Abstract: Bio-based carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received considerable research attention due to their comparative advantages of high level stability, simplistic use, low toxicity and overall environmental friendliness. New potentials for improvement in heat transfer applications are presented due to their high aspect ratio, high thermal conductivity and special surface area. Phonons have been identified as being responsible for thermal conductivities in carbon nanotubes. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of heat conduction in CNTs involves investigating the difference between the varieties of phonon modes and knowing the kinds of phonon modes that play the dominant role. In this review, a reference to a different number of studies is made and in addition, the role of phonon relaxation rate mainly controlled by boundary scattering and three-phonon Umklapp scattering process was investigated. Results show that the phonon modes are sensitive to a number of nanotube conditions such as: diameter, length, temperature, defects and axial strain. At a low temperature (
Abstract: The safflower seed contains about 25-40% solvent extract and 20-33% fiber. It is well known that dietary phospholipids lower serum cholesterol levels effectively. The nutrient composition of safflower seed changes depending on region, soil and genotypes. This research was made by using of six natural selected (A22, A29, A30, C12, E1, F4, G8, G12, J27) and three commercial (Remzibey, Dincer, Black Sun1) varieties of safflower genotypes. The research was conducted on field conditions for two years (2009 and 2010) in randomized complete block design with three replications in Konya-Turkey ecological conditions. Oil contents, mineral contents and their correlations were determined in the research. According to the results, oil content was ranged from 22.38% to 34.26%, while the minerals were in between the following values: 1469, 04-2068.07 mg kg-1 for Ca, 7.24-11.71 mg kg-1 for B, 13.29-17.41 mg kg-1 for Cu, 51.00-79.35 mg kg-1 for Fe, 3988-6638.34 mg kg-1 for K, 1418.61-2306.06 mg kg-1 for Mg, 11.37-17.76 mg kg-1 for Mn, 4172.33-7059.58 mg kg-1 for P and 32.60-59.00 mg kg-1 for Zn. Correlation analysis that was made separately for the commercial varieties and wild lines showed that high level of oil content was negatively affected by all the investigated minerals except for K and Zn in the commercial varieties.
Abstract: This research was made during the 2015 growing
periods in the trial filed of "Research Station for Department of Field
Crops, Agricultural Faculty, Selcuk University" according to
“Randomized Blocks Design” with 3 replications. Research material
was the following pea lines; PS16, PS18, PS21, PS23, PS24, PS25,
PS36, PS47, PS49, PS51, PS54, PS58, PS67, PS69, PS71, PS73,
PS83, PS84, PS87 and PSKY and three cultivars and other 2
commercial varieties named as Bolero, Rondo and Ultrello. Some
agronomical characteristics such as plant height (cm) number of pod
per plant number of seed per pod number of seed per plant 100 seed
weight (g) and seed yield (kg ha-1) were determined. The highest seed
yield was obtained 2727.0 kg ha-1 in the PS71 line and the lowest
value was obtained 1238.0 kg ha-1 in the commercial variety of
Bolero. Results of the research implicated that the new developed
lines were superior compared with the control (commercial) varieties
by means of most of the characteristics. Nevertheless, similar
researches should be continued in different locations and years.
Abstract: The garment manufacturing industry involves
sequential processes that are subjected to uncontrollable variations.
The industry depends on the skill of labour in handling the varieties
of fabrics and accessories, machines, as well as complicated sewing
operation. Due to these reasons, garment manufacturers have created
systems to monitor and to control the quality of the products on a
regular basis by conducting quality approaches to minimize variation.
With that, the aim of this research has been to ascertain the quality
approaches deployed by Malaysian garment manufacturers in three
key areas - quality systems and tools; quality control and types of
inspection; as well as sampling procedures chosen for garment
inspection. Besides, the focus of this research was to distinguish the
quality approaches adopted by companies that supplied finished
garments to both domestic and international markets. Feedback from
each company representative has been obtained via online survey,
which comprised of five sections and 44 questions on the
organizational profile and the quality approaches employed in the
garment industry. As a result, the response rate was 31%. The results
revealed that almost all companies have established their own
mechanism of process control by conducting a series of quality
inspections for daily production, either it was formally set up or
otherwise. In addition, quality inspection has been the predominant
quality control activity in the garment manufacturing, while the level
of complexity of these activities was substantially dictated by the
customers. Moreover, AQL-based sampling was utilized by
companies dealing with exports, whilst almost all the companies that
only concentrated on the domestic market were comfortable using
their own sampling procedures for garment inspection. Hence, this
research has provided insights into the implementation of a number
of quality approaches that were perceived as important and useful in
the garment manufacturing sector, which is truly labour-intensive.
Abstract: Mineral oil is commonly used for high voltage
transformer insulation. The insulation quality of mineral oil is
affecting the operation process of high voltage transformer. There are
many contaminations which could decrease the insulation quality of
mineral oil. One of them is water. This research talks about the effect
of water content on dielectric properties, physic properties, and
partial discharge pattern on mineral oil. Samples were varied with 10
varieties of water content value. And then all samples would be tested
to measure the dielectric properties, physic properties, and partial
discharge pattern. The result of this research showed that an
increment of water content value would decrease the insulation
quality of mineral oil.
Abstract: Determination of genetic variation is useful for plant
breeding and hence production of more efficient plant species under
different conditions, like drought stress. In this study a sample of 28
recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of wheat developed from the cross of
Norstar and Zagross varieties, together with their parents, were
evaluated for two years (2010-2012) under normal and water stress
conditions using split plot design with three replications. Main plots
included two irrigation treatments of 70 and 140 mm evaporation
from Class A pan and sub-plots consisted of 30 genotypes. The effect
of genotypes and interaction of genotypes with years and water
regimes were significant for all characters. Significant genotypic
effect implies the existence of genetic variation among the lines
under study. Heritability estimates were high for 1000 grain weight
(0.87). Biomass and grain yield showed the lowest heritability values
(0.42 and 0.50, respectively). Highest genotypic and phenotypic
coefficients of variation (GCV and PCV) belonged to harvest index.
Moderate genetic advance for most of the traits suggested the
feasibility of selection among the RILs under investigation. Some
RILs were higher yielding than either parent at both environments.
Abstract: The Northeast China (NEC) was the most important
agriculture areas and known as the Golden-Maize-Belt. Based on
observed crop data and crop model, we design four simulating
experiments and separate relative impacts and contribution under
climate change, planting date shift, and varieties change as well
change of varieties and planting date. Without planting date and
varieties change, maize yields had no significant change trend at
Hailun station located in the north of NEC, and presented significant
decrease by 0.2 - 0.4 t/10a at two stations, which located in the middle
and the south of NEC. With planting date change, yields showed a
significant increase by 0.09 - 0.47 t/10a. With varieties change, maize
yields had significant increase by 1.8~ 1.9 t/10a at Hailun and Huadian
stations, but a non-significant and low increase by 0.2t /10a at Benxi
located in the south of NEC. With change of varieties and planting
date, yields presented a significant increasing by 0.53- 2.0 t/10a. Their
contribution to yields was -25% ~ -55% for climate change, 15% ~
35% for planting date change, and 20% ~110% for varieties change as
well 30% ~135% for varieties with planting date shift. It found that
change in varieties and planting date were highest yields and were
responsible for significant increases in maize yields, varieties was
secondly, and planting date was thirdly. It found that adaptation in
varieties and planting date greatly improved maize yields, and
increased yields annual variability. The increase of contribution with
planting date and varieties change in 2000s was lower than in 1990s.
Yields with the varieties change and yields with planting date and
varieties change all showed a decreasing trend at Huadian and Benxi
since 2002 or so. It indicated that maize yields increasing trend
stagnated in the middle and south of NEC, and continued in the north
of NEC.
Abstract: The phytotoxicity of heavy metals can be expressed
on roots and visible part of plants and is characterized by molecular
and metabolic answers at various levels of organization of the whole
plant. The present study was undertaken on two varieties of broad
bean Vicia faba (Sidi Aïch and Super Aguadulce). The device was
mounted on a substrate prepared by mixing sand, soil and compost,
the substrate was artificially contaminated with three doses of lead
nitrate [Pb(NO3)2] 0, 500 and 1000 ppm. Our objective is to follow
the behavior of plant opposite the stress by evaluating the
physiological parameters. The results reveal a reduction in the
parameters of the productivity (chlorophyll and proteins production)
with an increase in the osmoregulators (soluble sugars and
proline).These results show that the production of broad bean is
strongly modified by the disturbance of its internal physiology under
lead exposure.
Abstract: To evaluate the vigor of wheat seeds and stress of
premature aging effects on germination percentage, root length and
shoot length of five wheat cultivars that include Vynak, Karkheh,
Chamran, Star and Kavir which underwent a period of zero, two,
three, four days in terms of premature aging with 41°C temperature
and 100% relative humidity. Seed germination percentage, root
length and shoot length in these conditions were measured. This
experiment was conducted as a factorial completely randomized
design with four replications in laboratory conditions. The results
showed that each of aging treatments used in this experiment can be
used to detect differences in vigor of wheat varieties. Wheat cultivars
illustrated significant differences in germination percentage, root
length and shoot length in terms of premature aging. The wheat
cultivars; Astar and Vynak had maximum germination percentage
and Karkheh, respectively Kavir and Chamran had lowest percentage
of seed germination. Reactions of root and shoot length of wheat
cultivars was also different. The results showed that the seeds with a
stronger vigor affected less in premature aging condition and the
difference between the percentage of seed germination under normal
conditions and stress was significant and the seeds with the weaker
vigor were more sensitive to the premature aging stress and the
premature aging had more severe negative impact on seed vigor.
Abstract: Grains, including oats (Avena sativa L.), have been
recognized functional foods, because provide beneficial effect on the
health of the consumer and decrease the risk of various diseases. Oats
are good source of soluble fibre, essential amino acids, unsaturated
fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Oat breeders have developed oat
varieties and improved yielding ability potential of oat varieties.
Therefore, the aim of investigation was to analyze the composition of
perspective oat varieties and breeding lines grains grown in different
conditions and evaluate functional properties. In the studied samples
content of protein, starch, β-glucans, total dietetic fibre, composition
of amino acids and vitamin E were determined. The results of
analysis showed that protein content depending of varieties ranged
9.70% to 17.30% total dietary fibre 13.66 g100g-1 to 30.17 g100g-1,
content of β-glucans 2.7 g100g-1 to 3.5 g100g-1, amount of
vitamin E (α-tocopherol) determined from 4 mgkg-1 to 9.9 mgkg-1.
The sums of essential amino acids in oat grain samples were
determined from 31.63 gkg-1 to 54.90 gkg-1. It is concluded that
amino acids composition of husked and naked oats grown in organic
or conventional conditions is close to optimal for human health.
Abstract: Food poisoning and infection by bacteria are of public
health significance to both developing and developed countries.
Samples of ogi (akamu) prepared from white and yellow variety of
maize sold in Uturu and Okigwe were analyzed together with the
laboratory prepared ogi for bacterial quality using the standard
microbiological methods. The analyses showed that both white and
yellow variety had total bacterial counts (cfu/g) of 4.0 ×107 and 3.9 x
107 for the laboratory prepared ogi while the commercial ogi had 5.2
x 107 and 4.9 x107, 4.9 x107 and 4.5 x107, 5.4 x107 and 5.0 x107 for
Eke-Okigwe, Up-gate and Nkwo-Achara market respectively. The
Staphylococcal counts ranged from 2.0 x 102 to 5.0 x102 and 1.0 x
102 to 4.0 x102 for the white and yellow variety from the different
markets while Staphylococcal growth was not recorded on the
laboratory prepared ogi. The laboratory prepared ogi had no Coliform
growth while the commercially prepared ogi had counts of 0.5 x103
to 1.6 x 103 for white variety and 0.3 x 103 to 1.1 x103 for yellow
variety respectively. The Lactic acid bacterial count of 3.5x106 and
3.0x106 was recorded for the laboratory ogi while the commercially
prepared ogi ranged from 3.2x106 to 4.2x106 (white variety) and 3.0
x106 to 3.9 x106 (yellow). The presence of bacteria isolates from the
commercial and laboratory fermented ogi showed that Lactobacillus
sp, Leuconostoc sp and Citrobacter sp were present in all the
samples, Micrococcus sp and Klebsiella sp were isolated from Eke-
Okigwe and ABSU-up-gate markets varieties respectively, E. coli
and Staphylococcus sp were present in Eke-Okigwe and Nkwo-
Achara markets while Salmonella sp were isolated from the three
markets. Hence, there are chances of contracting food borne diseases
from commercially prepared ogi. Therefore, there is the need for
sanitary measures in the production of fermented cereals so as to
minimize the rate of food borne pathogens during processing and
storage.
Abstract: Given the limited research on Small and Mediumsized
Enterprises’ (SMEs) contribution to Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) and even scarcer research on Swiss SMEs, this
paper helps to fill these gaps by enabling the identification of supranational
SME parameters. Thus, the paper investigates the current
state of SME practices in Switzerland and across 15 other countries.
Combining the degree to which SMEs demonstrate an explicit (or
business case) approach or see CSR as an implicit moral activity with
the assessment of their attributes for “variety of capitalism” defines
the framework of this comparative analysis. To outline Swiss small
business CSR patterns in particular, 40 SME owner-managers were
interviewed. A secondary data analysis of studies from different
countries laid groundwork for this comparative overview of small
business CSR. The paper identifies Swiss small business CSR as
driven by norms, values, and by the aspiration to contribute to
society, thus, as an implicit part of the day-to-day business. Similar to
most Central European, Mediterranean, Nordic, and Asian countries,
explicit CSR is still very rare in Swiss SMEs. Astonishingly, also
British and American SMEs follow this pattern in spite of their strong
and distinctly liberal market economies. Though other findings show
that nationality matters this research concludes that SME culture and
an informal CSR agenda are strongly formative and superseding even
forces of market economies, nationally cultural patterns, and
language. Hence, classifications of countries by their market system,
as found in the comparative capitalism literature, do not match the
CSR practices in SMEs as they do not mirror the peculiarities of their
business. This raises questions on the universality and
generalisability of unmediated, explicit management concepts,
especially in the context of small firms.
Abstract: A pilot field study was conducted at the Jagjeetpur
Municipal Sewage treatment plant situated in the Haridwar town in
Uttarakhand state, India. The objectives of the present study were to
study the effect of treated wastewater on the production of various
paddy varieties (Sharbati, PR-114, PB-1, Menaka, PB1121 and PB
1509) and the emission of GHG gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) as
compared to the same varieties grown in the control plots irrigated
with fresh water. Of late, the concept of water footprint assessment
has emerged, which explains enumeration of various types of water
footprints of an agricultural entity from its production to processing
stages. Paddy, the most water demanding staple crop of Uttarakhand
state, displayed a high green water footprint value of 2474.12 m3/
Ton. Most of the wastewater irrigated varieties displayed up to 6%
increase in production, except Menaka and PB-1121, which showed a
reduction in production (6% and 3% respectively), due to pest and
insect infestation. The treated wastewater was observed to be rich in
Nitrogen (55.94 mg/ml Nitrate), Phosphorus (54.24 mg/ml) and
Potassium (9.78 mg/ml), thus rejuvenating the soil quality and not
requiring any external nutritional supplements. A Percentage increase
of GHG gases of irrigation with treated municipal wastewater as
compared to control plots was observed as 0.4% - 8.6% (CH4), 1.1%
- 9.2% (CO2), and 0.07% - 5.8% (N2O). The variety, Sharbati,
displayed maximum production (5.5 ton/ha) and emerged as the most
resistant variety against pests and insects. The emission values of
CH4, CO2 and N2O were 729.31 mg/m2/d, 322.10 mg/m2/d and
400.21 mg/m2/d in water stagnant condition.
This study highlighted a successful possibility of reuse of
wastewater for non-potable purposes offering the potential for
exploiting this resource that can replace or reduce the existing use of
fresh water sources in agriculture sector.
Abstract: The grain quality of chickpea in Iran is low and
instable, which may be attributed to the evolution of cultivars with a
narrow genetic base making them vulnerable to biotic stresses. Four
chickpea varieties from diverse geographic origins were chosen and
arranged in a randomized complete block design. Mesorhizobium sp.
cicer strain SW7 was added to all the chickpea seeds. Chickpea seeds
were planted on October 9, 2013. Each genotype was sown 5 m in
length, with 35 cm inter-row spacing, in 3 rows. Weeds were
removed manually in all plots. Results showed that Analysis of
variance on the studied traits showed significant differences among
genotypes for N, P, K and Fe contents of chickpea, but there is not a
significant difference among Ca, Zn and Mg continents of chickpea.
The experimental coefficient of variation (CV) varied from 7.3 to
15.8. In general, the CV value lower than 20% is considered to be
good, indicating the accuracy of conducted experiments. The highest
grain N was observed in Hashem and Jam cultivars. The highest grain
P was observed in Jam cultivar. Phosphorus content (mg/100g)
ranged from 142.3 to 302.3 with a mean value of 221.3. The negative
correlation (-0.126) was observed between the N and P of chickpea
cultivars. The highest K and Fe contents were observed in Jam
cultivar.
Abstract: Moringa oleifera is a nutritious vegetable tree with
varieties of potential uses, as almost every part of the Moringa
oleifera tree can be used for food. This study was conducted in Oyo
State, Nigeria, to find out the level of acceptability of Moringa
oleifera diversified products among rural and urban dwellers.
Purposive sampling was used to select two local governments’ areas.
Stratified sampling technique was also used to select one community
each from rural and urban areas while snowball sampling technique
was used to select ten respondents each from the two communities,
making a total number of forty respondents. Data were analyzed
using frequencies, percentages, Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment
Correlation and regression analysis. Result from the study revealed
that majority of the respondents (80%) fell within the age range of
20-49 years and 55% of them were male, 55% were married, 70% of
them were Christians, 80% of them had tertiary education. The result
also showed that 85% were aware of the Moringa plant and (65%) of
them have consumed Moringa oleifera and the perception statements
on the benefits of Moringa oleifera indicated that (52.5%) of the
respondents rated Moringa oleifera to be favorable, most of them had
high acceptability for Moringa egusi soup, Moringa tea, Moringa pap
and yam pottage with Moringa. The result of the hypotheses testing
showed that there is a significant relationship between sex of the
respondents and acceptability of the diversified Moringa oleifera
products (x2=6.465, p = 0.011). There is also a significant
relationship between family size of the respondents level of
acceptability of the Moringa oleifera products (r = 0.327, p = 0.040).
Based on the level of acceptability of Moringa oleifera diversified
products; the plant is of great economic importance to the populace.
Therefore, there should be more public awareness through the media
to enlighten people on the beneficial effects of Moringa oleifera.
Abstract: The paper presents the trends of Georgian hazelnut market development and analyses the competitive advantages which will help Georgia to enter international hazelnut market using modern technologies. The history of hazelnut crop development and hazelnut varieties in Georgia are discussed. For hazelnut supply analysis trends in hazelnut production are considered, trends in export and import development is evaluated, domestic hazelnut market is studied and analysed based on expert interviews and initial accounting materials. In order to achieve and strengthen its position in international market, potential advantages and disadvantages of Georgian hazelnut are revealed, analysis of export and import possibilities of hazelnut is presented. Recommendations are developed based on the conclusions, which are made through identifying the key factors that hinder development of Georgian hazelnut market.
Abstract: Iron is an essential nutrient with limited
bioavailability. Nutritional anemia caused mainly by iron deficiency
is the most recognized nutritional problem in both countries as well
as affluent societies. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has become the most
important cereal crop for the improvement of human health due to the
starch, protein, oil, and the majority of micronutrients, particularly in
Asian countries. In this study, the iron availability and profile lipid
were evaluated for the extracts from Cibeusi varieties (black rices) of
ancient rice brans.
Results: The quality of K, B, R, E diets groups shows the same
effect on the growth of rats. Hematocrit and MCHC levels of rats fed
K, B, R and E diets were not significantly (P
Abstract: In recent years, the compression of date (Phoenix
dactylifera L.) fruit powders (DP) to obtain date tablets (DT) has
been suggested as a promising form of valorization of non
commercial valuable date fruit (DF) varieties. To further improve
and characterize DT, the present study aims to investigate the
influence of the DP particle size and compression force on some
physical properties of DT. The results show that independently of
particle size, the hardness (y) of tablets increases with the increase of
the compression force (x) following a logarithmic law (y = a ln (bx)
where a and b are the constants of model). Further, a full factorial
design (FFD) at two levels, applied to investigate the erosion %,
reveals that the effects of time and particle size are the same in
absolute value and they are beyond the effect of the compression.
Regarding the disintegration time, the obtained results also by means
of a FFD show that the effect of the compression force exceeds 4
times that of the DP particle size. As final stage, the color parameters
in the CIELab system of DT immediately after their obtaining are
differently influenced by the size of the initial powder.
Abstract: Drying behavior of blanched sweet potato in a cabinet
dryer using different five air temperatures (40-80°C) and ten sweet
potato varieties sliced to 5mm thickness were investigated. The
drying data were fitted to eight models. The Modified Henderson and
Pabis model gave the best fit to the experimental moisture ratio data
obtained during the drying of all the varieties while Newton (Lewis)
and Wang and Singh models gave the least fit. The values of Deff
obtained for Bophelo variety (1.27 x 10-9 to 1.77 x 10-9 m2/s) was
the least while that of S191 (1.93 x 10-9 to 2.47 x 10-9 m2/s) was the
highest which indicates that moisture diffusivity in sweet potato is
affected by the genetic factor. Activation energy values ranged from
0.27-6.54 kJ/mol. The lower activation energy indicates that drying
of sweet potato slices requires less energy and is hence a cost and
energy saving method. The drying behavior of blanched sweet potato
was investigated in a cabinet dryer. Drying time decreased
considerably with increase in hot air temperature. Out of the eight
models fitted, the Modified Henderson and Pabis model gave the best
fit to the experimental moisture ratio data on all the varieties while
Newton, Wang and Singh models gave the least. The lower activation
energy (0.27 - 6.54 kJ/mol) obtained indicates that drying of sweet
potato slices requires less energy and is hence a cost and energy
saving method.
Abstract: Mech-Degla, Degla-Beida and Frezza are the date
(Phoenix dactylifera L.) common varieties with a more or less good
availability and feeble trade value. Some morphologic and
physicochemical factors were determined. Results show that the
whole date weight is significantly different (P= 95%) concerning
Mech-Degla and Degla-Beida which are more commercialized than
Frezza whereas the pulp mass proportion in relation to whole fruits is
highest for Frezza (88.28%). Moreover, there is a large variability
concerning the weights and densities of constitutive tissues in each
variety. The white tissue is dominant in Mech-Degla in opposite to
the two other varieties. The variance analyze showed that the
difference in weights between brown and white tissues is significant
(P = 95%) for all studied varieties. Some other morphologic and
chemical proprieties of the whole pulps and their two constitutive
parts (brown or pigmented and white) are also investigated. The
predominance of phenolics in Mech-Degla (4.01g/100g, w.b) and
Frezza (4.96 g/100g, w.b) pulps brown part is the main result
revealed in this study.