Protein - Sparing Activity of Lipid and Carbohydrate in the Giant African Mudfish, H. longifilis Diets

In two different experiments on lipid and carbohydrate requirement, H. longifilis was fed diets containing 13.68% to 24.66% of lipid, 17.00% to 20.86% of carbohydrates for 56 days. There was positive response in terms of growth of H. longifilis in the various diets fed in the experiments. There was significant variation (P<0.05) in the specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), apparent net protein utilisation (ANPU) and percentage survival (PS) in the fish fed varying lipid levels. As for the fish fed varying levels of carbohydrates, there was no significant variation (P>0.05) in the SGR and FCR but there was significant variation (P<0.05) in the PER, ANPU and PS. The protein/lipid ratio was 1.58 while the protein/carbohydrate ratio was 2.22. These ratios are very important in the formulation of H. longifilis feed for optimal growth of fish in that protein is spared for growth while the lipid and carbohydrate portions of the diet are used for energy production. @JASE

Protein - Sparing Activity of Lipid and Carbohydrate in the Giant African Mudfish, H. longifilis Diets

In two different experiments on lipid and carbohydrate requirement, H. longifilis was fed diets containing 13.68% to 24.66% of lipid, 17.00% to 20.86% of carbohydrates for 56 days. There was positive response in terms of growth of H. longifilis in the various diets fed in the experiments. There was significant variation (P<0.05) in the specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), apparent net protein utilisation (ANPU) and percentage survival (PS) in the fish fed varying lipid levels. As for the fish fed varying levels of carbohydrates, there was no significant variation (P>0.05) in the SGR and FCR but there was significant variation (P<0.05) in the PER, ANPU and PS. The protein/lipid ratio was 1.58 while the protein/carbohydrate ratio was 2.22. These ratios are very important in the formulation of H. longifilis feed for optimal growth of fish in that protein is spared for growth while the lipid and carbohydrate portions of the diet are used for energy production. @JASE

Comparative Evaluation of the Effectiveness of some local Fabrics for Zooplankton Harves

A comparative evaluation of the effectiveness for zooplankton harvest for three local fabrics (a white poplin, 120mm; grey baft, 200mm; a nylon, 235mm) and an imported standard zooplankton net of mesh size 76mm were tested in this study. Mesh sizes and gauze constitution of the fabrics were determined with an ocular micrometer under a compound microscope. Filtration efficiency and clogging rates of the fabrics were also measured. All fabrics were effective in harvesting species of the copepods, the cladocerans and the large-sized rotifer, Asplanchna. The grey baft and the nylon net were not effective in harvesting the small-sized rotifer species like Keratella, Filinia and Trichocerca.All the fabrics effectively harvested Moina, an excellent freshwater cladoceran for fish larval-rearing. Clogging rate was found to be a function of gauze constitution, while filtration efficiency was an index of both gauze constitution and mesh size of fabrics. (Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management: 2003 7(1): 57-60

Giant paleo-seafloor craters and mass wasting associated with magma-induced uplift of the upper crust

Giant seafloor craters are known along many a continental margin with recurrent mass-wasting deposits. However, the impact of breakup-related magmatism on the evolution of such craters is barely understood. Using high-quality geophysical datasets, this work examines the genetic relationship among the location of magmatic sills, forced folds and the formation of giant paleo-seafloor craters underneath an ancient mass-transport complex in the Møre and Vøring basins, offshore Norway. The data reveal that forced folding of near-seafloor strata occurred because of the intrusion of several interconnected magmatic sills. Estimates of 1-dimensional uplift based on well data show that uplift occurred due to the intrusion of magma in Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene strata. Our findings also prove that subsurface fluid plumbing associated with the magmatic sills was prolonged in time and led to the development of several vertical fluid flow conduits, some of which triggered mass wasting in Neogene to Recent times. The repeated vertical expulsion of subsurface fluids weakened the strata on the continental slope, thereby promoting mass wasting, the selective cannibalization of the paleo-seafloor, and the formation of elongated craters at the basal shear zone of the mass-transport complex. Significantly, the model presented here proves a close link between subsurface magmatic plumbing systems and mass wasting on continental margins.</p

Burden of obesity in the rural adult population of America

There is an epidemic of obesity in adults in rural America. It is estimated that about 19% of the population resides in rural areas, which encompasses 97% of America\u27s total landmass. Although rural America makes up a fraction of America\u27s total population, it has been estimated that the prevalence of obesity is approximately 6.2 times higher than in urban America. This illustrates an apparent disparity that exists between the rural population and urban populations that needs to be examined. The prevalence of obesity, especially in rural America, is a growing concern in the medical community in recent years. Obesity has been identified as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the US. To better understand the disparity in the prevalence of adult obesity between rural and urban America, researchers have identified risk factors that are associated with the high incidence and prevalence of obesity in the rural American adult population. Low income and lack of physical activity have been identified as factors that predispose rural Americans to increased risk of obesity, arguing that low-income Americans may not have access to the resources available to assist them in weight reduction. With rural Americans being at an income disadvantage, it creates a risk for obesity, which further predisposes them to chronic diseases such as hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), diabetes, and coronary artery disease. As obesity continues to rise among the American population, the burden on the rural population is incredibly evident. Despite ongoing efforts by the US government and strategies implemented by the Common Community Measures for Obesity Prevention, there is still much to be done to tackle the epidemic. With an existing strategy in place, such as the 12 Common Community Measures for Obesity Prevention (COCOMO) strategies to fight obesity with physical activity, Americans are a step closer to conquering this epidemic. However, until other disparities such as income are addressed, rural Americans may continue to be severely impacted by the rising incidence of obesity and subsequent higher mortality rates from associated diseases

Quantitative datasets reveal marked gender disparities in Earth Sciences faculty rank in Africa

As in most disciplines of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), gender disparity is prevalent in the ranking of Earth Sciences faculties at senior and advanced levels. (i.e., Associate and Full Professors). In this study, a robust database was mined, created, and analyzed to assess the faculty compositions of 142 Earth Science departments in 39 countries across Africa. The data were collected from verifiable online resources focusing on ranks and gender ratios within each department. The studied earth science departments cut across universities in northern, southern, central, eastern, and western Africa. Our data revealed that female faculty members are predominantly underrepresented in most of the departments documented and are markedly uncommon in senior positions such as Professors, associate Professors, and senior researchers compared to their male counterparts. On the contrary, female faculty members are predominant in the lower cadres, such as lecturers, teaching, and graduate assistants. The observed male to female ratio is 4:1. At the base of this gender gap is the lower enrolment of female students in Earth Science courses from undergraudate to graduate studies. To achieve gender equality in Earth Science faculty composition in Africa, we recommend increasing female students’ enrollment, mentoring, awareness, timely promotion of accomplished female researchers, and formulation of enabling government policies. More work-related policies that guarantee work-life balance for female earth science academic professionals should be formulated to attract and retain more women into Earth Sciences careers