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The Cattle hair meal (CHM) has the potential of usage as a dietary protein source in fish nutrition due to the qualitative nutrients present in it and the enormous quantity generated at abattoirs worldwide. This study investigated the inclusion of CHM in diet of Clarias gariepinus as fishmeal replacement. Catfish juveniles with average weight of 5.86±0.14g were stocked in 15 plastic tanks at 21fish/tank in completely randomized design. The experimental fish were fed with 40% crude protein diet at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% inclusion of CHM at 3% body weight for duration of 8 weeks. Growth performance, carcass quality, haematology, digestive enzymes, gut morphology and histology of C. gariepinus were assessed. Growth parameters differed significantly (P<0.05) among treatments with similar responses in carcass composition. The blood parameters, digestive enzymes and intestinal morphology also showed variations among treatments. Histological observation revealed that only diet with 25% CHM inclusion showed no alteration in tissues of kidney, liver and intestine. This study recommends usage of CHM up to 25% as replacement for fishmeal in C. gariepinus diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wastes from onion usually litter sales outlets in various markets across the country. Onion (Allium cepa) peel wastes (OPW) was assessed for its chemical content, nutritional and organoleptic quality on smoked catfish (Clarias gariepinus) stored for a duration of 8 weeks at room temperature. The OPW at concentrations of 0g, 2.5g and 5g (T0, T1 and T2 respectively) were sprinkled on the fish samples before and after smoking. Samples of OPW and fish were analyzed chemically for proximate composition, and determination of organoleptic quality according to standard method by panel of 20 on a 9-point hedonic scale. Nitrogen free extract (43.26%) constituted the highest analyte of the OPW. This was followed by ash (32.95%); crude fibre (11.45%); moisture content (6.69%); crude protein (4.40%) and ether extract (1.25%). The composition of fish preserved with OPW was significantly different when compared with the initial and final carcass analysis of the control group. The analysis revealed crude protein in T0 (49.84%), T1 (36.91%), T2 (43.13%); ash in T0 (7.70%), T1(14.05%), T2 (8.20%) while ether extract T0 (8.65), T1 (5.55%) and T2 (7.76%). In terms of organoleptic assessment, all the mean values of the fish samples were above 5 which indicated that they were not disliked. The control fish, T0 (0.0g/0.5kg) had superior taste, 7.95%; appearance, 7.60%; aroma, 7.45%; texture, 7.60% and acceptability, 7.85%. this was followed by T2 (5.0g/0.5kg) with no significant variation (p < 0.05) among the test samples. Inference from the study showed that OPW at 5g can be used to preserve smoked fish without change in quality, sensory and organoleptic assessment for 8 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to screen for antitrypanosomal activities of Sterculia setigera crude and nano-conjugated ethanol extracts of synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Fresh stem bark of S. setigera was separately extracted with ethanol (ES) and aqueous (AS) followed by green synthesis/reduction of ethanol extract with AuNPs, and its formulation into nano-conjugate with the addition of standard drug Diminazine aceturate (berenil). The synthesized AuNPs were also characterized. Both the extracts and drug were separately administered to Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected animals orally at 200mg/kg bodyweight for 12 consecutive days. Two separate groups were infected untreated and infected treated with Diminazine aceturate (Berenil) to serve as positive and negative controls respectively. Similarly nanoconjugates of S. satigera and berenll were also orally administered to different groups of rats for 12 days consecutively. The results showed that the ethanol extract treated group recorded significant decrease in parasitaemia than the aqueous treated group when compared with the untreated control groups (p<0.05). Furthermore, treatment with both the nanoconjugates effectively cleared the parasites from the blood circulation of the infected animal (p<0.05). Bodyweight and PCV of treated groups improved significantly in all the treated animals (p<0.05). The ethanol extract of S. setigera exhibited trypanostatic activity while its nano-conjugated was trypanocidal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Female resource represents about half of Nigeria's human resources. For optimal utilization of human resources, gender equality and equity, it was considered that women should be adequately represented in the construction industry which is the prime motivator of the country's economy. A survey was, therefore, conducted to know the level of participation of women in some selected categories of workforce in the industry. Design/methodology/approach – The research was designed to generate quantitative data on women participation in the construction industry in Nigeria. Data were, therefore, collected from medium and large construction contracting companies on the male/female numerical strength in some selected categories of workforce, the suitability of some construction tasks for women and constraints to female entry into the construction industry using questionnaires, interviews and visits to construction sites. Findings – The survey revealed that only 16.3 per cent of the sampled companies' workforces were women. Approximately, 50 per cent of these women were employed as labourers, 37.5 per cent as administrative staff, 10 per cent as management staff and 2.5 per cent as craftswomen. Paired t-test performed on the male/female numerical strength showed that women were underrepresented in the construction industry in Nigeria. The survey also indicated that women preferred office related construction processes to site production. Originality/value – Findings in this field survey represent the unbiased level of women's participation in Nigeria's construction industry and the data are useful for policy formulation in relation to mainstreaming female into the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High productivity is regarded as a goal that ensures long-term survival of firms. In Nigeria's labour-intensive construction industry, firms are currently applying various non-financial incentive schemes aimed at improving operatives' productivity. A questionnaire survey involving the management and operatives of construction firms was conducted to determine the impact of these scheme on the productivity of bricklayers. The survey was complemented with on-site observation and measurement of bricklayers' output on 40 construction projects in order to determine the impact of non-financial incentive schemes on productivity. Comparative analysis of sites with and without incentives showed that non-financial incentive schemes significantly improved bricklayers' productive time and these schemes accounted for 6% to 26% of the variations in output between the two sets of sites on block laying and concreting activities measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]