The effect of interactive e-book on students' achievement at Najran University in computer in education course

The current study aims to examine the effect of interactive e-book on students' achievement at Najran University in computer in education course. Quasi-experimental study designs is used in the study and to collect data the researchers built achievement test to measure the dependent variable represented in the achievement affected by experimental treatment. The study sample is (60) students from the fifth level at Najran University in Saudi Arabia who registered in computers in education course, which has been divided into two groups, each with a strength (30) student, experimental group students study the computer in education course via e-book, and the control group students study the computer in education course via printed-book. The finding of the study illustrate there is a significant differences between the study groups in academic achievement favor to experimental group students whose study with e-book. Keywords: e-book, e-textbook, higher education, technology diffusion, computer in education, Najran Universit

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF MUCOADHESIVE NANOGEL OF NEVIRAPINE FOR VAGINAL APPLICATION

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to develop and evaluate Nevirapine nanoparticle loaded mucoadhesive gel (NVP-Np mucoadhesive gel) for vaginal application for the treatment of HIV infection.  Methods: NVP loaded nanoparticles were prepared by salting out method followed by incorporation in different gel bases to produce NVP-Np mucoadhesive gel The prepared gels were evaluated for their physicochemical parameters, rheological characteristics, mucoadhesion, in-vitro drug release and ex-vivo permeation of drug across porcine vaginal mucosa.  Results: The result of FT-IR and DSC study confirmed the absence of incompatibility of NVP with excipients used in the formulations. The particle size of the prepared NVP-Np was found to be 243.8 ± 3.15 nm, a polydispersity index (PI) of 0.787± 0.002 and zeta potential value -17.12 mV, which revealed the stability of nanoparticles. All the formulations showed good homogeneity, spreadability, physical appearance and content uniformity. The pH of the mucoadhesive gel formulations was in the range of 3.70 ± 0.03 to 4.56 ± 0.02, which lies in the normal pH range of the vaginal fluid.  The cumulative amounts permeated at 6 h were 832.23 ± 63.45 μg/cm2 , 592.13 ± 82.55 μg/cm2 and 941.32 ± 81.10 μg/cm2 from F1(1% Chitosan), F2(1% Carbopol 974P) and F3 (1% HPMC K100M )  respectively. A linear relationship [r2 > 0.9 (0.97 n 0.99)] was observed between the percentage cumulative amount permeated and time, indicating zero order kinetics. Conclusion: In conclusion, NVP-Np mucoadhesive gel was prepared successfully using salting out followed by a homogenization technique for vaginal application of NVP for the prophylaxis of HIV infection

Constructing a new mixed probability distribution with fuzzy reliability estimation

This paper deals with constructing mixed probability distribution from mixing exponential (β) and Rayleigh along with β. Accordingly, the mixing proportions are ( α/(α+1) ) and ( 1/(α+1) ).At that point, the mixed PDF and CDF were investigated in this study. The mixed reliability has determined based on estimating its two parameters (α,β) by three different methods, which are maximum likelihood, moments and percentiles method. The fuzzy reliability estimators are compared and the results of comparison are explained based on simulation procedure with detailed tables

A parallel XTS encryption mode of operation

Securing data stored inside the storage devices is becoming an important concern in computer security now. It is known that the most efficient techniques to protect storage devices are using cryptography. Developing newer and more secure encryption algorithms and modes of operation might be critically important to protect these devices since conventional disk encryption algorithms, such as CBC mode, have shown serious security flaws. In this paper, the newly standardized IEEE XTS encryption mode of operation for storage encryption (P1619 standard) has been implemented using parallel design. A performance comparison between the sequential and parallel algorithms of XTS mode has been presented. The parallel XTS algorithm has shown a speedup of 1.80 (with 90% efficiency) faster than the sequential algorithm. In these simulations, AES is used as encryption algorithm with 256-bit encryption key

Optimizing of ANFIS for estimating INS error during GPS outages.

Global positioning system (GPS) has been extensively used for land vehicle navigation systems. However, GPS is incapable of providing permanent and reliable navigation solutions in the presence of signal evaporation or blockage. On the other hand, navigation systems, in particular, inertial navigation systems (INSs), have become important components in different military and civil applications due to the recent advent of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Both INS and GPS systems are often paired together to provide a reliable navigation solution by integrating the long-term GPS accuracy with the short-term INS accuracy. This article presents an alternative method to integrate GPS and INS systems and provide a robust navigation solution. This alternative approach to Kalman filtering (KF) utilizes artificial intelligence based on adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to fuse data from both systems and estimate position and velocity errors. The KF is usually criticized for working only under predefined models and for its observability problem of hidden state variables, sensor error models, immunity to noise, sensor dependency, and linearization dependency. The training and updating of ANFIS parameters is one of the main problems. Therefore, the challenges encountered implementing an ANFIS module in real time have been overcome using particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the ANFIS learning parameters since PSO involves less complexity and has fast convergence. The proposed alternative method uses GPS with INS data and PSO to update the intelligent PANFIS navigator using GPS/INS error as a fitness function to be minimized. Three methods of optimization have been tested and compared to estimate the INS error. Finally, the performance of the proposed alternative method has been examined using real field test data of MEMS grade INS integrated with GPS for different GPS outage periods. The results obtained outperform KF, particularly during long GPS signal blockage

Coupled Irrigation–Drainage Management Practice for HYV Rice Cultivation with Saline-Irrigation Water: Evidence from Lysimeter Experiment

Irrigation with saline water adversely affects rice production and degrades land productivity in the coastal zones of many countries in the world. This study aimed at developing a suitable irrigation management practice to reduce the harmful effects of salinity on rice production under saline water irrigation. An experiment in raise-bed lysimeters was set in a split-split-plot design with irrigation–drainage practice as the main factor, irrigation water salinity as the sub-factor and rice variety as sub-sub factor; main factor and sub-factor comprised four treatments and the sub-sub factor comprised three treatments, each with three replications. The treatments of the main factor were – T1: 2-5 cm continuous ponding, T2: continuous saturation, T3: changing irrigation water after 3 days of application by maintaining 2-5 cm ponding depth, and T4: changing irrigation water after 5 days of application by maintaining 2-5 cm ponding depth. The sub-factor comprised – SL1: fresh water as control, SL2: saline water of 6 dS m-1, SL3: saline water of 9 dS m-1, and SL4: saline water of 12 dS m-1. The sub-sub factor comprised three salt-tolerant rice varieties V1: Binadhan-8, V2: Binadhan-10, and V3: BRRI dhan-47. The irrigation–drainage practices T2 and T3 provided significantly (p£0.05) improved growth and yield attributes of the rice varieties under salinity water level SL3 and SL4 compared to T1 and T4 treatments. The treatment T3 maintained least exposure of the crop to high degree of salinity and produced satisfactory plant attributes by inhibiting the detrimental effects of salinity. Therefore, T3 is suggested for adoption in practical fields when provision for removing high saline water from the rice fields can be arranged

Non-linear Behavior of Low Strength RC Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets

There are many modern technologies for strengthening concrete. One of them is Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Polymer (CFRP) sheets. There are many cases that require concrete strengthening, including the weakness of concrete from the design strength due to the exposure of the concrete elements to fires or less control of concrete quality. This research provides a theoretical study to analyze the behavior of low strength RC beams strengthened with CFRP sheets using ANSYS software. The research contained (75) RC beam model specimens. Six of them for verifying results with experimental tests. Forty five specimens were used for studying flexural behavior and twenty four beam models used for studying shear behavior. The study conducted with variable parameters includes CFRP thickness, concrete strength, the yield stress of steel, and the application of CFRP plies. The theoretical results were very similar to experimental test results. The results proved that strengthening RC beams is increasing load capacity and it is very effective in case of low yield stress of steel. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091670 Full Text: PD

Implementation of Digital Image processing in Calculating Normal Approach for Spherical Indenter Considering Elastic/Plastic Contact

In this work a study and calculation of the normal approach between two bodies, spherical and rough flat surface, had been conducted by the aid of image processing technique. Four kinds of metals of different work hardening index had been used as a surface specimens and by capturing images of resolution of 0.006565 mm/pixel a good estimate of the normal approach may be obtained the compression tests had been done in strength of material laboratory in mechanical engineering department, a Monsanto tensometer had been used to conduct the indentation tests. A light section measuring equipment microscope BK 70x50 was used to calculate the surface parameters of the texture profile like standard deviation of asperity peak heights, centre line average, asperity density and the radius of asperities. A Gaussian distribution of asperity peak height was assumed in calculating the theoretical value of the normal approach in the elastic and plastic regions and where compared with those obtained experimentally to verify the obtained results