A New And Simple Method Of Confirmatory Detection Of Mating In Albino Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

A new and simple method o detecting mated female albino rats was developed and tested for precision and accuracy. The method involved the gross observation of grey to yellowsh protein coagulates (remnants of the copulatory plug) on vaginal smears of mated females made on clean glass slides. Results o test of the new method showed that the mean length of time between observation of the protein coagulates on vaginal smears and delivery o the mated pregnant emales was 21.39 ± 0.11 days (range= 20 – 23 days, n = 58), whch concurred with the normal 21-day gestation length o rats. The coefficient ovariation (CV) of imprecision of the new methodwas found to be 3.74 %. This new method is simple, easy to apply and does not interfere with fertilization and pregnancy, and also does not involve either the use of specially designed rat cagesor microscopy of vaginal smears, which were the constraints of the former methods of confirming mating in rats. Keywords: Albino rats, Detection of mating, New method, Vaginal smearsAnimal Research International Vol. 3 (3) 2006 pp. 527-53

NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION WITH TRIETHYLENE GLYCOL (TEG)

This work studies the dehydration of natural gas using Triethylene Glycol (TEG)” as the dehydrating agent or absorbent to examine the water content of the natural gas stream when the dehydrating agent and the gas flows in counter current manner in an absorption column and to determine hydrate formation temperature and prevent its occurrence. Also to determine the proper amount of the TEG to be used in other not to flood the contactor (absorber) with it and avoid liquid carry over. The natural gas dehydrating plant was designed and simulated using HYSYS software with Process conditions of 6200kpa and 300 C and gas flow rate of 10MMSCFD were inputted into the software and simulated. Five different TEG flow rates were used for the simulation. Results obtained shows that Between a TEG rate of 53L/hr and 70L/hr, the water content is between acceptable range (6lb/MMSCFD-7lb/MMSCFD) which is the water content limit in natural gas. Therefore, using a flow rate above 70liters/h will not add any significant financial value to the revenue derived from the sales of the gas rather it will flood the absorber unit

NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION WITH TRIETHYLENE GLYCOL (TEG)

This work studies the dehydration of natural gas using Triethylene Glycol (TEG)” as the dehydrating agent or absorbent to examine the water content of the natural gas stream when the dehydrating agent and the gas flows in counter current manner in an absorption column and to determine hydrate formation temperature and prevent its occurrence. Also to determine the proper amount of the TEG to be used in other not to flood the contactor (absorber) with it and avoid liquid carry over. The natural gas dehydrating plant was designed and simulated using HYSYS software with Process conditions of 6200kpa and 300 C and gas flow rate of 10MMSCFD were inputted into the software and simulated. Five different TEG flow rates were used for the simulation. Results obtained shows that Between a TEG rate of 53L/hr and 70L/hr, the water content is between acceptable range (6lb/MMSCFD-7lb/MMSCFD) which is the water content limit in natural gas. Therefore, using a flow rate above 70liters/h will not add any significant financial value to the revenue derived from the sales of the gas rather it will flood the absorber unit

Removal of of Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Pentaclethra Macrophylla Stem Activated Carbon

Pentaclethra Macrophylla stem activated carbon (PMSAC) was utilized as biomass derived adsorbent for adsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution. The activation was chemically carried out using ZnCl2 solution. The Physicochemical analysis of PMSAC showed high fixed carbon and pore volume values. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray were used to characterize the PMSAC. Simultaneous batch adsorptions used to evaluate the optimal operational conditions for the adsorption showed initial metal ions concentration (5 mg/L), solution pH (6), contact time (90 min), adsorbent dose (3.0 g for Cd(II) and 4.0 g for Pb(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II), particle size (30 µm) and carbonization temperature (400 oC). The Langmuir isotherm model gave better fit for the adsorption process. Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm indicates physical adsorption. The kinetics and thermodynamic parameters were studied

Učinci vodenih ekstrakata sušenog praška ili svježeg oblika Talinum triangulare na hematološke i biokemijske pokazatelje u seruma nesilica

The study investigated the effect of graded doses of aqueous extract of Talinum triangulare on the haematology and serum biochemistry of laying hens. Two hundred and ten pullets, procured at 18 weeks of age, were used for the study. They were randomly assigned to seven study groups (LAT1, LAT2, LAT3, LBT1, LBT2, LBT3, and LC). Each study group was replicated thrice and each replicate housed ten pullets. Extracts obtained from a dried pulverized form of T. triangulare were given at 62.5, 250, and 1000 mg/L doses in their drinking water for treatment groups LAT1, LAT2 and LAT3, respectively, while extracts obtained from freshly harvested Talinum triangulare were administered at 62.5, 250, and 1000 mg/L doses to groups LBT1, LBT2, and LBT3, also in their drinking water. Pullets in the LC group served as the untreated control and received no extract. Haematology and serum biochemistry were determined at two-month intervals within the 8 month period of administration of the extracts, following standard procedures. The results showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) variations amongst all the study groups in their packed cell volume, red blood cell counts, haemoglobin concentration, total leukocyte counts, serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransterase activities, and total proteins. The serum high density lipoprotein concentration was higher and serum low density lipoprotein concentration was lower significantly (P0,05) u hematokritu, broju eritrocita, koncentraciji hemoglobina, ukupnim broju leukocita, aktivnostima serumske alanin-aminotransferaze i aspartat-aminotransteraze te u ukupnim proteinima. Tijekom eksperimenta, posebice u 4. i 8. mjesecu, u skupini LAT3 u odnosu na ostale skupine koncentracija lipoproteina visoke gustoće u serumu bila je viša, a koncentracija lipoproteina niske gustoće u serumu niža (P<0,05). Zaključeno je da davanje T. triangulare nije imalo štetan utjecaj na zdravlje i proizvodni status nesilica, dok je pozitivan učinak utvrđen za njihov profil masnoća u serumu. Zbog svojih antilipemijskih svojstava osušeni prašak Talinum triangulare preporučuje se kao fitobiotički dodatak za zdrav proizvodni život kokoši nesilica, u dozi od 1000 mg/L

Effects of monosodium-L-glutamate administration on serum levels of reproductive hormones and cholesterol, epididymal sperm reserves and testicular histomorphology of male albino rats

This study investigated the effects of administration of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) on serum gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone and total cholesterol (TC), cauda epididymal sperm reserves (CESR) and testicular histomorphology of adult male albino rats. Eighty-four rats, randomly assigned to 7 groups of 12 rats each, were used for the study. Varying low doses (0.25, 0.50 or 1.00 g/kg body weight) of MSG were administered orally or subcutaneously at 48-h intervals for six weeks. Serum GnRH, LH, testosterone and TC, and CESR were evaluated on days 14, 28 and 42 of MSG administration. Testicular histomorphology was evaluated on day 42. The results showed that the mean serum GnRH, LH and testosterone levels, and the CESR of all the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the untreated control on days 14, 28 and 42 of MSG administration. The mean serum TC levels of all the treated groups were also significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the control group on days 14 and 28. No lesions were observed on sections of the testes. It was concluded that MSG administration for 14, 28 and 42 days led to significantly lower serum levels of GnRH, LH, testosterone and TC, and significantly lower CESR

Interventions to reduce pesticide exposure from the agricultural sector in Africa: a workshop report

Despite the fact that several cases of unsafe pesticide use among farmers in different parts of Africa have been documented, there is limited evidence regarding which specific interventions are effective in reducing pesticide exposure and associated risks to human health and ecology. The overall goal of the African Pesticide Intervention Project (APsent) study is to better understand ongoing research and public health activities related to interventions in Africa through the implementation of suitable target-specific situations or use contexts. A systematic review of the scientific literature on pesticide intervention studies with a focus on Africa was conducted. This was followed by a qualitative survey among stakeholders involved in pesticide research or management in the African region to learn about barriers to and promoters of successful interventions. The project was concluded with an international workshop in November 2021, where a broad range of topics relevant to occupational and environmental health risks were discussed such as acute poisoning, street pesticides, switching to alternatives, or disposal of empty pesticide containers. Key areas of improvement identified were training on pesticide usage techniques, research on the effectiveness of interventions targeted at exposure reduction and/or behavioral changes, awareness raising, implementation of adequate policies, and enforcement of regulations and processes

Identification of a gene signature for discriminating metastatic from primary melanoma using a molecular interaction network approach

Understanding the biological factors that are characteristic of metastasis in melanoma remains a key approach to improving treatment. In this study, we seek to identify a gene signature of metastatic melanoma. We configured a new network-based computational pipeline, combined with a machine learning method, to mine publicly available transcriptomic data from melanoma patient samples. Our method is unbiased and scans a genome-wide protein-protein interaction network using a novel formulation for network scoring. Using this, we identify the most influential, differentially expressed nodes in metastatic as compared to primary melanoma. We evaluated the shortlisted genes by a machine learning method to rank them by their discriminatory capacities. From this, we identified a panel of 6 genes, ALDH1A1, HSP90AB1, KIT, KRT16, SPRR3 and TMEM45B whose expression values discriminated metastatic from primary melanoma (87% classification accuracy). In an independent transcriptomic data set derived from 703 primary melanomas, we showed that all six genes were significant in predicting melanoma specific survival (MSS) in a univariate analysis, which was also consistent with AJCC staging. Further, 3 of these genes, HSP90AB1, SPRR3 and KRT16 remained significant predictors of MSS in a joint analysis (HR = 2.3, P = 0.03) although, HSP90AB1 (HR = 1.9, P = 2 × 10−4) alone remained predictive after adjusting for clinical predictors

A Retrospective Evaluation of Intravenous Fluid Usage in Animal Patients Treated at Veterinary Teaching Hospital Nsukka, 2005-2015

This study evaluated intravenous fluid usage in patients presented for treatment at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nsukka between January 2005 and June 2015. A total of 1854 (1743 medical and 111 surgical) case files were studied. Results showed that of this number, 89 patients received intravenous fluid during treatment. Out of the 89 patients, 86 patients were treated for medical conditions while 3 patients underwent surgery. Out of the medical cases given fluid, 30 were diarrheic, 10 were vomiting while 8 were diarrheic and vomiting. Anorexia, lethargy, salivation, cornea opacity, haematuria and convulsion were observed in 20, 8, 2, 4, 1 and 3 of the patients respectively. Vulval discharge was noted in 1 surgical case while 2 patients had skin wound. The proportion of cases presented with indication for fluid therapy varied significantly (P&lt;0.05) between the species studied. The proportion of medical (4.90%) and surgical (2.70%) cases given fluid were not significantly different (P&gt;0.05). The proportion varied insignificantly (P&gt;0.05) between male (2.10%) and female (2.69%) animals and also between young (3.07%) and older (1.73%) animals. Dextrose saline was used in majority of the patients (63 out of 89). Other fluid used were 50% dextrose (n=10), 5% dextrose (n=5), lactated ringers (n=5), isoplasma (n=3), darrows solution (n=2) and 10% dextrose (n=1). In conclusion, this study revealed that indication for IV fluid usage in VTH, Nsukka was strongly associated with the species and health status of the animals. Also, some choices of intravenous fluid made were not based on the presenting clinical, but on the judgment of the clinician.Key words: Intravenous fluid, Usage, Animal Patients, Retrospective study