Reproductive Potential of Red Chittagong Cattle in Bangladesh

The study was carried out to investigate the phenotypic and genetic potential of reproductive traits of Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) of Bangladesh. For that purpose accumulated data on a total of 101 animals from four different herds covering a period from 2005 to 2011 were used for analyses. The overall mean (±SE) values of age at first heat (AFH), age at first conception (AFC), age at first calving (AC), calving rate per productive year (CR), interval to post partum heat (IPPH), days open (DO), calving interval (CI) and generation interval (GI) were 35.9±1.1 month, 42.1±1.3 month, 50.6±1.1 month, 0.87±0.01 month, 149.4±9.5 days, 178.6±11.0 days, 454.9±10.4 days and 4.2±0.1 year, respectively. The factors having significant effects on reproductive traits were herd on DO and CI and calving year on DO. Calving parity and calving season had no significant effect on those traits. The heritability estimates of IPPH, DO and CI were very low (0, 0.06 and 0.09) and that of corresponding repeatability estimates were also low (0.06, 0.08 and 0.09, respectively). The heritability estimates for other traits were moderate (0.39 to 0.50). The results indicated that though reproductive potential of RCC for most of the traits are below than expected, that may be due to their lower inherent capability of indigenous Zebu compared to Taurus, but there is still opportunity of considerable improvement of these traits studied as indicated by their phenotypic variations among population

Prospect of Enhanced Geothermal system in baseload power generation

Given the strength of commodity prices in recent years, concerns over energy security and widening adoption of carbon emission pricing, renewables are well positioned to play growing role in global energy mix. Geothermal energy is on the face of it. By harnessing the heat of the earth, geothermal power plants tap into a virtually inexhaustible and continuous source of energy, using a small footprint facility to provide baseload electricity that is virtually CO2 and waste free. Geothermal projects today center on the exploitation of hydrothermal resources- reservoirs of naturally occurring water. This could change with Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS), a new form of geothermal exploitation being tested in areas that are not hydrothermal. This paper discusses the prospect of Enhanced (or Engineered) Geothermal System as a means to the baseload power generation. It also focuses on the technology behind creating engineered reservoirs, drilling costs and also the economics involved. It also reviews the environmental impacts as well as the areas for possible developments

The Future of the Malaysian Beef Industry

Beef is an important protein food source, and an important commodity for a country like Malaysia. Countries such as South Korea and Japan have not only been able to increase beef output, but have also introduced their breed, the Hanwoo and Wagyu cattle respectively into the international beef industry. Meanwhile for Malaysia, it was expected that local production can only fulfill 30% of the country’s total beef demand for 2012. Although research in enhancing cattle production started concurrently with countries such as South Korea, the 40 years of research put into enhancing the local production of cattle species for their beef has been futile. Drastic measures need to be taken to ensure the country’s self-sufficiency in the cattle industry, and identifying the causes leading to the declination should be the main priority to prevent further deterioration of the industry

Clinically detection of foot and mouth disease at Kapasia upazila under Gazipur dristrict in Bangladesh

Clinical detection of Foot and Mouth Disease in the cattle which study was carried out in Kapasia upazila under Gazipur district during from February 2011 to January 2012 and identifying the potential risk factors associated with the studies in Kapasia, Gazipur. A total of 315 infected cattle of different age, sex were examined in the upazila veterinary development center of Kapasia in Gazipur district. Total 86 (27.30%) cattle were infected with FMD on the basis of clinico-epidemiological determinants. The effect of season, Breed, Age, and sex of cattle on the incidence of the disease was discussed. It was observed that rural farming system (30.43%) was more susceptible than intensive farming (21.30%) system of cattle. Old animals (33.15%) were more susceptible than adult (21.81%) and young (15.71%). The prevalence of disease was found significantly (P < 0.05) higher in male (33.65%) than in female (24.17%). It was observed that local breed cattle (35.48%) were more susceptible than cross-breed cattle (15.50%). Seasonal variation of the disease was significant in the study area. The infection was less in summer (11.63%) and increasing in rainy season (25.58%) but gradually increased in late period of winter season (62.80%). This report will help to prioritize and control strategies against Foot and Mouth diseases from Kapasia upazila at Gazipur District in Bangladesh

Clinically detection of foot and mouth disease at Kapasia upazila under Gazipur dristrict in Bangladesh

Clinical detection of Foot and Mouth Disease in the cattle which study was carried out in Kapasia upazila under Gazipur district during from February 2011 to January 2012 and identifying the potential risk factors associated with the studies in Kapasia, Gazipur. A total of 315 infected cattle of different age, sex were examined in the upazila veterinary development center of Kapasia in Gazipur district. Total 86 (27.30%) cattle were infected with FMD on the basis of clinico-epidemiological determinants. The effect of season, Breed, Age, and sex of cattle on the incidence of the disease was discussed. It was observed that rural farming system (30.43%) was more susceptible than intensive farming (21.30%) system of cattle. Old animals (33.15%) were more susceptible than adult (21.81%) and young (15.71%). The prevalence of disease was found significantly (P < 0.05) higher in male (33.65%) than in female (24.17%). It was observed that local breed cattle (35.48%) were more susceptible than cross-breed cattle (15.50%). Seasonal variation of the disease was significant in the study area. The infection was less in summer (11.63%) and increasing in rainy season (25.58%) but gradually increased in late period of winter season (62.80%). This report will help to prioritize and control strategies against Foot and Mouth diseases from Kapasia upazila at Gazipur District in Bangladesh

Detector Description and Performance for the First Coincidence Observations between LIGO and GEO

For 17 days in August and September 2002, the LIGO and GEO interferometer gravitational wave detectors were operated in coincidence to produce their first data for scientific analysis. Although the detectors were still far from their design sensitivity levels, the data can be used to place better upper limits on the flux of gravitational waves incident on the earth than previous direct measurements. This paper describes the instruments and the data in some detail, as a companion to analysis papers based on the first data.Comment: 41 pages, 9 figures 17 Sept 03: author list amended, minor editorial change

Feature extraction of human sleep EEG signals using Wavelet Transform and Fourier Transform

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a complex signal resulting from postsynaptic potentials of cortical pyramidal cells and an important brain state indicator with specific state dependent features. Modern brain research is intimately linked to the feasibility to record the EEG and to its quantitative analysis. EEG spectral analysis is an important method to investigate the hidden properties and hence the brain activities. Spectral analysis of sleep EEG signal provides acute insight into the features of different stages of sleep which can be utilized to differentiate between normal and pathological conditions. This paper describes the process of extracting features of human sleep EEG signals through the use of multi resolution Discrete Wavelet Transform and Fast Fourier Transform. Discrete Wavelet Transform offers representations of the signals in the time-frequency plane giving information regarding the time localization of the spectral components at different stages of sleep in human beings and Fast Fourier Transform provides the spectral information. This paper also discusses the clinical correlation associated with sleep EEG signals in brief