Genotype X Environment Interaction for Growth and Reproductive Traits in Beef Cattle.

Data on eight different two breed combinations of calves produced in two locations (Louisiana and Nebraska) were analyzed to determine the magnitude of genotype x location interactions for gestation length (GESTLEN), birth weight (BWT), pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) and weaning weight (WWT). Sire breed (SB), sire/SB and cow breed (CB) interactions with location (LOC) were the primary sources of variation of interest in the analysis of variance. The SB x LOC interaction was significant for all traits whereas the CB x LOC interaction was important only for ADG. The sire/SB x LOC interaction accounted for a significant amount of variation for ADG and WWT. Within LOC, heritability estimates were.47,.26,.30 and.26 for GESTLEN, BWT, ADG and WWT respectively. Across LOC, heritability estimates were.37,.19, and.02, respectively, for GESTLEN, BWT and WWT. A negative sire component was obtained for ADG in the across LOC analysis. Genetic correlations between GESTLEN and BWT (r\sb{\rm g} = 49), BWT and WWT (r\sb{\rm g} =.54), and ADG and WWT (r\sb{\rm g} = 96) were all positive; the remaining were negative. The phenotype correlation was positive between GESTLEN and BWT (r\sb{\rm p} =.32) small and positive between GESTLEN and ADG (r\sb{\rm p} =.05) and small but negative between GESTLEN and WWT (r\sb{\rm p} = -.04). Genetic correlations of the same traits across location were obtained to determine the magnitude of sire x LOC interactions. After correcting for heterogeneity of environmental variances, genetic correlations between LOC of 1.10,.76, -.05 and.12 were obtained for GESTLEN, BWT, ADG and WWT, respectively. Three methods of detecting the nature of genotype by environment interactions were illustrated for reproductive traits in beef cattle. The Azzalini and Cox (1984) procedure seemed preferable for it allowed the determination of the direction of qualitative interactions. Although the usual graphical representation of the means remained the method of choice in visual appraisal of a genotype x location interaction, two graphical display techniques were studied. One method related to the original data (Biplot), and an alternative to the analysis of variance for fixed effects (Analysis of means). They generally were in close agreement with the Analysis of Variance procedure

Low Birth Weight and Associated Maternal Factors in Ghana

This study examines the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) among infants and its association with maternal factors in Ghana. The study used a data set based on alongitudinal study from the fourth round Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS). This was a national  survey conducted by Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in 2011 to monitor the progress of women and children. A sample of 10,963 women within the reproductive age (15 - 49 years) across the country between 2009 and 2011 were selected for the survey. In this study, a multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship of maternal factors and low birth weight. The estimated LBW prevalence was 9.2% which is higher than other part of the world. Few children are weighed at birth as less than 50% of babies born in Ghana are weighed at birth.This means that the prevalence rate could be higher than the current estimate. This stands to reason that the rate still indicates a public health problem (ACC/SCN, 2000). The factors observed to be  highly significantly associated with LBW included Antenatal Care (p-value =0.0010), Educational level (p-value =0.0011), Location (p-value =0.0011) and Economic status (p-value=<0.0001) as well as Central region (p-value= 0.0003). There is also risk for maternal age less than 24 and above 35 years (p-value=1.3409E-19 and 3.8257E-21 respectively), mothers who had given birth to more than four children (p-value=1.4519E-33) and women in Northen region (p-value= 0.0535 ). All other variables considered such as malaria in pregnancy, ethnicity, and marital status were not very significant (p-values > 0.05). In a nutshell, economic status, educational level, antenatal care and location are highly significantly risk factors associated with LBW in Ghana. Early/late maternal age and parity of more than four also showed some level of significance with LBW. Malaria in pregnancy, ethnicity, and marital status among others were however not significant. Keywords: Low birth weight, maternal factors, prevalence rate, risk factor

MODELLING STUDENT’S SATISFACTION WITH LIBRARY SERVICES IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS: EVIDENCE FROM KUMASI POLYTECHNIC

An effective and efficient academic library system can significantly contribute to student and other user’s development in a wider perspective. This paper seeks to determine the satisfaction level of students with respect to the available reading materials and the services provided by the school library officials. Using a survey data obtained from students using the Kumasi Polytechnic library, the overall service satisfaction model was specified using ordinal logistic regression. Among the sampled students, 57%, 30.8%, 6.7% and 4.3% of them believes that the overall service quality is good, moderate, excellent and poor respectively. Also from the estimated model, the overall service quality decreases when students are less satisfied with the individual service components. In general, the estimated model suggest that among all the variables, availability of current and relevant materials; adequate user instructions; reliable internet facilities as well as friendly and helpful library staff are the first four (4) library service segments that highly influenced the students ratings for overall service quality. Keywords: Ghana, Kumasi Polytechnic, Library Services, Student Satisfaction, Ordinal logit model

PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS TOWARDS HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA EDUCATION IN GHANA: A CASE STUDY OF KUMASI POLYTECHNIC

This paper investigates into perceptions towards HND education in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was designed as the main tool in soliciting student’s views across all faculties and the various departments respectively using simple random sampling technique. The ordinal logit model was applied to select significant factors that influenced student’s perceptions about the HND education. It was evident from the results that 52.5% s. disagree that their current programme of study offered them by Kumasi Polytechnic is their preferred programme whilst 41.1% also s. disagree the HND qualification is suitable to fill the middle level manpower gab of the Ghana economy. The survey further reveals that 37.9% agree that Kumasi Polytechnic provides the necessary logistics in enhancing vocational, technical & theoretical studies. However only about one in four students (26.2%) are satisfied with the general supervision of industrial attachment of the Polytechnic education AT Kumasi Polytechnic. Keywords: Ghana, Polytechnic, Ordinal, Perception, Satisfaction, Tertiary Educatio

The Rwandan Industrial and Mining Survey (RIMS), 2005 Survey Report and Major Findings Africa Region Working Paper Series No. 115

his paper uses the Rwandan Industrial and Mining Survey (RIMS), a join

Digital and other poverties : exploring the connection in four East African countries

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