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Sheep are not native to Australia and were originally imported; 44 sheep were among the animals transported from Great Britain to the penal colony established on the east coast of Terra Australis in January 1788 http://firstfleetfelowshp.org.au. The following brief account of the history of wool in Australia is taken from “The Australian Merino” which began; The Australian Merino…comprised one of the greatest creative expressions of domestic animal species by and for mankind…one of the greatest contributions to the world economy [1]. These original sheep were for human provisions and consisted of fat-tailed native sheep from the Cape of Good Hope, but the primary source of sheep for the first three or four decades of Australia’s history were from Bengal, the closest British colony to Australia.

Neurotoxicity is increasingly recognized as a critical factor impacting long-term health, with growing evidence linking it to both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Pesticides, widely used in agriculture and industry, have emerged as significant contributors to neurotoxic risk, given their capacity to disrupt key neurodevelopmental processes at low exposure levels. As conventional animal models present limitations in interspecies translation, human-derived neuron-based in vitro screening strategies are urgently needed to assess potential toxicants accurately. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer an innovative and scalable source for human-specific neuronal models that complement traditional animal-based approaches and support the development of predictive assays for neurotoxicity. Recent various stem cell models, including 2D cultures, 3D organoids, and microfluidic systems, are now available, advancing predictive neurotoxicology by simulating key aspects of human neural development and function. With the integration of High-Throughput (HT) and High-Content (HC) screening methodologies, these hiPSC-based systems enable efficient, large-scale evaluation of chemical effects on neural cells, enhancing our ability to detect early biomarkers of neurotoxic effects. Identifying early biomarkers of neurotoxic is essential to developing therapeutic interventions before irreversible damage occurs. This is particularly crucial in the context of developmental neurotoxicity, where early exposure to toxicants can have lifelong consequences. This review specifically presents an in-depth overview of the current progress in hiPSC-derived neural models and their applications in neurotoxicity testing, with a specific focus on their utility in assessing pesticide-induced neurotoxicity. Emphasizing future research priorities, we highlight the potential of these models to transform predictive toxicology, offering more human-relevant assessments and advancing the field toward a more precise evaluation of environmental neurotoxicants.

Giardia is the most common pathogenic intestinal flagellate protozoan in the world. The most studied species is Giardia lamblia (syn. Giardia intestinalis, Giardia duodenalis) that infects mammals, including humans. About the other seven species the scientific literature is very scarce and little is known about its characteristics and epidemiological importance. The exception is Giardia muris species that is frequently used in experimental infection to attempt to understand the parasite-host interaction in G. lamblia infection [1].

Ventricular Septal Defect, also known as VSD is a rare and life-threatening complication associated with MI. Therefore, it should be immediately diagnosed and treated. Transcatheter closure of the ventricular septal defect is a new alternative treatment approach compared to surgery. In this case, we presented a patient with post-infarct basal ventricular septal defect whose ventricular septal defect was closed using an atrial septal defect closure device. The ability to successfully close such a large defect via catheter is promising for the treatment of patients with VSD.

The seasonal nature of most fruits available in the market coupled with inadequate storage and processing facilities has limited their consumption by majority of the people in the country. Jams made from fruits are good bread spread rather than any other food products because they serve as adequate balance diet and it contains antioxidant such as vitamin C and A which play an important role in preventing cancer, cardiovascular problem and improvement of eyesight. Pawpaw and watermelon fruits have been reported to be nutritive and high in antioxidant properties that can scavenge free radicals, thereby improving the antioxidant status of the body. It is therefore deemed fit to produce jam from these perishable commodities in other to make them available all through the year and as well as adding to varieties of food products. The aqueous extracts of watermelon with pawpaw juice were processed into jam and the physicochemical properties of the jam samples were analysed. The resulting jam samples showed moisture content ranging between 30.60-35.30%, protein 0.40-0.80%, fat 0.20-0.40%, ash 1.20-1.70%, crude fibre 0.10-0.30%, carbohydrate 62.10-67.16%, β-carotene 610-1350µg/100g and ascorbic acid 9.60-15.40mg/100g. The jam samples were found to be very nutritive and high in antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that can scavenge free radicals, thereby can improve the antioxidant status of the body. Sensory evaluation tests showed that the samples were acceptable and compared favourably with the commercial imported brand while sample AA had the highest preference in all the sensory attributes evaluated by the panellists. Microbiological examination also showed that the jam samples had total plate count ranging from 4.10x101 to 2.00 x101 cfu/g, yeast and mould count ranged from 2.10x101 to 1.00 x101cfu/g with no observable coliform count.

A study on growth and carcass performance was conducted to evaluate the effect of Balanites aegyptiaca seed cake meal (BASCM) as a substitute for groundnut cake in the diet of growing rabbit. Five experimental diets were formulated representing the following treatments: T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. T1 (0% BASCM) was served as the control diet, while T2, T3, T4 and T5 contained 25%, 50% 75% and 100% BASCM respectively. A total of 100 weaner rabbits of mixed breeds were purchased from the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria, Nigeria. The rabbits were fed the control diet during the one week of adjustment period. They were given vitalyte as anti-stress and were dewormed using ivermectin, at the end of one week of adjustment; the rabbits were housed in different hutches and fed their respective experimental diet for one month. Each treatment contained 20 rabbits and these treatments’ (T1-T5) each were replicated in four portions and each portion had five rabbits each. Results showed that all the parameters were significantly different (P<0.05) among the treatment groups. Balanites aegyptiaca seed cake meal can replace groundnut cake at 25% level inclusion without adverse effect on the rabbit physiology.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery is superior to medical treatment for short- to medium-term remission of Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) [1]. Recent research indicates that the improvements in insulin sensitivity following bariatric surgery are associated with elevated circulating bile acid concentration and remodeling of gut microbiota [2]. Gut microbiome can be considered as a target of dietary interventions or medicines to prevention/treatment of hyperglycemia in T2DM. Since, the glucose-lowering effects of metformin are mediated by changes in the composition and function of gut microbiota [3,4].

Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV) was first identified in northern Italy. It likes other species of the family Potyuiridue. ZYMV has been recorded in many countries since 1981. The efficient intercontinental spread of the virus can be explained by international trading of infected seeds. Since coat protein (CP) analysis has become a primary method for taxonomic assignment of potyviruses the aims were to characterize this genomic region of ZYMV originating from virus-infected cucurbitaceous seedlings. Virus infection in cucurbits is typically associated with mosaic symptoms on leaves and lumpy, distorted fruit. The range of symptoms produced by each virus can overlap and plants are commonly infected by more than one virus at once. The viruses are spread by many species of aphids moving through or within a crop. Control options include: destroying old cucurbit crops as soon as harvesting is completed destroying weeds and volunteer cucurbits, within and around crops as these harbor the viruses and/or the aphids separating new crops from maturing crops as these will have high levels of virus infection avoiding overlapping crops of cucurbits.

Citrus Vein Phloem Degeneration (CVPD) is the main disease of citrus plants in Indonesia. This disease is caused by Gram negative bacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. Almost all citrus plants are susceptible to this disease and only a few citrus plants such as seedless lime (Citrus aurantiifolia var. Seedles) and kinkit citrus (Triphacia trifoliate) are tolerant. Both of these citrus plants store DNA fragments of CVPDr which are considered as tolerant factors (841 bp). However, this study found that CVPDr DNA fragments were also found in citrus plants susceptible to CVPD disease. This research aims to study DNA polymorphisms from CVPDr DNA fragments in citrus plants on the island of Bali. The PCR test showed T. trifoliate and C. aurantifolia that are resistant to CVPD and Pylogenically are in the same group as C. nobilis var Buleleng, C. reticulate var. Slayer Buleleng, and C. amblicarpa. On the other hand, citrus plants susceptible to CVPD are in a different group. There are two types of citrus plants not containing CVPDr DNA fragments, namely C. nobilis var. Petang and M. paniculata L. These results indicate that the CVPDr DNA fragment polymorphism is a factor tolerant to CVPD disease.

The amniotic membrane, used for over a century, is a widely recognized therapeutic tool in regenerative medicine and reconstructive surgery. Its primary indication is in the treatment of deep partial-thickness burns, where it facilitates epithelialization by providing an optimal environment for tissue regeneration. However, its versatility allows its use in various clinical scenarios, particularly in wounds or trauma where immediate closure is not possible, either due to the patient’s condition or the characteristics of the wound itself. Its most notable benefits include the prevention of necrosis due to desiccation, minimizing the loss of essential proteins, fluids, and electrolytes, reducing the risk of infection by acting as a physical barrier and alleviating pain by covering and stabilizing the wound.Additionally, its ability to act as a temporary biological cover offers a valuable solution in complex cases, improving both the prognosis and the patient’s management.A case series is presented demonstrating various applications of the amniotic membrane.