Plasma Disposition of Ampicillin following Thiopentone Sodium Anaesthesia in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi)

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 32(2): 2011; 97 - 10

Effects of time of meat purchase on the level of microbial contamination of beef from retail points in Samaru market, Zaria-Nigeria

The meat retail selling points are the major places where people usually purchase meat from morning through to evening at retail points in Samaru, Zaria. A total of 100 meat samples were collected from five different retail meat selling points in Samaru market Zaria, Kaduna state. Twenty samples were obtained from each retail point (10 samples in the morning and 10 in the evening). The meat samples were tested for total aerobic and coliform plate counts to determine the effect of time on the level of microbial contamination. The result of the study shows that there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between the aerobic plate counts of samples obtained in the morning and those of samples obtained in the evening. Similarly, there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between the total coliform counts of the morning and evening samples. This suggests that there were increases in both total aerobic and coliform plates counts from the morning samples compared to evening samples. The minimum aerobic plate counts (6.0 log10 CFU/g) obtained exceeded the permissible value of (5.7log10 CFU/g) while minimum coliform counts (4.7 log10 CFU/g) exceeded the permissible value of (2.7 log10 CFU/g). This is of serious public health concern. It was concluded that there were increases in level of total aerobic and coliform counts in the meat samples obtained in the evening compared to those obtained in the morning and the minimum counts of both aerobic and coliform counts in morning and evening samples exceeded the minimum acceptable level in all the five retail points. The study demonstrated that it is better to purchase meat from retail points in the morning than evening because of the observed increase in microbial loads in the evening samples which increases the chances of meat-borne infection to consumers.Keywords: Aerobic, coliform counts, meat, retail points

Effect of nanosilica on the mechanical and microstructural properties of a normal strength concrete produced in Nigeria

The failure of conventional concrete to have classical mechanical properties, reduced permeability and lead to sustainability in concrete production called for the use of supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) in concrete to improve its performance. This study investigates the effect of adding optimal dosage of an SCM called nanosilica (nS) on the tensile and compressive strengths, microstructural properties and cement hydration reaction for grade 30 concrete. The optimal dosage of the nS was determined to be 1.5% by weight of cement using compressive strength test. The influence of optimal nS dosage on the concrete properties was investigated using compressive strength test, splitting tensile strength test, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS). Results revealed that optimal nS addition led to 30% and 23.3% respective increase in compressive and tensile strengths of conventional concrete at 7days of curing. SEM micrographs show better packing density in the nano-concrete at 90days of curing. EDS shows that addition of optimal nS dosage in concrete led to formation of more C-S-H gels at 90days curing period, and a corresponding reduction in Ca/Si ratio of the nano-concrete to 0.89; a ratio that is very close to that of 14Ǻ tobermorite reported in literature. The optimal nano-concrete can be used where strength improvement, especially at early age and reduction in concrete permeability are requirements. Keywords: Compressive strength, Tensile strength, Normal strength nano-concrete, SEM, EDS

Ranking of endurance horses in training based on some selected biochemical and physical parameters

Objective: This study aims to appraise the ranking of endurance horses in training based on some selected biochemical and physical parameters. The increase in skill and gusto in equine endurance sport demands an upsurge in standardized exercise tests and competition to be enforced on endurance sport horses. Materials and methods: Nine seemingly fit Arabians endurance horses between the ages of 5 and 17 years and with a body weight of 350 and 450 kg were included in the research in Malaysia. We designed a point scale in training based on biochemical and physical parameters of endurance horses for lactate, plasma protein, creatine kinase, heart rate, and rectal temperature. Results: The results indicated an accumulated lower point of 1 for the biochemical and physical parameters for an individual horse to have an excellent ranking in training and placing in endurance race contrasted with horses that had higher points of 4 to 6. The lower the points, the lower will be the values of the parameters and the higher the points the higher will be the values of the parameters. It is observed that placing in race tally with the ranking in training. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is observed that placing in race tally with the ranking in training. Therefore, it is suggested that the current ranking system in training could be valid to be used to predict endurance horses performance in an actual race

Awareness and attitude of primary school teachers in Kano metropolis, Nigeria towards pupils with learning disabilities, how effective is the school health programme?

Teachers have central role in identification and management of children with learning disabilities. Objectives: Ten years after drafting the national guidelines for implementation of school health programme in Nigeria, this study assessed awareness and attitude of primary school teachers in Kano metropolis towards children with learning disabilities as proxy for the effectiveness of school health programme. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to study a random sample of 186 primary school teachers in Kano. Data was collected with the aid of a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire, and analyzed using IBM SPSSStatistics for Windows, version 22. Result: The mean age of the teachers was 32.8 ± 7.8 years. Majority had post-secondary school education 170(91.9%) and had worked for an average of 7.5 ± 6.8 years. About half 98(53.0%) were aware of a link between lack of academic progression in children and some probable medical condition(s), but none of them knew the characteristics of learning disabilities. About one-quarter of the teachers 52(28.1%) had negative attitude towards pupils with learning disability. Teaching in a large class was the only factor that emerged as the independent predictor of the teachers' positive attitude towardsstudents with learning disabilities. Conclusion: Majority of the teachers had positive attitude towards pupils with learning disabilities but none of them could identify the features of such children. Ministries of health and education should work closely with development partners and interested researchers to resuscitate the school health programme

Effects of speed, heart rate, lactate and uric acid on the performance of Arabian horses during a 120-Km endurance race

Speed, heart rate, lactate and uric acid alterations led to reduced performance and hamper the health status of endurance horses. The aim of this study was to investigate on the effects of speed, heart rate, lactate and uric acid on the performance of Arabian horses during a 120 km endurance race. One hundred and eighty four Arabian endurance horses were physically examined and blood samples were collected post-race. After physical examination, the metabolic disordered (MD; n=130) and successfully completed (SC; n = 54) endurance horses were recognized. T-test was used for the analysis. The mean values of speed, heart rate, lactate and uric acid were significantly different (P<0.0001) between the MD and SC endurance horses. In conclusion, alterations in speed, heart rate, blood lactate and uric acid led to poor performance and encumbered the health status of endurance horses. Speed, heart rate, blood lactate and uric acid could be used to appraise performance and health status in endurance horses during training and endurance events

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

Probabilistic Durability Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Members with Corroded Reinforcing Steel

The reliability of the structural performance of any given structure is affected by both in-service loading and material deterioration due to environmental attack. In this paper, probabilistic assessment of reinforced concrete members exposed to chlorine ingress was undertaken. A simply supported reinforced concrete slab was specifically used for the investigation. The mathematical models of capacity loss of reinforcing steel under corrosion, developed elsewhere, were incorporated in the analysis. The uncertainties in structural resistance and the applied loading were fully accommodated using probabilistic method. Limit state function for the flexural capacity of the slab was developed and evaluated using first order reliability method (FORM). The entire process was implemented through a developed program using MATLAB

Modelling the Permeation Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete Incorporating Sporocarcina Pasteuri

The face of concreting has been revolutionized with the development of self-compacting concrete, the introduction of Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) in concrete as well as the use of secondary cementitious materials in concrete, as it helps to improve the pore characterization of the concrete by the filling of the pore spaces and hence enhance its porosity and durability. The use of these revolutionary concrete however requires the optimization of the constituents and/or additives to concrete in order to maximize the properties thereof. There is thus a need to arrive at optimal materials quantities that can maximize the porosity characterization of the concrete without recourse to many trial and error experimentations that are both time and resources consuming. The application of modelling tools in concrete technology aids in the optimization of concrete constituents for optimal self-compacting concrete performance. In this research linear optimization models for predicting the water absorption and sorptivity of the Bio- self-compacting concrete incorporating sporosarina Pasteurii at different bacterial cell density and nutrient content with respect to age of concrete were developed for these concrete properties at 7 and 28 days with the bacterial concentration and calcium calcite content as the independent variables and water absorption and sorptivity as dependent variables; and the developed models validated using experimental data in DataFit Software. Results obtained showed that the developed linear models which took the quadratic form y(x)=a_1+a_2 x+a_3 x^2+⋯+a_n x^(n-1) were adequate for the prediction and optimization of the water absorption and sorptivity of the bio- self-compacting concrete.JCEM