Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Framework to enhance sustainability of PPP procurement process: an indian perspective

Received: 6 January 2017 Accepted: 18 January 2017 Public-private partnerships (PPPs) has become one of the preferred procurement routes for infrastructure development in India. However, the concept of developing infrastructure through PPPs has been alleged to be attractive only for those projects which are financially attractive and development of ‘premium network’ projects in high value locations. And, this raised critical sustainability related issues for the society as it fails to promote inter-generational and intra-generational equity. Furthermore, realizing the role public procurement process can play in promoting sustainable development some of the developed countries have undertaken initiatives to integrate sustainability concepts in procurement process. However, similar initiatives have not been undertaken to promote sustainable procurement in developing countries like India. The main aim of the paper is therefore to develop a framework of strategies for enhancement of PPP procurement process from sustainability perspective. The study has adopted a qualitative research approach to develop this framework from primary and secondary data using focused interviews. The participants selected for the focused interviews represent key four stakeholders of Indian PPP program. The strategies identified from the study have been grouped under ten themes. Finally, this framework would enable government officials and practitioners to integrate sustainability concept in procurement process for PPP projects.
POLA PERTUMBUHAN DAN SERAPAN HARA Echinacea purpurea

Growth pattern and nutrient uptake of Echinacea purpureaEchinacea purpurea or purple cone flower, belongs lo Aslcraceac family which grown naturally in Noth America. The plant known as is Ihe number one Immune herbs in the world, since it has a greal potential lor improving and developing leukocyte cell activity. Recently, Echinacea has been evalualcd/tcsled as adjuvant in cancer therapy, AIDS and chronic exhaustion. Echinacea purpurea is more potential for immunity improvement lhan those of other herbal medicine. Therefore, the study on its growlh rale, growth pattern, and nutrient uptake in a new tropical environmental condition is very important in order lo suppot its cultivation technology, lo identify the growth pattern, growlh rale, nutrient uptake, and simplisia quality. A ield trial had been conducted in Cipanas at 1 100 m above sea level (asl) in 1999-2000. Plot size was 4x3 m, and plant spacing was 50 x 40 cm. Ten samples was taken from each growth stage of the plants. The growth stages were (I) vegetative I (VI) at I month alter planting (map), (2) vegetative 2 (V2) al 1 . 5 map, (3) generative I (Gl) at 2 0 map, (4) generative 2 (G2) at 2.5 map. (5) generative 3 (G3) at 3.0 map. and (6) generative 4 (G4) al 3.5 map. The results of the research showed thai growth rate, nutrient uptake of N, P. K. Mg. and S linearly increased in line with Ihe increase of plan! ages The highest dry weight accumulation was found on aerial part of plant (slem I leal), and the lowest was occurred on root pat. The amount of dry weight accumulation was 75.72 g/plnul. and nutrient uptake oIN, P. K.Ca, Mg, and S. respective! ) was 1529.1. 1 40.01. 1943.25, 654.59. 358.66. and 88.57 mg/plant.
The osteology of Pulanesaura eocollum: implications for the inclusivity of Sauropoda (Dinosauria)

We present the complete osteology of the putative basal sauropod Pulanesaura eocollum. Current phylogenetic hypotheses suggest that Pulanesaura is the sister taxon of Vulcanodon + other sauropods, a position supported primarily by derived features of its axial skeleton and forelimb. A question of nontrivial importance is therefore the relative position of Pulanesaura with respect to current higher taxonomic groupings within Sauropodomorpha. The most recently proposed cladistic definition of Sauropoda (the most inclusive clade not including Melanorosaurus) places Pulanesaura as an unambiguous sauropod, whereas another commonly cited definition (the least inclusive clade containing Vulcanodon and Saltasaurus) suggests it is the most proximate sauropod outgroup. In addition to the issues pertaining to the validity of Melanorosaurus, we highlight a suite of features that can be shown to unambiguously and exclusively co-occur at the base of Sauropoda sensu the latter definition, arguing in favour of its continued use. As a corollary to this interpretation, we suggest that, instead of being simple diagnostic artefacts, (complex) apomorphies remain valid signifiers of notable phylogenetic loci whose contribution to our current classificatory schemes remains underexploited.
Evaluation of corn germ and DDGS in diets fed to pigs

The objective of this experiment was to determine if negative effects of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on carcass fat quality can be ameliorated by adding corn germ, tallow, palm kernel oil, or glycerol to diets fed to pigs. A total of 36 barrows and 36 gilts (initial BW: 43.7 ± 2.0 kg) were individually housed and randomly allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a 2 × 6 factorial design with sex and diet as factors. Each treatment had 12 replicate pigs. A corn-soybean meal control diet and a diet containing corn, soybean meal, and 30% DDGS were formulated. Four additional diets were formulated by adding 15% corn germ, 3% tallow, 3% palm kernel oil, or 5% glycerol to the DDGS-containing diet. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and loin muscle quality were determined, and backfat and belly fat samples were collected for fatty acid analysis. There was no significant sex × diet interaction for all response variables measured. Diet had no effect on ADG, ADFI, or G:F, but barrows had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI and less (P < 0.05) G:F than gilts. There was no effect of diet on carcass characteristics, but pigs fed the DDGS diet had reduced (P < 0.05) loin eye area
Determining the link between genome integrity and seed quality

Seed quality is of paramount importance to agriculture, food security and plant conservation programs. However, our understanding of the molecular aspects determining seed quality is far from complete, and the influence of environmental conditions during seed development and post-harvest storage are poorly characterised. There is accumulating evidence that DNA damage, response and repair mechanisms are major factors that control germination performance. Here, levels of DNA damage were analysed to determine the effects of unfavourable environments during seed development and deterioration in storage on genome integrity. In response to DNA damage, plants display a highly specific transcriptional response to double strand breaks (DSBs). This response was found to be highly sensitive to seed ageing. A slight reduction in seed vigour accompanied a reduced ability to respond effectively to DNA damage upon imbibition, indicating that an impaired DNA damage response is an early symptom of seed deterioration. Analysis identified the specific forms of DNA damage associated with seed ageing. Levels of single strand DNA breaks (SSBs) increased with loss of seed viability. Similarly DNA base damage, in the form of 8oxoG residues, increased in the dry seed following accelerated ageing. Evidence of repair of this base damage was identified within nine hours imbibition. Suboptimal temperature in the maternal environment did not significantly influence levels of these lesions, consistent with pathways mitigating DNA damage active during seed development. A requirement for antioxidant activity in genome protection was also studied using mutants with reduced levels of the antioxidant vitamin C. Understanding the molecular differences seen between high quality seeds and those that have undergone different degradation conditions provides insight into the process by which seeds lose the capacity to germination. Future analysis in different species will determine the utility of DNA damage related biomarkers for seed quality and identify potential genetic targets to improve seed performance.
Diet of Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Nestlings in a Primeval Forest in Relation to Food Supply and Age of Young

Abstract. Composition of Marsh Tit Poecile palustris nestling food was studied in the Białowieża National Park (E Poland). The birds relied exclusively on natural food sources. Repeated visual observations of food brought to young in over 500 broods, during 14 seasons (1993–2007), showed that Marsh Tit used a highly specialised diet in rearing young. Soft-bodied, folivorous caterpillars typically composed > 80% of the nestling diet both in riverine and oak-hornbeam habitat. Spiders formed the second most important prey type (c. 12%). Diet composition fluctuated across years but the proportion of caterpillars in the diet remained high (70–90%) despite more than hundredfold variation in the caterpillars' supply across years. Within years, diet composition changed with nestling age and the broods' synchronisation with the seasonal peak of caterpillars availability. Young that were fed within 15 days before and 10 days after the peak received a high (> 80%) proportion of caterpillars, independent of their age. The share of caterpillars in the diet dropped only outside of that period. In most seasons, Marsh Tit young appeared in nests more than two weeks before the caterpillar peak; consequently, the share of caterpillars fed to small young in the earliest broods was lowest (c. 62% on average). Marsh Tits strove to collect caterpillars even when they were scarce, rather than switch to alternative food types. Spiders were brought in highest numbers (up to 20%) to the youngest (1–7 days old) nestlings. This suggests that spiders contained specific nutritional ingredients required by the small young.
Description, morphometric characterization and distribution pattern of Paradiopatra multibranchiata, a new onuphid (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the tropical eastern Pacific

ABSTRACT Paradiopatra multibranchiata, an onuphid found commonly in shelf sediments of the tropical eastern Pacific, is described here. It belongs to the group of Paradiopatra species characterized by the presence of branchiae on the most anterior parapodia (chaetigers 2–3), with at least seven filaments when fully developed. The new species closely resembles P. parva, also distributed in the eastern Pacific but in temperate habitats. It can be distinguished from the latter by the presence rather than the absence of eyes, and because it bears the highest number of branchial filaments (up to 37) observed in any Paradiopatra species known so far (14–18 filaments at most). The taxonomic status of the new species is supported by comparative morphometric and multivariate analyses, which also allowed us to verify its differences with P. parva. The branchial development was the most useful character to determine the relationships between the specimens of P. multibranchiata sp. nov., while its separation from P. parva (Wilks’ lambda = 0.060, P < 0.0001) was weighted most heavily by the number of filaments at chaetigers 2 and 10, and the length of the median antenna. An anatomical examination with methylene blue stain and with scanning electron microscopy was carried out to illustrate the ventral glandular pad staining pattern and the features of their cuticular pores. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:194636C6-A032-4B1F-B0B8-1D494C344623
Comparison of Immune Responses During Gastrointestinal Helminth Self-Cure Expulsion Between Resistant Gulf Coast Native and Susceptible Suffolk Sheep

vii Chapter 1: Literature Review . 1 1.1 Parasitism in Ruminants . 1 1.2 Gastrointestinal Nematodes . 1 1.2. 1 Haemonchus . 2 1.2. 2 Teladorsagia . 4 1.2. 3 Trichostrongylus . 5 1.2. 4 Cooperia . 6 1.3 Control Methodologies . 6 1.3. 1 Anthelmintic Treatment . 6 1.3. 2 Nematophagous Fungi . 10 1.3. 3 Nutritional Supplementation . 11 1.3. 4 Bioactive Forages . 13 1.3. 5 Refugia and Pasture Management . 15 1.3. 6 FAMACHA . 16 1.3. 7 Breeding for Resistance . 17 1.3. 8 Vaccines . 18 1.4 Gulf Coast Native and Suffolk Sheep . 19 1.4. 1 Gulf Coast Native . 19 1.4. 2 Suffolk . 19 1.5 The Immune System . 20 1.5. 1 Complement . 20 1.5. 2 Innate Recognition of Non-Self . 21 1.5. 3 Acute Phase Response . 22 1.5. 4 Dendritic Cells . 23 1.5. 5 Macrophages . 23 1.5. 6 Eosinophils . 24 1.5. 7 Neutrophils . 25 1.5. 8 Mast Cells . 25 1.5. 9 CD4 T cells . 26 1.5. 10 B cells . 27 1.5. 11 Early Host-Nematode Interactions . 28 1.6 Immune Responses Against GIN in Sheep . 31 1.6. 1 Primary Infection . 31 1.6. 2 Secondary Infections . 32 1.6. 3 Self-Cure . 38 1.7 Hypothesis. 39 1.8 Research Objectives . 39 1.9 References . 39
The cardiotoxicity of mitoxantrone: a mechanistic approach using in vitro and in vivo models.

______________________________________________________________________ xvi MTX plus metabolites was higher than that observed in the H9c2 cells incubated with nonmetabolized MTX group. Moreover, the co-incubation of MTX with CYP450 and CYP2E1 inhibitors partially prevented the cytotoxicity observed in the MTX groups incubated with H9c2 cells, highlighting that the metabolism of MTX is relevant for its undesirable effects. However, increases in caspase-3 activity caused by MTX incubation were not prevented by co-incubation with CYP450 or CYP2E1 inhibitors in this cell model. To evaluate the cardiac mitochondrial toxicity of MTX, male Wistar rats were treated with three cycles of 2.5mg/kg MTX at day 0, 10, and 20. One treated group was euthanized on day 22 (MTX22) to evaluate early MTX cardiac toxic effects while the other was euthanized on day 48 (MTX48), to allow the evaluation of MTX late effects. MTX treatment caused a reduction in relative body weight gain in both treated groups with no significant changes in water and food intake. Increased cardiac relative mass was observed in MTX22 group and microscopic changes suggestive of dilated cardiomyopathy were evident in both treated groups. Considering mitochondrial effects, it was shown, for the first time that MTX induced an increase in the activity of both complex IV and complex V in MTX22 group, while the decrease in the complex V activity was accompanied by the reduction of ATP content in the MTX48 rats. Despite the MTX-induced cardiotoxicity evidenced in our study, we also observed hematotoxicity and direct hepatotoxicity upon this MTX administration regimen. In summary, this thesis highlights the relevance of CYP450and CYP2E1-mediated metabolism to the MTX-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, it was shown that energetic crisis observed after MTX incubation/administration acts as a possible key factor in the cell injury. MTX presents the potential to cause mitochondrionopathy as demonstrated both by in vivo and in vitro approaches.
Pengaruh Variabel Kualitas Air terhadap Produktivitas Udang Vaname (Litopenaeus vannamei) di Kawasan Pertambakan Kabupaten Gresik, Jawa imur

Water quality variable to affect the productivity of Pacific white shrimp ( L. vannamei ) in the brackishwater ponds. Therefore the aimed of this research to study the water quality variable to influent on the productivity of Pacific white shrimp ( L. vannamei ) in the brackishwater ponds. The research was conducted in the brackishwater ponds area that were in fish farming operation in the brackishwater ponds in the brackishwater ponds of Gresik Regency, East Java Province by conducting interviews with respondents to obtained primary data in the brackishwater ponds productivity through the submission of questionnaires, while the technical data of water quality variable were obtained by direct measurement in situ. As independent variable were water quality variables, namely: temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, pH, total suspended solid (TSS), turbidity, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and total organic matter (TOM) while the dependent variable was the productivity of Pacific white shrimp . Regression model selection “best” method was based on the backward. The results showed that productivity of Pacific white shrimp in the range from 133.3 to 3,000 kg / ha with an average of 690.38 kg / ha. Water quality variables that a have positive effect on the productivity of Pacific white shrimp were nitrate and phosphate, while water quality variables have a negative effect on the productivity of Pacific white shrimp . were pH and TSS.
Evidence for systemic age underestimation in shark and ray ageing studies

Numerous studies have now demonstrated that the most common method of ageing sharks and rays, counting growth zones on calcified structures, can underestimate true age. I reviewed bomb carbon dating (n = 15) and fluorochrome chemical marking (n = 44) age validation studies to investigate the frequency and magnitude of this phenomenon. Age was likely to have been underestimated in nine of 29 genera and 30% of the 53 populations studied, including 50% of those validated using bomb carbon dating. Length and age were strongly significant predictors of occurrence, with age typically underestimated in larger and older individuals. These characteristics suggest age underestimation is likely a systemic issue associated with the current methods and structures used for ageing. Where detected using bomb carbon dating, growth zones were reliable up to 88% of asymptotic length (L∞) and 41% of maximum age (AMax). The maximum magnitude of age underestimation, ΔMax, ranged from five to 34 years, averaging 18 years across species. Current perceptions of shark and ray life histories are informed to a large extent by growth studies that assume calcified ageing structures are valid throughout life. The widespread age underestimation documented here shows this assumption is frequently violated, with potentially important consequences for conservation and management. In addition to leading to an underestimation of longevity, the apparent loss of population age-structure associated with it may unexpectedly bias growth and mortality parameters. Awareness of these biases is essential given shark and ray population assessments often rely exclusively on life history parameters derived from ageing studies.
Anthropogenic Soil Change in Ancient and Traditional Agricultural Fields in Arid to Semiarid Regions of the Americas

Soils form the foundation for agriculture and are changed by farming through active management and unintentionally. Soil change from agriculture ranges from wholesale transformation to ephemeral and subtle modification. The archaeological record of early agricultural systems holds information about soil change on centurial to millennial scales, with important implications for long-term soil condition and land use sustainability. Knowledge of early agricultural management can also be inferred from soils, including farming strategies in dynamic, challenging environments. This paper discusses soil change processes and outcomes mainly using studies of ancient and traditional agriculture in arid regions of the Americas. The potential and limitations of soil change research methods in ancient agriculture are also considered. Soil anthropogenic change involves complex and interactive physical, chemical, and biological processes across a wide range of spatial and time scales. Soil change outcomes in early agriculture relating to soil health and productivity vary from improvement to degradation. Soil productivity improvement commonly resulting from management includes soil-landscape physical stabilization for crops, increased topsoil thickness and plant-available water capacity, and improved soil tilth and fertility. Degradation commonly results from unintentional soil-geomorphic-ecosystem changes that cause accelerated erosion, destabilization of soil structure and compaction, and decreases in plant nutrients and soil fertility. Soil change outcomes vary across space and time in response to complex environmental, agricultural, and social factors.
Phylogeny, Diversification, and Extinction Selectivity in Camerate Crinoids

ii Dedication . iv Acknowledgements . v Vita . viii List of Tables . xii List of Figures . xiv Chapter 1: Overview . 1 Chapter 2: An echinoderm lagerstätte from the Upper Ordovician (Katian), Ontario: taxonomic re-evaluation and description of new camerate crinoids . 15 Chapter 3: Filling the Gondwanan gap: paleobiogeographic implications of new crinoids from the Castillejo and Fombuena formations (Middle and Upper Ordovician, Iberian Chains, Spain) . 77 Chapter 4: Phylogeny and morphologic evolution of the Ordovician Camerata (Class Crinoidea, Phylum Echinodermata) . 146 Chapter 5: Effect of ecology on morphologic rate heterogeneity across the phylogeny of diplobathrid crinoids . 196 Chapter 6: Hierarchical controls on extinction selectivity across the diplobathrid crinoid phylogeny . 239 References . 283 Appendix A: Characters and character states for phylogenetic analysis in Chapter 5 . 319 Appendix B: Taxa and coding references for phylogenetic analysis in Chapter 5 . 328
Effects of Guanidionoacetic Acid and Arginine Supplementation to Vegetable Diets Fed to Broiler Chickens Subjected to Heat Stress before Slaughter

The objective of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and L-arginine (L-Arg) as creatine precursors to vegetable diets on the carcass yield and meat quality of broilers subjected to two days of heat stress before slaughter. A total of 1260 broiler chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized design into four treatments with nine replicates of 35 birds each. The treatments consisted of: T1 – vegetable diet based on corn and soybean meal (control diet); T2 – control diet with the inclusion of meat meal (3%); T3 – control diet supplemented with GAA (0.08%); and T4 – control diet supplemented with L-Arg (0.8%). The birds were submitted to heat stress for two days before slaughter (from 42 to 44 days of age). The birds fed the diets supplemented with GAA or L-Arg presented heavier carcasses (p<0.0035), higher breast yield (p=0.0685), and lower of abdominal fat deposition (p=0.0508) than those fed the control diet and the control diet with meat meal. The cooking loss of the breast fillets of broilers fed the control diet supplemented with meat meal, GAA or L-Arg was lower (p<0.0068) compared with those fed the control diet. Thawing and pressure-driven breast fillet weight losses, and pH, luminosity, redness (a*value), and yellowness (b* value) values were not influenced by the treatments. When GAA is less expensive than commercially-available Arg, the dietary supplementation of GAA is more advantageous, based on the meat yield improvements observed in the present study.
Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal in Moso Bamboo Shoots from Farm Markets, China

The contents of 6 kinds of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Cu, Ni) in moso bamboo shoot were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The health risk of the 6 kinds of heavy metals was assessed by the target hazard quotients (THQ). The mean contents of Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Cu and Ni in all analyzed bamboo shoots were 6.19 ~ 92.8, 1.38 ~ 137, 1.22 ~ 35.5, 1.14 ~ 7.48, 224 ~ 1266 and 31.4 ~ 381 μg kg 1, respectively. The contents of these heavy metals in all samples were below the corresponding maximum limits established by Ministry of Health P. R China. It is observed that each heavy metal THQ value was below 1.0. The TTHQs of the heavy metals for adults and children were 0.116 ~ 0.152 and 0.165 ~ 0.216, the results indicate that the ingestion of moso bamboo shoots will not bring risks to residents.