Abstract: Bacterial strains capable of degradation of malathion
from the domestic sewage were isolated by an enrichment culture
technique. Three bacterial strains were screened and identified as
Acinetobacter baumannii (AFA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PS1),
and Pseudomonas mendocina (PS2) based on morphological,
biochemical identification and 16S rRNA sequence analysis.
Acinetobacter baumannii AFA was the most efficient malathion
degrading bacterium, so used for further biodegradation study. AFA
was able to grow in mineral salt medium (MSM) supplemented with
malathion (100 mg/l) as a sole carbon source, and within 14 days,
84% of the initial dose was degraded by the isolate measured by high
performance liquid chromatography. Strain AFA could also degrade
other organophosphorus compounds including diazinon, chlorpyrifos
and fenitrothion. The effect of different culture conditions on the
degradation of malathion like inoculum density, other carbon or
nitrogen sources, temperature and shaking were examined.
Degradation of malathion and bacterial cell growth were accelerated
when culture media were supplemented with yeast extract, glucose
and citrate. The optimum conditions for malathion degradation by
strain AFA were; an inoculum density of 1.5x 10^12CFU/ml at 30°C
with shaking. A specific polymerase chain reaction primers were
designed manually using multiple sequence alignment of the
corresponding carboxylesterase enzymes of Acinetobacter species.
Sequencing result of amplified PCR product and phylogenetic
analysis showed low degree of homology with the other
carboxylesterase enzymes of Acinetobacter strains, so we suggested
that this enzyme is a novel esterase enzyme. Isolated bacterial strains
may have potential role for use in bioremediation of malathion
contaminated.
Abstract: In Brazil, neonatal mortality rate is considered
incompatible with the country development conditions, and has been
a Public Health concern. Reduction in infant mortality rates has also
been part of the Millennium Development Goals, a commitment
made by countries, members of the Organization of United Nations
(OUN), including Brazil. Fetal mortality rate is considered a highly
sensitive indicator of health care quality. Suitable actions, such as
good quality and access to health services may contribute positively
towards reduction in these fetal and neonatal rates. With appropriate
antenatal follow-up and health care during gestation and delivery,
some death causes could be reduced or even prevented by means of
early diagnosis and intervention, as well as changes in risk factors
and interventions. Objectives: To study the quality of maternal and
infant health care based on fetal and neonatal mortality, as well as the
possible actions to prevent those deaths in Botucatu (Brazil).
Methods: Classification of prevention according to the International
Classification of Diseases and the modified Wigglesworth´s
classification. In order to evaluate adequacy, indicators of quality of
antenatal and delivery care were established by the authors. Results:
Considering fetal deaths, 56.7% of them occurred before delivery,
which reveals possible shortcomings in antenatal care, and 38.2% of
them were a result of intra- labor changes, which could be prevented
or reduced by adequate obstetric management. These findings were
different from those in the group of early neonatal deaths which were
also studied. Adequacy of health services showed that antenatal and
childbirth care was appropriate for 24% and 33.3% of pregnant
women, respectively, which corroborates the results of prevention.
These results revealed that shortcomings in obstetric and antenatal
care could be the causes of deaths in the study. Early and late
neonatal deaths have similar characteristics: 76% could be prevented
or reduced mainly by adequate newborn care (52.9%) and adequate
health care for gestational women (11.7%). When adequacy of care
was evaluated, childbirth and newborn care was adequate in 25.8%
and antenatal care was adequate in 16.1%. In conclusion, direct
relationship was found between adequacy and quality of care
rendered to pregnant women and newborns, and fetal and infant
mortality. Moreover, our findings highlight that deaths could be
prevented by an adequate obstetric and neonatal management.
Abstract: Photonic Crystal Fibers (PCFs) can be used in optical
communications as transmission lines. For this reason, the PCFs with
low confinement loss, low chromatic dispersion, and low nonlinear
effects are highly suitable transmission media. In this paper, we
introduce a new design of index-guiding nanostructured photonic
crystal fiber (IG-NPCF) with ultra-low chromatic dispersion, low
nonlinearity effects, and low confinement loss. Relatively low
dispersion is achieved in the wavelength range of 1200 to 1600nm
using the proposed design. According to the new structure of
nanostructured PCF presented in this study, the chromatic dispersion
slope is -30(ps/km.nm) and the confinement loss reaches below 10-7
dB/km. While in the wavelength range mentioned above at the same
time an effective area of more than 50.2μm2 is obtained.
Abstract: In this paper, extract of papaya leaves are used as a
natural dye and combined by variations of solvent concentration
applied on DSSC (Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell). Indonesian geographic
located on the equator line occasions the magnitude of the potential
to develop organic solar cells made from extracts of chlorophyll as a
substitute for inorganic materials or synthetic dye on DSSC material.
Dye serves as absorbing photons which are then converted into
electrical energy. A conductive coated glass layer called TCO
(Transparent Conductive Oxide) is used as a substrate of electrode.
TiO2 nanoparticles as binding dye molecules, redox couple iodide/
tri-iodide as the electrolyte and carbon as the counter electrode in the
DSSC are used. TiO2 nanoparticles, organic dyes, electrolytes, and
counter electrode are arranged and combined with the layered
structure of the photo-catalyst absorption layer. Dye absorption
measurements using a spectrophotometer at 400-800 nm light
spectrum produces a total amount of chlorophyll 80.076 mg/l. The
test cell at 7 watt LED light with 5000 lux luminescence was
obtained Voc and Isc of 235.5 mV and 14 μA, respectively.
Abstract: A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the
optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for juvenile fancy carp. Eight
experimental diets were formulated to contain four protein levels (200,
300, 400 and 500 g kg-1) with two lipid levels (70 and 140 g kg-1).
Triplicate groups of fish (initial weight, 12.1±0.2 g fish-1) were
hand-fed the diets to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. Fish growth
performance, feed utilization and feed intake were significantly
(P0.05). Weight gain and feed efficiency ratio tended to
increase as dietary protein level increased up to 400 and 500 g kg-1,
respectively. Daily feed intake of fish decreased with increasing
dietary protein level and that of fish fed diet contained 500 g kg-1
protein was significantly lower than other fish groups. The protein
efficiency ratio of fish fed 400 and 500 g kg-1 protein was lower than
that of fish fed 200 and 300 g kg-1 protein. Moisture, crude protein and
crude lipid contents of muscle and liver were significantly affected by
dietary protein, but not by dietary lipid level (P>0.05). The increase in
dietary lipid level resulted in an increase in linoleic acid in liver and
muscle paralleled with a decrease in n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids
content in muscle of fish. In considering these results, it was concluded
that the diet containing 400 g kg-1 protein with 70 g kg-1 lipid level is
optimal for growth and efficient feed utilization of juvenile fancy carp.
Abstract: This study examines the credibility of the signaling as
explanation for IPO initial underpricing. Findings reveal the initial
underpricing and the long-term underperformance of IPOs in Taiwan.
However, we only find weak support for signaling as explanation of
IPO underpricing.
Abstract: Axial flow fans, while incapable of developing high
pressures, they are well suitable for handling large volumes of air at
relatively low pressures. In general, they are low in cost and possess
good efficiency, and can have blades of airfoil shape. Axial flow fans
show good efficiencies, and can operate at high static pressures if
such operation is necessary. Our objective is to model and analyze
the flow through AXIAL FANS using CFD Software and draw
inference from the obtained results, so as to get maximum efficiency.
The performance of an axial fan was simulated using CFD and the
effect of variation of different parameters such as the blade number,
noise level, velocity, temperature and pressure distribution on the
blade surface was studied. This paper aims to present a final 3D CAD
model of axial flow fan. Adapting this model to the available
components in the market, the first optimization was done. After this
step, CFX flow solver is used to do the necessary numerical analyses
on the aerodynamic performance of this model. This analysis results
in a final optimization of the proposed 3D model which is presented
in this article.
Abstract: The financial crises caused a collapse in prices of
most asset classes, raising the attention on alternative investments
such as sukuk, a smaller, fast growing but often misunderstood
market. We study diversification benefits of sukuk, their correlation
with other asset classes and the effects of their inclusion in
investment portfolios of institutional and retail investors, through a
comprehensive comparison of their risk/return profiles during and
after the financial crisis.
We find a beneficial performance adjusted for the specific
volatility together with a lower correlation especially during the
financial crisis. The distribution of sukuk returns is positively skewed
and leptokurtic, with a risk/return profile similarly to high yield
bonds. Overall, our results suggest that sukuk present diversification
opportunities, a significant volatility-adjusted performance and lower
correlations especially during the financial crisis.
Our findings are relevant for a number of institutional investors.
Long term investors, such as life insurers would benefit from sukuk’s
protective features during financial crisis yet keeping return and
growth opportunities, whereas banks would gain due to their role of
placers, advisors, market makers or underwriters.
Abstract: City shrinkage is one of the thorny problems that many
European cities have to face with nowadays. It is mainly expressed as
the decrease of population in these cities. Eastern Germany is one of
the pioneers of European shrinking cities with long shrinking history.
The paper selects one representative shrinking city Halle (Saale) in
eastern Germany as research objective, collecting and investigating
nearly 20 years (1993-2010) municipal data after the reunification of
Germany. These data based on five dimensions, which are
demographic, economic, social, spatial and environmental and total 16
eligible variables. Factor Analysis is used to deal with these variables
in order to assess the most important factors affecting shrinking Halle.
The results show that there are three main factors determine the
shrinkage of Halle, respectively named “demographical and
economical factor”, “social stability factor”, and “city vitality factor”.
The three factors act at different time period of Halle’s shrinkage: from
1993 to 1997 the demographical and economical factor played an
important role; from 1997 to 2004 the social stability factor is
significant to city shrinkage; since 2005 city vitality factor determines
the shrinkage of Halle. In recent years, the shrinkage in Halle mitigates
that shows the sign of growing population. Thus the city Halle should
focus on attaching more importance on the city vitality factor to
prevent the city from shrinkage. Meanwhile, the city should possess a
positive perspective to shift the growth-oriented development to tap
the potential of shrinking cities. This method is expected to apply to
further research and other shrinking cities
Abstract: Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs)
were fabricated by microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique. The
optical properties of the N-GQDs were studied. The luminescence of
the N-GQDs can be tuned by varying the excitation wavelength.
Furthermore, two-photon luminescence of the N-GQDs excited by
near-infrared laser can be obtained. It is shown that N-doping play a
key role on two-photon luminescence. The N-GQDs are expected to
find application in biological applications including bioimaging and
sensing.
Abstract: The postharvest quality management of tomatoes is
important to limit the amount of losses that occur due to deterioration
between harvest and consumption. This study was undertaken to
investigate the effects of pre- and postharvest integrated agrotechnologies,
involving greenhouse microclimate and postharvest
storage conditions, on the postharvest quality attributes of four
tomato cultivars. Tomato fruit firmness, colour (hue angle (h°) and
L* value), pH and total soluble solids for the cultivars Bona,
Star 9037, Star 9009 and Zeal, grown in a fan-pad evaporativelycooled
and an open-ended naturally-ventilated tunnel, were harvested
at the mature-green stage. The tomatoes were stored for 28 days
under cold storage conditions, with a temperature of 13°C and RH of
85%, and under ambient air conditions, with a temperature of 23±
2°C and RH of 52± 4%. This study has provided information on the
effect of integrated pre-harvest and postharvest agro-technologies,
involving greenhouse microclimate and postharvest storage
environment on the postharvest quality attributes of four of the
tomato cultivars in South Africa. NVT-grown tomatoes retained
better textural qualities, but ripened faster by changing from green to
red faster, although these were reduced under cold storage conditions.
FPVT-grown tomatoes had lower firmness, but ripened slowly with
higher colour attributes. With cold storage conditions, the firmness of
FPVT-grown tomatoes was maintained. Cultivar Bona firmness and
colour qualities depreciated the fastest, but it had higher TSS content
and lower pH values. Star 9009 and Star 9037 presented better
quality, by retaining higher firmness and ripening slowly, but they
had the lowest TSS contents and high pH values, especially
Star 9037. Cold storage improved the firmness of tomato cultivars
with poor textural quality and faster colour changes.
Abstract: This study focuses on the cooling of a photovoltaic
panel (PV). Indeed, the cooling improves the conversion capacity of
this one and maintains, under extreme conditions of air temperature,
the panel temperature at an appreciable level which avoids the
altering. To do this, a fan provides forced circulation of air. Because
the fan is supplied by the panel, it is necessary to determine the
optimum operating point that unites efficiency of the PV with the
consumption of the fan. For this matter, numerical simulations are
performed at varying mass flow rates of air, under two extreme air
temperatures (50°C, 25°C) and a fixed solar radiation (1000W.m2) in
a case of no wind.
Abstract: In the present study, presence of endosulfan, imidacloprid, carbendazim, in the soil /vegetables/cereals and water samples was observed in agriculture fields of Uttarakhand. In view of biodegradation of these pesticides, 9 bacterial isolates were recovered from the soil samples of the fields which tolerated endosulfan, imidacloprid, carbendazim from 100 to 200 µg/ml. Three bacterial consortia used for in vitro bioremediation experiments were consisted of 3 bacterial isolates for carbendazim, imidacloprid and endosulfan, respectively. Maximum degradation (87 and 83%) of α and β endosulfan respectively was observed in soil slurry by consortium. Degradation of Imidacloprid and carbendazim under similar conditions was 88.4 and 77.5% respectively. FT-IR analysis of biodegraded samples of pesticides in liquid media showed stretching of various bonds. GC-MS of biodegraded endosulfan sample in soil slurry showed the presence of nontoxic intermediates. A pot trial with Bacterial treatments lowered down the uptake of pesticides in onion plants.
Abstract: Partial shadowing is one of the problems that are always faced in terrestrial applications of solar photovoltaic (PV). The effects of partial shadow on the energy yield of conventional mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline PV modules have been researched for a long time. With deployment of new thin-film solar PV modules in the market, it is important to understand the performance of new PV modules operating under the partial shadow in the tropical zone. This paper addresses the impacts of different partial shadowing on the operating characteristics of four different types of solar PV modules that include multi-crystalline, amorphous thin-film, CdTe thin-film and CIGS thin-film PV modules.
Abstract: With growth of PV market in tropical region, it is necessary to investigate the performance of different types of PV technology under the tropical weather conditions. Singapore Polytechnic was funded by Economic Development Board (EDB) to set up a solar PV test-bed for the research on performance of different types of PV modules in the country. The PV test-bed installed the nine different types of PV systems that are integrated to power utility grid for monitoring and analyzing their operating performances. This paper presents the 12 months operational data of nine different PV systems and analyses on performances of installed PV systems using energy yield and performance ratio. The nine types of PV systems under test have shown their energy yields ranging from 2.67 to 3.36 kWh/kWp and their performance ratios (PRs) ranging from 70% to 88%.
Abstract: Compared with traditional distributed environment, the
net-centric environment brings on more demanding challenges for
information sharing with the characteristics of ultra-large scale and
strong distribution, dynamic, autonomy, heterogeneity, redundancy.
This paper realizes an information sharing model and a series of core
services, through which provides an open, flexible and scalable
information sharing platform.
Abstract: The purposes of the study are to investigate the problems that the translators encountered when translating English idioms into Thai and study the strategies they applied in solving the problems. The original English version and the Thai translated version of each of two works of fiction were purposively selected for the study. The first was Mr. Maybe, written by Jane Green and translated by Montharat Songphao. The second was The Trials of Tiffany Trott, written by Isabel Wolff and translated by Jitraporn Notoda. Thirty idioms of two translated works of fiction were, then, analyzed. Questionnaires and interviews with the translators of each novel were conducted to obtain the best possible information.
The results indicated that the only type of problem that occurred was cultural problems, and these were solved differently by the two translators
Abstract: With the advances in information and communications technology, mobile context-aware applications have become powerful marketing tools. In Apple online store, there are numerous mobile applications (APPs) developed for destination tour. This study investigated the determinants of adoption of context-aware APPs for destination tour services. A model is proposed based on Technology Acceptance Model and privacy concern theory. The model was empirically tested based on a sample of 259 users of a tourism APP published by Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau, Taiwan. The results showed that the fitness of the model is well and, among all the factors, the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have the most significant influences on the intention to adopt context-aware destination APPs. Finally, contrary to the findings of previous literature, the effect of privacy concern on the adoption intention of context-aware APP is insignificant.
Abstract: According to the scientific information management literature, the improper use of information technology (e.g. personal computers) by employees are one main cause for operational and information security loss events. Therefore, organizations implement information security awareness programs to increase employees’ awareness to further prevention of loss events. However, in many cases these information security awareness programs consist of conventional delivery methods like posters, leaflets, or internal messages to make employees aware of information security policies. We assume that a viral information security awareness video might be more effective medium than conventional methods commonly used by organizations. The purpose of this research is to develop a viral video artifact to improve employee security behavior concerning information technology.
Abstract: Present research investigates eclecticism in Iranian
theatre on the basis of eclectic theory. Eclectic theatre is a new theory
in postmodernism. The theory appeared during 60th – 70th century in
some theatres such as “Conference of the Birds”.
Special theatrical forms have been developed in many
geographical- cultural areas of the world and are indigenous to that
area. These forms, as compared with original forms, are considered to
be traditional while being comprehensive, the form is considered to
be national. Kaboudan and Sfandiar theatre has been influenced by
elements of traditional form of Iran.