Guidance and Behaviour Management in early Childhood: Need for Reform in Child Care Development Education

Education is a life time experience acquired right from birth till the time of death. It is a life long journey which ought to start from the moment a child is born till his/she breaths his/her last. Guidance is a generic term for all the helping services provided (ideally) by the counsellor to the individual in need of direction, instruction, guide or information to enable him or her understand himself, his world, his challenges/or opportunities as a way of leading meaningful life. Behaviour management is the act of guiding both the process of behaviour development and the general behaviour manifestation of children under the childcare development programme of the Federal Government. This paper examines the concept of guidance and behaviour management with particular reference to the issue of childcare development. A critical appraisal of the concept and current practice reveals a dare need for reformation of our education system to ensure inculcation of purposive, responsible and culturally relevant behaviour in the children for whom early child care development centres are established. It was observed that there is still room for great improvement in the process of delivering child care development education and thus, the need for educational reform to be extended to this area. Key Words: Behaviour management, Child care, Child care development education, Education, Guidance

Evidence of purifying selection in exon 3 of interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF-5) gene in Nigerian indigenous chickens

Immune genes are under acute selective pressure in order to resist pathogenic attacks. It is not really clear the type of selective force that acts on immune genes because of diverse pathogen load and host population density, so this experiment studied the selective force acting on exon 3 of IRF-5 gene in Nigerian indigenous chickens. DNA was extracted from 90 Nigerian indigenous chickens and exon 3 of IRF-5 gene was sequenced. The region was tested for deviation from neutrality using DnaSP. The Mean non-synonymous substitutions per non-synonymous site (dN) and mean synonymous substitutions per synonymous site (dS) were calculated to predict likely selective force/event acting on the region using HyPhy software implemented inside MEGA6 software. All the test of neutrality indices obtained for exon 3 of IRF-5 gene in Nigerian indigenous chickens were greater than 1 except Tajima’s D value of normal feather chickens (0.93) and Fu’s Fs value of naked neck chickens (0.71). The dN of 0.00 and negative dS were estimated for exon 3 of IRF-5 gene in all the three genotypes. This study therefore concluded that purifying selective forces are acting on exon 3 of IRF-5 gene in Nigerian indigenous chickens. Keywords: Chickens, co-evolution, immunity, pathogens, selection

Description of body conformation of Nigerian Indigenous Turkeys using exploratory factor analysis

Body dimensions are used to characterise livestock species. Factor analysis is a multivariate technique for examining the interrelationship among a set of variables that are correlated. Factor analysis was used to describe body conformation of Nigerian indigenous turkeys in this study. The biometric traits of Nigerian indigenous turkeys were measured at 20th week of age and subjected to PROC FACTOR of SAS using varimax criterion of orthogonal rotation method. The highest Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.94 was observed between wing length and wing span. Three factors accounted for 87.41% of the total variance. The first factor accounted for 50.23% of the total variance, the second factor accounted for 24.39% while the third factor accounted for 12.79% of the total variance. The communality ranged from 0.77 in body weight to 0.98 in breast girth. All the biometric traits studied were very effective in explaining body conformation in Nigerian indigenous turkeys. Three factors explained all the biometric traits of Nigerian indigenous turkeys. The first factor explained body weight, body length, shank length, thigh length and keel length. The second factor explained wing parts while the third factor explained only the breast girth. It can therefore be concluded that the three factors obtained in this study described body conformation of Nigerian indigenous turkeys.Keywords: Turkey; Body dimension; Communality; Unique facto

Perception of Skin Bleaching Among Female Secondary School Students in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria

Despite the social, pathological, physiological and psychological effects that skin bleaching presents, it has become a popular practice among individuals of different age groups, gender and religious affiliations in Nigeria. An objective observation would identify a particular group as being mostly involved in the practice than the others. Upon this backdrop, this study investigated the perception of female secondary school students on skin bleaching practice in Ibadan metropolis. The sample comprised six hundred female students across ten secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis. The instrument employed for the study is titled “Perception of Skin Bleaching Questionnaire” (POSBQ) designed by the researchers. The data collected were analyzed using percentage, mean and t-test statistical measures. The major findings revealed that young girls engaged in skin bleaching as a method of receiving desired attention and relationship from the opposite sex and attract the desired marriage partners. The study revealed that religion has no significant influence on the perception of the respondents as regards skin bleaching while age has significant influence. Therefore, counsellors should enlighten female students on best practice in body beautification and guide them on life building skills such as assertiveness, decision making and healthy living. Keywords: Beautification, Perception and Skin bleachin

Assessment of OvineSNP50 in Nigerian and Kenyan sheep populations

Deciphering genomic information requires markers that are polymorphic and sufficient enough to capture its vast array of genetic data. Polymorphic loci can differ greatly between breeds of the same species and the exclusion of the Nigerian and some African sheep breeds during the development of the OvineSNP50 chip necessitated the validation of SNPs included on the chip to allow for genomic applications of the excluded breeds. A total of sixty sheep samples were genotyped [10 each of the Balami, Uda, West African Dwarf and Yankasa from Nigeria, Dorper and Red Maasai from Kenya (East Africa)] using the Ovine 50k Illumina SNP bead chip. Results revealed that 33,994 SNPs (97.47%) of the called 34,876 SNPs were validated for downstream analysis. Mean heterozygosity values of 0.154 and 0.153 were obtained for polymorphic SNPs on sex and autosomal chromosomes respectively, while the values of 0.662 and 0.054 were obtained on the sex and autosomal chromosomes respectively for the mean identity-bystate (IBS). Six and three individuals violated the per ID and identity-by-state (IBS) thresholds, respectively. It was observed that the Ovine 50k Illumina SNP bead chip wasinformative in the Nigerian and East African sheep that were studied, and should be useful in examining the underlying genetic variation.Keywords: Sheep, OvineSNP50, genome-wide, call rate, minor allele frequenc

Assessing the genetic diversity of South-western Nigerian Indigenous Pig (Sus scorfa) using mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequence

In this study, the maternal genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of South-western pig population were assessed. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from air-dried blood spotted on Fast Technology for Analysis (FTA) card. The extracted DNA were amplified with predefined mitochondria (mtDNA) primers. A total of 843 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region of 30 pigs were analyzed. Seven (7) haplotypes and 64 polymorphic sites were identified, with no insertion or deletion between nucleotide 3 and 835. The mean haplotypic and nucleotide diversity were found to be 0.381±0.058 and 0.315±0.155 respectively. The phylogeny revealed one divergent haplotype clade, suggesting one possible maternal lineage (European domestic pig) in South-west Nigerian pigs. The median joining network formed a star-like pattern, suggesting population expansion from a small number of founding ancestor (IFE1). Genetic variation within and between populations accounted for 63.32% and 36.68% of the total genetic variation respectively. This study concluded that there was relatively high genetic diversity in our indigenous pig population, thus, will probably pave way for preservation and improvement of Nigerian pigs as genetic resources. Keywords: mtDNA, genetic variation, phylogenetic relationshi

Polymorphisms, Haplotype Variability and Neutrality Test of Bronze Locus in Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

The bronze locus, identified as melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, is involved in body coloration. We examined polymorphisms, haplotype variability and deviation from neutrality of bronze locus in Nigerian Indigenous Turkeys (NIT) using British United Turkeys (BUT) as control breed. Single-exon coding region of MC1R was sequenced. Polymorphisms were identified using MEGA v6 and CodonCode Aligner. In silico prediction of the functional effects of amino acid substitutions was done using SNAP2. Haplotypes were reconstructed using DnaSp v5. Eight polymorphisms were identified in MC1R gene of the birds with two novel polymorphisms: c.37C>A (neutral effect) and c.866T>G (gain-of-function) in NIT and BUT, respectively. Mutations c.450C>T and c.866T>G were unique to lavender NIT while c.186C>G was present in all birds. Two polymorphisms, c.866T>G and c.887C>T, were predicted to have functional effects. The highest genetic diversity was observed in lavender NIT while the least was observed in BUT. Fifteen (15) haplotypes were reconstructed, with MC1RBUT1 and MC1RBUT2 unique to BUT. Haplotype MC1R*4 was absent in all the birds used in this study while MC1R*5 was present in all NIT. Our study confirmed that MC1R*2 carried black (B) allele. Two novel haplotypes (MC1RNig1 and MC1RNig2) identified in this study also carried B allele. MC1RNig6, MC1RNig7 and MC1RNig8 were found to be unique to lavender. The novel polymorphisms and haplotypes identified in NIT and BUT could be used in differentiating them from other turkey breeds with the same plumage colours. Also, various polymorphisms and haplotypes identified in bronze locus of turkey are useful in breeding programmes aimed at developing or conserving different plumage colour types

REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, FEED INTAKE AND EFFICIENCY OF INDIGENOUS AND CROSSBRED TURKEYS

This study assessed the reproductive performance of indigenous and crossbred parent stocks and the influence of sire genotype on the growth and efficiency of feed utilization by their progenies. A total of 300 poults, 150 for each genotype were generated from two crosses (Nicholas white x Indigenous and Indigenous x Indigenous turkeys). Data were collected on the reproductive performance of the parents while body weight and feed intake from day old to the 20th week of age were also collected from the progenies generated. The experiment was a complete randomized design with data generated subjected to two way analysis of variance using SAS. The result of the study showed that sire genotype had significant effect (p<0.05) on semen colour and semen volume while semen pH, motility, morphology and live dead ratio were not significantly affected. Crossbred tom had higher semen volume (0.39 ml) compared to 0.18 ml recorded in indigenous turkey. Genotype had no significant effect (p>0.05) on all female reproductive traits such as fertility, hatchability, dead in-germ, weak in-shell and dead in-shell. However, the indigenous turkey had higher fertility percentage (85%) while 80% hatchability was observed in crossbred turkey. Crossbred turkey significantly (p<0.05) had higher body weight (3330g) at 20 week of age compared to the indigenous turkey (2869g). Sexual dimorphism in favour of the male turkey was also observed throughout the period of the experiment. Although the crossbred turkey consumed more feed, the efficiency of feed utilization was better in the indigenous turkey. This findings suggested that the indigenous turkeys can be successfully improved with the introgression of exotic genetic material while crossbred turkeys can be further selected for improved productive and adaptive traits. &nbsp

Polymorphisms, Haplotype Variability and Neutrality Test of Bronze Locus in Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

The bronze locus, identified as melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, is involved in body coloration. We examined polymorphisms, haplotype variability and deviation from neutrality of bronze locus in Nigerian Indigenous Turkeys (NIT) using British United Turkeys (BUT) as control breed. Single-exon coding region of MC1R was sequenced. Polymorphisms were identified using MEGA v6 and CodonCode Aligner. In silico prediction of the functional effects of amino acid substitutions was done using SNAP2. Haplotypes were reconstructed using DnaSp v5. Eight polymorphisms were identified in MC1R gene of the birds with two novel polymorphisms: c.37C>A (neutral effect) and c.866T>G (gain-of-function) in NIT and BUT, respectively. Mutations c.450C>T and c.866T>G were unique to lavender NIT while c.186C>G was present in all birds. Two polymorphisms, c.866T>G and c.887C>T, were predicted to have functional effects. The highest genetic diversity was observed in lavender NIT while the least was observed in BUT. Fifteen (15) haplotypes were reconstructed, with MC1RBUT1 and MC1RBUT2 unique to BUT. Haplotype MC1R*4 was absent in all the birds used in this study while MC1R*5 was present in all NIT. Our study confirmed that MC1R*2 carried black (B) allele. Two novel haplotypes (MC1RNig1 and MC1RNig2) identified in this study also carried B allele. MC1RNig6, MC1RNig7 and MC1RNig8 were found to be unique to lavender. The novel polymorphisms and haplotypes identified in NIT and BUT could be used in differentiating them from other turkey breeds with the same plumage colours. Also, various polymorphisms and haplotypes identified in bronze locus of turkey are useful in breeding programmes aimed at developing or conserving different plumage colour types