Extent of Utilizing Electrical Equipment in Poultry Production in Ebonyi State

This study was designed to investigate the extent of utilizing electrical equipment in poultry production in the rural areas of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted for the study. Three research questions guided the study. The population for the study was 46 respondents comprising 16 Extension agents and 30 Poultry farmers. There was no sampling because of small population of the respondents. The instrument was validated by 3 experts, two in Vocational Agricultural Education unit of Technology and Vocational Education Department and one in measurement and evaluation of science Education Department, in the same faculty and university. Cron-batch alpha reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.82 which was good enough for the study. The instrument was administered to the respondents with the help of three research assistants in the three agricultural zones in the state. The data collected were analyzed using mean score and standard deviations. The study revealed (1) That 13 out of 18 electrical equipment items assessed are available in the poultry farms while 5 out of 18 electrical incubating equipment were not available. (2) That all the electrical watering and brooding equipment for poultry production were affordable. (3)That all the electrical feeding equipment was adequate for poultry production in all the farms as stated by the respondents among the recommendation made was that poultry farmers need to form cooperative society in order to procure necessary electrical equipment in their farms. Key words: extent, poultry, electrical equipment, utilizing, farmer

Disruption of Claudin-Made Tight Junction Barriers by Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin: Insights from Structural Biology

Claudins are a family of integral membrane proteins that enable epithelial cell/cell interactions by localizing to and driving the formation of tight junctions. Via claudin self-assembly within the membranes of adjoining cells, their extracellular domains interact, forming barriers to the paracellular transport of small molecules and ions. The bacterium Clostridium perfringens causes prevalent gastrointestinal disorders in mammals by employing an enterotoxin (CpE) that targets claudins. CpE binds to claudins at or near tight junctions in the gut and disrupts their barrier function, potentially by disabling their assembly or via cell signaling means—the mechanism(s) remain unclear. CpE ultimately destroys claudin-expressing cells through the formation of a cytotoxic membrane-penetrating β-barrel pore. Structures obtained by X-ray crystallography of CpE, claudins, and claudins in complex with CpE fragments have provided the structural bases of claudin and CpE functions, revealing potential mechanisms for the CpE-mediated disruption of claudin-made tight junctions. This review highlights current progress in this space—what has been discovered and what remains unknown—toward efforts to elucidate the molecular mechanism of CpE disruption of tight junction barriers. It further underscores the key insights obtained through structure that are being applied to develop CpE-based therapeutics that combat claudin-overexpressing cancers or modulate tight junction barriers

Taxonomic Classification and Suitability Evaluation of Selected Soils of Gboko for Yam and Cassava Production.

This study evaluated soil fertility status of Gboko-South in Gboko Local Government Area and their suitability for cassava and yam production. Auger point investigations were carried out at 100 m intervals along traverses spaced at 100 m apart. Three soil units were identified on the field based on soil colour, structure, textures, surface characteristics and topography. The results showed that the soil units were deep (102 – 141 cm) and well drained except unit I that was poorly drained. The soils were coarse-textured and slightly to moderately acidic in reaction with pH values which ranges from 5.38 – 6.50. They had low organic matter contents ranging from 0.20 to 0.95 % and high base saturation which ranged from 76 to 86 %. The soils were classified as Typic Epiaqualfs/Epigleyic Stagnosols, Arenic Haplustalfs/Eutric Luvisols, and Eutric Haplustept/Eutric Haplic Luvisols. Soils of unit I (Pedon I and II), unit II (Pedon III and IV) and unit III (Pedon V and VI) were evaluated to be moderately suitable for cassava and yam production.Keywords: Soil, Taxonomic classification, Suitability evaluation, Land suitability assessment, Yam and Cassava

Educational aspirations in inner city schools

The research aimed to assess the nature and level of pupils’ educational aspirations and to elucidate the factors that influence these aspirations. A sample of five inner city comprehensive secondary schools were selected by their Local Authority because of poor pupil attendance, below average examination results and low rates of continuing in full-time education after the age of 16. Schools were all ethnically mixed and co-educational. Over 800 pupils aged 12-14 completed a questionnaire assessing pupils’ experience of home, school and their peers. A sub-sample of 48 pupils selected by teachers to reflect ethnicity and ability levels in individual schools also participated in detailed focus group interviews. There were no significant differences in aspirations by gender or year group, but differences between ethnic groups were marked. Black African, Asian Other and Pakistani groups had significantly higher educational aspirations than the White British group, who had the lowest aspirations. The results suggest the high aspirations of Black African, Asian Other and Pakistani pupils are mediated through strong academic self-concept, positive peer support, a commitment to schooling and high educational aspirations in the home. They also suggest that low educational aspirations may have different mediating influences in different ethnic groups. The low aspirations of White British pupils seem to relate most strongly to poor academic self-concept and low educational aspirations in the home, while for Black Caribbean pupils disaffection, negative peers and low commitment to schooling appear more relevant. Interviews with pupils corroborated the above findings and further illuminated the factors students described as important in their educational aspirations. The results are discussed in relation to theories of aspiration which stress its nature as a cultural capacity

Development, structure, and mechanism of synthetic antibodies that target claudin and \u3ci\u3eClostridium perfringens\u3c/i\u3e enterotoxin complexes

Strains of Clostridium perfringens produce a two-domain enterotoxin (CpE) that afflicts humans and domesticated animals, causing prevalent gastrointestinal illnesses. CpE’s C-terminal domain (cCpE) binds cell surface receptors, followed by a restructuring of its N-terminal domain to form a membranepenetrating β-barrel pore, which is toxic to epithelial cells of the gut. The claudin family of membrane proteins are known receptors for CpE and also control the architecture and function of cell-cell contacts (tight junctions) that create barriers to intercellular molecular transport. CpE binding and assembly disables claudin barrier function and induces cytotoxicity via β-pore formation, disrupting gut homeostasis; however, a structural basis of this process and strategies to inhibit the claudin–CpE interactions that trigger it are both lacking. Here, we used a synthetic antigen-binding fragment (sFab) library to discover two sFabs that bind claudin-4 and cCpE complexes. We established these sFabs’ mode of molecular recognition and binding properties and determined structures of each sFab bound to claudin-4–cCpE complexes using cryo-EM. The structures reveal that the sFabs bind a shared epitope, but conform distinctly, which explains their unique binding equilibria. Mutagenesis of antigen/sFab interfaces observed therein result in binding changes, validating the structures, and uncovering the sFab’s targeting mechanism. From these insights, we generated a model for CpE’s claudin-bound β-pore that predicted sFabs would not prevent cytotoxicity, which we then verified in vivo. Taken together, this work demonstrates the development and mechanism of claudin/cCpE-binding sFabs that provide a framework and strategy for obstructing claudin/CpE assembly to treat CpE-linked gastrointestinal diseases

The 20th Anniversary Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple devastating forest fires, the 2020 meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association was held virtually. The three-day gathering featured talks describing recent advances in virology and prion research. The keynote presentation described the measles virus paradox of immune suppression and life-long immunity. Special invited speakers presented information concerning visualizing antiviral effector cell biology in mucosal tissues, uncovering the T-cell tropism of Epstein-Barr virus type 2, a history and current survey of coronavirus spike proteins, a summary of Zika virus vaccination and immunity, the innate immune response to flavivirus infections, a discussion concerning prion disease as it relates to multiple system atrophy, and clues for discussing virology with the non-virologist. On behalf of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association, this report summarizes selected presentations

Slight changes in the chemical structure of haemanthamine greatly influence the effect of the derivatives on rumen fermentation in vitro

Abstract Although the potential of plants extracts to improve feed efficiency and animal productivity and decrease methane emissions by enteric fermentation has been shown, the information available is often contradictory which has been attributed to differences in the complex mixture of bioactive compounds and their interactions. Understanding the degree to which structural features in a compound may affect the biological activity of an extract is essential. We hypothesised that relative small variations in the structure of a compound can have a significant influence on the ability of the derivatives to alter fermentation in the rumen. Nine compounds were synthetized from the natural alkaloid haemanthamine and tested in vitro for their effects on rumen protozoa and fermentation parameters. Our results showed that simple esterifications of haemanthamine or its derivative dihydrohaemanthamine with acetate, butyrate, pivalate or hexanoate led to compounds that differed in their effects on rumen fermentation

Ogbu and the debate on educational achievement: an exploration of the links between education, migration, identity and belonging

This paper looks at some of the issues raised by Ogbu’s work in relation to the education of different minority ethnic groups. Ogbu poses questions such as the value attached to education, its links to the future and its measurable outcomes in terms of ‘success’ as experienced by black participants. The desire for better life chances leads families to consider migration to a new country or resettlement within the same country, thus making migration both a local and a global phenomenon. As an example, attention is drawn to the situation facing South Asian children and their families in the UK. In terms of ethnicity and belonging, the wider question that is significant for many countries in the West after ‘Nine-Eleven’ is the education of Muslim children. A consideration of this current situation throws Ogbu’s identification of ‘autonomous minority’ into question. It is argued that a greater understanding of diverse needs has to be accompanied by a concerted effort to confront racism and intolerance in schools and in society, thus enabling all communities to make a useful contribution and to avoid the ‘risk’ of failure and disenchantment

Epizootiology of Infectious Diseases of Dog in Some States in Nigeria (2015–2018)

An epizootiology of infectious diseases/conditions of dog in some veterinary clinics from Benue, Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria were assessed from 2015 to 2018. This study revealed about seventeen (17) infectious clinical cases/conditions from 1865 cases recorded within the period of four (4) years. These comprised of helminthoses (17.8%) having the highest prevalence followed by babesiosis (17.5%), parvovirosis (15.9%), ectoparasitism (11.3%), scepticemia (6.9%), Mange (5.7%), urinary tract infections (4.7%), canine distemper (4.2%), colitis (3.9%), myiasis (2.7%), trypanosomosis (2.1%), leptospirosis and transmissible venereal tumor (1.9%), respiratory infections (1.7%), otitis (1.0%) and orchitis (0.7%). Puppies (0–6 months old) 50.2% were mostly affected. Incidences of diseases were more in Alsatians (23.7%), Cross (22.9%), Nigerian indigenous breed (20.5%), Caucasian (9.6%) and Rottweiler (8.9%). More cases of vaccinated (68.7%) were recorded against the unvaccinated (31.3%) dogs while male (57.1%) dogs had a higher frequency of cases as compared with their female (42.9%) counterpart. Disease incidence was highest in dry season (54.3%) especially in the months of December (13.3%), January (11.1%) and February (10.6%).The highest frequency of disease incidence was recorded in 2015 (36.4%). Most the infectious clinical cases/conditions recorded from this study were preventable cases demanding veterinary care in order to prevent the risk of zoonosis

On logistic regression versus support vectors machine using vaccination dataset

The performance of two classification techniques, logistic regression and Support Vector Machines (SVMs), in assessing vaccination data is investigated in this study. The model was trained based on leave-out-one cross validation to obtain an accurate result. Simulated with ten thousand replications, a life data set was used to establish a better model. The findings from the simulation revealed that the logistic regression model slightly outperformed the SVM while the life data shows that the tuned SVM outperformed both the logistic and the SVM. This demonstrates the practical utility of advanced approaches such as SVMs in difficult categorization scenarios such as vaccination prediction. The study emphasizes the superiority of the customized SVM model in this setting, as well as the potential of machine learning approaches to increase comprehension of complicated healthcare scenarios and guide data-driven decision-making for influencing vaccination plans and public health. The study recommends the use of logistic regression if the data point is high