Moments of nonclassicality quasiprobabilities

A method is introduced for the verification of nonclassicality in terms of moments of nonclassicality quasiprobability distributions. The latter are easily obtained from experimental data and will be denoted as nonclassicality moments. Their relation to normally-ordered moments is derived, which enables us to verify nonclassicality by using well established criteria. Alternatively, nonclassicality criteria are directly formulated in terms of nonclassicality moments. The latter converge in proper limits to the usually used criteria, as is illustrated for squeezing and sub-Poissonian photon statistics. Our theory also yields expectation values of any observable in terms of nonclassicality moments.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Centralized and decentralized management of groundwater with multiple users

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In this work, we investigate two groundwater inventory management schemes with multiple users in a dynamic game-theoretic structure: (i) under the centralized management scheme, users are allowed to pump water from a common aquifer with the supervision of a social planner, and (ii) under the decentralized management scheme, each user is allowed to pump water from a common aquifer making usage decisions individually in a non-cooperative fashion. This work is motivated by the work of Saak and Peterson [14], which considers a model with two identical users sharing a common aquifer over a two-period planning horizon. In our work, the model and results of Saak and Peterson [14] are generalized in several directions. We first build on and extend their work to the case of n non-identical users distributed over a common aquifer region. Furthermore, we consider two different geometric configurations overlying the aquifer, namely, the strip and the ring configurations. In each configuration, general analytical results of the optimal groundwater usage are obtained and numerical examples are discussed for both centralized and decentralized problems. 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

In-Vitro Anthelmintic Efficacy Of Crude Aqueous Extracts Of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Leaf, Stem And Root On Nematode

The anthelmintic efficacy of the aqueous extracts o neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf and stem and root barks against the hatching of eggs and the survival of larvae of nematode parasites of small ruminants were studied. The results of the in vitro egg hatch assay showed that the aqueous extracts of the leaf and stem bark produced significant anthelmintic effect through reduction in nematode egg hatch. The reduction in egg hatch was concentration dependent being highest (51 % and 50 % for the leaf and stem bark extracts respectively) at the highest concentration (100 mg/ml) of the extracts but inferior to those produced by albendazoe (100 % at 40 mg/ml). Aqueous extracts of the leaf and root bark produced significant reduction in larval survival within 60 minutes at ambienttemperature (30 – 35 ºC). Larval death was similar in both extracts and concentration dependent, increasing with increasing concentration of the leaf and root bark extracts. The reduction in larval survival due to the extracts was similar to that produced by albendazole. In general, the aqueous extract of neem leaf was more efficacious in limiting nematode larvae survival and in-vitro egg hatch. The results confirm the folkloric claims that neem has anthelmintic effect and thus suggest its possible usefulness as an anthelmintic. Keywords: Anthelmintic efficacy, Aqueous extract, Leaf, Stem, Root, Bark, Azadirachta indicaAnimal Research International Vol. 3 (3) 2006 pp. 549-55

Effectiveness of Dung Beetles as Bioindicators of Environmental Changes in Land-use Gradient in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Bioindicators have been widely accepted as useful tools for monitoring and detecting changes in the environment or habitat condition. By using bioindicators, it is possible to assess the impact of human activities on the biota, instead of examining the entire biota. In this paper we analyzed diversity of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) across land use gradient inCentral Sulawesi and tested the suitability of dung beetles as bioindicators for environmental changes. Ninety baited pitfall trapswere placed and several habitat parameterswere measured at five land-use types ranging from natural forest to cacao agroforestry systems to open areas in 2009 and 2012. The effectiveness of dung beetles as bioindicators of environmental changes was evaluated by the IndVal method, a method combining the specificity and fidelity of certain species with particular types of habitat or environmental conditions. Surprisingly, the results showed that the diversity of dung beetles in two types of cacao plantations were similar to the forest sites and were significantly higher than the open cultivated area. Of the 16 dung beetles species analyzed only four species could be suggested as indicator (characteristic) species while the majority of collected species were categorized as detector species. Two of them (Copris saundersi and Onthophagus forsteni) were associated with natural forest and cacao agroforestry system, thus were suggested as the indicator of shaded and cooler habitats whereas O. limbatus and O. trituber can be suggested as indicator of unshaded and warmer habitats (bare land area)

Evaluation of anti-diarrhoeal activity of L-citrulline in mice

Background: L-citrulline is a naturally occurring physiological non-essential amino acid that plays an important role in the metabolism and regulation of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is important for physiologic processes of gastrointestinal tract, like motility and absorption. L citrulline is majorly synthesized in the small intestine and considered safe for consumption. However, there is paucity of literature on its anti-diarrhoeal effects. Hence, this study investigated the anti-diarrhoeal activity of L-citrulline in mice.Methods: Anti-diarrhoeal and anti-enteropooling effects of L-citrulline were evaluated by inducing diarrhoea and enteropooling with castor oil. The effect of L-citrulline on normal intestinal motility was also evaluated using charcoal maker. L-citrulline (300 and 600 mg/kg) was administered to test groups, Loperamide (5 mg/kg) was administered to the positive control groups and Normal saline (2ml/kg) was administered to negative control groups. All administrations were via oral route. The results were analyzed using one-way Analysis of variance and Dunnett's post-hoc test.Results: The control groups in all parameters evaluated showed typical diarrhoeal signs. Diarrhoea protections of 93.33% and 55.49% were observed at 300 and 600 mg/kg of L-Citrulline, respectively. L-Citrulline inhibited fluid accumulation by 35.88% and 28.27% at 300 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. The mean percentage distance travelled by the charcoal maker was inhibited by 13.76% and 2.62% at 300 and 600 mg/kg, of L-citrulline, respectively. The observed antidiarrhoeal effects of L-citrulline could be attributed to its ability to inhibit both intestinal motility and fluid accumulation in the mice.Conclusion: This study has shown that L-citrulline possess some anti-diarrhoeal potentials. However, there is need for further anti-diarrhoeal studies using other models and lower graded doses of L-Citrulline to further elucidate L-Citrulline anti-diarrhoeal mechanism of action.Keywords: L-citrulline, anti-diarrhoeal activity, Loperamide, castor oi

Adoption and advantages of eco-friendly technology application at the Shallot farming system in Indonesia

ArticleThis study aimed to evaluate the benefits farmers obtained by adopting eco-friendly technologies on local shallot cultivation in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The technology applied includes; trap crops, biofertilizers (bokashi and mycorrhiza arbuscular) biopesticides (Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma sp.) and plastic mulch. Ninety-nine shallot farmers were selected, consisting of 35 farmers who applied the technology (adopters) and 64 farmers who did not (non adopters). Characteristics, rates of adoption, and benefits of both groups of farmers were measured and analyzed. The results showed that the level of technology adopted by the farmers was high and supported by farmer characteristics, particularly their age and education. The application of technology increases the production of shallots and the total profits of farmers by 29.5% and 79.1% respectively. In addition, adopters can reduce the costs of chemical inputs by around 69.5%. Therefore, the technology introduced provides multiple benefits for farmers; economically and environmentally

Multinomial Logit Estimation of Income Sources by Watermelon Farmers in Northeastern Nigeria

The main objective of the research was to use multinomial logit model to estimate income sources of watermelon farmers in northeastern Nigeria. A total of 434 farmers were sampled through multi-stage sampling procedure covering three Local Government Areas of Yobe state, Nigeria. The sources were personal savings, friends and relatives, Bank loans and cooperative/thrift societies. The results revealed that farm size, age and level of education were significant at 5% probability level and positively influenced the utilization of income from friends and relatives. Farmers' level of education, total cost of production and farm size significantly influenced farmers to obtain loans from banks. The marginal effects were 0.0504, 2.75 and 0.0038 showing the degrees of probabilities the variables can influence bank loans. Watermelon farmers can only obtain loans from cooperative and thrift society based on their farm size, total revenue, age, total cost and their level of output. These variables were significant at 1% and 5% probability levels with appropriate signs. The study concluded that 60% of the farmers fund their farm through personal savings and was difficult to get bank loans. It was recommended that micro-savings be encouraged among farmers and cooperative/thrift societies should be encouraged and adequately developed through the Non-Governmental Organizations

Analisis Dan Alternatif Solusi Lalu Lintas Di Bundaran Jalan Teuku Umar Denpasar

The volume growth of road traffic continues to increase rapidly especially in the city of Denpasar. This makes the traffic jam occurred in the city of Denpasar on rush hour, especially at Teuku Umar roundabout. The aim of research is to evaluate and find solustion occlusion at Teuku Umar roundabout. In the case try solution of traffic engineering and Development underpass .Data collection is done by a direct survey on six approaches at the foot of the roundabou at the peak hour of the morning, afternoon and evening. The captured data is the number of vehicles passing through the street that enter and roundabout exit. Analysis of the performance of the roundabout by using the guidelines Indonesia Highway Capacity Manual (MKJI) 1997. The results of the performance of the roundabout on the existing condition have average delay in roundabout 16,98 sec/hours at condition scenario 1 with traffic engineering average delay in roundabout drop to 8,07 sec/hours consequence incresing the number of venicles on Teuku Umar Timur street, Teuku Umar Barat street, Imam Bonjol street, Diponegoro street which degree of saturation before 0,43, 021, 0,55, 0,64 and after the traffic egineering rise to 0,58,0,24,0,66, 0,80. In scenario 2 with development underpass average delay in roundabout drop to 4,53 sec/hours and value is smaller than scenario 1 traffic engineering to overcome congestion at Teuku Umar roundabout its recommendation scenario 2 development underpass. Development underpaas could occur when land acquistion well prepared