Residual bootstraps for regression model validation

Validation is a useful and necessary part of the model-building process, identification of one or several “good” regression models is not the end of the model-building process and these models must be evaluated by various diagnostic procedures before the final regression model is determined. Residual Bootstrap method in regression model validation accomplish the goal of constructing appropriate sampling distributions empirically using the data at hand instead of statistician relying on theoretical sampling distributions like the normal, t and f where appropriateness for any given problem always rest on untestable assumptions. Validation statistics of interest such as standard error (SE), mean square error (MSE) and coefficient of determination (2) were used as criteria for selecting the best model suitable for predictive purposes.The research work concluded that to reduce the problem of overffited models in regression analysis, residual bootstrap approach should be employed in checking the validation of regression model as it gives a better estimates and stable value of coefficient of determination

Understanding Phishing and Phishing Techniques in Client-Side Web-Based Systems

As auspicious as the technology is, the bane of the internet has always been the constant threats of online identity theft and other forms of fraud prevalent on the information highway. Phishing is a form of internet fraud in which emails and websites that are purportedly from legitimate organisations and agencies are used to deceive users into disclosing personal or financial information. Despite the plethora of anti-spam filters that are readily available today, phishing emails are still able to bypass such measures and find their ways into users’ inboxes. This challenge at the client side of the web-based infrastructure is prevalent as clients are at varying levels of usage and knowledge of internet infrastructure. This paper takes a look at the phishing scenario by examining why it works. We provide extensive insights into extant literature in the subject domain as a basis for the development of tools to mitigate phishing and assisting users understand phishing attacks

Pregnancy outcome in elderly primigravidae at a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: a five-year review

Background: Pregnancy though a physiologic process also comes with its complications. This has been found to be related to factors associated with the mother and fetus. Maternal age at first pregnancy is a determining factor which could affect pregnancy outcome. Objective of present study was to determine the effect of maternal age on obstetric outcome.Methods: A five-year retrospective case control study involving primigravid women aged 35years and above (elderly primigravidae) and the younger primigravidae aged below 35 years who delivered at the University of Abuja Teaching hospital (UATH) between 2012 and 2016. Data were collected from their case notes, antenatal and delivery registers. For comparative purposes, obstetric and perinatal parameters including antenatal, labour, delivery, postpartum factors were collected for both the elderly primigravidae and younger primigravidae. A total of 6,052 deliveries, of which 2,456 were primigravidae and 42 of them were ≥35years of age. Out of 42 cases, only 30 folders were found and analyzed. The matched controls were selected consecutively after each elderly primigravidae in the register without prior knowledge of their pregnancy outcome. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi square test X2 and student T test were used for comparison of the two groups. Statistical significance was set at P values of ≤ 0.05 at 95% confidence interval.Results: The incidence of elderly primigravidae was found to be 1.2% in this study. There was increased risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, caesarean delivery and low APGAR scores in the elderly primigravidae group but these were not statistically significant. No other differences in obstetrics and neonatal outcome were found between the two groups.Conclusions: Elderly primigravidae are at increased risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and caesarean delivery than in younger primigravidae. On the other hand, neonatal outcome of the two groups were comparable.

EVALUATION OF TWO ANIMAL PROTEIN SOURCES IN SINGLE PHASE FEEDING OF BROILER CHICKENS

A study was carried out to compare the use of blood meal and fish meal as protein sources in single phase feeding of broiler chickens.  Three isonitrogenious and isocaloric diets containing between 20.5 to 21.1 % CP and 3440 to 3454 kcal/kg ME were formulated. The control diet contained none of the animal protein sources while the other two diets contained blood meal and fish meal at 6%, respectively. After six weeks of straight feeding, data were collected on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio was calculated. Carcass characteristics and cost benefit were also calculated. The results indicated that birds fed fish meal based diet  consumed more feed (p< 0.05) than those on control diet,  while intake of those on blood meal based diet  was an interphase between the control and fish meal based diet groups. The birds fed fish meal based diet also recorded higher (p< 0.05) daily weight gain than those on control and blood meal based diets. Feed conversion ratio was better in the group fed fish meal based diet than those fed the control diet, but similar (p> 0.05) to the group fed the blood meal based diet. The dressing percentage of the birds was similar (p>0.05) in the control and blood meal based diet groups, but they were higher (p<0.05) than the fish meal based diet group. The neck, back, drumstick and head were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the control group than in the groups containing animal protein. Cost benefit analysis showed that feed cost and cost per kg weight gain were higher (p< 0.05) in fish meal based diet group than in control and blood meal based diet groups. Revenue per bird and gross margin were higher (p< 0.05) in the blood meal based diet group than in the control diet and fish meal based diet groups. In conclusion, fast growing broiler chickens for eatery houses can be better reared with a single diet of 21 % CP and 3440 kcal/kg ME using blood meal as a protein source.   Keywords: , , , , , , &nbsp

Review on heavy metals contamination in the environment.

ArticleReview was made on heavy metals, the various organs that they affect in human body, their sources, effects and control. Heavy metals that are of environmental importance include cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury. The various sources of these metals in the environment include mining, industry, exhaust fumes of vehicle, soil, food, water and so on. These metals affect various organs in human body such as kidney, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver and so on. So in other to experience safety of living in the environment, the way these metals are released in to the environment should constantly be monitored and controlled. And there should be remediation for heavy metals in contaminated soils

In vivo effects of four medicinal plants on nematodes of goat

Medicinal plants are very cheap and accessible to rural people for treating ruminant’s diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo effects of four medicinal plants (Vernonia amgydalina, Ocimum grattisimum, Nicotiana tabacum and Talinum triangulare) on nematodes of goat. The ethanolic extracts of these medicinal plants were made and the dose used for the goats include 1 and 2 g/kg for Vernonia amgydalina, 1 and 2g/kg for Ocimum grattisimum, 0.5 and 1 g/kg for Nicotiana tabacum and 0.5 and 1 g/kg for Talinum triangulare. The goats were infected with L3 stage larval of nematodes of Trichostrongyle sp, Haemonchus contortus, Bunostomum and Strongloides sp and after the build up of worm after some days, they were treated using in vivo assay through oral administration of the plants extracts. The faecal samples were collected 3, 7 and 11 days and examined quantitatively through McMaster Counting technique for the number of parasites. The results showed that only 2g/kg of Vernonia amgydalina and 1g/kg of Talinum triangulare showed decreased of 91.6% and and 69% in the mean egg per gram (epg) output of the faecal sample. But other medicinal plants did not show any decrease in epg. This indicates that Vernonia amgydalina and Talinum triangulare could be used as antihelmintic plants to treat goat diseases thus helping to improve the health status of the goat