Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of pre-slaughter fasting time on carcass yield, blood parameters and meat quality in broilers

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-slaughter fasting time on carcass yield, meat quality, blood parameters and glucose metabolism in broilers. Methods Four hundred and fifty Arbor Acres (AA) broilers at 42 days of age were divided into 5 groups with 6 replicates in each group and 15 chickens as one replicate. Following this period, broilers from each group were distributed among five groups according to pre-slaughter fasting period as 4, 8, 12, 16, or 20 h. Results With increasing fasting time, the carcass yield (p<0.01), the breast muscles yield (p<0.01) and the thigh yield (p<0.01) of the broilers were all linearly increased. With increasing fasting time, the L* values (p<0.01), cooking loss (p = 0.020), moisture content (p<0.01) in the leg muscles linearly downregulated, while the drip loss (p = 0.043), pH45 min (p<0.01) and pH24 h (p<0.01) were linearly upregulated. A trend for a lower (p = 0.071) shear force in the leg muscles was also observed in broilers fasted for longer time. Similar results were also found in breast muscles. The different fasting treatments did not influence the breast muscles glycogen content (p>0.10), while the increase of fasting time resulted in a linear decrease of the blood glucose (p = 0.021) and, more specifically, the glycogen content of the liver and leg muscles (p<0.001). With increasing fasting time, the aspartate transaminase (p<0.01), uric acid (p<0.01), and triglycerides (p<0.01) in serum linearly downregulated, while the alanine aminotransferase was linearly upregulated. Conclusion The results of this study show a significant influence of fasting time on carcass yield and meat quality in broilers. Moderate fasting (8 to 12 h) before slaughter can reduce the weight loss of broilers. Prolonged fasting (≥16 h) increased body weight loss, decreased slaughtering performance and fluctuating blood indexes of broilers.
Surface materials of the Viking landing sites

Martian surface materials viewed by the two Viking landers (VL-1 and VL-2) range from fine-grained nearly cohesionless soils to rocks. Footpad 2 of VL-1, which landed at 2.30 m/s, penetrated 16.5 cm into very fine grained dunelike drift material; footpad 3 rests on a rocky soil which it penetrated ≈3.6 cm. Further penetration by footpad 2 may have been arrested by a hard substrate. Penetration by footpad 3 is less than would be expected for a typical lunar regolith. During landing, retroengine exhausts eroded the surface and propelled grains and rocks which produced craters on impact with the surface. Trenches excavated in drift material by the sampler have steep walls with up to 6 cm of relief. Incipient failure of the walls and failures at the end of the trenches are compatible with a cohesion near 10–10^2 N/m^2. Trenching in rocky soil excavated clods and possibly rocks. In two of five samples, commanded sampler extensions were not achieved, a situation indicating that buried rocks or local areas with large cohesions (≥10 kN/m^2) or both are present. Footpad 2 of VL-2, which landed at a velocity between 1.95 and 2.34 m/s, is partly on a rock, and footpad 3 appears to have struck one; penetration and leg strokes are small. Retroengine exhausts produced more erosion than occurred for VL-1 owing to increased thrust levels just before touchdown. Deformations of the soil by sampler extensions range from doming of the surface without visible fracturing to doming accompanied by fracturing and the production of angular clods. Although rocks larger than 3.0 cm are abundant at VL-1 and VL-2, repeated attempts to collect rocks 0.2–1.2 cm across imbedded in soil indicate that rocks in this size range are scarce. There is no evidence that the surface sampler of VL-2, while it was pushing and nudging rocks ≈25 cm across, spalled, chipped, or fractured the rocks. Preliminary analyses of surface sampler motor currents (≈25 N force resolution) during normal sampling are consistent with cohesionless frictional soils (ϕ ≈ 36°) or weakly cohesive frictionless soils (C < 2 kN/m^2). The soil of Mars has both cohesion and friction.
Entrepreneurial Network in Malaysia: Are There Any Differences Across Ethnic Groups?

The paper reveals interesting findings from the comparative study on entrepreneurial network of Malay and Chinese entrepreneurs in Malaysia conducted from July 2010 to December 2010. The two main ethnic groups, the Malays who are dominant in politic and the Chinese who traditionally are good in business, are the main ethnic groups in Malaysia and data from both ethnic groups is analysed from the total sample of 147 in which 59 are Malays and 88 are Chinese ownermanagers. The findings show both ethnic groups have advantages and disadvantages over each other with respect to social, institutional and business networks
Petroleum Source-Bed Evaluation of Tertiary Niger Delta: REPLY

A total of 63 sidewall and drill-cutting shale samples obtained from a depth slice of 800 to 3650 m in two onshore and two offshore wells located respectively in the eastern and western Niger delta basin, Nigeria, were analyzed for organic-matter type, concentration, and thermal maturity. Dominant sedimentary kerogens were the humic and mixed types. Organic carbon contents of the sediments ranged from 0.4 to 4.4% and the degree of thermal evolution as evidenced by vitrinite reflectance (R/sub 0/%), odd-even ratios (OER, 2C/sub 29//(C/sub 28/ + C/sub 30/)), and variations of the ratios of the concentration of soluble organic matter to total organic carbon content (SOM/TOC) were within the ranges 0.2 to 0.7, 4.0 to 1.0, and 10 to 240 respectively. On the basis of the variation of the maturation parameters, the onset of mature source beds in the onshore and offshore delta were delimited at approximately 3375 and 2900 m respectively. The inferred threshold temperature was about 95/sup 0/C. The results of the present study support the hypothesis that the main source beds of the Niger delta basin are the deeply buried paralic or paralic-marine facies.
Asymmetric information flows

We develop a broad disclosure quality measure, PNF, which is based on theories of voluntary disclosure and is calculable for all quoted firms. In particular, PNF uses the asymmetric distribution of positive versus negative abnormal stock returns during the fiscal period to capture the policy of strategically withholding bad news. We find that PNF is positively associated with managerial incentives to withhold bad news, with a rise in the negative tone of narratives filed towards the end of the accounting period, and with earnings management and shareholder lawsuits; and is negatively associated with constraints on withholding bad news. A placebo PNF based on an inappropriately aligned return window does not have these properties. Also, PNF captures structural shifts in strategic disclosure associated with changes in top management, corporate governance, and disclosure regulation. These results suggest that PNF captures the withholding of bad news during the fiscal period and, as such, complements and offers an integrity check for direct scores of disclosure practices when assessing the quality of firms’ communications with equity markets. A final test shows that, in contrast to conventional measures of disclosure, PNF is positively associated with the cost of equity capital after controlling for earnings quality. JEL codes: G20; G30; M40; M41
Reactivation of Archaean strike-slip fault systems, Amazon region, Brazil

The Itacaiúnas Belt on the southeastern margin of the Amazonian Craton comprises two E-W-trending Archaean fault zones (Carajás and Cinzento strike-slip systems) developed sub-parallel to a broad zone of earlier ductile shearing. Older basement rocks display a pervasive E-W-trending mylonitic fabric, formed at high temperatures during sinistral transpression c. 2.8 Ga. A sequence of younger Archaean cover rocks was deformed under low greenschist facies conditions during a second phase of sinistral transpression associated with retrogression and reworking of basement fabrics. All these rocks are overlain unconformably by very low grade to unmetamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks of Late Archaean-Early Proterozoic age. The Carajás and Cinzento strike-slip fault systems formed during subsequent regional dextral transtension (c. 2.6-2.7 Ga) which down-faulted cover sequence rocks into dilational fault jogs. Later sinistral transpression (>c. 1.9 Ga) partially inverted these dilation zones, producing oblique compressional faults and folds evident mainly in cover rocks. Renewed fracturing, regional emplacement of granitic plutons and swarms of dykes c. 1.8 Ga were followed by fault-controlled deposition of immature sandstones and conglomerates. Phanerozoic activity is limited, although some faults display evidence of minor neotectonic activity. The waning influence of the basement architecture and decreasing intensity of later reactivations is consistent with lithosphere-scale weakening with a finite life span.
Design and optimization of bionic Nautilus volute for a hydrodynamic retarder

To reduce the energy loss of volute and improve the emergency braking performance of hydrodynamic retarder under design condition, a bionic volute optimization design method is proposed based on the Nautilus shell. First, the accuracy of the numerical method is verified by grid convergence analysis and experiments. Thereafter, the bionic parametric expression is performed based on the cross-section shape of the Nautilus shell. Subsequently, sample points are created using the Optimal Latin Hypercube sampling method and numerically simulated. Radial basis function neural network and multi-objective genetic algorithm are used for optimization. Finally, the flow field inside the volute and the braking performance of the hydrodynamic retarder are compared by numerical calculation and experiment. Results show that the internal flow field of the bionic volute is more uniform, the energy loss is reduced by 78.95%, and the oil flow speed is increased by 40.61%. In addition, the stable flow field can be established faster during braking, the peak torque can be increased by 6.15%, and the onset time can be advanced by 6.58%. The analysis of energy characteristics shows that the improved performance of the bionic volute can be attributed to its improved internal oil flow conditions, thus reducing the energy loss.
East central Florida rip current program

A rip current is a complex meteorological/oceanographic phenomenon that poses significant danger to beach goers worldwide. Rip currents are narrow channels of water flowing out past the surf zone that can pull even strong swimmers into deep water beyond the offshore sand bar. In Florida, rip current-related drownings averaged 21 per year during the period 1989-97. East central Florida averaged 4-5 rip current-related drownings per year during this period. An examination of east central Florida rip current data showed that large numbers of rescues occurred most often when long period ocean swells were impacting the beaches. This was in contrast to a study by Lushine (1991) which found that rip currents along the southeast Florida coast were mainly due to moderate onshore winds. The empirical forecasting technique developed by Lushine (LURCS) was adapted for use in east central Florida (ECFL LURCS). Available rip current data was used to calculate the Probability of Detection (POD), which is the percentage of events that are detected, and the False Alarm Ration (FAR), which is the percentage of unverified warnings/forecasts. For events with a greater than normal number of rip current rescues, the POD was found to be slightly better than the 1994 national average POD for severe weather (Crowther and Halmstad 1995). A high FAR showed the need to further improve ECFL LURCS and become aggressive in verification. In May 1997, forecasters at the National Weather Service Office in Melbourne began issuing statements detailing the daily rip current threat based on a set of thresholds that were determined by this study. These statements are disseminated to the media and broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio. Points of contact at lifeguard stations are being utilized to provide feedback about the number of rip currents that occur after a statement is issued. This data will be used to refine the empirical forecasting scheme.
Reflection of Faith in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code Novel (2003): New Criticism

The Da Vinci Code Novel is one of the famous works from Dan Brown, it narrates about the conflict between Priory of Sion and the church a long time ago. The novel would show us the sacred of Holy Grail which has been covered and the mystery of the codes. The conflict of faith is something that makes the novel complicated and more interesting to read. a faith is also important in determining people’s life because it is an attitude even though it is not always true, thus it cannot become a standard of truth. The writer uses New Criticism approach to find the main problem and conflicts related to research question. The writer also uses a qualitative method to describe the finding. In the end of the study, the writer finds that The Da Vinci Code novel have several faiths reflected, namely; (1) the last supper painting that breaks people’s faith, (2) holy grail and the secret of Christianity’s faith, (3) the priory of sion as the guardian, and (4) the truth of faith. At the same time, the main problem in the novel is a different perspective on the Holy Grail due to the lack of relevant information and their long-established faith, thus they assume that it is true. We cannot claim either of them was wrong because it refers to their own needs. In fact, there is no absolute truth for human being, it is because the truth we have is only own perspective and it does not apply for everyone.
THE EFFECTS OF LOGGING ON PRIMATE-HABITAT INTERACTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF REDTAIL MONKEYS (Cercopithecus ascanius) IN KIBALE NATIONAL PARK, UGANDA

of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science THE EFFECTS OF LOGGING ON PRIMATE-HABITAT INTERACTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF REDTAIL MONKEYS (Cercopithecus ascanius) IN KIBALE NATIONAL PARK, UGANDA By Claudia Margret Stickler May 2004 Chair: Colin A. Chapman Major Department: School of Natural Resources and Environment The scale and intensity of timber exploitation in the tropics have increased in recent decades, leaving degraded forests and deforested areas in their wake. The impact of these activities on forest-dependent vertebrates is varied—ranging from loss of habitat and resources to population isolation or extinction. In recognition of the inadequacy of existing protected areas to support viable populations in the long-term, the focus of wildlife conservation in tropical forests is shifting to identifying and supporting more ecologically sound timber management strategies. This study focuses on the impact of logging on primate behavior and habitat use because primates play an important role in tropical forest communities, serving as seed dispersers and as indicators of overall mammal species richness. Primates may also face a greater threat from broad-scale habitat loss and hunting than most birds do, because they are constrained to travel arboreally or terrestrially, and may not be able to move readily between areas to take advantage of greater resource availability or other suitable habitat.
Outage Probability Analysis of LR-FHSS and D2D-Aided LR-FHSS Protocols in Shadowed-Rice Fading Direct-to-Satellite IoT Networks

In this article, we present a device-to-device (D2D) transmission scheme for aiding long-range frequency-hopping spread spectrum (LR-FHSS) LoRaWAN protocol with application in direct-to-satellite Internet of Things (IoT) networks. We consider a practical ground-to-satellite fading model, i.e., shadowed-Rice channel, and derive the outage performance of the LR-FHSS network. With the help of network coding, a D2D-aided LR-FHSS transmission scheme is proposed to improve the network capacity for which a closed-form outage probability expression is also derived. The obtained analytical expressions for both LR-FHSS and D2D-aided LR-FHSS outage probabilities are validated by computer simulations for different parts of the analysis capturing the effects of noise, fading, unslotted ALOHA-based time scheduling, the receiver’s capture effect, IoT device distributions, and distance from node to satellite. The total outage probability for the D2D-aided LR-FHSS shows a considerable increase of 249.9% and 150.1% in network capacity at a typical outage of 10−2 for the data rates of DR6 (325 bps) and DR5 (162 bps), respectively, when compared to LR-FHSS. This is obtained at the cost of a minimum of one and a maximum of two additional transmissions per IoT end device imposed by the D2D scheme in each time slot.
Farm Productivity and Poverty in Kenya: The effects of Soil Conservation

Soil erosion and land degradation have become major environmental concerns and present a formidable threat to food security and sustainability of agricultural production in Kenya. The biggest challenge currently facing the Kenyan government is how to achieve the triple developmental goals of food sufficiency, better nutrition and poverty reduction without increasing the land devoted to food crops. This paper responds to a paucity of empirical information on the impact of land degradation on farm productivity and poverty in Kenya. The paper builds on the few existing studies in this area and explores the impact of conventional inputs and adoption of soil conservation practices on farm yields per acre controlling for the effects of institutional factors. Panel data collected from farming households is utilized to achieve the study objectives. The paper tests and rejects the hypothesis that adoption of soil conservation practices has no effect on farm productivity or on poverty reduction. We test this hypothesis controlling for impacts of conventional farm inputs and institutional factors notably the property rights regimes. Due to the joint determination of soil conservation practices and productivity, we use the fixed effects – instrumental variables (FE-IV) method to isolate the productivity effects of soil conservation. We further simulate the impact of key policy changes on productivity on one hand and on poverty (head count ratio) on the other. The key finding of the paper (from the FE-IV) is that controlling for unobserved heterogeneity, soil conservation has a large measurable impact on farm productivity and on poverty reduction in the long-run. We also find that well specified property rights are associated with higher farm productivity, a debate that is widely contested in the literature. Policy simulations indicate that privatization of common land and adoption of particular soil conservation practices can play a decisive role in increasing agricultural yields and in reducing poverty in semi-arid areas.
Deer: status survey and conservation action plan

Deer are a unique group of mammals recognised for their grace and beauty. Some are also prime examples of flagship species, whose continued survival sustains the complex interplay of flora and fauna. Today many species are under threat of extinction. This action plan, aimed at range country biologists, academics and students, state and federal employees of wildlife, protected area and environmental agencies as well as non-governmental conservation organisations has three main objectives: to identify the status and distribution of threatened species of deer and propose action for their conservation; outline scientific methods for obtaining information about the status of poorly known populations; and list conservation priorities for deer in each of the range countries
Grainlands. The landscape of open fields in a European perspective

ABSTRACT Landscape history is still mainly studied in local or regional projects and within national research traditions. However, an international perspective becomes ever more necessary, not just for scientific reasons, but also in the light of the increasing internationalisation of landscape politics; see for example the European Landscape Convention. The present article willfocus on one particular type of landscape: the open fields, the grain-growing landscapes that were the backbone of medieval European agriculture. The landscape of open fields can (or at least could) be found over large parts of Europe in regions with very different legal and organisational structures, soil conditions and agricultural systems. Some of the lengthiest and most thorough discussions in landscape history were on the origin of the open fields. The present article stresses the necessity to treat the different components of open fields (land use, landownership, agrarian techniques) separately. Many of the explanations offered are based on research in limited areas. An international perspective is helpful by putting local developments into a broader perspective. Since the Late Middle Ages, the open field landscapes have moved north-eastwards, following the moving geography of grain cultivation. Whereas open fields gradually disappeared through enclosure in Britain, Scandinavia and other regions, elsewhere, especially in the Eastern Baltic, new open fields were being developed during the sixteenth century. This changing geography of open fields is probably related to changes in the European economy, in which the regional markets for grain gave way to a pan- European market during the sixteenth century and to a world market in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Each phase offered new opportunities, as well as threats, to the open field regions.