Principal component and stepwise discriminant analysis of the morphometric traits of three dual-purpose breeds of chicken

Using the principal component procedure of SAS, 10 variables; body weight (BW), body length (BL), breast girth (BG), shank length (SL), thigh length (TL), comb length (CL), comb height (CH), wing length (WL), wattle length (WAL) and wattle thickness (WT) obtained from three dual-purpose chicken breeds (Shika, Kuroiler, and Sasso), variables were separated. Similarly, stepwise discriminant analsis procedure of the SAS software was employed to evaluate variables that contribute to the overall differences in breeds. Results showed three principal components (PC1, PC2 and PC3) were extracted for all the breeds and pooled data. 45.60% of total variance was accounted for by PC1, 28.17% by PC2 and 16.22% by PC3. The principal components partitioning of total variance were 50.80, 15.10 and 9.70%, 50.82, 19.90 and 14.90%, and 48.63, 14.00 and 12.67% for Shika, Kuroiler, and Sasso breeds respectively, with different factor loadings. Communalities ranged from 0.43-0.97, 0.45-0.83, 0.45-0.88 and 0.45-0.90, indicating that a good amount of variance was accounted for. Stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that seven morphometric traits, TL, SL, WAL, WL, CL, CH and BL, contributed significantly (P<0.001) to the separation of the birds into breeds. TL and SL, however, indicated higher discriminating power compared to others. The principal component analysis allowed for better understanding of the complex correlations among traits and reduced the number of traits along with high communalities, using only PC1, PC2 and PC3the first three PCs, without loss of information. Summary of stepwise discriminant analysis shows that lengthwise measures of long bones of the body of chickens, such as thigh and shank, are viable metrics for phenotypic differentiation of birds in the studied population.Keywords: Principal Component, Stepwise discriminant Analysis, Morphometric traits, chicken

Inhibition of lysosomal vacuolar proton pump down-regulates cellular acidification and enhances E. coli bactofection efficiency

Endosomal escape is considered a crucial barrier that needs to be overcome by integrin-mediated E. coli for gene delivery into mammalian cells. Bafilomycin, a potent inhibitor of the H+ proton pump commonly employed to lower endosomal pH, was evaluated as part of the E. coli protocol during delivery. We found an increase in green fluorescent protein expression up 6.9, 3.2, 5.0, 2.8, and 4.5 fold in HeLa, HEK-293, A549, HT1080, and MCF-7 respectively, compared to untreated cells. Our result showed for the first time that Inhibition of lysosomal VATPase enhances E. coli efficiency

Factors affecting the study time of first and final year students of a world class university

Many activities compete for the time students spent on academic activities, but few works have been done on the factors affecting the study times of first and final year students.Questionnaires were given to 150 first and final year students from four colleges of a world-class university located in Ogun State, Nigeria and the aim is to investigate the factors affecting their study time. Ninety-eight representing 65.3% of the students study between 1 and 4 hours per day. Gender, age, level and college affiliation are not associated with their perceived desired results. In the same vein, it was observed that gender and age are not associated with hours of study. However, there are significant associations between the duo of level and college and study hours. Also, there is no significant association (i) Between the number of hours spent on sleeping and the number of hours spent on studying and (ii). The hours spent on study and the desired result. In conclusion, strategies are needed to be crafted and deployed to increase the hours spent on studying by the first and final year students which are likely to give them their desired results and improve the art of learning. Logistic regression on the desired results was predicted by the 3 moderation variables, namely; the gender and level, age and college, and level and college. Intervention programmes are to be incorporated into the curriculum to motivate students in achieving their desired results. Tutorial classes, investment in learning tools, promotion of discussion groups, counselling are recommended for first and final year students to stimulate their interests in their chosen course of study and to prepare them for successful careers

Factors affecting the study time of first and final year students of a world class university

Many activities compete for the time students spent on academic activities, but few works have been done on the factors affecting the study times of first and final year students. Questionnaires were given to 150 first and final year students from four colleges of a worldclass university located in Ogun State, Nigeria and the aim is to investigate the factors affecting their study time. Ninety-eight representing 65.3% of the students study between 1 and 4 hours per day. Gender, age, level and college affiliation are not associated with their perceived desired results. In the same vein, it was observed that gender and age are not associated with hours of study. However, there are significant associations between the duo of level and college and study hours. Also, there is no significant association (i) Between the number of hours spent on sleeping and the number of hours spent on studying and (ii). The hours spent on study and the desired result. In conclusion, strategies are needed to be crafted and deployed to increase the hours spent on studying by the first and final year students which are likely to give them their desired results and improve the art of learning. Logistic regression on the desired results was predicted by the 3 moderation variables, namely; the gender and level, age and college, and level and college. Intervention programmes are to be incorporated into the curriculum to motivate students in achieving their desired results. Tutorial classes, investment in learning tools, promotion of discussion groups, counselling are recommended for first and final year students to stimulate their interests in their chosen course of study and to prepare them for successful careers

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified

Effect of the Methanolic Extract of Trichosanthes Cucumerina Seed (SnakeGourd/Tomatoe) on Hormone Influenced Seminal Vesicle Weight in Adult Wistar Rats Effect of the Methanolic Extract of Trichosanthes Cucumerina Seed (SnakeGourd/Tomatoe) on Hormone Infl

Abstract Background: To determine the effect caused by the methanolic extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina on hormone influenced seminal vesicle weight in adult Wistar Rats. Place and Duratio

Tuberculosis risk factors in Lephalale local municipality of Limpopo province, South Africa

Lephalale local municipality is the leading sub-district in Limpopo province with 9.8% of deaths caused by tuberculosis. This study aimed to describe the risk factors for TB in Lephalale local municipality. A quantitative descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was used to target 148 registered TB patients aged 18 years and above in the sub-district’s 6 clinics. Approval and ethical clearance was obtained from the relevant authorities (SHS/15/PH/14/2006). Only respondents who agreed in writing to be part of the study were included. Ethical research principles were observed. A researcher-developed self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were analysed using the statistical Package for Social Sciences® version 22.0. Of 148 respondents, a high proportion of diagnosed TB patients (43.24%) were receiving less than R1 000 per month; the majority (53.38%) were unemployed; 22% were overcrowded in a single room; 31.8% had skipped taking TB medication at some point; 12% had previously worked in the mining industries; 37.16% never opened windows: 39.19% were from a rural settlement. TB risk factors in Lephalale include overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, TB treatment interruption, rural settlement, working in a mine, and low income. Educating communities about improving ventilation and treatment adherence as well as community empowerment with entrepreneurial skills might assist. (Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp) S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2017.130473