Abstract: The purpose of this study was to find out the
effectiveness of neurological impress method and repeated reading
technique on reading fluency of children with learning disabilities.
Thirty primary four pupils in three public primary schools
participated in the study. There were two experimental groups and a
control. This research employed a 3 by 2 factorial matrix and the
participants were taught for one session. Two hypotheses were
formulated to guide the research. T-test was used to analyse the data
gathered, and data analysis revealed that pupils exposed to the two
treatment strategies had improvement in their reading fluency. It was
recommended that the two strategies used in the study can be used to
intervene in reading fluency problems in children with learning
disabilities.
Abstract: The effect of chemical treatment in CdCl2 on the
compositional changes and defect structures of potentially useful ZnS
solar cell thin films prepared by vacuum deposition method was
studied using the complementary Rutherford backscattering (RBS)
and Thermoluminesence (TL) techniques. A series of electron and
hole traps are found in the various as deposited samples studied.
After treatment, perturbation on the intensity is noted; mobile defect
states and charge conversion and/or transfer between defect states are
found.
Abstract: The human knee joint has a three dimensional
geometry with multiple body articulations that produce complex
mechanical responses under loads that occur in everyday life and
sports activities. To produce the necessary joint compliance and
stability for optimal daily function various menisci and ligaments are
present while muscle forces are used to this effect. Therefore,
knowledge of the complex mechanical interactions of these load
bearing structures is necessary when treatment of relevant diseases is
evaluated and assisting devices are designed.
Numerical tools such as finite element analysis are suitable for
modeling such joints in order to understand their physics. They have
been used in the current study to develop an accurate human knee
joint and model its mechanical behavior. To evaluate the efficacy of
this articulated model, static load cases were used for comparison
purposes with previous experimentally verified modeling works
drawn from literature.
Abstract: Deep Brain Stimulation or DBS is the second solution
for Parkinson's Disease. Its three parameters are: frequency, pulse
width and voltage. They must be optimized to achieve successful
treatment. Nowadays it is done clinically by neurologists and there is
not certain numerical method to detect them. The aim of this research
is to introduce simulation and modeling of Parkinson's Disease
treatment as a computational procedure to select optimum voltage.
We recorded finger tremor signals of some Parkinsonian patients
under DBS treatment at constant frequency and pulse width but
variable voltages; then, we adapted a new model to fit these data. The
optimum voltages obtained by data fitting results were the same as
neurologists- commented voltages, which means modeling can be
used as an engineering method to select optimum stimulation
voltages.
Abstract: Most parts of the world such as Iran are facing the excessive consumption of fertilizers, that are used to achieve high yield, but increase the cost of production of fertilizer and degradation of soil and water resources. This experiment was carried out to study the effect of PGPR and planting pattern on yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.) using split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Ilam province, Iran. Bio-fertilizer including Azotobacter, Nitroxin and control treatment (without consumption) were designed as a main plot and planting pattern including 15 × 10, 15 × 15 and 15 × 20 and the number of plant in hill including 3, 4 and 5 plants in hill were considered as a sub-plots. The results showed that the effect of bio-fertilizers, planting pattern and the number of plants in hill were significant affect on yield and yield components. Interaction effect between bio-fertilizer and planting pattern had important difference on the number spikelet of panicle and harvest index. Interaction effect between bio-fertilizer and the number of plants in hill were significant affect on the number of spikelet per panicle. The maximum grain yield was obtained by inoculation with Nitroxin, planting pattern of 15 × 15 and 4 plants in hill with mean of 1110.6 g.m-2, 959.9 g.m-2 and 928.4 g.m-2, respectively.
Abstract: Alcohol and water extracts of Cymbopogon citratus
was investigated for anti-bacterial properties and phytochemical
constituents. The extract was screened against four gram-negative
bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris) and two grampositive bacteria Bacillus
subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus at four different concentrations
(1:1, 1:5, 1:10 and 1:20) using disc diffusion method. The antibacterial
examination was by disc diffusion techniques, while the
photochemical constituents were investigated using standard
chemical methods. Results showed that the extracts inhibited the
growth of standard and local strains of the organisms used. The
treatments were significantly different (P = 0.05). The minimum
inhibitory concentration of the extracts against the tested
microorganisms ranged between 150mg/ml and 50mg/ml. The
alcohol extracts were found to be generally more effective than the
water extract. The photochemical analysis revealed the presence of
alkaloids and phenol but absence of cardiac and cyanogenic
glycosides. The presence of alkaloid and phenols were inferred as
being responsible for the anti-bacterial properties of the extracts.
Abstract: Dynamics of laser radiation – metal target interaction
in water at 1064 nm by applying Mach-Zehnder interference
technique was studied. The mechanism of generating the well
developed regime of evaporation of a metal surface and a spherical
shock wave in water is proposed. Critical intensities of the NIR for
the well developed evaporation of silver and gold targets were
determined. Dynamics of shock waves was investigated for earlier
(dozens) and later (hundreds) nanoseconds of time. Transparent
expanding plasma-vapor-compressed water object was visualized and
measured. The thickness of compressed layer of water and pressures
behind the front of a shock wave for later time delays were obtained
from the optical treatment of interferograms.
Abstract: This article is dedicated to development of
mathematical models for determining the dynamics of
concentration of hazardous substances in urban turbulent
atmosphere. Development of the mathematical models implied
taking into account the time-space variability of the fields of
meteorological items and such turbulent atmosphere data as vortex
nature, nonlinear nature, dissipativity and diffusivity. Knowing the
turbulent airflow velocity is not assumed when developing the
model. However, a simplified model implies that the turbulent and
molecular diffusion ratio is a piecewise constant function that
changes depending on vertical distance from the earth surface.
Thereby an important assumption of vertical stratification of urban
air due to atmospheric accumulation of hazardous substances
emitted by motor vehicles is introduced into the mathematical
model. The suggested simplified non-linear mathematical model of
determining the sought exhaust concentration at a priori unknown
turbulent flow velocity through non-degenerate transformation is
reduced to the model which is subsequently solved analytically.
Abstract: Theexperiment was carried out with 2x5 male Merino
lambs raised under intensive conditions to investigate the effect of
dietary calcium soap of linseed oil on the color and fatty acid
composition of longissimusdorsi muscle. Control lambs fed a basal
diet and the experimental lambs consumed a diet supplemented with
3% calcium soap of linseed oil. The color values (L*, a*, b* a*/b*
and chroma) were not influenced by dietary treatment. The MUFA
proportion reduced, SFA and PUFA content did not alter. As
expected, the linolenic (C18:3 n3) and thusthe n-3 content
significantly improved by linseed supplement (0.47 and 0.81; 0.78
and 1.16 in control and in experimental samples, respectively). Other
n-3 and n-6 fatty acids had similar valuestocontrol samples. The n-
6/n-3 ratio was significantly narrower in the experimental group (6.31
vs. 9.38) but the P/S ratio did not differ betweenthe two groups.In
conclusion calcium soap of linseed oil seems to be a suitable
supplement form of n-3 fatty acids to improve the nutritive value of
lamb meat.
Abstract: A simple model for studying convectional lifting
processes in the tropics is described in this paper with some tests of
the model in dry air. The model consists of the density equation, the
wind equation, the vertical velocity equation, and the temperature
equation. The model domain is two-dimensional with length 100 km
and height 17.5 km. Plan for experiments to investigate the effects of
the heating surface, the deep convection approximation and the
treatment of velocities at the boundaries are discussed. Equations for
the simplified treatment of moisture in the atmosphere in future
numerical experiments are also given.
Abstract: In this paper, a Bayesian Network (BN) based system
is presented for providing clinical decision support to healthcare
practitioners in rural or remote areas of India for young infants or
children up to the age of 5 years. The government is unable to
appoint child specialists in rural areas because of inadequate number
of available pediatricians. It leads to a high Infant Mortality Rate
(IMR). In such a scenario, Intelligent Pediatric System provides a
realistic solution. The prototype of an intelligent system has been
developed that involves a knowledge component called an Intelligent
Pediatric Assistant (IPA); and User Agents (UA) along with their
Graphical User Interfaces (GUI). The GUI of UA provides the
interface to the healthcare practitioner for submitting sign-symptoms
and displaying the expert opinion as suggested by IPA. Depending
upon the observations, the IPA decides the diagnosis and the
treatment plan. The UA and IPA form client-server architecture for
knowledge sharing.
Abstract: We apply a particle tracking technique to track the motion of individual pathogenic Leptospira. We observe and capture images of motile Leptospira by means of CCD and darkfield microscope. Image processing, statistical theories and simulations are used for data analysis. Based on trajectory patterns, mean square displacement, and power spectral density characteristics, we found that the motion modes are most likely to be directed motion mode (70%) and the rest are either normal diffusion or unidentified mode. Our findings may support the fact that why leptospires are very well efficient toward targeting internal tissues as a result of increase in virulence factor.
Abstract: Macrophomina phaseolina is a devastating soil-borne
fungal plant pathogen that causes charcoal rot disease in many
economically important crops worldwide. So far, no registered
fungicide is available against this plant pathogen. This study was
planned to examine the antifungal activity of an allelopathic grass
Cenchrus pennisetiformis (Hochst. & Steud.) Wipff. for the
management of M. phaseolina isolated from cowpea [Vigna
unguiculata (L.) Walp.] plants suffering from charcoal rot disease.
Different parts of the plants viz. inflorescence, shoot and root were
extracted in methanol. Laboratory bioassays were carried out using
different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, …, 3.0 g mL-1) of methanolic
extracts of the test allelopathic grass species to assess the antifungal
activity against the pathogen. In general, extracts of all parts of the
grass exhibited antifungal activity. All the concentrations of
methanolic extracts of shoot and root significantly reduced fungal
biomass by 20–73% and 40–80%, respectively. Methanolic shoot
extract was fractionated using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate
and n-butanol. Different concentrations of these fractions (3.125,
6.25, …, 200 mg mL-1) were analyzed for their antifungal activity.
All the concentrations of n-hexane fraction significantly reduced
fungal biomass by 15–96% over corresponding control treatments.
Higher concentrations (12.5–200 mg mL-1) of chloroform, ethyl
acetate and n-butanol also reduced the fungal biomass significantly
by 29–100%, 46–100% and 24–100%, respectively.
Abstract: Photo-crosslinked rice starch-based biodegradable
films were prepared by casting film-solution on leveled trays and
ultra violet (UV) irradiation was applied for 10 minute. The effect of
the content (3%, 6% and 9 wt. %)of photosensitiser (sodium
benzoate) on mechanical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP)
and structural properties of rice starch films were investigated. The
tensile strength increased while elongation at break and water
resistance properties of rice starch films decreased with addition and
increasing content of photosensitiser. The % crystallinity of rice
starch films were decreased when the content of photosensitiser
increased and UV were applied. The results showed that the
carboxylate group band of sodium benzoate was found in the FTIR
spectrum of rice starch films and found that incorporation of 6% of
photosensitiser into the films showed a higher absorption band of
resulted films. This result pointed out the highest interaction between
starch molecules was occurred.
Abstract: The construction of a civil structure inside a urban
area inevitably modifies the outdoor microclimate at the building
site. Wind speed, wind direction, air pollution, driving rain, radiation
and daylight are some of the main physical aspects that are subjected
to the major changes. The quantitative amount of these modifications
depends on the shape, size and orientation of the building and on its
interaction with the surrounding environment.The flow field over a
flat roof model building has been numerically investigated in order to
determine two-dimensional CFD guidelines for the calculation of the
turbulent flow over a structure immersed in an atmospheric boundary
layer. To this purpose, a complete validation campaign has been
performed through a systematic comparison of numerical simulations
with wind tunnel experimental data.Several turbulence models and
spatial node distributions have been tested for five different vertical
positions, respectively from the upstream leading edge to the
downstream bottom edge of the analyzed model. Flow field
characteristics in the neighborhood of the building model have been
numerically investigated, allowing a quantification of the capabilities
of the CFD code to predict the flow separation and the extension of
the recirculation regions.The proposed calculations have allowed the
development of a preliminary procedure to be used as a guidance in
selecting the appropriate grid configuration and corresponding
turbulence model for the prediction of the flow field over a twodimensional
roof architecture dominated by flow separation.
Abstract: The morphology, mineralogical and chemical
composition of a low-grade nickel ore from Mpumalanga, South
Africa, were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray
diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), respectively. The
ore was subjected to atmospheric agitation leaching using sulphuric
acid to investigate the effects of acid concentration, leaching
temperature, leaching time and particle size on extraction of nickel
and cobalt. Analyses results indicated the ore to be a saprolitic nickel
laterite belonging to the serpentine group of minerals. Sulphuric acid
was found to be able to extract nickel from the ore. Increased acid
concentration and temperature only produced low amounts of nickel
but improved cobalt extraction. As high as 77.44% Ni was achieved
when leaching a -106+75μm fraction with 4.0M acid concentration at
25oC. The kinetics of nickel leaching from the saprolitic ore were
studied and the activation energy was determined to be 18.16kJ/mol.
This indicated that nickel leaching reaction was diffusion controlled.
Abstract: Tumor cells have an invasive and metastatic phenotype
that is the main cause of death for cancer patients. Tumor
establishment and penetration consists of a series of complex
processes involving multiple changes in gene expression. In this study,
intraperitoneal administration of a high concentration of ascorbic acid
inhibited tumor establishment and decreased tumor mass in BALB/C
mice implanted with S-180 sarcoma cancer cells. To identify proteins
involved in the ascorbic acid-mediated inhibition of tumor
progression, changes in the tumor proteome associated with ascorbic
acid treatment of BALB/C mice implanted with S-180 were
investigated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass
spectrometry. Twenty protein spots were identified whose expression
was different between control and ascorbic acid treatment groups.
Abstract: The article presents test results on the changes
occurring in sewage sludge during the process of its storage. Tests
were conducted on mechanically dehydrated sewage sludge derived
from large municipal sewage treatment plants equipped with
biological sewage treatment systems. In testing presented in the paper
the focus was on the basic fuel properties of sewage sludge: moisture
content, heat of combustion, carbon share. In the first part of the
article the overview of the issues concerning the sewage sludge
management is presented and the genesis of tests is explained.
Further in the paper, selected results of conducted tests are discussed.
Changes in tested parameters were determined in the period of a 10-
month sewage storage.
Abstract: The objective of the research was to evaluate the
quality of milk pomade sweet – sherbet packed in different packaging
materials (Multibarrier 60, met.BOPET/PE, Aluthen), by several
packaging technologies – active and modified atmosphere (MAP)
(consisting of 100% CO2), and control – in air ambiance.
Experiments were carried out at the Faculty of Food Technology of
Latvia University of Agriculture. Samples were stored at the room
temperature +21±1 °C. The physiochemical properties – weight
losses, moisture, hardening, colour and changes in headspace
atmosphere concentration (CO2 and O2) of packs were analysed
before packaging and after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 storage weeks.
Abstract: The response of King Abdulla Canal (KAC) water to the upgrade of As Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant which discharges its effluent to the Zarqa River is investigated. Time series quality data that extends between October 2005 and December 2009 obtained by a state of the art telemetric monitoring system were analyzed for COD, EC, TP and TN at two monitoring stations located upstream and downstream of the confluence of the Zarqa River with KAC. The samples- means and the t-test showed that there has been significant improvement in the quality of the KAC water for COD, and TP. However, the improvement in the TN was found statistically insignificant, whereas the EC of the KAC was unaffected by the upgrade. Comparing the selected parameters with the standards and guidelines for using treated wastewater in irrigation showed that the KAC water has improved towards meeting the required standards and guidelines for treated wastewater reuse in irrigation.