Herbal effects of ginger in turkey poults

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of ginger supplementation on growth performance and serum biochemistry of turkey poults. A total of 96 two-weeks old American bronze turkey poults were randomly allocated into four dietary treatments. 24 poults per treatment replicated thrice with 8 turkey poults per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The turkey poults were given a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% ginger powder during the 42days of the experiment. Growth performance and serum biochemistry were determined. The final liveweight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio improved in treatment groups especially among turkey poults fed diet containing 0.6% of ginger powder. The supplementation of ginger powder at 0.6% reduced cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, ALT, AST values and increased the high density lipoprotein value. Supplementing turkey poults with ginger enhanced the growth performance and reduced the cholesterol profiles. It was obvious that birds on treatment 4 (0.6%) ginger inclusion increased final liveweight and improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of turkey poults. It is therefore concluded and recommended that the dietary inclusion of ginger powder meal at 0.6% levels in turkey poults should be adopted by animal nutritionist and farmers. Keywords: ginger, turkey poults, growth performance, serum biochemistr

USING THE CONCEPT OF A MAC SCHEDULING ALGORITHM FOR WIMAX NETWORKING ARCHITECTURE

Wimax is wireless digital communication system which is intended for wireless Metropolitan area networks. Wimax standsfor worldwide interoperability for microwave access. Wimax Technology enables ubiquitous delivery of wireless broadbandservice for fixed and or mobile users. An IEEE 802.16 wireless system can provide broadband wireless access to subscriberstations and operate in mesh mode. The communication between a subscriber station and a base station can pass through oneor more intermediate subscriber stations. The IEEE 802.16 standard provides a centralized scheduling mechanism thatsupports contention-free and resource-guarantee transmission services in mesh mode. This paper show how MAC schedulingarchitecture is emphasized for IEEE 802.16 standards.Keywords: MAC, QoS class scheduling, IEEE 802.16, WiMax, Network

Information System Usage and Risk Management among Arable Crop Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Farmers need to be adequately informed in employing economic strategies to tackle risk situations in agriculture. This study sought to examine the risk management coping strategy employed by the farmers, explore determinants of risk management strategies, and to establish the relationship between information systems and risk management strategy employed. Primary data were used from 141 randomly selected farmers. Pre-tested interview schedule was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, Likert-type scale, Multinomial logistic regression, and Bivariate correlation analysis were used for data analyses. The results revealed that the majority of the farmers were riskaverse. Gender of household head, the highest level of education attained, household size, farming experience and membership of association had a significant effect on the choice of coping strategies employed by the farmers. Correlation results showed that the more access to information the farmers had to the different risks they encountered, the higher the management strategies they were likely to use. The study concludes that there is a significant relationship between information systems and risk management strategies employed. It was recommended that extension agents should be adequately sensitized on the various sources of information systems available to the farmers so that they can, in turn, pass the information to the farmers

Statistical modelling and optimization of alkaline peroxide oxidation pretreatment process on rice husk cellulosic biomass to enhance enzymatic convertibility and fermentation to ethanol

The complex and ordered arrangements of the lignocellulosic materials make them recalcitrant for their conversions to ethanol. Pretreatment is a crucial step in overcoming these hindrances. In this study, a 23 -full factorial design of experiments optimization technique was applied on the alkaline peroxide oxidation pretreatments of rice husks biomass. The low–high levels of the influencing variables on pretreatments were; temperature (100–120 C), time (1–2 h), % (v/v)H2O2 concentration (1–3%). Under the prevailing pretreatments, the optimum conditions were predicted and validated to be 109 C, 2 h, and 1.38% H2O2 which yielded 56% (w/w) cellulose content, 55% (w/w) hemicellulose solubilization, and 48% (w/w) lignin removal. At the established optimum pretreatment conditions, and considering variations in biomass and enzymes loadings, maximum reducing sugars production was 205 mg/g dry biomass at different enzymatic hydrolysis conditions of 3% biomass loading, hydrolysis temperature of 45 C, hydrolysis time of 24 h, and 35 FPU/g cellulose enzyme loading. The highest cellulose conversion of 33% yielded 24 g/L ethanol at the end of the first day of saccharification and fermentation. Physical, structural, and morphological investigations on raw and treated materials using tools such as stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy further revealed the effectiveness of chosen method on rice husks biomas

Statistical modelling and optimization of alkaline peroxide oxidation pretreatment process on rice husk cellulosic biomass to enhance enzymatic convertibility and fermentation to ethanol

The complex and ordered arrangements of the lignocellulosic materials make them recalcitrant for their conversions to ethanol. Pretreatment is a crucial step in overcoming these hindrances. In this study, a 23‐full factorial design of experiments optimization technique was applied on the alkaline peroxide oxidation pretreatments of rice husks biomass. The low–high levels of the influencing variables on pretreatments were; temperature (100–120 °C), time (1–2 h), % (v/v)H2O2 concentration (1–3%). Under the prevailing pretreatments, the optimum conditions were predicted and validated to be 109 °C, 2 h, and 1.38% H2O2 which yielded 56% (w/w) cellulose content, 55% (w/w) hemicellulose solubilization, and 48% (w/w) lignin removal. At the established optimum pretreatment conditions, and considering variations in biomass and enzymes loadings, maximum reducing sugars production was 205 mg/g dry biomass at different enzymatic hydrolysis conditions of 3% biomass loading, hydrolysis temperature of 45 °C, hydrolysis time of 24 h, and 35 FPU/g cellulose enzyme loading. The highest cellulose conversion of 33% yielded 24 g/L ethanol at the end of the first day of saccharification and fermentation. Physical, structural, and morphological investigations on raw and treated materials using tools such as stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy further revealed the effectiveness of chosen method on rice husks biomass

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF POOR SPECIFICATION ON BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA

This paper examines the effects of specification on building collapse in Nigeria. The study became necessary due to the ugly cases of buildings collapsing in the country over the years. In doing so, the study begins with review of relevant literature on the concept of specification, as well as the factors associated with building collapse. The need for specification in building construction projects was enunciated upon. Other factors that culminate in building collapse, such as load types; man-power; technical skills, etc. are discussed herein. The study further examines identifies and documents cases of building collapse in Nigeria to identify the causes and factors responsible for the collapse. Interviews were conducted with practicing professionals in the construction industry. This was done to obtain professional insights and experiences used as part of the data in the research. Findings from this study highlights consequential role of poor specification in causing building collapse, loss of lives and properties. This paper concludes with identifying the relevance of specification in ensuring adherence to appropriate materials and construction methods for structural stability. Recommendations are given to guard against poor specifications that result in the collapse of buildings, properties and ultimately loss of lives

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF POOR SPECIFICATION ON BUILDING COLLAPSE IN NIGERIA

This paper examines the effects of specification on building collapse in Nigeria. The study became necessary due to the ugly cases of buildings collapsing in the country over the years. In doing so, the study begins with review of relevant literature on the concept of specification, as well as the factors associated with building collapse. The need for specification in building construction projects was enunciated upon. Other factors that culminate in building collapse, such as load types; man-power; technical skills, etc. are discussed herein. The study further examines identifies and documents cases of building collapse in Nigeria to identify the causes and factors responsible for the collapse. Interviews were conducted with practicing professionals in the construction industry. This was done to obtain professional insights and experiences used as part of the data in the research. Findings from this study highlights consequential role of poor specification in causing building collapse, loss of lives and properties. This paper concludes with identifying the relevance of specification in ensuring adherence to appropriate materials and construction methods for structural stability. Recommendations are given to guard against poor specifications that result in the collapse of buildings, properties and ultimately loss of lives

COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE: A VALUE ADDED TECHNOLOGY

The dynamics of architectural practice has caused the search for improved performance in meeting the need and speed of the client. Computer aided design (CAD) has thus become an essential tool to the Nigeria architect. This scenario which began more than two decades ago, has today taken over the practice of architecture. Promising architectural firms in Nigeria, desire architects with CAD expertise. This has been enhanced by improvement in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector the world over. Faster computers, large memory capacity, enhanced software application features are bringing to bear new possibilities and reduction in production time, elimination of design and drafting limitations. The paper attempts to recapture the two divides of 'the past' and 'the present'. It also documents available architectural CAD options in the market and their impact on the practice of the profession. The future is the 'next now’; therefore it is important to discover the next step forward. The paper discusses extensively new software available for architectural practice as well as the value attached to them. It finally proffers ways of consolidating and ensuring that the impact of CAD on architecture remains positive in the Nigerian architectural landscape

Audit of fibroepithelial tumors of the breast in a Nigerian tertiary institution

Background and Objectives: Fibroepithelial lesions are the most common lesions of the breast seen in our laboratory consisting of fibroadenomas (FAs) and phyllodes tumors (PT). The aim of the study was to audit all fibroepithelial lesions and to reclassify all confirmed cases of PTs seen in the study period according to standard criteria.Methodology: Records and slides of fibroepithelial lesions of the breast received at the department between January 2008 and December 2013 were retrieved and reviewed by the authors.Results: Out of the 1242 fibroepithelial lesions of the breast retrieved, all but 19 were FAs. The 19 were initially reported as PT: 11 benign, 2 borderlines, 2 malignant, and 4 not classified; however, only 16 of these 19, PTs (84%) met the WHO criteria on review. The remaining 3 (16%) turned out to be FAs based on the absence of stroma overgrowth and hypercellularity. The PTs were reclassified into benign PT, borderline PT, and malignant PT accounting for 75% (12/16), 18.7% (3/16), and 6.3% (1/16), respectively. All of the PTs previously not classified turned out benign on review. One of the borderline PTs was originally reported as malignant PT. All cases initially diagnosed as FAs did not change on review.Conclusion: These results show that FAs are rarely misdiagnosed. The three cases misdiagnosed as phyllodes may have been prevented if standard data sets were in use. Cases simply referred to as PT without further classification, limit the patients’ access to appropriate management as accurate classification helps in the overall management and prognostication.Keywords: Fibroadenoma, fibroepithelial tumor audit, phyllodes tumor grad

Perceived family support and its effect on cardiovascular disease risk among hypertensive patients presenting at a family medicine practice in south west nigeria

Background: Lifestyle modification and health care behaviour are influenced by the support of family members. Family support is asocioeconomic factor that affects many chronic medical illnesses' outcome. It influences medication adherence, blood pressure control and could affect the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.The aim of this study is to assess the level of family support and determine the relationship between family support and cardiovasculardisease risk in patients with hypertension.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 345 hypertensive patients ages 30 years and above using simple randomtechnique. Data were collected with an interviewer-administered questionnaire, physical examination and blood investigation.Perceived family support and cardiovascular disease risk were assessed with Perceived Social Support Family Scale and FraminghamGeneral cardiovascular risk score respectively. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: Majority (75.5%) of the respondents was females, 40.3% were elderly and 71.7% were married. Most of the respondents (93.3%) had strong perceived family support while 1.7% and 4.7% had no and weak perceived family support respectively. Blood pressure was controlled in 58.6% of the respondents and 30.7% had low cardiovascular disease risk. Strong perceived family supportwas associated with being currently married. There was no association found between blood pressure control, cardiovascular diseaserisk and perceived family support.Conclusions: The proportion of hypertensive patients with strong perceived family support is high in this practice setting. However,there was no association found between perceived family support and cardiovascular disease risk. Keywords: Hypertension, perceived family support, blood pressure control, cardiovascular disease risk, family medicine practic