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Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has become one of the most important aspects for environmental monitoring, i.e. wildfire monitoring, Landslide detection and many others. Many wildfires causes massive forest damages every year in different parts of the world. This paper presents an effective approach based on wireless sensor network to identify and monitor wild fires in forest. The proposed work presents an intelligent system that provides early warning of potential forest fires as well as to provide an effective evaluation of fire scale and fire intensity. The main objectives of the proposed intelligent sensor based network is to measure the environmental attributes such as temperature (t), relative humidity (h); rain (r) and wind speed (WS) etc. The data of these parameters are acquired via wireless sensor network from different geographical locations and transfer to third party application for processing. The research presented the conceptual framework to intelligently estimate "scale and intensity" of the forest fires. The proposed system is effective and reliable to identify and monitor forest fires. It can easily be integrated with third party applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is a macro mineral in broiler nutrition. In growing broilers, besides its requirement for proper bone development, it is also involved in almost all metabolic processes. Poor P availability results in decreased productivity and poor health status. Phosphorus availability from plant derived feeds is affected by an anti-nutritional factor "phytate", which forms a variety of insoluble salts with most of the minerals including P, calcium (Ca), magnesium, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) due to its reactive anion capability. So, phytate is responsible for considerable nutrient losses as vegetable sources form a major portion in broiler diet formulations. Phytate has also been reported to form complexes with protein and proteolytic enzymes (pepsin and trypsin). Mono-gastric animals lack endogenous phytase (an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing phytate bound P, Ca, protein and other nutrients), so phytate decreases the nutrient availability at the intestinal level in poultry. Application of phytase in poultry rations may liberate cations and other nutrients bound by phytate-P complexes resulting in improved production parameters and body structure characteristics in broilers. However, efficacy of supplemental phytase rests on its rate of application, Ca: P in ration, composition of diet, genotype and age of birds. Phytase could ensure the economical poultry production by the exploitation of inherent nutritional potential of feedstuffs. Some studies, however, showed that phytase does not degrade dietary phytate efficiently and thus the negative influence of phytate on protein digestibility is not completely removed by phytase supplementation. More focused research on currently available phytase feed enzymes and their potentialimproved action by the simultaneous use of other exogenous enzymes, which complement their activity is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary zinc was used to induce molt in 200 White Leghorn birds in caged housing at the age of 70 wk. The birds were equally and randomly allocated to 4 groups each of 50 birds as G1 (control; CP 16%, no supplement), G2 (CP 18%, no other supplement), G3 (CP 16%, symbiotic Perfectin: 85 mg-L-1 in drinking water daily), and G4 (CP 16%, probiotic Protexin: 85 mg-L-1 in drinking water daily) after the completion of molt. The sampling was conducted 3 times at 5% production, peak production, and end of production with 15 birds being killed at each sampling from each group to collect the blood for harvesting of serum. Serum health markers including total oxidant status, total antioxidant capacity, homocysteine concentration, and paraoxonase, arylesterase, and ceruloplasmin activity were determined by the prescribed assays. The overall total antioxidant capacity was increased, whereas total oxidant status and homocysteine concentrations were reduced significantly (P < 0.01) in all the supplemented groups compared with the control. The paraoxonase and ceruloplasmin activity were enhanced (P < 0.01) in the supplemented groups compared with the control, and arylesterase activity was increased (P < 0.01) in only G2 compared with the other groups. Although protein supplementation significantly reduced the oxidative stress, supplementation with symbiotic and pro-biotic also improved the health status by decreasing the oxidative stress in the birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was intended to explore the oxidative status of broilers under cyclic heat stress (HS) as modulated by supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and a probiotic mixture (PM). Two hundred fifty 1-d-old chicks were randomly divided into 5 groups. From d 22, birds were either kept in a thermoneutral zone (TN; 26.7°C for 24 h/d) or subjected to HS (35 ± 1.1°C and 75 ± 5% RH for 8 h/d from 1000 to 1800 h) to the conclusion of the study on d 42. Birds were fed either a corn-based diet (TN and HS groups) or the same diet supplemented with 0.5% MOS (HS-MOS group), 0.1% PM (HS-PM group), or their combination as a synbiotic (SYN; HS-SYN group). On d 42, birds were killed by cervical dislocation to collect serum for the determination of total oxidants, total antioxidants, paraoxonase, arylesterase, ceruloplasmin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and trace minerals. Heat stress increased (P < 0.05) total oxidants and total antioxidants and decreased (P < 0.05) paraoxonase and arylesterase, with no change in ceruloplasmin, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities. Dietary supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) total oxidants and total antioxidants, with no effect on the activities of other enzymes. Heat stress did not influence serum copper, zinc, and manganese concentrations of birds when compared with those in the TN group. However, MOS increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of all the trace minerals, whereas SYN increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of only zinc and copper. It was concluded that MOS or PM supplementation, alone or as a SYN, may reduce some of the detrimental effects of HS, whereas MOS alone or as a SYN may improve the absorption of trace minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty normal camels (Camelus dromedarius) were selected for gross morphological and modified staining of anterior pituitary. Camels were divided in three age groups viz 2-4, 5-10 and above 10 years. Pituitary weight, length, width and circumference were recorded before preservation and at midsegittal cutting. Pituitary weight increased significantly as these animals grew older. Male had heavier pituitary as compared to female. Higher pituitary weight was observed in old as compared to young camel. Sections (4μm) of camel pituitary gland were stained with "Phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin-Orange G-Acid fuchsin-Light green" combination of dyes. This combination of acidic and basic dyes showed affinity to their respective adenohypophyseal cells and proved a suitable combination for differentiation of adenohypophyseal cells and architectural pattern of pituitary gland. Use of Lugol's Iodine and sodium thiosulphate solution caused mercury fixation which ultimately enhanced the staining of camel adenohypophysis. The whole pituitary presented a brilliant appearance of clarity, enabling cell counts to be performed easily, purely with reference to the colors of adenohypophyseal cell types. This method can be applied for differential staining of adenohypophysis and with good cytology results to the hypophysis of many mammals. The method also provides a sharp contrast between cellular and connective tissue components. With this staining technique, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of different adenohypophyseal cell types at various functional and hormonal stages, under certain physiological and pathological conditions can also be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes were used to observe the effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on haematological profile. These buffaloes were divided into two groups, with eight buffaloes in each group. Buffaloes of group I were injected with sterilized normal saline to serve as control. Animals in group II were administered 500 mg of rbST subcutaneously, twice at an interval of 16 days. Blood with anticoagulant was collected to determine DLC, ESR and PCV. Overall mean ESR decreased significantly (5.74%) in rbST injected buffaloes as compared to control at the end of experimental period. Neutrophils percent decreased and lymphocytes percent increased significantly in rbST treated buffaloes compared to control. Packed cell volume, basophils, monocytes and eosinophils did not differ significantly between the two groups. In conclusion, high dose of rbST did not result in alteration of certain haematological parameters in buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hundred White Leg Horn Layers (70 week age) were arranged and brought to the poultry research station, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Four groups were made (n=50 each) into keeping G1 as control (CP 16%, No other supplement), G2 (CP 18% diet), G3 (CP16% diet; symbiotic @ 85 mg L-1/day) and G4 (CP 16% diet; probiotic @ 85 mg L-1/day). The body and organs (heart, liver, spleen, kidney, brain and pituitary) weight from fifteen birds in each group at 5% (5P), peak (PP) and end (EP) of post molt production stage were determined. The overall mean heart weight in G2 and pituitary weight in G2 and G3 reduced (P≤0.05) as compared to G1. The mean kidney weight found increased (P≤0.05) in G3 and G4 as compared to G1. The results show metabolic relation of protein and probiotics with body organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. A study was designed to investigate the comparative effect of supplementary vitamin E, vitamin C, probiotics and dietary crude protein concentration on semen traits and seminal plasma biochemical parameters in male broiler breeders after Zn-induced moulting. 2. A total of 180 male broiler breeders were induced to moult at 65 weeks of age by mixing ZnO in diet at the rate 3000 mg/kg of feed. After moulting, the males were divided into six groups that were given feed supplemented with: vitamin C (500 IU/kg), vitamin E (100 IU/kg), protein (140 g CP/kg), probiotics (50 mg/kg) and the combination of these components, while one group was kept as a control. Semen samples were collected weekly and semen volume, spermatozoa concentration, motility and dead spermatozoa percentage were determined. Seminal plasma was separated to determine the concentration of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), homocysteine, paraoxonase (PON1), arylesterase, ceruloplasmin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities. 3. Semen volume was significantly higher in the vitamin E and C groups compared to the control. Spermatozoa motility was higher in the vitamin E group and dead spermatozoa percentage was significantly lower in the vitamin C group compared with the control group. 4. Seminal plasma TAC was higher in the vitamin E group, homocysteine was lower in the vitamin C and E groups. PON1 was higher in the combination group. Arylesterase increased significantly in the vitamin C and combination groups over time. Seminal plasma AST was significantly lower in the vitamin C and E supplemented groups whereas ALT decreased significantly only in the vitamin E group compared with the control. Higher concentrations of ceruloplasmin were observed in the combination group compared with the other treatments. 5. It was concluded that additional vitamin E and C or their combination was the most potent nutrient treatment for improving the semen traits and seminal plasma biochemical characteristics in male broiler breeders after Zn-induced moulting.

Patient-tumor-specific oligonucleotides were generated for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in a highly specific and sensitive clonotypic polymerase chain reaction (cPCR). The clone-specific region of highest diversity, CDR-III, was PCR amplified and sequenced. Nested CDR-III clonotypic primers were used in a semi-nested cPCR with a sensitivity of at least 1 in 10(5) cells. Patients with protocol-eligible Rai intermediate or high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) received induction with fludarabine 25 mg/m(2) per day for 5 days every 4 weeks for 6 cycles, followed by consolidative high-dose cyclophosphamide (1.5, 2.25, or 3g/m(2)). cPCR was performed on peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells. All 5 patients achieving a clinical partial remission (PR) studied by cPCR were positive. Five patients achieved nodular PR (nPR) (residual nodules or suspicious lymphocytic infiltrates in a bone marrow biopsy as the sole suggestion of residual disease). Five of 5 patients with nPR were cPCR positive. In contrast, flow cytometry for CD5-CD19 dual staining and kappa--lambda clonal excess detected MRD in only 3 of the same 5 nPR patients, all of whom were cPCR positive, and immunohistochemistry detected MRD in only 1 of 4 assessable patients. Three of 7 CR patients evaluable by cPCR had MRD. Only 1 CR patient had MRD by flow cytometry; that patient was also cPCR positive. These data support the conclusions that nodular PR in CLL represents MRD and that clonotypic PCR detects MRD in CLL more frequently than flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry. (Blood. 2001;97:1929-1936)

All research is subject to bias that may systematically distort results. Though over 50 types of bias in analytical research have been identified and many classification schemes proposed, this review focuses on the special problem of selection bias in clinical trials. We demonstrate the systematic nature of selection bias in clinical research. We describe the common sources of selection bias in clinical trials including the (inappropriate) use of historical controls, stage migration, inclusion/exclusion criteria, the use of multiple subset analyses, and investigator bias. We then move from the general to the specific, using the recent experience of high dose chemotherapy for breast cancer as an illustrative example. Finally, we suggest means to avoid falling into the many selection bias traps that often confront clinical researchers.

The antiascarid activity of Caesalpinia crista Linn. seeds, popularly known as Karanjwa, was evaluated in chickens of the Fumi breed, suffering from artificially induced Ascaridia galli infection. Eggs per gram (EPG) counts were determined in the droppings of chickens prior and after treatment with powdered C. crista at doses of 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg of body weight along with its extracts in water and methanol in amounts representing 50 mg/kg of crude powder. The crude drug at the dose rates of 40 and 50 mg/kg and its methanol extract induced a significant (P < 0.001) effect on post-treatment days 10 and 15 while the 30 mg/kg dose was efficacious (P < 0.05) on day 15 only. However, the aqueous extract did not show significant results. These results suggest that a 50 mg/kg dose of C. crista seed powder, its equivalent methanolic extract and piperazine (200 mg/kg) are equieffective in treating the ascarid infection of poultry. The crude C. crista powder appears to be potent and safer than its methanol extract on the basis of the side effects observed.