Growth performance of exotic Oreochromis niloticus, exotic Oreochromis niloticus fed with pelleted feeds in flow-through system

Local, exotic and hybrid tilapia fingerlings were fed 45% crude protein diet containing 18% fish meal in a flow through system in triplicate and their growth and food utilization observed for 14 weeks. At the end of the study, the hybrid (Exotic Oreochromis niloticus male x Exotic Oreochromis aureus female) fingerlings had higher growth rate and food conversion ratio (FCR) than the other treatments. This was followed by Exotic Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. The exotic Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings came next while the local Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings were the least in growth performance. The survival rate of the local O. niloticus was however higher than the other treatment

Effect of stocking density on the growth rates of Clarias gariepinus in a floating hapa system

Any aquaculture system needs constant supply of good quality water. In the arid zone of Nigeria this problem becomes more acute. This study therefore tries to rear fish is enclosure (net-hapas) suspended in outdoor concrete tanks to maximize the use of water and feed. About 350 fingerlings (of mean weight of 4.93g) of Clarias gariepinus caught in the same locality in Lake Alau ( Maiduguri, Borno State) were stocked in net-hapas (1 x 1x 1 m) at 25,50 and 100 fish/m3. Each treatment was duplicated the fish were fed three times a day on a formulated 40% protein balanced diet at 5% body weight per day. Batch weighing of the fish in each net-hapa was carried out every fortnight for body weight measurement. Water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature were measured weekly. The results of the fish growth and feed utilization efficiency were pooled for each treatment, computed and analyzed using one-way-analysis of variance (ANOVA) Mortality was highest in treatment 3 (100/m3) when compared with treatments I and 2 (25/m3 and 50/m3 respectively). This is mainly due to handling stress because of the long distance from Lake Alau 10 the NIFFR Zonal Station outdoor ponds (>45km) and the method of capture (Cast net). There were slight differences in mean final weight and food conversion of the fish at the end of the study but no statistical differences were found among the treatments (P<0. 05)

Beyond ''women's traits'': exploring how gender, social difference and household characteristics influence trait preferences

Open Access Journal; Published online: 14 Dec 2021Demand-led breeding strategies are gaining importance in public sector breeding globally. While borrowing approaches from the private sector, public sector programs remain mainly focused on food security and social impact related outcomes. This necessitates information on specific user groups and their preferences to build targeted customer and product profiles for informed breeding decisions. A variety of studies have identified gendered trait preferences, but do not systematically analyze differences related to or interactions of gender with other social dimensions, household characteristics, and geographic factors. This study integrates 1000minds survey trait trade-off analysis with the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey to study cassava trait preferences in Nigeria related to a major food product, gari. Results build on earlier research demonstrating that women prioritize food product quality traits while men prioritize agronomic traits. We show that food product quality traits are more important for members from food insecure households and gender differences between men and women increase among the food insecure. Furthermore, respondents from poorer households prioritize traits similar to respondents in non-poor households but there are notable trait differences between men and women in poor households. Women in female headed household prioritized quality traits more than women living with a spouse. Important regional differences in trait preferences were also observed. In the South East region, where household use of cassava is important, and connection to larger markets is less developed, quality traits and in ground storability were prioritized more than in other states. These results reinforce the importance of recognizing social difference and the heterogeneity among men and women, and how individual and household characteristics interact to reveal trait preference variability. This information can inform trait prioritization and guide development of breeding products that have higher social impact, which may ultimately serve the more vulnerable and align with development goals

Stressors and resilience within the cassava value chain in Nigeria: preferred cassava variety traits and response strategies of men and women to inform breeding

Open Access JournalThis study investigated the trait preferences for cassava in the context of climate change and conflict stressors among value-chain actors in Nigeria to strengthen social inclusion and the community-resilience outcomes from breeding programs. Multi-stage sampling procedures were used to select and interview male and female value-chain participants in the Osun, Benue and Abia States. The results indicated that farmers preferred cassava traits such as drought tolerance, early bulking, multiple-product use and in-ground storability to strengthen resilience. Climate change and challenges related to social change shaped the response strategies from both genders, and influenced trait preferences, including the early re-emergence of cassava leaves, stems that had ratooning potential, and especially the root milking that was important among female respondents. The major response strategies employed by men included frequent farm visits to prevent theft and engaging in non-agricultural livelihoods. Those employed by women included backyard farming, early harvesting, having preferences for food with fewer processing steps, and depending on remittances. The resilience capacity was higher for men than for women due to their better access to assets, as well as their abilities to relocate their farms and out-migrate in search of other livelihoods. Considering gendered cassava traits, and enhancing their resilience and response strategies, can complement efforts to make breeding more socially inclusive, resilient, and anticipatory to future challenges created by climate and related social changes

The ingenol-based protein kinase C agonist GSK445A is a potent inducer of HIV and SIV RNA transcription

Activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway by Protein Kinase C (PKC) agonists is a potent mechanism for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) latency disruption in vitro. However, significant toxicity risks and the lack of evidence supporting their activity in vivo have limited further evaluation of PKC agonists as HIV latency-reversing agents (LRA) in cure strategies. Here we evaluated whether GSK445A, a stabilized ingenol-B derivative, can induce HIV/ simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) transcription and virus production in vitro and demonstrate pharmacological activity in nonhuman primates (NHP). CD4+ T cells from people living with HIV and from SIV+ rhesus macaques (RM) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) exposed in vitro to 25 nM of GSK445A produced cell-associated viral transcripts as well as viral particles at levels similar to those induced by PMA/Ionomycin, indicating that GSK445A can potently reverse HIV/SIV latency. Importantly, these concentrations of GSK445A did not impair the proliferation or survival of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells, but instead, increased their numbers and enhanced IFN-γ production in response to HIV peptides. In vivo, GSK445A tolerability was established in SIV-naïve RM at 15 μg/kg although tolerability was reduced in SIV-infected RM on ART. Increases in plasma viremia following GSK445A administration were suggestive of increased SIV transcription in vivo. Collectively, these results indicate that GSK445A is a potent HIV/SIV LRA in vitro and has a tolerable safety profile amenable for further evaluation in vivo in NHP models of HIV cure/remission

Investigation into the effects of oral contraceptives on some haematological parameters of Wistar albino rat Rattus rattus

In this study, the in vivo effect of oral contraceptives namely Microgynon a combined pill (0.15mg levonorgestrel and 0.03mg ethinylestradiol) and Primolut -N a mini pill (5mg norethisterone) onsome haematological parameters of wistar albino rat were investigated. The haemoglobin count, packed cell volume, total white blood cell count, platelet count, neutrophil and lymphocyte count were assayed. Test results showed that the oral contraceptives had an increasingeffect on the haematological parameters. This increase was not dose dependent. The highest increase of 18.00 ± 1.40 vs control 14.30 ± 1.10 (g/dl) was obtained for Hb at the concentration of 0.72μg at 2 hours duration (p&lt; 0.05).The blood PCV, WBC, platelet, neutrophil and lymphocyte analysis also showed increases. The possible implications of these findings on the female rat and by extrapolation on the female ‘homo sapiens’ are that laboratory tests involving full blood analysis should be undergone before these drugs are taken. Check-up tests should also be performed every six months, to identify women who might be at risk of developing minor or serious side effects that might affect major organs of the body.Keywords: Blood, ethinylestradiol, haematological parameters, lenonorgestrel, norethisterone, oral contraceptive

Effects of Climate Extreme Events on Households Food Security in Taraba State, Nigeria

Climate is particularly important, as a driver of food system performance at the farm end of the food chain, affecting the quantities and types of food produced and the adequacy of production-related income. Poor households will be hardest hit by soaring food prices since they have few coping mechanisms at their disposal. For such households, occurrence of Climate change extreme events will have an immediate impact on the quantity and quality of food they consume. Hence, the study sought to determine the effects of climate extreme events on food security of households in Taraba State. Primary data on the intensity and frequency of extreme events, socioeconomic characteristics of households, food security status based on the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used for the study. One hundred and twenty households for the study were sampled by means of a multistage random sampling technique. Results show that the occurrence of drying up of streams and river, heat wave and harmattan duration experienced by the households positively affected the food insecurity of the household, and was significant at p ≤ 0.05, Also, the frequency of occurrence of heavy and long periods of rain also led to an increase in food insecurity and was significant at P ≤ 10%. The study also found that food insecurity increases with an increase in household size and the longer diseases and pests lasted in or around the households the more food insecure they were. The study recommends that weather forecast stations monitoring climate occurrences be established and efforts made to inform households of these occurrences, so that they can adapt accordingly