Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of L-lactic acid on the efficacy of microbial phytase in broiler chickens

Two growth trials and a short-term metabolism trial were conducted in broiler chickens in the period of 22 to 42 days of age in order to evaluate the effects of two dietary levels of L-lactic acid (1.03 or 2.06 g/kg) and microbial 6-phytase (750 U/kg), added either separately or in combination, on growth rate, feed conversion, dressing percentage and utilization of selected nutrients. In the first growth trial, six different dietary treatments were added to a basal grower diet containing 19.4% crude protein and a reduced level of dietary phosphorus (P) (5.9 g total and 2.9 g non-phytate P per kg). Single administration of L-lactic acid did not show any positive effect on the growth rate or feed conversion. In contrast, phytase addition to a low-P grower diet resulted in the increased final weight of birds and higher feed conversion. This beneficial effect was markedly stronger when the microbial phytase was added to the diets containing L-lactic acid. Based on two-factor analysis of variance, microbial phytase significantly increased the mean final weight by 6.5% (P < 0.01) and significantly improved feed conversion from 1.877 to 1.829 (P < 0.05). In the second growth trial, the same six dietary treatments were added to a basal diet containing a standard level of dietary P (6.7 g total and 4.0 g non-phytate P per kg), but the level of crude protein was reduced to 17.0%. L-lactic acid alone did not show any positive effects on performance. Phytase supplementation alone resulted in numerical improvement of the final weight (+1.1–2.4%), but a higher effect was observed in the diets containing L-lactic acid. In agreement with the reduced final weights of broilers fed the low-protein diets, markedly higher values of feed/gain ratio were noted. In the metabolism trial, selected dietary treatments were involved to evaluate the effects of L-lactic acid and microbial phytase, added either separately or in combination, on the digestibility of nitrogen (N) and fat as well as on the retention and excretion of N and P. Apparent digestibility of N and fat in the low-P diets was not affected by dietary treatments. Retention and utilization of N were numerically higher in all treatments fed low-P diets when compared to the treatment fed a standard diet, but the differences were not significant. Retention of P was numerically higher in all treatments fed low-P diets. When compared to the standard diet, the combination of phytase and L-lactic acid increased daily P retention by 37.6%. P excretion was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in all treatments fed low-P diets supplemented by both test products, either separately or in combination. A numerical decrease in N excretion was noted in both treatments fed low-protein diets.
Characteristics of Pastırma Types Produced from Water Buffalo Meat

Pastırma is a traditional Turkish meat product which produced by using whole meat pieces obtained from water buffalo and beef carcasses. Although there are many studies on the general characteristics of the pastırma produced by using beef meat, the number of the studies on the pastırma produced from water buffalo meat is quite limited. In this study, different types of pastırma (sırt, bohça, kuşgömü, şekerpare and kürek) were made from water buffalo meat; and they were investigated in terms of physco-chemical, microbiological, sensorial and textural properties. There were no differences between pastırma types in terms of pH, redness (a*) value and the amount of non-protein nitrogenous substance (P>0.05). However, the lowest mean aw value (0.84±0.01) was determined in kuşgömü (P<0.05). Şekerpare showed the highest mean lightness (L*) value (P<0.05). While no significant difference was observed between the types of pastırma in terms of Micrococcus/ Staphylococcus count (P>0.05), the lowest count of lactic acid bacteria was found in kuşgömü (P<0.05). The highest mean odor score was determined in the sırt type of pastırma (P<0.05). Kuşgömü, which dries more quickly, also showed higher values in terms of firmness and chewiness compared to other types of pastırma (P<0.05). Furthermore, textural differences between the types of pastırma were observed more clearly with the principal component analysis (PCA) applied to textural properties.
Secular theory of the orbital evolution of the young stellar disc in the Galactic Centre

We investigate the orbital evolution of a system of N mutually interacting stars on initially circular orbits around the dominating central mass. We include the perturbative influence of a distant axisymmetric source and an extended spherical potential. In particular, we focus on the case when the secular evolution of orbital eccentricities is suppressed by the spherical perturbation. By means of standard perturbation methods, we derive semi-analytic formulae for the evolution of normal vectors of the individual orbits. We find its two qualitatively different modes. Either the orbits interact strongly and, under such circumstances, become dynamically coupled, precessing synchronously in the potential of the axisymmetric perturbation, or, if their mutual interaction is weaker, the orbits precess independently, interchanging periodically their angular momentum, which leads to oscillations of inclinations. We argue that these processes may have been fundamental to the evolution of the disc of young stars orbiting the supermassive black hole in the centre of the Milky Way.
Boron phosphate/poly p-phenylenediamine as a corrosion inhibitive system for steel protection

Corrosion never sleeps, therefore, industries rather than governments do their best to resist the different types of corrosion by all possible methods and techniques particularly in high-risk areas. Nevertheless, organic coatings are considered the most widely applied route for protection of metallic surfaces from corrosion and they are of a special importance in transport and infrastructure. Consequently, the main goal of this study is to provide a detailed overview of a protective pigment/inhibitor system based on boron phosphate and poly(p-phenylenediamine) as a new type of corrosion inhibitive coating that works holistically to obtain long-term performance for steel protection. However, characterization and investigation of boron phosphate and/or in-situ polymerized poly(p-phenylenediamine) were achieved via XRD, FT-IR, SEM and thermal analysis. Besides, different concentrations of boron phosphate/poly(p-phenylenediamine) were applied within controlled paint formulations based on epoxy resin, subsequently, they showed good physico-mechanical properties and high protection level against corrosion.
Efficiency of Fetuin-A and Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis of Infection in Patients with Febrile Seizure

Summary Fetuin-A is a negative acute phase reactant, while procalcitonin is an indicator of severe bacterial infection. Diagnosis of bacterial infection in febrile seizure (FS) is important for choosing the most suitable treatment. In this study, serum fetuin-A was estimated, for the first time, in the inpatients with FS and compared with procalcitonin and blood culture tests. A total of 60 children (28 male and 32 female) with FS in addition to 30 sex- and age-matched children participated in the study. Patients were classified according to sex, age, PCT level (high PCT>0.5ng/mL), C-reactive protein (CRP, positive >6mg/L), and according to the results of the blood culture. Fetuin-A level decreased and PCT level increased in FS patients in comparison to those in the control group. These changes are significantly increased (p<0.05) in the positive CRP group compared with that of the negative CRP group. Kernel density estimation showed that procalcitonin is a better indicator of the infection in FS children than fetuin-A . Procalcitonin is more sensitive and specific than fetuin-A and when used together they produce 100% sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of bacterial infection in FS patients. Fetuin-A is low in FS patients and can be used with procalcitonin in the diagnosis of bacterial infection in FS.
Identifying the Effects of Co-authorship Strategies on the Citation-based Performance of Scholars: A Social Networks Analysis

Copyright © The Author(s). 2018 This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. INTRODUCTION
Prototypical product shapes as a tool for aesthetic product design

The use of prototypical product shapes allows to structure and support the intuitive aesthetic design process. Prototypicality, a cognitive variable, is the extent to which an object represents a category: it shapes our aesthetic feelings with products, affects usability, makes up the products’ look, and affects products’ aesthetic evaluations and preferences. A mental prototype is a category’s central element. We all have artifacts’ prototypical information, however, designers are not aware and do not use it explicitly. These concepts have seldom been applied in design. Consequently, we explored how to use prototypical shapes for the aesthetic design process. 1. We proposed vectorising and interpolating 32 hand drawn Pepper Mills, PMs, to get the prototypical shape. In 2, we found the most innovative, original and typical PMs (n=74, 20 PMs). 3. We then used rules to explore aesthetic design possibilities and to transfer attributes to the prototypical PM shape. PMs’ aesthetics, usability, and design pedagogy issues are discussed. We suggest a structured simple way to design the product’s aesthetic for non-expert designers and applicable to other aesthetic cognitive variables.
Subsurface release and transport of dissolved carbon in a discontinuous permafrost region

Subsurface hydrological flow pathways and ad- vection rates through the landscape affect the quantity and timing of hydrological transport of dissolved carbon. This study investigates hydrological carbon transport through the subsurface to streams and how it is affected by the distri- bution of subsurface hydrological pathways and travel times through the landscape. We develop a consistent mechanistic, pathway- and travel time-based modeling approach for re- lease and transport of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). The model implications are tested against observations in the subarctic Abiskojokken catchment in northernmost Sweden (68 21 0 N, 18 49 0 E) as a field case example of a discontinuous permafrost region. The results show: (a) For DOC, both concentration and load are essentially flow-independent because their dynamics are in- stead dominated by the annual renewal and depletion. Specif- ically, the flow independence is the result of the small charac- teristic DOC respiration-dissolution time scale, in the range of 1 yr, relative to the average travel time of water through the subsurface to the stream. (b) For DIC, the load is highly flow-dependent due to the large characteristic weathering- dissolution time, much larger than 1 yr, relative to the average subsurface water travel time to the stream. This rate relation keeps the DIC concentration essentially flow-independent, and thereby less fluctuating in time than the DIC load.
In depth characterization of diazotroph activity across the Western Tropical South Pacific hot spot of N 2 fixation

Here we report quantification of N 2 fixation rates over a ~ 4000 km transect in the western and central tropical South Pacific. Water samples were collected along a west to east transect from 160° E to 160° W, covering contrasting trophic regimes, from oligotrophy in the Melanesian archipelagoes (MA) waters to ultra-oligotrophy in the South Pacific Gyre (GY) waters. N 2 fixation was detected at all 17 sampled stations with an average rate of 631 ± 286 µmol N m −2 d −1 (range 196–1153 µmol N m −2 d −1 ) in MA waters and of 85 ± 79 µmol N m −2 d −1 (range 18–172 µmol N m −2 d −1 ) in GY waters. Exceptionally high rates of N 2 fixation in MA waters were favored by availability of both iron and phosphate and the observed warm sea surface temperatures (> 28 °C). Trichodesmium and UCYN-B cyanobacteria dominated the diazotroph community (> 80 %) and gene expression of nitrogenase genes (cDNA > 10 5 nifH copies L −1 ) in MA waters, and single-cell isotopic analyses performed by nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry at selected stations reveal that Trichodesmium was always the major contributor to N 2 fixation in MA waters, accounting for 47.1 to 83.8 % of bulk N 2 fixation.
The effect of treatment methods and storage conditions on postharvest disease and fungal quality of Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) kernels

Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) are especially valued for their fat and protein rich kernels but are often contaminated, while in storage, by spoilage fungi that are potentially hazardous to human and animal health. Hence in this research, the postharvest disease and fungal quality of Irvingia kernels was studied. Freshly harvested Irvingia kernels were subjected to three treatment methods (sun-dried, 0.9% NaCl and 3% KHCO 3 ) and stored in both sealed and open bags for 28 days. Results showed that fungal population and postharvest disease incidence of Irvingia kernels in storage were dependent on treatment methods, storage conditions and storage days. Overall mean log cfu of fungi on Sun-dried Irvingia kernels (5.60) was significantly ( P? 0.05 ) lower than those treated with 0.9% NaCl (5.95) or 3% KHCO 3 (5.99). Incidence and severity of diseased Irvingia kernels stored in sealed bags were significantly ( P? 0.05 ) lower than those stored in open bags. Disease incidence and severity of Irvingia kernels increased significantly ( P? 0.05 ) as storage period increased. Eight species of fungi Aspergillus niger (26.60%), Rhizopus stolonifer (21.28%), Aspergillus flavus (19.15%), Penicillium species (10.64%), Mucor species (8.51%), Candida tropicalis (5.32%), Phytophthora species (4.26%) and Fusarium oxysporum (4.26%) were isolated from the kernels after 28 days of storage. Results further showed that A. flavus , Penicillium and Fusarium species, known to produce mycotoxins were not isolated from kernels treated with NaCl or sun-dried and stored in sealed bags. It is therefore advisable to store Irvingia kernels in sealed bags after drying them under direct sun or treating with 0.9% NaCl. Keywords : Irvingia gabonensis , Postharvest disease, Postharvest treatment, spoilage fungi, storage.
Trace gas fluxes from intensively managed rice and soybean fields across three growing seasons in the Brazilian Amazon

The emission of gases that may potentially intensify the greenhouse effect has received special attention due to their ability to raise global temperatures and possibly modify conditions for life on earth. The objectives of this study were the quantification of trace gas flux (N2O, CO2 and CH4) in soils of the lower Amazon basin that are planted with rice and soybean, and the relation of this flux to soil physical and chemical parameters and to precipitation. This study was conducted in agricultural fields planted with rice (Oryza sativa) and soybean (Glycine max), located near the cities of Belterra and Santarem in western Para State, Brazil, during the production years of 2005 to 2007. Measurements were done using static chambers in the field, and samples were analyzed by gas chromatography in the laboratory. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine variation in gas flux in both crops, and the results show that CO2 flux varied between 305 and 227 mg-C m-2 h-1 under rice, and 243 and 156 mg-C m-2 h-1 under soybean. Flux of N2O under rice varied between 4.5 and 20.4 µg-N m-2 h-1, and under soybean flux variation was between 4.0 and 9.4 µg-N m-2 h-1. Variation in flux of CH4 under rice was between 5.1 and 14.0 µg-C m-2 h-1, and under soybean it was 0.4 and 1.2 µg-C m-2 h-1. These results demonstrate that, during the study period, the rice crop had higher flux for all trace gases than the soybean crop. Key words: Amazon region, trace gas, crops.
Achieving a Sustained Competitive Advantage in the South African Telecommunications Sector

The sustainability of South African telecommunications companies is under threat. Such threats are as a result new regulations that allowed influx of new entrant in the form of ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and the emergent of over-the-top (OTT) applications in recent years. This research seeks to understand the factors that influence a sustained competitive advantage despite all the challenges in the telecommunications industry in South Africa. The research explained the relationship that exist between service quality and sustained competitive advantage as well as the relationship that exist between intellectual capital and sustained competitive advantage. The study looked at the influence from both an internal perspective and external perspective. The internal perspective analysed the three constructs that make up intellectual capital namely; human capital, structural capital and relational capital. The external perspective used the SERVQUAL model to analyse how customers perceive services they expect to get from the telco providers and how they perceive the services after an encounter with the telco provider. The SERVQUAL model looks at five constructs of service quality namely; tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. The results of the study show that in the telco industry, relational capital is the most important dimension of intellectual capital followed by human capital, with structural capital coming up last. On the service quality variable, the research shows that customers see assurance as the most important dimension of service quality. With this in mind, the telco companies need to focus on their relational capital and human capital which includes customers and suppliers. They also need to focus on the assurance and responsiveness part of service quality. These variables will then influence future behaviour of customers (external view) as well allow employees to forge relationships that are long lasting and develop skills continuously (internal view). These dimensions are critical for the telco providers to achieve a sustained competitive advantage.
UNDERSTANDING THE ORIGIN OF THE [O I] LOW-VELOCITY COMPONENT FROM T TAURI STARS

The formation time, masses, and location of planets are strongly impacted by the physical mechanisms that disperse protoplanetary disks and the timescale over which protoplanetary material is cleared out. Accretion of matter onto the central star, protostellar winds/jets, magnetic disk winds, and photoevaporative winds operate concurrently. Hence, disentangling their relative contribution to disk dispersal requires identifying diagnostics that trace different star-disk environments. Here, we analyze the low-velocity component (LVC) of the oxygen optical forbidden lines, which is found to be blueshifted by a few km s{sup -1} with respect to the stellar velocity. We find that the [O I] LVC profiles are different from those of [Ne II] at 12.81 {mu}m and CO at 4.7 {mu}m lines pointing to different origins for these gas lines. We report a correlation between the luminosity of the [O I] LVC and the accretion luminosity L{sub acc}. We do not find any correlation with the X-ray luminosity, while we find that the higher is the stellar far-UV (FUV) luminosity, the higher is the luminosity of the [O I] LVC. In addition, we show that the [O I] {lambda}6300/{lambda}5577 ratio is low (ranging between 1 and 8). These findings favor an origin of the [Omore » I] LVC in a region where OH is photodissociated by stellar FUV photons and argue against thermal emission from an X-ray-heated layer. Detailed modeling of two spectra with the highest S/N and resolution shows that there are two components within the LVC: a broad, centrally peaked component that can be attributed to gas arising in a warm disk surface in Keplerian rotation (with FWHM between {approx}40 and {approx}60 km s{sup -1}), and a narrow component (with FWHM {approx} 10 km s{sup -1} and small blueshifts of {approx}2 km s{sup -1}) that may arise in a cool ({approx}<1000 K) molecular wind. « less
Using GMM when testing for a unit root in panels where the time-series dimension is fixed

In this paper we investigate GMM-based unit root inference in an autoregressive panel data model with individual-specific levels. We consider tests based on GMM estimators of the AR parameter and moment condition tests. The limiting distributions of the corresponding test statistics are derived when the AR parameter is unity and local-to-unity. This provides information about which statistics lead to valid test procedures. The performance of the valid tests in terms of their local power can then be compared. The results show that the GMM estimator of the AR parameter based on the Arellano-Bover type moment conditions, expressing that lagged differences are used as instruments for the equations in levels, can be used to detect a unit root. On the other hand, the widely used GMM estimator of the AR parameter based on the Arellano-Bond type moment conditions, expressing that lagged levels are used as instruments for the equations in first-differences, can not be used for this purpose. Instead a moment condition test of the hypothesis that the Arellano-Bond type moment conditions do not identify the AR parameter is valid as a unit root test. Finally, a simulation study demonstrates that the local power of the tests provides good approximations of their actual power in finite samples.
Lignin and Cellulose Content of Benthic Fine Particulate Organic Matter (FPOM) in Oregon Cascade Mountain Streams

Compared to leaf litter, benthic fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) is considered very refractory. FPOM exhibits high carbon to nitrogen ratios, low respiratory rates, and is a relatively poor food source for invertebrates. However, little more is known of the qualitative nature of benthic FPOM, the nature of FPOM processing, or the relationship between benthic FPOM chemical composition and sources of organic matter to a stream system. In this study, qualitative characteristics of benthic FPOM were compared at three sites in the Oregon Cascade Mountains that received either conifer litter, alder leaves, or herbaceous and algal inputs. FPOM from these streams contained approximately 45% lignin and 10-15% cellulose (ash-free dry weight). Lignin content of particles >1 mm was almost 60% whereas in those <0.01 mm it was 30-40%. Based on qualitative differences between known organic matter inputs to these streams, lignin content in FPOM at the conifer site was predicted to be greater than that at the alder site, and to be least at the open site. No seasonal or site related patterns in FPOM lignin or cellulose content were found regardless of the type of canopy cover or aerial allochthonous inputs. FPOM respiration rates were predicted to follow the reverse pattern, highest at the open site and lowest at the conifer site. Respiratory rates at the open site were usually greater than those at the forested sites; but rates were not consistently lowest at the conifer site. Similarities in FPOM lignin and cellulose content and respiration rates among sites suggest that the qualitative characteristics of FPOM are not necessarily regulated by the qualitative characteristics of canopy inputs alone. Additional and as yet unquantified inputs of high lignin-containing allochthonous FPOM, such as soil or wood, may override differences of leaf litter inputs among these three sites.