Abstract: The contact resistance between source/drain electrodes
and semiconductor layer is an important parameter affecting electron
transporting performance in the thin film transistor (TFT). In this
work, we introduced a transparent and the solution prossable
single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/Al-doped ZnO nano particle
(AZO NP) bilayer electrodes showing low contact resistance with
indium-oxide (In2O3) sol gel thin film. By inserting low work function
AZO NPs into the interface between the SWCNTs and the In2O3 which
has a high energy barrier, we could obtain an electrical Ohmic contact
between them. Finally, with the SWCNT-AZO NP bilayer electrodes,
we successfully fabricated a TFT showing a field effect mobility of
5.38 cm2/V·s at 250°C.
Abstract: Complexation of anthocyanins to mimic natural
copigmentation process was investigated. Cyanidin-rich extracts from
Zea mays L. ceritina Kulesh. and delphinidin-rich extracts from
Clitoria ternatea L. were used to form 4 anthocyanin complexes,
AC1, AC2, AC3 and AC4, in the presence of several polyphenols and
a trace metal. Characterizations of the ACs were conducted by UV,
FTIR, DSC/TGA and morphological observations. Bathochromic
shifts of the UV spectra of 4 formulas of ACs were observed at peak
wavelengths of about 510-620 nm by 10 nm suggesting complex
formation. FTIR spectra of the ACs indicate shifts of peaks from
1,733 cm-1 to 1,696 cm-1 indicating interactions and a decrease in the
peak areas within the wavenumber of 3,400-3,500 cm-1 indicating
changes in hydrogen bonding. Thermal analysis of all of the ACs
suggests increases in melting temperature after complexation. AC
with the highest melting temperature was morphologically observed
by SEM and TEM to be crystal-like particles within a range of 50 to
200 nm. Particle size analysis of the AC by laser diffraction gave a
range of 50-600 nm, indicating aggregation. This AC was shown to
have no cytotoxic effect on cultured HGEPp0.5 and HGF (all p>
0.05) by MTT. Therefore, complexation of anthocyanins was simple
and self-assembly process, potentially resulting in nanosized particles
of anthocyanin complex.
Abstract: Anthocyanins are natural pigments with effective UV
protection but their topical use could be limited due to their
physicochemical characteristics. An attempt to overcome such
limitations by complexation of 2 major anthocyanin-rich sources, C.
ternatea and Z. mays, has potentiated its use as topical antiinflammatory.
Cell studies indicate no cytotoxicity of the
anthocyanin complex (AC) up to 1 mg/ml tested in HaCaT and
human fore head fibroblasts by MTT. Croton oil-induced ear edema
in Wistar rats suggests an effective dose of 5 mg/cm2 of AC as a
topical anti-inflammatory in comparison to 0.5 mg/cm2 of
fluocinolone acetonide. Niosomal encapsulation of the AC
significantly prolonged the anti-inflammatory activity particularly at
8 h after topical application (p = 0.0001). The AC was not cytotoxic
and its anti-inflammatory and activity was dose-dependent and
prolonged by niosomal encapsulation. It has also shown to promote
collagen type 1 production in cell culture. Thus, AC could be a
potential candidate for topical anti-inflammatory agent from natural
resources.
Abstract: Liver disorders are one of the major problems of the
world. Despite its frequent occurrence, high morbidity and high
mortality, its medical management is currently inadequate. This study
was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of saponin
extract of the root of Garcinia kola on the integrity of the liver of
paracetamol induced wistar albino rats. Twenty five (25) male adult
wistar albino rats were divided into five (5) groups. Group I was the
Control group that received distilled water only, group II was the
negative control that received 2 g/kg of paracetamol on the 13th day,
and group III, IV and V were pre-treated with 100, 200 and
400mg/kg of the saponin extract before inducing the liver damage on
the 13th day with 2 g/kg of paracetamol. Twenty four (24) h after
administration, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were
collected. The serum Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate
Transaminase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activities,
Bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin, glucose and protein
concentrations were evaluated. The liver was fixed immediately in
Formalin and was processed and stained in Haematoxylin and Eosin
(H&E). Administration of saponin extract from the root of Garcinia
kola significantly decreased paracetamol induced elevated enzymes
in the test group. Also histological observations showed that saponin
extract of the root of Garcinia kola exhibited a significant liver
protection against the toxicant as evident by the cells trying to return
to normal. Saponin extract from the root of Garcinia kola indicated a
protection of structural integrity of the hepatocytic cell membrane
and regeneration of the damaged liver.
Abstract: The effect of the inclusion of thyme and rosemary
essential oils into chitosan films, as well as the microbiological and
physical properties when storing chitosan film with and without the
mentioned inclusion was studied. The film forming solution was
prepared by dissolving chitosan (2%, w/v), polysorbate 80 (4% w/w
CH) and glycerol (16% w/w CH) in aqueous lactic acid solutions
(control). The thyme (TEO) and rosemary (REO) essential oils (EOs)
were included 1:1 w/w (EOs:CH) on their combination 50/50
(TEO:REO). The films were stored at temperatures of 5, 20, 33°C
and a relative humidity of 75% during four weeks. The films with
essential oil inclusion did not show an antimicrobial activity against
strains. This behavior could be explained because the chitosan only
inhibits the growth of microorganisms in direct contact with the
active sites. However, the inhibition capacity of TEO was higher than
the REO and a synergic effect between TEO:REO was found for S.
enteritidis strains in the chitosan solution.
Some physical properties were modified by the inclusion of
essential oils. The addition of essential oils does not affect the
mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, puncture
deformation), the water solubility, the swelling index nor the DSC
behavior. However, the essential oil inclusion can significantly
decrease the thickness, the moisture content, and the L* value of
films whereas the b* value increased due to molecular interactions
between the polymeric matrix, the loosing of the structure, and the
chemical modifications. On the other hand, the temperature and time
of storage changed some physical properties on the chitosan films.
This could have occurred because of chemical changes, such as
swelling in the presence of high humidity air and the reacetylation of
amino groups. In the majority of cases, properties such as moisture
content, tensile strength, elongation at break, puncture deformation,
a*, b*, chrome, 7E increased whereas water resistance, swelling
index, L*, and hue angle decreased.
Abstract: The design, manufacture, and operation of thin-walled
pressure vessels must be based on maximum safe operating pressure
and an adequate factor of safety (FoS). This research paper first
reports experimental evaluation of longitudinal and hoops stresses
based on working pressure as well as maximum pressure; and then
includes a critical study of factor of safety (FoS) in the design of a
glass fiber pressure vessel. Experimental work involved the use of
measuring instruments and the readings from pressure gauges.
Design calculations involved the computations of design stress and
FoS; the latter was based on breaking strength of 55 MPa for the
glass fiber (pressure-vessel material). The experimentally determined
FoS value has been critically compared with the general FoS allowed
in the design of glass fiber pressure vessels.
Abstract: This paper investigates the activity of the rectus
femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) in healthy subjects during salat
(prostration) and specific exercise (squat exercise) using
electromyography (EMG). A group of undergraduates aged between
19 to 25 years voluntarily participated in this study. The myoelectric
activity of the muscles were recorded and analyzed. The finding
indicated that there were contractions of the muscles during the salat
and exercise with almost same EMG’s level. From the result,
Wilcoxon’s Rank Sum test showed significant difference between
prostration and squat exercise (p
Abstract: Vertical Handover(VHO) among different
communication technologies ensuring uninterruption and service
continuity is one of the most important performance parameter in
Heterogenous networks environment. In an integrated Universal
Mobile Telecommunicatin System(UMTS) and Wireless Local
Area Network(WLAN), WLAN is given an inherent priority over
UMTS because of its high data rates with low cost. Therefore
mobile users want to be associated with WLAN maximum of the
time while roaming, to enjoy best possible services with low cost.
That encourages reduction of number of VHO. In this work the
reduction of number of VHO with respect to varying number of
WLAN Access Points(APs) in an integrated UMTS and WLAN
network is investigated through simulation to provide best possible
cost effective service to the users. The simulation has been carried
out for an area (7800 × 9006)m2 where COST-231 Hata model
and 3GPP (TR 101 112 V 3.1.0) specified models are used for
WLAN and UMTS path loss models respectively. The handover
decision is triggered based on the received signal level as compared
to the fade margin. Fade margin gives a probabilistic measure of
the reliability of the communication link. A relationship between
number of WLAN APs and the number of VHO is also established
in this work.
Abstract: The transition period of Kosovo society brought
fundamental changes in all the spheres of organizing life. This was
the period when also in the cultural tradition the biggest movement
and an emerging from ‘isolation’ or from the ‘shell’ occurred.
Transformation of the traditional and embracing of the modern began
here. The same was experienced and is currently being experienced
also by Gjakova and its surrounding which is historically renowned
for its great tradition and culture.
The population of this region is actually facing a transition from
the traditional system into the modern one and quite often with huge
leaps.
These ‘movements’ or ‘evolutions’ of the society of this region,
besides the numerous positive things it ‘harvested’, also brought
things that do not at all correspond with their tradition as well as new
criminal occurrences which in the past were not present in this area.
Furthermore, some of the ‘new’ behaviors that are embraced from
other ‘cultures’ and ‘civilizations’, and which are often exceeded, are
quite perturbing. The security situation is also worrying, particularly
following the appearance of some new criminal occurrences.
Therefore, with this research paper we will strive to analyze the
new cultural “intersections” as well as the nature of the origin of
some new very worrying criminal occurrences. We will present there
also some factors inciting into these occurrences, which were
confessed by the persons involved in these criminal occurrences and
who come from this very region.
Abstract: We present a solution to the Maxmin u/E parameters
estimation problem of possibility distributions in m-dimensional
case. Our method is based on geometrical approach, where minimal
area enclosing ellipsoid is constructed around the sample. Also we
demonstrate that one can improve results of well-known algorithms
in fuzzy model identification task using Maxmin u/E parameters
estimation.
Abstract: Welfare may be considered to be a subjective
experience; it has a biological function that is related to the fitness
and survival of the animal accordingly, researches have suggested
that welfare is compromised when the animal's evolutionary fitness is
reduced. This study was carried out to explain the effect of some
managerial stressors as handling and restraint on behavioral patterns
and biochemical parameters of rats. A total of 24 (12 males & 12
females) Sprague-Dawley rats (12 months & 150-180g) were allotted
into 3 groups, handled group (4 male & 4 female), restrained group (4
male & 4 female) and control group (4 males & 4 females).
The obtained results revealed that time spent feeding, drinking,
movement and cage exploration frequencies increased significantly in
handled rats than other groups, while lying time and licking increased
significantly in restrained rats than handled and controls. Moreover,
social behavior decreased in both stressed groups than control.
Triglycerides were significantly increased in handled rats than
other groups, while total lipid, total protein and globulin significantly
increased in both treated groups than control. Corticosterone
increased in restrained and handled rats than control ones. Moreover,
there was an increment in packed cell volume significantly in
restrained rats than others. These deducted that if we want to study
the effect of stress on animal welfare it is necessary to study the
effect of such stressors on animal’s behavior and physiological
responses.
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: The purpose of this paper is to examine gas transport
behavior of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) combined with
porous particles. Main existing models are categorized in two main
groups; two-phase (ideal contact) and three-phase (non-ideal contact).
A new coefficient, J, was obtained to express equations for estimating
effect of the particle porosity in two-phase and three-phase models.
Modified models evaluates with existing models and experimental
data using Matlab software. Comparison of gas permeability of
proposed modified models with existing models in different MMMs
shows a better prediction of gas permeability in MMMs.
Abstract: This paper presents the scaling laws that provide the
criteria of geometry and dynamic similitude between the full-size
rotor-shaft system and its scale model, and can be used to predict the
torsional vibration characteristics of the full-size rotor-shaft system by
manipulating the corresponding data of its scale model. The scaling
factors, which play fundamental roles in predicting the geometry and
dynamic relationships between the full-size rotor-shaft system and its
scale model, for torsional free vibration problems between scale and
full-size rotor-shaft systems are firstly obtained from the equation of
motion of torsional free vibration. Then, the scaling factor of external
force (i.e., torque) required for the torsional forced vibration problems
is determined based on the Newton’s second law. Numerical results
show that the torsional free and forced vibration characteristics of a
full-size rotor-shaft system can be accurately predicted from those of
its scale models by using the foregoing scaling factors. For this reason,
it is believed that the presented approach will be significant for
investigating the relevant phenomenon in the scale model tests.
Abstract: Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction (WeCWI)’s
contribution towards language development can be divided into
linguistic and non-linguistic perspectives. In linguistic perspective,
WeCWI focuses on the literacy and language discoveries, while the
cognitive and psychological discoveries are the hubs in non-linguistic
perspective. In linguistic perspective, WeCWI draws attention to free
reading and enterprises, which are supported by the language
acquisition theories. Besides, the adoption of process genre approach
as a hybrid guided writing approach fosters literacy development.
Literacy and language developments are interconnected in the
communication process; hence, WeCWI encourages meaningful
discussion based on the interactionist theory that involves input,
negotiation, output, and interactional feedback. Rooted in the elearning
interaction-based model, WeCWI promotes online
discussion via synchronous and asynchronous communications,
which allows interactions happened among the learners, instructor,
and digital content. In non-linguistic perspective, WeCWI highlights
on the contribution of reading, discussion, and writing towards
cognitive development. Based on the inquiry models, learners’
critical thinking is fostered during information exploration process
through interaction and questioning. Lastly, to lower writing anxiety,
WeCWI develops the instructional tool with supportive features to
facilitate the writing process. To bring a positive user experience to
the learner, WeCWI aims to create the instructional tool with
different interface designs based on two different types of perceptual
learning style.
Abstract: Presently, engine cooling pump is driven by toothed
belt. Therefore, the pump speed is dependent on engine speed which
varies their output. At normal engine operating conditions (Higher
RPM and low load, Higher RPM and high load), mechanical water
pumps in existing engines are inevitably oversized and so the use of
an electric water pump together with state-of-the-art thermal
management of the combustion engine has measurable advantages.
Demand-driven cooling, particularly in the cold-start phase, saves
fuel (approx 3 percent) and leads to a corresponding reduction in
emissions. The lack of dependence on a mechanical drive also results
in considerable flexibility in component packaging within the engine
compartment. This paper describes the testing and comparison of
existing mechanical water pump with that of the electric water pump.
When the existing mechanical water pump is replaced with the new
electric water pump the percentage gain in system efficiency is also
discussed.
Abstract: In this study, the performance analyses of the twenty
five Coal-Fired Power Plants (CFPPs) used for electricity generation
are carried out through various Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)
models. Three efficiency indices are defined and pursued. During the
calculation of the operational performance, energy and non-energy
variables are used as input, and net electricity produced is used as
desired output (Model-1). CO2 emitted to the environment is used as
the undesired output (Model-2) in the computation of the pure
environmental performance while in Model-3 CO2 emissions is
considered as detrimental input in the calculation of operational and
environmental performance. Empirical results show that most of the
plants are operating in increasing returns to scale region and Mettur
plant is efficient one with regards to energy use and environment.
The result also indicates that the undesirable output effect is
insignificant in the research sample. The present study will provide
clues to plant operators towards raising the operational and
environmental performance of CFPPs.
Abstract: The Roma (Gypsies) is a transnational minority with a
high degree of consanguineous marriages. Similar to other
genetically isolated founder populations, the Roma harbor a number
of unique or rare genetic disorders. This paper discusses about a rare
form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease – type 4G (CMT4G), also
called Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy type Russe, an
autosomal recessive disease caused by mutation private to Roma
characterized by abnormally increased density of non-myelinated
axons. CMT4G was originally found in Bulgarian Roma and in 2009
two putative causative mutations in the HK1 gene were identified.
Since then, several cases were reported in Roma families mainly
from Bulgaria and Spain. Here we present a Slovak Roma family in
which CMT4G was diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination
and genetic testing. This case is a further proof of the role of the HK1
gene in pathogenesis of the disease. It confirms that mutation in the
HK1 gene is a common cause of autosomal recessive CMT disease in
Roma and should be considered as a common part of a diagnostic
procedure.
Abstract: Monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) is suggested to
be a candidate gene implicated in many neuropsychiatric disorders,
including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This meta-analytic review
evaluates the relationship between ASD and MAOA markers such as
30 bp variable number tandem repeats in the promoter region
(uVNTR) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by using
findings from recently published studies. It seems that in Caucasian
males, the risk of developing ASD increase with the presence of 4-
repeat allele in the promoter region of MAOA gene whereas no
differences were found between autistic patients and controls in
Egyptian, West Bengal and Korean population. Some studies point to
the importance of specific haplotype groups of SNPs and interaction
of MAOA with others genes (e. g. FOXP2 or SRY). The results of
existing studies are insufficient and further research is needed.
Abstract: Alkylated silicon nanocrystals (C11-SiNCs) were
prepared successfully by galvanostatic etching of p-Si(100) wafers
followed by a thermal hydrosilation reaction of 1-undecene in
refluxing toluene in order to extract C11-SiNCs from porous silicon.
Erbium trichloride was added to alkylated SiNCs using a simple
mixing chemical route. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first
investigation on mixing SiNCs with erbium ions (III) by this
chemical method. The chemical characterization of C11-SiNCs and
their mixtures with Er3+(Er/C11-SiNCs) were carried out using X-ray
photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The optical properties of C11-
SiNCs and their mixtures with Er3+ were investigated using Raman
spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL). The erbium mixed
alkylated SiNCs shows an orange PL emission peak at around 595
nm that originates from radiative recombination of Si. Er/C11-SiNCs
mixture also exhibits a weak PL emission peak at 1536 nm that
originates from the intra-4f transition in erbium ions (Er3+). The PL
peak of Si in Er/C11-SiNCs mixture is increased in the intensity up to
three times as compared to pure C11-SiNCs. The collected data
suggest that this chemical mixing route leads instead to a transfer of
energy from erbium ions to alkylated SiNCs.