Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of dietary rosemary, rosemary volatile oil and vitamin E on broiler performance, meat quality and serum SOD activity

1. The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E (as alpha-tocopherol acetate), dried rosemary leaves and rosemary volatile oil on the performance, meat quality (measured as sensory variables, pH, colour, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and bacteria count) and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in broilers fed on maize-soybean meal based diets. 2. A total of 800 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 8 dietary treatments, which were set up with 1 control group and 7 experimental groups. The control group (VitE1) was given a basal diet including 50 mg/kg alpha-tocopherol acetate, while the experimental groups were given 5·7 g/kg rosemary plant (R1), 8·6 g/kg plant (R2), 11·5 g/kg plant (R3), 100 mg/kg plant oil (RO1), 150 mg/kg plant oil (RO2), 200 mg/kg plant oil (RO3) or 200 mg/kg alpha-tocopherol acetate (VitE2). 3. Although there were no statistical differences observed for feed consumption, other performance variables including live weight gain, feed efficiency and carcase yield were significantly affected. The addition of rosemary volatile oil had more effect on the performance variables than did the rosemary plant itself. 4. As a measure of meat shelf life, TBA analyses were performed on the meat samples on d 1, 3 and 5 after culling. Meat MDA levels of groups fed diets with rosemary and rosemary volatile oil were significantly lower than that of groups fed diets containing alpha-tocopherol acetate alone. 5. Significant differences were also seen between the control and experimental groups for meat colour and meat pH values as well as for sensory analyses. 6. Microbiological analyses conducted at the end of the experiment showed that E. coli counts were significantly reduced in meat samples from the experimental groups. 7. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with rosemary and its volatile oil improved broiler meat quality. Moreover growth performance was positively affected by the rosemary volatile oil supplementations.
COMPUTER MODELLING OF PNEUMATIC POWDER INJECTION INTO LIQUID ALLOYS

Powder injection into liquid alloys is a widely known method of metallurgical processes improvement. There is a lot of researches in this field but still some aspects are not yet completely solved. One of them is powder injection with non-submerged lance which is more difficult to proceed than when the lance is submerged in liquid. Therefore the authors‘ work tries to explain some phenomena during the two-phase gas-powder jet penetration into liquid environment. This paper presents part of the results of powder injection computer modelling using ANSYS software. The simulations were prepared based on previously carried out laboratory experiments (presented during the last year Metal conference) as well as on others done recently. The results show the character of jet evacuating the powder injection lance and the validation of these numerical results with real experiments.
Teaching Low Achievers and Students with Learning Disabilities to Plan, Write, and Revise Opinion Essays

A total of 38 problem learners comprising adolescents with learning disabilities and low achievers participated in this study. Of these, 20 were untrained control participants; the remainder were trained to plan, write, and revise opinion essays. Trainees were randomly divided into pairs and taught to collaboratively use interactive dialogues to plan and revise their essays (but they wrote their essays separately). The results from multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) and effect sizes indicated that trainees improved significantly from pretest to posttest in clarity and cogency of written opinion essays, and maintained such gains. Additional analyses indicated that they surpassed the untrained control group. Questionnaire data indicated trainees improved in self-efficacy of writing only. The same finding held true in comparison with untrained participants. The discussion integrates the trainees' performance data with the questionnaire data and considers the research implications and limitations of the study.
Modification of Carbon Nanotubes : Improvement of Physical and Photo-actuating Properties of their Elastomeric Composites

Modification of Carbon Nanotubes: Improvement of Physical and Photo-actuating Properties of their Elastomeric Composites Miroslav Mrlík, Markéta Ilčíková, Jaroslav Mosnáček, Vladimír Pavlínek Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin Trida T. Bati 5678, 760 01, Zlin, Czech Republic Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 45, Bratislava, Slovakia mrlik@cps.utb. cz; marketa.ilcikova@savba.sk; jaroslav.mosnacek@savba.sk; pavlinek@cps.utb. cz
Pay Inequality and Public Sector Performance: Evidence from the SEC’s Enforcement Activity

I exploit an original, hand-collected data set to study how pay gaps among enforcement staff at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) affect productivity. Pay gaps seem to generate incentives which induce effort. In particular, large pay gaps generate “tournament” incentives to increase enforcement activity and to exhibit exceptional job performance (as evidenced by the SEC’S bonus program). I identify the effect primarily through a diff-in-diff framework, using departures of regional directors as a treatment. This is the first paper to study how pay gaps among public sector employees affect productivity and regulation.
Antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of hospital and non-hospital strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from nasal carriers

SUMMARY The nasal carriage rate of Staphylococcus aureus was significantly higher in hospitalized persons (children, adult females and staff) − 53·8%, – than in similar persons at a local clinic − 29·8% (P < 0·001) – in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. However, unlike studies carried out elsewhere, a higher proportion of S. aureus strains obtained from persons at the clinic were resistant to commonly used antimicrobial agents than were strains isolated in the hospital. This has been attributed to the ease at which these drugs can be obtained by the general population and used unsupervised and indiscriminately. Methicillin was the most effective antimicrobial agent against pathogenic staphylococci (2·2% resistance), followed by erythromycin (16·5% resistance), co-trimaxozole (28·0 % resistance), chloramphenicol (76·9 % resistance), tetracycline (78·6% resistance) and penicillin and ampicillin (97·8% resistance). The widespread resistance of S. aureus to penicillin and ampicillin (and other antimicrobial agents) is of clinical significance in the treatment of post-operative infections, since carriers are reportedly more prone to such infections than are non-carriers.
Oncolytic Virus Therapy for Glioblastoma Multiforme: Concepts and Candidates

AbstractTwenty years of oncolytic virus development have created a field that is driven by the potential promise of lasting impact on our cancer treatment repertoire. With the field constantly expanding—more than 20 viruses have been recognized as potential oncolytic viruses—new virus candidates continue to emerge even as established viruses reach clinical trials. They all share the defining commonalities of selective replication in tumors, subsequent tumor cell lysis, and dispersion within the tumor. Members from diverse virus classes with distinctly different biologies and host species have been identified. Of these viruses, 15 have been tested on human glioblastoma multiforme. So far, 20 clinical trials have been conducted or initiated using attenuated strains of 7 different oncolytic viruses against glioblastoma multiforme. In this review, we present an overview of viruses that have been developed or considered for glioblastoma multiforme treatment. We outline the principles of tumor targeting and selective viral replication, which include mechanisms of tumor-selective binding, and molecular elements usurping cellular biosynthetic machinery in transformed cells. Results from clinical trials have clearly established the proof of concept and have confirmed the general safety of oncolytic virus application in the brain. The moderate clinical efficacy has not yet matched the promising preclinical lab results; next-generation oncolytic viruses that are either “armed” with therapeutic genes or embedded in a multimodality treatment regimen should enhance the clinical results.
Nutritional and anti-nutritional evaluation of cookies prepared from okara , red teff and wheat flours

Okara is a nutritious byproduct of soy milk industry. The present study is carried out to effective utilization of okara in cookies preparations. Cookies are prepared with Okara, Red teff and Wheat flours. A 16-run constrained D-optimal mixture experiment was generated using DesignExpert® (Version 8.0, Stat-Ease) software. The three flours were mixed with other ingredients to prepare cookies. Prepared cookies are analysed for proximate, mineral and anti-nutritional compositions. Moisture content, Ash, crude protein, fiber, crude fat, carbohydrate, energy of cookies had ranged between 6.25-8.00%, 1.25-2.4%, 15-18.56%, 7-8.9%, 13-18.2%, 44.5257. 45%, 406-416 K. Cal/100gms respectively. Iron, Zinc and calcium contents of cookies are ranged between 6.20-7.30 mg/100gms, 2.66-20.88 mg/100gms and 16.60-18.00 mg/100gms respectively. Anti-nutritional components (tannin and phytate) rise by the okara ratio increase in cookies composition. Red teff 33-38%, Wheat 18-20% and 45-47 Okara% are the optimum compositions for best nutritional quality cookies.
Submission of manuscript titled: Gasification biochar as valuable by-product for carbon sequestration and soil amendment This manuscript demonstrates the potential for combining of bioenergy production and residual biochar application as soil improving and carbon sequestration agent. This study show

Abstract: Thermal gasification of various biomass residues is a promising technology for combining bioenergy production with soil fertility management through the application of the resulting biochar as soil amendment. In this study, we investigated gasification biochar (GB) materials originating from two major global biomass fuels: straw gasification biochar (SGB) and wood gasification biochar (WGB), produced by a Low Temperature Circulating Fluidized Bed gasifier (LT-CFB) and a TwoStage gasifier, respectively, optimized to energy conversion. Stability of carbon in GB against microbial degradation was assessed in a short-term soil incubation study and compared to the traditional practice of direct incorporation of cereal straw. The GBs were chemically and physically characterized to evaluate their potential to improve soil quality parameters. After 110 days of incubation, about 3 % of the added GB carbon was respired as CO2, compared to 80 % of the straw carbon added. The stability of GB was also confirmed by low H/C and O/C ratios with lowest values for WGB (H/C 0.01 and O/C 0.14). The soil application of GBs exhibited a liming effect increasing the soil pH from ca 8 to 9. Results from scanning electron microscopy and BET analyses showed high porosity and specific surface area of both GBs, indicating a high potential to increase important soil quality parameters such as soil structure, nutrient and water retention especially for WGB. These results seem promising regarding the possibility to combine an efficient bioenergy production with various soil aspects such as carbon sequestration and soil quality improvements.
Ecological annotation of genes and genomes through ecological genomics

Ecological genomics is a research field that aims to determine how a genome or a population of genomes interacts with its environment across ecological and evolutionary timescales. This matter was the central theme of the symposium on Ecological Genomics that took place at the First meeting of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution, held at the University of Toronto in May 2007. Through their research on a diverse array of organisms, the various speakers illustrated how ecology and evolution benefit from genomics, and indirectly how genomics can benefit from evolutionary ecology.
Answering medical questions at the point of care: a cross-sectional study comparing rapid decisions based on PubMed and Epistemonikos searches with evidence-based recommendations developed with the GRADE approach

Introduction Using the best current evidence to inform clinical decisions remains a challenge for clinicians. Given the scarcity of trustworthy clinical practice guidelines providing recommendations to answer clinicians’ daily questions, clinical decision support systems (ie, assistance in question identification and answering) emerge as an attractive alternative. The trustworthiness of the recommendations achieved by such systems is unknown. Objective To evaluate the trustworthiness of a question identification and answering system that delivers timely recommendations. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods We compared the responses to 100 clinical questions related to inpatient management provided by two rapid response methods with ‘Gold Standard’ recommendations. One of the rapid methods was based on PubMed and the other on Epistemonikos database. We defined our ‘Gold Standard’ as trustworthy published evidence-based recommendations or, when unavailable, recommendations developed locally by a panel of six clinicians following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Recommendations provided by the rapid strategies were classified as potentially misleading or reasonable. We also determined if the potentially misleading recommendations could have been avoided with the appropriate implementation of searching and evidence summary tools. Results We were able to answer all of the 100 questions with both rapid methods. Of the 200 recommendations obtained, 6.5% (95% CI 3% to 9.9%) were classified as potentially misleading and 93.5% (95% CI 90% to 96.9%) as reasonable. 6 of the 13 potentially misleading recommendations could have been avoided by the appropriate usage of the Epistemonikos matrix tool or by constructing summary of findings tables. No significant differences were observed between the evaluated rapid response methods. Conclusion A question answering service based on the GRADE approach proved feasible to implement and provided appropriate guidance for most identified questions. Our approach could help stakeholders in charge of managing resources and defining policies for patient care to improve evidence-based decision-making in an efficient and feasible manner.
New model for the rehydration characteristics of white yam at different temperatures

A new model describing the variation in the rehydration ratio with rehydration time for yam slices is presented here. Also presented, is a new model for the rehydration kinetics of yam slices. Mass and moisture content rehydration data were collected while rehydrating 3.0 mm thick dehydrated yam slices. Regression analysis established that the mass rehydration data better fitted a two-term exponential equation rather than a second-order polynomial equation. Also, for the rehydration kinetics, the moisture content rehydration data was better fitted to a new empirical model rather than the Weibull, Peleg, and Exponential models. Keywords: Rehydration Ratio Models; Rehydration kinetic models; Yam; Weibull, Peleg, and Exponential models.
EFFECT OF WING PLANFORM SHAPE ON THE FLOW STRUCTURES OF AN INSECT-LIKE FLAPPING WING IN HOVER

An experimental investigation of the effects of planform shape on the flow structures generated by an insect-like flapping wing in hover are presented. This was performed with application to flapping-wing micro air vehicles (FMAVs) in mind. Experiments were accomplished with a first-of-its-kind mechanical flapping-wing apparatus capable of reproducing a wide range of insect-like wing motions in air on the FMAV scale (∼ 150mm wingspan). Four planform shapes with a constant area and aspect ratio of ∼ 6 were considered: ‘reverse-ellipse’, rectangle, ‘four-ellipse’, ellipse. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) flowfield measurements of the entire volume from 18%− 117% span were performed on each planform at the mid-stroke position in an insect-like flapping cycle operating at 15Hz (giving a mean Reynolds number of Re =∼ 13500). Results revealed that the flow structures produced by each planform shape were very similar, and all exhibited a pair of leading-edge vortices (LEVs) of similar strength, and a distinct tip vortex. One of these leading-edge vortices was located right at the wing leading edge extending almost all the way down the span (secondary LEV), and the other more aft vortex (primary LEV) extended from the root and appeared to break down at around mid-span. Both vortices had the same sense with a positive z-wise vorticity (z axis points towards wingtip). The only significant planform effect was that a forward-swept leading edge impedes the formation of the primary LEV towards the root, and possibly shifts the primary vortex breakdown location towards the tip.
Addition of some tree leaf litters in forest soil and their effect on the growth , yield and nutrient uptake by red amaranth

A pot experiment was conducted in the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during January to April 2007 to examine the growth, yield and nutrient uptake by red amaranth and chemical changes in post harvest soil amended with four tree leaf litters viz. Teak, Eucalyptus, Sal and Acacia at the rate of 20 t ha. A chemical fertilizer treatment at the recommended dose along with a control was included for comparison. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with three replications. The application of different tree leaf litters and chemical fertilizers significantly influenced most of all the parameters studied except Ca and Mg contents. The highest values of most of the parameters were recorded from the plant treated with chemical fertilizers whereas plant diameter, dry matter weight, S, Fe contents and the entire nutrient uptake were maximum in plants amended with Teak leaf litters. Changes in soil pH, organic matter, N and P contents were significant due to the addition of different tree leaf litters but no significant difference was observed in K content and the highest values were recorded from the soil amended with same leaf litter. Among the leaf litters, Teak exhibited the best performance in most of the cases whereas Eucalyptus showed a good result in some cases. Thus, the overall result suggests that red amaranth can be cultivated in soil treated with chemical fertilizer as well as Teak and Eucalyptus leaf litters for higher yield and the addition of leaf litters is required to maintain and improve the soil fertility and productivity.
Proximal conduction block in the pharyngeal–cervical–brachial variant of guillain–barrÉ syndrome

Introduction: Conduction block (CB) has been included in the Rajabally criteria for axonal Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). Because the nerve roots may be affected early in GBS, detection of proximal CB by the triple stimulation technique (TST) can be useful. Methods: We describe TST findings in 2 patients who presented with the pharyngeal–cervical–brachial (PCB) variant of axonal GBS. Results: In the first patient, although conventional nerve conduction studies (NCS) did not fit electrodiagnostic criteria for axonal GBS, the TST detected proximal CB in the median and ulnar nerves. In the second patient, NCS fulfilled criteria for axonal GBS, and the TST detected proximal CB in the median nerve. After plasmapheresis, NCS and TST findings were normalized, suggesting reversible conduction failure rather than demyelinating CB. Conclusion: The TST may be useful for diagnosis of PCB when NCS remain inconclusive. The technique provides additional clues for classifying PCB into the acute nodo‐paranodopathies. Muscle Nerve 52: 1102–1106, 2015
Mathematical modeling of fluid flow using the numerical scheme with artificial viscosity

This paper deals with mathematical modeling and numerical solution of hyperbolic partial differential equations with verification of the inviscid compressible fluid. The solution flow is used finite volume method defined on a structured quadrilateral computational mesh. Outcome of this work is to create a custom program solver in the calculation of Matlab. As a test example was chosen planar channel having a concave bottom portion. Research results are compared with the works of other authors published in the literature and commercial software.
Interactions Between Oxcarbazepine and Conventional Antiepileptic Drugs in the Maximal Electroshock Test in Mice: An Isobolographic Analysis

Summary: Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the types of interactions between oxcarbazepine (OCBZ) and conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) against maximal electroshock‐induced seizures (MES test) in mice, by using a method of isobolographic analysis.
STUDY OF SURFACE QUALITY DURING HIGH SPEED MACHINING USING ECO-FRIENDLY CUTTING FLUID

Cutting fluids of various types are usually employed to control the heat generated in machining. Cutting fluids in machining process is traditionally based on mineral oil as a base fluid. This is because of their good technical properties and the reasonable price of mineral oils. But the oil crisis of 1979 and 1983 however elucidated that mineral oil is on principle a limited resource. Also mineral oil is its poor biodegradability and thus it’s potential for long term pollution of the environment and workers health. The growing demand for biodegradable materials has opened an avenue for using vegetable oils as an alternative to conventional cutting fluids. In this present study some aspects of the turning process on mild steel using 18-4-1 HSS cutting tool at different speed-feed-depth of cut combinations by different types of cutting fluids ( conventional cutting fluid and vegetable oil based cutting fluids) as compared to completely dry cutting condition have been investigated . Some physical properties of new vegetable oil-cutting fluid have also been studied. The surface roughness properly have been studied under different speed-feed-depth of cut combination with increasing rate of one cutting parameter keeping the other two fixed. Temperature generation at job-tool interface also been measured by infrared thermometer since temperature generation also affects job surface quality. Graphs have been plotted to study the effect of cutting fluid as well as its type on surface property. The result indicate that the use of vegetable oil as cutting fluid improves surface quality compared to the dry machining and also wet machining using conventional cutting fluid.
Social support and work engagement: a study of Malaysian nurses.

AIM This study addressed the question of whether social support (supervisor support and co-worker support) could contribute to the variance in work engagement. BACKGROUND Nurses, as customer-contact employees, play an important role in representing the organization's competence. Their attitudes and behaviour toward patients has a significant influence on patients' satisfaction and perception of quality of service. METHODS The sample comprised 402 staff nurses working in three general hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia. Variables included demographic information, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and Social Support Scale. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations and regression analysis. RESULTS Findings indicated that supervisor support was positively related to work engagement. Co-worker support was found to have no effect on work engagement. CONCLUSIONS Supervisory support is an important predictor of work engagement for nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nursing management should provide more training to nurse supervisors and develop nurse mentoring programmes to encourage more support to nurses.