Ration Levels Research Articles

HAEMATOLOGY AND BLOOD FAT PROFILE OF MUSCOVY DUCK FED WITH DIFFERENT PROTEIN LEVELS SOURCED FROM GOLDEN SNAILS

This research was conducted to see that effect of using golden snail as alternatif fed for Muscovy ducks on different ration level to hematologi profil and blood fat. 64 Muscovy ducks of 8 weeks of age were use in this study use a randomized block design with four treatments and four replications, whereas each replicate consisted of four male Muscovy ducks. The composition of the ration used consisted of corn, rice bran, pollard, coconut meal and golden snail meal. There were four treatments included P0 (control feed), P1 (control feed + 10% golden snail meal), P2 (control feed+20% golden snail meal), P3 (control feed + 30% golden snail meal). The parameters observed were hematological profile including hemoglobin content, erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, and blood hematocrit content and than blood metabolites including cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL. The study used a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replicates. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Based on the results obtained there was no significant difference in erythrocyte levels each treatment, but the hemoglobin level in muscovy duck given 30% golden snail showed significant differences in all treatments. Results of blood metabolites, showed no significant difference in triglyceride levels in all treatments, but the cholesterol content in the ration given 30% golden snail meal (P3) was lower and significantly different from other treatments. In general, giving 30% golden snail meal in the ration shows better results based on the hematological profile

A six-factor asset pricing model of China's stock market from the perspective of institutional investors' dominance

PurposeChina's stock market, which serves as an example of emerging markets, is steadily maturing in the context of globalization. In order to analyze the pricing mechanism of China's stock market, this paper builds a six-factor model to address the market features that are structurally efficient but not entirely efficient.Design/methodology/approachThis study updates the Fama–French factor model's construction process to account for the unique features of China's stock market before creating a model that incorporates size, volume, value, profitability, and profit-income factors based on institutional investors' trading behavior and research preferences. The SWS three-tier sector stock index's monthly and quarterly data for the years 2016–2021 are used as samples for this study.FindingsThe results imply that China's stock market is structurally efficient and exhibits high levels of rationality in the region dominated by institutional investors. Specifically, big-size and high-volume portfolios that perform well in terms of liquidity can receive trading premiums. Growth-style sectors prevail at present, and investing in sectors with strong profitability and reliable financial reporting data can produce better returns.Practical implicationsThe research on China's stock market can be extended to improve the understanding of the development process of similar emerging markets, thereby promoting their improvement. To enhance the development of emerging markets, the regulators should attach great importance to the role of local institutional investors in driving the market to maturity. It is crucial to adopt a structured approach to examine the market pricing mechanism throughout the middle stage of the transition from developing to mature markets.Originality/valueThis study offers a structured viewpoint on asset pricing in growing emerging markets by combining the multi-factor pricing model approach with behavioral finance theories.

CONFLICT BEHAVIOR STRATEGIES IN RELATION TO COGNITIVE ATTITUDES AND DECISION-MAKING STYLE

Modern understanding of conflict inclines us to the idea that conflict is closely related to cognitive phenomena, which can radically change the course of the conflict by influencing them. In order to use constructive approaches to conflict resolution, it is necessary to master effective techniques that affect personal attitudes and the individual's world view. The article presents the results of research work aimed at studying the relationship of personality behavior strategies in conflict, cognitive attitudes and decision-making styles. Based on theoretical definitions and analysis of practical research, it has been suggested that strategies of behavior in conflict are interrelated with irrational cognitive attitudes and decision-making styles. According to the results of an empirical study obtained on the material of 88 male students studying in technical areas of training at various universities in Perm, in the age range from 20 to 24 years (Me=22), it is shown that behavioral strategies in conflict are interrelated with a number of cognitive attitudes and a decision-making style. Links have been identified at the level of significance (p ≤ 0.05) between: the level of rationality and the manifestation of rivalry, evaluative cognitive attitude and a protective behavior strategy together with a neutral-independent non-verbal behavior strategy, catastrophizing attitude and a compromise strategy, rational-analytical style of thinking and a strategy of adjustment. Also three factors of conflict behavior of personality depending on the expression of irrational cognitive attitudes were identified: "Rational-partner", "Irrational-avoidant", "Intuitive-manipulative". The results obtained are proposed to be used in conflict counseling in order to more effectively regulate the course of conflicts.

FORMATION OF ECONOMIC RATIONALITY OF INTERACTION OF ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE OF WATER TRANSPORT IN NEW CONDITIONS

Topicality. Significant changes in geopolitical conditions in the Black Sea region, in particular, and the world as a whole leads to a radical redistribution of trade flows, markets. This process causes changes in the market of transport services. There are trends in the ratio of competitiveness of the Black Sea ports. These changes and the accompanying dynamic processes occur in real time. In order for Ukraine's economy to respond appropriately to such dynamic changes, there is an urgent need to establish clear guidelines, unambiguous criteria and formulate proposals to ensure a high degree of adaptability of the public administration system to rapid changes in external and internal conditions.Aim and tasks. The aim of the work is scientific substantiation and development of methodical bases of interaction of elements of system of state management of water transport in new conditions, offer of recommendations of organizational character on increase of adaptability of management process at maintenance of rationality of interaction of all elements of management system. Achieving the goal of the study necessitated the formulation and solution of the following tasks: to propose numerical criteria for the economic rationality of the interaction of the management system; develop a model; to substantiate the algorithm of state management of water transport for its specific field of activity for assessing the levels of efficiency and rationality of management measures.Research results. The paper summarizes the approaches to the formation of the state water transport management system with the appropriate degree of adaptability to rapid changes in external and internal conditions, offers criteria for economic efficiency and rationality of water transport management and justifies their choice, applied analysis of the need for management measures cargo and to increase the efficiency of interaction of adjacent modes of transport.Conclusion. It established that intermodal and multimodal cargo transportation (IMCT) is the most promising area of modernization of transport infrastructure, a tool for operational testing of new routes, a means to enter promising markets for transport services, and a mechanism for creating a new level of competitiveness of water transport in Ukraine.The study established the criteria for the appropriate level of efficiency and rationality of management efforts in the field of water transport. It stated that these criteria should be numerical rather than qualitative for greater objectivity. Criteria of economic efficiency and rationality specified for the field of IMCT. The algorithm of public management of IMCT with proper and relevant assessment of the levels of efficiency and rationality of management measures is offered. The obtained results of the research allow achieving the necessary levels of economic rationality of the interaction of the elements of the system of state management of water transport in the new conditions.

A Study on the Rationality of Land Use Change in the Dianchi Basin during the Last 40 Years under the Background of Lake Revolution

(1) Background: Dianchi Lake is the largest freshwater plateau lake in southwest China. Since the 1970s, with the large-scale lake reclamation and rapid urbanization, the land use/cover of the Dianchi Basin has changed dramatically, directly hindering the sustainable development of the watershed. It is urgent to study the rationality of land use change in order to promote the “win-win” of eco-environment protection and sustainable economic and social development in Dianchi Basin. (2) Methods: The rationality judgment criteria of land use change in Dianchi Basin was constructed from ecological values, land suitability, laws and regulations, and the rationality of land use change in the Dianchi Basin from 1980 to 2020 was evaluated. (3) Results: The rational degree of land use change in the Dianchi Basin was 71.76%, and the level of rationality was low rationality. The rational degree of change in cultivated land, woodland, grassland, water area and construction land was 74.41%, 69.11%, 77.11%, 3.07% and 98.26%, respectively. Among the irrational land changes, 86.59% of the land had changed to construction land. (4) Conclusions: The main problems of irrational land change in the Dianchi Basin are the massive reduction in high-quality cultivated land, the degradation of woodland, and the unordered expansion of construction land. In order to achieve sustainable development, it is important to protect cultivated land, woodland, grassland and lakes.

Disassortative Mixing and Systemic Rational Behaviour: How System Rationality Is Influenced by Topology and Placement in Networked Systems

Interdependent decisionmaking of individuals in social systems can be modelled by games played on complex networks. Players in such systems have bounded rationality, which influences the computation of equilibrium solutions. It has been shown that the ‘system rationality’, which indicates the overall rationality of a network of players, may play a key role in the emergence of scale-free or core-periphery topologies in real-world networks. In this work, we identify optimal topologies and mixing patterns of players which can maximise system rationality. Based on simulation results, we show that irrespective of the placement of nodes with higher rationality, it is the disassortative mixing of node rationality that helps to maximize system rationality in a population. In other words, the findings of this work indicate that the overall rationality of a population may improve when more players with non-similar individual rationality levels interact with each other. We identify particular topologies such as the core-periphery topology, which facilitates the optimisation of system rationality. The findings presented in this work may have useful interpretations and applications in socio-economic systems for maximizing the utility of interactions in a population of strategic players.

How about the Attitudes towards Nature? Analysis of the Nature and Biology Primary School Education Curricula in Poland

One of the most important goals in biology education is shaping positive attitudes towards nature, social and global problems, as well as health. Environmental education is an essential element because without pro-environmental attitudes, every environment-protecting action is less successful, and the results have much less impact on society. In the following article, we tried to combine this idea with the school curriculum, which is one of the most important documents used in education. The research question addressed in this paper is to what extent does biology/nature primary school’s education curriculum highlight shaping attitudes (at sensory, functional, and rational levels), and how did it change during the educational reform in Poland? The sample is the Polish core curricula for nature and biology for primary school. National curricula have been revised by the analysis of the content methods before and after the 2017 reform of the education system. The results showed that while sensory and functional levels are represented quite equally in the curricula, the rational level is neglected and has decreasing tendency (when comparing curricula before and after educational reform in 2017). It is presented an interdisciplinary method of analyzing the core curriculum, particularly what relates to attitudes. The presented analysis method is, by definition, interdisciplinary, combining the approach of cognitive sciences, psychology, and science education. On the basis of the research, new elements that should or might be taken into consideration in school practice are proposed. The proposed approach assumes that the combination of teaching ideas and values (that are deeply rooted in our nature) will be successful in shaping pro-environmental attitudes toward nature and health.

Costly incentives design from an institutional perspective: cooperation, sustainability and affluence

Incentives are usually introduced by the regulator entity (third-party), to promote cooperation in a market. The implementation of incentives is always costly and thus might fail to be enforced sustainably. This work aims at exploring the effects of incentives from an institutional perspective, while coping with the scenario where the third-party is part of the system but not composed by players. The evolutionary game theory (EGT) framework is applied to identify the incentives that lead to pure cooperation. In contrast to traditional EGT, this paper introduces an elimination mechanism that can reduce the market size. The incentives identified in the EGT analysis are further examined in simulation experiments which measure the market size, affluence and sustainability. The findings show: (1) light punishment leads to a reduction of the market size, yet heavier punishment is beneficial to the market size and wealth; (2) mixed incentives will generally lead to different wealth of the third party and of the participants. While under moderate strength, the wealth of both parties is the same and their overall wealth is maximal; (3) for sustainability, pure punishment (resp. reward) is sustainable (resp. unsustainable), the sustainability of mixed incentives depends on both their strength and agents’ rationality level.

Developing the agro-industrial complex of Russia and ensuring the food security of the country under sanctions

Subject. The article addresses the activities of the agro-industrial complex of Russia to ensure the country's food security in the context of sanctions, using the case of the most important sectors of crop production. Objectives. The aims are to perform a retrospective analysis of the grain and sugar beet industries development in Russia, to describe the role of the agro-industrial complex of the Russian Federation in ensuring the country's food security in the context of foreign trade restrictions. Methods. The study employs methods of analysis and synthesis, grouping and comparison, abstraction, generalization, and analogy. The dynamics of the main parameters characterizing the activity of the most important branches of crop production was analyzed on the basis of statistical data, using the methods of mathematical modeling and systems analysis. Results. The presented analysis helped identify the main trends in the development of the grain and sugar beet subcomplexes of the agro-industrial complex, to assess the achieved levels of provision of the population with the main food resources and the processing industries of the agro-industrial complex of Russia with agricultural resources. The achieved levels of provision with food resources correspond to the viewpoints of specialists and the World Health Organization on rational levels of consumption. Conclusions. At present Russia has a real opportunity to maintain a high level of consumption of agricultural products by the population, to provide the processing industry with agricultural raw materials, to increase the export of agricultural products of the most important sectors of the agro-industrial complex.

An In vitro Approach to Optimize Levels of Moringa oleifera Meal Incorporation in Total Mixed Ration for Crossbred Heifer Calves

An in vitro experimentation outside living animals to evaluate feed/fodders on digestibility and gas production is cheap, easy and having more control condition as compared to an in vivo evaluation on livestock which is costly and time-consuming event. The incorporation of Moringa oleifera meals @ 2.5– 22.5% with increment of 2.5% in total mixed ration-TMR replacing concentrate mixture (50%) was assessed on in vitro digestibility, total gas production (TGP) and metabolizable energy (ME) content for growing crossbred heifer calves. The roughage part (50%) of TMR was hybrid napier (15%) and ground nut straw (35%). All these ingredients were oven dried for twenty four hour at 70°C and finely ground in hammer mill using 1 mm sieve. 500 mg of each TMR were incubated at 39±1°C for 48 hours in triplicate along with blank without TMR. The results of experiment revealed that incorporation of Moringa oleifera meal @ 5.0% with increment levels of 2.5% and higher levels up to 22.5% to replace high protein concentrate mixture (50%) in total mixed ration containing 50% roughage (15% hybrid napier and 35% ground nut straw) has improved (p<0.05) in vitro dry matter digestibility (60.879±0.251 to 64.678±0.679%), in vitro gas production (81.000±9.018 to 95.667±1.764 ml/500 mg TMR) and ME content (2.356±0.068 to 3.223±0.057 Mcal ME kg-1 TMR) of total mixed ration. The levels 5% and above up to 22.5% with increment of 2.5% level in total mixed ration replacing concentrate mixture was found suitable for in vivo growth study of crossbred heifer calves.

Rationality As A Meta-Analytical Capacity of the Human Mind: From the Social Sciences to Gödel

In contrast to dominant approaches to human reason involving essentially a logical and instrumental conception of rationality easily modeled by artificial intelligence mechanisms, I argue that the specific capacities of the human mind are meta-analytic in nature, understood as irreducible to the analytic or the logical, or else the computational. Firstly, the assumption of a meta-analytical level of rationality is derived from key insights developed in various branches of the social sciences. This meta-analytical level is then inferred from Gödel’s incompleteness theorem. On these bases, and with the help of psychological approaches to consciousness, I argue that human rationality may be characterized as the capacity to make meaningful use of signs.

Belief and higher‐order belief in the centipede games: An experimental investigation

AbstractThis paper experimentally explores the epistemic conditions behind people's non‐equilibrium behaviour in the centipede games. We propose a novel design of laboratory experiment to elicit people's first‐ and second‐order beliefs regarding their opponents' choices and beliefs. The measured beliefs, together with the choice data, help us to estimate people's level of rationality, belief of rationality and second‐order belief of rationality. To examine how these epistemic variables are affected by the social‐efficiency property of the classic increasing‐sum centipede game, we revisit the constant‐sum centipede and compare the measured epistemic conditions from the constant‐sum with those from the classic centipede. We find that people's non‐backward induction behaviour may be attributed to the diffusion of beliefs and higher‐order beliefs in the increasing‐sum centipede. We consider a behavioural model in which people's preferences for social efficiency are incorporated into the extended utility maximization problem. Our analytical and estimation results indicate that the presence of efficiency‐oriented players and people's belief towards the uncertain portion of such type of players may play a part in the non‐backward‐induction outcomes in experimental centipede games.

Evaluasi Rasionalitas Penggunaan Antibiotik pada Pasien dengan Infeksi Saluran Kemih di Rumah Sakit X di Surakarta

The study was conducted by evaluating the rationality of antibiotics as an indicator of the rationality of antibiotic administration with the aim of knowing the level of rationality of the pattern of prescribing antibiotics for urinary tract infections The rationality analysis method of prescribing antibiotics in this study used the Gyssens method as a method in medical research used to determine the rationality of antibiotic administration. This research is a descriptive observational study with a cross-sectional method. The data was obtained from a retrospective search of medical records from January to December 2020 at the medical records section of the Hospital in Surakarta. The results showed that the number of patients with urinary tract infections who were hospitalized during 2020 was 104 patients and the number of patients who received antibiotic prescriptions was 80 patients. The results of rationality analysis showed that the antibiotics used in patients with urinary tract infections were 27 (33.75%) cases of antibiotic use including category 0 (zero) which means rational use of antibiotics. Irrational use of antibiotics occurred in category III-A as 40 cases (50%), II-B as 11 cases (13.75%), and the combination of II B with III A as 2 cases (2.5%).

Applying the Project Portfolio Management Maturity Level Selection Method to an Organization

The purpose of the paper is to create and apply a method for selecting the maturity level of an organization in the field of project portfolio management. A method for assessing the maturity level of an organization in the field of project portfolio management is proposed. The method is based on assessing the application of principles, functions, life cycle, specialized organizational structure, prescribed roles, and responsibilities for their implementation in managing a portfolio of projects. A distinctive feature of the method is that the evaluation uses a generalized table of project portfolio management processes. The functions performed should be reflected in this table. A method is proposed for choosing the maturity level of an organization’s project portfolio management based on the optimization of the maturity level and costs of project portfolio management. The method is applied to select a rational level of maturity of project portfolio management for a technical university.

Rational Choice in the Qur'an and Hadiths

The rational choice theory, which first emerged as a theory trying to understand the choices of individuals in their economic lives, later started to be used in sociology as another approach that can help in understanding the actions of individuals in their daily lives. Although there are some criticisms about the application of rational choice theory to other social sciences and especially to the religious field due to its economic background, the existence of rational choice theory has recently started to be talked about in people's preferences regarding the religious field. In this study, firstly, the rational choice theory is briefly mentioned, and then its use in explaining religious behaviors is discussed. At this point, the concepts of will, freewill and responsibility in the religious literature are discussed. Then, it is mentioned that religious behaviors are handled and evaluated within the framework of rational choice. Finally, examples that can be considered as rational choice are given in the verses and hadiths, although the theory emerged later. In the study, instead of discussing all aspects of rational choice theory, the aspect of this theory, which considers people as free individuals who act rationally in their actions and can calculate profit and loss in their preferences, is emphasized. In this respect, examples of individuals being free in their preferences and rational behavior in their preferences are emphasized in the Qur'an and hadiths. Issues such as the freedom of people, having free will and having a freewill in their preferences are one of the issues that have been discussed, still being discussed within the scope of human freedom in many fields, especially in theology and philosophy. In this study, the ability to act rationally in the context of the Qur'an and hadiths is discussed, taking into account the individual's situation of being punished or rewarded in line with the choices they make, away from theological and philosophical approaches and discussions. There are different approaches to explaining religious behavior. At this point, no claim is made in the study that all religious behaviors can be explained within the scope of rational choice theory. In the study, rather than the economic approach of rational choice theory, it has been tried to convey through examples from the verses and hadiths that the religious behavior of individuals in the context of Islam is done by meeting the needs of a minimum level of consciousness and rationality, and that people are made responsible/responsible as a result of doing what they prefer, taking into account the consequences and profits/losses. In the study, it has been determined that the concept of will, which is included in the Islamic literature, is handled within the scope of the individual's freedom of choice and this provides an opportunity for rational choice. It is seen that this freedom of choice also brings a responsibility to the person. Therefore, the concepts of will and responsibility appear as concepts related to rational choice theory. In the examples taken from the Qur'an and hadiths, it has been determined that Allah and His Messenger (pbuh) advised people to choose the more beneficial one. The recommendations in question may be related to the life of this world as well as to the life of the hereafter. Declaring in the Qur'an and hadiths that it would be more beneficial for a person to prefer the hereafter rather than worldly life; However, the Prophet's advice to his companions about the worldly life, which is more beneficial, is one of the indicators of this situation.

Transforming everyday experience: Transformative learning, disorienting dilemmas and Honneth's theory of recognition

AbstractAxel Honneth's theory of recognition outlines the personal and social contexts of family, law and community solidarities in which recognition – and misrecognitions – are experienced. His work has implications for Mezirow's theory of transformative learning. Transformative learning is critiqued for an over dependence on the Dewey/Habermas foundations that demand high levels of rationality and for an over reliance on individual learning to the exclusion of social learning. Honneth's ideas are explored in order to further develop the understanding of how experience is central to transformative learning. Disorienting dilemmas and the perplexities that lead to transformative learning are reinterpreted as experiences that have personal and social dimensions. Experience – often seen as individual and unique ‐ cannot be disconnected from social contexts. Honneth helps us resolve these issues and allows us to re‐interpret transformative learning as the transformation of experience. Finally, two further concepts are introduced: a) the dialectic nature of experience (Negt); and b) the importance of completeness (Negt). These further enhance the experiential grounding for emancipation and the emancipatory project of transformative learning.

The Way of Truth and Principles of Logic in Parmenides

Antik Yunan düşüncesinin mitolojiden ayrılıp sistematik bir düşünceye evrilmesini izleyen süreçte Elea Okulu’nun kurucusu Parmenides, zamanının ve belki de genel olarak sağduyunun tam karşıtı tezlerle düşüncelerini biçimlendirmiştir. Onun ünlü şiiri Doğa Üzerine (Peri physeōs/Περὶ Φύσεως), içerdiği mantıksal ilke, çıkarım, çözümlemeler ışığında, yapı ve imkânı bağlamında bilgi; zaman, mekân, hareket gibi nitelikler çerçevesinde de varlık felsefelerini derinden etkilemiştir. Söz konusu dönemde Parmenides’in ve takipçilerinin mantıksal iç tutarlılığı, savlarındaki rasyonel düzey, Antik Yunan felsefesini biçimlendirmiştir. Onun özellikle doğa felsefesinde ve metafizikte oynadığı rol yadsınamaz. Bununla birlikte aktarılan tek eseri olan şiiri hakkında, ortaya konulan tezler ve bunların yorumları bağlamında belirsizlikler günümüze kadar giderilememiştir. Bu gizemin boyutları, salt klasik düşünce ile ilgili de değildir. Fizik yaklaşımlarına bağlı varlık felsefeleri, bunlara dair kuramsal ve kurumsal inançlar, çeşitli kozmogoni ve dil anlayışları, bir şekilde Parmenides’le ilişkilendirilebilir. Aristoteles’in kurguladığı ve bu nedenle haklı bir şöhreti elde ettiği mantık felsefesinin temellerini oluşturan ve metafizik kökenleri de bulunan bazı içeriklerin erken biçimlerini de Parmenides’te bulmak mümkündür. Dedüktif (deductive/tümdengelimsel) yaklaşımın yanında özellikle özdeşlik, çelişmezlik, üçüncü hâlin imkânsızlığı ve yeter sebep ilkeleri, dile getirilenler arasında en önemli kavramlardır. Doğrudan formüle edilmeyen söz konusu ilkeler, Parmenides’in bilgi, varlık ve ilintili kavramlar hakkında ortaya koyduğu savlar bağlamında kullanılmıştır. Çalışmamızda, Parmenides’in kaleme aldığı şiirin önemli noktalarına değinerek, dile getirdiğimiz ilkelerin kavramsal boyutta kullanım biçimini, mantıksal yapılarını incelemeye, söz konusu sürecin izlerini takip etmeye ve etkilerini irdelemeye çalışacağız. Bu gayretin temel nedeni; Parmenides’in ortaya koyduğu içeriğin, günümüzde de tartışılmaya devam edilmesi, yukarıda dile getirdiğimiz pek çok alanda etkisini sürdürmesi, felsefenin gelişiminde önemli bir köşe taşı olmasıdır.

Impact of protein supplementation on semen quality, fertility, and BMP1R gene expression in sheep of Bangladesh.

A study was carried out to know the impact of protein supplementation on fertility and expressions of the fertility gene BMP1R. Three International Organization for Standardization (ISO), isocaloric but different levels of protein supplement ration (11.70% crude protein [CP] for control/To, 12.99% CP for T1, and 13.86% CP for T2) were fed to three different groups of sheep. DNA was extracted from the whole blood sample for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the BMP1R fertility gene, and purified PCR products were sequenced by a Sanger sequencer. Sequence alignment, pair, and multi-alignment comparison of the BMP1R gene of the species were done with MEGA6. The semen volume (1.0 mL), sperm counts (4.2 × 107 million), and percentage of normal (94.3%) and viable sperm (3.7%) were higher in treatment 2 than in the other two groups. The semen volume (1.0 mL), sperm counts (4.2 × 107 million), and the percentage of normal (94.3%) and viable sperm (3.7%) were higher in treatment 2 than in the other two groups. Ewes treated with supplemented, protein concentrate reached the conception at an earlier age (treatment 1, 9.5 ± 0.16 mo and treatment 2, 10.3 ± 0.04 mo) than control (9.8 ± 0.15 mo). The lambing interval varied, from 198 to 202 d. Lamb’s birth weights in three treated groups were ranging from 1.2 to 1.39 kg. The designated sequences of BMP1R gene revealed 100% homology with the sequence of Kazakh sheep. The present study indicated that the influence of nutrition on reproductive performance and genomic study will be helpful for the genetic improvement of low-productive sheep.

Pricing strategy and collection rate for a supply chain considering environmental responsibility behaviors and rationality degree

Owing to the coexistence of environmental pollution and green behaviors, optimizing pricing strategy and collection rate is a growing concern. We develop game-theoretical models to investigate these issues in a supply chain considering environmental responsibility behaviors under two scenarios, perfect rationality and bounded rationality. Equal-pricing and differentiated-pricing strategies are given special attention. Under perfect rationality, we find that: (i) for a high unit environmental cost of uncollected used products, to optimize collection rate, the manufacturer makes a trade-off between total environmental cost reduction and the investment in collecting used products, rather than consumers’ demand; (ii) the retailer’s profitability for remanufactured products depends on green consumers partly or fully accepting remanufactured products, especially under equal-pricing; and (iii) when green consumers partly accept remanufactured products, for a medium green consumers’ acceptance degree and a low ordinary consumers’ acceptance degree, differentiated-pricing benefits the manufacturer but hurts the retailer. When there are enough green consumers, the retailer’s interests are aligned with the manufacturer and the supply chain under differentiated-pricing. Under bounded rationality, we find that: (i) compared with perfect rationality, the manufacturer and the retailer decrease the prices for new products and collection rate, and increase the price for remanufactured products, especially under differentiated-pricing; (ii) for a low bounded rationality level, the manufacturer and supply chain are better off by using differentiated-pricing; and (iii) consumers’ multi-dimensional heterogeneities and purchasing uncertainty play important roles in choosing an optimal pricing strategy.

LEAST COST HOMEMADE STARTER’S RATION EFFECT ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF INDIGENOUS AND SASSO BREED CHICKS

The objective of this study was commercial starters ration substitution by least-cost ration in various levels on the growth performance of Indigenous and Sasso chicks in Farta Woreda. The research area is 666km far from the capital city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 150 Indigenous local and 450 Sasso T-44 day-old chicks were randomly assigned into five dietary groups, which contained 0% (T5), 25 (T4), 50 (T3), 75 (T2), and 100 (T1) of commercial starter’s ration in factorial completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replications for two months feeding period. The results showed that the commercial ration level decreased and the increased level of the least cost homemade ration was significantly low (p<0.001) retaining dry matter and nitrogen, mean daily feed consumption and metabolizable energy. On the opposing, there was an increase in fiber content and feed conversion ratio in high-level dilution of starter’s commercial diet with a homemade diet. Yet, chicks on 0, 25, and 50% commercial starters rations groups substituted by homemade rations were significantly higher (p<0.001) in daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mean daily feed intake and final body weight attained. According to these results, up to 50% of expensive commercial starter rations were replaced by the least-cost homemade ration without adversely affecting the growth performance of chicks.