Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Citric and Acetic Acid Water Acidification on Broiler’s Performance with respect to Thyroid Hormones Levels

| The current study investigated the effects of water acidification (pH 4.5) on broilers’ performance judged by thyroid hormones modulation. A total 132 Cobb broiler chicks were equally divided into 4 groups; control group (Cgr), citric acid group (CA-gr), acetic acid group (AA-gr) and combination group (CO-gr). Control received tape water and other treatment groups received acidified drinking water (pH 4.5) by CA, AA, and a mixture of 1:1 AA and CA, respectively. Live body weight (LBW), feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), pH values of small intestine, edible organs weight, serum thyroid hormones, and lipid profile were determined. Liver, small intestine histopathology, and villi morphometry were performed. The LBW was significantly (P<0.5) improved in CA-gr while reduced in AA-gr than control. Feed consumption was significantly (P<0.5) reduced in all treated groups than C-gr. The FCR was significantly (P<0.05) improved in CA-gr and Co-gr than C-g and AA-gr. The AA significantly (P<0.05) reduced liver weight while CA increased heart weight than control. Gizzard weight was significantly (P<0.05) increased in all treatments groups than control. The CA-gr and Co-gr significantly (P<0.05) elevated serum T3 level than C-gr and AA-gr. While Serum T4 level was significantly (P<0.05) elevated in all experimental groups than C-gr. Lipid profile showed significant (P<0.05) improvement in all treated groups than C-gr. Intestinal morphometry was significantly (P<0.05) increased in CA-gr and CO-gr. Water acidification by CA (pH 4.5) improved poultry performance via modulating gut, liver health and thyroid hormones with respect to lipid profile while AA gave adverse effects.
How users experience great products

This study reports qualitative research about how users experience great products. Eighteen interviews were conducted in which participants were asked to bring along a ‘great’ product that they own. During the interviews participants explained why they consider a product great and how they experience it. The experiences were categorised in two groups: ‘pragmatic experience’, and ‘significant experience’. The term pragmatic refers to a utilitarian view of the human-product interaction, while the term significant stresses the suitability of the product for users including, their personal benefit and growth. In the paper the two experiences are explained in detail, including the needs fulfilled and the emotions elicited by the products.
The Effects of Marital Attachment and Family-of-Origin Stressors on Body Mass Index

The Effects of Marital Attachment and Family-of-Origin Stressors on Body Mass Index Merle Natasha Bates School of Family Life, BYU Master of Science The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effect of couple’s attachment behavior on family-of-origin (FOO) issues and body mass index (BMI). Previous research has indicated that family and couple relational factors may influence BMI. The vulnerability and stress model provided a theoretical framework for understanding how attachment behaviors may give greater adaptability to managing vulnerabilities from family stress. 1214 couples between the ages of 18 and 70, who identified themselves as in a serious relationship were surveyed using the RELATE questionnaire; both partners responded. Results indicated that there was a significant association between FOO stress and adult BMI for both males and females. There was also an association between attachment behaviors and female BMI, but not male BMI. Finally attachment behavior did not moderate the relationship between FOO stressors and BMI. Clinical implications include using clinical models that focus on intergenerational problems when weight concerns are presented in therapy and, for women especially, focusing on couple attachment behaviors when there are weight concerns.
Prediction of genotypic values for yield in rubber tree-clone test trials using REML/BLUP procedure

The present study was carried out to estimate variance components, prediction of genotypic values and repeatability for yield trait in rubber tree clones [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. Adr. ex Juss.) Muell. -Arg. ], through the procedure REML/BLUP. In the study were utilized twenty clones established in the Experimental Station of Votuporanga, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the randomized block design with three replications. Each plot was represented by six trees, planted in the spacing of 7.0 m between lines and 3.0 m among plants. Data of yield of dry rubber were obtained when the trees reached a girth of 45.0cm at 1.20m above the bud union. The tapping system used was 1/2S d/4 6d/7. ET 2.5%. The results showed, a high genetic variability among clones, which can inferred on the estimates of the genotypic variation among clones ( 2 σ =92.79) and broad sense heritabilities based on mean annual tapping yield (h 2 1 b =0.82) and of mean of five annual tapping yield (h 2 5 b =0.89). The broad sense individual heritability ( 2 h = 0.22), showed the presence of dominance for the trait and heterose should be explored with larger emphasis in the studied population. The clones IAC 301, IAC 56 and IAN 3156 presented superior genotypic values when compared to the average of the population. Based on the values of the repeatability coefficient and the found efficiency results it is supposed that there is no advange in more than three annual tapping, considering the necessary time for the selection and the obtained additional progress.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL FARMERS AND THEIR FARMING SYSTEMS. WHERE DOES THE DIFFERENCE LIE

OXOUZI, E. and E. PAPANAGIOTOU, 2010. Comparative analysis of organic and conventional farmers and their farming systems. Where does the difference lie? Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 16: 135-142 The adoption of non-conventional agricultural practices, such as biological agriculture, forms a realistic and quite feasible alternative for Greek agriculture, within the context of a new agricultural production model in a constantly changing and challenging environment. The aim of the present work is the analysis of social characteristics of biological and conventional viticulturists with emphasis on the incentives affecting their decision towards adopting biological agriculture, as well as the comparative analysis of viticulture farms economic performance under organic and conventional management practices. This study was based on original research, carried out in Greece and more specifically in the Central Macedonia region. It was performed by use of two questionnaires addressed to two separate groups of viticulturists (organic and conventional ones) and was filled through personal interviews, during the period 2004-2005. Study results revealed that there is a considerable differentiation regarding not only social characteristics of biological and conventional viticulturists (age, education, agricultural experience, access to information), and their incentives for the adoption biological agriculture, but also between the two production systems (organic and conventional ones), regarding yields, production costs and profitability.
Correlation of Anemia and Total Iron Binding Capacity among Primary School Children in Medan

Anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or their oxygen carrying capacity is insufficient to meet physiologic needs. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is the most common type of anemia in society. Iron deficiency is the commonest form of malnutrition worldwide and according to the World Health Organization it affects 43%. We conducted a cross sectional study to examine the correlation of anemiaand TIBC among schoolchildren in Medan. A total of 132 children aged 9-12 years were studied. The mean level of hemoglobin and TIBC were 13.4 g/dL and 329. 75μg/dL respectively. Data were collected using structured questionnaire, and laboratory analysis for blood samples. The prevalence of anemia was 7.6%, and high level of TIBC was 41.7%. The correlation between anemia and TIBC was 0.16 with P = 0.059. There was no correlation between anemia and TIBC. The risk of children with anemia for having High TIBC level was 1.78 times higher than children without anemia (RP 1.78 (CI: 1.121 – 2.823). More studies need to be done to find anemia cases and see its relation to TIBC. Keyword : Anemia, TIBC, Primary School Children.
The Cost of Lice: Quantifying the Impacts of Parasitic Sea Lice on Farmed Salmon

ABSTRACT Diseases are an important challenge in aquaculture. However, most of what is known about the effect of diseases comes from laboratory experiments. Using a farm-level data set containing sea lice infestation counts for all Norwegian salmon farms over an 84-month period, we empirically investigate the biological and economic impacts of observed levels of infective lice. Sea lice, a common ectoparasitic copepod of salmonids, have been shown to reduce fish growth and appetite and cause substantial costs to salmon farmers worldwide. Our results suggest that the percent of total biomass growth lost per production cycle due to average infestations varies from 3.62 to 16.55%, despite control, and depends on farm location. Using a discrete harvesting model, we simulate the economic impact on farm profits over typical cycles. An average infestation over a typical central region spring-release cycle generates damages of US$0.46 per kg of harvested biomass, equivalent to 9% of farm revenues. We estimate that lice parasitism produced US$436m in damages to the Norwegian industry in 2011. JEL Code: Q22, C23.
An analysis of the tax-rate differential between ordinary and capital gains tax-rates and its effect on the structure of corporate payouts

OF DISSERTATION Prior studies mention the difference between ordinary and capital gains tax rates as one possible factor contributing to the growth in share repurchases. However, the relation between the tax-rate differential and buybacks has not previously been examined. This study finds personal income taxes are associated with the corporate payout decision. As the tax-rate differential increases, I find share repurchases become a larger percentage of total corporate payout and that repurchase programs become larger. Conversely, when the tax-rate differential becomes smaller, management increases the dividend payout ratio and decreases the percentage of payout in the form of share repurchases. Therefore, the findings suggest that management considers statutory personal tax-rates when setting corporate payout.
A survey of oral care practices in South African intensive care units

Objectives. The aim of this study was to describe current oral care interventions for ventilated patients in South African ICUs. The objectives of the study were to determine the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, and training of ICU nurses who render oral care; the type and frequency of oral care delivered to ventilated patients; hospital support and supplies available; and the availability of oral care protocols in the ICU.
Size Matters (in Output-Sharing Groups): Voting to End the Tragedy of the Commons

Individuals extracting common-pool resources in the field sometimes form output-sharing groups to avoid costs of crowding. In theory, if the right number of groups forms, Nash equilibrium aggregate effort should fall to the socially optimal level. Whether individuals manage to form the efficient number of groups and to invest within the chosen groups as theory predicts, however, has not been previously determined. We investigate these questions experimentally. We find that subjects do vote in most cases to divide themselves into the optimal number of output-sharing groups, and in addition do decrease the inefficiency significantly (by 50% to 71%). We did observe systematic departures from the theory when the group sizes are not predicted to induce socially optimal investment. Without exception these are in the direction of the socially optimal investment, confirming the tendency noted elsewhere in public goods experiments for subjects to be more “other-regarding” than purely selfish.
Retrospective evaluation of the five-year and ten-year CSEP-Italy earthquake forecasts

On August 1, 2009, the global Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability (CSEP) launched a prospective and comparative earthquake predictability experiment in Italy. The goal of this CSEP-Italy experiment is to test earthquake occurrence hypotheses that have been formalized as probabilistic earthquake forecasts over temporal scales that range from days to years. In the first round of forecast submissions, members of the CSEP-Italy Working Group presented 18 five-year and ten-year earthquake forecasts to the European CSEP Testing Center at ETH Zurich. We have considered here the twelve time-independent earthquake forecasts among this set, and evaluated them with respect to past seismicity data from two Italian earthquake catalogs. We present the results of the tests that measure the consistencies of the forecasts according to past observations. As well as being an evaluation of the time-independent forecasts submitted, this exercise provides insight into a number of important issues in predictability experiments with regard to the specification of the forecasts, the performance of the tests, and the trade-off between robustness of results and experiment duration. We conclude with suggestions for the design of future earthquake predictability experiments.
Development of compound microsatellite markers in the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella (Dinophyceae)

In this study, we identified 9 polymorphic compound microsatellite markers in the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella, which was isolated from Thau lagoon (France, Mediterranean Sea), using the compound microsatellite marker technique. These new microsatellites were characterized by screening DNA templates from 43 A. catenella clonal strains, which were collected from a seawater sample from Inokushi Bay (Oita Prefecture, Japan). These loci provide one class of highly variable genetic marker: the number of alleles ranged from 3 to 8, and the estimate of gene diversity varied between 0.285 and 0.762. We also analyzed the same 43 DNA samples using microsatellite markers previously identified for A. catenella, comparing the PCR amplification success, the number of alleles and gene diversity. These three parameters were not significantly different, showing that the compound microsatellite markers have the same potential to reveal A. catenella genetic structure. This simple and efficient method reduces the costs for developing SSR markers and for analyzing the genetic structure of populations, therefore, suggesting the effectiveness of applying this method to other species.
Acute and Subacute Toxicy of Harungana madagascariensis LAM

All ingested substances are toxic. Only the dose of a compound can distinguish a poison from a drug. The oral acute and subacute toxicity studies of hydroethanolic extract of Harungana madagascariensis , Lam ( h.a ) in mice and albino rats were investigated. The median lethal dose (LD 50 ) was determined in acute toxicity. In subacute toxicity, the parameters measured included food intake, animal growth, biochemical parameters such as alanine transaminase (ALAT), aspartate transaminase (ASAT), creatinine, albumin, glucose, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein) and LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, as well as haematological parameters (blood cell counts). The LD 50 determined was 6.25 g/kg. This extract decreased the food intake in the test group animals which was dose dependent, compared to the control group as well as their body weight. The ALAT, ASAT and PAL levels progressively and significantly (P<0.05) increased in the test serum of rats, compared to the control. Histological examination of livers showed inflammation, degenerated hepatocytes, and congestion at higher doses (1.25 and 2.5 g/kg). Also at the same doses, there were respectively significant decreases (P<0.05) of RBC (red blood cell), Hb (hemoglobin), HCT (hematocrit) and significant increases (p<0.0 5) of the mass and percentage of Hb in the red globules (MCHC and MCH respectively), and MCV. These results show that the hydroethanolic extract of h.a could be toxic when consumed at high doses (≥1.25 g/kg).
The Acute Effects Different Quantities of Branched-Chain Amino AcidsHave On Recovery of Muscle Function

The purpose of the study was to investigate the acute effects of two different quantities of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on the recovery of muscle function following high-intensity resistance training in trained individuals. Five resistance-trained males were recruited and performed baseline assessments of, countermovement (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ), peak (PP) and mean (MP) power (6s Cycle Sprint) and perceived muscle soreness (RMS). In a counterbalanced, single-blind fashion, participants were provided with either, placebo or 6 g or 18 g BCAA 20 min prior to, and immediately after completion of a high-intensity strength session (ST). At 24 h post ST, all assessments were completed under all three experimental conditions. Following ST, there were significant decrements in all measures of muscle function across conditions when compared to baseline values (P
Butyric acid tolerance of rice mutant M4 families

Hydromorphic soils have a low drainage capacity and are used mainly for the cultivation of irrigated rice. This condition favors the development of anaerobic microorganisms that produce phytotoxic substances. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of rice mutants to the phytotoxicity caused by butyric acid under anaerobic conditions. The experiment consisted of four treatments arranged in a randomized block design. Plants of 40 families were grown in a hydroponic system and the measured variables were root length and length of aerial part (LAP), number of roots (NR) and root dry matter (RDM) and aerial part dry matter (DMAP). The analysis of variance was performed, the relative performance calculated and linear regressions were fitted. Only the treatment effect for NR and effect of interaction for LAP were not significant. Root length was most affected by the acid and the regressions expressed positive as well as negative effects for acid tolerance in the mutant families.
Interaction between a surface quasi-geostrophic buoyancy filament and an internal vortex

This paper focuses on the nonlinear interaction between a surface quasi-geostrophic buoyancy filament and an internal vortex. We first revisit the stability of an isolated buoyancy filament. The buoyancy profile considered is continuous and leads to a continuous velocity field, albeit one with infinite shear just outside its edge. The stability properties of an isolated filament help to interpret the unsteady interaction with a sub-surface (internal) vortex studied next. We find that, in all cases, the filament breaks into billows, analogous in form to those occurring in Kelvin–Helmholtz shear instability. For intense buoyancy filaments, the vortex itself may undergo strong deformations, including being split into several pieces. Generally, the nonlinear interaction causes both the filament and the vortex to lose their respective “self”-energies to the energy of interaction. The flow evolution depends sensitively on whether the vertical vorticity of the filament and the vortex have the same or opposite signs – termed “cooperative” and “adverse” shear respectively. In cooperative shear, the filament rolls up into a coherent surface eddy above a vortex initially placed below it, whereas in adverse shear, buoyancy is expelled above the vortex. Although sufficiently great shear induced by the buoyancy filament may split the vortex in both cases, adverse shear is significantly more destructive.
Valuing Forest Ecosystem Services: A Comparison of the Effects of Attitudes and Demographic Characteristics on Willingness to Pay

*Laila A. Racevskis is Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Research Coordinator, Land Policy Institute, Michigan State University, 317 Manly Miles Building, 1405 S. Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823, Tel: (517) 432-8800 Ext. 112, e-mail: racevskis@landpolicy.msu.edu. Frank Lupi is Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1039, Tel: (517) 432-3883, e-mail: lupi@msu.edu.
Near-infrared photometric properties of asymptotic giant branch stars in the dwarf irregular galaxy IC 1613

Aims. We investigated the photometric properties of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars of the dwarf irregular galaxy IC 1613 and its metallicity. Methods. We used near-infrared JHKs photometric data obtained with the WIRCam array on Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). The optical gi imaging data of a previous study were cross-matched with ours to distinguish the stellar populations in the galaxy and to select the AGB stars. We also separated the C stars from the M-giant stars in the JHKs color−color diagram. Results. We identified 140 C stars and 306 M-giant stars in IC 1613. The (J − Ks) color histogram of AGB stars shows the main peak of M-giant stars and the red tail of C stars. The broad color distribution of M-giant stars and the isochrones in the color magnitude diagram indicate that IC 1613 has a wide range of intermediate-age stars. We also know that most C stars were formed over the past 2−8 Gyr according the Mbol-age relation. The C/M ratio of 0.46 ± 0.05 was estimated and [Fe/H] abundance of −1.23 ± 0.06 was derived from the C/M ratio. Radial distributions of C/M ratio and metallicity show the shallow trend of the negative metallicity gradient from the center. The local C/M ratio also indicates that the HI cavity has higher C/M values than the bright HI spot and HI gas region. However, the low [Fe/H] value near the central region of the galaxy is likely to be caused by the change in age of the dominant stellar population according to the radial distance, not the real metallicity variation. It might also be that relatively younger and metal-rich C stars are concentrated in the center of the galaxy, while the M-giant stars were homogeneously distributed from the center to the borders of the galaxy.
Fifty Years of Family Change

The first section of the article discusses how and why we went from a relatively undifferentiated family system in the middle of the last century to the current system of diverse family forms. Even conceding that the family system was always less simple than it now appears in hindsight, there is little doubt that we began to depart from the dominant model of the nuclear-family household in the late 1960s. I explain how change is a result of adaptation by individuals and family members to changing economic, demographic, technological, and cultural conditions. The breakdown of the gender-based division of labor was the prime mover in my view. Part two of the article thinks about family complexity in the United States as largely a product of growing stratification. I show how family formation processes associated with low human capital produces complexity over time in family systems, a condition that may be amplified by growing levels of inequality. The last part of the article briefly examines complexity in a changing global context. I raise the question of how complexity varies among economically developed nations with different family formation practices and varying levels of inequality.