Some Aspects of the Growth Parameters of the Fishes of Ibrahim Adamu Lake, Kazaure Jigawa State, Nigeria

The growth parameters and age for the fish species from the lake (O. niloticus, S. galilaeus and B. bayad) were computed through interpretation of marks found on their Opercula bones which were then fitted into Vonbertallanfy growth model. Their asymptotic length (L∞) ranged from 175mm – 520nm. The growth performance index Ф’ ranged from 3.6622 – 4.9420 and K value from 0.10 – 0.35. O. niloticus L∞, K and Ф’ values ranged from 175mm- 192.5mm, 0.15 – 0.25, 3.6622 – 3.9668 and were found to live up to 7+ years in the lake. The values of S. galilaeus ranged from 200mm – 240mm, 0.12 – 0.17 and 3.8211 – 3.8222 and living up to 5+ while B. bayad had a range of 500mm – 520mm, 0.10 – 0.35, 4.4320 – 4.9420 and lives up to 6+ in the lake. All the growth parameters for the fish species were fitted into the Vonbertallanfy growth model.Lt=L∞ (i-e – k (t-to

Evaluation of Growth Performance of Tomato in Response to Biochar and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (Amf) Inoculation

Field experiment was conducted in 2013 and 2014 to evaluate growth performance of two tomato genotypes in response to biochar application and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculation at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design with two tomato genotypes in the main plots, five levels of biochar application in the sub plots and two levels of AMF inoculation in the sub-sub plots. Data on plant height number of leaves and dry matter yields were generated and subjected to analysis of variance and significant means separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5 % level of significance. The result shows that mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased (p< 0.05) the shoot dry matter yield (2935.8 kg ha-1) when compared with non-mycorrhizal plants, there is no significant difference in number of leaves, height and root dry matter yield. Application of 20 t ha-1 of biochar significantly increased (p< 0.05) the shoot dry matter yields and plant height while no significant differences were observed in number of leaves and root dry matter yield. From the results obtained it can be concluded that AMF can successfully be inoculated into biochar amended soil to improve the performance of tomato plant.Keywords: Biochar; AMF; inoculation; tomato; growth performance

TINGKAH LAKU IKAN BUBARA (Caranx ignobilis) TERHADAP LAMA WAKTU PERENDAMAN UMPAN

Umpan merupakan faktor penting pada perikanan pancing. Pemahaman tingkah laku dan respon makan ikan menjadi bagian penting untuk mengetahui efektivitas penggunaan umpan. Tujuan penelitian yaitu mendeskripsikani pola reaksi ikan kuwe (C ignobilis) terhadap perlakuan umpan, dan menganalisis pengaruh lama waktu perendaman umpan dan waktu pengamatan terhadap respon C ignobilis. Penelitian dilakukan dengan metode percobaan. Umpan yang digunakan adalah potongan daging ikan cakalang. Sampel ikan C ignobilis sebanyak 5 ekor (TL 29-30 cm). Data penelitian meliputi waktu respons makan ikan terhadap umpan masing-masing adalah umpan tidak di rendam, umpan direndam 1 jam dan (C) umpan direndam 2 jam yang dilakukan secara acak pada pagi hari (jam 07.30-09.30) dan malam hari (jam 21.00-23.00). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada tiga fase dalam proses C ignobilis memangsa umpan meliputi fase appearance, approach, dan attack. Respons makan C ignobilis terhadap potongan umpan cakalang secara parsial pada pagi hari dan malam hari tidak berbeda (P>0,05). Terdapat perbedaan respons makan C ignobilis lebih cepat pada kondisi waktu pagi hari dibandingkan pada malam hari (P<0,05)

Effects of different heat processing methods on the antinutritional factors (ANFS) level ofP. reticulatum seed meal

The antinutritional factors (ANFs) in raw and differently heat processed P. reticulatum seed meal were evaluated. The seed was processed as raw seed (T1), 30 minutes boiled (T2), 60 minutes boiled (T3), traditionally boiled (T4), 40 minutes toasted (T5), 80 minutes toasted (T6), 120 minutes toasted (T7) and traditionally roasted seed (T8). The seed meal was evaluated for saponin, tannin, cyanide, oxalate, phytate and phenols. The result showed that heat processing significantly (P < 0.05) affected the ANFs in the seed meal. Highest value of saponin (0.07mg/100g) was recorded in T1, while zero level of saponin was recorded in T4. The highest value (0.26mg/100g) of tannin was recorded in T1, while T4 recorded the least value (0.05mg/100g). Cyanide highest value of (0.17mg/100g) was observed in T1, while T4 recorded the least value (0.02mg/100g). The highest oxalate level was observed in T1 (0.04mg/100g) and zero level was recorded in T3, T4 and T8. Phytate highest level (0.14mg/100g) was recorded in T1, and zero level of phytate was recorded in T4. The highest phenol level was observed in T1 (0.06mg/100g) while zero level of phenol was recorded in T4. T4 is the most effective processing method that reduced all the ANFs with 100% reduction in saponin, oxalate, phytate and phenols. The processing methods used reduced the seed ANFs and therefore, indicated the possible utilization of the seed in animal feed formulation (fish inclusive).Keywords: Antinutritional factors, heat, P. reticulatum, processing, seed

Antibacterial activities of leaf extracts of Brassica oleracae var. capitata. (Brassicaceae) against multi-drug resistant clinical isolates in Maiduguri

Brassica oleracae var. C. green cabbage, a herbaceous biennial plant with leaves that form a compact head, is an edible vegetable used historically as a medicinal herb for a variety of purported health benefits. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts of Brassica oleracae var. C. against clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria (S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumonia and P. aeruginosa) by agar well diffusion method. The extraction was carried out by cold marceration and qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and reducing sugars. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts demonstrated a concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against S.aureus, E.coli, and P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of B. oleracae demonstrated antibacterial activities and these findings could contribute to effective use of the plant.Keywords: Antibacterial, Brassica oleracae, Clinical isolates, Multi-drug resistant, Phytochemical constituent

Minimal Set Of Local Measurements And Classical Communication For Two-mode Gaussian State Entanglement Quantification.

We develop the minimal requirements for the complete entanglement quantification of an arbitrary two-mode bipartite Gaussian state via local measurements and a classical communication channel. The minimal set of measurements is presented as a reconstruction protocol of local covariance matrices and no previous knowledge of the state is required but its Gaussian character. The protocol becomes very simple mostly when dealing with Gaussian states transformed to its standard form, since photocounting or intensity measurements define the whole set of entangled states. In addition, conditional on some prior information, the protocol is also useful for a complete global state reconstruction.9815050

Physical properties of the Schur complement of local covariance matrices

General properties of global covariance matrices representing bipartite Gaussian states can be decomposed into properties of local covariance matrices and their Schur complements. We demonstrate that given a bipartite Gaussian state $\rho_{12}$ described by a $4\times 4$ covariance matrix \textbf{V}, the Schur complement of a local covariance submatrix $\textbf{V}_1$ of it can be interpreted as a new covariance matrix representing a Gaussian operator of party 1 conditioned to local parity measurements on party 2. The connection with a partial parity measurement over a bipartite quantum state and the determination of the reduced Wigner function is given and an operational process of parity measurement is developed. Generalization of this procedure to a $n$-partite Gaussian state is given and it is demonstrated that the $n-1$ system state conditioned to a partial parity projection is given by a covariance matrix such as its $2 \times 2$ block elements are Schur complements of special local matrices.Comment: 10 pages. Replaced with final published versio

Statistical Modeling and Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Using Co-Solvent Technique

In this work, statistical modeling and optimization of biodiesel production from Azadirachta Indica(neem) using co-solvent technique via a two-step transesterification process was carried out. Neem oil was extracted from neem seeds and properties such as moisture content, specific gravity, acid value, saponification value and iodine value were determined. The experimental design used was Central Composite Design. The range of factor levels used for the Central Composite Design were reaction temperature (30°C to 46°C), catalyst amount (0.8% to 1.2%, w/w), reaction time (20 to 40min) and methanol-to-oil molar ratio (5:1 to 9:1). The co-solvents used were methanol and diethyl ether. The co-solvent-to-methanol volume ratio for all the experimental runs was kept constant at 1:1. Also the biodiesel produced was characterized for some important properties including acid value, specific gravity, saponification value, iodine value, cetane number, ester value, kinematic viscosity, flash point, pour point and cloud point. Optimized biodiesel yield of 84.77% was obtained for reaction time of 35 min, catalyst amount of 1.10g, reaction temperature of 34°C, and oil-to-methanol molar ratio of 6:1. The cetane number (51.733), specific gravity (0.8881g/cm3), flash point (134oC) and kinematic viscosity (5.86mm2/s) of the produced biodiesel met the ASTM specifications. The results of characterization of the biodiesel revealed that biodiesel can be produced at lower reaction conditions and with comparable fuel property with biodiesel produced using conventional methods