Background: Agricultural products are essential for human beings and maintaining their quality and storing them under optimal conditions is important. Sesame is a widely used cooking oil. Oil production and quality are important aspects of&nbsp;the food industry. However, during storage, the quality of sesame seeds can be greatly affected by factors such as moisture content, microbial growth and pests. Conventional techniques for eliminating pests and drying frequently entail the use of chemicals or high temperatures, which could cause health hazards and diminish the nutritional value of the seeds. However, dielectric measurement is a low-cost, rapid and effective technique for the detection and quality assessment of agricultural products. 
 
Methods: A specially designed coaxial sample holder was connected to an LCR Meter by using a computer-controlled interface. It operates on the principle of a cylindrical capacitor and is based on the cavity perturbation technique. The sample was contained in the cavity of a cylindrical sample holder and a specifically constructed temperature controller sensor assembly was used to regulate the temperature. Five different moisture concentrations of sesame oilseeds were prepared to study their dielectric permittivity, electrical conductivity and penetration depth over the frequency range of 100 Hz to 5 MHz.&nbsp; 
 
Result: This study indicates that the dielectric constant tends to change in a more regular and understandable manner as the frequency and moisture content vary, whereas the behaviour of the dielectric loss factor was less predictable and more irregular in response to the same changes. A linear regression model was developed to investigate the impact of the dielectric constant and loss on frequency and temperature. An R2 value of 0.705 indicates that the model is well explained, with 27.6% of the variance in temperature and frequency.

Radio Frequency Treatment of Sesame Oilseed for Quality Assessment

This project uses ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) ear tags and readers with a readable range of 3 to 5 m. Forty stags were tagged with radio-frequency identification (RFID) ear tags and allocated into 20 pens. When deer with RFID ear tags walked through the aisle, handheld RFID readers, used as personal digital assistants (PDAs), and stationary RFID readers in frequency range received signals from the tags, and individual deer tag data were transmitted immediately and completely through wireless PDAs to a computer. The inputted data were sent to the deer-farm management system to be collated and organized. Farmers obtained individual deer data without approaching the deer, which decreased the risk of the deer attacking. Employing UHF-RFID technology integrated with software contributes to enhancing the efficiency of deer identification and farm management.

Employing ultrahigh-frequency RFID technology on deer farm managment

<div style="text-align: justify;">To establish an effective feeding regime for Carassius auratus, this experiment investigated the effects of feeding ration and feeding frequency on growth, feed utilization and body composition in juvenile C. auratus (Initial weight: 1.66 &plusmn; 0.018 g). A 4 &times; 4 experimental design of four ration sizes (2, 3, 4 and 5% body weight per day [BW/day]) with four feeding frequencies (1, 2, 3 and 4 meals/day) was carried out over 8 weeks with three replicates per treatment. The results showed that weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) with the feeding ration from 2% BW/day to 3% BW/day and feeding frequency from 1 meal/day to 4 meals/day. Similarly feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly better (P &lt;0.05) at feeding ration of 3% BW/day than 4 and 5% BW/day at 4 meals/day than 1, 2 or 3 meals/day. SGR, FCR and PER further reduced when feeding ration was increased beyond 3% BW/day. Lipid content improved with the increased feeding frequency at all feeding rations, however feeding frequency did not exhibit a significant effect on crude protein level (P&gt;0.05). Moisture content of body showed an opposite trend to lipid content and decreased with increase in feeding frequency. In conclusion, feeding ration of 3% BW/day and feeding frequency of 4 meals/ day was found to be better for maximal growth and feed utilization of young ones of C. auratus.</div>

Feeding ration and frequency influences growth, feed utilization and body composition of goldfish (Carassius auratus)

A comparative study of frequency and spectrum of chlorophyll mutations induced by physical (gamma rays) and chemical mutagens (EMS) in relation to the effect of mutations in M1 plant, induction of mutants in M2 and variability studies in M3 generation was made in two ricebean (Vigna umbellata Thunb, Ohwi and Ohashi) varieties; one local (Totru Local) and one widely cultivated one (BRS-1) during 2005-2008. The treatments included three doses each of gamma rays (30, 40 and 50 kR) and EMS (0.50, 0.60 and 0.70%). Both gamma rays and EMS proved to be hazardous for germination and plant survival at higher dose and the comparative reduction in these characters was higher under EMS treatments than gamma rays. The frequencies and spectrum of five different kind of induced chlorophyll mutations was in the order; viridis &gt; xantha = albina &gt; chlorina &gt; albo-viridis in BRS-1 and viridis &gt; xantha &gt; albina &gt; chlorina = albo-viridis in Totru Local. EMS was found to be more effective in inducing maximum frequencies of chlorophyll mutants than gamma rays. Highest frequency of chlorophyll mutants were found under O.50% EMS in BRS-1 and 0.70% EMS in Totru Local. Genotypic differences were seen as highest frequency of mutations was observed in Totru Local which was more sensitive to mutagenic treatments than BRS-1. The coefficients of variation for all quantitative characters studied in M3 generation were of higher magnitude compared to control in both the cultivars. The lower doses (30kR in gamma rays and 0.50% in EMS) were found to be the most important doses for inducing desirable variability in ricebean and three traits i.e. pods per cluster, seeds per pod and pod length showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance in both BRS-1 and Totru Local indicating that breeding for these traits can be achieved by phenotypic selection.&nbsp;

Frequency and spectrum of chlorophyll mutations and induced variability&nbsp;in ricebean (Vigna umbellata Thunb, Ohwi and Ohashi)

<div>Present re search was formulated to find out how honey extraction frequencies influence colony growth and honey production of European honey bee Apis mellifera colonies. Colonies were equalized in terms of food and brood before starting experiment and were subjected to three types of honey extraction frequencies namely single, two and regular/ farmer&rsquo;s practices. Observations were recorded fortnightly throughout the honey flow season for two consecutive years (2014-16). As per present findings single extraction frequency have maximum mean honey area of 668.4 inches2 followed by twice extracted colonies (568.6) with significant difference and regular extraction (449.0) gives least honey. Honey peaks were observed during mid February (837.8-916.8 inches2) which remains significantly higher than honey areas in January and in March. As far as colony growth was concerned colonies with two extractions have high total brood areas of 436.4 inches2 and similar trend was followed in case of larvae, pupae and egg. Effect on pollen stores gave a different picture in contrast of other parameters here colonies with regular extraction were observed with significantly high pollen stores (99.3 inches2) than single extracted colonies (83.7 inches2). For high honey production single extraction was recommended and if colony multiplication was also an aim than twice extraction is best option as per findings.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Growth of Apis mellifera (L.) colonies influenced by honey extraction frequencies</div>

Background: The growth rate and body weight increased with increment in feed frequencies due to microbial activities enhancing nutrient absorption in the animal&rsquo;s body (<a href="#younas_2014">Yaunas et al., 2014</a>, <a href="#bawala_2009">Bawala et al., 2009</a>). The efficacy of growth by increased feeding frequency is due to a large improvement in the efficiency of food utilization. Smaller ruminants require more frequent feedings than larger ruminants because of their higher basal metabolism. 
 
Methods: The effects of concentrate feeding frequency on growth performance were assessed in a three-month trial including twenty-one female Sirohi goat kids. Three groups (T1, T2 and T3) containing concentrate were randomly assigned to feed the Sirohi goat kids once, twice, or three times a day. Throughout the ninety-day trial, uniform management techniques and feeding like green or dry fodder were kept up. Each animal was given an exact quantity of food and water each morning during the trial and the remaining feed and water were weighed the next morning. 
 
Result: Total daily feed intake was significantly (P&lt;0.01) higher in T3 (885.88&plusmn;4.06 g/d) than in T2 (775.03&plusmn;7.52 g/d) and T1 (702.54&plusmn;5.78 g/d). Average daily weight gain (ADG) was significantly (P&lt;0.01) higher in T3 (43.68&plusmn;1.8 g) than in T1 (32.30&plusmn;2.61 g) and T2 (37.73&plusmn;2.42 g). Non-significantly differing feed conversion ratio (3.06&plusmn;0.31) in T3 than in T2 (3.16&plusmn;0.29) and T1 (3.39&plusmn;0.31), indicating a positive impact of thrice-a-day concentrate feeding on feed intake and growth but not affect feed efficiency in goat kids.

Effect of Concentrate Feeding Frequency on Growth Performance of Sirohi Goat Kids

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Allocation of resources only to a few promising segregating populations that are likely to result in high frequency of transgressive recombinant inbred lines (RILs) for use as pure-line cultivars would help enhance efficiency of breeding self-pollinated crops including dolichos bean. The use of an objective criterion to identify promising segregating populations is therefore assumes importance. The prediction of frequency of transgressive RILs that could be derived from advanced generations of segregating populations of crosses is one such criterion.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: We predicted the frequency of RILs that transgressed the better parent (HA 5) from two reciprocal crosses derived from two elite but genetically diverse parents (HA 4 and HA 5) for four quantitative traits based on estimates of mid parental value [m], additive genetic effects [a] and additive genetic variance [&sigma;2A].&nbsp; 
 
Result: The frequency of transgressive RILs predicted from H 5 &times; HA 4 was higher than those predicted from H 4 &times; HA 5 for primary branches plant-1, pods plant-1 and grain weight plant-1, while it was comparable between the crosses for pod weight plant-1. The required minimum population size was relatively smaller to recover the transgressive RILs from the cross which was predicted to result in higher frequency of RILs than that was predicted to result in lower frequency of RILs.</div>

Predicting the Frequency of Transgressive RILs and Minimum Population Size Required to Recover Them in Dolichos Bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet]

Background: Most of the Enterobacterales strains are non-pathogenic; however, there is increasing concern that some antibiotic-resistant strains of Shigella spp., E. coli, Klebsiella spp. and Salmonella spp. could spread from animals and their by-products to humans and cause different diseases. This study aimed to isolate, characterize and assess the antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinically important Enterobacterales isolated from chicken viscera samples in Nigeria. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: A total of 200 chicken viscera (intestine, gizzard, liver and crop) samples obtained from various poultry slaughterhouse outlets were analyzed using standard microbiological procedures. Using the disc diffusion technique, the detected Enterobacterales isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Results showed that Salmonella spp., E. coli, Klebsiella spp. and Shigella spp. were members of the Enterobacterales recovered from the chicken viscera samples with frequency of 88 (44%), 72 (36%), 60 (30%) and 32 (16%) respectively. Additionally, the highest frequency of Enterobacterales isolation was from chicken intestine with a frequency of 92/252 (36.5%). Generally, all the recovered Enterobacterales were resistant (100%) to tetracycline and erythromycin, except for Klebsiella spp in which 16.7% resistance frequency was observed. Resistances were also observed with ampicillin (37.5%-100%), gentamicin (34.4%-66.7%) and ciprofloxacin (12.5%-83.3%). The average multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) value of the recovered isolates in this study was 0.7. This study has shown that chicken viscera parts are contaminated by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales such as Shigella spp., E. coli, Klebsiella spp. and Salmonella spp. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

High Frequency of Antibiotic-resistant Enterobacterales Contaminating Chicken Viscera in Nigeria: A Trigger for Foodborne Disease Outbreak

<div>Background: Brown bast is one of the most serious threats to natural rubber production. It is estimated that brown bast leads to an approximately 15-20% decrease in latex yield production. There is currently no effective method to control this problem and an effort to overcome this problem is in progress by the natural rubber producing countries. 
 
Methods: This study evaluated the effect and the most suitable rate and frequency of Rejuvenator application to cure brown bast (latex dryness) and improve latex yield. The Rejuvenator treatment was applied to the selected tree with two different treatment frequencies (every 3 days and every 6 days) and three different Rejuvenator concentrations (5 g/L, 10 g/L and 5 g/L). The Rejuvenator was applied 5 times. Data on latex yield and brown bast cure were then recorded 1 month after the application of the last treatment. The treatments used were T1: No Rejuvenator, T2: 5 g/L of Rejuvenator, T3: 10 g/L of Rejuvenator, T4: 15 g/L of Rejuvenator.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Of all the treatment used, T3 (10 g/L) resulted in higher production of latex yield and Hevea bark nutrient concentration (g/t/t) than control. It also gave the highest nutrient content in the bark tissue. The findings of this study reveal that the optimum concentration and frequency of Rejuvenator application were established at 10 g/L every 6 days. More so, the findings explain that inadequate nutrients can be attributed to the brown bast syndrome in rubber plantation which can be prevented with the use of a rejuvenator to the tree&rsquo;s bark.</div>

Application of Different Rates and Frequencies of Rejuvenator for the Treatments of Brown Bast Syndrome on Hevea brasiliensis

Background: This study was conducted to determine the lethal dose of the chemical mutagen ethyl-methane sulfonate (EMS) in a high-yielding rice variety, CO51. Chlorophyll mutation frequencies have been studied in the M2&nbsp;generation. 
 
Methods: Lethal doses were determined through a pilot study, in which ten batches of rice seeds were treated with different doses of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) and kill curve analysis was carried out. Then, three batches of M1&nbsp;population have been generated with the EMS doses of 0.5%, 0.6% and 0.7% respectively. Subsequently, in the next cropping, three batches of M2&nbsp;population, consisting of 1030, 710 and 360 M2&nbsp;families have been subjected to chlorophyll mutation have been studied.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The LD50&nbsp;value resided between 0.5% and 0.6% EMS. A Gradual increase in the EMS dose increased the lethality in the rice in a linear fashion. The frequencies of the chlorophyll mutation were 3.59, 6.47 and 9.44 for the EMS doses of 0.5%, 0.6% and 0.7% respectively.