Nutritional value of some small indigenous fish species (SIS) of Bangladesh

Twenty three small indigenous fish species (SIS) in the size range of 3-18 cm were analyzed for proximate composition and minerals (Ca and P) content to evaluate their nutritive value. The moisture content of different species ranged between 71.00 and 81.94%. In general, small sized fishes showed higher moisture content. The muscle protein content among the species varied widely (16.16-22.28%). In general, the muscle protein content of fishes showed higher value than the whole carcass protein content. The carcass lipid content varied between 1.87 and 9.55% and showed an inverse relationship with the moisture content. The gross energy content ranged from 19.51-27.30 KJ/g on dry matter basis. In the present study, the calcium and phosphorus contents ranged between 0.85-3.20% and 1.01-3.29% respectively. The calcium and phosphorus ratio (Ca/P) varied between 0.44 and 2.00. From the nutritional point of view, it shows that the SIS are good source of protein and minerals especially calcium and phosphoru

Integrated cage-cum-pond culture systems with high valued climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) in cages and low-valued carps in open ponds

An on-farm trial was conducted over 150 days to determine appropriate stocking ratio, growth and production of climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) in cages and carps in open water of ponds in eighteen farmers' ponds from Haluaghat Upazila at Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. One or two 1 m super(3) cage was suspended in each of 12 earthen ponds and other 6 ponds served as control without cages. Climbing perch of 2-3 g in size were stocked in cages while fingerlings of silver carp (Hypophthalmicthys molitrix), catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita), mirgal (Cirhinus cirrhosus), rajputi (Puntius sarana) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were stocked at 1 fish/m super(2) with a species ratio of 5:4:4:4:2:1 in open water of all ponds to give cage to open-pond fish ratios of 1:1 (T sub(1:1)) and 2:1 (T sub(2:1)) and 0:1 (T sub(0:1)) as three treatments with six replicates each. Survival of climbing perch was higher in T sub(1:1) (61.67%) than that of T sub(2:1) (29.5%) and was significantly different (p>0.05) between the treatments. Stocking of small size climbing perch fry increased the mortality rate in cages. The net yields of Thai koi were 0.13±0.01 (t/ha) and 0.10±0.01 (t/ha) in treatments T sub(1:1) and T sub(2:1), respectively and both were significantly different (p>0.05). Survival of-open-pond carps was high, ranging from 50 to 91.67% with significantly lower in T sub(0:1) than that of T sub(1:1) and T sub(2:1) treatment. Net and gross yield of each carp species were significantly higher in the T sub(1:1) and T sub(2:1) treatment than that in T sub(0:1) treatment. Net revenues were positive but low in all treatments. Therefore, bigger size climbing perch with lower stocking ratio (T sub(1:1)) is suitable for integrated cage-pond culture of climbing perch and carps. However, more on-farm trials in different ecosystem with scientific interventions are necessary to develop the technology for further dissemination among the rural farmers

Relay intercropping improves growth and fiber quality of Bt Cotton

The optimal time of wheat harvest is the second fortnight of April, while Bt cotton is sown in March in cotton-based cropping systems of Pakistan. There is a time conflict of four to six weeks between harvesting of wheat and sowing of Bt cotton. Relay-intercropping of cotton in wheat crop near to maturity could help to resolve the conflict. The information regarding the effect of relay-intercropping on growth and quality of cotton is scanty. This two-year study compared the growth and fiber quality of relay-intercropped Bt cotton (sown in early/late March) in standing wheat crop with conventionally-tilled (CT) cotton planted after wheat harvest in late April. The relay-intercropped cotton was sown on ridges/beds in wheat, whereas CT cotton was sown after wheat harvest in late April or sown on fallow land in early or late March at Multan and Vehari sites. The CT Bt cotton grown on fallow land in early March had the best performance as indicated by plant growth and fiber quality. However, the relay-intercropped Bt cotton in bed-sown wheat had better growth and fiber quality than the CT cotton planted after wheat harvest in late April. At both sites, the taller plants and higher biomass production were recorded in relay-intercropped Bt cotton in bed-sown wheat in early March as compared with the CT cotton sown after harvest of flat-sown wheat in late April. Fiber firmness, its uniformity, length and strength were also improved in the relay-intercropped Bt cotton in bed-sown wheat in early March as compared to CT cotton sown after wheat harvest in late April. In conclusion, relay intercropping of Bt cotton in the standing wheat during early March improved plant growth and fiber quality in cotton-wheat cropping system

SAMADroid: A Novel 3-Level Hybrid Malware Detection Model for Android Operating System

© 2013 IEEE. For the last few years, Android is known to be the most widely used operating system and this rapidly increasing popularity has attracted the malware developer's attention. Android allows downloading and installation of apps from other unofficial market places. This gives malware developers an opportunity to put repackaged malicious applications in third-party app-stores and attack the Android devices. A large number of malware analysis and detection systems have been developed which uses static analysis, dynamic analysis, or hybrid analysis to keep Android devices secure from malware. However, the existing research clearly lags in detecting malware efficiently and accurately. For accurate malware detection, multilayer analysis is required which consumes large amount of hardware resources of resource constrained mobile devices. This research proposes an efficient and accurate solution to this problem, named SAMADroid, which is a novel 3-level hybrid malware detection model for Android operating systems. The research contribution includes multiple folds. First, many of the existing Android malware detection techniques are thoroughly investigated and categorized on the basis of their detection methods. Also, their benefits along with limitations are deduced. A novel 3-level hybrid malware detection model for Android operating systems is developed, that can provide high detection accuracy by combining the benefits of the three different levels: 1) Static and Dynamic Analysis; 2) Local and Remote Host; and 3) Machine Learning Intelligence. Experimental results show that SAMADroid achieves high malware detection accuracy by ensuring the efficiency in terms of power and storage consumption

Productivity and economic evaluation of Willow (Salix alba L.) based silvopastoral agroforestry system in Kashmir valley

Performance of two fodder crops namely, sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) was investigated with Willow (Salix alba L.) to evaluate productivity and economics of the silvopastoral agroforestry system in Kashmir valley. The experiment was laid out by planting two year old willows at 2.0m × 2.0m spacing and dividing the main plot into sub-plots of size 8m × 2m each with 5 replications in randomized block design (RDB). The intercrops of sorghum and maize were maintained at 20cm × 10 cm spacing and supplied with recommended doses of fertilizers. The economics of the willow plantation intercropped with fodder crops was compared with sole willow farming by the benefit-cost ratio and net present worth. The study revealed the differential behaviour of Salix alba regarding growth parameters (height, diameter and girth) by different intercrops and various fodder intercrops with respect to yield, above ground biomass, dry matter production and soil nutrient status (pH, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). The willow based silvopastoral system was estimated to have benefit-cost ratio of 2.71 with maize and 2.68 with sorghum, while as sole crop the willows accrued a benefit-cost ratio of 2.66. The study is useful in discovering growth of willows, productivity of fodder crops and soil nutrient status under various silvopastoral agroforestry systems for maximizing economic gains. The findings envisaged evidences in favour of adopting willow based silvopastoral agroforestry instead of sole tree farming and the knowledge of interactions will be helpful in proper management of the system for sustained multiple productions

Tribological performance of titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V via CVD-diamond coatings

In the present study, HFCVD nanocrystalline, microcrystalline and boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond coatings have been deposited on titanium alloy. The effect of boron doping on coefficient of friction and residual stresses of diamond coatings have been studied.Досліджено нанокристалічні, мікрокристалічні і леговані бором нанокристалічні алмазні покриття, нанесені на титановий сплав. Вивчено вплив легування бором на коефіцієнт тертя і залишкові напруги алмазних покриттів.Исследованы нанокристаллические, микрокристаллические и легированные бором нанокристаллические алмазные покрытия, нанесенные на титановый сплав. Изучено влияние легирования бором на коэффициент трения и остаточные напряжения алмазных покрытий

Potential of Forage Legumes in Land-Use Intensification Towards Sustainable Crop-Livestock Production Systems in West Africa

Poverty, high population pressure on land-use, and the inability of maintaining fertility through traditional farming and land management practices are contributing to land degradation and decline in agricultural productivity in most West African countries. Improved farming practices and land management alternatives that can raise productivity and protect the agricultural resource base are urgently required to meet future food demands. It was in this context that the potential of forage legumes in crop-livestock systems in West Africa was examined by International Centre for Africa (ILCA). The ability of forage legumes to biologically fix nitrogen and provide livestock feed of good quality are potential benefits offered by adapted legume fallows compared to natural fallows used in traditional systems. These are important considerations in effective management of nutrients and soil fertility through crop-livestock systems. Previous work in West Africa has considered forage legumes mainly from a viewpoint of their potential contribution to livestock feed improvement; their potential contribution to soil management has not been systematically assessed. This joint International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/IIASA work addresses the potential of both

Model-Independent Measurement of the Excited Fraction In a Magneto-Optical Trap

In many experiments involving a magneto-optical trap (MOT) it is of great importance to know the fraction of atoms placed in an excited state due to the trapping process. Generally speaking, researchers have had to use overly simplistic and untested models to estimate this fraction. In this work, the excited fractions of 87Rb atoms in a MOT are directly measured using a charge transfer technique, for a range of MOT parameters. Simple models are then fit to the measured fractions. Using the results of this work, the excited fraction of 87Rb atoms trapped in a MOT can be accurately estimated with knowledge of only the trapping laser intensity and detuning. The results are, at most, only weakly dependent on other MOT parameters

A novel mutation in the Choroideremia gene in a Turkish family.

Choroideremia is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CHM gene. It is a rare retinal dystrophy that manifests as nyctalopia and vision loss, progressing to blindness in later stages. We report a 21-year Turkish man who presented with nyctalopia for the past 4-5 years. His mother and maternal grandmother had similar, but less pronounced complaints. Fundus examination revealed pigmentary changes and retinal atrophy in both eyes. Optical coherence tomography showed outer retinal loss, with central island of preserved autofluorescence surrounded by absent autofluorescence on fundus autofluorescence examination. Goldmann visual fields were constricted. Microperimetry detected retinal sensitivity losses, and full-field electroretinogram demonstrated extinguished cone responses. Genetic analysis revealed a novel nonsense mutation in the CHM gene, namely p.E480X: c.1438G \u3eT. The mutation causes a premature stop codon in exon 12. This is the first report of a G1438T mutation resulting in an E480X premature stop in the CHM gene

JZL184, a monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor, induces bone loss in a multiple myeloma model of immunocompetent mice

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients develop osteolysis characterised by excessive osteoclastic bone destruction and lack of osteoblast bone formation. Pharmacological manipulation of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), an enzyme responsible for the degradation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), reduced skeletal tumour burden and osteolysis associated with osteosarcoma and advanced breast and prostate cancers. MM and hematopoietic, immune and bone marrow cells express high levels of type 2 cannabinoid receptor and osteoblasts secrete 2-AG. However, the effects of MAGL manipulation on MM have not been investigated. Here, we report that treatment of pre-osteoclasts with non-cytotoxic concentrations of JZL184, a verified MAGL inhibitor, enhanced MM- and RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and size in vitro. Exposure of osteoblasts to JZL184 in the presence of MM cell-derived factors reduced osteoblast growth but had no effect on the ability of these cells to mature or form bone nodules. In vivo, administration of JZL184 induced a modest, yet significant, bone loss at both trabecular and cortical compartments of long bones of immunocompetent mice inoculated with the syngeneic 5TGM1-GFP MM cells. Notably, JZL184 failed to inhibit the in vitro growth of a panel of mouse and human MM cell lines, or reduce tumour burden in mice. Thus, MAGL inhibitors such as JZL184 can exacerbate MM-induced bone loss