Bat algorithm (BA): review, applications and modifications

Generally, Metaheuristic algorithms such as ant colony optimization, Elephant herding algorithm, particle swarm optimization, bat algorithms becomes a powerful methods for solving optimization problems. This paper provides a timely review of the bat algorithm and its new variants.Bat algorithm (BA) is a Swarm based metaheuristic algorithm developed in 2010 by Xin-She Yang, BA has been inspired by the foraging behavior of micro bats, algorithm carries out the search process using artificial bats as search agents mimicking the natural pulse loudness and emission rate of real bats. It has become a powerful swarm intelligence method for solving optimization prob-lems over continuous and discrete spaces. Nowadays, it has been successfully applied to solve problems in almost all areas of opti-mization, and it found to be very efficient. As a result, the literature has expanded significantly, a wide range of diverse applications and case studies has been made base on the bat algorithm.

Historical survey on metaheuristics algorithms

Metaheuristic algorithms have been an interesting and widely used area for scientists, researchers and academicians because of their specific and significant characteristics and capabilities in solving optimization problems. Metaheuristic algorithms are developed base on inspiration of some real world phenomenon in nature or on the behavior of living being (animal, insects, organic living beings). On the past many metaheuristic algorithms have been introduced and applied on various problems of various domains including real world optimization problems. This paper is aimed to provide a historical Survey on metaheuristic algorithms, it will provide a list of metaheuristic based algorithms ordered according to the foundation year, with the name of Authors and the algorithm abbreviations.

Addressing a few misleading concepts in physics

This paper is concerned with a few misleading issues which are widespread in scientific literature. With a view to getting rid of the ambiguities present in the traditional literature regarding the said issues, proposed solution to each of those issues has been offered. The author feels that with a view to deepening thought and understanding as well as to upgrade the relevant literature at undergraduate level, it is a high time to consider immediate implementation of the present proposal in regard to the pertinent issues raised in this contribution.

Heritability estimates of egg weight and egg shell weight in Ikenne, Nigeria

This study is designed to determine the inheritance pattern of egg weight and egg shell weight of exotic laying chickens at 25, 51, 72 weeks and overall mean ages of the birds. For this purpose, thirty eggs were collected daily from the birds continuously for five days of egg production, at each ages 25, 51 and 72 weeks. The total number of eggs collected at each age was 150 and 450 for the total of three age periods. The mean values of egg weight and egg shell weight revealed an apparent increase from 25-72 weeks of age with their corresponding overall mean values. The least square means of egg shell weight at different age groups are significantly different at (P<0.01) while egg weight was significantly the same since egg shell weight depends on age variance for adequate performance. Statistical analytical system was used to obtain the variance components for the estimation of heritability. High and moderate heritability estimates were obtained when the age variance were included in the computation at different age groups for both traits while high, moderate and low estimates were obtained when the age variances were excluded. The heritability estimates from different egg quality traits were low to high. Since egg weight yielded high estimates at various age groups, the low and moderate heritability estimates recorded for egg shell weight imply that collection of additional records and improvement of non-genetic factors influencing the trait will improve the accuracy of characterizing the inherent ability of the birds.

Comparative study of antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from dog and chicken

The emergence of antibiotic resistance has caused a threat to both human and animal population. This research was designed to investigate and compare the antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from chicken and dogs. A hundred and twelve samples of freshly dead chicken and eighty nine blood samples of sick dogs were analyzed. Pure culture of isolates were identified using cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristic. In vitro, susceptibility of the identified isolates against antimicrobial agents were determined by the standard disk diffusion procedure. One hundred and six isolates were recovered from chicken while 27 isolates were recovered from dogs. The organisms isolated include E. coli, Haemophilus sp, Pasturella sp, Klebsiella sp, Enterobacter sp, Salmonella sp, Staphylococcus sp., Micrococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp, Proteus sp, and Listeria sp. The antibiotic resistance showed that, gram-negative bacteria showed more resistance to the antibiotics used in this research compare to the gram-positive bacteria. This trend was found in isolates from both dog and chicken. In like manner, the bacteria isolates recovered from chicken showed a greater resistance when compare with the bacteria isolates recovered from dog. The increased resistance found in poultry makes poultry a suspect of residual resistance gene and probably reservoir for transmission.

The study of Eimeria tenella infections in Poultry Birds in Ekiti State

In developing countries, animal production is being subjected to great pressure to satisfy the demand for animal protein required by the continuous increasing human population and to have surplus for international trade. Coccidiosis is a major health problem of poultries. This aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of caecal coccidiosis infections in poultry birds in Ekiti State. Three poultry sites were randomly selected and studied in Ekiti state. 10,000 birds were examined out of which 1033 birds tested positive to coccidiosis infection. Test tube floatations for faecal content and wet smear preparation for the caecal lining were done to test the presence of Eimeria tenella(Et)based on the dimension of oocyst and respiratory disease respectively. The result showed the highest percentage of Et infection in Yomi poultry farms in Ifaki Ekiti representing 6.8% while Daac poultry farms had the least percentage of 3%. The percentage occurrence of respiratory disease is highest in Daac farms with 6% and a least percentage of 3% in Christ's power poultry. The result implies that there is a still presence of Et infections in the poultries considered for study in Ekiti, thus the need for biosafety measures, information and protection programs against the disease.

Economic value of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Nigeria and its impacts on the global food production

The study surveys the economic value of Maize (Zea mays L) in Nigeria and its impact on global food production. The result analysis proves maize to be of high economic value in Nigeria, contributing massively to global increase in crop production. The crop has shown ability to be used in combating global food shortages. Data of this survey presented that production of maize in Nigeria has raised the standard of living, providing income to smallholder farmers and increased foreign exchange earnings. Utilization of maize in Nigeria ranges from; food, medicinal, pharmaceutical including industrial uses. Increase in maize production across Nigeria has greatly increase land utilization, where more arable land are been covered for the production of this important food crop, in-other to feed the ever-growing world population and as a measure for food/nutrition security, especially in developing countries like Nigeria.

Bound lengths based on constant-stress PALT under different censoring patterns

The Gompertz distribution is assumed in the present article for drawing the inferences based on Bayesian methodology. Constant-Stress Partially Accelerated Life Test (CS-PALT) have used for the underlying distribution on first-failure Progressive (FFP) censoring scheme. All special cases of the FFP censoring scheme have used for the present comparative analysis. The comparison has been done between different special cases of FFP based on Approximate Confidence Lengths (ACL) under Normal approximation, Bootstrap Confidence Length (BCL) and One-Sample Bayes Prediction Bound Lengths (BPBL). A simulation study have been carried out for the present analysis.

Examination malpractices: an indisciplinary act towards a societal ruin, causes, agents, control and the way forward

Examination Malpractices as an indisciplinary act towards a societal ruin was surveyed. Findings of this study presented examination malpractices as an act capable of dragging the society into ruin. Results of the statistical analysis were significant (p<0.005), proofing examination malpractices as an act been perpetrated in schools for the benefit of the parties involved. Different forms, causes and agents of examination malpractices have been identified, seeking a control guide where these factors can be tackled for the benefit of the Nigerian society and the world at large. The mode of life contrary to societal development has been identified as indiscipline with characteristics, which do not conform to the development of the environment. The regular violations of school rules, constant violence been experienced in the country today, turn-down of court orders, broken homes, including loss of respect for Humanity, metamorphoses from indiscipline, from one stage/form to the other. The Research finding further revealed that this act is one of the possible reasons for some level of underdevelopment been experienced in some of the developing countries like Nigeria. Tackling indisciplinary acts like examination malpractice can help to revive a society’s morals, including her economic status, where development can be sustainable for the benefit of the present and unborn generations, and to create an ideal society where human dignity and respect for academics as one of the factors for strong economic development can prevail. Recommendations of this survey include good home training and upbringing, leadership by example, engagement of an individual in life rewarding activities to exit idleness, including setting of realistic rules guiding the act of examination malpractice as an act of indiscipline.

Discovery of misleading graph titles at many places of the traditional scientific literature

This paper emphasizes the urgent need of making use of well-defined self-explanatory graph title in representing a graph in graph drawing. A lot of misleading graph titles, none of which is in accordance with the traditional convention in regard to assignment of title to a graph, has been found to prevail at many places of the traditional scientific literature. With a view to ensuring quality graphing, urgent need of getting rid of those misleading graph titles with simultaneous incorporation of self-explanatory ones (following traditional convention in the said context) has also been emphasized.