Heritability of some quantitative characters in five varieties of maize (Zea mays l.,) under the influence of various levels of nitrogen

field experiment was conducted at the Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil teaching and research farm during the 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. Five varieties of maize were studied to estimate  components of genetic variance and heritability of some quantitative  characters that might exist among them, under the influence of different levels of Nitrogen fertilizer. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, and replicated three times. The genotype ×  different levels of nitrogen fertilizer (G × N) influenced the expression of the ear height and yield component. Analysis of variance for plant height revealed highly significant differences among varieties with genotypic coefficient of variation (1.67%) which is smaller than the phenotypic coefficient of variation (1.72%). The estimate of broad-sense heritability was high (0.79), thus showing the presence of considerable amount of genetic variation in total phenotypic variation. While the analysis of variance for ear height showed highly significant differences among genotypic coefficient of variation (0.93%) which is smaller than the  phenotypic coefficient of variation (1.05%). The estimate of broad-sense heritability was high (0.49) indicating the presence of considerable amount of genetic variation in total phenotypic variation. The results confirmed thefindings of other researchers on high heritability for plant height. Analysis of variance for grain yield per plot showed greater Genotypic variance than the environmental variance with genotypic coefficient of variation (5.33%) which is smaller than the phenotypic Coefficient of variation (6.24%)and the estimate of broad sense heritability (0.78) was moderately high.Keywords: Heritability, variation, ear height, genes

Seed-borne mycoflora of local and improved wheat (Triticum sativum L.) cultivars in Kano, Nigeria

Three varieties each of local and improved wheat (Triticum sativum) cultivars were investigated for seed-borne pathogenic mycoflora using the plate technique and laid on completely randomized design. A total 99 fungal isolate grouped into five fungal species namely; Rhizopus nigricans, Mucor spp, Penillium jenseni, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium moloniformes were isolated with Rhizopus nigricans, and Fusarium moloniformes (30.30 % and 35.40%, respectively) being the most frequently occurring fungal species and Penillium jenseni (7.0 %) being the least abundant. Results of the studyhave also indicated that local wheat cultivars were more contaminated than the improved varieties. It is therefore apparent that both improved and local wheat varieties are contaminated by fungal mycoflora.Keywords; wheat, seed-borne fungi, plate techniqu

Standardising neonatal and paediatric antibiotic clinical trial design and conduct: the PENTA-ID network view.

Antimicrobial development for children remains challenging due to multiple barriers to conducting randomised clinical trials (CTs). There is currently considerable heterogeneity in the design and conduct of paediatric antibiotic studies, hampering comparison and meta-analytic approaches. The board of the European networks for paediatric research at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in collaboration with the Paediatric European Network for Treatments of AIDS-Infectious Diseases network (www.penta-id.org), recently developed a Working Group on paediatric antibiotic CT design, involving academic, regulatory and industry representatives. The evidence base for any specific criteria for the design and conduct of efficacy and safety antibiotic trials for children is very limited and will evolve over time as further studies are conducted. The suggestions being put forward here are based on the adult EMA guidance, adapted for neonates and children. In particular, this document provides suggested guidance on the general principles of harmonisation between regulatory and strategic trials, including (1) standardised key inclusion/exclusion criteria and widely applicable outcome measures for specific clinical infectious syndromes (CIS) to be used in CTs on efficacy of antibiotic in children; (2) key components of safety that should be reported in paediatric antibiotic CTs; (3) standardised sample sizes for safety studies. Summarising views from a range of key stakeholders, specific criteria for the design and conduct of efficacy and safety antibiotic trials in specific CIS for children have been suggested. The recommended criteria are intended to be applicable to both regulatory and clinical investigator-led strategic trials and could be the basis for harmonisation in the design and conduct of CTs on antibiotics in children. The next step is further discussion internationally with investigators, paediatric CTs networks and regulators

Electronic band structure of calcium oxide

We employed electron momentum spectroscopy (EMS) to measure the bulk electronic structure of calcium oxide. We extracted the electron momentum density (EMD), density of occupied states (DOS), band dispersions, bandwidths and intervalence bandgaps from the data. The results are compared with calculations based on the full potential linear muffin-tin orbital(FP-LMTO) approximation. While the bandwidths of 0.6±0.2 and 1.2±0.1 eV for the s- and p-bands, respectively, and their dispersions agree well with the LMTO calculation, the relative intensity of the two bands is at odds with the theory. The measured intervalence bandgap at the Γ-point of 16.5±0.2 eV is larger by 2.1 eV than that from the LMTO calculation. The experimental bandwidth of the Ca 3p semi-core level of 0.7±0.1 eV agrees with the LMTO prediction. The measured bandgap between this level and the s-band is 3.6±0.2 eV. The Ca 3s-3p level splitting is in excellent agreement with the literature. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Contribution of morpho-physiological attributes in determining the yield of mungbean

Field experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 under subtropical conditions to investigate the variations in growth and reproductive characters, and yield attributes for selection of important source and sinks characters using correlation and path coefficient analyses in 45 mungbean genotypes. Large genetic variability existed in source characters viz., leaf area index (LAI) (1.22 to 3.80) and sink characters viz., number of racemes plant-1 (6.30 to 22.9), flowers plant-1 (18.1 to 51.9) and pods plant-1 (9.6 to 22.1). Genotypic correlation study revealed that among the traits investigated, LAI was the most important source that determined total dry mass (TDM) yield, and reproductive characters like number of racemes, flowers and pods plant-1 were the most important sinks that determined seed yield. Contrarily, reproductive efficiency (RE, % pod set to opened flowers) did not show significant relationship with pod number and seed yield, indicating that selection of high yield based on RE may be misleading. Path coefficient analysis further revealed that number of flowers, pods and 100-seed weight constituted central important sinks which exerted direct positive influence on seed yield. The results indicated that pod yield could be increased by increased raceme and flower production, while seed yield could be increased by increasing pod production. High yielding genotypes, in general, possessed higher earlier mentioned source (LAI) and sink (flower and pod number) characters which resulted in higher seed yield in mungbean. This information could be exploited in the future plant breeding programmes.Key words: Source-sink, correlation, path analysis, mungbean

Optimization of cultural conditions for protease production by Bacillus subtilis EFRL 01

Molasses was used as a sole carbon source for the protease production from Bacillus subtilis EFRL 01 in batch wise submerged condition. The bacterial culture was grown on mineral medium and maximum production was noted after 8 h of incubation. The effect of different variable such as carbon sources (0.5 and 1.0%), nitrogen sources (0.75), sodium chloride, potassium chloride, zinc chloride (0.5 - 3.0%), pH (3 - 12) and temperature (25 - 55°C) on the protease production was checked. The maximum enzyme production was noted when B. subtilis EFRL 01 was grown on mineral medium containing 1.0% molasses, 0.75% peptone and 2.0% sodium chloride when incubated at 45°C for 8 h with initial pH 8.5. The enzyme produced by B. subtilis is pH stable and thermostable, which can be utilized in local detergent and leather industry.Key words: Bacillus subtilis EFRL 01, molasses, protease

Presumptive diagnosis of schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni using microscopy as gold standard in a Riverrine community of southwestern Nigeria

A cross-sectional study was carried out in Ilie community of Olorunda Local Government Area in Osun state, southwestern Nigeria to comparatively evaluate the presumptive diagnosis of schistosoma infections using microscopy as gold standard. One hundred and thirty seven consented primary school children aged 4 to 15 years were examined for presence of schistosome eggs. The urine samples were analyzed with urinalysis strips for microhaematuria as indicators of presumptive diagnosis for urinary schistosomiasis while fecal samples were analyzed with fecal occult blood test kits for occult blood detection as an indicator of presumptive diagnosis for intestinal schistosomiasis. The indicators of presumptive diagnosis were compared with microscopy examination of urine and stool while sensitivity and specificity of the presumptive diagnostic methods were determined. The results of the prevalence showed that 107(78.1%) had co- infection and overall prevalence of 73.5% and 26.3% recorded for both S. haematobium and S mansoni infection respectively. It was observed that the use of microhaematuria alone had 52% sensitivity and 91.67% specificity while stool occult blood recorded 73.685 and 66.67% for sensitivity and specificity respectively. This study shows that presumptive diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis is significantly more sensitive  (P<0.05) than intestinal schistosomiasis. Also, various degrees of co- infections were observed across all age groups of study subjects with age group 10- 12 years exhibiting highest co- infection rate 48(13.4); and tendency towards increased transmission and re-infection. Use of these alternatives is recommended in resource limited settings, to be confirmed by gold standard when feasible.Keywords: Presumptive diagnosis, Schistoma haematobium, Schistoma mansoni, Microscopy, Holoendemic Community

A04 The role of splicing factor SRSF6 in incomplete splicing of the HTT transcript

Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by an expanded CAG repeat in exon 1 of the HTT gene. In models of HD, an expanded CAG repeat in HTT causes premature termination of HTT RNA during transcription; this occurs by a process called incomplete splicing. Incompletely spliced HTT (HTTexon1) includes exon 1 of the coding region of HTT, as well as a 5’ region of intron 1, which is non-coding. HTTexon1 encodes a truncated exon 1 HTT protein, which is implicated in HD pathogenesis. Although the precise RNA processing mechanism of Httexon1 is unknown, splicing factor SRSF6 has been shown to co-precipitate with transcripts containing Htt intron 1 in HD mice. Aim To elucidate the role of splicing factor SRSF6 in incomplete splicing of Htt in HD mice. Methods Heterozygous Srsf6 knock-out (KO) mice (Srsf6±) were generated by CRISPR/Cas9. Characterisation of Srsf6± mice was undertaken by quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting. Viability of homozygous Srsf6 KO (Srsf6-/-) mice was examined by inbreeding of Srsf6± mice. To assess the modulation of incomplete splicing by decreasing SRSF6, Srsf6± mice were bred to HD knock in mice (zQ175) and tissues were analysed. Levels of Httexon1 were measured by Quantigene, a gene expression assay. Results Srsf6-/- homozygotes were embryonic lethal, limiting us to the use of Srsf6± mice only. In Srsf6± heterozygotes, Srsf6 mRNA was decreased by 50% in brain and peripheral regions, and SRSF6 protein was decreased by 70% in brain compared to wild type mice. However, heterozygosity for Srsf6 knock out did not modulate the level on incomplete splicing in zQ175 mice. Conclusion Ablation of a single Srsf6 allele did not reduce levels of incomplete splicing in HD mice and therefore, further Srsf6 knock down may be required. Accordingly, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) have been generated and will be used to measure Httexon1 levels after further Srsf6 knockdown by RNA interference. This work is supported by the CHDI foundation

Spectrum of Uropathogens and its Antibiotic Susceptibility in Pregnant Women with Symptomatic Urinary Tract Infection in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. Running headline: Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnancy

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most common bacterial infections in pregnancy and associated with maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.Objectives: To determine the current uropathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern and to compare the pregnancy outcome among clinical UTI and non clinical UTI cohorts.Patients and methods: This was a prospective matched cohort study carried out between 1st January, 2012 and 30th June, 2012 at the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. The study population was made up of 200 pregnant women with clinical signs and symptoms of urinary tract infections and 200 pregnant women without clinical signs and symptoms ofurinary tract infection as control matched with maternal age group, parity and gestational age.Results: Of 3442 obstetric patients seen 200 had clinically diagnosed UTI in pregnancy giving a rate of 5.8%. Age bracket 21- 30years and multipara had highest frequency of significant bacteriuria. Low social status and third trimester of pregnancy were identified risk factors for UTI in pregnancy. Frequency of maternal anaemia (p=0.02) and hypertension (p=0.03) were significantly higher among subjects than control. The common bacterial uropathogen isolated were Escherichia coli (46.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (17.9%), Proteus spp.(13.3%) and Klebsiella spp. (11.1%). The antibiotics with highest coverage included Co-amoxyclave (81%), Gentamicin (68.8%) and Cefuroxime (54.4%).Conclusion: Maternal anaemia and hypertension were significantly higher among subjects than control. Gram negative isolates were predominantand E. coli was the most common isolated bacteria. Co-amoxyclave had highest coverage against the bacteria. Therefore, co-amoxyclave is  recommended for empirical use for urinary tract infection in pregnancy in this locality.Keywords: Uropathogens, urinary tract infection, pregnancy, antibiotic sensitivity