Drivers of renewable energy adoption in the built environment : a case of South Africa

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Nutrient Intakes and Nutritional Status of Mothers and their Under-Five Children in a Rural Community of Oyo State, Nigeria

Malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa contributes to high rates of childhood morbidity and mortality which make it a public health concern in Africa. This study assessed the nutrient intakes and nutritional status of mothers and their under-five children in a rural community of Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 500 households with a mother and child pair were sampled using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Information on household socio-economic status, hygiene practices, breastfeeding practices and clinical observation for signs of malnutrition were collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires by trained interviewers. Weight for age (WAZ), weight for height (WHZ), and height for age (HAZ) for underweight, wasting and stunting, respectively were calculated and assessed by Epi Info software using the NCHS/WHO international reference values. BMI (weight/height2) of mothers were also constructed from the measurements of mothers’ weights and heights. The waist/hip ratio of mothers was also determined. An interactive 24 h recall repeated for three days was used to obtain data on food and nutrient intakes of the women. Information on foods consumed was converted into quantitative data of nutrients using Food Composition Table. The result showed a high proportion (81%) of mothers ate three times daily while 14% ate twice and 5% ate more than thrice daily. The mean daily intakes of calcium, vitamins A, B6, B12, niacin, and folate were found to be inadequate compared with the Recommended Intakes. The WHR of the mothers indicated that majority had low risk. Most of the mothers (69.2%) were normal, underweight 9.6%, overweight 15.8% and obese 5.4%. About 37% of the children were stunted, 18% were underweight and 14.3% were wasted. BMI correlated negatively with age (r = -0.41; p <0.05), and positively with education (r = 0.22; p<0.05) and income (r = 0.45; p <0.05). Clinical observation revealed PEM prevalence in 12% children while eyes pallor and palm pallor were present in 15% and 20% respectively. The nutritional status of mothers and their under-five children is poor with respect to the overall food consumption and micronutrient intake. Consequently, nutrition programmes in this area should include effective measures to promote nutritional status of mothers and children

Performance and visceral organ weights of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) given different antibiotics as growth promotants

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Performance of Broilers Given Different Dietary Levels of Acacia sieberiana Dc. Var. Sieberiana Seeds

The study was aimed at evaluating the seeds of a leguminous plant, Acacia sieberiana DC as an alternative source of dietary plant protein for broilers. Five experimental diets containing 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20% Acacia sieberiana seeds (ASS) were formulated and fed to 5 groups of birds during starter (0 - 4 weeks), grower (5 - 8 weeks) and finisher (9. -12 weeks) periods respectively. There were 3 replicates per treatment, with 10 birds per replicate. At the end of the experiment, average weekly live weight gains of 128.90 ± 24.17, 122.68 ± 25.09, 112. 79 ± 22.83, 96.40 ± 21.53 and 99.56 ± 21.53g were obtained for the birds on 0, 5, 10 and 20% ASS inclusion respectively. The average weekly feed consumption values were 413.47 ± 63.63, 408.59 ± 63.82, 304.60 ± 61.70, 347.96 ± 58.0 and 352.83 ± 59.76g for the birds on O, 5, 10, 15 and 20% ASS respectively. The feed efficiencies were 0.289 ± 0.03, 0.272 ± 0.03, 0.264 ± 0.03, 0.248 ± 0.03 and 0.253 ± 0.03 for the birds on 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% ASS respecfrre!y. The data revealed that in general, the birds on 0, 5 and 10% ASS inclusion performed better (PC < .05) than birds on 15 or 20% ASS. Results of carcass evaluation show that the gizzard, lungs and heads of the control birds had significantly (PC < .05) higher weights than those of birds on 15 and 20% ASS. From these results it can be concluded that up to 10% ASS could be incorporated into poultry diet without deleterious effect on broilers.Keywords: Broilers, Acacia Seeds, Performance, Carcass Evaluatio

Effects of levels of inclusion of Acacia albida pods on intake and digestibility of a concentrate diet by goats

Fifteen entire male Bomo white goats aged 12.0 ± l.60 months nnd weighing between 12.5 and 14.0kg were in a S x S Latin square design experiment used to estimate  he digestibility of concentrate diets containing 0 (A), 15 (B), 30 (c), 45 (D) and 60 percent  E) A. albida pods. The Acacia contained (in percent dry  matter) crude protein 11.7,  ther extract 2.6, crude fibre 31.4, tannin 13.0, ash 13.7 and nitrogen-free extractives 37.6.  The gross energy content (MJ/kg DM) was 18.2. The apparent digestion coefficients of all the nutrients in diet A were greater (P<0.05) than those in the other treatment diets. The organic matter, crude  protein and crude fibre digestibility values were 73.4, 66.5, 52.6;  3.0, 57.5, 39.J; 59.2, 60.9, 39.8; 47.3, 57.J, 33.8 D.lld 46.9, 53.3, 26.3 percent  respectively for diets A, B, C, D and E. Average nitrogen intake (g/day), faecal and urinary output (g/day) did not differ among the treatments. However, apparerrt nitrogen  digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatments. The values were 62.6, 63.6, 61.9, 59.5 and 55.0 percent for the respective   dietary treatments. All the experimental animals were in positive nitrogen balance.Key words: Acacia albida, intake, digestibility, goats

Packed cell volume in rheumatoid arthritis patients at first presentation

Anaemic syndrome is a common manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. Both anaemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anaemia are present in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis are more like to be anaemic with a high impact on the quality of life. The diagnosis of anaemia of chronic disease is made by exclusion. Treatment of the anaemia consists merely of anti-rheumatic treatment. This was a retrospective study of 34 patients diagnosed of rheumatoid arthritis between July 2013 and June 2016. These were the patients that satisfied the 1987 revised diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Anaemia was diagnosed based on the packed cell level and laboratory analysis of red blood cell morphology. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were divided into 3 groups; rheumatoid arthritis patients without anaemia, rheumatoid arthritis patients with anaemia of chronic disease, and rheumatoid arthritis patients with iron deficiency anaemia. The laboratory results for packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were noted and analyzed. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rheumatoid factor results were documented. Five hundred and two rheumatology patients were seen over a period of three years (July 2013 –June 2016). Thirty-four rheumatoid arthritis patients were diagnosed (F-26, M-8) with a female to male ratio of 3.3:1. The age range was 18 to 65 years with a mean age of 45 ± 6yrs. The mean duration of onset at presentation was 5 ±2.6 years, and the mean early morning joint stiffness was 3 ±1.2 hours. The mean swollen and tender joint count was 14 ± 2. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was uniformly elevated with a mean value of 78 ± 5mm/hr. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 27 patients. Anaemia was predominant in age group 41 to 50 years. The prevalence of anaemia was 70.6%, and anaemia of chronic disease was predominantly seen (70.8%). Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the prevalence of anaemia was found to be relatively high. Anaemia of chronic disease was the leading cause of anaemia. The degree of anaemia was closely related to the age and duration of the disease.Keywords: Haemoglobin, iron deficiency, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, anti-rheumatic drugs, rheumatoid arthriti