PRODUCTION OF NEUTRAL PROTEASES BY SERRATIA MARSCENS USING RICE BRAN

For the utilization of rice bran, a cheap and widely available agricultural by-product, to produce extracellular protease enzyme, Serratia marscens isolated from soil and skim milk was used. Studies of nutritional factors for getting the optimal composition of rice bran me- dia showed that 33 % (v/v) rice bran hydrolysate (6% carbon)' 0.06% N-source (4.3% potassium nitrate) and 1% NaH2PO4 gave the highest yield. The highest proteolytic activity in the culture supernatant (650 T.U./ml) deter- mined after 72 h incubation at 35 ° C and 120 rpm, was obtained when the strain had been grown in natural medium. Optimum temperature for production of protease was found to be :35 °C whereas maximum activity was recorded at 30°C and pH 7.5. Based on the EDTA sensitivity and its neutral pH spectrum, the protease of S. marscens may be classified as neutral protease

Evaluation of Noise Performance of Multi-Lane Highways in the State of Qatar

In recent years, a growing number of people are complaining to transportation authorities for the traffic noise as a result of increased traffic volume on the highways. Therefore, transportation authorities are actively pursuing ways to reduce the traffic noise. In recent years, quieter pavement has become one of the cost-effective ways of sustainable highway noise reduction. However, for design and construction of quieter pavements, proper and accurate noise measurement is of paramount importance for evaluating the noise level of existing pavement as well as evaluating noise level of newly constructed pavements. In this study, the variation of noise level among different lanes of existing multi-lane highways in the State of Qatar was examined. Tire-pavement noise was measured by using onboard sound intensity (OBSI) technique. OBSI test results showed that highest noise level was observed at outer lane of multilane highways. This is probably due to the pavement distress caused by the heavy vehicle travelling at the outer lane of multi-lane highways.This paper was made possible by the NPRP grant (NPRP 7-110-2-056) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation)Scopu

Behavior of RC Wide Beams under Eccentric Loading

Wide beams are one of the widely used structural elements in RC buildings due to the many special features that characterize them. The main objective of this research is to investigate the behavior of wide shallow beams under the effect of eccentric loading acting along their cross sections. To achieve that, an experimental program that consisted of seven wide beams was conducted. All beams were loaded using two concentrated loads at their middle third where the main parameters considered were: the magnitude of the load eccentricity, the longitudinal spacing between shear reinforcement, and the arrangement of the longitudinal reinforcement. Following that, a finite element analysis was performed where the analytical model used was first verified using the data from the experimental program. The results from both the experimental and analytical programs were in good agreement. Then, the finite element analysis was extended through a parametric study where other variables were studies such as the compressive strength of concrete, the transverse spacing between stirrups and the longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The results showed that the value of the load eccentricity, spacing between shear reinforcement, the arrangement of the main reinforcement along the beam cross section, and the compressive strength of concrete significantly affected the torsional resistance of shallow wide beams. Conclusions and recommendations are presented which can be useful for future researchers. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091766 Full Text: PD

Which Sweetener Is Best for Yeast? An Inquiry-Based Learning For Conceptual Change

One way to help students understand the scientific inquiry process, and how it applies in investigative research, is to involve them in scientific investigation.  An example of this would be letting them come to their own understanding of how different variables (e.g., starting products) can affect outcomes (e.g., variable quality end products) (e.g., Cherif, Gialams & Siuda, 1998; Puche & Holt, 2012; Hazzard, 2012).  In this inquiry based learning activity, students work logically and systematically to design a scientific study geared to investigate the question of sweetener preference for yeast.  In doing this, they learn to use skills associated with inquiry such as problem solving and communication–--including the scientific practices of hypothesizing, investigating, observing, explaining, and evaluating (e.g., Cherif, 1988; NRC, 2011; Robinson, Nieh, & Goodale, 2012).  They enforce their understanding of learned concepts and skills by communicating what they have learned through the process of writing a scientific paper aimed at publication in a peer reviewed scientific journal.  In doing so, they learn how scientists practice science, learn cross-disciplinary science concepts and core ideas, and discover implications and applications for the results and findings of the investigative inquiry.  In this paper, we also provide the necessary background and information teachers and student-teachers need to help them to feel confident and competent in carrying out the learning activities with their students and be able to answer unanticipated questions. Keywords: Inquiry-based learning, student success, sweeteners, yeast, fermentation, scientific metho

Sentiment Analysis and Classifying Hashtags in Social Media Using Data Mining Techniques

Big data is one of the important topics which is still open for a wide range of applications for extracting useful information and knowledge for supporting organizations by planning and decision-making. Social media as a technology is an important resource of data, especially because it has been widely used in the last years. A Hashtag is recently one of the most popular features provided by Social media and is used by most social media users to express, share, and retrieve opinions and feelings regarding a specific theme. Hashtag features in social media are used more and more in recent years to discuss and debate important current events by public audience. This paper sheds light on how business can use such sources of information and how needed technical processes can be implemented accordingly. The paper demonstrates sentiment analysis as a scenario for such implementation. The main innovation in this paper is not limited to the technical method used, but rather to focus on the idea of using hashtags as information source in business, which is still rarely addressed in science. This paper will provide a novel model based on text mining techniques to provide a sentiment analysis for classifying business-related Hashtags posted on social media from the customers. The results will be presented and verified through samples of positive, and negative classified comments extracted from the Hashtags for supporting the organization by planning and decision making for generating completive advantages

Dimensional regularization applied to nuclear matter with a zero--range interaction

We apply the dimensional regularization procedure to treat an ultraviolet divergence occurring in the framework of the nuclear many-body problem. We consider the second--order correction (beyond the mean-field approximation) to the equation of state of nuclear matter with a zero-range effective interaction. The unphysical ultraviolet divergence that is generated at second order by the zero range of the interaction is removed by the regularization technique and the regularized equation of state (mean-field + second-order contributions) is adjusted to a reference equation of state. The main practical advantage of this procedure, with respect to a cutoff regularization, is to provide a unique set of parameters for the adjusted effective interaction. This occurs because the regularized second-order correction does not contain any cutoff dependence. The encouraging results found in this work indicate that such an elegant technique to generate regularized effective interactions is likely to be applied in future to finite nuclei in the framework of beyond mean-field models.Comment: 11 figures. Revised versio

Symptom profiles and illness course among Anabaptist and Non-Anabaptist adults with major mood disorders

Background: Anabaptists comprise large and growing Amish and Mennonite populations with a unique genetic heritage and cultural background. Little is known about the symptoms and course of major mood disorders in Anabaptists. Even less is known about the impact of potential moderators on symptom severity and course. Methods: A sample of Amish and Mennonite participants with bipolar, recurrent unipolar, or schizoaffective bipolar disorder (n = 155) were systematically evaluated with a well-validated instrument. Cases were compared with non-Anabaptist participants (n = 155) matched for age, sex, and psychiatric diagnosis and evaluated by the same methods. Results: Despite substantial cultural differences, the profile of manic and depressive symptoms during illness episodes did not significantly differ between the two groups. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) was significantly less frequent among Anabaptists, and was associated with more major depressive episodes and more hospitalizations for major depression in Anabaptist, but not non-Anabaptist participants. Lifetime history of head injury showed a trend toward association with more episodes of major depression in both Anabaptist and non-Anabaptist groups that did not withstand multiple test correction. Conclusions: The presentation of a highly heritable psychiatric illness such as bipolar disorder does not differ in cases drawn from genetically unique Anabaptist populations. However, alcohol comorbidity, head injury, and their effects on illness course suggest some differences that deserve further investigation

Where Have the Beans Been? Student-Driven Laboratory Learning Activities with Legumes for Conceptual Change

Accessible, familiar, relevant, effective and expansive teaching and learning resources is the dream of every teacher and educator throughout all types of educational systems. Furthermore, engaging students in meaningful scientific investigations using familiar objects inspire students to make the needed connection with the science concept being introduced.  Actively engaging in solving problems, and arriving at empirically based conclusions, leads to a lasting effect on students’ learning; what is more, a deep appreciation of science and the real understanding of the scientific process is fostered.  In this paper, we provide a set of laboratory-based activities using a variety of edible legumes (beans, peas, lentils, etc.) to introduce students to various STEM concepts in integrated, empirical investigations.  Legumes have been grown throughout the world, and have been cultivated since ancient times for more than 11,000 years.  The seeds of legumes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and are known for their differing nutritional values based on their content. But most of all, they are accessible, familiar, real and relevant, and are limitless in terms of locales where they can be found.  It is precisely these reason that make them an effective teaching and learning resource in the laboratory classroom settings.  Throughout all these laboratory learning activities, students engage in hands-on experiments, conducting research, engage in productive discussion, write scientific papers, and present their findings within a scientific framework.  Through these set of inquiry activities, teachers and students will never look at beans in the same way again.  Perhaps in fact, teachers may even consider them as one of their best teaching and learning resources. Finally, the appendix section offers more ideas that support the teachers whom is introducing these scientific concepts with the use of legumes.  We include additional ideas, information, activities, and questions (complete with answers) that we feel students may ask during the learning process. In doing so, we aim to save time and energy for those teachers who wish to use and/or adapt the suggested laboratory learning activities as a means of introducing conceptual changes. Keywords: Legumes, Science Inquiry, Laboratory experiments, Learning science, Effective learning resources.

Assessing the in vivo biocompatibility of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles

Molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs) are high affinity synthetic receptors which show promise as imaging and therapeutic agents. Comprehensive analysis of the in vivo behaviour of nanoMIPs must be performed before they can be considered for clinical applications. This work reports the solid-phase synthesis of nanoMIPs and an investigation of their biodistribution, clearance and cytotoxicity in a rat model following both intravenous and oral administration. These nanoMIPs were found in each harvested tissue type, including brain tissue, implying their ability to cross the blood brain barrier. The nanoMIPs were cleared from the body via both faeces and urine. Furthermore, we describe an immunogenicity study in mice, demonstrating that nanoMIPs specific for a cell surface protein showed moderate adjuvant properties, whilst those imprinted for a scrambled peptide showed no such behaviour. Given their ability to access all tissue types and their relatively low cytotoxicity, these results pave the way for in vivo applications of nanoMIPs