Influence of combined probiotics Lactobacillus sporogenes and Bacillus subtilis on survival, growth, biochemical changes and energy utilization performance of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man 1879) post larvae

A 90-day feeding experiment was studied to determine the influence of the bacterial combination Lactobacillus sporogenes and Bacillus subtilis (LS+BS) on survival, growth, biochemical constituents and energy utilization performance of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii post larvae (PL). Experimental diets were the same, except for the variation in probiotic levels. The probiotics LS+BS (4:3) were used at 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% inclusion rates in the experimental diets. After the feeding trail, the growth parameters of the PLs, such as survival, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency rate were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 4% LS+BS incorporated diet as compared with control. The food conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.05) lower in 4% LS+BS incorporated diet. The biochemical composition of the total protein, amino acid, carbohydrate and lipid ash content were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 4% LS+BS incorporated diet. However, insignificant difference was recorded in moisture content between control and experimental groups. The energy utilization parameters, such as feeding rate, absorption rate, conversion rate and metabolic rate were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 4% LS+BS incorporated diet fed PL.  These results revealed the benefits of the incorporation of the probiotic (LS+BS) in aqua feed for M. rosenbergii PL.&nbsp

Urological cancer care pathways: development and use in the context of systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines

Background: Making healthcare treatment decisions is a complex process involving a broad stakeholder base including patients, their families, health professionals, clinical practice guideline developers and funders of healthcare. Methods: This paper presents a review of a methodology for the development of urological cancer care pathways (UCAN care pathways), which reflects an appreciation of this broad stakeholder base. The methods section includes an overview of the steps in the development of the UCAN care pathways and engagement with clinical content experts and patient groups. Results: The development process is outlined, the uses of the urological cancer care pathways discussed and the implications for clinical practice highlighted. The full set of UCAN care pathways is published in this paper. These include care pathways on localised prostate cancer, locally advanced prostate cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, hormone-resistant prostate cancer, localised renal cell cancer, advanced renal cell cancer, testicular cancer, penile cancer, muscle invasive and metastatic bladder cancer and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Conclusion: The process provides a useful framework for improving urological cancer care through evidence synthesis, research prioritisation, stakeholder involvement and international collaboration. Although the focus of this work is urological cancers, the methodology can be applied to all aspects of urology and is transferable to other clinical specialties.11 page(s

Growth effect of aid and its volatility: An individual country study in South Asian economies

This paper empirically investigates the growth effect associated with aid and its volatility during the period 1995-2008 in the case of five South Asian economies. The aid is classified into short impact, long impact and humanitarian aid. We obtained results for each of the country by employing two-stage least squares method. The results suggest that gross aid is positively associated with growth rate where as its volatility negatively effects growth rate South Asian countries. Short impact and long impact aid positively effect on growth rate whereas respective aid volatilities have negative affects on all the economies, excluding at least one country in each case. Humanitarian aid and its volatility have mixed results. Thus, we come to a conclusion that, aid and aid volatility have strong association with growth rate in the South Asian countries, but varies considerably from country to country in terms of magnitude of effect and in relation to the growth rates

Growth Promoting Potential and Colonization Ability of Probiotics (Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis) on the Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii Post-Larvae

The probiotic effects of Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis were studied on survival, growth, concentrations of basic biochemical constituents, activities of digestive enzymes, and their colony establishments in the gut of Macrobrachium rosenbergii post-larvae (PL). Eleven groups of PL (2.03±0.05 in length and 0.18±0.01g in weight), each consists of 35 individuals maintained in 25 L of ground water and fed ad libitum with five serially diluted concentrations, 10-1, 10-3, 10-5, 10-7 and 10-9 of B. coagulans, and B. subtilis incorporated diets containing 40% protein, for 45 days. Diet without incorporation of any of these probiotics was served as control. These probiotics were found to be alive in the respective feed even on day-15 after their formulations. Significant improvement in survival, nutritional indices (weight gain, specific growth rate, food conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio), contents of basic biochemical constituents (total protein, amino acid, carbohydrate and lipid) and activities of digestive enzymes (protease, amylase and lipase) were observed (P<0.05), particularly in 10-7 concentration of B. coagulans, and B. subtilis incorporated diets fed PL when compared with control. The biochemical confirmation tests revealed that presence of Escherichia coli, Acetonobacter sp., Salmonella sp., and Pseudomonas sp., in the gut of control PL. In the gut of PL fed with B. coagulans incorporated diet, Acetonobacter sp., Salmonella sp., and Pseudomonas sp., were found to be competitively excluded, whereas, in the gut of PL fed with B. subtilis incorporated diet, Acetonobacter sp., and Salmonella sp., only were found to be excluded competitively. Actually, colonies of Bacillus sp., and Lactobacillus sp., were found to be establishment in the gut of PL fed with B. coagulans, and B. subtilis incorporated diets. Overall, these probiotics incorporated diets produced better growth and survival due to better FCR and activities of digestive enzymes, which in turn led to better nutritional profile. Therefore they are recommended as feed additives for sustainable culture of M. rosenbergii

Growth effect of foreign aid and volatility in South Asia

Purpose – South Asia has been an important destination of foreign aid over the past decades. Since a large part of aid is disbursed for social and economic infrastructure development in South Asian countries, and the volume of aid has tremendously increased in recent years, the purpose of this study is to investigate how far various categories of foreign aid affects economic growth rate in these countries. In addition, as the trend of each category of aid transfer appears to have been volatile, this study also investigates whether the volatilities inhibit growth rate in these countries. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, South Asia refers to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Random effects approach is employed incorporating panel data for the period of 1995-2008. The aggregate foreign aid is classified into various categories to have a comprehensive investigation. Findings – Foreign aid positively associated with growth whereas the volatility of aid hurts it. Long-impact aid promotes growth more than short-impact aid does. The volatility of short-impact aid hurts growth, whereas the volatility of long-impact aid has no effect on it. Pure aid and its volatility have no effect on growth. Originality/value – This study has identified the structure of foreign aid disbursed in these countries, and explored how far each category and respective volatility affects growth. These findings would be useful to the scholars and policy makers in the recipient countries as well as donors, to make foreign aid much more effective in future.Foreign aid, Growth rate, South Asia, Volatility

EBSD characterization of Ag₃Sn phase transformation in Sn–Ag lead-free solder alloys:a comparative study before and after heat treatment

The phase transformation and microstructural evolution of Sn–Ag solder alloys under heat treatment, with a focus on the Ag3Sn phase, were investigated to address the need for reliable lead-free solder alternatives in electronic packaging. Initially, the solder alloy exhibited a fine eutectic structure with well-dispersed Ag3Sn particles and a polycrystalline grain structure devoid of any strong crystallographic texture. Following heat treatment, significant microstructural changes were observed, including the coarsening of the Ag3Sn phase and the development of a preferred grain orientation, suggesting recrystallization and grain growth. XRD analysis revealed a decrease in the intensity of the Sn phase peaks and an increase in the coarseness of the Ag3Sn peaks post-heat treatment, indicating phase evolution and redistribution of silver within the alloy. The EBSD results supported the SEM findings, showing elongation and growth of grains and a shift in texture. These changes imply that heat treatment can significantly alter the mechanical properties of Sn–Ag solders, particularly affecting creep resistance and hardness due to the evolution of anisotropic mechanical properties. The study provides essential insights into the selection and optimization of solder materials for high-reliability applications in the electronics industry

Influence of combined probiotics Lactobacillus sporogenes and Bacillus subtilis on survival, growth, biochemical changes and energy utilization performance of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man 1879) post larvae

A 90-day feeding experiment was studied to determine the influence of the bacterial combination Lactobacillus sporogenes and Bacillus subtilis (LS+BS) on survival, growth, biochemical constituents and energy utilization performance of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii post larvae (PL). Experimental diets were the same, except for the variation in probiotic levels. The probiotics LS+BS (4:3) were used at 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% inclusion rates in the experimental diets. After the feeding trail, the growth parameters of the PLs, such as survival, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and protein efficiency rate were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 4% LS+BS incorporated diet as compared with control. The food conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.05) lower in 4% LS+BS incorporated diet. The biochemical composition of the total protein, amino acid, carbohydrate and lipid ash content were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 4% LS+BS incorporated diet. However, insignificant difference was recorded in moisture content between control and experimental groups. The energy utilization parameters, such as feeding rate, absorption rate, conversion rate and metabolic rate were significantly (P<0.05) higher in 4% LS+BS incorporated diet fed PL.  These results revealed the benefits of the incorporation of the probiotic (LS+BS) in aqua feed for M. rosenbergii PL