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Reproductive Potentials of Brycinus nurse (RUPPELL, 1832) in Goronyo Reservoir, Sokoto State, Nigeria
No full textA reproductive study is an important aspect of stock assessment. It describes the reproductive strategy and potential of fish in the aquatic ecosystem. Nearly all fish reproduce sexually, and most species have separate sexes (male and female). Those without separate sexes avoid self-fertilization by producing sperm and eggs at different times. Fecundity is described as batch fecundity, breeding season fecundity, life time fecundity, relative fecundity, or absolute fecundity in the stock assessment studies.
The objective of this study was to describe the reproductive potentials of B. nurse in Goronyo reservoir, Sokoto state, Nigeria. The ovarian maturation stages of Brycinus nurse specimens were determined by using a single standard protocol. The gonads were removed and weighed, and the fecundity and GSI estimations were carried out. Data was analyzed in descriptive statistics, t-test, and compared using ANOVA at (P< 0.05) level using Excel sheets and SPSS version 25. The study revealed a sex ratio dominated by bigger males sampled between June and August, with more male specimens at Stage III and female specimens at stages IV and VI of gonad maturation. Similarly, the highest mean Gonado-somatic Index (GSI) values were recorded in June to September in male Brycinus nurse specimens, and lower mean GSI values were recorded in August, indicating this was the period the species spawns. The mean fecundity was highest from August to October in gravid Brycinus nurse specimens. In conclusion, this species spawns in August and has high reproductive potential in the Goronyo reservoir. The study revealed a strong fecundity and total somatic weight relationship in Brycinus nurse, therefore confirming somatic weight as the best indicator of fecundity. The study recommends the adoption of a closed season management strategy between June and October to allow an uninterrupted breeding activity of this species in Goronyo reservoir
Research Progress on Defect Detection Methods for Rebar Grouting Sleeve Connections
No full textAgainst the backdrop of the rapid development of prefabricated buildings, internal defects in rebar grouting sleeve connections pose a serious threat to structural safety and durability. This paper systematically reviews key research directions concerning grouting sleeve connections with defects, with a particular focus on defect detection technologies. The study organizes and comparatively analyzes current mainstream non-destructive and semi-destructive testing methods, including ultrasonic testing, impact echo method, embedded sensor method, X-ray testing, piezoelectric impedance method, embedded steel wire pull-out method, and drilled bore endoscopy method. The research indicates that each method has its own characteristics and applicable scenarios: the piezoelectric impedance method can achieve quantitative evaluation of defect severity and is suitable for monitoring critical nodes; the impact echo method is sensitive to density but its positioning accuracy is influenced by sleeve arrangement; X-ray testing provides intuitive imaging but is costly and limited to laboratory use; drilled bore endoscopy allows direct observation of defect location and size, guiding repairs; the embedded steel wire pull-out method is easy to operate but only allows qualitative judgment. The study points out that a single detection method is difficult to meet complex engineering requirements. It is necessary to select or combine multiple methods according to specific application scenarios to leverage their complementary advantages, providing theoretical basis and technical support for improving acceptance standards for grouting sleeves, determining defect repair thresholds, and ensuring the safe application of prefabricated structures
Research Progress on Mechanical Properties of Fiber Reinforced Concrete Based on Scanning Electron Microscopy
No full textFiber-reinforced concrete exhibits characteristics such as high strength, high toughness, high durability, excellent environmental performance, and harmless crack distribution, which significantly mitigate the fundamental shortcomings of traditional concrete, such as rigidity without toughness and brittleness leading to cracking. To analyze the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced concrete, with a focus on compressive strength and flexural strength, the main influencing factors are examined. Experiments are conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and other methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and backpropagation (BP) neural networks can be integrated to explore the mechanism by which fibers enhance the performance of fiber-reinforced concrete from a microscopic perspective, thereby studying its mechanical properties
An Overview Study of Multi-sensor Fusion for Map Building and Localization
No full textThis paper reviews the application of multi-sensor fusion in simultaneous localisation and map construction (SLAM) technology. With the development of robotics, autonomous driving and virtual reality, there is an increasing demand for precise localisation and map construction.SLAM technology has emerged to solve the problem of autonomous robot localisation and map construction in unknown environments. However, single-sensor SLAM systems have limitations, such as limited sensing capability and susceptibility to noise interference. Multi-sensor fusion SLAM significantly improves the performance and robustness of the system by integrating the advantages of multiple sensors. The multi-sensor fusion SLAM system includes key components such as sensor data reading, front-end visual odometry, back-end optimisation, loopback detection and map building. The sensor data is first optimised to reduce noise and then further processed according to the task requirements. Sensors are categorised into internal sensors (e.g. IMUs and wheeled odometers) and external sensors (e.g. cameras, LIDAR, UWB sensors, etc.). Common data fusion methods include filter-based fusion (e.g., Extended Kalman Filter, Particle Filter), optimisation-based fusion (e.g., Graph Optimisation, Nonlinear Least Squares) and deep learning-based fusion (e.g., Convolutional Neural Network, Recurrent Neural Network). These methods are able to handle different types of sensor data and improve the performance of SLAM systems.
Multi-sensor fusion SLAM technology has a wide range of applications in fields such as robot navigation, autonomous driving, virtual reality, geographic information systems and mapping. In the future, the technology will pay more attention to the combination of multimodal fusion and deep learning, optimising the computational efficiency of the algorithms, improving the real-time and robustness of the system, as well as the fusion of cloud SLAM and edge computing, to promote the development and advancement of the related fields
Assessment of Land Cover Changes and Fragmentation of Mining Landscape using Geospatial Technology
No full textMining plays an important role in economic development of Jharkhand, India. Simultaneously, it also has significant negative impacts on the environment, ecology, and society. Geospatial technology enables the identification, delineating, and monitoring of change in the mining landscape in spatial and temporal scale. The aim of this work was to evaluate the quantitative change in the mining landscape using multi-temporal Landsat datasets of 2004 and 2024. The study showed that mining areas have increased rapidly during the study period, and the growth has occurred by depleting the agricultural and forest land. In 2004 agriculture land covered 36.41% of the study area, but by 2024, it had decrease to 19.68%. Further, the study assessed the dynamics of mining patches and their characteristics through spatial metrics analysis. %. It has been observed that number of patches (NP) and patch density (PD)has increase whereas the largest patch index (LPI) has decreased. Dense and open forest has also been decreased in this period. The rapid expansion of mining areas over the past decade has raised serious ecological concerns
Association between Family Sociodemographic Characteristics and Anthropometric Measurements of Preschool Children in Nagram, Lucknow, India
No full textThe aim of this study is to examine the relationship between family sociodemographic characteristics (such as parental education, income, occupation, and family size) and the anthropometric measurements (such as height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference, head circumference, and waist circumference) of preschool children. The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the factors affecting childhood growth and to inform interventions aimed at improving child health outcomes. Objectives: (a) Evaluate Anthropometric Measurements. (b) Analyze Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors. (c) Identify Disparities in children. Methods: This study based on Cross-sectional study design of sample size of 385 of Preschool children aged 3-5 years from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Data is collected through anthropometric measurements: Height, weight, head circumference, mid-upper arm circumference waist circumference and BMI recorded using standardized procedures and questionnaires is used to gather information on family income, parental education levels, household size, and other demographic factors. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents were educated, with 98.2% of their family members being literate and other socio-demographic status. Family factors such as parental education, income, family structure, and cultural influences can have a significant impact on a child\u27s growth, nutritional status, and overall health. By addressing these sociodemographic factors, policies and interventions can be designed to improve the health and development of preschool children, particularly in vulnerable populations
Diabetes Mellitus and Hypothyroidism: Features of Clinical and Pathogenetic Relationships
No full textAims: This review aims to examine how the coexistence of type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism exacerbates cardiovascular and metabolic complications, focusing on shared mechanisms like insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and chronic inflammation.
Study Design: Integrative literature review.
Place and Duration of Study: Database searches (PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase) were conducted between June 2024 and november 2024.
Methodology: The review highlights that hypothyroidism intensifies insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients, increasing LDL accumulation and reducing triglyceride clearance, thus raising the risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular complications. Observed interactions were influenced by factors like age, sex, and existing comorbidities, affecting glycemic control and lipid metabolism. Studies also showed that chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress are elevated in patients with both conditions, worsening vascular health and accelerating the progression of complications.
Results: Findings indicate that patients with both type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism exhibit significantly worsened cardiovascular and metabolic profiles, including a heightened risk of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and microvascular complications (e.g., retinopathy, nephropathy). These effects are mediated by increased insulin resistance and chronic inflammation.
Conclusion: Coexisting type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism intensify cardiovascular and metabolic risks, necessitating an integrated, multidisciplinary management approach. Regular monitoring of glycemic, lipid, and hormonal levels is essential, alongside personalized adjustments in medication and lifestyle interventions. Further research, including randomized controlled trials, is required to refine management strategies and improve clinical outcomes
Measuring Spatial Vitality and Its Influencing Factors in Traditional Neighborhoods Using Multi-source Data: A Case Study of Zhengzhou Xidajie
No full textWith the progress of urban development, the spatial quality of urban streets has become one of the key concerns. In view of the actual new needs of urban micro-renewal, this study takes the street accessibility, regional accessibility and other aspects, takes Zhengzhou West Street Area as a case study, extracts the elements of street space based on the street view image data, combines the artificial intelligence technology with the sDNA spatial accessibility grid analysis technology, and synthesises the classification and scientific analysis of the cutting-edge urban data such as the urban street walkability index system, and based on this, proposes the street vitality optimisation strategy for historical blocks. Based on this, we propose the optimisation strategy of street vitality in historic districts, and provide technical support for urban micro-renewal in terms of analysis and theory
Participatory Evaluation and Field Demonstration of Forage Varieties in Ondere Kebele, Dhagahmadow District, Somali Region, Ethiopia
No full textBackground: Livestock productivity in agro-pastoral systems is often constrained by feed shortages, which limits animal growth, reproduction, and overall production. Developing and integrating improved forage crops is a key strategy to address this challenge and enhance sustainable livestock feed availability.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and demonstrate the performance of improved forage crops under rainfed conditions in agro-pastoralist areas, with a focus on their growth characteristics, biomass yield, and agro-pastoralists perceptions to facilitate adoption.
Methods: The study was conducted in the Degahmadow district, Jarar zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia, using a participatory approach involving 25 community members, including women, under the PAPREG/PRG initiative. Agronomic practices, including land preparation, sowing, and forage management, were implemented following standard recommendations. Participatory variety evaluation and field demonstrations were conducted to assess species performance based on agropastoralist selection criteria.
Results: The analysis of variance showed significant species differences in key growth parameters such as crop emergence, days to flowering, plant height, herbage yield, and days to first harvest. Sudan grass and Panicum maximum had similar emergence rates (3.44 and 3.37 days, respectively), while Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass) was significantly delayed by 4 days. Rhodes grass also had the longest time to flowering (53.9 days), whereas Panicum maximum (35.8 days) and Sudan grass (38.3 days) matured earlier. Fresh biomass yields ranged from 13 to 23 tons per hectare per harvest, with no significant yield difference between Sudan grass (7.56 tons per hectare) and Panicum maximum (7.43 tons per hectare). However, Rhodes grass recorded significantly lower dry matter yield. Sudan grass had the greatest plant height, though not significantly different from Panicum maximum, and both were significantly taller than Rhodes grass. The optimal harvesting date was significantly earlier for Panicum maximum (57 days) compared to Sudan grass (78 days) and Rhodes grass (74 days).
Conclusion: Agro-pastoralists ranked Sudan grass highest due to its superior biomass yield, early maturity, ease of establishment, multiple harvest potential, and adaptability to environmental stresses, followed by Panicum maximum. The close alignment between agro-pastoralists preferences and scientific findings highlights the potential for integrating improved forage varieties into local livestock systems. This study underscores the importance of participatory approaches in forage development, promoting adoption and enhancing feed security in agro-pastoral communities
Effect of Carrier Agents and Inlet Temperature on Physicochemical Properties of Encapsulated Carrot Coagulum Powder
No full textBackground: The carrot (Daucus carota L.) is a popular root vegetable grown throughout the world. In the present study, an attempt was made to use the carrot outgrades, which are purely rejected for aesthetic reasons, not meeting the standards based on size and shape. Further enzymes (Pectinase and Cellulase) are used to extract the carrot coagulum from carrot outgrades. Carrier agents were mixed into carrot coagulum and spray dried at three different inlet air temperatures (160, 170, and 180 °C) to encapsulate enzyme-extracted carrot coagulum.
Aim: Carrots are nutritious and mainly rich in carotenoids. Often, very high losses are incurred during post-harvesting operations. A significant proportion of carrots are rejected due to bad aesthetics. Therefore, the objective of the study was to utilise such non-commercial carrot out-grades to recover carotenoids and produce encapsulated powder using spray drying.
Methodology: The process of spray drying of enzymatically extracted carrot coagulum was standardised by varying carrier agents (maltodextrin and gum arabica) concentration and at different inlet temperatures. Pectinase (Pectinex Ultra SPL from Aspergillus aculeatus aqueous solution, ≥3,800 units/mL) and cellulose (Celluclast 1.5L from Trichoderma reesei aqueous solution, ≥700 units/g) were obtained from Novozymes, Bangalore. Trans-β-carotene was obtained from Sigma Chemical Company. All other chemicals used were of analytical grade.
Results: All physicochemical properties were significantly affected by the carrier agents and temperature. Carotenoid content was highest (9.80%) at an inlet temperature of 170 °C with MD100. Overall moisture content was reduced, while other physical properties were enhanced when the temperature increased. Increasing the gum Arabica content showed a significant increase in moisture content and wettability time, as well as poorer physical properties. Results showed that the physicochemical and microstructural properties of encapsulated carrot coagulum powder (ECCP) were affected by inlet temperatures and carrier agents.
Conclusion: Among all the spray-dried powders, the powder dried at 170 °C using maltodextrin at 15% alone had comparatively lower moisture content, good flowability, higher solubility, and less wetting time compared to other combination treatments and inlet temperatures, and thus fulfills the requirement of good quality spray-dried powders. Certainly, carrot out grades have a significant content of total carotenoids, which makes the utilisation of such material worthwhile for processing