Whole cassava root meal from TME419 cassava variety can support performance and health of growing rabbits as dietary energy source

A total of thirty-six (36) growing (6-8 weeks old) New Zealand and Haliquine rabbits of both sexes were used to evaluate performance and health status of rabbits fed fermented whole cassava root meal (WCRM, TME419 Cassava variety) with enzyme supplementation. The rabbits were allotted to experimental groups in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement comprising three fermentation durations (0, 3 and 5days) and inclusion of enzyme (0, 0.5%) as factors in a randomized complete block design. The diets were designated as D0- (Basal diet (WCRM) without ensiling and no enzyme supplementation), D0+ (Basal diet (WCRM) without ensiling with enzyme supplementation), D3- (Basal diet (WCRM) with three days ensiling without enzyme supplementation), D3+ (Basal diet (WCRM) with three days ensiling with enzyme supplementation), D5- (Basal diet (WCRM) with five days ensiling without enzyme supplementation) and D5+ (Basal diet (WCRM) with five days ensiling with enzyme supplementation). The performance, hematological and serum biochemical indices were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by fermentation and enzyme inclusion. It is therefore concluded that TME419 cassava variety can be fed to growing rabbits without fermentation or enzyme inclusion

A Case of Bacterial Postpartum Metritis in a 4-Year Old Duroc Sow

The attention of the Animal Health team of Swine Research Unit of Swine and Rabbit Research Programme of National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) was drawn to a farrowing pen with a complaint of pus discharge from the vulva of a Duroc sow which farrowed 9 piglets 10 days earlier. Microbiological survey identified the presence of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus and Proteus species from the sterile vaginal swab was taken from the sow. Antibiogram revealed the susceptibility of the three identified bacteria to ofloxacin, streptomycin and gentamicin in the order of increasing susceptibility. Staphylococcus species was also found to be susceptible to ciprofloxacin while Proteus species was susceptible to augmentin® and chloramphenicol. All the three species of bacteria were resistant to nitrofuratoin, rocephin® and ampiclox®. The sow was treated with deep intramuscular administration of streptomycin at 20 mg/kg once daily for 5 days and 10 IU of oxytocin once daily for 2 days. There was expulsion of macerated feotus about 24 hours following administration of the last dose of oxytocin and the macerated feotus was properly disposed and the entire pen was cleaned and disinfected. The vulva was noticed to be completely devoid of the mucous discharges after the course of the antibiotic regimen.Key words: Metritis, Postpartum, Duroc, Sow, NAPRI

Preliminary experience in the management of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in Lagos, Nigeria

Aspiration of tracheobronchial foreign bodies commonly affects young children, is potentially life threatening and requires early intervention for extraction. Access to facilities and skill manpower for bronchoscopic extraction is however limited in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to describe the experience in our institution with bronchoscopic removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies and highlight the challenges encountered. This is a retrospective study of all patients referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital with a diagnosis of tracheobronchial foreign body within the period of February 2008 and February 2013. Data extracted from the medical records were age, sex, time interval between aspiration and presentation, location of tracheobronchial foreign body, bronchoscopic technique, complications and outcome. A total of 24 patients were referred and confirmed at bronchoscopy to have tracheobronchial foreign bodies. Mean age was 6.6 + 5 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1. Delayed presentation was common with 22 patients (91.7%) presenting more than 24 hours after aspiration. Aspirated material was inorganic in 17 patients (70.8%) and organic in 7 patients (29.2%). Location of tracheobronchial foreign bodies was right main bronchus in 16 patients (66.7%), left main bronchus in 6 patients (25%) and the trachea in 2 patients (8.3%). Challenges to speedy and safe removal of the foreign bodies were delayed presentation and a limited range of bronchoscopic equipment early in the series which caused prolonged procedures and increased complications. Two mortalities occurred early in the series; one from airway obstruction and the other from respiratory failure caused by tracheobronchial oedema. Extraction of tracheobronchial foreign bodies was faster, more complete and safer later in the series due to a wider range of bronchoscopy equipment which included both flexible and rigid videobronchoscopy with the use of optical forceps. This preliminary experience suggests that an adequate armamentarium of bronchoscopy equipment is required to increase the chances of complete extraction, speed up the procedure and reduce the risk of complications of Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies in our environment. Delayed presentation increases the difficulty of the procedure so earlier referral of these patients would help reduce the risk involved in  their management.Key words: Bronchoscopy, Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies, Lagos, Nigeri

Assessing South African Construction Worker’s Knowledge of Modern Technologies for Effective Material Management

Material management is a matter of concern for construction stakeholders in South Africa.  ICT is the way forward for all sectors upon which the economy thrives both in the national and international level. Incorporating modern technologies will lead to effective material management. However, the level of awareness of modern technologies among South African construction stakeholders needs to be assessed. The study adopted a quantitative approach where questionnaires were administered to professionals in the South African construction industry. Descriptive statistics tools were used to analyse the gathered data. Findings showed that construction stakeholders in South Africa are aware of modern technologies for effective management. The tools according to the level of awareness are Microsoft programs, barcoding, RFID, construction materials planning systems and materials handling equipment selection advisor. Also, the level of importance of these tools according to Stakeholders in South African Construction industry are Microsoft programmes, Barcoding, RFID, materials handling equipment selection advisor, construction materials exchange and construction materials planning system. Therefore, it is evident that there is still unyielding to recent technological move in the construction industry, which may be preventing the progressive growth. It is imperative to indulge modern technologies to counter this problem which in turn help effective material management

Quasi-simultaneous observations of the BL Lac object MK 501 in X-ray, UV, visible, IR and radio frequencies

Quasi-simultaneous observations of the BL Lacertae (Lac) objects MK 501 were performed for the first time at X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radio frequencies. The observed spectral slope from the X-ray to UV regions is positive and continuous, but that from the mid UV to visible light region becomes gradually flat and possibly turns down toward lower frequencies; the optical radio emission can not be accounted for by a single power law. Several theoretical models were considered for the emission mechanism. A quantitative comparison was performed with the synchrotron-self-Compton model; the total spectrum is found consistent with this model. The spectrum from visible light to X-ray is consistent with synchrotron radiation or with inverse-Compton scattering by a hot thermal cloud of electrons. The continuity of the spectral slope from X-ray to UV implied by the current data suggests that the previous estimates of the total luminosity of this BL Lac object is underestimated by a factor of about three or four

A z=5.34 Galaxy Pair in the Hubble Deep Field

We present spectrograms of the faint V-drop (V(606) = 28.1, I(814) = 25.6) galaxy pair HDF3-951.1 and HDF3-951.2 obtained at the Keck II Telescope. Fernandez-Soto, Lanzetta, & Yahil (1998) derive a photometric redshift of z(ph) = 5.28 (+0.34,-0.41; 2 sigma) for these galaxies; our integrated spectrograms show a large and abrupt discontinuity near 7710 (+- 5) Angstroms. This break is almost certainly due to the Lyman alpha forest as its amplitude (1 - fnu(short) / fnu(long) > 0.87; 95% confidence limit) exceeds any discontinuities observed in stellar or galaxian rest-frame optical spectra. The resulting absorption-break redshift is z=5.34 (+- 0.01). Optical/near-IR photometry from the HDF yields an exceptionally red (V(606)-I(814)) color, consistent with this large break. A more accurate measure of the continuum depression blueward of Lyman alpha utilizing the imaging photometry yields D(A) = 0.88. The system as a whole is slightly brighter than L*(1500) relative to the z~3 Lyman break population and the total star formation rate inferred from the UV continuum is ~22 h(50)^-2 M(sun) yr^-1 (q(0) = 0.5) assuming the absence of dust extinction. The two individual galaxies are quite small (size scales < 1 h(50)^-1 kpc). Thus these galaxies superficially resemble the Pascarelle etal (1996) ``building blocks''; if they comprise a gravitationally bound system, the pair will likely merge in a time scale ~100 Myr.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures; accepted to A

Classical Cosmological Tests for Galaxies of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

Images of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field are analyzed to obtain a catalog of galaxies for which the angular sizes, surface brightness, photometric redshifts, and absolute magnitudes are found. The catalog contains a total of about 4000 galaxies identified at a high signal-to-noise ratio, which allows the cosmological relations angular size{redshift and surface brightness-redshift to be analyzed. The parameters of the evolution of linear sizes and surface brightness of distant galaxies in the redshift interval 0.5-6.5 are estimated in terms of a grid of cosmological models with different density parameters. The distribution of photometric redshifts of galaxies is analyzed and possible superlarge inhomogeneities in the radial distribution of galaxies are found with scale lengths as large as 2000 Mpc.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl