Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of tulsi leaves and ginger solution on growth performance and hematological profiles of broilers

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of tulsi and ginger as a growth promoter in broilers. A total of thirty day old chicks (DOC) were purchased from CP Bangladesh Ltd. and after seven days divided into three groups (A), (B) and (C). No vaccination schedule was practiced and no antibiotics were added in ration. The (A) group was not supplemented with tulsi and ginger solution in drinking water. The (B) group was supplemented with tulsi solution @ 1ml/litre in drinking water and (C) group was supplemented with ginger solution @ 1 ml/litre in drinking water for consecutive 5 weeks started from 7th day of experiment. Weekly observations were recorded for live body weight gain up to 6th weeks and routine blood test was performed at 21st and 42nd days, to find out hematological changes between control and treatment groups. The FCR value of group (A) was 2.25, in group (B) was 1.99 and in group (C) was 1.90. From this initial study this may be concluded that production of broilers in by using tulsi and ginger was economic than control group. In Bangladesh broilers production is mainly organized by unemployed and its demand is very high because it supports marketing within 35–42 days. Short return of money but major problems is cost of production. The initial body weight (gm) of group (A), (B) and (C) on 7th of day experiment were 168±8.54, 166±7.95 and 166±7.90 gm respectively and after 42nd day of experiment final body weight were 1561±12.10, 1698±12.87 and 1763±13.28 gm respectively. The net body weight gain were 1393±11.07, 1533±11.98 and 1588±12.10 gm respectively and economics of production were analyzed and found that net profit per broiler was 18.82, 36.13 and 42.53 Tk respectively. It is concluded that broiler production by using herbal extract may be profitable and suitable for human consumption. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2018, 3 (2), 143-149
Measuring prosodic predictability in children's home language environments

Children learn language from the speech in their home environment. Recent work shows that more infant-directed speech (IDS) leads to stronger lexical development. But what makes IDS a particularly useful learning signal? Here, we expand on an attention-based account first proposed by Ra ̈sa ̈nen et al. (2018): that prosodic modifications make IDS less predictable, and thus more interesting. First, we reproduce the critical finding from Ra ̈sa ̈nen et al.: that lab-recorded IDS pitch is less predictable compared to adult-directed speech (ADS). Next, we show that this result generalizes to the home language environment, finding that IDS in daylong recordings is also less predictable than ADS but that this pattern is much less robust than for IDS recorded in the lab. These results link experimental work on attention and prosodic modifications of IDS to real-world language-learning environments, highlighting some challenges of scaling up analyses of IDS to larger datasets that better capture children’s actual input.
A Sensitivity Analysis of Two Mesoscale Models: COAMPS and WRF

A sensitivity analysis methodology recently developed by the authors is applied to COAMPS and WRF. The method involves varying model parameters according to Latin Hypercube Sampling, and developing multivariate multiple regression models that map the model parameters to forecasts over a spatial domain. The regression coefficients and p values testing whether the coefficients are zero serve as measures of sensitivity of forecasts with respect to model parameters. Nine model parameters are selected from COAMPS and WRF, and their impact is examined on nine forecast quantities (water vapor, convective and gridscale precipitation, and air temperature and wind speed at three altitudes). Although the conclusions depend on the model parameters and specific forecast quantities, it is shown that sensitivity to model parameters is often accompanied by nontrivial spatial structure, which itself depends on the underlying forecast model (i.e., COAMPS vs WRF). One specific difference between these models is in their sensitivity with respect to a parameter that controls temperature increments in the Kain–Fritsch trigger function; whereas this parameter has a distinct spatial structure in COAMPS, that structure is completely absent in WRF. The differences between COAMPS and WRF also extend to the quality of the statistical models used to assess sensitivity; specifically, the differences are largest over the waters off the southeastern coast of the United States. The implication of these findings is twofold: not only is the spatial structure of sensitivities different between COAMPS and WRF, the underlying relationship between the model parameters and the forecasts is also different between the two models.
Cognitive Load in Economic Decisions

Intuitive decision making has a large and often negative impact in economic decisions, but its measurement and quantification remains challenging. Following research from psychology, behavioral economists have often attempted to causally manipulate the balance of intuition and deliberation by relying on experimental manipulations as cognitive load. However, these attempts have resulted in mixed success, with many null results and no clear general pattern. We explain the possible reasons behind these developments and offer avenues for improvement. First, we show that a very simple formal model of decision processes offers a straightforward test to determine whether cognitive load has been successfully induced, hence disentangling failed inductions and true null results. Specifically, cognitive load in economically-relevant tasks must result in shorter response times. Second, we show that the intuitive arguments on the behavioral implications of cognitive load do not hold on closer, formal examination, unless strong assumptions are made that may or may not hold in typical economic experiments. We then report on seven economic experiments (joint N = 628) using different cognitive load manipulations and confirm the implications of the model. While the effect on response times is strong and pervasive, behavioral effects are weak and elusive. Our research serves as a warning on the differences between economic tasks and psychological experiments and the difficulties associated with importing methods uncritically.
Yielding and Growth Parameters of Maize (Zea Mays L.) As Affected by Different Foliar and Nitrogen Soil Fertilization

Two field experiments were carried out at Toukh El- Aklam, Village, El-Sinbelaween Station, Dakahlia Governorate, during 1989 and 1990 seasons to study the effect of four nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N/fad), three foliar application time (after 30, 50 and two equal halves at 30 and 50 days from planting (DFP) as well as four foliar treatments namely (foliar x, Irral, Aziplex and Sicotree Zn) on growth, yield and grain quality of maize. Results indicated that the interaction between nitrogen levels, times of spraying and nutrients foliar application was significant, the maximum plant height, ear height, stem diameter, leaf area ear length, ear diameter, number of grain/row, 100-grain weight, shelling percentage, grain yield/plant, grain yield/fad and grain protein percentage. However, the minimum number of days to 50 % tasseling and silking, were recorded under the combination of 90 kg N/fad, and spraying Irral at the rate of 300 g/fad after 50 days from planting. In conclusion, the desirable growth characters of maize can be achieved through nitrogen application at the rate of 90 kg N/fad, spraying foliar nutrients after 50 days from planting and foliar Irral at the rate of 300 g/fad under the environmental conditions of El-Sinbelaween Center, Dakahlia Governorate.
Effects of In Ovo Vitamin D3 Injection on Subsequent Growth of Broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of in ovo vitamin D3 (Vit D3) administration on growth of broiler chickens when Vit D3 was dissolved in soybean oil. Sixty Ross broiler eggs were incubated at 37.8°C and >60% relative humidity. Distilled water, soybean oil, or Vit D3 (60 IU / 0.5 mL) dissolved in soybean oil, was administered in ovo on Day 18 of incubation. Seven days after hatching, chicks were sexed, and 12 birds (six female and six male) close to the average body weight (BW) of each treatment were selected and their BW continuously recorded until 28 days of age, then sacrificed. Liver and pectoral muscle were collected to determine the mRNA expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor, and the length of tibia was measured. There were no significant differences in BW, liver weight, or pectoral muscle weight between the groups. However, an interaction was observed between treatments and sexes in the tibia length. In comparison among only males, tibia length in the Vit D3 with oil group was longer than that of the control, but not different from that of the oil group. The same tendency was observed in the hepatic IGF-1 mRNA expression in chicks of either sex, with this effect only being observed after the treatments and not in the control. On the other hand, there was an interaction between treatments and sexes in the mRNA expression of IGF-1 receptor, which was highest in the Vit D3 with oil group in females, but not in males. These results indicated that the in ovo administration of Vit D3 affected IGF-1 receptor mRNA expression without growth.
Antarctic Circumpolar Current Dynamics at the Pacific Entrance to the Drake Passage Over the Past 1.3 Million Years

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is the world's largest current system connecting all three major basins of the global ocean. Our knowledge of glacial‐interglacial changes in ACC dynamics in the southeast Pacific is not well constrained and presently only based on reconstructions covering the last glacial cycle. Here we use a combination of mean sortable silt grain size of the terrigenous sediment fraction (10–63 μm, SS¯ ) and X‐ray fluorescence scanner‐derived Zr/Rb ratios as flow strength proxies to examine ACC variations at the Pacific entrance to the Drake Passage (DP) in the vicinity of the Subantarctic Front. Our results indicate that at the DP entrance, ACC strength varied by ~6–16% on glacial‐interglacial time scales, yielding higher current speeds during interglacial times and reduced current speeds during glacials. We provide evidence that previous observations of a reduction in DP throughflow during the last glacial period are part of a consistent pattern extending for at least the last 1.3 Ma. The orbital‐scale cyclicity follows well‐known global climate changes from prevailing ca. 41‐kyr cycles in the early part of the record (1.3 Ma to 850 ka; marine isotope stage 21) across the mid‐Pleistocene transition into the middle and late Pleistocene 100‐kyr world. A comparison to a bottom water flow record from the deep western boundary current off New Zealand (Ocean Drilling Program Site 1123) reveals anti‐phased changes between the two sites. The enhanced supply of deep water along the DP and into the Atlantic Ocean during interglacials corresponds to a weakened flow of the SW Pacific deep western boundary current.
Challenges of disinfection by-products in water and effect on the men's health infertility- A Narrative review

Chlorination is the most common disinfectant in the water treatment process. The reaction between Natural Organic Matter (NOM) in water and chlorine lead to the formation of harmful disinfectant by-products (DBPs). The most common DBPs (HAAs and THMs) impose risks on human health. The data acquired from human samples on the relationship of men's infertility with DBPs exposure are limited and epidemiological studies have reported various results about the association between long-term exposure to DBPs and the adverse effect on the man's infertility (sperm concentration, semen quality and sperm motility). Previous cellular studies show that HAAs and THM damaged DNA by their effect on the ROS generation and Oxidative stress, respectively. Moreover, CDBM can lead to decreased litter sizes and pup viability. Bromodichloromethane (BDCM) cause the production of sperm abnormalities. In addition, Trichloromethane (TCM) led to increase the degeneration of epididymis ductal epithelium. Dibromoacetic acid (DBAA) and Bromochloroacetic acid (BCAA) led to synergistical decrease in the levels of SP22 sperm membrane protein. Likewise, BCAA and DBAA resulted in testicular damage. It should be noted that synergistic effect between Br THMs and TCAA in relation to below-reference sperm count was demonstrated. It has been reported that mixture of THMs and HAAs lead to increase sperm motility in adult male rats.
Influence of temperature and relative humidity on population dynamics of thrips and leaf curl disease incidence in blackgram genotypes

The insect pests and diseases of blackgram continue to pose a serious threat to the plant growth and yield. The sucking pests in blackgram are economically most important that not only cause the direct damage by feeding but also by transmission of different viral diseases. Sucking pest complex in blackgram include an array of sucking pests out of which thrips, whitefly and aphids are the most important. The leaf curl disease caused by GBNV in blackgram is transmitted through thrips. A study was conducted involving 25 blackgram genotypes to screen them against leaf curl disease. The results obtained from the study indicated that the leaf curl disease incidence (%) and thrips population (Number plant) varied significantly among the genotypes. Late sowing of the crop coincided with higher temperatures, lower relative humidity and high vector population resulting in higher leaf curl disease incidence. The correlation studies indicated that the leaf curl disease incidence (%) was negatively associated with the mean and morning relative humidity (%) and positively associated with mean, maximum and minimum temperatures.
Identification of molecular determinants of substrate specificity and activity for biphenyl dioxygenase from Comamonas testosteroni B-356

The oxygenase component of biphenyl dioxygenase (BPDO) from Comamonas testosteroni B-356 dihydroxylates biphenyl and some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), thereby initiating their degradation. Identification of molecular determinants for BPDO substrate selectivity and activity should allow engineering it to accept a range of chlorinated biphenyls for bioremediation. Highly active BPDO has been purified, and crystallized under anaerobic conditions. The first crystal structures of BPDO, and its substrate-bound and product-bound binary complexes, have been solved. Steady-state kinetics assays monitoring O 2 consumption demonstrated that BPDO transformed biphenyl and dichlorobiphenyls with the following order of apparent specificities: biphenyl > 3,3 ' - > 2,2 ' - > 4,4 ' -dichlorobiphenyl, but with specificity constants all within a factor of 3. The ability of the enzyme to utilize O 2 depended strongly on the biphenyl substrate, with specificity constants for oxygen over one order of magnitude smaller in the presence of the dichlorinated biphenyls compared to biphenyl. Moreover, the selected dichlorobiphenyls were found to be partial uncouplers of the reaction, reducing O 2 to H 2 O 2 . Based on the high-resolution crystal structure of BPDO and its binary complexes, the roles of some specific residues were investigated by site-directed mutagenesis. Moreover, three BPDOs sharing between 70-95% sequence identity were overexpressed, purified in highly active forms, and compared in terms of steady-state kinetic parameters for biphenyls, as well as uncoupling behaviour. BPDO comprises two metal centers required for enzymatic activity: a catalytic mononuclear iron and a [2Fe-2S] Rieske-type cluster for electron transfer. To overexpress holo-BPDOs, the iron-sulfur cluster ( isc ) assembly genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 were cloned and used for coexpression. The Fe-S cluster of BPDO was shown to be sensitive to reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, but the isc gene products appeared to have the ability to repair damaged clusters in crude extract reconstitution assays. The experimental approaches and results described in this thesis contribute to the identification of structural features important for substrate selectivity, and ultimately may be useful for construction of modified BPDOs with enhanced activity on chlorinated biphenyls
Phenological asynchrony between the fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus and early maturing peach cultivars could contribute to pesticide use reduction

Phenological asynchrony between fruit crops and pests consists of a discrepancy between the period of fruit susceptibility and that of high pest abundance in the orchards. Therefore, it may be used for reducing pesticide applications. We assayed the potential phenological asynchrony between peach cultivars with different growing cycles and the Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae). To this end, we assessed fruit infestation by A. fraterculus at harvest for one growing season (2012-2013) in early, average and late maturing peach cultivars. Moreover, the fruit infestation was checked for non-cultivated native and non-cultivated wild exotic plant hosts around the peach orchards of the experimental area during 2013 and 2014. In addition, we monitored A. fraterculus abundance weekly during three consecutive growing seasons, S1 (2011-2012), S2 (2012-2013) and S3 (2013-2014), to assess phenological asynchrony between peach cultivars and A. fraterculus. In particular, we checked the influence of meteorological variables on A. fraterculus abundance, and tested if A. fraterculus abundance at the time when fruits are susceptible differed among cultivars. Eventually we discuss the possibility of sustainable management of peach in southern Brazil. This study constitutes a first assessment of the periods of crop vulnerability and pest presence in peach orchards in South of Brazil and provides necessary information for taking advantage of the phenological asynchrony phenomenon for this pest-crop association.
Selenium status and supplementation in dromedary camels.

The Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) is well suited to the desert environment due to its remarkable physiological and metabolic adaptation. Nutrients requirements of the camel are not well defined, particularly that of trace elements. Selenium supplementation is often recommended to treat conditions attributed to Se deficiency such as cardiomyopathy. This paper reports the results of four experiments carried out using pregnant, non-pregnant, young and adult female camels. The commercial source of Se (i.e. sodium selenite) was used to provide supplementary levels between 0 to 16 mg of Se/day. The concentration of Se in serum and the activity of erythrocytes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured. The Se concentration in serum of camels increased linearly with increased Se supplementation levels from 0 to 4 mg/day, then plateau when levels further increased to a maximum of 16 mg/day. The average Se concentration (expressed as ng/ml) ranged between 100 and 500. Similar trend was observed for the GSH-Px activity. The results suggest a maximum tolerable dose of 8 mg/day and the recommended dose between 2 and 4 mg/day. (Resume d'auteur)
Effects of board characteristics, audit committee and risk management on corporate performance: evidence from Palestinian listed companies

This paper aims to investigate the effects of board characteristics, audit committee and risk management on corporate performance. ,Using a sample of 31 Palestinian non-financial listed companies from 2010 to 2016, this study uses a generalized least square method. ,The results show that the effects of board ownership, board independence, audit committee meeting, audit committee size, audit committee financial expertise and risk management are positive and significant on corporate performance while the effects of chief executive officer duality and audit committee size are negative and significant on corporate performance. ,The results of this paper are important to policymakers, shareholders and directors of companies to make appropriate choices about the board, audit committee characteristics and risk management to protect the interest of different stakeholders, increase the flow of capital and foreign investment into non-financial companies. ,This paper fills a gap in the corporate governance literature by investigating the effects of board characteristics, audit committee and risk management on corporate performance in Palestine as one of the youngest stock exchanges in a region that assists in testing the validity of agency theory in a young and small emerging market context. ,This paper is the first to investigate the effects of board characteristics, audit committee and risk management collectively on corporate performance in Palestine as prior research on these topics has been investigated separately.
Spectrophotometry of comets at optical wavelengths

Techniques for spectrophotometry of comets are discussed, and results are reviewed for line and continuum spectrophotometry of comets at optical wavelengths. The techniques considered include photographic spectroscopy and spectrophotometry, photoelectric spectrophotometry, and methods based on the use of image dissector scanners, Fourier-transform instruments, and Fabry-Perot spectrometers. Results are summarized for the study of cometary emission features due to C2, CN, CH, OH, NH, C3, NH2, O, H, CO(plus), and H2O(plus). Relative abundances of various species in comets are examined, along with continuum spectrophotometry of the nuclei, comas, and tails of comets.
Morphological, cultural and pathogenic variability in Alternaria brassicae, the causing agent of black spot of rapeseed and mustard

The study on pathogenic diversity of twenty isolates of Alternaria brassicae collected from different locations of Uttarakhand and Central Uttar Pradesh infecting Brassica species (Brassica rapa, Brassica juncea and Eruca sativa) revealed that there was a distinct difference among isolates in terms of mycelial growth, spore length, width, spore beak length and width. The average spore length varied from 21. 23I¼m to 38. 13I¼m with minimum of isolate AUA-19, AUA-43 i.e 21. 23I¼m and maximum of AUA-47 i.e. 38. 13I¼m . The isolates tested on Brassica juncea var.Varuna in green house conditions revealed that all the twenty isolates behaved differently. Among all the isolates, Brassica juncea isolates i.e. AUA-25, AUA-39, AUA-41, AUA-47, AUA-19, AUA-24, AUA-22, AUA-21, AUA-31, AUA-43 and AUA-45 from Uttarakhand, and AUP-29 from Central Uttar Pradesh can be grouped into highly pathogenic with range of Alternaria spot size i.e. 5.03-8.30mm in diameter, while isolate of Eruca sativa i.e. AUA-38 was found least pathogenic with 1.63mm in dia. and eight isolates AUA-18, AUA-20, AUA-23, AUP-28, AUA-32, AUA-33 and AUA-36 were found moderately pathogenic. This study will be useful in developing integrated management strategies of Alternaria leaf spot and breeding programs of oilseed crops (Brassica sp.).