Nutritional composition of aquatic plants and their potential for use as animal feed: A case study of the Lower Volta Basin, Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-112
Author(s):  
WEMEGAH JOSHUA ETSE ◽  
TED Y. ANNANG ◽  
JESSE S. AYIVOR

Etse WJ, Annang T, Ayivor JS. 2018. Nutritional composition of aquatic plants and their potential for use as animal feed: a case study of the Lower Volta Basin, Ghana. Biofarmasi J Nat Prod Biochem 9: 99-112. The study was conducted to determine the nutritional composition of selected dominant aquatic plants and their significant effect on the chemical and physical characteristics of the water. Aquatic plants namely Nymphaea lotus, Typha australis, Ipomoea aquatica, and Scirpus cubensis were collected, identified and authenticated at the Ghana Herbarium. The proximate nutritional compositions of these plants were measured using the standard procedure outlined in the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC 2002). Water and sediment quality analyses of some physicochemical variables were also carried out using processes described in the standard methods for water and wastewater examination. The results showed that nutrient composition such as the crude protein, ether extracts, ash content, and nitrogen-free extracts was significantly higher than the corresponding constituents in Panicum maximum used as a control for the study. The findings also indicated that levels of heavy metals in all plants fell within the WHO/FAO standards for metals in vegetables and food. The effects of the physicochemical parameter of water also revealed that pH, nitrate, turbidity, DO, and BOD levels were found significantly different from the control site. The level of heavy metal in the sediment samples revealed significant variations in the distribution of the metals, with Zn showing the most significant difference and Pb the least with a mean level of 7.5±0.86 mg/L and 0.4±0.03 mg/L respectively. These plant species suggests having a high nutritive potential and indicates their possible use as mixed ingredients in animal feed. Exploitation of these aquatic plants for animal feed would be a step towards better utilization of these plants help in the management of aquatic plants within the basin.

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 1196-1202
Author(s):  
Himmatul Hasanah ◽  
Joelal Achmadi ◽  
Eko Pangestu ◽  
Ali Agus

This study aims to sup determine the utilization of water spinach as a substitute for forage sources, digestibility, and feed degradation. Klaten Regency is one of the producers of water spinach that has the potential to be developed as the center for producing the largest water spinach at the regional level and has a role as one of supporting the needs of ruminant animal feed at regional and regional levels during the dry season. The method used is a survey, sampling technique with stratified random sampling. The conclusion of the results of this study is the total supply of the use of water spinach reached the level of 20% resulting in higher total gas production, although it did not show a significant difference in VFA digestibility and production in vitro compared to the control. Feed digestibility increased with the addition of water spinach in a feed with a productivity average of 2.05 tons/ha of 3,947 ha of land area. The scheme (chain) of the supply of dried water spinach straw material is 41.25% for privately owned ruminants, and 58.75% is sold to middlemen by being sold to farmers outside the Klaten Regency area.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Roni Kusnowo ◽  
Kus Hanaldi

Animal feed knife is a tool that serves to cut and chop animal feed consisting of grass as the main ingredient with additives such as bran, herbs, centrate, cassava, tofu pulp and others. Therefore, as a cutting tool must have the properties of friction resistance, impact resistance, and have good sharpness, so that the material chosen is Ni-Hard 1. The use of centrifugal casting method was chosen because it has the advantage of being able to make castings with relatively thin thickness this is due to the influence of the centrifugal force on the distribution of metal liquids throughout the cavity in the mold. Case study in this study is the use of centrifugal casting methods as an alternative to gravity casting methods to overcome defects of misruns. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of speed on the formation of castings products. The method that was carried out began with a literature study on centrifugal casting, and continued by determining the material, the temperature of the cast is in the range 1250ºC - 1300ºC, and the type of mold. The next step is to do work drawings, pattern making, mold making, casting processes, fettling processes, and analysis. With variations in speed of 200 rpm, 300 rpm and 400 rpm, it can be seen the optimal speed for making this product. The results of this study obtained optimal speed at a speed of 300 rpm to make good quality of animal feed knife products.


Author(s):  
Youngjun Park ◽  
Haekwon Chung ◽  
Sohyun Park

Aim: This study explores the changes in regular walking activities during the phases of the pandemic. Background: With the spread of COVID-19 transmission, people are refraining from going out, reducing their physical activity. In South Korea, COVID-19 broke out in the 4th week of 2020 and experienced the first cycle phases of the pandemic, such as outbreak, widespread, and decline. In response to the pandemic, the government encouraged voluntary participation in social distancing campaigns, and people reduced their outside activities. Methods: This article examines the decrease and increase of the Prevalence of Regular Walking (≥30 min of moderate walking a day, on ≥5 days a week) by the COVID-19 phases. This study is based on weekly walking data for 15 weeks in 2020, via the smartphone healthcare app, which is managed by 25 public health offices of the Seoul government. Results: According to the findings, the level of prevalence of regular walking (PRW) has a significant difference before and after the outbreak, and every interval of the four-stage COVID-19 phases, that is, pre-pandemic, initiation, acceleration, and deceleration. The level of PRW sharply decreased during initiation and acceleration intervals. In the deceleration interval of COVID-19, the PRW kept increasing, but it has not yet reached the same level as the previous year when the COVID-19 did not exist. Conclusions: As a preliminary study, this study explains empirically how COVID-19 changed PRW in Seoul. It would be helpful to enhance our understanding of the changes in physical inactivity in the pandemic period.


Human Affairs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-596
Author(s):  
Elena Popa

AbstractThis paper investigates the concept of behavioral autonomy in Artificial Life by drawing a parallel to the use of teleological notions in the study of biological life. Contrary to one of the leading assumptions in Artificial Life research, I argue that there is a significant difference in how autonomous behavior is understood in artificial and biological life forms: the former is underlain by human goals in a way that the latter is not. While behavioral traits can be explained in relation to evolutionary history in biological organisms, in synthetic life forms behavior depends on a design driven by a research agenda, further shaped by broader human goals. This point will be illustrated with a case study on a synthetic life form. Consequently, the putative epistemic benefit of reaching a better understanding of behavioral autonomy in biological organisms by synthesizing artificial life forms is subject to doubt: the autonomy observed in such artificial organisms may be a mere projection of human agency. Further questions arise in relation to the need to spell out the relevant human aims when addressing potential social or ethical implications of synthesizing artificial life forms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Nyangi ◽  
Elizabeth Kigondu ◽  
Beatrice Irungu ◽  
Margaret Nganga ◽  
Anthony Gachanja ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Vector control is an essential component in prevention and control of malaria in malaria endemic areas. Insecticide treated nets is one of the standard tools recommended for malaria vector control. The objective of the study was to determine physical integrity and insecticidal potency of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) used in control of malaria vector in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Method The study targeted households in an area which had received LLINs during mass net distribution in 2016 from Ministry of Health. A total of 420 households were sampled using systematic sampling method, where the household heads consented to participate in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to assess care and use while physical examination was used to determine integrity. Chemical concentration was determined by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. Results After 18 months of use, 96.9% (95% CI: 95.2–98.6%) of the distributed nets were still available. Regarding net utilization, 94.1% of household heads reported sleeping under an LLIN the previous night. After physical examination, 49.9% (95% CI: 43–52.8%) of the bed nets had at least one hole. The median number of holes of any size was 2[interquartile range (IQR) 1–4], and most holes were located on the lower part of the nets, [median 3 (IQR 2–5)]. Only 15% of the nets with holes had been repaired. The median concentration for α-cypermethrin was 7.15 mg/m2 (IQR 4.25–15.31) and 0.00 mg/g (IQR 0.00–1.99) for permethrin. Based on pHI, Chi-square test varied significantly with the manufacturer (X (6, N = 389) = 29.14, p = 0.04). There was no significant difference between nets with different number of washes (X2(2) = 4.55, p = 0.103). Conclusion More than three-quarters of the nets supplied had survived and insecticidal potency was adequate in vector control. Standard procedure for field evaluation of surface insecticidal content available to a mosquito after landing on a net to rest is recommended.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supattra Sroypetch ◽  
Neil Carr ◽  
Tara Duncan

This paper examines host and backpacker perceptions of the environmental impacts of backpacker tourism on local communities in less-developed countries. The discussion is based on data collected in 2011 via surveys and interviews with host and backpacker populations in the Yasawa Islands of Fiji. The results suggest that there is a significant difference between the perceptions of hosts and their guests towards the environmental impacts of backpacker tourism. Backpackers believe that they generate a higher extent of negative environmental impacts on the destination than those perceived by their hosts. This study broadens the understanding of the impacts of backpacker tourism from dual perspectives – both the hosts and guests.


Author(s):  
Anggun Putri Romadhina ◽  
Eka Kusuma Dewi

The first Covid-19 case in Indonesia was announced on March 2, 2020. This study aims to determine whether there is a significant difference in stock prices, stock transaction volume and stock returns due to the COVID-19 pandemic (case study at PT. Agung Podomoro Land, Tbk). This research data was taken 90 days before and 90 days after the announcement of the first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia. The data was processed by paired sample t-test, using SPSS version 20. From the results of data processing, it was shown that there was a significant difference in stock prices before and after the announcement of the first case of covid-19 in Indonesia. This is indicated by a significance value of 0.000 < 0.05 where the stock price has decreased compared to before the Covid-19 case. Meanwhile, the volume of stock transactions also showed a significant difference with a significance value of 0.007 <0.05, where the volume of stock transactions after the announcement showed a decrease. Likewise, stock returns show a significant difference with a significance value of 0.025 < 0.05 where stock returns have decreased after the announcement of the first case of covid-10 in Indonesia.  


AoB Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanli Zhao ◽  
Peili Fu ◽  
Guolan Liu ◽  
Ping Zhao

Abstract Emergent aquatic plants mostly occur in shallow waters and root in bottom substrates, but their leaves emerge from the water surface and are thus exposed to air, similar to the leaves of terrestrial plants. Previous studies have found coordination between leaf water supply and demand in terrestrial plants; however, whether such a coordination exists in emergent aquatic plants remains unknown. In this study, we analysed leaf veins and stomatal characteristics of 14 emergent aquatic and 13 terrestrial monocotyledonous herb species (EMH and TMH), with 5 EMH and 8 TMH belonging to Poaceae. We found that EMH had significantly higher mean leaf area, leaf thickness, stomatal density, stomatal number per vein length and major vein diameter, but lower mean major vein length per area (VLA) and total VLA than TMH. There was no significant difference in stomatal length, minor VLA and minor vein diameter between the two groups. Stomatal density and total VLA were positively correlated among the EMH, TMH, as well as the 8 Poaceae TMH species, but this correlation became non-significant when data from both the groups were pooled. Our results showed that the differences in water supply between emergent aquatic and terrestrial plants modify the coordination of their leaf veins and stomatal traits.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 396-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bolaji Fatai OYEYEMI ◽  
John Oluwafemi ADEBAYO ◽  
Abass Toba ANIFOWOSHE ◽  
Oluyinka Ajibola IYIOLA

Digit ratio (2D:4D) denotes the relative length of the second and fourth digits. There are contradicting reports on its relationship with ethnicity/race, whereas convincing studies show it is related to obesity. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to demystify ethnic difference in 2D:4D ratio and to analyze its relationship with obesity among adults in Ilorin Nigeria. The cross-sectional study included 701 individuals. Finger lengths were measured with electronic calipers and other anthropometric traits were measured with standard procedure. Student t test and one-way ANOVA were used to detect differences among groups and relationship was computed with Pearson correlation. The receiver operator characteristic curves were used to detect the diagnostic effect of 2D:4D for obesity. The obtained results showed sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D ratio and other anthropometrics at p < 0.01. Obesity was associated with significantly higher mean of 2D:4D in both genders (female 0.9814 ± 0.012:0.9700 ± 0.012; male 0.9700 ± 0.010:0.9592 ± 0.010 at p < 0.001). The area under the curve was 0.753 (95% CI 0.677-0.829, p < 0.01) and 0.798 (95% CI 0.756-0.804, p < 0.01) in female and male R2D:4D respectively for obesity, implying that 2D:4D might be a surrogate marker for obesity in future.  No significant difference was found in 2D:4D among different ethnic groups studied (p >0.05); this result proved that there was no ethnic specificity in 2D:4D ratio among study’ participants. Thus, it can be reported that the digit ratio was related to high 2D:4D, but this cannot be said for different ethnic groups. The results imply that 2D:4D might be a good surrogate indicator for obesity, but not ethnicity.  


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