Response of Sorghum

The effectiveness of finely ground Sokoto Rock Phosphate and Morocco Rock Phosphate to enhance productivity of maize- (Zea mays L.) Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and soybean- (Glycine max L.) Sorghum crop rotation schemes was evaluated using Single Super Phosphate as reference fertilizer. The experiments were carried out in the screen house of the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, in February and June 2013. The experiments involved 2 × 2 × 4 × 3 factorial in a Completely Randomized Design. In the first and second croppings, the slightly acidic loamy sand still produced higher biomass than the strongly acidic sandy clay loam. On average, MRP was more efficient than SSP for maize dry biomass but, for soybean dry biomass, MRP was less efficient than SSP in the two soils. Sokoto Rock Phosphate was less efficient in the two location soils compared to SSP for the test crops. There was no difference in performance of P-sources in the second cropping. Soybean-Sorghum crop rotation scheme produced greater Sorghum biomass than maize-Sorghum crop rotation scheme. It is evident that pH and clay contents of soils as well as the rotation crop concerned influence the efficiency of finely ground soluble phosphates in crop rotation schemes

Modification of Irisin Level in Overweight/Obese Women during Pregnancy and Its Association with Some Metabolic Risk Factors

الايرسين كبروتين حيوي يفرز من الانسجه العضليه والانسجه الدهنيه وضيفته اثناء الحمل وعلاقته ببعض عوامل الخطوره الايضيه وخاصه مؤشركتله الجسم قبيل الحمل تحتاج مزيد من التقييم. الهدف من الدراسه:هو معرفه امكانيه التنبؤ بمستوى الايرسين اثناء الحمل من خلال مؤشركتله الجسم قبيل الحمل وايضا توضيح ارتباط الايرسين ببعض المؤشرات المرضيه . تضمنت هذة الدراسة قياس مستوى الايريسين بواسطه تقنيه الايلايزا في امصال 59 حالة حمل طبيعية خلال الفتر ة من كانون الاول 2016 ولغاية شهر ايار 2017 في مستشفى الولادة بمدينة زاخو في كردستان العراق حيث كانت (32) من هذة العينات تعود لحوامل مؤشر كتلة الجسم لديهم قبيل الحمل اقل من24.9 كيلوغرام /مترمربع و27 من العينات تعود لحوامل كان مؤشر كتلة الجسم لديهم قبيل الحمل اكثرمن (25) موزعين على ثلاث فترات 8:10 في الفصل الاول و10:10 في الفصل الثاني و9:12 في الفصل الثالث بالتتابع.وايضا تم الحصول على امصال 22 امراه غير حامل متزوجه وبصحه جيده بعمر الانجاب كمجموعه سيطره .حيث ان 10 منهم كان مؤشركتله الجسم لديهم اقل من 24.9 كيلوغرام/متر مربع والباقي كان مؤشر كتله الجسم لديهم اكبرمن 25 كيلوغرام/مترمربع. .اشارت نتائج الدراسه الى ان مستوى الايرسين ارتفع بشكل معنوي في النساء الحوامل مقارنة بمجموعه السيطره.وارتبط الايرسين معنويا مع مؤشر كتله الجسم قبيل الحمل ومستوى السكر الصيامي والبروتين الكلي و نموذج تقيم توازن مقاومه الانسولين. وجد ان مؤشر كتله الجسم قبيل الحمل والبروتين الكلي استطاعوا التنبؤ بمستوى الايرسين في مجموعه الحوامل ككل.في مجموعه الحوامل ذو الوزن الطبيعي,ارتفع الايرسين بشكل غير معنوي مقارنه بمجموعه السيطره .اما الحوامل ذو الوزن الزائد/البدينات ارتفع الايرسين بشكل معنوي بنسبه 55%  في الثلث الاول من الحمل مقارنة بمجموعه السيطره ثم انخفض مستواه تدريجيا الى نهايه الحمل, وارتبط طرديا مع البروتين الكلي والالبومين والسكر الصيامي و نموذج تقيم توازن مقاومه الانسولين وعكسيا مع الزياده في الوزن خلال الحمل.وان البروتين الكلي والسكر الصيامي استطاعو التنبؤ بمستوى الايرسين في الحوامل ذو الوزن الزائد. خلصت الدراسه الى ان مستوى الايرسين يتاثر بمؤشركتله الجسم قبيل الحمل وان كلا من البروتين الكلي والسكر الصيامي بامكانهم توقع مستوى الايرسين في النساء ذو الوزن الزائد.الايرسين ممكن ان يكون عامل جوهري في الدراسات التي تعنى بالحالات المرضيه المرتبطه بانخفاض البروتين الكلي اثناء الحمل مثل الولاده المبكره والوذمه وامراض الكبد.Irisin is a novel myokine and adipokine, its role during pregnancy and its association with some metabolic risk factors especially pre-pregnancy body mass index (pre-BMI) need more evaluation. The aim of the study is to find whether the pre-BMI could predict irisin levels during normal pregnancy and to clarify associations of irisin with some pathological parameters. Irisin levels were estimated by ELISA in sera of 59 normal pregnant women who enrolled from December 2016 to May 2017 at Maternity Hospital, Zakho city, Kurdistan region (Iraq). Thirty-two normal-weight pregnant (pre-BMI≤24.9 kg/m2, Age=24.03 mean±3.7standard deviation) and 27 overweight/obese-pregnant (pre-BMI>25 kg/m2, Age=27.6 mean±3.9 standard deviation) were accounted for each trimester as10: 8 in first trimester, 10:10 in second trimester and12:9 in third trimester respectively. Twenty-two healthy married non-pregnant women of reproductive age served as controls, accounted as 10 normal-weight women (BMI ≤24.9 kg/m2) and 12 overweight/obese women (BMI>25 kg/m2). In pregnant women as a whole, irisin level significantly increased compared to control (p=0.003), and correlated with the pre-BMI, FBS, TP and HOMA2-IR. Pre-BMI and TP predicted irisin levels in a whole study population (p=0.011 and 0.014 respectively). In Overweight/Obese-pregnant, irisin increased significantly by 55.3% in first trimester compared with Overweight/Obese women control, then decreased progressively toward the end of gestation, correlated with TP, Albumin, FBS, HOMA2-IR and negatively correlated with gestational weight gained. TP and FBS independently predicted irisin level in Overweight/Obese-pregnant group. Conclusion: Circulating irisin levels are influenced by pre-BMI, and both of TP and FBS predict irisin levels in overweight/obese pregnant. Irisin level should be a radical factor in future studies for pathological conditions linked to hypoproteinemias such as edema and hepatic disease

Influence of poultry composted manure on soil organic carbon and selected soil properties under Tomato cultivation

Soil quality improvements provide an environment for plant nutrient uptake that impacts the development and yield of the crop. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of applied poultry composted organic manure (PCOM) on selected soil physical attributes and soil organic carbon content (SOC) under two tomatoes (UC82B and BESKE) varieties planted in succession. Three rates 0, 10 and 20 t ha-1 of compost were applied to two tomato varieties. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (split-plot layout). The soil physical parameters considered are - bulk density, aggregate stability, total porosity and SOC. It was observed that application of PCOM increased SOC, total porosity, aggregate stability and decreased the bulk density in the cropped tomato area. The SOC was highest in 10 t ha-1 of PCOM. Application of 10 t ha-1 compost is adequate to improve carbon content and soil physical properties for a fragile soil

Pathological and molecular study of mycotic abortion in ewes

    The aims of the present study is  to isolate the fungal species associated with ewe abortion and to examine the histopathological  changes in the placenta associated with fungal isolates .In addition to study the genetic information  of TNF alpha gene, intensity and score of TNF-alpha  protein in  aborted and normal placenta by PCR and IHC respectivly. Frozen placental tissue and paraffin embedded tissue   belong to aborted and normal groups were used for assessment of TNF alpha gene by studying the   genetic information of TNF-alpha   gene   in aborted and normal   placental sample by PCR .immmunohistochemical study was carried out to determine TNF protein in  the placental sample. The same frozen placenta tissue samples  were also used for DNA extraction to detect TNF alpha gene in the two groups.    A fragment of (238 bp ) of the TNF alpha gene was amplified by PCR using primers ,the sequence of sense and antisense primer for TNF  alpha  gene was: GAA TAC CTG GAC TAT GCC GA,CC TCA CTT CCC TAC ATC CCT (bp 238) Gene Bank:   X56756.    The study showed that 10 fungal species were isolated from aborted  placenta with high percentage of these isolates was recorded in March ,.The fungal isolates were variable according to region of sample collecting ,high percentage in the  AL-Manathera(36%),followed by Al-Kuzweenia (34%) and Al-Shabaka(30%).The fungal isolates include Coccidioides immitis (16%). Asperigllus.fumigitus (14%), Trichophyton, Rhodetella rubra,  and Aspergillus.ochraus ,(10%) for each one . Candida  kruzei,(8%). Aspergillus.flavus and Geotrichum ,6%) for each one . Prototheca..zopfi, Saccharomyces.cerevisia, Blast.capitatuss, Cryptococcus uniguttultus and Candida zeylanoides,(4%) for each one .           This study revealed the presence of ~238bp band in addition to the ~300 ,400 and 600  bp desired fragment in PCR products that  related to aborted samples compared to normal one .,this may be  due to polymorphism within the TNF gene itself.       We  found a significant elevated TNF alpha  protein   in inflammatory cell (macrophage) of aborted sheep placenta (increasing of intensity and score), while no changes could be observed for pro-inflammatory  molecules in the control sample (normal delivery)      The current study expressed   correlation between polymorphisms in TNF- alpha gene ,immunohistochimistry and the fungal isolated species.        The histopathological examination showed acute suppurative  placentitis, necrosis of chorion villi, congestion of  blood vessels with fibrin deposition in the  villus stroma and inter villus space, in addition to calcification in the villus stroma and  sloughing and desquamation of cytotrophoblast .numerous  yeast  and spheriols were detected in the placental tissue  by periodic acid Schiff reaction(PAS)

ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MANAGERS OF TECHNICAL COLLEGE WORKSHOPS: A CASE OF NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

This study assesses the effectiveness of managers of technical college workshops from the perspective of stakeholders in North Central Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed. Three research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A 35-item questionnaire developed by the researchers and validated by three experts was used to collect data from 101 administrators, 140 teachers, and 24 workshop personnel randomly sampled and stratified along trades in technical colleges. Mean was employed to answer the research questions while one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to test the hypotheses using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis. Result revealed that respondent shared similar opinions on the management of technical college workshops. It was therefore recommended that: The managers of the workshops should use alternative approaches in the management of workshop instead of waiting for government to provide everything; maintenance of tools should be a regular practice in the workshops; administrators should recommend teachers and workshop personnel to attend seminars regularly in order to update their knowledge on current practices in the management of technical college workshops among others

Does coenzyme-Q have a protective effect against atorvastatin induced myopathy? A histopathological and immunohistochemical study in albino rats

Introduction. In addition to their lipidlowering effect, statins have pleiotropic effects that may extend their use to the treatment and prevention of various other diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Consequently, the number of patients taking statins is expected to increase. A side effect of statins, statin-induced myopathy, which may result from reduced muscular coenzyme Q10 levels, limits their use. The current study investigates if supplementing with CoQ10 could ameliorate statin induced myopathy. Materials and Methods. Forty adult male albino rats were randomized into 4 groups, with 10 rats per group. The following was administered to the rats using oral gavage for 4 weeks: Group 1: 2 ml of 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose once daily. Group 2: 100 mg/kg/ day coenzyme Q10 dissolved in 2 ml of cotton seed oil. Group 3: 10 mg/kg once daily atorvastatin dissolved in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose. Group 4: concomitantly received CoQ10 and atorvastatin similar to groups 2 and 3 respectively. Plasma creatine kinase levels were measured by using spectrophotometer. The right extensor digitorum longus muscle sections were stained for histological (Haematoxylin & Eosin, Masson trichrome and Phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin) and immunohistochemical (cytochrome C and Bax) examinations. Quantitative measures of cytochrome C and Bax were carried out using image analyzer. Results. Atorvastatin induced increased total creatine kinase, skeletal muscle variations in the sizes and shapes, necrosis, disorganization, nuclear pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis, dismantled plasma membrane, excess collagen fibers and lipid deposition in addition to loss of cross striation. Atorvastatin increased the intensity of the immune-positive reactions of cytochrome C and Bax. These changes were ameliorated by concomitantly giving coenzyme Q10. Conclusion: CoQ10 may ameliorate atorvastatin induced skeletal muscle injury

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population