Impacts of Dramatic Theory and Criticism on the Development of Drama and Theatre: A Periscopic Survey

The paper discusses, periscopically, the paradigmatic impacts of critical theory and criticism on the development of drama and theatre through the ages; from the classical periods; through the medieval, the Renaissance, the Romantic, Neoclassical to the modern period of realism and naturalism. It alludes to how each of these periods as well as the postmodernist period attempts to show its own temper as being radically different from their predecessors, and how; though the reader would note, unequivocally, that the apple hardly falls far from its tree progenitor. This is how the relationship between the anti-realistic modes and their realistic cousins can be perceived and interpreted. It briefly discusses the recurrent controversies between the Western dramatic weltanschauung vis-à-vis the African cosmology in terms of the theoretical impacts of the former on the latter, concluding that the need for African theory and criticism to come of age cannot be overemphasized.LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 8(1), 167-183, 201

Increasing zinc levels in phytase-supplemented diets improves the performance and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens

Three hundred and thirty-six day-old Ross-308 male broiler chicks were used in a 35-day trial to investigate the effect of different concentrations of dietary Zn and phytase on broiler performance and energy utilization. Twelve day-old birds were used for the initial slaughter group to provide baseline body compositional data, while the remaining 324 birds were randomly distributed to six experimental diets. The treatments consisted of a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement with three levels of Zn (low, mid, and high; 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg, respectively) and two levels (0, 500 FTU/kg) of microbial phytase. Each dietary treatment was fed to 6 cages (9 birds/cage). Low Zn diet significantly decreased feed intake and body weight gain at days 1-24. Phytase supplementation improved body weight gain at d 24, irrespective of Zn level. The digestibility of P was improved in birds fed high-Zn diet with phytase supplementation, and the reverse was the case for Fe and Zn digestibility. High dietary Zn increased the Zn and Fe deposition in liver. The activity of AP, Ca-ATPase and Mg-ATPase in the jejunum was high in the phytase supplemented mid-level Zn diet. Phytase supplemented to the mid and high level Zn diets significantly improved most energy utilization parameters. This result indicate that the Zn concentrations used in this study were not inhibitory to phytase activity and broiler performance. Therefore, it can be concluded that dietary zinc level in phytase-supplemented diets could be increased up to 50 mg/kg without any negative effect on phytase-mediated broiler response.Keywords: Bone quality, net energy, nutrient utilizatio

Performance of broiler chickens fed South African sorghum-based diets with xylanase

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of sorghum variety and xylanase on performance of broiler chickens. In Experiment 1A, a total of 240 day-old Ross broiler chickens were assigned to a 2 (sex) × 3 (sorghum variety) × 2 (with or without xylanase) factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with 20 chickens per treatment. Gross performance measurements were assessed at 7, 14, and 21 days of age. Carcass yield and visceral organ weights were measured at day 21. In Experiment 1B, a total of 108 female Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to a 3 (sorghum variety) × 2 (with or without xylanase) factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments replicated 6 times. On day 25, all birds were euthanazed by intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbitone and digesta contents from the distal ileum were collected to determine the nutrient digestibility. Broiler chickens offered sorghum variety Pan8816 supplemented with xylanase had higher feed intake, weight gain, and similar feed conversion ratio at 1 - 7 days of age. Breast meat of broiler chickens was not affected by variety or xylanase. The small intestine was heavier in the Pan8625 and Pan8816 groups with xylanase than in the similar Pan8906 group. Enzyme inclusion increased the crude protein digestibility. When xylanase was included in all sorghum varieties, numerically, starch digestibility tended to improve. Sorghum variety affected the growth performance of broiler chickens. Furthermore, nutrient digestibility was affected by the differences in variety.Keywords: Digestibility, tannin, poultry, visceral organs, xylanas

Energy Value of Cassava Products in Broiler Chicken Diets with or without Enzyme Supplementation

This study investigated the metabolizable energy (ME) intake, net energy of production (NEp), heat production (HP), efficiencies of ME use for energy, lipid and protein retention as well as the performance of broiler chickens fed diets based on cassava chips or pellets with or without supplementation with an enzyme product containing xylanase, amylase, protease and phytase. The two products, cassava chips and pellets, were analysed for nutrient composition prior to feed formulation. The cassava chips and pellets contained 2.2% and 2.1% crude protein; 1.2% and 1.5% crude fat; and 75.1% and 67.8% starch, respectively. Lysine and methionine were 0.077%, 0.075%, and 0.017%, 0.020% protein material, respectively, while calculated ME was 12.6 and 11.7 MJ/kg, respectively. Feed intake to day 21 was lower (p<0.01) on the diet containing cassava chips compared to diets with cassava pellets. Enzyme supplementation increased (p<0.01) feed intake on all diets. Live weight at day 21 was significantly (p<0.01) reduced on the diet based on cassava chips compared to pellets, but an improvement (p<0.01) was noticed with the enzyme supplementation. Metabolizable energy intake was reduced (p<0.01) by both cassava chips and pellets, but was increased (p<0.01) on all diets by enzyme supplementation. The NEp was higher (p<0.01) in the maize-based diets than the diets containing cassava. Enzyme supplementation improved (p<0.01) NEp in all the diets. Heat production was highest (p<0.01) on diets containing cassava pellets than on cassava chips. It is possible to use cassava pellets in diets for broiler chickens at a level close to 50% of the diet to reduce cost of production, and the nutritive value of such diets can be improved through supplementation of enzyme products containing carbohydrases, protease, and phytase

ASSOCIATE FACTORS AFFECTING THE GROWTH OF MICRO BUSINESS IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

The main objective of the study is to examine those associate factors affecting the growth of micro business in Calabar, Cross river state, Nigeria. The study is aimed to specifically investigate the extent to which lack of microcredit and crime affects the growth of micro business in Calabar. The cross sectional survey research design was used in selecting 287 business owners from 4 areas in Calabar, using the purposive sampling technique. The study used questionnaires to collect primary data. The questionnaire was checked for completion and reliability of the data. The quantitative data was then coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and mean and standard deviation. Descriptive statistics was used mainly to summarize the data. This included percentages and frequencies. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0) was employed to aid in the coding, entry and analysis of the data obtained through the questionnaires. Result revealed that Lack of microcredit and crime significantly affects the growth of micro business in Calabar. Sequel to this outcome the study there by recommends amongst other factors that; the government should improve on the metropolitan security architectural network to curb urban crime. Provide mini credit scheme opportunity to deserving indigenes at bearable interest margin to deserving indigenes at bearable interest margin as well as the ancillary components like road network, water, transportation, power etc. that correlates performance in micro businesses.  Article visualizations

A Micropowered Chemoresistive Sensor Based on a Thin Alumina Nanoporous Membrane and SnxBikMoyOz Nanocomposite

This work presents and discusses the design of an efficient gas sensor, as well as the technological process of its fabrication. The optimal dimensions of the different sensor elements including their deformation were determined considering the geometric modeling and the calculated moduli of the elasticity and thermal conductivity coefficients. Multicomponent SnxBikMoyOz thin films were prepared by ionic layering on an anodic alumina membrane and were used as gas-sensitive layers in the sensor design. The resistance of the SnxBikMoyOz nanostructured film at temperatures up to 150 ◦C exceeded 106 Ohm but decreased to 104 Ohm at 550 ◦C in air. The sensitivity of the SnxBikMoyOz composite to concentrations of 5 and 40 ppm H2 at 250 ◦C (10 mW) was determined to be 0.22 and 0.40, respectively

Synthesis of matrix nanostructures from oxides and sulfides of transition metals

An original technology for the formation of spatially ordered planar TiO2/Bi2O3 and TiO 2 /CdS nanosystems is proposed, which based on the electrochemical anodization of titanium through anodic alumina mask and ionic cyclic layering of composite films based on Bi2O3 and chemical deposition of CdS on nanostructured TiO 2 surface. Comprehensive studies of multicomponent composites with three-dimensional architecture specified for practical use have been carried out, and prospects for the creation of effective photovoltaic and sensoric devices on their basis have been determined

Матричные наносистемы на основе оксида висмута для рентгеноконтрастной диагностики и защиты от ионизирующего излучения

The features of the bismuth oxide deposition by the ion layering method on matrices of anodic alumina and anodic titania have been studied. The formed nanostructured systems have been studied by means of electron micros copy, X-ray microanalysis, and X-ray spectroscopy. Two-layer nanocomposites consist of porous matrix or TiO2 island film with vertically oriented Bi2O3 plates placed on the surface. The photoluminescence spectrum of Al2O3/Bi2O3 oxide structure contains two photoluminescence channels with peaks at 460 and 560 nm upon excitation at 345 nm. Analysis of the EDX spectra showed that the atomic ratio of Bi, Ti and O was 31.46 % Bi : 3.78 % Ti : 51.05 % O. The possibility of using complex nanocomposite as contrast agents in X-ray diagnostics and for protection against ionizing radiation is shown.Исследованы особенности нанесения оксида висмута на матрицы анодного оксида алюминия и оксида титана методом ионного наслаивания. Сформированные наноструктурированные системы изучены с помощью электронной микроскопии, рентгеновского микроанализа и рентгеновской спектроскопии. Нанокомпозиты представляют собой двухслойные системы из пористой матрицы или островковой пленки TiO2, на поверхности которых находятся вертикально ориентированные пластинки Bi2O3. В спектре фотолюминесценции структуры Al2O3/Bi2O3 присутствуют два канала фотолюминесценции с пиками на 460 и 560 нм при 345 нм возбуждения. Анализ EDX-спектров показал, что атомарное соотношение Bi, Ti и O составило 31,46 % Bi : 3,78 % Ti : 51,05 % O. Показана возможность использования сложного нанокомпозита в качестве контрастирующего агента в рентгеновской диагностике и для защиты от ионизирующего излучения

Effects of nonantibiotic feed additives on performance, nutrient retention, gut pH, and intestinal morphology of broilers fed different levels of energy.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different feed additives on performance, nutrient retention, gut pH, and intestinal morphology of broilers fed different levels of energy. This study was a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of 4 feed additive programs (a basal diet without any feed additive as the control, the basal diet with added organic acid, the basal diet with added prebiotic, and the basal diet with added probiotic) with recommended levels (3,150 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet for the starter and finisher diets, respectively) or low levels (90% of recommended) of energy. A total of 640 one-day-old male and female broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 8 treatments. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicate floor pens of 20 birds each. Starter and finisher diets were fed from 1 to 21 d and 21 to 42 d of age, respectively. Dietary levels of other nutrients, housing, and general management practices were similar for all treatments. Dietary inclusion of additives had no significant effects on broiler performance, intestinal villus height, crypt depth, gut pH, and dietary AME. Birds fed the low-energy diets were heavier but had inferior FCR compared with those fed the recommended-energy diets. Prebiotic and organic acid significantly (P < 0.05) improved protein digestibility. The recommended-energy diets significantly (P < 0.05) increased AME and protein digestibility. No interactions were observed for the measured parameters

Features of electrochemical formation of metal and semiconductor nanowires in anodic alumina matrices with variable pores

Methods for the porous membranes formation from anodic alumina with periodically alternating pore diameters along the membrane depth and the electrochemical nanowires formation of complex morphology from various materials have been developed and tested. The features of the electrochemical deposition of indium and copper antimonide into pores with varying diameters under different chemical conditions and electrical modes have been investigated. The electron microscopic studies of the created nanosystems have been carried out, the elemental composition has been investigated, the current-voltage characteristics of InSb nanowires of complex morphology have been measured