Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Growth Performance and Certain Blood Constituents of Broiler Chicks Given Banana Leaf as a Phytoadditive

The aim of this study was to assess the growth performance, hematological and serological assay of broiler chickens given banana (Musa paradisiaca) leaf supplementation. Ninety days-old Marshal straight-run broiler chicks were randomly allocated in a completely randomized design into three treatments, with three replicates per treatment. The treatment groups were denoted as G1, G2 and G3. All chicks were fed ad libitum with same basal diet. Birds on G1 were fed basal diet only (control) whereas, others were fed basal diet supplemented with banana leaf powder and banana leaf infusion at the level of 50 g kgG1 feed (G2) and 50 mL LG1 of drinking water (G3) respectively. Supplementation of banana leaf in the diets of broiler chickens significantly (p<0.05) influenced the final live weight, daily feed intake, daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The banana leaf treated groups had a better performance in all the traits than the control. Mean values of all hematological parameters evaluated (packed cell volume, hemoglobin and red blood cell), except white blood cell, did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between the control and the treated group. Birds in G2 had the highest WBC titre. Reduced glucose level was observed in the treated group. Birds in G2 and G3 had significant (p<0.05) decreases of 54.82 and 46.41%, respectively in serum total cholesterol when compared to the control. Supplementation with banana leaf also significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentration of low density lipoprotein in the chickens. Though there was an increase in the alanine transaminase, the concentration 16.70 -21.70 IU LG1, was within the normal range for broiler chickens. It was concluded that banana leaf could be safely be used as a phytoadditive in broiler chickens, preferably in the feed.
Student Teachers’ Reasons for Choosing Teaching as a Career:

Abstract Teaching is an important profession as it affords students to develop knowledge before joining the world of work. The present paper sought to gather student teachers’ reasons of why they chose teaching as a career and implications of the findings on the enhancement of teacher preparation programmes. The study adopted a qualitative case study design in which a purposeful sample of 50 first year B. Ed Foundation Phase students ‘teachers participated. Open ended questionnaires were used as the main and sole data collection tool. Content analysis was used to analyse data thematically after coding. The study found that student teachers reasons for choosing teaching as a career were both positive and negative. There were gaps that emerged from the questionnaire that needed to be addressed.In some instances they felt excited to teach and improved on practice over time. The study concluded that there were challenges in student teachers staying longer in the teaching profession. Recommendations were made.
Investigating the severity of scoliosis and self-perception of the visible disfigurement as predictors of psychological distress.

Scoliosis, is a complex curvature of the spine, that appears in otherwise healthy individuals, with the resulting skeletal disfigurement frequently having a negative psychological impact, in that previous research finds scoliosis to be a substantial risk factor for psychological distress. The presence of psychological distress is a cause for concern for specialists, relating to a patient’s adjustment to treatment, in terms of a lack of compliance or the presence of psychosocial difficulties. The present study aimed to assess the extent to which there is a psychological impact associated with severity of scoliosis and self-perception of the disfigurement produced by scoliosis, in terms of body image concerns, health related quality of life, depression and anxiety, informing professionals in assessing whether psychological treatment is necessary in supporting clinical treatment. The study built on existing literature, through the use of adult participants, an area lacking in research. 165 adults with scoliosis, aged 18-65 completed multiple online-based self-report questionnaires measuring all variables. Relationships were established between variables using Pearson’s correlation coefficients; findings demonstrated that both severity and self-perception significantly correlated with body image concerns, whilst self-perception also correlated with health related quality of life, depression, and anxiety, suggestive of the negative influence an individual’s perception of their body and therefore self-worth has on psychological factors. Regression analyses assessed the extent of these relationships, finding the self-perception of disfigurement to be markedly influential in predicting all aspects of psychological distress, particularly body image concerns.
The survival of gas clouds in the circumgalactic medium of Milky Way-like galaxies

Observational evidence shows that low-redshift galaxies are surrounded by extended haloes of multiphase gas, the so-called circumgalactic medium (CGM). To study the survival of relatively cool gas (T < 105 K) in the CGM, we performed a set of hydrodynamical simulations of cold (T = 104 K) neutral gas clouds travelling through a hot (T = 2 × 106 K) and low-density (n = 10-4 cm-3) coronal medium, typical of Milky Way-like galaxies at large galactocentric distances (˜50-150 kpc). We explored the effects of different initial values of relative velocity and radius of the clouds. Our simulations were performed on a two-dimensional grid with constant mesh size (2 pc), and they include radiative cooling, photoionization heating and thermal conduction. We found that for large clouds (radii larger than 250 pc), the cool gas survives for very long time (larger than 250 Myr): despite that they are partially destroyed and fragmented into smaller cloudlets during their trajectory, the total mass of cool gas decreases at very low rates. We found that thermal conduction plays a significant role: its effect is to hinder formation of hydrodynamical instabilities at the cloud-corona interface, keeping the cloud compact and therefore more difficult to destroy. The distribution of column densities extracted from our simulations is compatible with those observed for low-temperature ions (e.g. Si II and Si III) and for high-temperature ions (O VI) once we take into account that O VI covers much more extended regions than the cool gas and, therefore, it is more likely to be detected along a generic line of sight.
Multiplicity in supervision models : the supervisor's perspective

Supervision is a vital aspect in the success of postgraduate students and even more so in open distance learning (ODL). Various factors influence supervision success, some relating to the student, some to the supervisor and others to the institution. This article addresses an over-arching factor, namely the number of stakeholders involved in a supervision relationship, that is termed multiplicity. The allocation of more than one supervisor has capacity implications which have to be traded against improvements in quantitative success measures and quality factors such as richer pools of knowledge and complementary expertise. The study reported on investigated the perceptions of 22 supervisors on multiplicity. All the supervisors had undertaken supervision in ODL contexts. The research strategy was qualitative, based on an open-ended questionnaire survey and interviews. The main contribution was a set of dimensions, comprising factors that influence postgraduate supervision relationships, and the identification of conditions for considering more than one supervisor.
Study on sleep quality and associated psychosocial factors among elderly in a rural population of Kerala, India

Sleep is an important physiological process with many restorative functions. It is essential in maintaining the body’s circadian rhythm. Insomnia defined as difficulty in falling or staying asleep which is frequent in older people. In the absence of a causative factor, it is referred to as primary insomnia. If it is caused by an underlying medical condition or as a side effect of medication it is referred to as secondary insomnia. Along with the physical changes that happen as we age, changes to sleep pattern are a part of the normal aging process. 1 Poor sleep quality, often referred to as “sleep disturbance” is found in up to 55% of the elderly population and consistently increases with age. 2 The elderly experience more fragmented sleep-wake cycles and less total night time sleep due to more night time arousals. There are multiple etiologies that influence sleep quality in the elderly. The chronic medical illnesses and psychological influences are important factors that ABSTRACT
Test of Convergence in Agricultural Factor Productivity: A Semiparametric Approach

We tested for club convergence in U.S. agricultural total factory productivity using a sigma convergence test. We used the same club of states as used by McCunn and Huffman as well as different states within 10 clubs identified by the cluster analysis. Results showed convergence was evident only in a few club groups. Clusters group identified using a statistical method identified only converging clubs. Variables affecting total factor productivity among states were identified using parametric, semiparametric and nonparametric methods. Semiparametric and nonparametric methods gave a better fit than a parametric method as indicated by the specification test. Our results indicated that health care expenditure, public research and extension investment, and private expenditure are important variables impacting total factor productivity differences across states.
Genomic CpG enrichment of oncolytic parvoviruses as a potent anticancer vaccination strategy for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Objective: For quite a long time oncolytic viruses (OVs) have been regarded merely as specific tumor cell killers, while disregarding the fact that all oncolytic activities take place in the context of a functional immune system. Oncolytic parvoviruses (PV) represent non-pathogenic, naturally oncolytic (non-modified), animal (rodent) viruses with a tropism that extends to a number of transformed human cells. Our recent work using various animal models substantiates the contention that H-1PV acts as both an oncolytic agent and an adjuvant, by direct cytoreduction in the tumor and bystander antitumor immunity. ImmunostimulatoryCpG motifs were incorporated into the singlestranded DNA genome of H-1PV and our current objective was to test whether the CpG-armed virus was in possession of an enhanced adjuvant capacity. Methods: The immunogenic potential of the CpG-enriched parvoviral derivative (JabCG) was tested in in vitro infection of human PBMCs or coculture of DCs and T-cells. In vivo tumor xenografts were raised in NOD.SCID mice that were later reconstituted with an autologous DCs and T-cells mix primed with an infected or chemovirotherapy (gemcitabine and H-1PV)-treated pancreatic cancer line vaccine. The therapeutic activity of the native and modified viruses was evaluated upon systemic application in pancreatic cancer-bearing immunocompetent Lewis rats. Results: Compared with wt H-1PV, JabCG displayed enhanced immunotherapeutic capacity to activate human immune cells ex vivo (PBMCs or DCs and T-cells isolated from pancreatic cancer patients) with a striking increase in the capacity of the latter cells for suppressing autologous tumorxenografts in NOD.SCID mice. Furthermore, intravenous application of JabCG in immunocompetent rats caused early NK and T-cell infiltration into tumors, elevated IFNγ levels in serum and spleens, and notably prolonged survival, as compared to control-treated animals. Conclusion: Taken together, data indicate that CpG-enrichment of OVs represents a potent strategy to enhance their immunotherapeutic properties.
Bivariate luminosity-HI mass distribution function of galaxies based on the NIBLES survey

We present a new optical luminosity-HI mass bivariate luminosity function (BLF) based on HI line observations from the Nançay Interstellar Baryons Legacy Extragalactic Survey (NIBLES). NIBLES sources lie within the local universe (900 ≤ c z ≤ 12 000 km s−1) and were chosen from SDSS DR5 such that the optical luminosity function was sampled as uniformly as possible. The HI mass function (HIMF) derived from our raw-data BLF, which is based on HI detections only, is consistent with the HIMFs derived from other optically selected surveys in that the low-mass slope is flatter than those derived from blind HI surveys. However, spanning the entire luminosity range of NIBLES, we identify a highly consistent distribution of the HI gas mass to luminosity ratio (gas-to-light ratio) with a predictable progression in the mean MHI/L r ratio as a function of L r. This consistency allows us to construct plausible gas-to-light ratio distributions for very low-luminosity bins which lie outside the NIBLES sample. We also identify a ∼10% decrease in detection fraction for galaxies fainter than log(L r) = 9.25, consistent with the expected decrease due to distance and sensitivity effects. Accounting for these trends, we reconstruct plausible gas-to-light distributions spanning luminosity bins down to log(L r) = 5.25, thus producing a corrected BLF. This corrected BLF is in good qualitative agreement with optical luminosity-HI mass distributions from the ALFALFA survey and is able to accurately reproduce blind survey HIMFs, lending credibility that this two dimensional optical luminosity-HI mass distribution is an accurate representation of the volume density distribution of galaxies in the local universe. We also note that our agreement with HIMFs from other surveys is dependent on accounting for all systematic differences such as selection method, Hubble constant and HI flux scale.
Comparing the residential developments in gated and non-gated neighborhoods in Istanbul

ITU A|Z VOL: 6 NO: 1 41-59 2009-1 Comparing the residential developments in gated and non-gated neighborhoods in Istanbul Lale BERKÖZ Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul TURKEY Received: March 2009 Final Acceptance: June 2009 Since the 1970’s, construction of the Bosphorus Bridge and the new highways, the rise in the use of private cars have increased the accessibility in Istanbul. Besides, Istanbul has gone through a structural transformation, becoming a multi-centred city. Such factors have naturally accelerated the decentralization of housing areas in Istanbul. Since the 1990’s, the preferences of the people from the elite social classes in Istanbul have shifted from the heterogeneous housing areas to homogenous places isolated from the dense central areas of Istanbul. As a result, mass housing areas have spread rapidly in the peripheries of the city. In this new transformation, the elite people living in such mass housing areas have found a chance to obtain their cultural and social expectations. This phenomenon has gained significance due to the demand for the northern and northeastern districts of the city since the 1999 earthquake in the Marmora Region. Since we know the patterns of housing area development and density change, the potential future developments can be anticipated. The researches carried out until now have demonstrated that quality of the residence and residential environment is influential in the overall resident satisfaction. In terms of environmental quality variables such as basic urban services and amenities, it has been determined that the housing areas within the scope the project have high standards. As a result of this fact, people from high income group tend to choose housing areas in the peripheries of the city. This purpose of this article is to assess the factors that improve housing and environmental quality satisfaction in gated single-family and non-gated mass housing developments in Istanbul
Coping with crises II : the impact of social aspects on vulnerability and resilience

There is a strong tendency in archaeological research circles to analyse crisis situations primarily from an economic point of view. However, the impact that crises have on individuals or groups and how it may affect their chances of coping successfully with these, essentially also depends on social factors. Based on studies in the area of sustainability research, we have compiled a list of social parameters that can influence the vulnerability and resilience of individuals or groups and that may also have played an important role in prehistoric societies. Using the Neolithic lakeside settlement Arbon Bleiche 3 (Switzerland) as a case study, these parameters are discussed here. We ask what concrete statements can be made about the vulnerability or resilience of the settlement’s inhabitants based on the available data. This approach has proved extremely productive as it has provided new insight into the everyday lives and relationships of the people who lived in Arbon Bleiche 3.
The Cost-effectiveness of Alternative HIV Intervention Portfolios in South Africa

The Cost-effectiveness of Alternative HIV Intervention Portfolios in South Africa. A dynamic compartmental model was instantiated with recent epidemiological data from South Africa to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different portfolios of interventions to prevent HIV infection over a twenty year time horizon. We hypothesized that portfolios which combined scaling up the delivery of highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART), increasing availability of HIV screening and counseling, and establishing widespread circumcision campaigns would be the most effective and most cost-effective strategies. Portfolios which utilized widespread circumcision for adult men were found to be the most cost-effective, while portfolios which utilized a combination of interventions were found to be the most effective, in terms of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. These findings highlight the urgency of scaling up access to life-saving antiretroviral treatments, and providing concomitant investments in HIV prevention and testing programs in a generalized HIV epidemic setting such as South Africa.
Relationship of Emotional Intelligence to Organizational Commitment of College Teachers in Pakistan

Problem statement: Teaching not only involves the transmission of information/knowledge from teachers to students, but it is a job which involves multidimensional human interaction to achieve the desired goals of an educational organization. The education sector has become very diverse and demanding. Professional liabilities of teachers in Pakistan have increased day by day. These liabilities have made the work environment more difficult to adjust to, resulting into low organizational commitment in teachers. Interaction with colleagues, students and work-family pressure are all increasing the emotional labour of the teachers, and many of them are unable to strike a balance between job demands, relationships at school and family liabilities. When teachers lack commitment to their jobs, they tend to get lousy results. When they are clear about what they want and commit themselves to achieve it, they usually get there in some fashion. The organizational commitment of teachers is a significant area to be investigated in relation to emotional intelligence in the Pakistani scenario where most of the teachers do not join the teaching profession as their primary choice, but rather as a last resort. The low level of teacher commitment to their organization has resulted in a poor sense of responsibility and poor standards for education.
Sampling and Analysis of Petroleum Coco-Biodiesel Blend-Fueled PUV Exhaust for NO2 and Particulate PAH, Elemental Composition and Toxicity

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), elemental composition and toxicity of particulate matter from the exhaust of public utility vehicles (PUVs) fueled by commercial petroleum coco-biodiesel blend, were examined and compared with that from the exhaust of PUVs fueled by unblended petroleum diesel. FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) analysis of the commercial diesel/biodiesel blend and of a pure biodiesel sample was done to ascertain the presence of biodiesel in the commercial blend. NO 2 from the exhaust vapor phase was likewise also compared for the two types of fuel. PAHs in particulate matter obtained by filter sampling and from tailpipe soot were analyzed by GC-MS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry). NO 2 was analyzed by visible spectrophotometry, XRF (x-ray fluorescence spectrometry) was used for elemental analysis, and toxicological analysis was done using the Zebrafish Egg Assay Test. A general tentative conclusion from the results point to minimal difference between pure diesel and the 1% diesel/biodiesel blend (when used as fuel for PUVs) in terms of engine exhaust impact on air quality, except perhaps for PAH levels to some extent.
Statistical Analysis of Wind Speed Data with Weibull, Lognormal and Gamma Distributions

Bu calismada 2012-2016 yillari arasinda Bitlis’te ortalama ruzgâr hizi verileri analiz edilmistir. Bu yillar icin ortalama ruzgâr hizi tahminleri Weibull, Gamma ve Lognormal dagilimlari ile elde edilmistir. Bu dagilimlarin parametre tahminlerinde En Cok Olabilirlik yontemi kullanilmistir. Kolmogorov-Smirnov uyum iyiligi testi, belirleme katsayisi ve hata kareler ortalamasinin karekoku kriterleri ile en uygun dagilimin belirlenmesi amaclanmistir. MATLAB R2009a'da yazilan program ile ruzgâr hizi verilerinin degerlendirilmesi sonucunda her bir dagilim icin ortalama ruzgâr hizi tahminlerinin benzer oldugu, buna karsilik Gamma dagiliminin Agustos ayina ait ortalama ruzgâr hizi degeri (0.15 m/s) ile en dusuk standart sapmaya sahip oldugu belirlenmistir. 2012-2016 yillari arasindaki ortalama ruzgâr hizi verilerinin modellenmesinde Gamma dagiliminin diger dagilimlara gore daha yuksek belirleme katsayisi degerine sahip oldugu gorulmustur. Benzer bicimde en kucuk Kolmogorov-Smirnov uyum iyiligi test istatistigi ve hata kareler ortalamasinin karekoku degeri Gamma dagilimi icin elde edilmistir. Sonuc olarak 2012-2016 yillari arasinda Bitlis iline ait ruzgâr hizi verilerinin modellenmesinde Gamma dagiliminin kullanilmasi onerilmektedir.
Towards an Incremental and Modular Termination Analysis of Context-Sensitive Rewriting Systems (Work in Progress)

Partially supported by the EU (FEDER), MINECO projects TIN2010-21062-C02-02 and TIN 2013-45732-C4-1-P, and project PROMETEO/2011/052. Salvador Lucas’ research was developed during a sabbatical year at the CS Dept. of the UIUC and was also partially supported by NSF grant CNS 13-19109, Spanish MECD grant PRX12/00214, and GV grant BEST/2014/026. Raul Gutierrez is also partially supported by a Juan de la Cierva Fellowship from the Spanish MINECO, ref. JCI-2012-13528.