Physiological Response Of Laying Birds To Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Leaf Meal-Based Diets: Body Weight Organ Characteristics And Haematology

A 12-weeks feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leafmeal (NLM) on body weight gain, carcass and organ characteristics and haematological values of laying hens. The leaves were harvested, chopped to facilitate drying in the sun until they became crispy but still greenish in coloration. The Sun-dried leaves were milled using a hammer mill to produce the leaf meal. Four layers diets were formulated to contain the NLM at 0%,5%, 10% and 15% dietary levels respectively and were used to feed 120 Shikka brown layers already 10 months in lay. The birds were divided into 4 groups of 30 each and randomly assigned to the 4 treatment diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). NLM did not show any appreciable difference in weight gain between the birds at 0% and those at 5%, 10% dietary levels. Carcass weight, dressed weight, liver, heart and gizzard weights were significantly (P<0.05) increased at 5% dietary level of NLM. There were no significant difference in Hb and PCV between birds on O% and 5% treatment diets. However, these differed significantly (P<0.05%) from those of birds on 10% and 15% treatment diets. There were variations in the differential WB count , marked lymphocytopenia adversely affected the total leucocyte counts in the birds on 5%, 10% and 15% treatment diets. The results of this study suggest that laying birds could tolerate 5%- 15% dietary levels of NLM without deleterious effects

Python Coding amongst Undergraduate Student Teachers in a Nigeria Post-Secondary Institution: An Exploratory Study

This study explored coding errors, determined how preservice teachers in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) debugged coding error and investigated reasons for the errors. This was with an intention to assess preservice teachers learning and understanding of python programming in OAU. The study adopted exploratory research design with the population of all undergraduate students in Faculty of Education in OAU. Out of the population, 10 preservice teachers were interviewed to understand the nature of the study. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. The study findings revealed four major errors committed in python programming by student teachers in the university. The finding further categorized approaches adopted by the students in debugging python programming errors into seven. Amongst these seven, ‘help from friends and internet’ were predominant while the least was ‘doing it again’. The undergraduate students’ teachers advanced six reasons for the errors often faced while learning programming. The paper concluded that undergraduate student teachers confront errors while learning python programming. It was strongly recommended that the pedagogy of computer programming should be taught inhouse to improve programming learning among undergraduate student teachers

Differentiating Instruction in Early Childhood Care Education: Teachers’ Practice

Differentiated instruction involves altering the implementation and design of the lesson and activities so that the needs of all children are met. Through it children use different pathways to explore and learn while taking away the same essential ideas and understanding on the content. The study sought to determine teachers’/caregivers practice in differentiating instruction in pre-primary classrooms in Owerri educational zone of Imo state. This descriptive survey is guided by three research questions and two hypotheses. Population comprised all teachers/caregivers in the government approved preprimary schools totaling 119. This number was purposively sampled. Instrument was a validated 17-item questionnaire and data generated were analysed using grand mean, percentages and chi square. Results show that teachers’ practice was very poor. Years of experience had influence on their practice but location did not. Recommendations made among others include the need to mount retraining and retooling programmes to improve teachers’/caregivers practice in differentiating instruction at this foundation level.Key words: childhood education, Differentiated instruction, teachers/ caregivers’practic

Improving Students’ Acquisition of Science Process Skills in Biology Subject: Moving Towards a Learner-Centred Classroom

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of inquiry-based learning (IBL) on students’ level of acquisition of integrated science process skills (ISPS) in Biology subject. The objective of the study was to determine the difference between students’ level of acquisition of ISPS when taught using IBL approach and Traditional Learning approach (TL) in Biology. The Non-equivalent Control Group Post- test only Design was employed in the study as a quasi experiment. The study was carried out in Kesses Sub County of Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya where there has been persistent low achievement in Biology subject at KCSE level. The study sample comprised of 116 students selected from form three students from two mixed day secondary schools. The sampling techniques used were stratified, systematic and simple random sampling. The experimental groups received instructions through use of IBL approach and control groups using the TL approach. Biology Integrated Science Process Skills Questionnaire (BISPSQ) was used for data collection. The results of the study indicated that students in the experimental groups outperformed the control groups in the acquisition of selected science process skills. It was concluded that IBL had a positive output on students’ acquisition of integrated science process skills than the TL method. Teachers and students of Biology in Kenya should be encouraged to incorporate IBL in teaching and learning so as to enhance the acquisition of integrated science process skills. Keywords: Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL); Acquisition of Biology Integrated Science Process Skills and Biology subject

Cluster update and recognition

We present a fast and robust cluster update algorithm that is especially efficient in implementing the task of image segmentation using the method of superparamagnetic clustering. We apply it to a Potts model with spin interactions that are are defined by gray-scale differences within the image. Motivated by biological systems, we introduce the concept of neural inhibition to the Potts model realization of the segmentation problem. Including the inhibition term in the Hamiltonian results in enhanced contrast and thereby significantly improves segmentation quality. As a second benefit we can - after equilibration - directly identify the image segments as the clusters formed by the clustering algorithm. To construct a new spin configuration the algorithm performs the standard steps of (1) forming clusters and of (2) updating the spins in a cluster simultaneously. As opposed to standard algorithms, however, we share the interaction energy between the two steps. Thus the update probabilities are not independent of the interaction energies. As a consequence, we observe an acceleration of the relaxation by a factor of 10 compared to the Swendson and Wang procedure.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Neonates presenting with severe complications of frenotomy: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Tongue-tie or ankyloglossia is an anatomic variation in which the lingual frenulum is thick, short or tight. It may be asymptomatic, or present with complications like breast feeding difficulties or speech, dental and cosmetic problems. The treatment of this condition, where indicated, is frenotomy. This procedure usually has few or no complications. However, when it is done by untrained personnel, it may lead to life-threatening complications. This paper highlights complications that could arise from improper treatment of ankyloglossia.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Case 1 was a one-day-old male neonate, a Nigerian of Igbo ethnicity, who was admitted with bleeding from the mouth and passage of dark stools after clipping of the frenulum by a traditional birth attendant. He was severely pale and in hypovolemic shock, with a severed frenulum which was bleeding actively. His packed cell volume was 15%. He was resuscitated with intravenous fluids and a blood transfusion. The bleeding was controlled using an adrenaline pack. He also received antibiotics. He was discharged five days later.</p> <p>Case 2 was a three-day-old male neonate, a Nigerian of Ikwerre ethnicity, who was admitted with profuse bleeding from a soft tissue injury under the tongue, after clipping of the frenulum by a community health worker. He was severely pale and lethargic. He was resuscitated with intravenous fluids and a blood transfusion. The bleeding vessel was ligated with repair of the soft tissue. He also received antibiotics and was discharged home one week later.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Treatment of tongue-tie, a benign condition, when done by untrained personnel may result in life-threatening complications. Clinicians should pay more attention to parents' worries about this condition and give adequate counseling or refer them to trained personnel for surgical intervention where clinically indicated.</p

MODELS FOR DSP APPLICATIONS ON TILED MANY-CORE ARCHITECTURES

ABSTRAC

Hygienic quality of dehydrated aromatic herbs marketed in Southern Portugal

Dehydrated aromatic herbs are highly valued ingredients, widely used at home level and by food processing industry, frequently added to a great number of recipes in the Mediterranean countries. Despite being considered low-moisture products and classified as GRAS, during pre and post-harvesting stages of production they are susceptible of microbial contamination. In Europe an increasing number of food recalls and disease outbreaks associated with dehydrated herbs have been reported in recent years. In this study the microbial quality of 99 samples of aromatic herbs (bay leaves, basil, coriander, oregano, parsley, Provence herbs, rosemary and thyme) collected from retails shops in the region of Algarve (Southern Portugal) was assessed. All the samples were tested by conventional methods and were assayed for the total count of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci and filamentous fungi. Almost 50 % of the herbs did not exceed the aerobic mesophilic level of 104 CFU/g. The fungi count regarded as unacceptable (106 CFU/g) was not found in any of the tested herbs, while 84 % of the samples ranged from ≤102 to 104 CFU/g. No sample was positive for the presence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and staphylococci. The results are in compliance with the European Commission criteria although they point out to the permanent need of surveillance on the good standards of handling/cooking practices as well as the importance of avoiding contamination at production, retailing and distribution. The microbiological hazards associated with the pathogenic and toxigenic microbiota of dried herbs remain as a relevant public health issue, due to the fact that they are added to foods not submitted to any following lethal procedure. Control measures should be adopted in order to ensure that all phases of their supply chain respect the food safety standards.FCT: UID/BIA/04325/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An exploration of the determinants for decision to migrate existing resources to cloud computing using an integrated TOE-DOI model

Migrating existing resources to cloud computing is a strategic organisational decision that can be difficult. It requires the consideration and evaluation of a wide range of technical and organisational aspects. Although a significant amount of attention has been paid by many industrialists and academics to aid migration decisions, the procedure remains difficult. This is mainly due to underestimation of the range of factors and characteristics affecting the decision for cloud migration. Further research is needed to investigate the level of effect these factors have on migration decisions and the overall complexity. This paper aims to explore the level of complexity of the decision to migrate the cloud. A research model based on the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory and the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework was developed. The model was tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The quantitative analysis shows the level of impact of the identified variables on the decision to migrate. Seven determinants that contribute to the complexity of the decisions are identified. They need to be taken into account to ensure successful migration. This result has expanded the collective knowledge about the complexity of the issues that have to be considered when making decisions to migrate to the cloud. It contributes to the literature that addresses the complex and multidimensional nature of migrating to the cloud