Response of broiler birds fed diets containing varying levels of dried watermelon rind at finisher phase

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate growth performance and nutrient digestibility of experimental diets formulated with dried watermelon rind to replace wheat offal, fed to broiler chickens at finisher phase. One hundred and fifty day-old “ROSS 360” broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments of thirty (30) birds per treatment. Each treatment was replicated three times with ten birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) arrangement. Five experimental diets containing dried watermelon rind at varying levels of replacement were formulated and designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 with replacement levels of 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % respectively. Initial body weight, final body weight, body weight gain, feed itake, feed conversion ration and apeparent digestibility of crude proten, fibre, ash and nitrogen free extract were measured. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences among the treatment groups for all the growth parameters except for feed conversion ratio. Final weight ranged from 1223.33 to 1305.19 g; while daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio ranged from 89.46 to 97.95 g, 35.26 to 38.25 g and 2.35 to 2.78, respectively.. The nutrient digestibility indicates significant (p<0.05) difference in crude fibre, ash, ether extract and NFE, while that of crude protein, dry matter and total digestible nutrient were not significantly (P>0.05) different. Crude protein, dry matter and TDN ranges between 67.47 % to 69.15 %, 79.10 % to 80.72 and 74.35 to 78.68 respectively. The study concluded that 25 % replacement of wheat offal with dried watermelon rind can be effective for optimal growth performance and complete replacement for fibre and energy requirement in producing broiler chickens without compromising performance or any deleterious effect

[DESERTING MEDITATION OF THE GLORIOUS QUR’AN IN NIGERIA: CAUSES AND SOLUTION] العزوف عن تدبر القرآن الكريم في نيجيريا: دوافع وحلول

Meditating the Glorious Qur’an is one of the fundamental goals of its revelation for it advances faith, righteousness and morality, purifies the soul as well as promotes good systems. Many Nigerian Muslims, even if they recite and listen to Allah’s word, they hardly ponder over it. In view of this, the analysis examined factors responsible for this phenomenon with the aim of proffering solution to it. Using both descriptive and analytic methods, the paper identified lack of constant reciting and listening to the Glorious Qur’an, erroneous understanding of the ultimate objective of revealing and reading it, being preoccupied with observing mistakes and otherwise during its recital, deficiency in Arabic language, deserting tafsir literature and using the Qur’an as a source of livelihood as major hindrances against meditating the Book of Allah. It therefore, suggested that frequent reading and attentive listening to the Glorious Qur’an, learning Arabic language and studying tafsir literature, among others, will go a long way in overcoming this challenge. The paper recommended reviewing method of teaching the Qur’an in the country and adoption of Arabic as the language of communication in teaching Arabic subjects as well as medium of instruction for students of Islamic studies in Nigerian tertiary institutions.                                                                                                              إن تدبر كلام الله سبحانه وتعالى من الغايات التي من أجلها أنزل القرآن الكريم لما يترتب عليه من رسوخ الإيمان وزكاء النفوس وصلاح الأعمال واستقامة الأخلاق وسلامة الأنظمة. وقد غفل كثير من المسلمين في نيجيريا عن تدبر كلام ربهم وإن قرؤوه أو استمعوا إليه. لهذه المشكلة استهدفت المقالة تلمس الأسباب التي أدت إلى هذه الغفلة والبحث عن العوامل التي تعين على التغلب عليها. وباستخدام المنهج الوصفي التحليلي توصلت إلى أن من أهم هذه الأسباب قلة قراءة القرآن الكريم والاستماع إليه، والخطأ في فهم الغاية من إنزال القرآن وتلاوته، والانكباب على تتبع الأخطاء، والانشغال بأمور أخرى أثناء القراءة، وعدم فهم العربية، والبعد عن كتب التفسير والاسترزاق بالقرآن. كما توصلت الورقة إلى أن من العوامل التي تعين على التغلب على هذه الأسباب كثرة قراءة القرآن الكريم والإصغاء إليه بالترسل والإخلاص وحضور القلب، وبذل الجهد في تعلم العربية ومطالعة كتب التفسير، والعلم بأن القرآن لم ينزل للقراءة فقط، وإنما أنزل للقراءة والفهم والتدبر والإيمان والعمل. وأوصت المقالة بتحسين طريقة تدريس مادة القرآن الكريم في مدارس نيجيريا وتدريس مادة العربية باللغة العربية. كما أوصت بتدريس مواد الإسلاميات للمتخصصين في الإسلاميات في جامعاتها باللغة العربية بدلا من الإنجليزية

Let’s Go ‘Shoppie’ — Social Media Shopping’s Cool! Nigerian Students’ Acceptance of Online Shopping via Social Media

Advancements in information and communication, especially Web 2.0 have provided consumers and businesses with tremendous opportunities to utilize social media platforms effectively. Although both consumers and online retail stores have a wide variety of online platforms to do shopping and run modern, seamless businesses and reach consumers instantly around the world respectively, social media platforms have proven to be one of the most preferred online environments by many consumers. Despite the potential of online shopping via social media, limited attention is focused on this booming research area in Nigeria. Hence, the present study aimed to close the literature gap by to investigating consumer acceptance of social media shopping. Employing the UTAUT model perspective, a survey questionnaire was designed and administered face-to-face to 380 undergraduate students selected using purposive sampling method from two Nigerian universities: University of Maiduguri and Yobe State University. Consumers’ intention to do social media shopping was moderately high, with WhatsApp being the most preferred social media application for doing online shopping followed by Facebook. Keywords: consumers, Facebook, online shopping, social media shopping, WhatsApp DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/77-0

High Energy X-Ray Dosimetry Using (ZnO)0.2(TeO2)0.8 Thin Filmbased Real-time X-Ray Sensor

This study reports the dosimetric response of a (ZnO)0.2(TeO2)0.8 thin film sensor irradiated with high-energy X-ray radiation at various doses. The spray pyrolysis method was used for the film deposition on soda-lime glass substrate using zinc acetate dehydrate and tellurium dioxide powder as the starting precursors. The structural and morphological properties of the film were determined. The I-V characteristics measurements were performed during irradiation with a 6 MV X-ray beam from a Linac. The results revealed that the XRD pattern of the AS-deposited thin film is non-crystalline (amorphous) in nature. The FESEM image shows the non-uniform shape of nanoparticles agglomerated separately, and the EDX spectrum shows the presence of Te, Zn, and O in the film. The I-V characteristics measurements indicate that the current density increases linearly with X-ray doses (0-250 cGy) for all applied voltages (1-6 V). The sensitivity of the thin film sensor has been found to be in the range of 0.37-0.94 mA/cm2 /Gy. The current-voltage measurement test for fading normalised in percentage to day 0 was found in the order of day 0 > day 15 > day 30 > day 1 > day 2. These results are expected to be beneficial for fabricating cheap and practical X-ray sensors

The role of media in exposing violation of child’s rights and gender abuse by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria

This paper employs journalism analytical approaches to highlight issues related to child and gender abuse perpetrated by Boko Haram terrorists in north-east of Nigeria with the aim of setting an agenda for the adoption of systematic (in addition to the traditional) developmental approaches toward enhancing children and women protection and ending the 10-year-old insurgency which has so far claimed more than 30,000 lives, forced more than 1.7 million people out of their homes and destroyed properties worth billions of Dollars that have given rise to one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. The group’s notoriety came to limelight after a surprising abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in the Borno State town of Chibok, an incident that gave rise to the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Role of the media in the protection of children and women as well as counter-terrorism were critically discussed and policy recommendations offered

Influence of Periodic Administration of Garlic Extract on Blood Parameters of Grazing Lambs

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of periodic  administration of garlic extract drench on haematology and serum biochemistry of grazing lambs. Twelve West African dwarf sheep with an average weight of 12.00 ±0.77 kg were allotted to 3 treatment groups with 4 animals per group in a completely randomized design which lasted for 10 weeks. Treatment 1 (T1) served as control with no garlic extract, Treatment (T2) were given 5ml garlic extract weekly and Treatment T3 received 5ml garlic extract every 2 weeks. Results of haematological analysis showed that PCV significantly (P<0.05) differs among treatment groups while RBC, MCV, WBC, LYM and GRA all show no significant (P>0.05) difference. The lowest PCV of 19.68% was observed in T1 while T2 recorded the highest PCV of 29.68%. The results from serum biochemical indices shows that cholesterol and ALT differ significantly (P<0.05) among treatment groups while total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, urea and AST all show no significant (P>0.05) difference among treatment means. The lowest serum cholesterol value of 0.78 was observed in T2 while the control group  recorded the highest value of 1.30. The study suggests that garlic extract could be used to reduce the level of serum cholesterol in grazing lamb thereby improving meat quality.Keywords: Garlic Extract, West African Dwarf Sheep, Haematology, Biochemistry

Subjective reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and sociodemographic predictors of vaccination in Nigeria: an online survey

The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective reasons for hesitancy to receive COVID-19 vaccination and the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccination uptake. An online social media survey was conducted among the general Nigerian population using a self-developed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p value of less than 0.05. A total of 576 participants with a mean age of 31.86 years participated in the study. 28% (n = 158) received one or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Teachers were significantly less likely than health professionals to be vaccinated (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.16–0.69). In addition, unemployed people (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.15–0.89) were less likely to be vaccinated than government employees, and those of intermediate socioeconomic status (AOR = 0.47 95% CI 0.26–0.88) were less likely to be vaccinated than were those of high socioeconomic status. Five main themes emerged regarding participants’ subjective reasons for hesitating to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: fear related to vaccine content (e.g., efficacy), negative effects on the body (e.g., blood clots), distrust of the system/government (e.g., politics), psychological concerns (e.g., anxiety), and misconceptions. Sociodemographic variables and vaccine misconceptions were found to play an important role in COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Nigeria

Influence of Periodic Administration of Garlic Extract on Blood Parameters of Grazing Lambs

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of periodic administration of garlic extract drench on haematology and serum biochemistry of grazing lambs. Twelve West African dwarf sheep with an average weight of 12.00 \ub10.77 kg were allotted to 3 treatment groups with 4 animals per group in a completely randomized design which lasted for 10 weeks. Treatment 1 (T1) served as control with no garlic extract, Treatment (T2) were given 5ml garlic extract weekly and Treatment T3 received 5ml garlic extract every 2 weeks. Results of haematological analysis showed that PCV significantly (P<0.05) differs among treatment groups while RBC, MCV, WBC, LYM and GRA all show no significant (P>0.05) difference. The lowest PCV of 19.68% was observed in T1 while T2 recorded the highest PCV of 29.68%. The results from serum biochemical indices shows that cholesterol and ALT differ significantly (P<0.05) among treatment groups while total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, urea and AST all show no significant (P>0.05) difference among treatment means. The lowest serum cholesterol value of 0.78 was observed in T2 while the control group recorded the highest value of 1.30. The study suggests that garlic extract could be used to reduce the level of serum cholesterol in grazing lamb thereby improving meat quality

Nutritional Composition of African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) Seed obtained from Tunga Market in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

The nutritional composition of Africa star apple seeds (Chrysophyllum albidum) was carried out. This sample seed was obtained from Tunga Market, Minna Niger State, Nigeria. The proximate compositions (crude fats, proteins, ash, fiber, moisture, carbohydrate), minerals (phosphorous, potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium), and contents were determined using standard methods. For sample AS1, The moisture content yields 6.49%, crude ash 2.25%, fats yield 5.64%, crude fiber 0.84%, crude protein 10.50%, and carbohydrate content 74.28%. As for the AS2 sample, the moisture content yields 6.42%, crude ash 2.21%, fats 5.66%, crude fiber 0.81%, crude protein 10.50%, and carbohydrate content 74.30%. The AS1 sample had 92.36, 38.64, 229.10, 63.44,108.50/100g of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorous respectively. Likewise, the AS2 sample had 90.58, 36.82, 28.64, 65.20,112.30/100g respectively. The seeds had a high concentration of minerals. The seed had significant levels of both essential and non-essential amino acids, and the values of anti-nutrients that were measured were below the accepted benchmark, allowing for safe consumption. The findings indicate that eating African star apple seeds will significantly help meet human nutritional needs for proper growth and provide appropriate protection from diseases brought on by malnutrition

Scrub typhus ecology: a systematic review of Orientia in vectors and hosts

Abstract Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is an important and neglected vector-borne zoonotic disease with an expanding known distribution. The ecology of the disease is complex and poorly understood, impairing discussion of public health interventions. To highlight what we know and the themes of our ignorance, we conducted a systematic review of all studies investigating the pathogen in vectors and non-human hosts. A total of 276 articles in 7 languages were included, with 793 study sites across 30 countries. There was no time restriction for article inclusion, with the oldest published in 1924. Seventy-six potential vector species and 234 vertebrate host species were tested, accounting for over one million trombiculid mites (‘chiggers’) and 83,000 vertebrates. The proportion of O. tsutsugamushi positivity was recorded for different categories of laboratory test and host species. Vector and host collection sites were geocoded and mapped. Ecological data associated with these sites were summarised. A further 145 articles encompassing general themes of scrub typhus ecology were reviewed. These topics range from the life-cycle to transmission, habitats, seasonality and human risks. Important gaps in our understanding are highlighted together with possible tools to begin to unravel these. Many of the data reported are highly variable and inconsistent and minimum data reporting standards are proposed. With more recent reports of human Orientia sp. infection in the Middle East and South America and enormous advances in research technology over recent decades, this comprehensive review provides a detailed summary of work investigating this pathogen in vectors and non-human hosts and updates current understanding of the complex ecology of scrub typhus. A better understanding of scrub typhus ecology has important relevance to ongoing research into improving diagnostics, developing vaccines and identifying useful public health interventions to reduce the burden of the disease.</jats:p