Influence of Gender and Leg Dominance on Q-angle Among Young Adult Nigerians

The quadriceps femoris muscle angle (Q-angle) is a known index of knee function and patellofemoral kinetics. This study reports normal values of the Q-angle measured bilaterally in a sample of young adult Nigerians aged 17 - 30 years and the influence of leg dominance and gender on the Q-angle. Four hundred healthy volunteers (200 males and 200 females) with no history of musculoskeletal pathology that could influence the Q-angle participated in the study, using the non-probability sample of convenience. The Q-angle was measured using a universal goniometer with the subject in the erect weight-bearing position. Results showed that in the male subjects, the Q-angles were 12.30 ± 4.0E and 10.38 ± 3.49E for the right and left lower limbs respectively, while in the female subjects, the Q-angles were 17.06 ± 3.64E and 14.84 ± 3.47E for the right and left lower limbs respectively. Analysis revealed a significant contra-lateral difference. Generally, the right Q-angle was significantly higher than the left (p< 0.05) in both the male and female subjects. The females had significantly higher Q-angles than their male counterparts (p< 0.05). Leg dominance did not have a significant influence (p > 0.05), as the right Q-angle was higher than the left in subjects with right leg dominance as well as those with left leg dominance. From these results, the assumption that Q-angles in the right and left limbs are equal is contending, and it is therefore recommended that measures of Q-angles should be documented as either right or left in the clinics as well as in research reports. KEY WORDS: Q-angle, leg dominance, gender influenc

Spatial Distribution of Micro Finance Institutions and Agricultural Development in Ekiti State, Nigeria

This study examines the impact of spatial distribution of Micro-finance institutions on Agricultural development in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Agriculture is an engine for economic growth in developing countries and rural microfinance is also critical to that growth. Data for this study were collected through primary sources. Three hundred (300) copies of questionnaires were administered on randomly selected farmers in the tree local government, selected across the three Senatorial Districts in Ekiti State Nigeria. The finding shows that problems of collateral security and poor facilities were the major impediments to agricultural development in the study area. This study therefore suggests a relaxed policy of collateral security to facilitate credit facilities for the farmers, especially in the study area.Key words: Agriculture, Development, Ekiti State, Nigeria, Micro- Finance, Institutions and Spatial Distribution

Repeated Assessments of Informed Consent Comprehension among HIV-Infected Participants of a Three-Year Clinical Trial in Botswana

Informed consent (IC) has been an international standard for decades for the ethical conduct of clinical trials. Yet frequently study participants have incomplete understanding of key issues, a problem exacerbated by language barriers or lack of familiarity with research concepts. Few investigators measure participant comprehension of IC, while even fewer conduct interim assessments once a trial is underway.We assessed comprehension of IC using a 20-question true/false quiz administered in 6-month intervals in the context of a placebo-controlled, randomized trial for the prevention of tuberculosis among HIV-infected adults in Botswana (2004-2009). Quizzes were offered in both Setswana and English. To enroll in the TB trial, participants were required to have ≥ 16/20 correct responses. We examined concepts understood and the degree to which understanding changed over three-years. We analyzed 5,555 quizzes from 1,835 participants. The participants' highest education levels were: 28% primary, 59% secondary, 9% tertiary and 7% no formal education. Eighty percent of participants passed the enrollment quiz (Quiz1) on their first attempt and the remainder passed on their second attempt. Those having higher than primary education and those who took the quiz in English were more likely to receive a passing score on their first attempt (adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, 3.1 (2.4-4.0) and 1.5 (1.2, 1.9), respectively). The trial's purpose or procedures were understood by 90-100% of participants, while 44-77% understood randomization, placebos, or risks. Participants who failed Quiz1 on their initial attempt were more likely to fail quizzes later in the trial. Pass rates improved with quiz re-administration in subsequent years.Administration of a comprehension quiz at enrollment and during follow-up was feasible in a large, international collaboration and efficiently determined IC comprehension by trial participants. Strategies to improve understanding of concepts like placebos and randomization are needed. Comprehension assessments throughout a study may reinforce key concepts

Short-Term Behavioural Response Of Granivorous Birds To Food Augmentation Under Different Microhabitats

Food is a potential limiting resource for birds, which often influences their population through effects on behaviour, survival and reproduction. This may oblige birds to modify their foraging behaviour when food density varies in order to forage optimally. Foraging theory predicts that an optimal forager should abandon a patch when its resource is augmented. That is foraging activity should be reduced when food is abundant. Thisstudy therefore aimed at determining the response of granivorous birds to different food densities in two different patch environments within the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Granivorous birds were provided with millet seeds in open and covered food patches during an experimental period that lasted two weeks in the dry season (February and March) of 2008. The patches were replicated in three sites. Five grammes of food were given for the first week and food was augmented with additional 5g making 10g of food for the second week. Giving-up density (GUD= amount of food left after foraging in a patch) was used totest the response of granivorous birds to different food abundance. Findings indicated a positive response to food augmentation (

Thermal properties of an agricultural site in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the soil thermal properties, including the damping depth, at an agricultural teaching and research farm located inside Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, Nigeria (7°33'N, 4°33'E). The data were collected during the Nigerian Micrometeorological Experiment (NIMEX1), from February 15 to March 10 2004. Results obtained showed that the damping depth varied between 0.13 m and 0.17 m. The variation of thermal properties with the depth and amount of soil water content has been discussed. Keywords: damping depth, soil thermal properties, soil water content Nigeria Journal of Pure and Applied Physics Vol. 4(1) 2005: 71-7

Effect Of Enzyme Supplementation On The Utilization Of Shrimpwaste Meal Based Diets By Broiler Chicken

The effects of enzyme supplementation of shrimp waste meal (SWM) based diets on the performance and nutrient utilization of starter and finisher broilers were studied. One hundred and twenty day old broilers (Anak strain) were randomly divided into four groups of 30 birds each. Each group was further divided into three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds were assigned the four dietary treatment in 2 X 2 factorial design. Diets 1 and 3 had fish meal as the sole animal protein source, diets 2 and 4 had shrimp waste as the animal protein source. Diets 1 and 2 were without enzymes while diets 3 and 4 were supplemented with enzyme. Records of performance, nutrient utilization, blood parameters and carcass characteristics were taken. The values of average final weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio at starter and finisher phases were not significantly (P&gt;0.05) influenced by the dietary treatment. The daily feed intake of the starter broilers fed diet 3 (fish meal based diets with enzyme) was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than those of other treatment. Birds fed fish meal diet without enzyme had the highest serum uric acid and serum cholesterol at the starter phase. Finisher broiler fed fish meal based diet without enzyme had a significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher serum creatinine value. Carcass characteristics measured were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. It was concluded that SWM can be employed as an animal protein source in broiler diets. The exogenous enzyme (Roxazyme G) used did not effect any appreciable improvement on the utilization of SWM based diets.Keywords: Enzyme supplementation, utilization, shrimp waste, broiler chicken

Performance characteristics, plasma lipids and copper residue in organs and tissues of cockerel chickens fed dietary organic and inorganic copper

A 112-day study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary organic (Copper proteinate) and inorganic (Copper sulphate) Cu source on growth performance, plasma lipids and copper residue in organs and tissues of cockerel chickens. 240 day-old commercial Black-Harco cockerel chicks were randomly distributed to 6 dietary treatments of 40 birds each. Each treatment group was randomly allocated to 4 replicates of 10 birds each. The diets were formulated to contain a basal diet (containing 30.62 and 29.71 mg/kg Cu for starter and finisher phases respectively) supplemented with organic Cu (Cu proteinate; Cu-P) or inorganic Cu (Cu sulphate; CuSO4 ) fed at 3 dietary levels (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg). The birds were fed chicks mash and grower mash at 1-56 days and 57-112 days respectively in a deep litter pen at floor space of 0.06 m2/bird. Cu-P supplementation resulted in significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) final live weight (FLW) and total weight gain (TWG) compared to CuSO4 at starter phase. Better feed conversion ratio was noticed in birds fed Cu-P supplemented diets compared to CuSO4 at 150mg/kg Cu concentration at both starter and finisher phases. Birds fed 150 mg/kg Cu recorded the highest (P&lt;0.05) feed intake value at starter phase. There was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) accumulation of Cu in the blood, heart, lung, liver and thigh of birds fed Cu-P than those fed CuSO4 . The liver Cu concentration increased as dietary Cu concentration increased. Cu-P supplementation resulted in significant reduction (P&lt;0.05) in plasma cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride in comparison to CuSO4 . The blood cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride decreased with increased copper concentration. Organic form of copper promotes growth, more bioavailable and more effective in reducing cholesterol than copper sulphate.Keywords: Cockerels chickens, copper residue, and performance characteristic

Effect of dietary L- Carnitine supplementation of diets containing cashew nut reject meal by broiler chickens

In a completely randomized designed, two hundred and forty day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5mg kg-1 Lcarnitine. Each of the diets contained equal amount of maize and cashew nut reject meal (CNRM). The birds were randomly divided into sixteen groups of fifteen chicks each after weight equalisation. Each diet was assigned to four groups of birds representing four replicates per experimental diet. Measurements taken during starting and finishing phases included average live weight, average weight gain, average feed intake while feed to gain ratio was calculated. Nutrient digestibility of the experimental diets was also evaluated. Results between 0-4weeks indicated that body weights ranged from 673.71g in the birds that received 2.5mgkg-1 to 700.21g in the birds that received 7.5mgkg-1 L-carnitine. Weight gain and feed intake values were significantly (P&lt;0.05) affected by L-carnitine levels. Feed to gain ratio values were elevated when birds were fed 0 and 2.5mgkg-1 L-carnitine levels. Evaluation of nutrient utilization showed a significant (P&lt;0.05) influence on crude protein and ether extract values. Between 5-8 weeks of rearing, feed intake increased (P&lt;0.05) as Lcarnitine levels increased in diets while lower (P&lt;0.05) feed to gain value was recorded at high level of dietary L-carnitine. Nutrients utilization parameters were not affected (P&gt;0.05) during finishing phase. Overall results showed that highest body weight and weight gain were obtained in the group that received 7.5mgkg-1 L-carnitine supplementation. The study showed that supplementing CNRM diets up to 7.5mgkg-1 is beneficial to growth and utilization of broiler chickens. However, this was more effective at the starter phase.Keywords: L-carnitine, cashew nut reject meal, broiler bird

Performance, carcass characteristic and apparent nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed Palm-kernel extraction by-products

This study aimed at investigating the effect of by-products of palm kernel extraction; palm kernel extraction residue (PKER) and palm kernel sludge (PKS) based diets as replacement for maize in broiler diets. A total of 198 one-day old Marshal Broiler chickens were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments. Each dietary treatment had 33 birds with 11 birds per replicate. Maize in the diets was partly replaced by PKER and PKS each at three levels (0, 10 and 20%). The experiment was conducted in both starter and finisher phases. Growth responses, carcass evaluation and nutrient utilization were estimated. Data obtained were subjected to 2x3 factorial arrangement within the completely randomized design (CRD). Feed: Gain was influenced by the level of the palm kernel by-products during 1-28days of study. The weight gained during the 56 days period were not significantly higher (P&gt;0.05) across the treatments All the carcass parameters measured were not significantly (P&gt;0.05) affected by either PKER or PKS. However birds on PKER diets showed superior (P&lt;0.05) nutrients use. In conclusion, the inclusion of palm kernel extraction by-products (between 10-20% PKER and 20% PKS) in the diets of broiler chickens is thereby encouraged for better growth and efficient feed utilization.Keywords: Nutritive evaluation, Palm kernel, By-products, Broiler Chicken