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One hundred fifty Arbor Acers broiler chicks were distributed into five groups to study effects of using sodium formate, formic acid, Lactobacillus acidophilus and beta mannanase enzyme, in broiler feeds, on production performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, tibia properties and economic efficiency. Each group of birds, was divided into three replicates of ten chicks. The control group was fed basal (starter, grower and finisher) with no additives (T1), while other groups were offered basal diets supplemented with 2g sodium formate/kg (T2); 2 ml formic acid / kg (T3); 1g Lactobacillus acidophilus/ kg (T4) and 0.3 g beta mannanase/ kg (T5), respectively. The results indicated that all production performance parameters: initial and final body weight, daily body weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio, were not significantly affected by treatments throughout experimental period. Also, data of carcass, indicated that treatments had no significant effects compared with control group. Plasma total protein, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus and activity of alkaline phosphatase, were significantly different within groups. Tibia bone parameters: breaking force, density, robusticity index, Seedor index, were not significantly affected by treatments. Economical evaluation showed that, relative economic efficiency, was improved with chicks fed (T2) or (T3) diets, while those fed (T4) or (T5) diets, recorded lower values. It could be concluded that, supplementation of basal diets with sodium formate or formic acid enhanced economic efficiency of broiler chickens, without affecting performance or carcass traits.

In the international Public-private partnerships (PPP) market, there is a common use of PPP units for the initiation and management of PPPs. The common examples include Partnerships BC, Partnerships UK, and Partnerships Victoria. A PPP unit could be a policy unit, implementation unit, or both. In the United States PPPs have been implemented through the same offices that manage the conventional design-bid-build projects. Content analysis and a case study approach have been used in this research to examine the use of PPP units in the United States. The analysis shows that PPP transportation projects are delivered in the PPP-enabled states through the internal resources of the departments of transportation without centralized government office. Around fourteen states have internal PPP offices that provide partial/full policy formulation/guidance, coordination, and promotion. Only five states have expanded the functions to the real PPP procurement management work, and that those states are also the leading states in PPP implementation. Having a unit that carries only policy guidance might not be as effective as a unit that does both PPP policy and procurement management. Without centralized units, the implementation of PPP would not be effectively streamlined and implemented in government. The analysis also shows that Florida and Texas are expanding their PPP toward more public facilities and infrastructure; this signifies that the more a state became familiar with PPP, the more it used it for the delivery of projects. The research provides insights to public agencies on the use of PPP units.

Acacia nilotica (L.) pods are commonly used in the Egyptian traditional medicine since pharaonic ages. In vitro and In vivo screening of biological activity of Acacia nilotica (L.)pods emphasized its use in the Egyptian traditional medicine. Further chemical investigation on fractions of the hot water extract of Acacia nilotica (L.) pods revealed that the water extract is more potent than any of its fractions. Some compounds are isolated and identified from fractions of the hot water extract of Acacia nilotica (L.) pods.