Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Small-scale poultry and food security in resource-poor settings : A review

Small-scale poultry production systems are mostly found in rural, resource-poor areas that often also experience food insecurity. They are accessible to vulnerable groups of society, and provide households with income and nutritionally-rich food sources. However, they also improve food security in indirect ways, such as enhancing nutrient utilisation and recycling in the environment, contributing to mixed farming practices, contributing to women's empowerment, and enabling access to healthcare and education. Further, they may contribute to several of the Sustainable Development Goals, and to future food security through maintaining biodiverse genomes. In extensive small-scale poultry production systems, significant impediments to achieving these contributions are disease and predation, which can be reduced through improved agricultural and livestock extension and community animal health networks. For small-scale intensive systems, feed price fluctuations and inadequate biosecurity are major constraints.
Venous Thrombosis in Cancer Patients: Prediction, Diagnosis and Management

Background and objectives While ultrasonography (US) is broadly used as the sole diagnostic test to confirm or exclude the presence of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT), the accuracy of this test remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of US for the diagnosis of UEDVT, verified by venography, in patients with clinically suspected disease.
Application of Time Series Analysis to Some Indices of Economic Growth during the Period 1960 to 2010 in Nigeria

The private sector is recognized as a critical stake holder and partner in economic development. The study was conducted to determine the effects of Credit to Private sector on Economic Growth in Nigeria. Data on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Credit to Private Sector (CPS), Export (EX) and Import (IM) were collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin spanning from 1960 through 2010. Analysis of data was achieved using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller test for stationarity, the Johansen test for Cointegration, the Granger’s test for Causality and the Error Correction Mechanism to reconcile the short-run and the long-run behavior of the variables. The results indicate that a long-run relationship exists between Economic Growth (GDP), Credit to Private Sector ratio (CG) and Terms of Trade (EXIM) in Nigeria. A unidirectional relationship exists between Economic Growth and Ratio of Credit to GDP, in the direction CG GDP, in Nigeria. Economic Growth in Nigeria was discovered to be in its equilibrium. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria should increase efforts in pursuing Credits for economic growth and foreign partnership. These will encourage economic growth and help the private sector in Nigeria overcome its challenges. Keywords: Credit to Private Sector, Gross Domestic Product, Terms of Trade, Unit root, Cointegration.
Role of the Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronosyltransferase 2a Family in Tobacco Carcinogen Metabolism

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) afflicts nearly 2.2 million people worldwide. IBD is composed of two main groups, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease. Nearly 20% of those who suffer from IBD will develop colorectal cancer and 50% will die as a result. In addition to the decrease in quality of life and increases in colorectal cancer risk, IBD also presents a significant economic burden. The total economic burden of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease in the United States is estimated to be US$19 – 30 billion annually. IBD patients suffer from increased inflammatory gene expression, cytokine production, oxidative stress, and decreased gut barrier function. This decrease in gut barrier function is a result of modulation of tight junction proteins responsible for modulating paracellular transport in the epithelium. Decreased gut barrier function allows for intestinal endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to pass from the lumina into the systemic circulation causing further inflammation. Dietary intervention is of particular interest when studying IBD as many phytochemicals have biological activity and some have been shown to decrease inflammation. Though some may are not very bioavailable, they may have activity through direct interaction with epithelial cells. The overall goal of this project was to investigate the beneficial effects of dietary supplementation with dietary phytochemicals on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)induced colonic inflammation and gastrointestinal permeability. The specific objectives were: a) to evaluate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, gut barrier function, and nutrition in mice with DSSinduced ulcerative colitis and in DSS-treated Caco-2 cell monolayers in culture, b)
AGRIBUSINESS NETWORKS IN BULGARIA – DESIGN AND CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING

With the increasing integration of the global economy and the complex challenges of the business environment it is becoming crucial to focus and gain a full understanding on the role of the value chains’ structure and functioning. This particularly refers to the countries from the post-communist Europe and their transformation and progress achieved in marketization and democratization. The present paper is purposeful towards providing an overall framework for assessment of the different forms of network structures in the agricultural sector and to identify as well their capacity to counteract market restrictions, and to beneft form the opportunities of the agribusiness development. The methodological framework bases on the transaction costs economics and the 4C concept. The paper presents methodology at two stages, where results of expert assessment and evaluation at national and regional level led to selection of three case studies to be presented in certain sectors of agribusiness.
Lumped-element compensated high/low-pass balun design for MMIC double-balanced mixer

We report a novel lumped element balun structure for both monolithic and hybrid circuit applications. The proposed structure utilizes two filters to compensate the amplitude and phase errors at the two balance outputs of a traditional out-of-phase power splitter. This circuit requires no multilayer or suspended substrates techniques; therefore, wide applications on many circuits operated especially, in the low microwave band, are expected. Two monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) mixers were built to demonstrate the electrical feasibility.
The Impact of Sovereign Yield Curve Differentials on Value-at-Risk Forecasts for Foreign Exchange Rates

A functional ARMA-GARCH model for predicting the value-at-risk of the EURUSD exchange rate is introduced. The model implements the yield curve differentials between EUR and the US as exogenous factors. Functional principal component analysis allows us to use the information of basically the whole yield curve in a parsimonious way for exchange rate risk prediction. The data analyzed in our empirical study consist of the EURUSD exchange rate and the EUR- and US-yield curves from 15 August 2005–30 September 2016. As a benchmark, we take an ARMA-GARCH and an ARMAX-GARCHX with the 2y-yield difference as the exogenous variable and compare the forecasting performance via likelihood ratio tests. However, while our model performs better in one situation, it does not seem to improve the performance in other setups compared to its competitors.
Performance-based fire protection of office buildings: A case study based on the collapse of WTC 7

This article points out the benefits of employing a performance based analysis approach for ascertaining the likelihood that travelling fires in an office building could induce a localized failure that might trigger its collapse. The case study chosen is Building 7 of the World Trade Center complex. Based on the parametric study undertaken, our findings were that the fire-protected steel floor beam, identified as the initiator of the cascade of events that followed, could not have done so, virtually under any circumstance. Supplementary Sources: Clip from "9-11 in the Academic Community"
A wave-based computational method for free vibration and buckling analysis of rectangular Reddy nanoplates

In this paper, the wave propagation method is combined with nonlocal elasticity theory to analyze the buckling and free vibration of rectangular Reddy nanoplate. Wave propagation is one of the powerful methods for analyzing the vibration and buckling of structures. It is assumed that the plate has two opposite edges simply supported while the other two edges may be simply supported or clamped. It is the first time that the wave propagation method is used for thick nanoplates. In this study, firstly the matrices of propagation and reflection are derived. Then, these matrices are combined to provide an exact method for obtaining the natural frequencies and critical buckling loads which can be useful for future studies. It is observed that obtained results of the wave propagation method are in good agreement with the obtained values by literature. At the end the obtained results are presented to evaluate the influence of different parameters such as nonlocal parameter, aspect ratio and thickness to length ratio of nanoplate.
A simple empirical model estimating atmospheric CO 2 background concentrations

Abstract. A simple empirical CO2 model (SECM) is presented to estimate column-average dry-air mole fractions of atmospheric CO2 (XCO2) as well as mixing ratio profiles. SECM is based on a simple equation depending on 17 empirical parameters, latitude, and date. The empirical parameters have been determined by least squares fitting to NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) assimilation system CarbonTracker version 2010 (CT2010). Comparisons with TCCON (total carbon column observing network) FTS (Fourier transform spectrometer) measurements show that SECM XCO2 agrees quite well with reality. The synthetic XCO2 values have a standard error of 1.39 ppm and systematic station-to-station biases of 0.46 ppm. Typical column averaging kernels of the TCCON FTS, a SCIAMACHY (Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric CHartographY), and two GOSAT (Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite) XCO2 retrieval algorithms have been used to assess the smoothing error introduced by using SECM profiles instead of CT2010 profiles as a priori. The additional smoothing error amounts to 0.17 ppm for a typical SCIAMACHY averaging kernel and is most times much smaller for the other instruments (e.g. 0.05 ppm for a typical TCCON FTS averaging kernel). Therefore, SECM is well suited to provide a priori information for state-of-the-art ground-based (FTS) and satellite-based (GOSAT, SCIAMACHY) XCO2 retrievals. Other potential applications are: (i) near real-time processing systems (that cannot make use of models like CT2010 operated in delayed mode), (ii) "CO2 proxy" methods for XCH4 retrievals (as correction for the XCO2 background), and (iii) observing system simulation experiments especially for future satellite missions.
Antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of Cordia africana in Sudan

Cordia africana Lam. (family- Boraginaceae) is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, 4 to 15 (30) m high, heavily branched with a spreading, umbrella-shaped or rounded crown. Bole typically curved or crooked. Bark grayish-brown to dark brown, smooth in young trees, but soon becoming rough and longitudinally fissured with age; young branchlets with sparse long. Uses of C. africana: firewood, timber (furniture, beehives, boxes, mortars, church, drums), food (fruit), medicine (bark, roots), fodder (leaves), bee forage, mulch, soil conservation, ornamental, shade. The present study was conducted to investigate the in-vitro antioxidant (DPPH assay) and cytotoxic (brine shrimp) of different parts (leaves, stem, park and fruit) of C. africana. The different parts of C. africana was screened for antioxidant screening for their free radical scavenging properties using 2.2Di (4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), while propyl galate was used as standard antioxidant and screened for their cytotoxicity using brine shrimp. The inhibition percentage of antioxidant against (DPPH assay) varied from (37 ± 0.10 to 95 ± 0.00% RSA). The test of cytotoxicity was done using brine shrimp lethality, verified the toxic extracts except stem by water and leaves by methanol and water extracts. This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity (brine shrimp) of C. africana.
Red-listed boreal forest species of Finland : associations with forest structure, tree species, and decaying wood

Using data from expert assessments, we classified the habitat and resource requirements of red-listed boreal forest species in Finland. All major taxa were included and represented by 466 species. Of the four major groups studied, red-listed Plantae & Fungi and Aphyllophorales were mainly inhabitants of shady coniferous forests, whereas the habitats used by Animalia and Coleoptera were more diverse. Of the boreal tree species, Picea abies harbours the greatest number of red-listed species, but Pinus sylvestris and Populus tremula host almost as many. The proportion of critically endangered species is highest on Populus. Our results emphasise the importance of dead wood and the conservation value of natural early successional forest habitats in addition to old-growth natural forests. Red-listed forest species are a highly heterogeneous group in their habitat and resource requirements, and this has to be taken into consideration in conservation and when seeking for cost-efficient conservation measures.
Village facilities and social place attachment in the rural Netherlands

Economies of scale and increased mobility have led to the closure of many village facilities. Most residents do not rely on locally available facilities anymore for their primary function. However, facilities are also meeting places. A decline in facilities may therefore negatively influence residents’ social place attachment. This paper examines which facilities impact residents’ social place attachment. Based on structural equation modelling, we conclude that in rural areas cafes and supermarkets may well matter for residents’ social attachment. In contrast to common expectations, community centers, primary schools, and sports facilities were not shown to enhance social place attachment. Considering the increasing self-reliance of local communities, the present findings raise doubts about the use of public services to revitalize local communities.
Diet and Trophic Status of Fish Landed by Tropical Artisanal Bait Fishers, Mida Creek Kenya

Marine overfishing is characterized by trophic cascades, due to selective removal of preferred top carnivores and confronts tropical fisheries managers in the absence of empirical evidence. This study compares the diets and trophic levels of fish landed by bait fishermen at Mida Creek, biosphere reserve, Kenya. Stomach content of fish landed using hook and line, baited with polychaete ( choo ) and hermit crab ( dophe ), and basket traps baited with mangrove whelk ( tondo ), were examined and compared. Results indicate that fish landed, consumed gastropod and fish, hence belong to 2.9 th trophic level. Significant difference in trophic level occurred between gear and bait type. Hooks baited with dophe landed a variety of fish with a higher trophic level, such as Carangidae (TL>3.0), compared to other gears that landed lower trophic levels, such as Gerridae. Observed differences were attributed to gear and bait selectivity and differences in fishing grounds exploited. Absence of large top carnivores from landings is attributed to long-term overfishing pressure in nearshore fishing grounds. Additionally dietary overlap in mangrove dependent and creek fishes, landed by trap and hook fishermen, respectively, presents hitherto unexplored impacts.
Heterozygosity following half-sib recurrent selection in popcorn using isoenzyme markers

Isozyme biochemical marker may be useful tool for genomic analysis of maize populations undergoing recurrent selection. Thus, isozymes markers was utilized for assess the changes in the genetic variability and distance in a Brazilian composite population of popcorn following four cycles of recurrent selection for yield. One hundred and ninety-six half-sib families were evaluated from each cycle and the ten highest-yielding families (5.2%) were recombined to produce the next cycle. Isozyme analysis considered 80 seedlings per cycle. Simple linear regression equations were estimated among the allele frequencies in each locus in function of the selection cycles, the genetic distances among the cycles and the average heterozygosity per locus for each cycle. Regression analysis did not reveal any common trend for changes in allele frequencies presumably due to selection. The estimates of the number of polymorphic locus, of the mean of allele per locus and the mean heterozygosity did not reveal any reduction in variability. It was concluded that four selection cycles did not cause relevant changes in the variability or genetic distance among the selection cycles of CMS-43 popcorn population. Isozymes markers analysis showed that the number of recombined half-sib families in recurrent selection was suitable.
Study the Progressive Collapse Behavior of RC Structure under Gravity Loading

The progressive collapse terminology defines as "initial spread of local failure from element to element, results eventually in the collapse of a disproportionately large part of it or collapse of entire structure". Causes of progressive collapse in the building refocus and researches have been started after the event of 11 September 2001. Damage caused due to unexpected impact, fires, earthquake, explosions, design or construction, overload due to occupant misuses etc in multi-storey building are susceptible. The present study involves 15 storey's building with floor height of 3m; with rectangular grid containing 5 bays of 4.75m in X direction and 4 bays of 4m in Y direction is modeled using E-TABS v13. The analysis is performed using linear static method. The structure is examining two cases of removal of column at various storeys at different location as suggested by General Services Administration. Bending moment of beams and axial force in columns are the main factors considered in the study. The purpose of this work is to study the behavior of variation in bending moment of beam and axial force in column at different storeys for seismic zone V and medium soil is evaluated for column removal cases.
Censorship in Translation: The Dynamics of Non-, Partial and Full Translations in the Chinese Context

This research focuses upon how the translation of certain types of literature in China evolved historically: from ‘non-translations’ (i.e., ‘translations’ unmade as well as made and yet strictly forbidden under given censorship conditions) to ‘partial’ or ‘full/near-full’ translations set against the backdrop of changing practices required by the country’s censorship policies. My analysis begins with an overview of the multi-faceted interface between censorship and translation, followed by the conceptualization of a typology of translations under censorship. This initial discussion, in turn, allows me to resituate specific translations, including the once absented translations of earlier times (i.e., prior to the 1949 Revolution or prior to the Cultural Revolution), which were initially taken at face value as ‘non-translations’ and yet which, later on, became ‘partial’ or ‘full/near-full’ translations under the country’s subsequently more relaxed censorial operations. I attempt to illustrate such shifts by means of in-depth discussion of the dynamic nature of translational commitment in connection with the change-resistant properties and evolving priorities of censorship. In illustrating my arguments, I will draw specific examples from case studies of three well-known censorship-affected translations – i.e., On China (Kissinger 2011), Lolita (Nabokov 1991) and The Good Earth (Buck 1960), which, I argue, epitomise the shifting degrees of translational commitment (‘non-,’ ‘partial’ and ‘full/near-full’) as they occurred in the Chinese context.
Selecting unique suppliers through winner determination in combinatorial reverse auction: scatter search algorithm

In this paper, a combinatorial reverse auction mechanism is proposed to select suppliers for required items of a company. As a contribution, it is assumed that the task of supplying each required item is indivisible to multiple suppliers or the company prefers to select only one supplier for supplying each required item. So, the winner determination process is done in such a way that supplying each tendered item is assigned to only one potential supplier. The corresponding winner determination problem is formulated as a binary integer program which is an NP-complete combinatorial optimization problem. Since exact methods are failed in solving this kind of problems in a reasonable time, a meta-heuristic algorithm called scatter search is proposed for finding feasible and near-optimal solutions of the formulated winner determination problem. For evaluating the performance of the proposed algorithm, several instances of the problem with different real-world sizes are randomly generated and solved using the proposed algorithm with tuned parameters. Computational results show that the proposed scatter search method performs well in solving the problem instances.
Physicochemical Properties of Spray-Dried Young Coconut Juice

Objective: To evaluate physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity and phytochemical determinations of Young Coconut Juice (YCJ) from Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae) and spray-dried maltodextrin (MD) mixed YCJ powder (MD-YCJ powder). Methods: YCJ and spray-dried YCJ in various concentrations 0-20% (w/v) of MD were studied on physical properties, chemical properties, antioxidant activity and phytochemical determinations. Results: YCJ and reconstituted spray-dried YCJ were significant (p<0.05) difference in physicochemical properties (color, pH, total soluble solids and transmittance). Water activity (aw) of spray-dried YCJ products were significant (p<0.05) difference. Antioxidant activity of YCJ and spray-dried YCJ in various concentrations 0-20% (w/v) of MD were studied. The isolated compound of spray-dried YCJ and spray-dried MD-YCJ powder (20%, w/v), β-sitosterol, was separated, identified and confirmed by comparison of their physical properties (TLC, HPLC chromatogram, melting point). The quantitative analysis of β-sitosterol in YCJ and selected spray-dried YCJ powder (calculated as 1 coconut fruit, 350 ml) using suitable HPLC conditions were 89.12±7.76 and 12.31±2.50 μg, respectively. Conclusion: Spray-dried technique was selected and used as drying process of YCJ. MD was used as encapsulating agent to dried powder. Spray-dried MD-YCJ powder 20% (w/v) was selected to future study because of their good physical appearance, physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity and good
Cointegration and Causality among Foreign Direct Investment in Tourism Sector, GDP, and Exchange Rate Volatility in Turkey

The Granger-causality (GC) and error correction (ECM) techniques were applied 1980-2005 data for Turkey to examine cointegration and causality among foreign direct investment(FDI) in tourism sector, overall GDP, and exchange rate volatility (EX). According to the ECM technique, the hypothesis that “no cointegration” was rejected for all three variables. The GC results detect causality runs from one-way from GDP to FDI, but the GC results detect bi-directional causality between GDP and EX suggesting that GDP and EX are jointly determined, but one way causality running from FDI to EX.