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Background: Proportion of roughage and concentrate supply to dairy animal is a major challenge in commercial dairying of Bangladesh that directly correlated with quality and quantity of milk. Several studies revealed that, level of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) is an indication of proper feed supply of the animals. Therefore, the study was the attempt to find, the relationship between the level of MUN with metabolic energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) by supplied ratio of roughage, concentrate and effect of altered level MUN with milk quality and quantity in commercial dairy farms of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Methods: For the study, feed and milk samples were taken from randomly selected three different farm categories for the period of July 2014 to June 2015 monthly. The herd average milk production was taken from the recorded data. The feed and milk composition were analyzed in the dairy lab of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU). MUN was determined by spectrophotometric method in the Poultry Research and Tanning Laboratory (PRTC) of CVASU, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Observed data was analyzed by using Pearson's correlation methods to find out the correlation among MUN level, supplied source of ME and CP and milk production and composition. Result: The results suggested that there was significant level difference of MUN (P<0.05) irrespective of seasons and farm categories with the sources of ME and CP of supplied feed. Milk yield relate significantly (P<0.05) with MUN level when there was lowest supply of roughage and maximum M.E comes from concentrate feed irrespective of farm categories. So, determination of MUN level will be helpful to commercial dairy farmers when the issues related to milk quality and quantity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of a multiage intermediate program (combined grades 3 through 5) revealed that, despite teachers' strong beliefs about developmentally appropriate practices and student-centered methods, they had difficulty putting them into practice. Decision making and classroom planning were teacher centered and often based on national and state standards and proficiency guidelines. (SK)

Background: Farmers are not satisfied by the production performance of different crossbred Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Therefore, the study was taken to find out the effect of farm categories on milk yield and milk constituents of different HF crossbred at Chattogram, Bangladesh. Methods: This study was conducted from July 2014 to June 2015 in Chattogram Metropolitan Area (CMA), Potia, Mirsharai and Fatikchari upazilla (sub-district) of Chittagong, Bangladesh. For this study fourteen (14) commercial dairy farms in three different categories as A (50> milking cows), B(31>50 milking cows), C(11>30 milking cows) with 98 cows for each of the 3 crosses named as 50%HF×50% Local (L), 75%HF×25%L and 50%HF×50% Sahiwal (SH) at their third parity were selected. Farms under the same category were selected based on similarities in feeding and other management practices. Quality of raw milk was obtained by analyzing the milk samples collected from an individual animal of the selected farm at an interval of seven days by using a milk scanner (Lactostar, Model no. 3510, Funke Gerber, Germany) in the Laboratory of Dairy Science of Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU). Result: A significant difference (P<0.05) in milk yield and constituents except lactose and minerals was observed among the same and different crossbreds of HF under different farm categories. The highest daily average milk yield and quality were observed in different crosses of farms belong category A, but their performances decreased gradually with poor management systems in farms belong to categories B and C. So, farm category has a significant effect on milk quality and quantity in different crosses of Holstein. This study would help the commercial dairy farmers in choosing suitable crosses of Holstein-Friesian for farms belong to different categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are no in-depth research on commercial dairying management and performance of dairy cows under commercial dairying in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The good farming practice and cow's productivity leads the farm profitability. This study may assist to overcome the problems related to the profitability of dairy farms. Methods: The study was conducted in 28 commercial dairy farms based on two types of data. Primary data: generated from stock inventory and farm management information using a pretested survey questionnaire and analyzed data of average production performance and quality of milk traits indifferent crosses collected directly four times season wise (summer, monsoon and winter) from each selected farms of Chittagong, Bangladesh from 2014 to 2015. Result: Overall management system of irrespective categories of farms was in moderate condition with some exception. Highest number of milking animal was 50% HF x 50% L cross under all farm categories. Crosses of 75% HF x 25% L were highest in number under farm category A and lowest C. In terms of milk quality and quantity, farms with higher number of animals were in better condition. Daily average milk yield was significantly higher in monsoon followed by summer and winter. Therefore, this current study would be helpful for the dairy farmers to find out an expected solution to overcome the problems in this sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting Pr2CuOx, x ≃4 (PCO), films with T' structure and a Tc of 27 K have been investigated by various optical methods in a wide frequency (7-55 000 cm-1) and temperature (2-300 K) range. The optical spectra do not reveal any indication of a normal-state gap formation. A Drude-like peak centered at zerofrequency dominates the optical conductivity below 150 K. At higher temperatures, it shifts to finite frequencies. The detailed analysis of the low-frequency conductivity reveals that the Drude peak and a far-infrared (FIR) peak centered at about 300 cm-1 persist at all temperatures. The FIR-peak spectral weight is found to grow at the expense of the Drude spectral weight with increasing temperature. The temperature dependence of the penetration depth follows a behavior typical for d-wave superconductors. The absolute value of the penetration depth for zero temperature is 1.6 μm, indicating a rather low density of the superconducting condensate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting EuFe2(As0.82P0.18)2 single crystals are investigated by broad-band infrared spectroscopy. Below Tc=28 K, a superconducting gap forms at 2Δ0=9.5 meV=3.7kBTc, causing the reflectivity to sharply rise to unity at low frequency. In the range of the gap, the optical conductivity can be perfectly described by BCS theory with an s-wave gap and no nodes. From our analysis of the temperature-dependent conductivity and spectral weight at T>Tc, we deduce an increased interband coupling between hole and electron sheets on the Fermi surface when T approaches Tc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to assess the trend of changes of nutritional status and environmental quality of different decomposing organic wastes in different phases of vermicomposting utilizing an indigenous earthworm's species Perionyx excavatus. Design/methodology/approach - Four different organic wastes were selected as basic ingredients for vermicompost production. Dried waste materials (2 kg) of each were mixed with dried cow dung and placed in experimental plastic trays with 60 individuals of selected earthworm species. Samples were collected from each tray at an interval of 15 days. Six trays were used: three were with both wastes, three trays having only wastes were treated as control. Findings - Regression equation has shown the rate of change of nutrients - both in control and experiment vermicomposting units over time - which revealed significant changes of C, N, P and C/N ratio during different phases of vermicomposting. Practical implications - Vermitechnology is now being considered as an eco-friendly, user-friendly and cost-effective biotechnological tool for the conversion of decomposable organic wastes into valuable organic manure, ensuring pollution abatement, self employment and sustainability in agriculture. Originality/value - The paper helps to identify the potential of locally available earthworm species and organic materials for the mass production of vermicompost involving local peoples and locally available bioresources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a 51V nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of the frustrated spin-1/2 chain compound LiCuVO4, performed in pulsed magnetic fields and focused on high-field phases up to 56 T. For the crystal orientations H∥c and H∥b, we find a narrow field region just below the magnetic saturation where the local magnetization remains uniform and homogeneous, while its value is field dependent. This behavior is the first microscopic signature of the spin-nematic state, breaking spin-rotation symmetry without generating any transverse dipolar order, and is consistent with theoretical predictions for the LiCuVO4 compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting Pr(2)CuO(x), x ≃ 4 films with T' structure and a T(c) of 27 K have been investigated by millimeter-wave transmission and broadband (infrared-to-ultraviolet) reflectivity measurements in the normal and superconducting state. The results obtained by both experimental methods show a consistent picture of the superconducting condensate formation below T(c). An Eliashberg analysis of the data proves d-wave superconductivity and unitary-limit impurity scattering of the charge carriers below T(c). The derived electron-exchange boson interaction spectral function I(2)χ(ω) shows only marginal changes at the superconducting transition with the mass enhancement factor λ, the first inverse moment of I(2)χ(ω), being equal to 4.16 at 30 K and to 4.25 at 4 K.