Evaluation ofthe sensory and meat quality was performed on Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) improved chicken (KIC) fed on diets incorporated with ground Prosopis juliflora pods (GPJP. Breast and thigh samples were obtained from chicken fed on GPJP- based diets substituting whole diet at 0% (PJP-0), 10 % (PJP-10), 20% (PJP-20) and 30 % (PJP-30). Organoleptic characteristics were evaluated using questionnaires for attribute profiling and affective tests using trained and miniature consumer panels. Continuous anchored attribute scales and hedonic scale were used for sensory tests while meat quality was determined by Honikel method. Increasing the levels of GPJP had similar effect on Breast pH but PJP-20 had higher pH than cockerels offered PJP-0 and PJP-10 and pullets offered PJP-30. At 14th day, pullet meat from PJP-0 had lower water holding capacity as compared to all other samples apart from cockerel samples from the same treatment. Pullets offered PJP-0 performed better in thigh and breast. In general acceptability (GA), 6.9% and 12.33% could be attributed to the effect of GPJP in thigh and breast in pullet and cockerel samples respectively. Results indicate that cockerels’ meat had more favorable sensory effect than pullets’ meat. Inclusion of 20% of GPJP in diet could be used to feed chicken while at the same time maintaining high quality meat desired by the consumers. Key words: chicken, meat quality, Prosopis juliflora, sensory evaluation

The paper focuses on Analysis of Housing Problems in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Abuja. A total of 491 Questionnaire were collected and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. Also, focus group discussion (FGDs) involving seven (7) people in each council area to represent each target group to talk about housing problem in their place of abode. The study reveals that (66.3%) of the respondent have their water from unsafe sources, (44.2% of the respondent have their toilet facilities not conducive for hygienic living, (83.5%) respondent method of disposal are not officially approved and (46.4%) respondent pay between N2,000- N4,000 for facilities (water, electricity) in their accommodation. Therefore, for the FCT to meet the standard of being one of the best urban centres in Africa, efforts must be made by the Federal Government, Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), Mortgage institutions and private individuals in reducing these housing problems. In Nigeria, by 1952 National Population Census; the population of Nigeria was put at 30.4 million, out of which 3.237million people were living in 56 urban centres. A city was then regarded (defined) as settlemen that harbored 5,000 people. The classification criterion for an urban Centre was increased to a threshold population figure of 20,000 during the 1963 National Population Census. The 1963 census indicated that the population of Nigeria had increased to 55.67 million people out of whom 10.6 million people were then living in 183 cities and towns that constituted 19.1% of the total population. The 1991 National population Census gave the population of Nigeria at 88.5 million, and it shows that Nigeria urban population had risen by 36.3% with 359 urban centres existing in the country then estimated the total population of Nigeria at 115 million and speculated that Nigeria urban centers must have risen to 600. This is confirmed by the result of the 2006 population census that indicated the total population of Nigeria to be 140,542,032. From the foregoing, it is observed that compared to the growth rate of about 3% for the total population, the urban population in Nigeria over the last three decades has been growing close to about 5.8% per annum. This is amongst the highest urban growth rates in the world due mainly to migration from the rural to urban areas. For instance, Lagos a former capital of Nigeria is growing in size by more than 10% per year, which will make it the third largest city in the world by 2020. Also, Abuja is contesting with Lagos as the fastest growing city in the country. By 1991; the population was 378,671. In 2006, the population increased to a total of 1,406,239. This is largely due to migration. The rapid urbanization in most urban centres has resulted in poor layout of building with inadequate roads between them and inadequate drainage and provision for refuse evacuation. Asserted that demand for urban services in Nigeria has grown over the years, but the overall Quality and coverage of public services have deteriorated. It can be deduce that rapid population growth due to migration may lead to housing problems in the FCT. This the study will examine. The result is not unexpected as resident cannot afford accommodation with available toilet facilities due to high rent for houses in the FCT. This correlates with a study that explains rent as a determinant of housing affordability and quality.

High Neonatal/Child and Maternal mortality still remain an issue of great concern in the developing countries. These mortalities are as a result of conditions or diseases that are preventable only if early detection and interventions are done. These interventions that affect the mother and child and the family at large can be achieved through adequate Preconception Care. Preconception care is therefore the interventions that aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioral and social risks to a woman’s health or pregnancy outcome through prevention and management by emphasizing those factors that must be acted on before conception or early in pregnancy to have maximal impact. Its components includes: Health promotion (for example, education and information dissemination), Nutritional planning and supplementation, Screening and vaccination for diseases known to affect maternal health and pregnancy outcomes and Family Planning. However, majority especially, the adolescences which are the group that is most affected are not aware of the preconception care and its importance before entering into relationship that leads to childbearing. This therefore has prompted the review of this topic.

The amount of saponin accumulated in the tuber of safed musli ( Chlorophytum borivilianum) was evaluated with or without mycorrhizal inoculation in a green house experiment conducted over a 270 days period. Differences in the saponin concentration and the total amount in tuber between the treatment and between the developmental stages were examined. The mycorrizal treatment included three species viz Glomus fasciculatum , Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae. The amount of saponin accumulated in tuber increased with growth and it was under maximum Glomus mosseae infected plant. Mycorrhizal inoculated compared to non inoculated plants resulted up to 25-fold improvement in saponin content at critical growth stage (45 days) and up to 4-fold improvement at crop harvest i.e. 270 days. Glomus mosseae was found to be most efficient mycorrhizal species. The present results suggest the possibility to stimulate the saponin content by treating the tubers with mycorrhizal inoculation, which improved the therapeutic value of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) tubers.

The rapid development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionised the world we live in. The increasing penetration of ICT has led to a new paradigm of education and learning called e-Learning; being ubiquitous it has cut across barriers of time and space to learning. Although e-Learning is in its infancy stages in India but most of the universities in India have started e-learning (MOOCs Massive Open Online Courses) as tool to disseminate knowledge. By virtue of wide recognition of e-learning this study examines factors that affect student’s decision towards using e-Learning as a medium of education. Using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as theoretical framework, a questionnaire was administered to 315 students. Data about four constructs was collected hypothesized to describe student’s acceptance of e-Learning. The constructs namely perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward usage and behavioural intention to use have been adopted from TAM (Davis, F. D. (1985). Data collected was analysed using structural equation modelling (Amos 20). The results showed that Perceived usefulness and Perceived ease of use significantly influenced attitude toward e-Learning and intention to use.

During recent years oilseed rape (Canola-Brassica napus) cultivation has gained an importance in different geographical zones in Iran. Viral diseases of economic importance have been reported to infect canola crop and causes considerable damage to the crop and economic losses to the farmers. During different surveys, various and common symptoms of mosaic ,reduction in overall plant growth, flower and pod formation disorders, necrotic spots on leaves and stem , leaf distortion and yellowing, leaf crinkling and mid rib narrowing were observed in canola diseased plants in the field. Cauliflower mosaic-CaMV, Beet western Yellow-BWYV and Turnip mosaic-TuMV viruses were accordingly the most prevalent and common viruses identified in different cultivation zone. Other viruses of less common importance were also identified. Different biological, serological and molecular approaches were applied to identify and partially characterized the viral diseases and related isolates. Comparatively Hyola 308 cultivar showed better and faster recovery from an isolates of CaMV diseased symptoms in glass house condition. The overview highlights the past and present ongoing research and achievements on status of viral diseases of canola crops in Iran.

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