Genetic parameters of growth, body, and egg traits in Japanese quails (Cotournix cotournix japonica) reared in southern guinea savannah of Nigeria

Objective: This study on Japanese quails was undertaken to estimate heritability values for growth, body and egg traits as well as genetic and phenotypic relationships between these traits in Japanese quails reared in the Southern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria. Methodology and Results: One hundred and sixty nine (169) pedigree-hatched day-old Japanese quail chicks from 10 sires were used for this study. The data obtained were subjected to variance and correlation analyses as appropriate. Results showed that heritability estimates of body weight at various ages ranged from 0.10±0.02 to 0.82±0.14 while those of body weight gain were mostly moderate (0.19±0.05 - 0.42±0.02). Linear body parameters had moderate to high (0.23±0.13 - 0.49±0.16) heritability estimates except body length which was 0.08±0.15 heritable. Age at first egg (AFE), Body weight at first egg (BWFE) and weight of first egg (WFE) had heritability estimates of 0.48±0.17, 0.56±0.21 and 0.38±0.18, respectively. Phenotypic correlations between body weights at various ages and egg traits were mostly positive and significant (p<0.01) while that of linear body traits were all positive and mostly significant (p<0.01). Genetic relationships between body weights at various ages were all high and positive. AFE correlated negatively with BWFE while WFE had positive correlation with AFE and BWF. Conclusion and application of findings: The moderate to high heritability estimates obtained for body weight at ages 1-3 weeks indicates that response to selection for body weight at these ages could be rapid while the low heritability estimates of body weight at week 5 and 6 imply that response to selection for body weight at the 5th and 6th week could be slow. It is recommended that selection for body weight or growth rate in Japanese quails should be carried out at early stages of growth, preferably 2-3 weeks of age.Keywords: Heritability, Genetic correlation, phenotypic correlation, selection, Body measurement

KETERBUKAAN POLITIK DALAM DEMOKRASI PANCASILA: Tinjuan Etika Politik atas Kehidupan Demokrasi di Indonesia

Keterbukaan politik dalam Demokrasi Pancasila merupakan keterbukaan yang berarti umpan balik di mana rakyat sebagai warga negara memiliki hak untuk mengontrol, mengkritik dan memberikan usul serta saran atau dukungan pemerintah. Pemerintahan dalam melaksanakan pemerintahan harus secara terbuka di hadapan publik, agar publik mampu menilai apakah kebijakan pemerintah menjamin hak-hak warga negara dan menegakkan keadilan, ataukah kebijakan itu hanya untuk melestarikan kekuasaan rezim yang sedang berkuasa atau kelompok orang di sekitar kekuasaan. Perjuangan untuk menegakkan keterbukaan politik dalam kehidupan demokrasi Pancasila sangat penting dalam kehidupan demokrasi. Usaha warga negara yang dilakukan merupakan kebijakan dalam rangka membela nilai-nilai yang sangat berhubungan dengan persoalan hak asasi manusia dan kesejahteraan umu

From sick kids to SicKids!

This report outlines the varied activities undertaken by SicKids in Cambodia up to and including the April 2017 visit by Dr Joan Livesley and Professor Andrew Rowland. Both the November 2016 and April 2017 visits were part-funded by a Humanitarian Grant from the British Medical Association. SicKids is a children’s health charity currently working in the North West of England and Cambodia. It believes every child deserves the right to grow up healthy, and safe from abuse, exploitation and trafficking. The charity raises funds and work on projects to support children and young people

Original Contribution RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS AND LIVE WEIGHT IN ADULT MUSCOVY DUCKS USING PATH ANALYSIS

ABSTRACT Weight and body dimensions (body length (BL), chest circumference (CC), thigh length (TL), shank length (SL) and neck length (NL) were studied using 215 fifteen weeks male and female Nigerian indigenous Muscovy ducks by path analysis. The result showed that the correlation coefficient between live weight and body dimensions on the other hand were 0.89, .94, .87, .88 and .75 (male) and .29, .59, .41, .37, -.10 (female) for BL, CC, TL, SL and NL respectively. The direct effect of chest circumference was higher in both male and female (0.616, .571) with the neck length having the least and negative direct effects on weight for both sexes. Indirect effect of body length through chest circumference was also the highest .chest circumference is the most influential variable and can be included in the model in estimating live weight of both male and female Muscovy duck at 15 weeks of age

Inferring causation from time series in Earth system sciences

The heart of the scientific enterprise is a rational effort to understand the causes behind the phenomena we observe. In large-scale complex dynamical systems such as the Earth system, real experiments are rarely feasible. However, a rapidly increasing amount of observational and simulated data opens up the use of novel data-driven causal methods beyond the commonly adopted correlation techniques. Here, we give an overview of causal inference frameworks and identify promising generic application cases common in Earth system sciences and beyond. We discuss challenges and initiate the benchmark platform causeme.net to close the gap between method users and developers. © 2019, The Author(s)

Arctic change and possible influence on mid-latitude climate and weather: a US CLIVAR White Paper

The Arctic has warmed more than twice as fast as the global average since the mid 20th century, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification (AA). These profound changes to the Arctic system have coincided with a period of ostensibly more frequent events of extreme weather across the Northern Hemisphere (NH) mid-latitudes, including extreme heat and rainfall events and recent severe winters. Though winter temperatures have generally warmed since 1960 over mid-to-high latitudes, the acceleration in the rate of warming at high-latitudes, relative to the rest of the NH, started approximately in 1990. Trends since 1990 show cooling over the NH continents, especially in Northern Eurasia. The possible link between Arctic change and mid-latitude climate and weather has spurred a rush of new observational and modeling studies. A number of workshops held during 2013-2014 have helped frame the problem and have called for continuing and enhancing efforts for improving our understanding of Arctic-mid-latitude linkages and its attribution to the occurrence of extreme climate and weather events. Although these workshops have outlined some of the major challenges and provided broad recommendations, further efforts are needed to synthesize the diversified research results to identify where community consensus and gaps exist. Building upon findings and recommendations of the previous workshops, the US CLIVAR Working Group on Arctic Change and Possible Influence on Mid-latitude Climate and Weather convened an international workshop at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, on February 1-3, 2017. Experts in the fields of atmosphere, ocean, and cryosphere sciences assembled to assess the rapidly evolving state of understanding, identify consensus on knowledge and gaps in research, and develop specific actions to accelerate progress within the research community. With more than 100 participants, the workshop was the largest and most comprehensive gathering of climate scientists to address the topic to date. In this white paper, we synthesize and discuss outcomes from this workshop and activities involving many of the working group members

Ileocaecal recurrence of Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Merkel cell carcinoma is an uncommon skin malignancy that has a high propensity for metastatic spread. A systematic literature search identified 17 cases describing metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract, with 7 cases involving the small or large bowel. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only case described of Merkel cell carcinoma metastasising to the ileocaecal valve.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a 74-year-old Filipino woman diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin with regional node involvement. Following excision and radiotherapy, the tumour recurred with metastasis to the ileocaecal valve. The patient died 28 months after the initial diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prognosis of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma is poor. Currently the optimal management for metastatic disease is unclear and lacks a firm evidence base due to the small number of cases reported.</p

Awareness of HPV and cervical cancer prevention among Cameroonian healthcare workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical cancer, although largely preventable, remains the most common cause of cancer mortality among women in low-resource countries.</p> <p>The objective of this study was to assess knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer prevention among Cameroonian healthcare workers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire in 5 parts with 46 items regarding cervical cancer etiology and prevention was addressed to healthcare workers in six hospitals of Yaoundé, Cameroon. The investigators enlisted heads of nursing and midwifery to distribute questionnaires to their staff, recruited doctors individually, in hospitals and during conferences and distributed questionnaires to students in Yaoundé University Hospital and Medical School. Eight hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed, 401 collected. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 16.0. Chi-square tests were used and P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean age of respondents was 38 years (range 20-71 years). Most participants were aware that cervical cancer is a major public health concern (86%), were able to identify the most important etiological factors (58%) and believed that screening may prevent cervical cancer (90%) and may be performed by Pap test (84%). However, less than half considered VIA or HPV tests screening tests (38 and 47%, respectively). Knowledge about cancer etiology and screening was lowest among nurse/midwives.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Knowledge of cervical cancer and prevention by screening showed several gaps and important misconceptions regarding screening methods.</p> <p>Creating awareness among healthcare workers on risk factors and current methods for cervical cancer screening is a necessary step towards implementing effective prevention programs.</p