EFFECT OF DIET DILUTION IN THE STARTER PERIOD ON PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKS

The effect of energy and protein dilution in the starter period (8 to 14 days) of age, on performance and carcass characteristics of 360 Arian male chicks was studied in a completely randomised design. This experiment consisted of 6 treatments, 4 replicates, with 15 chicks per replicate. In order to dilute the diets six levels (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20) percent of ground wood charcoal was used. Chicks were fed with starter and grower diet from 15 to 21 and 22 to 42 days of age respectively. During the experiment feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio were measured weekly. Mortality was measured throughout the experiment. At 43 day of age 4 chicks each treatment was selected and carcass characteristics were measured. The results indicated that dilution of diet from 8 to 14 days of age increased feed intake in this period but the differences were not signifi cant. With increasing dilution rate body weight gain of chicks signifi cantly decreased in comparison to control group (P< 0.05). Due to compensatory growth after restricted period, there was not signifi cant difference in body weight among restricted and control groups at 42 days of age. There was not signifi cant difference among the treatments for feed conversion ratio in whole period of the experiment (8 to 42 day). Similarly, there was not signifi cant difference among the treatments for caloric conversion ratio in whole period of the experiment (8 to 42 day). Mortality rate in restricted groups was signifi cantly lower than control group (P<0.05). Diet dilution hadn’t signifi cant effect on carcass, breast meat, drumsticks, thighs, liver, intestine, abdominal fat percentages. The results of the present study indicated that broiler chicks could withstand a 7-day period (from 8 to 14 days) feed restriction with ground wood charcoal in early age without loss in performance

Bayesian model averaging with fixed and flexible priors: theory, concepts, and calibration experiments for rainfall-runoff modeling

This paper introduces for the first time the concept of Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) with multiple prior structures, for rainfall‐runoff modeling applications. The original BMA model proposed by Raftery et al. (2005) assumes that the prior probability density function (pdf) is adequately described by a mixture of Gamma and Gaussian distributions. Here we discuss the advantages of using BMA with fixed and flexible prior distributions. Uniform, Binomial, Binomial‐Beta, Benchmark, and Global Empirical Bayes priors along with Informative Prior Inclusion and Combined Prior Probabilities were applied to calibrate daily streamflow records of a coastal plain watershed in the South‐East USA. Various specifications for Zellner's g prior including Hyper, Fixed, and Empirical Bayes Local (EBL) g priors were also employed to account for the sensitivity of BMA and derive the conditional pdf of each constituent ensemble member. These priors were examined using the simulation results of conceptual and semi‐distributed rainfall‐runoff models. The hydrologic simulations were first coupled with a new sensitivity analysis model and a parameter uncertainty algorithm to assess the sensitivity and uncertainty associated with each model. BMA was then used to subsequently combine the simulations of the posterior pdf of each constituent hydrological model. Analysis suggests that a BMA based on combined fixed and flexible priors provides a coherent mechanism and promising results for calculating a weighted posterior probability compared to individual model calibration. Furthermore, the probability of Uniform and Informative Prior Inclusion priors received significantly lower predictive error whereas more uncertainty resulted from a fixed g prior (i.e. EBL)

Determinación del contenido en energía metabolizable de distintas fuentes de lípidos procedentes de la industria del aceite de soja

Los aceites vegetales se utilizan en la alimentación de gallinas ponedoras para aumentar la concentración energética de los piensos y como fuente de ácido linoleico. Además, Mateos y Sell (1981) han demostrado que la inclusión de grasas ralentiza la velocidad de tránsito de la digesta lo que favorece el contacto entre los nutrientes de la dieta y las enzimas digestivas, mejorando su utilización digestiva. Como consecuencia, la inclusión de grasas es una práctica común en la formulación de piensos comerciales para aves de puesta. El aceite de soja (AS) debido a su alto contenido energético y en ácido linoleico es el aceite de elección en piensos para avicultura pero su alto coste limita su utilización en piensos comerciales. Dos co-productos de la industria del aceite de soja, las oleínas (OAS) y el aceite de freiduría (ASR) podrían sustituir al AS en piensos para avicultura. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar el contenido en energía metabolizable aparente (EMA) de estos aceites y comparar los resultados obtenidos utilizando dos metodologías de cálculo

Developing criteria for Cesarean Section using the RAND appropriateness method

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cesarean section rates are increasing worldwide, and a rapid increase has been observed in Iran. Disagreement exists between clinicians about when to use cesarean section. We aimed to identify the appropriateness criteria for the use of cesarean section in Iran.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>A consensus development study using a modified version of the RAND Appropriateness Method (RAM). We generated scenarios from valid clinical guidelines and expert opinions. A panel of experts participated in consensus development: first round via mail (12 members), second round face-to-face (9 members). We followed the RAM recommendations for the development of the scenario lists, rating scales, and statistical analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>294 scenarios relevant to cesarean section were identified. 191 scenarios were considered appropriate, of which 125 scenarios were agreed upon. The panel found cesarean inappropriate for 21% of scenarios, and 'equivocal' for 14% of scenarios.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>RAM is useful for identifying stakeholder views in settings with limited resources. The participants' views on appropriateness of certain indications differed with available evidence. A large number of scenarios without agreement may partly explain why it has been difficult to curb the growth in cesarean section rate.</p

A note on weighted composition operator on L p spaces

Abstract. In this paper we will consider the weighted composition operators uC ϕ between two different L p (X, Σ, µ) spaces, generated by measurable and non-singular transformations ϕ from X into itself and measurable functions u on X. We characterize the functions u and transformations ϕ that induce weighted composition operators between L p -spaces by using some properties of conditional expectation operator, pair (u, ϕ) and the measure space (X, Σ, µ). Also, some other properties of these types of operators will be investigated