scholarly journals SEASONAL EFFECTS ON OESTRUS PATTERNS AND PROGESTERONE PROFILES OF YANKASA EWES OF DIFFERENT AGE-GROUPS IN THE SUB-HUMID TROPICS

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-216
Author(s):  
B. S. OLADIMEJI ◽  
O. A. OSINOWO, ◽  
J. P. ALAWA ◽  
J. O. HAMBOLU

Oestrus patterns and serum progesterone profiles of 10 adult and 10 yearling Yankasa ewes were investigated in the late hot-dry and late-wet seasons in the subhumid tropical climate of Zaria, Nigeria. The proportions of ewes which came on heat once, twice or thrice within the experimental periods in the late hot-dry and late-wet seasons were 25, 15 and 0%, and 5, 10 and 85% respectively, while mean oestrous cycle length was significantly longer (P<0.001) in the hot-dry season than in the late-wet season (30.9 vs 18.4 days) due to the higher incidence of anoestrus in the former. However, the mean duration of oestrus was not affected by season. Mean serum progesterone levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the late-wet season than in the late hot-dry season (1.57 vs 0.52 ng/ml). However, there was a highly significant (P<0.001) interaction between season and age group in mean serum progesterone levels due to a relatively greater depression in progesterone levels in yearling ewes during the hot-dry season compared with adult ewes. The observed disruptions in the oestrus cycle and serum progesterone levels of the ewes in the hot-dry season confirm the adverse effect of heat stress on the reproductive behaviour of ewes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. p16
Author(s):  
Bernard Tarza Tyubee ◽  
Raymond NlemadimChima Anyadike

The study analysed variation in surface temperature (ST) in Makurdi Urban Area (MUA), Northcentral Nigeria. A total of 12 Landsat TM/ETM+ images were acquired in January, April and June of 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. The ST was estimated from the 12 Landsat TM/ETM+ images, grouped into seven classes, and the area of each ST class was determined using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). The ST magnitudes vary spatially from 27.5oC (water bodies) to 50.7oC (built-up land), representing an intensity of 23.2oC. The mean seasonal ST varies from 32.4oC-34.5oC (cool-dry season), 35.5oC-38.8oC (hot-dry season) and 30.8oC-31.4oC (hot-wet season). The mean annual ST has increased from 32.9oC (1991) to 35.9oC (2006) with ST intensity of 3.0oC. The ST classes of 27oC-29oC and 33oC-37oC recorded the highest loss and gain in area of -126.5km2 and 94.5km2 whereas ST classes of 29oC-33oC and 41oC-45oC recorded the least and highest per centage change in area of 22% and 768%. The result showed decreasing and increasing trends in the areas of cooler and warmer surfaces, which are attributed to increase in anthropogen surface materials, with higher heat storage capacities, due to urbanisation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Ayuna ◽  
Ayyaz Sultan

Abstract Background Early diagnosis and treatment of ACS can reduce the risk of complications and death. Delay calling for help can increase morbidity and mortality. It is unclear which age group among patients with acute coronary syndrome tend to delay their call for help. Results Our observational retrospective study showed that men and women in their 50s and 40s respectively tend to delay their call for help from symptoms onset. For the former, the mean time delays (590 ± 71.1 min), whereas for the latter it was (1084 ± 120.1 min). Moreover, these groups tend to have a longer time delay between symptoms onset and arrival at the hospital. Among deaths, we observed that the death rate was proportional to the time delay, which is not unexpected. Next step, we plan to perform a qualitative study in the form of questionnaires to target the individuals with a high risk of CVD within these age groups. Conclusion Middle age group of both genders tend to delay their call for help when they experience symptoms of ACS; moreover, regardless of the age, the longer the delay, the higher the mortality rate. The results of this study gave us a better understanding of our local population and will pave the road for a well-structured teaching programme for them to minimise the time delay for calling for help.


2004 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Ng'ang'a ◽  
N. Maingi ◽  
W.K. Munyua ◽  
P.W.N. Kanyari

A survey on the prevalence and intensity of infection with gastrointestinal helminths of Dorper sheep in relation to age and weather factors was carried out on a ranch in Kajiado district, a semi-arid area of Kenya for a period of 13 months (May 1999 to May 2000). Faecal samples from lambs (3 months to 1 year), yearlings (1-2 years) and adult breeding ewes (2-4 years) were examined for helminth egg output and helminth genus composition at 3-week intervals. The results indicated that the prevalence of strongyle and tapeworms infections were highest for lambs, followed by the adult breeding ewes and then for the yearlings. In all age groups the proportions of infected animals were higher during the wet season than in the dry season for both nematodes and tapeworms. The mean strongyle egg counts were higher during the dry season for lambs, but were higher during the wet season for the other age groups. Mixed strongyle infections were detected, with Trichostrongylus (55 %), Haemonchus (28 %), Cooperia (10.5 %) and Oesophagostomum (6.5 %) being the most frequently encountered genera throughout the study period. The trends in strongyle faecal egg counts indicated the occurrence of hypobiosis, with resumption of development towards the end of the dry season and at the onset of the short rains in October and November. Self-cure was also observed in September and November in all age groups, although less frequently in lactating ewes. The prevalence and intensities of infection with gastrointestinal helminths in this area appeared to be influenced by the age of the host and weather factors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1466-1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flor Diana Yokoay Claros Chacaltana ◽  
João Antonio Tadeu Pigatto ◽  
Ione Terezinha Denardin

ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to measure the intraocular pressure (IOP) of normal chinchilla eyes using the rebound tonometer. A further aim was to assess whether there were differences in the values of intraocular pressure in relation to animals age, gender and time of day. Thirty-six chinchillas were divided into three groups of 12 chinchillas each, by age: Group I (2-6-month-old), Group II (20 and 34 months) and Group III (37 and 135 months). Ophthalmic examination was performed previously by Schirmer tear test, slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein test in all chinchillas. Three measurements of intraocular pressure were assessed on the same day (7, 12 and 19h). Tonometry was performed on both eyes using the rebound tonometer after calibration in "p" mode. Statistical analysis was performed with SigmaPlot for Windows. The mean IOP for groups I, II and III were 2.47±0.581mmHg, 2.47±0.581mmHg and 2.51±0.531mmHg, respectively. No significant differences were reported between age and IOP and no significant differences were reported between the time of day and IOP. The IOP in chinchillas did not differ significantly between genders or ages of the animals, and did not change with time of day.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-309
Author(s):  
Manzoor Ahmad Bhat

The study aimed to compare the Body Composition in Various Age Groups among Individual and Team Sport. A total of one hundred twenty (120) subjects, comprising 60 Individual and 60 Team sport of district Kulgam J&K, further out of 60 individual sports players 20 players were of the age group between 20-25, ( 20 ) players were of the age group between 25- 30 and 20 players were of the age group between 30-35. the same procedure was followed for 60 team sports players. The Subjects were selected by using purposive sampling. The age of the subjects ranged between 20-25, the second group 25-30, and the third group 30-35. To analyze and compare the Body Composition and fat percentage in three different age groups among individual sports and team sports, the Following equipment and test were used: the data related to Fat Percentage was measured by Skinfold Calipers. BMI: it was estimated by Stadiometer and weighing machine. ).the data that was collected after applying standard testing kits were written in separate columns and was cross-checked for all three different age groups. Individual and team sports of district kulgam. Then the analysis of data was carried out by applying various statistical techniques like average., standard deviation and through the application of formula of t-test to find out the significant difference of all selected physical variables I,e BMI and fat percentage in various age groups among individual and team sports players of kulgam district the level of significance as per norm was kept as (p<0.05). the mean and standard deviation of BMI in 20-25 age group individual game players is ( 22.02 ±2.20) respectively, and the mean and standard deviation of BMI in 20-25 age group of team sports players is (18.01 ±1.81), with an average difference of 4.01. ). Hence individual sports players were found with a higher BMI than team sports players under the 20-25 age group. BMI in the 25-30 age group individual game players is (23.09±1.76) respectively, and the mean and standard deviation of BMI in 25-30 age group of team sports players is (20.07±3.36), with an average difference of 3.02. ). Hence under this age group, the individual sports players were found with a higher BMI than team sports groups. The mean and standard deviation of BMI in 30-35 age group individual game players is (19.30±2.07) respectively, and the mean and standard deviation of BMI in 30-35 age group of team sports players is (22.17 ±3.47), with an average difference of 2.87. Hence, team sports players were found with a higher BMI under the age group than individual sports players. The mean and standard deviation of fat percentage in 20-25 age group individual game players is (11.09±4.83) respectively, and the mean and standard deviation of fat percentage in 20-25 age group of team sports players is (9.02±4.18), with an average difference of 2.17.).Hence under this age group, individual sports players were found fatty as compared to team sports players. The mean and standard deviation of fat percentage in 25-30 age group individual game players is (10.01±3.53) respectively, and the mean and standard deviation of BMI in 25-30 age group of team sports players is (14.04±7.48), with an average difference of 4.13. ). Hence under this age group, team sports players were found fatty as compared to individual sports players. The mean and standard deviation of BMI in 30-35 age group individual game players is (14.08±2.81) respectively, and the mean and standard deviation of fat percentage in 30-35 age group of team sports players is (18.01±5.64), with an average difference of 3.64. Hence under this age group, team sports players were found fatty as compared to individual sports players


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 841-845
Author(s):  
C.A.E. Ibhadode ◽  
I.R. Ilaboya

Groundwater pollution by heavy metals such as lead, copper, nickel and iron is one of the major environmental issues of concern which has developed into a widely studied area. In this study, attempt was made to investigate the level of heavy metals in selected boreholes around the vicinity of cemeteries in Benin City. Seventy-two (72) samples of groundwater were taken from boreholes in 9 stations around the three cemeteries in Benin City on monthly basis. The samples were analysed for 7 heavy metals, in accordance with standard procedures. The heavy metals include; Zinc, Lead Iron, Copper, Cadmium, Nickel and Mercury. From the results of the study, a variation in the mean concentration of zinc was observed. The mean concentration of zinc in site 1 was 0.450mg/l, for site 2, it was 0.140mg/l and for site 3, it was 1.0533mg/l. For iron, mean concentration was 0.072mg/l in site 1. For site 2, mean concentration of iron was 2.140mg/l and for site 3, mean concentration of iron was 0.560mg/l. It was further revealed based on the results that mean value of heavy metals in groundwater around cemeteries in Benin City were generally lower during dry season compared to wet season. In addition, result of computed pollution index (Pi) revealed that the heavy metal with the highest potential to pollute groundwater is Cadmium, with Pi of 0.5333 and 0.400 representing dry season and wet season respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-105
Author(s):  
A.N. Okereke ◽  
J.C. Ike-Obasi

Seasonal effects on microbial load of sediment and water at different locations along Bonny Estuary of Niger Delta was investigated for a period of 12 months. All analyses followed standard procedure. Results revealed that total fungi counts in sediment and water at different locations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) at both wet and dry seasons while hydrocarbon utilizing fungi showed significant differences (p < 0.05) at both seasons in both sediment and water samples. During the wet season, total faecal counts ranged from 5.0 to 10.0 x 105 CFU/g for sediment and 4.0 to 7.0x 105 CFU/g in water. In dry season, the concentration of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in the sediment ranged between 0.1 x 105 CFU/ml/g and 8.0 x 105 CFU/ml/g in wet season while in dry season, the concentration in water ranged between 0.1 x 105 CFU/ml/g and 6.0 x 105 CFU/ml/g at Abuloma. At Okwujagu, total heterotrophic bacteria counts in sediment ranged  from 0.1 to 8.0 x 105 CFU/g in dry season. This was higher than the range 0.1 to 6.8.0 x 105 CFU/ recorded in Abuloma, Okwujagu and Slaughter at dry season. The highest vibrio counts in water (11.0 x 105 CFU/ml) for wet and (10.0 x 105 CFU/ml) for dry seasons were recorded at Slaughter. In Oginiba, the feacal count recorded 3.0 x 105 CFU/ml in water during the wet season and 2.0 x 105 CFU/ml for dry season. Generally, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the bacterial concentrations in both sediment and water. This showed that different seasons favour the growth of certain microbial types.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
Ashok Koirala ◽  
Dipendra Thakur ◽  
Sunit Agrawal ◽  
Bhuwan Lal Chaudhary ◽  
Sagar Poudel

 Background: Acute appendicitis is very common surgical cause of acute abdomen and needs surgical removal either by laparoscopic or open appendicectomy. The aim of this study is to compare frequency of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing laparoscopic and open appendicectomy. Materials and Methods: The study was prospective study conducted in NMCTH, Biratnagar. Total 200 patients with diagnosis of acute appendicitis admitted through the emergency department of our hospital were included in the study. The patients were randomly allocated in two groups: Laparoscopic appendicectomy group (LA) and Open appendicectomy group (OA). Both groups underwent successful emergency appendicectomy. Wound infections in terms of surgical site infection (SSI) if present were recorded. All age groups and both sexes were included.  Results: Two hundred patients underwent appendicectomy, one hundred Laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) and another hundred open appendicectomy (OA). The mean age of patients with acute appendicitis was 30.63±16.14 years with minimum of 6 years and maximum of 77 years. The highest number of patients were in age group of 10 to 20 years (29.5%). In LA group SSI noted in 3 patients (3%) whereas in OA group it was found in 12 patients (12%). Conclusion: Laparoscopic appendicectomy is better and offers great advantages in terms of SSI as compared to Open appendicectomy.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 10773-10797 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Shilling ◽  
Mikhail S. Pekour ◽  
Edward C. Fortner ◽  
Paulo Artaxo ◽  
Suzane de Sá ◽  
...  

Abstract. The Green Ocean Amazon (GoAmazon 2014/5) campaign, conducted from January 2014 to December 2015 in the vicinity of Manaus, Brazil, was designed to study the aerosol life cycle and aerosol–cloud interactions in both pristine and anthropogenically influenced conditions. As part of this campaign, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Gulfstream 1 (G-1) research aircraft was deployed from 17 February to 25 March 2014 (wet season) and 6 September to 5 October 2014 (dry season) to investigate aerosol and cloud properties aloft. Here, we present results from the G-1 deployments focusing on measurements of the aerosol chemical composition and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and aging. In the first portion of the paper, we provide an overview of the data and compare and contrast the data from the wet and dry season. Organic aerosol (OA) dominates the deployment-averaged chemical composition, comprising 80 % of the non-refractory PM1 aerosol mass, with sulfate comprising 14 %, nitrate 2 %, and ammonium 4 %. This product distribution was unchanged between seasons, despite the fact that total aerosol loading was significantly higher in the dry season and that regional and local biomass burning was a significant source of OA mass in the dry, but not wet, season. However, the OA was more oxidized in the dry season, with the median of the mean carbon oxidation state increasing from −0.45 in the wet season to −0.02 in the dry season. In the second portion of the paper, we discuss the evolution of the Manaus plume, focusing on 13 March 2014, one of the exemplary days in the wet season. On this flight, we observe a clear increase in OA concentrations in the Manaus plume relative to the background. As the plume is transported downwind and ages, we observe dynamic changes in the OA. The mean carbon oxidation state of the OA increases from −0.6 to −0.45 during the 4–5 h of photochemical aging. Hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) mass is lost, with ΔHOA∕ΔCO values decreasing from 17.6 µg m−3 ppmv−1 over Manaus to 10.6 µg m−3 ppmv−1 95 km downwind. Loss of HOA is balanced out by formation of oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), with ΔOOA∕ΔCO increasing from 9.2 to 23.1 µg m−3 ppmv−1. Because hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) loss is balanced by OOA formation, we observe little change in the net Δorg∕ΔCO values; Δorg∕ΔCO averages 31 µg m−3 ppmv−1 and does not increase with aging. Analysis of the Manaus plume evolution using data from two additional flights in the wet season showed similar trends in Δorg∕ΔCO to the 13 March flight; Δorg∕ΔCO values averaged 34 µg m−3 ppmv−1 and showed little change over 4–6.5 h of aging. Our observation of constant Δorg∕ΔCO are in contrast to literature studies of the outflow of several North American cities, which report significant increases in Δorg∕ΔCO for the first day of plume aging. These observations suggest that SOA formation in the Manaus plume occurs, at least in part, by a different mechanism than observed in urban outflow plumes in most other literature studies. Constant Δorg∕ΔCO with plume aging has been observed in many biomass burning plumes, but we are unaware of reports of fresh urban emissions aging in this manner. These observations show that urban pollution emitted from Manaus in the wet season forms less particulate downwind as it ages than urban pollution emitted from North American cities.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego A. Gouveia ◽  
Boris Barja ◽  
Henrique M. J. Barbosa ◽  
Theotônio Pauliquevis ◽  
Paulo Artaxo

Abstract. For one year, from July 2011 to June 2012, a ground-based raman lidar provided atmospheric observations north of Manaus, Brazil, at an experimental site (2.89° S and 59.97° W) for long-term aerosol and cloud measurements. Upper tropospheric cirrus clouds were observed more frequently than previous reports in tropical regions. The frequency of occurrence was found to be as high as 82 % during the wet season and not lower than 55 % during the dry season. The diurnal cycle shows a minimum around local noon and maximum during late afternoon, associated with the diurnal cycle precipitation. Optical and geometrical characteristics of these cirrus clouds were derived. The mean values were 14.4 ± 2.0 km (top), 12.7 ± 2.3 km (base), 1.7 ± 1.5 km (thickness), and 0.36 ± 1.20 (cloud optical depth). Cirrus clouds were found at temperatures down to –90 °C and 7 % were above the tropopause base. The vertical distribution was not uniform and two cloud types were identified: (1) cloud base > 14 km and optical depth ~0.02, and (2) cloud base < 14 km and optical depth ~0.2. A third type, not previously reported, was identified during the wet season, between 16 and 18 km with optical depth ~0.005. The mean lidar ratio was 20.2 ± 7.0 sr, indicating a mixture of thick plates and long columns. However, the clouds above 14 km have a bimodal distribution during the dry season with a secondary peak at about 40 sr suggesting that thin plates are a major habit. A dependence of the lidar ratio with cloud temperature (altitude) was not found, thus indicating they are well mixed in the vertical. Cirrus clouds classified as subvisible (τ < 0.03) were 40 %, whilst 37.7 % were thin cirrus (0.03 < τ < 0.3) and 22.3 % opaque cirrus (τ > 0.3). Hence, not only does the central Amazon have a high frequency of cirrus clouds, but a large fraction of subvisible cirrus clouds as well. This high frequency of subvisible cirrus clouds may contaminate aerosol optical depth measured by sun-photometers and satellite sensors to an unknown extent.


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