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

ENTERPRISING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP – AN IMPERATIVE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN UNIVERSITIES: A STUDY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT, EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY, ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA

Enterprising and entrepreneurship have gained public interest due to changes in global economy, pressure in labour market demanding graduates to equip themselves with skills to help them prosper and government support to foster enterprising culture to boast economic growth. The analytical technique for test of hypothesis was Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis. Descriptive Survey method was adopted in methodology. Enterprise and entrepreneurship can provide high learning opportunities best when related to courses chosen by students. A lot of initiatives has been introduced by Nigerian government in schools mostly universities to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship within our vast population. Numerous opportunities are available for universities when enterprising and entrepreneurship are integrated to restructure learning, building capacity and skill in students which will help reduce pressure in labour market because entrepreneurship is the key to economic development. Recommendations were made; students’ potentials when unleashed will lead to job opportunity, job creation, new industries. Conclusion: Government should help by organizing practical training, giving financial assistance, bank loan, also monitoring people to know whether those materials given are utilized effectively to avoid waste.  Article visualizations

Heritability Estimates of, Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations among Some Selected Carcass Traits of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Raised in a Sub-humid Climate

This study was conducted to evaluate some selected carcass traits in Japanese quails as well as provide estimates of their heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations among them. A total of 389 quails were slaughtered at 8 weeks of age. Sex significantly (P<0.05) influenced most carcass traits evaluated. The Japanese quails dressed at an average dressing percentage of 72.36. The heritability estimates of carcass traits derived from the sire variance components varied from low to high. All the carcass traits (carcass weight, front half of carcass weight, Rear half of carcass weight, breast weight, thigh weight, liver weight, heart weight, gizzard weight and dressing percentage) studied were positively genetically correlated to pre-slaughter live weight. Phenotypic correlations between pre-slaughter live weight and other carcass traits followed the same trend as for genetic correlation. It was concluded that Japanese quail have high efficiency of meat production and indirect selection could be used to improve the carcass traits studied. Keywords: Japanese quail, carcass traits, Heritability, Genetic correlation

Effect of Recruitment Challenges on Public Healthcare Organisations: A Study of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi

Abstract- This study investigated effect of recruitment challenges on public healthcare organization: a study of Nnamdi Azikiwe university teaching hospital Nnewi. Recruitment is a process of obtaining application for Jobs from among whom the right people can be selected, it is a formal process of finding and attracting capable applicants for employment. The process begins when new recruits are sought and ends when the applications are submitted, it results is pool of applicants from which new employees are selected. Primarily data was used in the study and correlation coefficient was also used to analyze the data showing that there is significant relationship between recruitment  practice and organizational performance both internal and external factors that affect recruitment process in the hospital concludes that if organizations recruits right, both qualified and experienced health professional, it will be of immense benefit to the health organizations, it is recommended  that hospital management should be left in the hands of professionally experienced health personnel who will handle recruitment, selection and placement of health personnel into public hospitals, job security should also be assured to staff

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

Artificial intelligence for climate prediction of extremes: state of the art, challenges, and future perspectives

Extreme events such as heat waves and cold spells, droughts, heavy rain, and storms are particularly challenging to predict accurately due to their rarity and chaotic nature, and because of model limitations. However, recent studies have shown that there might be systemic predictability that is not being leveraged, whose exploitation could meet the need for reliable predictions of aggregated extreme weather measures on timescales from weeks to decades ahead. Recently, numerous studies have been devoted to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to study predictability and make climate predictions. AI techniques have shown great potential to improve the prediction of extreme events and uncover their links to large‐scale and local drivers. Machine and deep learning have been explored to enhance prediction, while causal discovery and explainable AI have been tested to improve our understanding of the processes underlying predictability. Hybrid predictions combining AI, which can reveal unknown spatiotemporal connections from data, with climate models that provide the theoretical foundation and interpretability of the physical world, have shown that improving prediction skills of extremes on climate‐relevant timescales is possible. However, numerous challenges persist in various aspects, including data curation, model uncertainty, generalizability, reproducibility of methods, and workflows. This review aims at overviewing achievements and challenges in the use of AI techniques to improve the prediction of extremes at the subseasonal to decadal timescale. A few best practices are identified to increase trust in these novel techniques, and future perspectives are envisaged for further scientific development

The prevalence of nutritional anemia in pregnancy in an east Anatolian province, Turkey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anemia is considered a severe public health problem by World Health Organization when anemia prevalence is equal to or greater than 40% in the population. The purpose of this study was to determine the anemia prevalence with the associated factors in pregnant women and to determine the serum iron, folate and B12 vitamin status in anaemic pregnants in Malatya province.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a cross-sectional survey. A multi-sage stratified probability-proportional-to-size cluster sampling methodology was used. A total of 823 pregnant women from sixty clusters were studied. Women were administered a questionnaire related with the subject and blood samples were drawn. Total blood count was performed within four hours and serum iron, folate and B12 vitamin were studied after storing sera at -20 C for six months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Anemia prevalence was 27.1% (Hb < 11.0 gr/dl). Having four or more living children (OR = 2.2), being at the third trimester (OR = 2.3) and having a low family income (OR = 1.6) were determined as the independent predictors of anemia in pregnancy. Anemia was also associated with soil eating (PICA) in the univariate analysis (p < 0.05). Of anaemic women, 50.0% had a transferrin saturation less than 10% indicating iron deficiency, 34.5% were deficient in B12 vitamin and 71.7% were deficient in folate. Most of the anemias were normocytic-normochromic (56.5%) indicating mixed anemia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In Malatya, for pregnant women anemia was a moderate public health problem. Coexisting of iron, folate and B vitamin deficiencies was observed among anaemics. To continue anemia control strategies with reasonable care and diligence was recommended.</p

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Aims  The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (≥1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. Methods and results  Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61–0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. Conclusion  After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz299</p