The study was conducted to characterized and classify selected soil under different fallow length in an ultisol in Ihiagwa, Owerri, Imo state. A target survey was used for the study. Three profile pits were dug on; continuous cropping, three year fallow and seven years fallow. Soil samples were collected from each of the profiles according to their horizonation. The samples were subjected to laboratory analyses using standard procedures. Data obtained were analyzed using analyses of variance and coefficient of variation. The result shows that, the moisture content was higher in the three years and seven years fallow sites (9.54% and 9.89%) respective and  least in continuous cropping (8.92%). The Bulk density was higher in the continuous cropping (1.33g/cm³) compared to the three years and seven years fallow that have (1.26g/cm³ and 0.85g/cm³) respectively. The three sites were moderately acidic . The three years and seven years fallow sites recorded high mean value in organic carbon, organic matter, total exchangeable base, and effective cation exchange capacity, compare to continuous cropping site that recorded low value in the soils. There was a low variability in the soil pH, medium variability in the Total Exchangeable acidity and high variability in the Total exchangeable base. The total porosity correlated positively with organic matter and the organic matter also correlated negatively with the bulk density. Using USDA and World Reference Base classification, the continuous cropping and three years fallow soil was classified as Arenic Kandiudults and Arenic Acrisols respectively while the seven years fallow was classified as Typic Paleudults and  Chromic Acrisols respectively. 

This communication is addressing mitigation of Fluorosis and linked disorders. The focus is to activate the activities. In a severely endemic state for Fluorosis, ie., Rajasthan, a project investigated to find out the road blocks, if any. Firstly in 5 Teaching Hospitals and secondly in 6 District Hospitals the activities were launched. The programmes were assessed for its impact and views of the Doctors were ascertained. The District Hospital Doctors cater to urban to rural communities. ANMs and ASHAs are linked to activities and they in turn reach out to every household in a village or habitat. Management of the disease(s) through diet editing and diet counselling were practical to get relieved of the disease in a shorter span of time. Drug prescriptions are important but nutrients through diet play a major role. The project implemented revealed the inadequacies in making arrangements for conducting MEs, the reason for failures of MEs in the past in other states. Lack of interdepartmental collaborations, strengths and weaknesses of the programme highlighted. The programme conducted revealed the novel approach to yield beneficial outcome both in the social and developmental sectors.

The overall focus of the project involves studies on the fishing gears of Alappuzha. Rivers and reservoirs of Alappuzha harbor a rich and varied spectrum of fishes, which include commercially important fishes. The fish and fisheries play a crucial role in Kerala's economy, employment generation, food security and well-being of its people. It is very curious to see that in addition to the conventional methods of fishing a variety of non-conventional fishing techniques are adopted by local people. This includes pulladi fishing, pot fishing, kudukka fishing, olavallam fishing, pongu choonda fishing etc. In the present study, results of investigations conducted on riverine fishing gears of Alappuzha are presented along with detailed description of fishing gears, their distribution and operation covering aspects of selectivity and operational economics.

The liver and faecal sample analysis was conducted to determine the prevalence of fasciola hepatica in ruminant animals (cattle, sheep and goat) in Gashua Abattoir, Bade L.G.A Yobe State. A total number of 200 liver samples were bough, 66 cattle, 66 goat, and 68 sheep. The liver sample collected was examined using direct saline techniques. The prevalence of 44% cattle, 30% goat and 50% sheep were recorded as positive. Hence the infection is more prevalence in the sheep than in the cattle and in goat respectively.

This study focused on identifying fungi associated with otitis media among patients attending the ENT clinic at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. A total of 137 samples comprising 67 males and 70 females were collected randomly from patients within the ages of 0-70 years. Each sample was cultured on two parts of media; Sabouraud Dextrose Agar supplemented with Chloramphenicol and on CHROMagar followed by incubation at both room temperature and 37oC for 14 days to isolate and identify fungal agents therein. Out of the137 samples, 60(43.8%) were positive for fungal agents. Candida albicans was the highest fungal isolate with a frequency of 36(60%). Followed by Aspergillus species; 10(16.7%), Penicillium species; 9(15.6%) and Rhizopus species 5(8.3%). They were identified using KOH mount, Germ tube test, Gram staining, colour differentiation on CHROMagar and reverse pigmentation. The female participants showed a higher prevalence of Candida species (55.7%) than the males; (31.3%). Age group 0-10 years had the highest number of Candida species isolate with 22(64.7%), while 31-40 years 1(7.7%) had the lowest prevalence.

Due to environmental stress such as pollution hair suffers aggression causing problems like hair fall, dandruff and pigmentation. Based on our market survey Mahabringraj oil marketed by different companies in India we got clue for physico-chemical evaluation of some marketed Bhringraj oils in laboratory for purpose of comparative evaluations and reasons for that. An important component of formulation contains Eclipta alba a trailing plant in different concentrations with suitable oil bases. Present study conducted for comparative physico-chemical evaluations of different brands found in Indian markets with aim to find better quality and if not then reasons for such variations in quality.

Our results showed that Brand D (Dabur, B No AL00152), Brand B (Baidyanath UN-695) and Brand S (self-prepared) found near about same in organoleptic evaluations but in physical evaluations we found that higher saponification value, refractive index, pH, LOD, Acid value and iodine value for Brand P. 

Escherichia coli (E. coli) are one of the known major causative agents causing food borne diseases such as food poisoning and diarrhea. Various transmission agents such as ruminants, poultry had been known to transmit diseases to human mainly through food consumption. This study was conducted to isolate, identify and to carry out antimicrobial susceptibility from chickens presented for slaughter in Fune LGA, Yobe State, Nigeria. A cloacal swab sample was collected and transported to the Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory, University of Maiduguri and analyzed for the presence of E. coli. Samples were then plate on MacConkey media and colonies were pinkish, it was then subcultured on Eosin Methylene Blue to obtain a pure culture showing a greenish metallic sheen and thus, confirmed by biochemical test. A total of 150 cloacal swab samples (101 males, 49 female chickens, 75 local and exotic each) were randomly sampled for the isolation of E. coli. The result show that 12 (25%) E. coli was isolated from female chickens, 40 (40%) was isolated from adult male chickens and 32 (42.67%) from local chickens while 20 (26.67%) was isolated from exotic chickens. The overall isolation rate was 52 (35%). All the 52 positive isolates showed positive for Indole, Methyl red and Tripple sugar ion tests. While negative result for Citrate, Catalase and Urease tests. Exotic chickens showed the highest resistance level of (15%) to commonly used antibiotics. Among all the chickens samples 16 (30.77%) of the positive isolates are susceptible to Ciprofloxacin, 4 (7.69%) to Nitrofurantion, 10 (19.23%) to Ofloxacin, and 12 (23.07%) to Gentamicin, while 2 (3.85%) were intermediate to Ceftazidime, 1 (1.92%) to Cefuroxime, 1 (1.92%) to Cefixime, and 1 (1.92%) to Augmentin. Whereas, 1 (1.92%) was resistance to Ceftazidime, 1 (9.2%) to Cefuroxime, 2 (3.85%) to Cefixime and 1 (1.92%) to Augmentin. .It is therefore, recommend the use of Gentamicin, Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin for the treatment of E. coli infection in chickens.

Physico-chemical and heavy metal analysis of effluent water from Port Harcourt Refinery Company Ltd. was done. Water samples were collected from the fall out (station 1), 100m away (station 2) and 200m away (station 3) and taken to the laboratory for analysis. The pH for station 1=5.0, station 2=5.5 and station 3=6.0 which is below the DPR specification. The electrical conductivity ranged from 60-75µS/cm. The TDS values of station 1 and 2 were recorded as 19mg/L and station 3 was 20mg/L. Salinity was low in all stations. The TSS was above the DPR specification at station 1 but at station 2 and 3 was within the specification of 30mg/L. BOD was high in all stations and was above the DPR specification of 10mg/L, the result ranged from 28-43mg/L. The value of COD exceeded the DPR specification of 40mg/L, the result for all stations ranged from 42-61mg/L. The level of oil and grease in station 1 and 2 were higher than the DPR specification of 10mg/L but station 3 was observed to be within. The heavy metals (Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr)) were estimated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The result obtained for Pb in station 1=0.051mg/L, station 2=0.062mg/L and station 3=0.030mg/L. Ni in station 1=0.009mg/L, station 2=0.001mg/L and station 3=0.012mg/L.  Mn, Cd and Cr were=0.001 in all. Pb was observed to be higher than all other heavy metals in the effluent water.