Comparative study of storage methods of maize grains in South Western Nigeria

Laboratory experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of different storage methods of maize grains in Ibadan (a humid tropical ecology) between year 2002 and 2003. The results shows that storage methods (SM), treatment (Tr), SM x Variety (V) and Tr x V interactions were highly significant for numbers of undamaged maize grains (P<0.05). Second order interaction (SM x Tr x V) was highly significant for undamaged maize grains, while first and second order interaction were also highly significant for initial kernel weight, kernel weight loss, remained kernel weight (RKW), percentage weight loss, tolerance level, as well as number of insects pest responsible for the damage

Comparative study of storage methods of maize grains in South Western Nigeria

Laboratory experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of different storage methods of maize grains in Ibadan (a humid tropical ecology) between year 2002 and 2003. The results shows that storage methods (SM), treatment (Tr), SM x Variety (V) and Tr x V interactions were highly significant for numbers of undamaged maize grains (P<0.05). Second order interaction (SM x Tr x V) was highly significant for undamaged maize grains, while first and second order interaction were also highly significant for initial kernel weight, kernel weight loss, remained kernel weight (RKW), percentage weight loss, tolerance level, as well as number of insects pest responsible for the damage

Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide administration transiently suppresses luteal structure and function in diestrous cows

The objective was to characterize the effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin (given i.v.) on luteal structure and function. Seven nonlactating German Holstein cows, 5.1±0.8 years old (mean±s.e.m.), were given 10  ml saline on day 10 (ovulation=day 1) of a control estrous cycle. On day 10 of a subsequent cycle, they were given 0.5 μg/kg LPS. Luteal size decreased (from 5.2 to 3.8 cm(2), P≤0.05) within 24 h after LPS treatment and remained smaller throughout the remainder of the cycle. Luteal blood flow decreased by 34% (P≤0.05) within 3 h after LPS and remained lower for 72 h. Plasma progesterone (P(4)) concentrations increased (P≤0.05) within the first 3 h after LPS but subsequently declined. Following LPS treatment, plasma prostaglandin (PG) F metabolites concentrations were approximately tenfold higher in LPS-treated compared with control cows (9.2 vs 0.8 ng/ml, P≤0.05) within 30 min, whereas plasma PGE concentrations were nearly double (P≤0.05) at 1 h after LPS. At 12 h after treatment, levels of mRNA encoding Caspase-3 in biopsies of the corpus luteum (CL) were increased (P≤0.05), whereas those encoding StAR were decreased (P≤0.05) in cattle given LPS vs saline. The CASP3 protein was localized in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei of luteal cells, whereas StAR was detected in the cytosol of luteal cells. In the estrous cycle following treatment with either saline or LPS, there were no significant differences between groups on luteal size, plasma P(4) concentrations, or gene expression. In conclusion, LPS treatment of diestrus cows transiently suppressed both the structure and function of the CL