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Enhancing Structural Application: Assessing the Suitability of Sawn and Glue Laminated Albizia zygia (Ayunre) Timber for Sustainable Construction
No full textLeading economies are moving towards a bio-based economy for sustainability, but Africa struggles to utilize its bio- resource such as timber for advanced engineering application due to its natural limitations. Nevertheless, glue lamination (glulam) is promising for enhancing wood for structural application. Hence, this study investigated the shear strength of glue laminated (glulam) joints of Albizia zygia (A. zygia) timber species bonded with polyurethane (PUR) adhesive and other essential physical and mechanical properties in line with relevant standards. Briefly state the methodology before results to ensure flow. The results showed that the mean density of the wood species is 519 at a mean moisture content of 12%. The wood recorded a mean volumetric shrinkage and volumetric swelling of 1.17% and 6.52% respectively. Other properties include mean bending strength at 53.89 , mean stiffness at 6106 N/mm2, compressive strength parallel to grain at 32.70 and mean tensile strength at 33.61 . Furthermore, the lap shear strength for glue laminated joints was tested according to EN 302-2013 standard and compared to control solid beams. The mean shear strength for glulam was 2.32 while it was 1.64 for the control beams. Thus, the glued joints performed better in shear than the control specimen. Finally, the residual shear strength of the joints was a mean value of 1.28 after subjecting them to accelerated aging tests (AAT). This is equivalent to 44.83% decrease of the shear strength in the dry use state. Hence, glue laminated A. zygia using PUR is not suitable for external use due to weathering effects on its shear strength. Based on the findings in this study, A. zygia is a moderately dense wood suitable for structural use but for interior application when laminated with PUR. It is shown that locally sourced A. zygia can be enhanced through glue lamination for structural joints in service class 2 according to Eurocode 5
Comparative Analysis of Statistical Models for Predicting the Properties of Agricultural Waste-Enhanced Sandcrete Blocks
No full textSandcrete blocks represent an indispensable building material, primarily composed of sand, water, and cement as a binding agent. Given the significant cost associated with cement, there is a need to produce low-cement blocks that are economically viable and cost-effective. This challenge has prompted the exploration of alternative materials to reduce cement content, simultaneously addressing environmental pollution and health risks associated with agricultural waste in rural areas. Notable examples of such alternative materials include various agricultural waste components. The primary objective of this research is to establish statistical models for predicting the compressive strength of blocks reinforced with rice husk, guinea corn husk, maize straw, and a combination of sorghum husk and straw. The research findings indicate that the density of fibre-reinforced blocks decreased as the quantity of fibre increased. Furthermore, the compressive strength of the sandcrete blocks decreased as the fibre content increased. However, compressive strengths of 2.41 N/mm², 1.90, 2.40 N/mm², and 3.01 N/mm² were achieved for rice husk, guinea corn husk, maize-straw, and a combination of sorghum husk and straw-reinforced sandcrete blocks, respectively. Only sandcrete blocks with sorghum husk and straw met the Nigerian Industrial Standard specifications (NIS 87:2000). A water-binder ratio of 0.4 was determined as optimal for all the blocks under investigation. Four models with precision values higher than 4.0 were generated to predict the compressive strengths of the blocks. This research represents a valuable contribution to developing environmentally friendly building materials for the construction industry
Performance-Based Evaluation of Steel Fibre Reinforced Normal- and High-Strength Concretes Using Statistical Analysis of Experimental Database
No full textThe widespread acceptance of concrete can be attributed to its unique characteristics, despite inherent drawbacks such as brittleness and weak tensile strength. The study was aimed at evaluating the optimal content and characterization of steel fibres required to impede crack propagation and enhance overall strength of concrete. The influence of critical factors like fibre content, length, diameter, and volume fraction on the performance of steel fibre reinforced concretes (SFRC) through statistical analysis of 209 experimental data. The influence of these factors on the compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths of concrete was analyzed as a function of the mean and coefficient of variation of the normalized strength values. The study found that steel fibres in concrete produced success rates of 67.9% (7.1% average strength improvement = ASI) in compressive strength, 78.5% (38.2% ASI) in flexural strength and 84.2% (23.8% ASI) in tensile strength. The study further separately examined the impact of steel fibres on both normal strength concretes (NSC) and high strength concretes (HSC). The findings indicated an overall success rate of 60% (6.97% ASI), 69.9% (38.36% ASI), and 75.6% (23.59% ASI) for compressive, flexural, and split tensile strength, respectively, in NSC. However, higher degree of strength enhancement of 74.0% (7.16% ASI), 84.8% (39.21% ASI), and 86.6% (23.51% ASI) were recorded for compressive, flexural, and split tensile strength, respectively in HSC. The research underscores the effectiveness of incorporating steel fibres as a reinforcement strategy in enhancing various strength aspects of concrete
Investigation into the Source of Self-Hardening of Calcrete
No full textCalcrete has been used as road construction material in Botswana for a very long time even though it is classified as marginal or sub-standard material (AFCAP/MOZ/091, 2012). Some calcrete has proved to perform exceptionally well past the road design life and this has been attributed to a property termed self-stabilisation. However, the science behind self-stabilization of some calcrete deposit is not yet fully understood. Accordingly, this paper presents preliminary results of an investigation undertaken to determine the sources of self-stabilization of calcrete deposits. Calcrete samples were collected from borrow pits along Francistown – Nata road. The samples were subjected to a series of laboratory tests including soil indicator tests, standard California Bearing Ratio, California Bearing Ratio following wetting and drying cycles, Compaction, Petrification Degree, X-ray fluorescence and X-Ray Diffraction for types of minerals present. Preliminary results indicate that calcrete would only have potential for self-stabilisation if it can absorb an amount of water equal to its volume of voids. This allows the solution and deposition of orthoclase minerals to take place. It is concluded that self stabilisation depicted by some calcrete is attributed to their unique mineralogical composition of orthoclase
The Toxicity Assessment of Chicken Liver-Based Drug Filler Supplemented with Itraconazole
No full textItraconazole is a systemic antifungal often used for fungal infection treatment in cats. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of chicken liver paste as a drug filler through an acute toxicity test when supplemented with itraconazole. A total of 25 female mice were used and divided into five groups, each consisting of five mice. The control group received chicken liver paste without any itraconazole supplementation. In contrast, the treatment groups were administered chicken liver paste supplemented with itraconazole at 5, 10, 15, and 20 g/kg body weight dosages. Observations were conducted for two weeks. The evaluated parameters included abnormal clinical signs, mortality, body temperature, weight gain, and hematology profile. During the 14 days of observation, no mortality or abnormal clinical signs were observed. Other parameters such as body temperature and weight increase showed no significant difference. Hematology profile including red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), red cell distribution width (RDW), thrombocyte (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT), white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes remained within the standard ranges and showed no significant difference. The present study indicated that chicken liver paste supplemented with itraconazole falls into the practically nontoxic category with an estimated LD50 value exceeding 20 g/kg body weight
Bovine Respiratory Disease: Sero-Epidemiological Surveys in Unvaccinated Cattle in Morocco
No full textViral respiratory diseases are a major cause of severe clinical symptoms and substantial economic losses in cattle breeding. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological status of four respiratory viruses in cattle including Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus/Mucosal Disease Virus (BVDV/MDV), Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis/Infectious Pustular Vulvovaginitis Virus (IBR/IPV), Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), and Bovine Parainfluenza Virus type 3 (PI3). A total of 1,741 blood samples were collected from 242 unvaccinated herds. The animals comprised 1314 females and 427 males, aged between 6 months and 5 years. The herds included both pure breeds (Holstein or Montbéliarde breeds) and crossbreeds (local-Holstein or local-Montbéliarde), and were located in 89 rural communes of six regions of Morocco including Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Marrakech-Safi, Béni Mellal-Khénifra, Fès-Meknès, and Oriental. The samples were analyzed using the I-ELISA technique. The results indicated seroprevalence rates of 56.1, 21.5, 86.4, and 85.4% for BVD/MD, IBR/IPV, BRSV, and Parainfluenza-3, respectively. Co-infections were observed in 88% of the infected cattle, and 95% of the cattle were infected with at least one of the four viruses. Seroprevalence rates varied significantly with age, sex, breed, breeding systems, and practices. These findings confirmed the endemic status of bovine respiratory viral diseases and highlighted their direct and indirect impacts on livestock losses in Morocco
Influence of Different Water Environments on the Differential Leukocyte Counts in Nile Tilapia
No full textAquaculture production has become increasingly important for ensuring food security, supported by the expanding variety of cultivated species. This study evaluated the effects of different water environment characteristics on the differential leukocyte counts of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a key farmed fish species in Africa. Fish from four different water sources were compared with healthy individuals from the natural water of the Nile River. A total of 64 Nile tilapia, each weighing 80–100 grams, were evenly divided into four groups and maintained at temperatures ranging from 25.00± 2.5°C to 30.00 ± 2.5°C. The groups included fish from experimental tanks (ET), ponds managed by the General Administration of Fisheries Ponds (GAFP), the Fisheries Research Center Ponds (FRCP), and the White Nile River (WNR, control). Significant differences in water quality parameters, particularly NH₄, NH₃, NO₃, and NO₂ concentrations, were observed among the water sources. GAFP and ET waters showed higher concentrations of these compounds (NH₄, NH₃, NO₃, and NO₂) compared to FRCP and WNR. Differential leukocyte counts varied significantly across the groups. The ET group showed the highest eosinophil percentage (9.68 ± 0.44%), while the GAFP group exhibited the highest percentages of lymphocytes (46.40 ± 0.13%), monocytes (15.43 ± 0.14%), and neutrophils (18.31 ± 0.16%) compared to WNR. In contrast, the FRCP group recorded the highest platelet percentage (32.34 ± 0.49%), while the ET group had the lowest (13.65 ± 0.15%). Additionally, the ET group recorded the highest overall white blood cell count (191.46 ± 0.61 × 10³). A strong positive correlation was found between the blood profiles of Nile tilapia and the water environment parameters. This study highlighted significant differences in water quality among experimental groups, with FRCP and WNR showing lower parameters. In addition, examining white blood cells in fish is crucial for biological monitoring of surface water pollution
Effects of Cactus Flour (Opuntia ficus-indica) on Productive Performance and Eggshell Quality of Laying Hens
No full textThe poultry industry plays a crucial role in the production of animal proteins for human consumption and generating sources of employment. Thus, it is essential to explore effective strategies to enhance both the productivity of laying hens and the quality of their products, particularly eggshell quality, due to its significant economic implications for the poultry sector. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cactus flour (CF; Opuntia ficus-indica) on the productive performance and eggshell quality of laying hens. Twenty-four Rhode Island Red laying hens were randomly divided into two groups (n = 12 experimental units -hens-/group) consisting of a control group and another fed CF (1 of the diet volume). The variables assessed included initial and final weight, weight gain, feed and calcium intake, egg production, egg mass, feed conversion index/kg of egg, economic efficiency index, egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness, shell percentage, and calcium levels in eggshells and excreta (daytime and nighttime). The addition of CF in the diet affected the final weight of hens, with the CF-fed hens (2.1 kg) being heavier than the control (1.9 kg). Egg production was higher in the CF-fed hens than in the control hens. Additionally, the mean egg weight was higher (68.5 g) in the CF-fed hens than in the control (62.2 g). The feed conversion index was lower in the CF-fed hens (2.1 kg/kg) than in the control (1.8 kg/kg). The economic efficiency index was higher in the CF-fed hens (94.8 ) than in the control (90.2 ). Eggshell weight (5.8 g), thickness (0.31 mm), and calcium levels (35.6 ) were significantly higher in the CF-fed hens than in the control (5.1 g, 0.27 mm, and 33.4 for eggshell weight, thickness, and calcium levels, respectively). In conclusion, the inclusion of CF in the diet of laying hens improved the productive indicators and eggshell quality, thereby enhancing economic efficiency. Open Access: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. © The Author(s) 202
THE EFFICIENCY OF PIGS FROM DIFFERENT GENETIC ORIGINS UNDER INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS IN UKRAINE
No full textThe study investigated the dependence of the fattening qualities of pigs and the economic efficiency of their breeding on their genetic origin. Two groups of 28 sows of Danish and Canadian origin inseminated with semen from Durok boars served as research material. A control group consisted of F1 sows of the Landrace and Large White Danish breeds inseminated with semen from Danish Durok boars. The group II, on the other hand, consisted of F1 sows of similar breeds from Canadian selection inseminated with semen from Canadian Durok boars. The studies focused on the efficiency of the sows’ reproductive function, the growth intensity of the hybrid piglets and the efficiency and profitability of their rearing and fattening. Methods of analogue pairs and statistical data analysis were used. It was found that piglets of Canadian origin had a 7.5 higher average head weight during the weaning period, which contributed to a 7.5 higher market value and at the same time to a 6.7 higher income from rearing a piglet during this period and to a 3 higher profitability of its rearing compared to analogues of Danish origin. It was shown that animals of Danish origin had a 9.6 higher gross growth of the piglet litter during the fattening period, which gave them a 7.6 higher weight at the end of the fattening period and contributed to a 7 higher cost price for this period, a 7.6 higher market value and a 10.1 higher feedlot income and a 0.77 better feedlot profitability compared to Canadian-bred counterparts. We recommend the use of sows of Danish origin if the farm intends to sell weaned piglets, in the industrial farms. If the farm intends to sell full-grown or (fattened) slaughter pigs, it is advisable to use pigs of Canadian origin. Open Access: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. © The Author(s) 202
BODY LENGTH AS PREDICTOR FOR IMPROVING BODY WEIGHT OF WHITE LEGHORN CHICKEN BREED
No full textThe association between live body weight and morphometric traits plays a major role in the daily management and improvement of poultry. The objective of the current study was to determine the association between morphometric features and live body weight, as well as to investigate the direct and indirect effects of morphometric traits on White Leghorn laying hens’ live body weight. Live body weight (BW) and morphometric traits including shank circumference (SC), body length (BL), wing length (WL), shank length (SL), toe to back length (TBL), beak length (BKL), beak to comb length (BCL), height (CH) and chest girth (CG) were collected from one hundred (n = 100) White Leghorn laying hens aged 40 weeks. The correlation findings showed that BW was positively correlated to SL, WL, SC, BL, and CH (p < 0.05). The Path analysis results reported that BL (0.45) had the highest direct effect on BW while WL (0.14) had the highest indirect effect on BW via BL. Correlation results propose that improvement of BL, SL, SC, CG and CH might increase the BW of White Leghorn hens. Path analysis results, on the other hand, imply that BL and SC may be used as selection basis during breeding to improve BW in chickens. This study suggests that BW of White Leghorn is correlated with some morphometric traits that might be used during breeding. The findings also suggest that body length directly influences the live body weight of White Leghorn chicken breed. Open Access: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. © The Author(s) 202