Broiler Production in Punjab — An Economic Analysis

The cost and return analysis of different sizes of broiler farms in the Punjab state has been carried out based on the primary data collected from 140 broiler farmers for the period March 2008 to February 2009 in three districts, viz. Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar. The study has shown that the total fixed investments per bird have been highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total variable cost per bird has been reported highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total cost of meat production per bird has been found highest on small broiler farms, followed by medium and large farms. The net returns per bird over the variable costs have been recorded highest on large farms and economies of scale prevail on these farms. The meat-feed price ratio and benefit-cost ratio have been found to increase with increase in farm-size of broiler farms, which indicates better utilization of inputs on large farms. On the basis of net present value, benefit-cost ratio and internal rate of return, investment in broiler farming has been found profitable in all farm-sizes, it being most profitable on large farms, followed by medium and small farms. The small broiler farms have been observed highly sensitive to increase in costs and decrease in net returns. The study has observed that broiler farming is a profitable venture and has a bright future in the Punjab agriculture for improving economic status of the farming communityAgricultural and Food Policy,

ECG Analysis-Based Cardiac Disease Prediction Using Signal Feature Selection with Extraction Based on AI Techniques

ECG (Electrocardiogram) performs classification using a machine learning model for processing different features in the ECG signal. The electrical activity of the heart is computed with the ECG signal with machine learning library. The key issue in the handling of ECG signals is an estimation of irregularities to evaluate the health status of patients. The ECG signal evaluate the impulse waveform for the specialized tissues in the cardiac heart diseases. However, the ECG signal comprises of the different difficulties associated with waveform estimation to derive certain features. Through machine learning (ML) model the input features are computed with input ECG signals. In this paper, proposed a Noise QRS Feature to evaluate the features in the ECG signals for the effective classification. The Noise QRS Feature model computes the ECG signal features of the waveform sequences.  Initially, the signal is pre-processed with the Finite Impulse response (FIR) filter for the analysis of ECG signal. The features in the ECG signal are processed and computed with the QRS signal responses in the ECG signal. The Noise QRS Feature evaluate the ECG signal with the kNN for the estimation and classification of features in the ECG signals. The performance of the proposed Noise QRS Feature features are comparatively examined with the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transforms (DTCWT) and Discrete Orthonormal Stockwell Transform (DOST) and the machine learning model Cascade Feed Forward Neural Network (CFNN), Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN). Simulation analysis expressed that the proposed Noise QRS Feature exhibits a higher classification accuracy of 99% which is ~6 – 7% higher than the conventional classifier model

Dry Etching of GaAs to Fabricate Via-Hole Grounds in Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits

This study investigates the dry etching of 60 mm dia, 200 mm deep holes for fabrication of through substrate via holes for grounding monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), on 3-inch dia semiinsulating GaAs wafer using RIE and ICP processes with CFC and non-CFC gas chemistry, respectively. The effect of various process parameters on GaAs etch rate and resultant etch profile was investigated. Two kinds of masks, photoresist and Ni, were used to etch GaAs and performance was compared by investigating effect on etch rate, etch depth, etch profile, and surface morphology. The etch profile, etch depth, and surface morphology of as-etched samples were characterised by scanning electron microscopy. The desired 200 mm deep strawberry profile was obtained at 40 mTorr for both RIE and ICP processes with an etch rate of ~1.3 mm/min and ~4 mm/min respectively. Ni metal mask was used for RIE process due to poor photoresist selectivity, whereas ICP process utilised photoresist as mask. The vias were then metallised by depositing a thin seed layer of Ti/Au (1000 Å) using radio frequency sputtering and Au (~5 mm) electroplated to connect the frontside pad and back side ground plane. The typical parasitic inductance offered by these via for RIE and ICP processes was ~76 pH and 83 pH respectively, which is well within the acceptable limits. The developed process was finally integrated to in-house MMIC production line.Defence Science Journal, 2009, 59(4), pp.363-370, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.59.153

Quantitative analysis of collagens and fibronectin expression in human right ventricular hypertrophy

One of the main features in human tetralogy of Fallot (TF) is right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) due to pressure (sub-pulmonary stenosis) and volume overload (ventricular septal defect). Currently, primary correction at a young age is the treatment of choice. To unravel the role of extracellular matrix in RVH, we examined myocardial expression of collagens and fibronectin in TF patients with primary correction (TF1, age 0.7 ± 0.2 yr,), secondary surgery (TF2, age 36.9 ± 4.6 yr), and in age-matched control patients. Sirius red staining quantified by video imaging showed significantly increased interstitial staining for collagens in both TF1 and TF2 groups as compared to respective controls. Fibronectin was expressed in extracellular spaces, perivascular regions, and in some cardiomyocytes. Quantitative analysis of fibronectin revealed increased expression in only TF1 group as compared to respective control. Our results indicate an increased amount of myocardial extracellular matrix deposition as a sign of fibrosis during RVH in patients with TF

Cytoprotective mechanisms in cultured cardiomyocytes

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a potent cytokine mainly secreted by macrophages exerts pleiotropic effects on different cell types. However, the intracellular mediators of its action are not yet well characterized. To get an insight into endogenous cytoprotective mechanisms, we developed an in vitro model based on cultured cardiomyocytes treated with TNF-α at which we examined gene expression of heat shock proteins (HSP-27, HSP-70 and ubiquitin). Cardiomyocytes were isolated from the hearts of 18 day old fetal mice by enzymatic dissociation and grown in minimum essential medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. Spontaneously contractile cells were serum deprived for 24 h and treated with TNF-α(25 ng/ml) for 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h After each incubation, cells were processed to extract total proteins for Western and total RNA for Northern blot analyses. TNF-α induced arrhythmias and cessation of spontaneous contractions in a concentration and time dependent manner. Steady state (ubiquitin) or undetectable mRNA levels (HSP-27, HSP-70) were drastically induced (> 4 fold for all three genes vs untreated control cells) by TNF-α, reaching maximal values between 6-8 h of stimulation. Thereafter, the expression of these stress genes declined but remained elevated as compared to control. By Western blot analysis, we found increased multiple bands of ubiquitin protein conjugates in TNF-α treated cells whereas no significant change in HSP-27 protein accumulation until 12 h was observed as compared to control. 24 h of TNF-α incubation resulted in partial cellular necrosis. Our results indicate that TNF-α induces in cardiomyocytes transiently gene expression for cytoprotective molecules like HSP-27, HSP-70 and ubiquitin, suggesting these stress proteins to participate in subsequent defense mechanisms, for example in postischemic myocardial recovery

Angiotensin II induces hypertrophy of human airway smooth muscle cells: expression of transcription factors and transforming growth factor-beta1

Increased smooth muscle mass due to hyperplasia and hypertrophy of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells is a common feature in asthma. Angiotensin II (Ang II), a potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen for a wide variety of cells, has recently been implicated in bronchoconstriction in asthmatics. However, a possible mitogenic role as well as underlying molecular mechanisms of this octapeptide in human ASM cells are not yet known. We studied the effects of Ang II on ASM cell proliferation and growth and on the expression of three transcription factors, egr-1, c-fos, and c-jun, as well as a cytokine, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). Human ASM cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion of bronchial smooth muscle obtained from lung resection tissue. Confluent cells were growth-arrested and subsequently incubated with Ang II (100 nM) for different time periods and processed for the measurement of cell growth and gene expression. Ang II significantly induced DNA and protein synthesis in human ASM cells at 8 h, resulting in a net increase in the accumulation of protein over DNA (i.e., cellular hypertrophy) at 16 h of incubation. Cell counts and MTT-reduction assay, however, showed no increase in cell number as a result of Ang II stimulation. Ang II stimulated the expression of egr-1 and c-fos as early as 15 min, reaching maximum levels at 45 min, whereas the expression of c-jun peaked at 2 h of Ang II exposure. Furthermore, steady-state mRNA levels of TGF-beta1 were upregulated by Ang II after 4 h and reached peak levels at 16 h of incubation. Secretion of biologically active TGF-beta1 from human ASM cells was significantly (P <= 0.02) enhanced by Ang II incubation after 8 h, which remained elevated until 24 h. Our results suggest that the Ang II-induced transient early expression of transcription factors may regulate autocrine genes like TGF-beta1, of which the subsequent late upregulation could contribute to cellular hypertrophy during, for example, airway remodeling in asthma

Adaptation of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) to Australian Environments

Quinoa is being evaluated in cropping systems in many countries outside of its natural range of South America. Very few attempts have been made by farmers or researchers to grow or evaluate quinoa under Australian environments. Given the growing popularity of quinoa with consumers, new commercial opportunities for farmers and international interest in the crop, it was timely to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the potential of quinoa in Australia. Two advanced selections and nine germplasm lines (six of Chilean and three of Bolivian origin) identified in an earlier project were tested in 23 field trials at 14 locations on mainland Australia. Targets included irrigated sites in tropical, Mediterranean, semi-arid and desert climates, and rain-fed sites of south-western Australia with a Mediterranean climate. The field experiments were either a randomised complete block design (RBCD) or a split plot/factorial design with 2–4 replicates, and a linear mixed model was used to compare the treatment lines. Seed yield of quinoa was highest when grown in winter and spring under rain-fed conditions in Geraldton, in spring and summer under irrigation at Bool Lagoon, and summer, autumn and winter under irrigation at Leeton. The highest seed yield achieved was 3 t/ha for a germplasm line from Chile, while the highest yield for a germplasm line from Bolivia was 2.6 t/ha. Advanced selections from Australia yielded well in comparison at most trial sites. Declining seed yield was associated with mean daily temperatures during seed development increasing above 17 °C, mean daily temperatures during flowering declining below 15 °C, and rainfall during seed development under rain-fed conditions falling below 50 mm. Seed produced at Bool Lagoon was the closest in colour to white quinoa imported from Peru; however, it was more than noticeably different. Seed produced at Geraldton and Leeton was significantly larger than from other field sites; however, none were larger than 2 mm in diameter as found in Royal white quinoa from Bolivia. Superior seed colour and seed size were associated with dry conditions at maturity and cool conditions during seed development, respectively. We conclude that quinoa can become a potential crop option for Australian agriculture by exploiting genetic diversity and supplementing with suitable management practices matched to agro-climatic environments. There are reasonable prospects to raise the seed yield potential in areas in all states, especially in the regions where quinoa grew well in our experiments