Guyton and Hall, 2001; Katzung et al., 2009; Sembulingam and Sembulingam, 2010; Saka et al., 2011). It also eliminates waste products away from the cells (Cheeke and Shull, 1999). Hence, it is important for pulmonary and tissue respiration. It is the major medium of endocrine and neurohumoral transmissions, biotransformation, and metabolic excretion, nutritional and immunological processes, as well as homeostatic responses and drug transport (Oze, 1992; Adebayo et. al., 2005; Saka et al., 2011). Disease factors, which have continued to be limiting factors to improved livestock production in tropical Africa are common causes of alterations in haematological values (Useh et al., 2003; Hostetter and Andreasen, 2004; Adamu et al., 2007). Any significant changes in the haemogram could result in anaemia or polycythemia, leucopenia or leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis, as the case may be (Useh et al., 2003; Hostetter and Andreasen, 2004; Adamu et al., 2007). Assessment of haematological parameters is a prerequisite to understanding how the body systems function in health and diseased state (Siros, 1995; Awah and Nottidge, 1998). The parameters include; red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total white blood cell count (WBC), and differential leukocyte count (lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes). Blood is formed essentially in the mesenchyme, endothelium, liver, spleen, thymus and lymph nodes of an embryo; but as bone marrow develops, the formation of the blood cells is transferred to this organ (Coles, 1986). causes of alterations in hematological values such as those of erythrocytes, leucocytes and thrombocytes as well as their developmental forms (Sirois, 1995; Hostetter and Andreasen, 2004). Blood is used as one of the diagnostic vital parameters to detect any physiologic or pathologic disturbances in the body. The recognition of this clinical importance of the blood makes hematological and serum biochemistry analyses essential and routine diagnostic tools in medicine (Bush, 1993; Awah and Nottidge, 1998). Changes in haemogram could have serious clinical implications; often with attendant clinical implications irrespective of the cause. This paper attempts to predict the trend in the occurrence of diseases that cause changes in haematological parameters of animal patients presented to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Zaria for either routine checkup or with one clinical ailment or the other using clinical pathology laboratory records.Keywords: low PCV, high PCV, low WBC, high WB

Kajian Strategi Implementasi Pendidikan Karakter Anak Usia Dini

Tujuan utama pendidikan karakter adalah untuk memfasilitasi penguatan dan pengembangan nilai-nilai tertentu sehingga terwujud dalam perilaku anak, baik ketika proses sekolah maupun setelah proses sekolah. Agar pendidikan karakter dapat diimplementasikan dengan baik, perluh adanya strategi yang baik pula guna mengoptimalkan penerapan pendidikan karakter pada siswa. Strategi merupakan bagian dari proses perencanaan dan pelaksanaan pembelajaran. Guru wajib memahami serta dapat menentukan strategi-srategi yang akan digunakan dalam pelaksanaan pembelajaran agar diharapkandapat mengoptimalkan kegiatan pembelajaran. Dalam artikel ini, penulis ingin membahas tentang strategi guru dalam mengimplementasikan pendidikan karakter pada anak usia dini. Metode yang digunakan penulis adalah metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Tujuan penulis adalah untuk membantu guru menentukan strategi khususnya strategi dalam pengembangan karakter anak.Dalam menentukan strategi, sebaiknya ditinjau dari budayadisekitar anak sehingga mudah bagi anak untuk dapat mengaplikasikannya.Terdapat tujuh strategi dalam mengimplementasikan pendidikan karakter yang perluh diketahui guru yakni: 1) tujuan, sasaran dan target yang dicapai harus jelas dan kongkrit, 2) kerjasama antara sekolah dengan orang tua peserta didik, 3) kesadaran dan tanggung jawab guru demi mencapai keberhasilan dari tujuan pendidikan, 4) kesadaran guru dalam mengembangkan karakter peserta didik, 5) memiliki kompetensi pedagogik, 6) dapat memanfaatkan kultur sekolah sebagai pengembangan karakter anak, 7) peran orang tua dalam memonitor dan mengontrol perilaku anak

Synthesis of Cobalt-Complex Azo Dye from 2, 2[Benzene-1, 3-diyl di-(E)-diazene-2, 1-diyl] bis (4-nitroaniline)

International audienceThe aim of this investigation is to carry out the synthesis of bisazo dye 2,​2[benzene-​1,​3-​diyl di(E)​diazene 2,​1-​diyl]​bis(4-​nitroaniline)​. The synthesis was conducted through the diazotization and coupling of m-​phenylene diamine with 4-​nitroanline leading to the prodn. of azo metal (II) complex of Cobalt. Characterization of the ligand and the metal complex was carried out using various 34hysic-​chem. techniques. The metal chelates have a metal to ligand ratio of 1:1. The synthesized azo metal (II) complex dye had a potential application for high d. optical recording media due to their good absorption spectra and high thermal stability

Influences of breed, sex and age on seasonal changes in haematological variables of tropical goat kids

The influences of breed, sex and age on seasonal changes in haematological variables of kids (1&ndash;4 months old) belonging to Red Sokoto (n  =  60) and Sahel (n  =  60) goats were studied at the peaks of the cold-dry, hot-dry and rainy seasons in a West Africa Guinea savanna climate. The results showed that, during the hot-dry season, Sahel goat kids had significantly higher (P  &lt;  0.05) packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count but lower (P  &lt;  0.05) mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and total leucocyte count than Red Sokoto kids. Similarly, younger kids of both breed had significantly higher (P  &lt;  0.05) PCV and RBC but lower MCV, MCH and MCHC compared with the older kids during the hot-dry season. Younger kids (1&ndash;2 months) of both breeds exhibited significantly (P  &lt;  0.05) high PCV and RBC but low MCH and MCHC during the hot-dry season as compared with the cold-dry and rainy seasons, with the magnitude of the change being greater in Sahel kids. More remarkable seasonal fluctuations in haematological parameters were observed in buck kids than doe kids of both breeds. Multivariate analysis revealed a clear distinction between the change in haematological parameters during the cold-dry as compared with the hot-dry and rainy seasons, with MCV having the strongest discriminating power (0.91*). In conclusion, breed, age and sex variations in haematological variables of goats were more pronounced in the hot-dry season, during which the seasonal changes were more dramatic in kids of Sahel goats, as well as in younger and male kids of both breeds. These findings may be useful in the management of tropical goat kids in different seasons