Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Existing feeding practices and production performance of lactating buffaloes in selected agro-climatic zones of Bangladesh

A study was conducted to observe the existing feeding practices, nutritional supply and production performance of the lactating buffaloes in some selected agro-climatic zones of Bangladesh, viz. Bhola (AEZ-18, Coastal area), Mymensingh (AEZ-22, River basin area) and Dinajpur (AEZ-27, Drought area). Data on availability, amount and types of feeds and fodders fed to the lactating buffaloes, body weight, milk yield and quality and lactation length were collected from 30 farmers of the each selected locations. In this investigation, the mostly used feed ingredients found were rice straw, locally available green grasses, wheat bran, broken maize, mustard oil cake and broken rice. Total feed supply (DM kg/h/d) to lactating buffaloes were 17.4, 14.5 and 13.0 in coastal, river basin and drought areas, respectively, (p>0.05). But significantly (p = 0.000) different amount (DM kg/h/d) of concentrate were supplied in coastal (1.5), river basin (1.8) and drought (2.7) areas. The highest amount (kg/h/d) of green grass was supplied in coastal area (5.0) followed by river basin area (4.3) and drought area (1.3). Accordingly, amount (kg/d) of DCP and TDN were supplied was higher in coastal area (0.365 and 6.417, respectively) than that of the river basin and drought areas (0.2470.248 and 5.501-5.891, respectively), which were below their requirements. Significantly (p=0.000) larger lactating buffaloes were found in the river basin and drought areas (weighed 372–380 kg/h) than that of coastal area (242 kg/h). The average daily milk yield was found significantly highest (p=0.000) in the drought area (5.3 L/d) which was 1.4 L and 3.1L more than that of the river basin and coastal area, respectively. The 4% FCM yield was found two times more (p=0.000) in drought area (7.7 kg/d) than that of the coastal (3.1 kg/d) and river basin (3.6 kg/d) area. On the other hand, the significantly (p=0.000) highest lactation length and lactation yield were 294 d and 1085 L, in the river basin area, which were 189 d and 1007 L in drought area and 197d and 429 L in coastal area, respectively. Among the milk constituents, protein, ash and lactose content was found higher in drought area than that of the other two areas (p=0.001). In conclusion, the prevailing variations are evidently considerable. Therefore, suggesting further works for large scale baseline data regarding buffalo populations, nutritive quality of feeds and fodder, effectiveness of existing management tools and adoption of new technologies.
RAPID DETECTION OF FRANCISELLA TULARENSIS BY THE IMMUNOAFFINITY ASSAY ABICAP IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN SAMPLES

Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of tularemia, a severe zoonotic infectious disease. The natural reservoir of the bacteria is not yet known precisely, but it may persist for over a year in water or mud. It is naturally maintained and spread by various terrestrial and aquatic mammals, and outbreaks in humans are often paralleled by enzootics or epizootics. The reasons for this seem to be multifactorial, though not well understood. Therefore, for epidemiological and outbreak investigations, a rapid hand-held assay would be helpful. Here we described a column-based immunofiltration assay called ABICAP, which has several characteristics that permit its application under field conditions. The assay can be performed within 25 min, with a detection limit of 103 bacteria. Further validation of the assay included the analytical range, precision, detection limit and performance for different human, animal and environmental sample matrices, accuracy, recovery, reproducibility and stability. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The assay is an interesting tool applicable for the rapid detection of F. tularensis in various specimens under laboratory and field conditions. It can be used for the identification of reservoirs of F. tularensis in epidemiological studies, for the detection of sources of infection in outbreak situations of tularemia and in laboratory investigation of animal and human specimens. The methodological platform can be adapted to the detection of other microbiological agents and antigens.
Characterization of cassava production in the Igarapé-Açu community, Capitão Poço, Pará, Brazil

The objective was to characterize the cultivation of cassava by rural producers in the Igarapé-Açu community, in the municipality of Capitão Poço, Pará, Brazil. The research involved quali-quantitative methods. For this purpose, 45 semi-structured questionnaires were applied, which included all the cassava flour producers in the Vila, in order to obtain information about the cassava and cassava flour production system, such as: size of the cultivation area, varieties used, labor used and ways of preparing the soil for cultivation. Most respondents are small farmers with an area of less than 5 ha. The cassava variety most cultivated by farmers in the village of Igarapé-Açu is mullet and about 56% of producers use exclusively family labor. As for the preparation of the soil, 40% of the interviewees perform the felling and burning. This form of tillage predominates due to the absence of technologies and causes the soil to be degraded more quickly.
New evidence on accelerator performance based on funding and location

PurposeSeed accelerators (SAs) appear as a more advanced version of business incubators. These for-profit organizations in exchange of equity, help setting new start-ups by providing mentoring and funding during its first months. Due to their emergent nature, the impact and expectations of SAs remains largely unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to throw new light on this field by empirically assessing for the first time the performance and prospects of these organizations through a survey of 116 SAs.Design/methodology/approachA model based on the Business Incubators literature is built with four categories covering size, location, age and profitability variables, leading to two hypotheses to be tested empirically over a survey of 116 SAs.FindingsSome remarkable findings arise after implementation of both bivariate and multivariate analysis. The results confirm a higher size and performance in the US and in the oldest SAs at statistically significant levels.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is not free from limitations but the findings make a contribution to the still scarce existing literature on SAs, and provide some managerial implications to their stockholders, to investors and to entrepreneurs.Practical implicationsThe findings concerning performance indicators are especially helpful for investors, primarily concerned with the percentage return on investment factor, the period and the investment rounds needed to achieve exit. Another key issue is the SA's role as an employment seedbed. At first glance, the amount of employment, both overall and per company, might seem small given the young age of these firms. The impact of SAs on the generation of new employment is difficult to measure as it usually takes place in further stages of development of the tenant companies, the so-called scale-up process. Nonetheless, at present, the number of new companies being born is remarkable and, in terms of employment, the results are indeed promising. Our findings also offer important implications for entrepreneurs, venture investors and policy-makers. To entrepreneurs, our findings offer insight on the expectations to hold in the accelerator programs.Social implicationsFor policy-makers and would-be accelerator founders, our results support the idea shared in the literature that accelerators can be an effective entrepreneurial intervention, even in small entrepreneurial ecosystems, compared to the strongest entrepreneurial hubs (Hallen et al., 2017). Originality/valueSAs are a very recent phenomenon which is blooming all over the world, especially in developed countries. SAs are therefore considered a key agent in the prospects of any entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, no studies have so far analysed the impact and performance of this emerging instrument. This is precisely the main purpose of this paper, to offer for the first time an approximate and exploratory assessment on the impact and prospects of SAs, based on a database.
A Machine-Learning Model for Automatic Detection of Movement Compensations in Stroke Patients

During the process of rehabilitation after stroke, it is important that patients know how well they perform their exercise, so they can improve their performance in future repetitions. Standard clinical rating conducted by human observation is the prevailing way today to monitor motor recovery of the patient. Therefore, patients cannot know whether they are performing a movement properly while exercising by themselves. Adhering to the exercise regime makes the rehabilitation process more effective and efficient, and thus a system that can give the patients feedback on their performance is of great value. Here, we built a machine-learning-based automated model that gives patients accurate information on the compensatory (undesirable) movements that they make. To construct the model, we recorded movements from 30 stroke patients, who each performed 18 movements, used to identify the presence of six types of compensatory movements in stroke patients’ movement trajectories. We used the random-forest algorithm for training this multi-label classification model. We achieved 85 percent average precision across the six movement compensations. This is the first study to automatically identify movement compensations based on stroke patients’ data. This model can be adapted for use in in-clinic and at-home exercise programs for patients after stroke.
Customer Experience Journeys: Loyalty Loops Versus Involvement Spirals

Customer experience management research is increasingly concerned with the long-term evolution of customer experience journeys across multiple service cycles. A dominant smooth journey model makes customers’ lives easier, with a cyclical pattern of predictable experiences that builds customer loyalty over time, also known as a loyalty loop. An alternate sticky journey model makes customers’ lives exciting, with a cyclical pattern of unpredictable experiences that increases customer involvement over time, conceptualized here as an involvement spiral. Whereas the smooth journey model is ideal for instrumental services that facilitate jobs to be done, the sticky journey model is ideal for recreational services that facilitate never-ending adventures. To match the flow of each journey type, firms are advised to encourage purchases during the initial service cycles of smooth journeys, or subsequent service cycles of sticky journeys. In multiservice systems, firms can sustain customer journeys by interlinking loyalty loops and involvement spirals. The article concludes with new journey-centered questions for customer experience management research, as well as branding research, consumer culture theory, consumer psychology, and transformative service research.
A ten year review of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive use at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, South Nigeria

Background: Depo Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) also known as Depo provera is a long acting progestogen-only contraceptive injection used by women worldwide. It is given deep intramuscularly at interval of 3 months. It is easy to use, effective, safe, convenient and reversible. Objective was to determine the prevalence of DMPA contraceptive method and profile of its acceptors at the RSUTH. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 271 clients attending family planning clinic at the RSUTH from 1st January, 2008 - 31st December, 2017. Their records were retrieved from the clinic and reviewed. Data was extracted, coded and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) IBM version 25.0 (Armonk, NY). Results: The prevalence rate of DMPA contraceptive among contraceptive acceptors at the RSUTH within the study period was 14.3 %. The modal age group was 30-34 years accounting for 103 (38.0%). Age range was 20-51 years. Two hundred and sixty eight (98.9%) had formal education. Majority of the clients had secondary level of education 209 (77.1 %). Of the 271 acceptors of DMPA, 175 (64.6%) were multipara. Most of the clients were married 259 (95.6%) and of Christian religion 265 (97.8%). Clinical personnel were the commonest source of information, accounting for 228 (84.1%). Conclusions: The prevalence of DMPA use over the study period was low. There is need for more counseling and enlightenment campaign to encourage our women to use this effective and safe method of contraception.
Improving Air Quality in the Po Valley, Italy: Some Results by the LIFE-IP-PREPAIR Project

The Po Valley (Northern Italy) represents an important exceedance zone of the air-quality limit values for PM (particulate matter), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) and O3 (ozone). This area covers the territory of most Italian northern regions and includes several urban agglomerates, such as Milan, Turin, Venice and Bologna. The area is densely populated and heavily industrialized. The paper summarizes the assessment of the impact of the current (2013) and future (2025) emissions and of the meteorological conditions on the air quality of the Po Valley. This study is one of the first outcomes of the EU LIFE-IP Clean Air Program Po Regions Engaged to Policies of Air (PREPAIR) project. The project, involving administrations and environmental agencies of eight regions and three municipalities in Northern Italy and Slovenia, started in 2017 and will end in 2024. Future emission scenarios consider the emissions reduction due to the air-quality action plans of the regions involved, of the agreements between the national authorities and regional administrations and of the PREPAIR project itself, in the overall context of the application of the current legislation of the European Union. The combination of these measures will lead to the reduction of direct emissions of PM10 in the Po Valley and of the main precursors emitted in the area (NOx, nitrogen oxides and NH3, and ammonia) by 38% for PM10, 39% for NOx and 22% for NH3, respectively. This lowering corresponds to a reduction of about 30.000 tons of primary PM10, 150.000 tons of NOx, 54.000 tons of NH3 and 1700 tons of SO2. The results show that these expected reductions should allow us to achieve the EU PM10 limit value in the Po Valley by the year 2025.
Karyotype analysis and physical mapping of 18S-5.8S-25S and 5S ribosomal RNA loci in species of genus Lens Miller (Fabaceae)

Abstract The present study on five different species of genus Lens was conducted to prepare the standard karyotypes integrating the 18S-5.8S-25S and 5S rRNA loci using fluorescence in situ hybridisation and computer aided chromosome image analysis. The results revealed that the five species share different karyotypes with minor modifications, possibly as a result of chromosomal interchanges involving exchanges of chromosomal fragments of nearly similar size during the course of evolution of the genus Lens. In each of the five species, a single locus for 18S-5.8S-25S rRNA on a single pair of chromosomes and two loci for 5S rRNA, possibly representing two different repeat units of varying sizes, on two different pairs of chromosomes were mapped. The rRNA loci were localized at different chromosomal positions in different species and could be used as landmarks for chromosome identification. The idiograms based on measurements on chromosomes and the data on physical mapping of rRNA loci allowed clear distinction of the karyotypes of all the five species, which were hitherto considered to be similar.
High Terrestrial Radiation Level in an Active Tin-Mine at Jos South, Nigeria

Mineral mining and milling can be a source of national economic and technological development. However, mining of minerals has been confirmed to disturb the natural distribution of radioisotopes in the soil, air and water bodies in the biota. In an attempt to evaluate the radiological burden resulting from tin mining activities at Rayfield-Du area of Jos, the background gamma-radiation level in the mine was measured via a well calibratedhand-held dosimeter placed at 1 m above ground level. The mean absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose rate and excess lifetime cancer risk for the mine was 0.83 μSvh-1; 1.44 mSv-1 and 0.005 respectively. Generally, dose rates were higher in the mine pits and processing areas as compared to administrative areas of the mine. The mean measured dose rate and calculated dose parameters for the mine were all high when compared to the regulatory limit for public exposure. The potential of developing radiation-induced health defects as a result of high radiation absorbed dose rate by the miners and dwellers around the mine is highly probable. Keywords: Gamma-radiation; mine; absorbed dose rate; radiation exposure.
Comparative study of preservation versus elective division of ilioinguinal nerve on chronic groin pain after lichtenstein tension free inguinal hernia repair

Background: Post-hernioplasty chronic groin pain is one of the most important complications encountered after inguinal hernia repair. Routine ilioinguinal nerve excision has been proposed to avoid chronic post-hernioplasty neuralgia. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of routine ilioinguinal nerve excision compared to nerve preservation on chronic groin pain and other sensory symptoms in lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of general surgery, at S.P. Medical College and PBM Hospital, Bikaner for duration of 15 months from august 2018 to November 2019. A total of 60 patients of uncomplicated inguinal hernia, who met the inclusion criteria, planned for lichtenstein hernioplasty were randomly divided into 2 groups with 30 cases with ilioinguinal nerve preservation (group A) and 30 cases with elective division of the nerve (group B). Follow up was done upto1 year and patients were inquired regarding pain, hypoesthesia and numbness and data was compared and analysed.Results: The incidence of post-operative neuralgia was 23.33% vs 6.67% (p=0.05) at 1 year in group A and group B respectively. The difference in pain was significant in both groups. The incidence of post-operative hypoesthesia was 10% vs 16.67% (p>0.05) at 1 year follow up in group A and group B respectively. The incidence of numbness was 11.11% vs 16.67% (p>0.05) at 1 year in group A and group B respectively. No statistically significant difference was found in both groups.Conclusions: The prophylactic exicision of ilioinguinal nerve during lichtenstein mesh repair decreases the incidence of chronic groin pain after surgery.
Tumor Necrosis Factor- (cid:1) Induces Fractalkine Expression Preferentially in Arterial Endothelial Cells and Mithramycin A Suppresses TNF- (cid:1) -Induced Fractalkine Expression

Fractalkine is an unusual tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- (cid:1) -induced chemokine. The molecule is tethered to cells that express it and produces strong and direct adhesion to leukocytes expressing fractalkine receptor. However, the potential mechanism and significance of TNF- (cid:1) -induced fractalkine expression in vascular endothelial cells are poorly understood. Here we show that in primary cultured endothelial cells TNF- (cid:1) -induced fractalkine mRNA expression is mediated mainly through phosphatidylinositol 3 (cid:1) -kinase activation and nuclear factor (NF)- (cid:2) B mediated transcriptional activation, along with GC-rich DNA-bind-ing protein-mediated transcription. Interestingly, GC-rich DNA-binding protein inhibitors, mithramycin A and chromomycin A3, strongly suppressed TNF- (cid:1) induced fractalkine mRNA expression, possibly through inhibition of transcriptional activities by NF- (cid:2) B and Sp1. In fact, direct inhibition of NF- (cid:2) B and Sp1 bindings by decoy oligonucleotides suppressed TNF- (cid:1) -induced fractalkine expression. Histologically, TNF-
Sugar analysis for authenticity evaluation of honey in Lithuanian market

The aim of the work was to evaluate the authenticity of honey present in Lithuanian market using GC-FID analysis of trimethylsilylated carbohydrates. In total, 15 natural honey samples and one artificial honey sample were analysed. In general, the composition of carbohydrates in the tested samples of natural honey was quite similar, except for trisaccharides, which were not found in any of the analysed samples. Although the amount of identified compounds was different, the percentages of the quantified sugars in natural honey were within the limits established by Codex Alimentarius Commission. Artificial honey contained 9.01% of sucrose and 34.60% of maltose, while the content of maltose in natural honey varied in the range of 0.29–1.41%. The content of fructose and glucose in artificial honey was 2.41% and 22.89%, respectively; while the sum of the main monosaccharides in natural honey was averagely 38.80%. The results obtained indicate that tested natural honey samples from Lithuanian market were genuine products.
Landscape complementation and metapopulation effects on leopard frog populations

For many species, not all required resources are contained in breeding habitat. Such species depend on landscape complementation, i.e., linking together different land- scape elements through movement, to complete their life cycles. We suggest that the di- chotomous habitat classification of many metapopulation analyses (habitat vs. nonhabitat) masks our ability to detect metapopulation effects for such species. We tested this using a species for which landscape complementation is obligate and metapopulation structure is likely: Rana pipiens, the northern leopard frog. We used breeding chorus survey data to index relative abundance of leopard frogs in 34 "core" ponds and conducted Poisson regression analysis to determine the effects on frog density of local pond habitat, availability of summer habitat (landscape complementation), and number of occupied ponds in the surrounding landscapes (metapopulation structure). All of these factors had statistically significant effects on frog density. However, when summer habitat was not included in the statistical model, the metapopulation structure was no longer significant; i.e., its effect was masked. Our results suggest that one must be cautious in applying the results of metapo- pulation analyses to species for which the habitat vs. nonhabitat categorization of'the landscape is not appropriate. The potential for rescue and recolonization to maintain a regional population must be assessed within the constraints of the entire landscape.