Effect of Different Doses of 17 Α -Methyltestosterone on Masculinization, Pre-Post Treatment Growth Parameters and Condition Factor of Sarotherodon Melanotheron in Pond System

Over-population and stunted growth had been major challenges in the culture of tilapia. The use of synthetic androgen 17- α Methyl Testosterone (MT) was a breakthrough. However, its optimum level towards effective masculinization and growth is a concern. The aim of this research was to ascertain the optimum level of MT towards effective all-male population production and growth of Black-Chinned tilapia. In the present study, the effect of different dose rates of synthetic androgen 17-α Methyl Testosterone (MT) i.e., 0, 30, 60, and 120 mg of the hormone per kg of feed on sex, growth, and condition of Black-Chinned tilapia was evaluated. MT was administered orally by using powdered dry starter feed (Crude Protein 40 %) and Ethanol. The fry was fed for 30 days in the experimental tanks. At the end of the experiment, the sex ratios were determined by examining the operculum coloration as a means of sex identification. Growth performance was monitored by measuring and recording the morphometric characteristics. Bodyweight and total length of the fish on the start of feeding, end of feeding (one month sex reversal period), and two months after feeding were measured. The results of the present study showed that all MT receiving treatment showed a significantly higher male proportion than the control (0 mg MT/kg feed individuals). In all MT treatments groups, the control expects the 30 mg MT/kg in feed individuals’ deviate significantly from the normal 1:1 sex ratio (Chi-square analysis). The dose rate of 120 mg MT /kg feed resulted in the maximum male population (92.7%). Hence, for an effective high percentage of all-male population production in Black-Chinned tilapia, 120 mg MT /kg in feed is recommended. In terms of growth and condition factor, all the individual treatments, as well as the control, showed no significant difference. All the treated individuals showed similar condition factors during the pre and post-treatment, however, the individuals treated with 30 mg MT /kg feed exhibited better condition during the pre-treatment than the post-treatment period. Temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen recorded in this study were within the desirable limit for tilapia.

Predicting Population Status of Gum and Resin Bearing Plant Species from Size Distributions in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia: Inferences for Their Sustainable Management

Diversity, population structures, and regeneration status of gum- and resin-producing woody species, were assessed in 116 sample plots, each measuring 400 m2 and established along line transects. The data were collected in two selected districts, namely, Sherkole and Kurmuk in Benishangul-Gumuz National Regional State, one of the gums and resin belts in western Ethiopia. The gum- and resin-producing woody species had 1.04 and 0.7 diversity and 0.576 and 0.49 evenness values at Kurmuk and Sherkole districts, respectively. They accounted for 26% and 46% of the density, 51% and 58% of the basal area, and 32% and 53% of the Importance Value Index of all the woody species, respectively. The gum- and resin-bearing woody species exhibited three patterns of population structure. The first pattern suggests good reproduction abilities of the species coupled with a good recruitment of seedlings and their subsequent continuous growth to replace older individuals over time, indicating stable regeneration. About 61% of the gum- and resin-bearing woody species fall under this category. The other two patterns indicate the hampered regeneration status of the woody species. Heavy grazing, conversion to cropland by small-scale farming, gold mining, recurrent fire, and climate change were mentioned as major bottlenecks of natural regeneration and recruitment. Policy, extension, and research recommendations are discussed.

Supplemental Support for Energy Yield During Supramaximal Exhaustive Sporting Events

When training athletes, it is often required to know the biochemical processes leading to the formation of high-energy compounds and increasing the coefficient of efficiency at the time of their formation. This will require taking into account the maximum desired duration of each workout, and the type of nutrients used to meet the needs of energy expenditure during the workout. In this article, the ways of energy production during the different exercises, and some training preferable for perfect energy production are represented. The paper also provides information on various factors limiting the speed of athletes and suggests ways to overcome some of these limits.

Role of Radiologic Computed Tomography in Evaluating Coronavirus (COVID-19) Patients

Objective: Coronavirus (Covid 19) is a dangerous viral disease that principally targets the respiratory system of human beings. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the significant effects resulting from Covid19 using radiologic CT scanning technology. Methods: The recent study was conducted in order to evaluate covid19 among the local public. The sample size for this study consisted of two hundred and thirty (230) patients diagnosed with coronavirus and underwent a chest computed tomography scan. The study was conducted at Najran city, between the period from September to December 2020. Results: The results showed that it is possible to diagnose the complications of coronavirus that affects the respiratory tract in an accurate manner using chest CT imaging and the main results revealed that coronavirus COVID-19 affected all, but males more than female. (50-60) Age group was the big distribution while acute respiratory failure is the most common clinical etiology. The CT scan findings revealed that bilateral pneumonia was the common complication with a high incidence rate of 32% percent and blood coagulation achieved 5% percent as the minimum distribution result. Conclusion: The sensitivity of the CT scans in assessing COVID-19 was significantly high, it has the efficiency to assess complications of COVID-19 in an accurate manner, and therefore it has been proposed to use CT scan as a complementary method in covid-19 diagnosis. More studies on coronavirus disease were recommended by the author.

Chemical, Rheological, Microbiological and Organoleptic Properties of Labneh Manufactured by Using Some Vegetable Oils

Vegetable oils have many nutritional and therapeutic benefits, as it contains essential fatty acids and antioxidant compounds. In this study, virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, and sesame oil were used in labneh manufacture for increasing its health benefits. Labneh was manufactured by using reconstituted milk skim milk powder and 1-2% of different vegetable oils. The chemical, rheological, microbiological, and organoleptic properties of labneh manufactured by using vegetable oils were determined. There were slight significant differences in moisture, protein, total nitrogen, fat, and ash values in labneh treatments while pH values decreased gradually until 21 days may be due to an increase in the acidity. Total viable count was gradually increased during storage up to 14 days, then they decreased in 21 days period of storage in treatments. Lactobacillus count was gradually increased during storage up to 21 days. Coliform and staphylococcus bacteria were not detected, while yeasts and molds were detected and reached a maximum at 21 days. Fracture, hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness springiness, and chewiness of fresh labneh treatments were determined. Organoleptic properties showed that with the increase in the percentage of vegetable oils, the total score of labneh treatments decreased, except for sesame oil. On other hand, all labneh treatments were sensually acceptable. The best treatment was fortified with 1% sunflower oil, it had a total score higher than the control treatment. Fortified labneh with virgin olive, sunflower, corn, and sesame oils can be considered as a new product with functional properties.

Effect of Partial Feed Deprivation on Serum Liver Enzymes’ Activities and Hepatic Histoarchitecture in Clarias gariepinus (African Catfish)

The aim of this study was to evaluate serum liver enzymes’ activities and hepatic histoarchitecture in partially feed-deprived Clarias gariepinus (African Catfish). A total of forty-eight (48) active, live and apparently normal catfish randomly placed into two groups were used for this study. Fish in control group (labeled B) were fed with 4% of their body weight twice daily while fish in the feed-deprived group (labeled A) were fed with 25% of that quantity fed to the control group. Blood and liver samples were obtained at intervals of 7 days for 28 days for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and for histopathology respectively. Results revealed significantly higher (P < 0.05) values for ALT, AST and ALP in the feed-deprived group (A) compared to the control group (B). On histopathology, liver sections of feed-deprived fish showed lipid vacuolation and this became accentuated over the period and most prominent on day 28. The study has demonstrated that starvation in catfish produced liver damage reflected by increase in serum activities of these liver enzymes.

Particulates Distribution Around Smallholder Gari Production Facilities in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

This study evaluated the distribution of particulates (PM1, PM 2.5, PM 4, PM 7, PM 10, and TSP) around smallholder gari production facilities in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. The particulates were evaluated at 3 distances (3.05, 7.62, and 15.24 m) from emission source in the dry season (November, January, and March) and wet season (May, July, and September) in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Abia states. A mini-volume air sampler was used to assess the concentration of particulates, while health risk was assessed following standard protocol using median and geometric mean as reference values. The particulates ranged from 11.54 – 14.99 µg/m3, 18.70 – 22.34 µg/m3, 26.12 – 36.04 µg/m3, 37.00 – 52.26 µg/m3, 46.91 – 72.49 µg/m3 and 57.94 – 99.49 µg/m3 for PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM7, PM10 and TSP, respectively. There were statistical variations (p<0.05) across months, distances, and locations of study and their interactions. The particulates correlates positively at p<0.01 with higher concentrations recorded for the dry season as opposed to the wet season, (indication of seasonal influence). The health risk assessment indicated a slight to moderate pollution in both seasons across the study area, which should be taken into advisement when considering long-term exposure to sensitive groups. Hence, there is a need to adopt a sustainable management of emissions due to gari production from cassava tuber.

Comparison of Selected Meat Qualities of Broiler Chickens as Affected by Feed Restriction and Strain at Finisher Phase

The present investigation aimed at comparing meat qualities of broiler chickens reared on deep litter as affected by skip-a-day feed restriction and strain. A total number of two hundred and eighty-eight (288) unsexed day-old broilers comprising of 96 chicks each of Arbor acre, Marshall and Hubbard strains of broiler chickens raised on intensive housing systems were used to evaluate the organoleptic attributes. The chicks were allotted randomly to 12 pens per strain. The birds were distributed into four treatments with three replicates per treatment. An organoleptic test was carried out using the breast muscle at the 8th week. The cuts were salted and kept inside labeled polythene bags and steamed to the temperature of 72ᶿC. A total of ten trained individuals aged between 20 and 30 years (males and females) were employed to assess the coded meat samples. Equal bite size from each treatment was coded, replicated thrice, and served for evaluation by the trainees. Analyzed results revealed that the organoleptic parameters such as Aroma, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, texture, and overall acceptability were not significantly affected by both the different feeding regimes and strains of broiler chickens.

Climate Change Impacts and Forecasts of Oil Palm Leaf Miner Populations

Agricultural production is very sensitive to climate change, and it suffers from periodic outbreaks of insect pests which cause considerable losses especially in the humid and sub-humid tropics which severely constrain the productivity potential of global agriculture under changing climate conditions. The oil palm leaf miner is a major pest of the oil palm. Mathematical relationships between the leaf miner insect stages and weather factors were developed for pest predictions and forecasting. Decadal variation in air temperature was characterized by wide differences between 1961 – 1970 and 2001 – 2010. The assessment of the sensitivity of leaf miner to variability in weather and climate conditions is important in view of evidence that show expansion of pest ranges as a result of climate variability impacts. The study has established an upward increase in temperature, attributed to climate change, with a concomitant increase in leaf miner abundance between 1980 and 2010. Larvae showed an increasing trend for the observed period. When this observation was correlated with the weather (temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity) during these periods, it could be inferred that there was proliferation as a result of weather changes. This was different from the decreasing trend observed during the 1976 – 1980 period. Pupae showed a decreasing trend for the observed period. Adults showed an increasing trend for the observed period. It could be inferred that adults were proliferating due to temperature increases and rainfall decreases. An incremental increase in temperature could help explain fluctuations in insect pest populations within and between years. Thus climatic conditions greatly influenced seasonal leaf miner populations. The climate forecast up to 2050 indicates an upward trend in temperature and a downward trend in rainfall and relative humidity. This followed the climate trend between 1961 and 2010. This study contributes to the understanding of the insect pest-weather relationship in broad agricultural and food security terms. A major advantage is the potential for limiting the spread of outbreaks through timely control of early pest infestations.

Albizia Lebbeck Stem Bark Aqueous Extract as Alternative to Antibiotic Feed Additives in Broiler Chicks Diets: Haematology Serum Indices and Oxidative Status

A total of Three hundred and seventy five (375) one day old (Ross 308) broiler chicks with mixed sex were used to examine the effects of Albizia lebbeck stem bark (ATSM) aqueous extract as alternative to antibiotic feed additives in broiler chicks diets: haematology, serum biochemical indices and oxidative status. Birds were divided to five treatments with five replicates of fifteen (15) birds in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 (basal diet + 0 % ATSM), treatment 2 (basal diet +1.2 grams Oxytetracycline per litre of water), treatment 3 (basal diet + 10 ml ATSM per liter of water), treatment 4 (basal diet + 20 ml ATSM per litre of water) and treatment 5 (basal diet + 30 ml ATSM per liter of water) and the trial lasted for 56 days. Results on some haematological parameters revealed that red blood cell (RBC), pack cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell (WBC) and its differentials were significantly ((P<0.05) different among the treatments. Total protein, glucose, urea, cholesterol, creatinine, aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly ((P<0.05) affected by ATSM. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and malonyldialdehyde (MLA) were significantly influenced by ATSM (P<0.05). It was concluded that ATSM could be administered to broiler chicks at 30 ml/litre without any negative effect on the general performance of birds.