Abstract: Target of this study was the analysis of the impact of
crude glycerol on canine spermatozoa motility, morphology,
viability, and membrane integrity. Experiments were realized in vitro.
In the study, semen from 5 large dog breeds was used. They were
typical representatives of large breeds, coming from healthy rearing,
regularly vaccinated and integrated to the further breeding. Semen
collections were realized at the owners of animals and in the
veterinary clinic. Subsequently the experiments were realized at the
Department of Animal Physiology of the SUA in Nitra. The
spermatozoa motility was evaluated using CASA analyzer
(SpermVisionTM, Minitub, Germany) at the temperature 5 and 37°C
for 5 hours. In the study, 13 motility parameters were evaluated.
Generally, crude glycerol has generally negative effect on
spermatozoa motility. Morphological analysis was realized using
Hancock staining and the preparations were evaluated at
magnification 1000x using classification tables of morphologically
changed spermatozoa. Data clearly detected the highest number of
morphologically changed spermatozoa in the experimental groups
(know twisted tails, tail torso and tail coiling). For acrosome
alterations swelled acrosomes, removed acrosomes and acrosomes
with undulated membrane were detected. In this study also the effect
of crude glycerol on spermatozoa membrane integrity were analyzed.
The highest crude glycerol concentration significantly affects
spermatozoa integrity. Results of this study show that crude glycerol
has effect of spermatozoa motility, viability, and membrane integrity.
Detected changes are related to crude glycerol concentration,
temperature, as well as time of incubation.
Abstract: Food supply chain is one of the most complex supply
chain networks due to its perishable nature and customer oriented
products, and food safety is the major concern for this industry. IT
system could help to minimize the production and consumption of
unsafe food by controlling and monitoring the entire system.
However, there have been many issues in adoption of IT system in
this industry specifically within SMEs sector. With this regard, this
study presents a novel approach to use IT and tractability systems in
the food supply chain, using application of RFID and central
database.
Abstract: Health workforce is a fundamental component of
health system and plays a significant role in delivering effective
health care services. However, there is a crucial shortage of skilled
personnel which make them prone to work in stressful conditions. In
spite of excessively high workload and burnout among the staff, little
attention is given to their job satisfaction level which has serious
implications on the productivity and effective performance of staff to
achieve organizational goals. Therefore, this study aims to explore
the job satisfaction of midwives working in the labor ward of the
Lady Dufferin Hospital, Karachi. A cross-sectional survey was
conducted. The short version of Minnesota Job Satisfaction
Questionnaire was administered on a convenient sample group of 22
midwives to gather information on their job satisfaction. The results
demonstrated that midwives were overall satisfied with their job. The
level of job satisfaction was however found different in various
positions within midwifery cadre. The head of midwives was highly
satisfied as compared to midwifery staff who works under the
supervision of head. The level of satisfaction of team leaders fall
between the head and staff of midwifery. Similar trends were
observed for both intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction. Such
evidences on these issues are essential and useful as it helps explore
the attitudes of individuals towards work which has direct
implications on access to quality care services. Strategic interventions
are required at organizational level to provide motivators and
satisfiers to health workers for their work related satisfaction and
enhanced motivation.
Abstract: The shielding ability of a shielding cavity with an
aperture will be greatly degraded at resonance frequencies, and the
resonance modes and frequencies are affected by aperture resonances
and aperture-cavity coupling, which are closely related with aperture
sizes. The equivalent circuit method and numerical method of
Transmission Line Matrix (TLM) are used to analyze the effects of
aperture resonances and aperture-cavity coupling on the
electromagnetic resonances of a cavity with an aperture in this paper.
Both analytical and numerical results show that the resonance modes
of a shielding cavity with an aperture consist of cavity resonance
modes and aperture resonance modes, and the resonance frequencies
will shift with the change of the aperture sizes because of the aperture
resonances and aperture-cavity coupling. Variation rules of
electromagnetic resonances with aperture sizes for a cavity with an
aperture are given, which will be useful for design of shielding
cavities.
Abstract: Thermal enhancement of a single mini channel in
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) cooling plate is
numerically investigated. In this study, low concentration of Al2O3 in
Water - Ethylene Glycol mixtures is used as coolant in single channel
of carbon graphite plate to mimic the mini channels in PEMFC
cooling plate. A steady and incompressible flow with constant heat
flux is assumed in the channel of 1mm x 5mm x 100mm. Nano
particle of Al2O3 used ranges from 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 vol %
concentration and then dispersed in 60:40 (water: Ethylene Glycol)
mixture. The effect of different flow rates to fluid flow and heat
transfer enhancement in Re number range of 20 to 140 was observed.
The result showed that heat transfer coefficient was improved by
18.11%, 9.86% and 5.37% for 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1 vol. % Al2O3 in 60:40
(water: EG) as compared to base fluid of 60:40 (water: EG). It is also
showed that the higher vol. % concentration of Al2O3 performed
better in term of thermal enhancement but at the expense of higher
pumping power required due to increase in pressure drop
experienced. Maximum additional pumping power of 0.0012W was
required for 0.5 vol % Al2O3 in 60:40 (water: EG) at Re number 140.
Abstract: Predicting earnings management is vital for the capital
market participants, financial analysts and managers. The aim of this
research is attempting to respond to this query: Is there a significant
difference between the regression model and neural networks’
models in predicting earnings management, and which one leads to a
superior prediction of it? In approaching this question, a Linear
Regression (LR) model was compared with two neural networks
including Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and Generalized
Regression Neural Network (GRNN). The population of this study
includes 94 listed companies in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE)
market from 2003 to 2011. After the results of all models were
acquired, ANOVA was exerted to test the hypotheses. In general, the
summary of statistical results showed that the precision of GRNN did
not exhibit a significant difference in comparison with MLP. In
addition, the mean square error of the MLP and GRNN showed a
significant difference with the multi variable LR model. These
findings support the notion of nonlinear behavior of the earnings
management. Therefore, it is more appropriate for capital market
participants to analyze earnings management based upon neural
networks techniques, and not to adopt linear regression models.
Abstract: Operation enhancement in an air cooler depends on
rate of heat transfer, and pressure drop. In this paper for a given heat
duty, study of the effects of FPI (Fin Per Inch) and fin type (circular
and hexagonal fins) on heat transfer, and pressure drop in an air
cooler in Iran, Arvand petrochemical. A program in EES
(Engineering Equations Solver) software moreover, Aspen B-JAC
and HTFS+ softwares are used for this purpose to solve governing
equations. At first the simulated results obtained from this program is
compared to the experimental data for two cases of FPI. The effects
of FPI from 3 to 15 over heat transfer (Q) to pressure drop ratio
(Q/Δp ratio). This ratio is one of the main parameters in design, and
simulation heat exchangers. The results show that heat transfer (Q)
and pressure drop increase with increasing FPI steadily, and the Q/Δp
ratio increases to FPI=12 and then decreased gradually to FPI=15,
and Q/Δp ratio is maximum at FPI=12. The FPI value selection
between 8 and 12 obtained as a result to optimum heat transfer to
pressure drop ratio. Also by contrast, between circular and hexagonal
fins results, the Q/Δp ratio of hexagonal fins more than Q/Δp ratio of
circular fins for FPI between 8 and 12 (optimum FPI)
Abstract: The present study analyzed the effect of discrimination
experience on the life satisfaction in women with severe disabilities
and the mediating effect of disability acceptance. In verifying this
mediating effect of disability acceptance between discrimination
experience and life satisfaction, both discrimination experience and
disability acceptance were found to be statistically significant in the
first and second phases. Disability acceptance was found to have a
mediating effect on the relationship between discrimination
experience and life satisfaction. Based on this finding, measures for
enhancing the quality of life in individuals with disabilities that
experience low levels of life satisfaction were proposed.
Abstract: Rapid population growth, urbanization and
industrialization are known as the most important factors of
environment problems. Elimination and management of solid wastes
are also within the most important environment problems. One of the
main problems in solid waste management is the selection of the best
site for elimination of solid wastes. Lately, Geographical Information
System (GIS) has been used for easing selection of landfill area. GIS
has the ability of imitating necessary economic, environmental and
political limitations. They play an important role for the site selection
of landfill area as a decision support tool. In this study; map layers will be studied for minimum effect of
environmental, social and cultural factors and maximum effect for
engineering/economic factors for site selection of landfill areas and
using GIS for a decision support mechanism in solid waste landfill
areas site selection will be presented in Aksaray/Turkey city,
Güzelyurt district practice.
Abstract: The consumption of food contaminated with molds
(microscopic filamentous fungi) and their toxic metabolites results in
the development of food-borne mycotoxicosis. The spores of molds
are ubiquitously spread in the environment and can be detected
everywhere. Ochratoxin A is a toxic and potentially carcinogenic
fungal toxin found in a variety of food commodities. In this study, the
mycological quality of various ready-to-eat local and imported pork
meat and meat byproducts sold in Egyptian markets were assessed
and the presence of various molds was determined in pork used as a
raw material, edible organs as liver and kidney as well as in
fermented raw meat by-products. The study assessed the mycological
quality of pork raw meat and their by-products sold in commercial
shops in Cairo, Egypt. Mycological analysis was conducted on
(n=110) samples which included pig’s livers and kidneys from
Egyptian Bassatin slaughter house; local and imported processed
pork meat by-products from Egyptian pork markets. The isolates
were identified using traditional mycological and biochemical tests.
All kidney and liver samples were positive to molds growth while all
byproducts were negative. Ochratoxin A levels were quantitatively
analyzed using the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
and the highest results were present in kidney 7.51 part per billion
(ppb) followed by minced meat 6.19 ppb generally the local samples
showed higher levels than the imported ones. To the best of our
knowledge, this is the first report on mycotoxins detection and
quantification from pork by-products in Egypt.
Abstract: Environmental and functional conditions, sometimes,
necessitate the architectural plan of the building to be asymmetric,
and this result in an asymmetric structure. In such cases finding an
optimal pattern for locating the components of lateral load bearing
system, including shear walls, in the building’s plan is desired. In
case of shear wall in addition to the location the shape of the wall
cross-section is also an effective factor. Various types of shear walls
and their proper layout might come effective in better stiffness
distribution and more appropriate seismic response of the building.
Several studies have been conducted in the context of analysis and
design of shear walls; however, few studies have been performed on
making decisions for the location and form of shear walls in multistory
buildings, especially those with irregular plan. In this study, an
attempt has been made to obtain the most reliable seismic behavior of
multi-story reinforced concrete vertically chamfered buildings by
using more appropriate shear walls form and arrangement in 7-, 10-,
12-, and 15-stoy buildings. The considered forms and arrangements
include common rectangular walls and L-, T-, U- and Z-shaped plan,
located as the core or in the outer frames of the building structure.
Comparison of seismic behaviors of the buildings, including
maximum roof displacement and particularly formation of plastic
hinges and their distribution in the buildings’ structures, have been
done based on the results of a series of nonlinear time history
analyses, by using a set of selected earthquake records. Results show
that shear walls with U-shaped cross-section, placed as the building
central core, and also walls with Z-shaped cross-section, placed at the
corners give the building more reliable seismic behavior.
Abstract: Structural failure is caused mainly by damage that
often occurs on structures. Many researchers focus on to obtain very
efficient tools to detect the damage in structures in the early state. In
the past decades, a subject that has received considerable attention in
literature is the damage detection as determined by variations in the
dynamic characteristics or response of structures. The study presents
a new damage identification technique. The technique detects the
damage location for the incomplete structure system using output
data only. The method indicates the damage based on the free
vibration test data by using ‘Two Points Condensation (TPC)
technique’. This method creates a set of matrices by reducing the
structural system to two degrees of freedom systems. The current
stiffness matrices obtain from optimization the equation of motion
using the measured test data. The current stiffness matrices compare
with original (undamaged) stiffness matrices. The large percentage
changes in matrices’ coefficients lead to the location of the damage. TPC technique is applied to the experimental data of a simply
supported steel beam model structure after inducing thickness change
in one element, where two cases consider. The method detects the
damage and determines its location accurately in both cases. In
addition, the results illustrate these changes in stiffness matrix can be
a useful tool for continuous monitoring of structural safety using
ambient vibration data. Furthermore, its efficiency proves that this
technique can be used also for big structures.
Abstract: Academic libraries in Malaysia are still not prepared
for disaster even though several occasions have been reported. The
study sets out to assess the current status of preparedness in disaster
management among Malaysian academic libraries in the State of
Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. To obtain a
base level of knowledge on disaster preparedness of current practices,
a questionnaire was distributed to chief librarians or their assignees in
charge of disaster or emergency preparedness at 40 academic
libraries and 34 responses were received. The study revolved around
the current status of preparedness, on various issues including
existence of disaster preparedness plan among academic libraries in
Malaysia, disaster experiences by the academic libraries, funding,
risk assessment activities and involvement of library staff in disaster
management. Frequency and percentage tables were used in the
analysis of the data collected. Some of the academic libraries under
study have experienced one form of disaster or the other. Most of the
academic libraries do not have a written disaster preparedness plan.
The risk assessments and staff involvement in disaster preparedness
by these libraries were generally adequate.
Abstract: This paper illustrates the background of various
concepts, approaches, terminologies used to describe the basic
framework of an Islamic Hotel Room design. This paper reviews the
theoretical views in establishing a suitable and optimum environment
for Muslim as well as non-Muslim guests in hotel rooms while
according to shariah. It involves a few research methodologies that
requires the researcher to study on a few characteristics needed to
create more efficient rooms in terms of social interaction, economic
growth and other tolerable elements. This paper intends on revealing
the elements that are vital and may contribute for hotels in achieving
a more conclusive research on space planning for hotel rooms
focusing on the shariah and Muslim guests. Malaysia is an Islamic
country and has billion of tourists coming over for business and
recreational purposes. Therefore, having a righteous environment that
best suit this target user is important in terms of generating the
economy as well as providing a better understanding to the
community on the benefits of applying these qualities in a
conventional resort design.
Abstract: The purpose of the study is to find out relation of
moral massage between the authority and globalization in proverb.
Proverb is one of the many forms of cultural identity of the
Indonesian/Malay people filled with moral values. The values
contained within those proverbs are beneficial not only to the society,
but also to those who held power amidst on this era of globalization.
The method being used is qualitative research through content
analysis which is done by describing and uncovering the forms and
meanings of proverbs used within Indonesia Minangkabau society.
Sources for this study’s data were extracted from a Minangkabau
native speaker in the sub district of Tanah Abang, Jakarta. Said
sources were retrieved through a series of interviews with the
Minangkabau native speaker, whose speech is still adorned with
idiomatic expressions. The research findings show that there are 30
existed proverbs or idiomatic expressions in the Minangkabau
language often used by its indigenous people. The thirty data contain
moral values which are closely interwoven with the matter of power
and globalization. Analytical results show that the fourteen moral
values contained within proverbs reflect a firm connection between
rule and power in globalization; such as: responsible, brave,
togetherness and consensus, tolerance, politeness, thorough and
meticulous, honest and keeping promise, ingenious and learning,
care, self-correction, be fair, alert, arbitrary, self-awareness.
Structurally, proverbs possess an unchangeably formal construction;
symbolically, proverbs possess meanings that are clearly decided
through ethnographic communicative factors along with situational
and cultural contexts. Values contained within proverbs may be used
as a guide in social management, be it between fellow men, between
men and nature, or even between men and their Creator. Therefore,
the meanings and values contained within the morals of proverbs
could also be utilized as a counsel for those who rule and in charge of
power in order to stem the tides of globalization that had already
spread into sectoral, territorial and educational continuums.
Abstract: Comparative analysis of the properties of melon seed,
coconut fruit and their oil yield were evaluated in this work using
standard analytical technique AOAC. The results of the analysis
carried out revealed that the moisture contents of the samples studied
are 11.15% (melon) and 7.59% (coconut). The crude lipid content are
46.10% (melon) and 55.15% (coconut).The treatment combinations
used (leaching time, leaching temperature and solute: solvent ratio)
showed significant difference (p < 0.05) in yield between the
samples, with melon oil seed flour having a higher percentage range
of oil yield (41.30 – 52.90%) and coconut (36.25 – 49.83%). The
physical characterization of the extracted oil was also carried out.
The values gotten for refractive index are 1.487 (melon seed oil) and
1.361 (coconut oil) and viscosities are 0.008 (melon seed oil) and
0.002 (coconut oil). The chemical analysis of the extracted oils shows
acid value of 1.00mg NaOH/g oil (melon oil), 10.050mg NaOH/g oil
(coconut oil) and saponification value of 187.00mg/KOH (melon oil)
and 183.26mg/KOH (coconut oil). The iodine value of the melon oil
gave 75.00mg I2/g and 81.00mg I2/g for coconut oil. A standard
statistical package Minitab version 16.0 was used in the regression
analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The statistical software
mentioned above was also used to optimize the leaching process.
Both samples gave high oil yield at the same optimal conditions. The
optimal conditions to obtain highest oil yield ≥ 52% (melon seed)
and ≥ 48% (coconut seed) are solute - solvent ratio of 40g/ml,
leaching time of 2hours and leaching temperature of 50oC. The two
samples studied have potential of yielding oil with melon seed giving
the higher yield.
Abstract: Inference plays an important role in the learning
process and it can lead to a rapid acquisition of a second language.
When learning a non-native language i.e., a critical language like
Arabic, the students depend on the teacher’s support most of the time
to learn new concepts. The students focus on memorizing the new
vocabulary and stress on learning all the grammatical rules. Hence,
the students became mechanical and cannot produce the language
easily. As a result, they are unable to predicate the meaning of words
in the context by relying heavily on the teacher, in that they cannot
link their prior knowledge or even identify the meaning of the words
without the support of the teacher. This study explores how the
teacher guides students learning during the inference process and
what are the processes of learning that can direct student’s inference.
Abstract: Massive rock avalanches formed some of the largest landslide deposits on Earth and they represent one of the major geohazards in high-relief mountains. This paper interprets a very large sedimentary fan (the Sernio fan, Valtellina, Northern Italy), located 20 Km SW from Val Pola Rock avalanche (1987), as the deposit of a partial collapse of a Deep Seated Gravitational Slope Deformation (DSGSD), afterwards eroded and buried by debris flows. The proposed emplacement sequence has been reconstructed based on geomorphological, structural and mechanical evidences. The Sernio fan is actually considered anomalous with reference to the very high ratio between the fan area (≈ 4.5km2) and the basin area (≈ 3km2). The morphology of the fan area is characterised by steep slopes (dip ≈ 20%) and the fan apex is extended for 1.8 km inside the small catchment basin. This sedimentary fan was originated by a landslide that interested a part of a large deep-seated gravitational slope deformation, involving a wide area of about 55 km². The main controlling factor is tectonic and it is related to the proximity to regional fault systems and the consequent occurrence of fault weak rocks (GSI locally lower than 10 with compressive stress lower than 20MPa). Moreover, the fan deposit shows sedimentary evidences of recent debris flow events. The best current explanation of the Sernio fan involves an initial failure of some hundreds of Mm3. The run-out was quite limited because of the morphology of Valtellina’s valley floor, and the deposit filled the main valley forming a landslide dam, as confirmed by the lacustrine deposits detected upstream the fan. Nowadays the debris flow events represent the main hazard in the study area.
Abstract: Natural fibers are used in polymer composites to
improve mechanical properties to replace inorganic reinforcing
agents produced by non-renewable resources. The present study
investigates the tensile and flexural behaviors of palm fibers-high
density polyethylene (HDPE) composite as a function of volume
fraction. The surface of the fibers was treated by mercerization
treatments to improve the wetting behavior of the apolar HDPE. The
treatment characterization was obtained by scanning electron
microscopy, X-Ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Results
evidences that a good adhesion interfacial between fibers-matrix
caused an increase strength and modulus flexural as well as tensile
strength in the modified fibers/HDPE composites when compared to
the pure HDPE and untreated fibers reinforced composites.
Abstract: Three purified diets were formulated using fish meal,
soya bean, wheat flour, palm oil, minerals and maltose. The
carbohydrate in the diets was increased from 5 to 15% by changing
the cellulose content to study the effect of dietary carbohydrate level
on the growth parameters of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. The
protein and the lipid contents were kept constant in all the diets. The
results showed that, weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, net protein
utilisation and hepatosomatic index of fish fed the diet containing
15% cellulose were the lowest among all groups. Addition, the fish
fed the diet containing 5% cellulose had the best specific growth rate,
and food conversion ratio. While, there was no effect of the dietary
cellulose levels on condition factor and survival rate. These results
indicate that Nile tilapia fingerlings are able to utilize dietary
cellulose does not exceed 10% in their feed for optimum growth.