Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies of Chromium Ion Adsorption Using Chitosan from Mussel Shell

A study was carried out to investigate the removal of chromium (VI) ion from chromate solution using deacetylated chitin extracted from mussel shell. Mussel shells were obtained from Gubi dam in Bauchi, Nigeria and chemical method was used to extract chitin and then chitosan from these shells. A batch adsorption study was used to generate data for kinetic modelling. Out of the four kinetic models tested, the adsorption process was found to follow the pseudo-second order kinetic model with an R2-value of 0.9997; The process was physical with a free sorption energy of 0.224 kJ/mol. Also, the enthalpy of adsorption was -67.295 kJ/mol K and the Gibbs free energies were all negative, thus the process is spontaeneous and exothermic. Keywords: Kinetic, Chitosan, Mussel, Chromium, Adsorption, Thermodynami

Statistical analysis of wind speed for electrical power generation in some selected sites in northern Nigeria

In this paper, statistical analysis is carried out to determine the accurate frequency distribution that fits wind speed data. The frequency distributions used include Weibull, Rayleigh and Gamma distribution functions. The performances of the probability distributions are based on the error evaluations between the predicted and the theoretical wind power densities of the site. The Results show that Weibull distribution modelled the wind speed better compared to other distribution functions. According to the European Wind Energy Association, most of the sites are suitable for the generation of electrical energy. Also, the results have shown that Jos, Kano and Minna fall in class 4 and therefore suitable for both off grid and grid connected modes. In addition, the effects of c and k parameters on the probability distribution functions have been presented.Keywords: Wind speed - probability - density function – wind energy conversion system- statistical analyse

Affability in Abdulkarim Khiratullah’s Novel Mencari Cinta Yang Hilang

This paper is concerned with the Protagonist’s affability in Abdulkarim Khiratullah’s Novel Mencari Cinta yang Hilang. The Goals are to reveal the kinds of affabilities in the novel and to describe the application of the protagonist’s affabilities in the novel. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative method proposed by Sugiyono (2012). Descriptive means to describe something such as: circumstance, situation, condition, event, action, etc. The primary data source in this study is derived from the novel Mencari Cinta yang Hilang by Abdulkarim Khiratullah consisting of words, phrases, and sentences illustrating the affabilities of the protagonist. While the secondary data source is taken from books, journal and websites including references related to this study. There are some theories used as reference in this study, but among those theories, the affability proposed by Budiningsih (2004) is applied to analyze the affability in the novel Mencari Cinta yang Hilang written by Abdulkarim Khiratullah. Based on the analysis, it is found that the moral values of the protagonist in the novel are: Empathy, Obedience and Patience.   Keywords: affability, empathy, obedience, patience

Keluasan Makna Kata-kata Bahasa Indonesia dan Kata Bahasa Melayu Pattani yang Digunakan oleh Mahasiswa Thailand di Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta

Penelitian ini bertujuan menentukan kelusan makna kata dalam bahasa Indonesia dan dalam bahasa Melayu Pattani yang diujarkan oleh mahasiswa Thailand di Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. Metode penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kualitatif. Sumber data penelitian adalah tuturan-tuturan dalam bentuk kalimat atau kata-kata yang diujarkan oleh Mahasiswa Thailand di Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. Teknik pengumpulan data penelitian ini adalah teknik simak bebas libat cakap, rekam, dan wawancara, terakhir menganalisisnya. Teknik analisis data menggunakan metode padan dan metode analisis kontrastif. Hasil penelitian ini ada dua, pertama, kata-kata yang maknaya lebih luas dalam bahasa Indonesia. Kata tersebut mengandung beberapa komponem makna yang sama dengan bahasa Melayu Pattani, tetapi tidak semua kata terhadap bahasa Indonesia itu komponem sama maknanya, menyebabkan bahasa Melayu Pattani maknanya lebih sempit. Kedua, kata-kata yang maknanya lebih luas dalam bahasa Melayu Pattani. Kata tersebut mengandung beberapa komponem makna yang sama dengan bahasa Indonesia, tetapi tidak semua kata terhadap bahasa Melayu Pattani itu komponem sama maknanya, menyebabkan bahasa Melayu Pattani maknanya lebih luas daripada makna dalam bahasa Indonesia.The objectives of this research are first to describe the meaning of words in Indonesian language which are different with the meaning of words in Melayu Pattani that are researched by Thailand student at Universitas of Muhammadiyah Surakarta. The second is to determine meaning of words extensively in Indonesian language with meaning of words in Melayu Pattani language that is researched by Thailand students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. The type of research is descriptive qualitative. Data sources of this research are speech in sentences or words forms in different meaning and extensive meaning that is researched by Thailand students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. Technique of collecting data uses free speech method, recording, and interview, and analysis. Data analysis uses comparison and contrastive method. The results of this research are (1) words in Indonesian language found that include different meaning such as the similar words, writing and even the same of speech with different meaning. (2), words that have more extensive meaning than words in Indonesian language. That words include some meaning that are similar to words in Melayu Pattani language. But not all words have the same meaning because Melayu Pattani language has narrow meaning. (3) The words that have more extensive meaning in Melayu Pattani than the meaning in Indonesian languag

Determination of radionuclides in soil samples taken from Gura Topp (Jos) using sodium iodide thallium detector Nai(Ti)

The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in soil samples taken from the tin mining area in Gura top, Jos were measured by gamma spectrometry using Sodium Iodide detector. The average specific activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th determined in the soil sample ranged from 11.26±3.16Bq/Kg to 543.35±0.64Bq/Kg with mean activity concentration of 161.96±7.56Bq/Kg for 40K, that of 226Ra ranged from 7.19±1.23Bq/Kg to 144.20±10.18Bq/Kg with the mean activity of 46.47±5.19Bq/Kg while 232Th ranged from 76.08±3.38Bq/Kg to 1267.91±15.37Bq/Kg, with mean activity concentration of 396.17±7.69Bq/Kg. The results indicates that the activity concentration of 40K was found to be below the world average while that of 232Th and 226Ra were detected to be above the world average value. This suggests that t the study area has excess thorium and radium activities which pose significant health hazard and is considered radio-logically unsafe for human to cultivate on the land.Keywords: Activity concentration, Gamma spectrometry, Natural radionuclides and Sodium, Iodide detecto

Numerical assessment of heat sink for pressure sensor connections

Pressure sensors, converting pressure force to electrical outputs such as 4-20 mA or 0-10 V, are used in a vast variety of areas while being facing numerous challenging thermal conditions. A common way is to design a heat sink for establishing natural convection cooling to protect the sensor. This work assesses a heat sink design and conveys its performance as a heat sink for an application interval. Special orientation as well as design geometry is introduced. Computational fluid dynamics were utilized for evaluation and assessment. A core region of heat transfer was identified. Natural convection wake boundaries were detected. It is concluded that the design can successfully protect the pressure sensor at the pressure tap. Future projections and aspects are also described in the paper

The Falling Dollar and Its Impact on the Saudi Economy

As foreign exchange studies show, after a fairly strong performance in 2014, the US Dollar (USD) plunged in 2015 in relation to the Euro, British Pound, Japanese Yen, and other global currencies (US Forex 2015). While the trend on US currency fall similarly happened in the past, the weak global confidence now on the US economy has cast serious apprehension on the prospect for any renewed global economic stability. Whenever the USD, as central world currency, declines or appreciates significantly in value, the change impacts the economies of most nations around the world (Amadeo 2015).  One of the countries that stand most vulnerable to any serious and unwanted dysfunction of the USD is Saudi Arabia, which, as a matter of key economic policy, has fixed its currency exchange to Saudi Arabia Riyals (SAR) 3.75 to USD 1.00 since 1986 (Al-Hamidy 2013).  This paper aims at Highlighting the risks of devaluation of the dollar on the Saudi economy There are seven sections in the paper after the introduction. In sections two The changing price of gold and oil in term of USD…; section three The Impacts of fixed exchange rate on the Saudi Economy …;The rationale and implication for the fixed rate,  Policy measures to overcome the risk caused by the depreciation of USD…Possible Policy Options in the Short…, and in the last section Concluding Remarks…

Time series prediction with simple recurrent neural networks

Simple recurrent neural networks are widely used in time series prediction. Most researchers and application developers often choose arbitrarily between Elman or Jordan simple recurrent neural networks for their applications. A hybrid of the two called Elman-Jordan (or Multi-recurrent) neural network is also being used. In this study, we evaluated the performance of these neural networks on three established bench mark time series prediction problems. Results from the experiments showed that Jordan neural network performed significantly better than the others. However, the results indicated satisfactory forecasting performance by the other two neural networks.Key Words: Time Series Prediction, Artificial Neural Network, Recurrent NN, Resilient Propagation

Using Social Media in the Bahraini 2014 Elections “A Study on a Sample of Young People”

Social media is considered one of the important instruments professionally employed in the elections in various countries around the world; as social media represents an important space for social communication, cultural exchange, and political debate among young people. The young believe that this default space provides a great deal of information, and perhaps this is the most important reason which leads them to love it. This use of space developed from being a mere tool for entertainment and building friendships to rather include various walks of life. The political issue, however, was not the exception on which the young depended on social media as an important source for their information.The fourth social media report issued by the Government Administration College  in Dubai in 2014  indicated that the percentage of users of the most important social media networks in Bahrain reached as high as (410. 000 ) users of Twitter and  (360. 000 )users of  Facebook in a small country of not more than  one million people.This study attempts to shed light on some facts associated with the Bahraini youth use of social media in the parliamentary and municipal elections which were held on November 25, 2014 in Bahrain. This study also aimed to identify the degree of young people reliance on social media as a source of information about the candidates and their election programs. Keywords: Bahraini youth, Social media, Diffusion of Innovations theory, Elections, public sphere theory