Brain computer interface based smart keyboard using neurosky mindwave headset

In the last decade, numerous researches in the field of ‎electro-encephalo-graphy (EEG) and brain-computer-interface ‎‎(BCI) have been accomplished. BCI has been developed to aid ‎disabled/partially disabled people to efficiently communicate ‎with the community. This paper presents a control tool using ‎the Neurosky Mindwave headset, which detects brainwaves ‎‎(voluntary blinks and attention) to form a brain-computer ‎interface (BCI) by receiving the system signals from the frontal lobe. This paper proposed an alternative computer input device ‎for those disabled people (who are physically challenged) ‎rather than the conventional one. The work suggested to use ‎two virtual keyboard designs. The conducted experiment ‎revealed a significant result in developing user printing skills ‎on PCs. Encouraging results (1.55-1.8 word per minute ‎‎(WPM)) were obtained in this research in comparison to other ‎studies

Bacillus Thuringiensis Var. Aizawai HD-137 as a Potential Agent for Biological Control

Four strains of Bacillus thuringiensis were screened for their chitinolytic activity on colloidal chitin. B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 with the GenBank accession number HM173355 showed the highest chitinase activity, which was recorded after 2 days of incubation. The optimum condition for high chitinase production was Nutrient Yeast extract, Salt Medium, NYSM, with 0.2% colloidal chitin, two days of incubation, pH 6 and 30°C. The novel strain B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 is also considered as a powerful phytopathogenic control agent in which it showed inhibition of the mycelial growth of some phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria solani, Rhizopus B1 and B2, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus flavus. The clear zones of mycelial inhibition ranged from 12 to 19mm. The partial nucleotides sequence of chitinase gene from B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 showed similarities to the chitinase producing bacteria in the GenBank, and it was more related to B. thuringiensis (AB699714, GQ921840 and GQ921842) and B. ehimensis chi60 (AB110081). It is obvious that the B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 is considered as a significant biocontrol agent against phytopathogenic fungi

Studi Pengaruh El Nino Southern Oscillation (Enso) Dan Indian Ocean Dipole (Iod) Terhadap Variabilitas Suhu Permukaan Laut Dan Klorofil-a Di Perairan Karimunjawa

Variabilitas iklim El Nino Southern Oscilation (ENSO) dan Indian Oscillation Dipole (IOD) adalah variabilitas iklim global yang dapat mempengaruhi kondisi oseanografi diantarranya SPL dan klorofil-a. Studi tentang pengaruh ENSO dan IOD telah banyak dilakukan sebelumnya di Perairan Indonesia, namun belum ada kajian di Perairan Karimunjawa yang dapat mempengaruhi produktivitas perikanan. Tujuan dilakukannya penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh dari variabilitas ilkim antar tahunan ENSO dan IOD terhadap variabilitas SPL dan klorofil-a di Perairan Kepulauan Karimunjawa serta mengetahui faktor fisis yang mendasari pengaruh tersebut. Penelitian ini menggunakan data near real-time SPL dan klorofil-a serta indeks ENSO dan IOD dari satelit penginderaan jauh. Data tersebut selanjutnya dianalisis dengan data pendukung angin dan arus laut sehingga menghasilkan kesimpulan yang akan memperjelas mengenai objek yang diteliti. Hasil penelitian menunjukan pengaruh variabilitas iklim ENSO terhadap SPL dan klorofil-a tampak rendah, dengan masing-masing memiliki indeks korelasi -0,045 dan -0,035, hal serupa juga terlihat pada pengaruh IOD terhadap klorofil-a yang memiliki indeks korelasi sebesar 0,025. Pengaruh variabilitas iklim antar tahunan yang tampak cukup tinggi terjadi antara iklim IOD dengan SPL yang memiliki indeks korelasi sebesar -0,433. Pengaruh ENSO dan IOD terhadap variabilitas SPL dan klorofil-a terjadi pada periode-periode khusus, yaitu ketika fenomena El Nino kuat berlangsung bersamaan dengan IOD(+) kuat memicu terjadinya SPL dingin dan klorofil-a tinggi, selanjutnya ketika fenomena La Nina kuat berlangsung bersamaan dengan IOD(-) kuat memicu terjadinya SPL hangat dan klorofil-a rendah. Pola angin permukaan diduga menjadi faktor fisis yang mendasari keterkaitan antara IOD dengan variabilitas SP

Characterization of Nanosilica and Comparing Its Effect on Crude Oils and Diesel Fuel

Heavy oils generally exhibit high viscosity, which is detrimental to their production, transport, and refining. The Oil & Gas industry has thoroughly investigated the use of chemical agents to improve the mobility of this type of low-quality crude oils at the surface as well as reservoir conditions for many years. In this sense the main objective of this work is to investigate the viscosity reduction of heavy oil resulting from the presence of silica nanoparticles by asphaltene adsorption process. Silica nanoparticles was produced successfully in this work from sand of Mount Sannam in Basra city (south of Iraq) by chemical and physical methods (SiO2ch and SiO2ph respectively). The XRD results indicated a high purity SiO2ch NPs was produced with purity of 96.8%, while, the purity of SiO2ph NPs was about 87.2%. The main particle size analyzer (PSA) were measured to be 35 nm and 22 nm for SiO2ch and SiO2ph respectively. On the other hand, the BET total surface area of SiO2ch and SiO2ph NPs were 520 m2/g and 705 m2/g respectively. Also, the SEM results showed a uniform distribution of nanoparticles for both prepared silica nanoparticles. The FTIR results indicated a high intensity bonds were formed due to present of functional groups of Si-O-Si, O-Si-O and Si-O. Two Iraqi crude oil samples was selected to be as base fluid with APIs (17.4 and 29.1). Also, diesel fuel with API= 40.91 was tested. For each hydrocarbon a nanofluid was prepared by adding silica nanoparticles to parent fluid. Four concentration of silica nanoparticles were added to the parent fluid (250, 500, 1000 and 1250 mg/L). And also, used a bath ultrasonic method for dispersing NPs inside the parent oils. Keywords: Petroleum Pipelines; natural nanoparticles; viscosity reduction; silica preparation; silica characterization; asphaltene adsorption; crude oil DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-4-0

Adverse effects of moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine and their combination on pregnant rats

Objective: To detail an easy approach to identify the changes that moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine have caused in the dam of female rats.Design: Randomized controlled experimental study.Animals: This study was conducted on thirty-five female (170-200 gm) mature white rats (170-200 gm) and clinically intact, 20 mature male albino rats for the purpose of mating. Procedures: Once mating has occurred, this is considered the first day of pregnancy. Rats were randomly divided into seven groups 1) a control group 2) The moxifloxacin group 6 days 3) the moxifloxacin group 13 days 4) the flunixin meglumine group 6 days 5) the flunixin meglumine group 13 days 6) the moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine mg group 6 days 7) the moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine mg group on day 13. Rats were killed on the days specified for the sixth day and the thirteenth day. Blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical analysis of blood and tissue for pathological examination.Results: Moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine and their combination have been shown to have some negative effects in mothers of rats, so we recommend that caution be exercised when using moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine during pregnancy. It was found that the tested drugs had caused a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels compared to the control group. The histopathological examination of mothers, who were given moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine and their mixtures, showed variable alterations in kidney, liver and placenta. Conclusion and clinical relevance: From the above it is clear that moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine and their combination have caused some negative effects for pregnant rats, so we recommend that you use caution when using moxifloxacin and flunixin meglumine during pregnancy

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Heritability of Some Rapeseed (Brassica Napus) Genotypes Using Agronomical and Molecular Traits

High level of heritability and variability were estimated for all traits among genotypes. The genetic similarity of nine genotypes Brassica napus was estimated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), which ranged from 69% to 94%. The phylogenetic tree resulted in two different clusters; the first including two genotypes which also showed high similarity in agronomic traits and the second included the rest of the genotypes. The genetic diversity was discussed in relation to molecular and agronomical traits. High and positive correlation were recorded for all traits. The high coupled of heritability and variability is considered as a powerful source for the selection of donors in the breeding program, where the genetic gain depends on the availability of genetic variation and high heritability

Marshall Olkin exponential Gompertz distribution: Properties and applications

Generalizing distribution is an important area in probability theory. Many distributions are not suitable for modeling data, that are either symmetric or heavily skewed. In this paper, a new compound distribution termed as Marshall Olkin Exponential Gompertz (MOEGo) is introduced. Several essential statistical properties of MOEGo distribution were studied and investigated. The estimation of distribution parameters was performed using the maximum likelihood estimation method. Two real data (symmetric and right-skewed) were adopted to illustrate the flexibility of MOEGo distribution. This flexibility enables the use of MOEGo distribution in various application areas