The influence of technology readiness on information technology competencies and civil conflict environment

This study investigates the relationship between electricity consumption and real gross domestic product in Botswana (the world’s largest producer of diamonds). The study includes capital formation in a trivariate system for the period covering 1980-2008. Zivot and Andrews (1992) unit roots test; bound test for cointegration, and Granger causality test are employed.Unidirectional causality is found from electricity consumption to real gross domestic product is in line with study of Altinay and Karagol (2005) among others. The long run estimate reinforce the Granger causality tests by indicating that electricity consumption is positively associated with real gross domestic product in the long run. Further findings suggest unidirectional causality from capital formation to real gross domestic product. The implication is that Botswana- being a highly energy dependent country- will have the performance of its capital formation on the economy partly determined by adequate electricity

Predication of nano-silica modified porous asphalt under dynamic creep by using finite element analysis

In areas with heavy rainfall, the conventional pavement may not be suitable due to low drainage capability. This will cause to a storm failure. To solve this, Porous asphalt (PA) is one of the innovative asphalts that can significantly overcome the issue of storm-water problem. The high air voids content characteristic of PA compares with conventional pavement in Malaysia is very suitable in managing the storm-water. However, PA suffers a few problems such as decrement of strength and tensile strength due to high air voids content which lead to permanent deformation. In order to enhance the performance of PA against the permanent deformation an additive material used to increase the strength of the PA called Nano-silica particles. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the dynamic creep of Nano-silica modified PA by developing a finite element analysis (FEA) model. Moreover, this study the dynamic creep performance of porous asphalt with different proportion of Nano-silica particles 0%, 2% and 4% was predicted. A finite element model will be simulated by using ABAQUS 6.14 software for the PA sample in order to achieve the objectives of the study. From this study it was concluded that, the develop model was reliable use to predict the performance of PA in terms of dynamic creep and the utilizing of Nano-silica in PA mixture result changes in the rheological properties of the asphalt binder which lead to an enhancement of its performance against the permanent deformation

Ruminant Brucellosis in the Kafr El Sheikh Governorate of the Nile Delta, Egypt: Prevalence of a Neglected Zoonosis

Brucellosis is a zoonosis of mammals caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. It is responsible for a vast global burden imposed on human health through disability and on animal productivity. In humans brucellosis causes a range of flu-like symptoms and chronic debilitating illness. In livestock brucellosis causes economic losses as a result of abortion, infertility and decreased milk production. The main routes for human infection are consumption of contaminated dairy products and contact with infected ruminants. The control of brucellosis in humans depends on its control in ruminants, for which accurate estimates of the frequency of infection are very useful, especially in areas with no previous frequency estimates. We studied the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its geographic distribution among domestic ruminants in one governorate of the Nile Delta region, Egypt. In the study area, the seroprevalence of ruminant brucellosis is very high and has probably increased considerably since the early 1990s. The disease is widespread but more concentrated around major animal markets. These findings question the efficacy of the control strategy in place and highlight the high infection risk for the animal and human populations of the area and the urgent need for an improved control strategy