Growth performance of juvenile Clarias gariepinus fed Ipomoea aquatica based diets

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the replacement value of I. aquatica-based diet as dietary replacement of maize in the diets of C. gariepinus. Five isonitrogenous diets were formulated to contain 0% (control diet), 15% 30%, 45%, and 60% I. aquatica. Treatment was carried out in triplicate using ten C. gariepinus juvenile per replicate with mean initial weight of 9.0g. The fish at 5% body weight per day for a period of 8 weeks. The best growth response in terms of mean weight gain was obtained in 15% I. aquatica diet inclusion (35.57 ~c 3.44g), while fish fed 60% I. aquatica diet had the lowest growth response (23.80 ~c 1.18g), FCR was obtained in fish fed 60% I. aquatica (1.79 ~c 0.04), while the lowest was obtained in fish fed 15% I. aquatica. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in all the parameters of the treatments. The results revealed that any of the inclusion level can be used up to 60% inclusion level of I. aquatica. However, 15% inclusion level gave the best result in terms of growth

Effects of various latency periods on fertilization, hatchability and survival of Clarias gariepinus

The latency period of post-ovulation of Clarias gariepinus has been demonstrated to affect the viability of its eggs and embryos. This study has examined the effects of various latency periods on the viability of eggs, fertilization, hatchability and survival of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Progenies were produced using eggs successively stripped from the African catfish at 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 17, 14, 21 and 22 hours of post-ovulation. Some eggs and sperm were delayed while others were used fresh. Low survival, hatchability and fertilization rates were observed in treatments 1 and 3, while an average percentage of fertilization, hatchability and survival rates were obtained in treatments 2 and 4. High rates of fertilization and hatchability as well as a considerable rate of survival of progeny after 21days of indoor rearing was obtained in 14-hour latency period at a temperature of 24.8oC and was significantly different (P<0.05). Therefore, any attempt to improve fingerlings production in Clarias gariepinus must consider the effects of latency period in relation to water temperature, and the best latency period achieved in this study was 14 hours

An efficient framework to sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in a developing city

The study developed a framework for sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in Bauchi city through spatial modeling. Coordinates of dump sites and sample households from the study area were obtained by Global Positioning System (GPS) while road network was obtained by digitizing satellite image of the area and both were used in this research. Thus, digital map of dump sites, sampled households and roads about the area were produced. Using the “Network Analyst Tool (NAT)” of ArcGIS 10.2 functionalities for service areas, closest facilities and best routes, a model was then developed to encourage efficient and sustainable refuse collection and evacuation in the area. The model developed has 22 dump sites, 15 closest facilities and 3 trucks routes. The service areas around each dump site are in three buffer zones covering distances of 200m, 350m and 500m respectively while the longest and shortest distances of 1499.46m and 156m in the closest facilities for the households were confirmed. Also, three trucks with truck3 having the longest distance was discovered while truck1 has the least distance for refuse evacuation in the area. These were discovered based on service areas, closest facility and best routes and hence the model will improve the general situation of refuse disposal in the area. Moreover, it will specifically ensure efficiency and sustainability in the management of refuse collection and evacuation of the area. Therefore, spatial modeling through NAT looks more appropriate as panacea for inefficient and unsustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation of a developing Bauchi metropolis. Thus, the model is recommended to be used as an efficient framework for sustainable management of refuse collection and evacuation in similar developing cities.Keywords: Closest facilities, modeling, network analyst, route optimization, service area

Genetic diversity studies of bacteria isolated from Clarias gariepinus along Yewa river in Nigeria using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques and their antibiotic resistance profile

Pathogenic bacteria are responsible for heavy mortality in both wild and cultured fish. Molecular characterization was carried out using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAPolymerase Chain Reaction technique (RAPD-PCR), sensitivity to antibiotics of bacteria in Clarias gariepinus post juveniles sampled. Bacteria were isolated from the gut, gills and skin of the fish. Identification was done using the conventional culture-based method. Thirty bacteria isolates were selected and the DNAs were extracted using CTAB method, PCR amplification of the isolates was carried out using RAPD primer and five primers were used. Data collected were subjected to descriptive (mean and standard deviation) statistics. There were 63 polymorphic and 14 monomorphic markers generated from the five RAPD markers. The primers generated 77 alleles altogether. Out of the 10 antibiotics used, Cephalexin recorded the highest inhibition zone (33 mm) on one sample, Gentamicin on second sample had (30 mm). The least inhibition zone was recorded in Cotrimoxazole on the second sample with (8 mm), 70.5 % bacteria strains were susceptible to Gentamicin while two samples displayed 100 % resistance to all the antibiotics. This study concluded that there are pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria species in C. gariepinus which could be zoonotic.Keywords: bacteria isolates, genetic diversity, RAPD-PCR, DNA extraction, sensitivity, Clarias gariepinus Polymorphism, Antiboiti

Effects of lipid-lowering agents on plasma lipid profile and apolipoprotein B in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objectives: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) accounts for about 90% of all cases of Diabetes Mellitus. Dyslipidaemia has been demonstrated to form a synergy with T2DM as risk factors for cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the plasma levels of Lipids and Apolipoprotein B-100 among Type 2 Diabetic patients, assess the effects of Lipid Lowering agents, and to study the relationship, if any, between these lipid parameters and glycemic control.Methods: One hundred and fifty participants consisting of fifty T2DM patients on a lipid-lowering agent, fifty newly diagnosed T2DM patients who are drug naïve (not on any anti-diabetic agent) and fifty apparently healthy non-diabetic controls were recruited for this study. Fasting blood samples were collected from all study participants for determination of Total Cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, Triglycerides(TG), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) and Apo B-100. Results: The results showed significant increases in plasma TC, LDL-C, TG and Apo B-100 with a remarkable reduction in plasma HDL-C level in the Type 2 Diabetic drug naïve group compared with the treatment and control groups. There was a significant positive&nbsp; correlation observed between serum Apo B-100 and level of glycaemia in the T2DM drug naïve group.Conclusion: This study further confirms the therapeutic benefits of lipid-lowering agents in reducing Apo B-100 among T2DM patients. Furthermore, maintaining good glycaemic control reduces the risk for the development of dyslipidaemia. Keywords: T2DM, Dyslipidaemia, Cardiovascular Diseases, Apolipoprotein B-100, Nigeria

Protein profile expression of Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis and their reciprocal hybrids in Southwest Nigeria

Proper genetic characterization would help in the selection of suitable strains for aquaculture that could lead to production of varieties of fishes to alleviate the problem of short supply of fast growing quality fish seeds. The study was aimed at analyzing the muscle protein profiles of Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis and their reciprocal hybrids. Sixteen juveniles fish samples (comprising four samples from each mating combinations) artificially propagated and reared for sixteen weeks were analyzed electrophoreti cally. The separation of the different polypeptides of C. gariepinus, H. bidorsalis and their reciprocal hybrid were carried out using 12% Sodium dodecyl, sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (JD SDS-PAGE). The relative concentration of individual protein bands were analyzed using Total LabTM ID software. The individual protein bands in the electrophoregram were identified in relation to their molecular weights. The gel images obtained after electrophoresis were scored and subjected to cluster analysis. The lst, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and l1th bands were detected across all mating combinations. The 5th band with molecular weight (78.58 distinguishes C. gariepinus from H. bidorsalis while the 6th band with molecular weight (54.41 KDa) distincts the reciprocal hybrid Clariabranchus from Heteroclarias. The 7th and 12th bands distinguished the pure breeds from the hybrids. The 7th band was present in both hybrids-Clariabranchus (49.50 KDa) and Heteroclarias (49.77 KDa) species but absent in the pure breeds while 12th was present in the pure breeds-C. gariepinus (19.92 KDa) and H. bidorsalis (20.29 KDa) but absent in the hybrids. The cluster analysis shows a high level of genetic similarity among the mating combinations which affirms the already established monophylogenetic relatedness among the species

Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings raised in fish tanks

Fish sorting assessments of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings stocked and raised in fish tanks were undertaken for a 6-month culture period: Sorting was undertaken from the first, second, and third months of stocking the fish fingerlings while the control was not sorted at all. The sorting assessments revealed that the twice sorting of fish fingerlings stocked with a Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) of 3.44 was significantly different (p>0.05) from those sorted once with MRR of 0.912, and three times with MRR of 2.65 respectively, thus making twice sorting most advisable for fish farmers utilizing Clarias gariepinus fingerlings for tank aquacultur

A Reformed Information Security Management System (R-ISMS)

An Information Security Management System (ISMS) specifies the instruments and methods that an administration/management level of an institution uses to comprehensibly manage the tasks and activities aimed at achieving information security. ISMS evolved as a systematic and structured approach to managing information following advances in IT infrastructure, services and applications so that they remain secure. While there are various implemented ISMS frameworks, researchers continually try to emphasize and increase human participation in ensuring information security. The aim of this research study is to develop an algorithm-based model to facilitate effective ISMS services for organizations. This algorithm-based ISMS model employed Information Technology General Controls (ITGC) technique as an expansion of the vistas of known ISMS frameworks, to improve information security control in organizations. The purpose of refinement is to make the frameworks more easily understood, implemented, and measured in organizations by stakeholders.Microsoft Office Visio 2010 software was used in designing the reformed model. Bactracking and Branch-and-bound algorithms were used in developing the model. The model utilises the above named methods to address the problem of inadequate management systems for information security. The results of this study showed that, with the level of usability, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards are more easily implemented and well recognized by stakeholders (top management, staff, suppliers, customers/clients, regulators) unlike the other security frameworks.  In conclusion, this study showed that R-ISMS is a customized algorithm model that assists organizations to enhance the ability in monitoring the performance of their activities, policies and procedures. Keywords:Information Security Management Systems (ISMSs), Reformed ISMS, International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC),  Backtracking / Branch-and-bound algorithms

Toxicity effect of Kigelia africana aqueous extract on the haematology and histopathology of juvenile Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study examined the toxicity effect of Kigelia africana on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles. The corresponding effects of this plant extract on the health status of the O. niloticus were similarly studied using their haematological and histopathological profiles. The experiment was carried out at the Hatchery Unit of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta fish farm. Fish were acclimatized for one week and fed twice daily at the rate of 3% body weight. Water in the culture medium was replenished daily. A total of 150 juveniles of O. niloticus were exposed to concentrations of 0.00, 1.75, 2.50, 3.75 and 5.00 g L−1 aqueous extract of Kigelia africana set up in three replicates. This toxicity study showed that aqueous bark extract of K. africana caused significant behavioural changes in O. niloticus. Recorded values of the water quality parameters showed significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) across the treatments. The haematological indices of the fish were also observed to be affected with increasing extract concentration, compared to the control treatment (0.0 g L−1). Similarly, histology of the liver and gills showed variations in distortions and damages to the tissues; with observed severity increasing with increase in extract concentrations. This study suggested that the 96-h LC50 of K. africana could be greater than 5 g L−1. The study concluded that caution must be taken in the disposal of this plant in water bodies as extended exposure time and at higher concentrations could pose adverse effects on the stock of juvenile Orechromis niloticus.Keywords: toxicity, Kigelia africana, Oreochromis niloticus, haematology, histopatholog

Career preferences among final year medical students and house officers: A multicentre survey in Southwest Nigeria

Objective: Career preferences of medical trainees have the potential to shape the future of the healthcareworkforce of any nation. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence career choices ofmedical students and house officers (interns) in two institutions located in Southwest Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst final year medical students and interns in twomedical universities and their corresponding teaching hospitals in Southwest Nigeria. A questionnairewas used to obtain socio-demographic data, career choices, reasons behind career choices and thepresence and influence of mentorship on career choices. Responses were analyzed using the StatisticalPackage for Social Sciences Version 21, and descriptive statistics generated.Results: Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology and Surgical specialties were the most preferred career choices by themedical students, while Surgical and Medical specialties were most preferred by the interns. Personalinterest and other personal reasons were the top motivating factors for the career choices amongst themedical students of both institutions, while personal interest and future job opportunities were the topreasons for the career choices amongst the interns of both institutions. Mentorship was lacking for most ofthe medical students and house officers, except in one of the teaching hospitals, where over half of theinterns had career mentors.Conclusion: Attention should be paid to the reasons behind career choices, in order to channel effortstowards making clinical specialties become attractive to young medical trainees, as the future of the healthworkforce in the nation depends on it.Keywords: Career Choices, Medical Students, House officers, Medical Education, Nigeri