Growth response of Heterobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes, 1840) fingerlings fed raw and boiled Mucuna cochinchinensis seed meal

Feeding trial was conducted in static water to assess the growth of H. longifilis fingerlings fed different I inclusion levels of mucuna seed meal (MSM). Raw and boiled MSM were used in the diets at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% inclusion levels and the performance of fish fed these diets was compared with fish fed a fishmeal-based diet which contained 40% protein. All diets were prepared to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric A two by five factorial experiment with three replicates using ten fish of average initial weight 1 .46g was carried out. Daily fish ration of five percent body weight was administered two times for eight weeks. The specific growth rate in diets 1 (control) and 6(10% boiled MSM) were similar and significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other dietary groups. The significantly lower growth performance of fish fed diets containing higher inclusion levels of both raw and boiled MSM might be due to incomplete elimination of the antinutritional factors present in MSM by boiling. Other methods of processing MSM to improve its nutritive value should be investigated. (7 page document

Public Libraries and E-Government in Nigeria

Developments in Information Communications Technologies (ICT) are a hallmark of the new Information Society They have provided the opportunity for governments to provide information and services online thereby promoting transparency and participatory democracy. Nigeria has keyed into this innovation to a reasonable extent. However the success of providing government services electronically has been linked to the availability of the points where the citizenry can access the Internet. The public library is on institution strategically placed in the community toserve as portals to access government services and information online. Public libraries in Nigeria are hampered from playing this role because of poor ICT infrastructure and lack of awareness amongst the citizenry of the roles of public libraries. The paper recommends that public libraries in the country should strategize on how best to provide e-government services. The Federal, State and Local governments should support public libraries so as to effectively provide e-government services emanating from their agencies

Climate change: impacts and threats on freshwater aquaculture

This paper examines the major effects of climate charge on aquaculture, especially on the freshwater ecosytem. Aquaculture as established is not practiced evenly across the world. Therefore, the paper highlights the current aquaculture practices within the regions and across the different environments to ascertain the major effects of climate variations on the freshwater ecosystem and aquaculture practices in particular. The main elements of climate change that would impact on aquaculture produ ction, such as sea level and temperature rise, changes in monsoon patterns and extreme climatic events and water stress, among others were properly looked at and the reasons for their effects addressed. The different elements of climate change that are experienced in varying degrees can be either positive or negative or directly or indirectly, depending on the different culture systems that are practiced. It is in the process of our study that we brought out the complex attributes of climate change as it affects aquaculture productivity and the possible roles that the society can play to ameliorate the harsh effects of this ugly monstet; referred to as &rdquo;climate change and the consequent global warming trends

Appraising three (3) decades of aquacultural development in Imo state

A survey was carried out to appraise the level of aquacultural development in the last 30 years in Imo State, South eastern, Nigeria. The study was conducted by the use of questionnaires and visits to fish farms in all the three senatorial zones of the State namely; Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri. Data collected revealed that 79.49% of the farms were owned by individuals while values of 12.82%, 5.13% and 2.56% represents government, community and cooperative ownership respectively. However, 17.95% of ponds were established between 1978-1988 while 46.15% represents fish ponds established between years 1998-2008 . Earthen ponds were commonest with pond areas varying between 400-10,000m2

Effects of jackbean seed meal on the intestinal mucosa of juvenile Heterobranchus longifilis

Juvenile Heterobranchus longifilis were fed diets that were isonitrogenous (CP 30%) and isocaloric (ME 2900 Kcal/kg) comprising the control diet without jackbean seed meal (JBSM) and those containing raw and 60 min boiled JBSM at different inclusion levels. At the conclusion of the 56 days feeding study, histological examination of the intestinal mucosa of H. longifilis indicated that those fed the control diet remained normal. However, progressive damage to the epithelial mucosa of H. logifilis intestines was observed with increasing dietary level of JBSM. While fish fed diets with 10% fishmeal substituted by raw JBSM showed minor degeneration of the intestinal mucosa, those fed with 100% fishmeal substituted by raw JBSM showed severe damage. Boiling JBSM however moderated the adverse effect of high dietary JBSM since fish fed diet with 80% fishmeal substituted by boiled JBSM showed only early signs of mucosal degeneration. The findings suggest that boiled JBSM could be used to substantially replace fishmeal in fish diets with no negative effect on fish intestinal mucosa. This development impacts positively on fish production by reducing the cost of fish feed given the comparatively lower cost of JBSM with respect to fishmea

Information for the Control of the Spread of HIV among Women in Nigeria- The Role of Public Libraries

HIV has been widely recognized as a pandemic defying decades of global efforts at producing a cure. At the inception of the disease, women were not as much affected as men. In recent times however, women are gradually becoming the “endangered species” as a result of the increased infection rate as well as the high mortality rate of women as a result of HIV/AIDS. In the absence of a cure coupled with the inadequate medical facilities and services being experienced in Nigeria, the best way to control the spread of the disease is information for its management and prevention. The public library is charged with the responsibility of making information available to the right people and at the right time, irrespective of their status, age, religious or educational background. This paper therefore examined the different reasons why women should be made the target of HIV prevention strategies and interventions. It also discussed the role of public libraries in curbing the spread of HIV among women and highlighted the different ways through which the women can be reached using different innovative information services. Keywords:HIV/AIDS, information, women, public librarie

Some haematological changes in hybrid catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis x Clarias gariepinus) fed different dietary levels of raw and boiled jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) seed meal

Changes were observed in some haematological parameters of juvenile hybrid catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis x Clarias gariepinus) fed raw and 60 min-boiled jackbean seed meal (JBSM) at different dietary levels for 56 days. The haematocrit (packed cell volume, PCV), red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration decreased significantly (P&lt;0.05) with increasing dietary JBSM level. Though the mean values of the blood parameters of fish fed diets containing boiledJBSM (PCV = 29.93%; RBC = 1.2 x 106 mm-3; WBC = 15.91 x 103 mm-3; Hb = 8.31 g/100 ml) showed significant improvement when compared with those fed raw JBSM diets (PCV = 28.68%; RBC = 1.13 x 106 mm-3; WBC = 14.63 x 103 mm-3; Hb = 8.31 g/100 ml) they were, however, lower and significantly (P&lt;0.05) different from those fed the control diet (PCV = 35.50%; RBC = 1.43 x 106 mm-3; WBC = 20.42 x 103 mm-3; Hb = 10.62 g/100 ml). However the observed reduction of the blood parameters did not go below the normal range of values recorded for catfish. Further investigation to improve the quality ofboiled JBSM is suggested

Employability, National Integration and Public Libraries: Case of the Beyond Access/IREX Intervention in Nigerian Public Libraries

National integration is driven by inclusiveness, a sense of belonging and a strong confidence in the existence and future of a country. Nigeria has been bedeviled by numerous clashes, conflicts and challenges which depict the absence of national integration. Unemployment as a means of satisfaction of human basic needs as typified by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has been fingered as one of the major causes of lack of social cohesion, feelings of marginalization and confidence in the country as an entity. Studies have pointed to a gap in the set of skills acquired in schools and what 21st century employers’ need. Beyond Access/IREX intervention in 70 Nigerian public libraries trained librarians with different modules that will enhance the employability of their users by imparting the missing skills. Using frequency counts and simple percentages, it was revealed that 71% of the libraries teach basic computer skills, 54% operate job search centres while 46% provide access to e-government services. Electricity and Internet connectivity were identified as major challenges in the provision of these services

Emotional Intelligence of Library Leaders and Innovative Library Services in South East Nigeria

Innovations are driven by leaders in any organisation. Emotionally intelligent leaders (EI) have the capacity to introduce and sustain innovations because they are adept at perceiving, appreciating, controlling and utilizing negative/positive feelings and using them as indicators to create solutions. This study explored the EI of Library leaders in Anambra and Enugu States and how the array of skills relates to innovative services in libraries. The population of the study was made up of 42 Heads of libraries and different departmental Heads in the two States. The questionnaire was used for data collection. Using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation, it was established that though high levels of some components of EI could be found among the leaders that positively related with innovative services, there was a noticeable lack in the area of interactions with stakeholders outside the library circles. The paper therefore, recommended that library leaders within the States under study should synergize with other stakeholders in the information provision chain to bring about innovations in their libraries. They should be able to lobby within their institutions and government circles to attract funds for creative services, should leverage the use of ICT to enable innovations and finally library leaders need to be more assertive, scale up their social and relationship skills and network within and outside their library workforce to bring about  innovation and creativity in their libraries

Jejuno-ileal atresia: A 2-year preliminary study on presentation and outcome

Background/Aim: Intestinal atresia is a common cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction. Jejuno-ileum is the commonest site of intestinal atresia. Reports on Jejunoileal atresia in developing countries are still few. The purpose of this study is to determine the presentation and management outcomes of neonates with Jejunoileal atresia treated in our hospital.Materials and Methods: Detailed data on all babies that presented and were treated within the study period (November2008-November, 2010) were kept and analyzed. A management protocol was put up and maintained.Result: A total of 9 babies (7males and 2 females) were treated. They were aged 2hours to 13days. Their weight ranged from 1.7kg to 3.3kg. Apart from one baby which presented within 2hrs with prenatal ultrasound diagnosis, others had bilious vomiting from the first day of birth, abdominal distension and delayed or absent passage of meconium. Even though symptoms developed on the first day of birth, presentation to the surgical unit was delayed 72hours and beyond in most patients.Type I atresia is commonest (no=4).There is associated gut malrotation in 2 babies. Five babies had complications which included surgical site infection, sepsis, prolonged vomiting post operatively, aspiration, rupture of dilated proximal segment after membrane excision, entero-cutaneous fistula and malnutrition. Three babies died giving a mortality of 33.3%. Mortality is commoner in types IIIb and IV.Conclusion: Mortality is higher in complex atresia which most times will require neonatal intensive care and parenteral nutrition facilities. These are still lacking in our institution. Providing these facilities will further improve outcome