Physical and Strength Properties of Paper Manufactured from Straw of Different Sudanese Sorghum Varieties

The physical and strength properties of papers manufactured from different Sudanese sorghum straws were investigated. Pulp was manufactured from straws of five different sorghum varieties namely Wad Ahmed, Hegein, Tabbat, Feterita and Hemacy. The hand sheets were produced from each variety according to the American standard and subjected to physical tests including specific volume, breaking length, tensile strength, burst index and folding endurance. The effect of beating time on these properties was also taken into accounts. The results obtained from these varieties showed that the produced papers differed from one to another according to the variety from which it was produced. It has been noticed that, the increased beating times were substantially improved the properties of paper manufactured from these straws.  For comparison purposes properties of these papers, were compared with properties of the printing paper size (A4). Although the latter was chemically treated with tilling and other improving materials, the results of comparison showed that, the paper produced from sorghum straws,  were good and very much like the standard one (A4)

Assessment of heavy metals in water and fish from Ibrahim Adamu Lake, Jigawa, Nigeria

The study was conducted to assess the levels of heavy metals in water and the flesh of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Water and tilapia were sampled for a period of 12 months from October, 2003-september 2004. Water and muscle tissue were analysed for Cu, Cr, pb, and Zn using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The assessment showed Cr (3.35mg/l), Cu (0.75mg/l), pb (0.81mg/l) in water while Cr(2.27mg/kg) and pb (0.27mg/kg) were found to be high in the tissue samples and were above the values recommended by WHO and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)of the United Nations and therefore not safe for human consumption

The Impact of Service Quality Dimensions on Customer Satisfaction: Case Study of University Utara Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of service quality (reliability, empathy, tangibility, assurance, responsiveness) on customer satisfaction in University Utara Malaysia (Education Service). Each variable is measured using 7-point interval scale: reliability (6 items), empathy (6 items), tangibility (5 items), assurance (10 items), and responsiveness (5 items) on customer satisfaction (6 items). Using the primary data collection method, 160 questionnaires were distributed to postgraduate students inside University Utara Malaysia (Sintok Campus), in north Malaysia. The responses collected were 98 completed questionnaires representing with 61.25 % response rate. The data were analyzed using Structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS 7. Confirmatory factor analysis of measurement models indicates adequate goodness of fit after a few items were eliminated through modification indices verifications. Goodness of fit for the revised structural model shows adequate fit. This study has established five direct effects: (1) reliability customer satisfaction; (2) empathy and customer satisfaction; (3) tangibility and customer satisfaction; (4) assurance and customer satisfaction; (5) and responsiveness on customer satisfaction. And, this study concludes that all hypotheses have been asserted in the revised model

Effects of skipping one irrigation at different growth stages on yield and water productivity of some maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars under heavy clay soils of central Sudan

      Crop production in arid and semi-arid regions faces the challenge to ensure high yields with limited supply of water. This study was conducted at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, during seasons 2014/15 and 2015/16. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of skipping one irrigation on yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.). A split-plot design with four replicates was used. Main plots were assigned to the cultivars namely: Hudaiba1, Hudaiba2 and Mogtamaa -45, and sub-plots to irrigation treatments which consisted of (T1) irrigation every 10 days throughout the season (control), skipping one irrigation at: Vegetative (T2), flowering (T3) and grain filling (T4) stages. The results indicated that irrigation treatments and cultivars had highly significant effects on all parameters tested. Irrigation every 10 days resulted in the highest values of plant height, cob length, number of grains per cob, 100 seed weight, grain yield and water productivity. Hudaaiba2 outyielded the other two cultivars. Skipping one irrigation at flowering (T3) stage gave the lowest values of the tested parameters. The highest grain yield was obtained when frequent irrigation (control) and Hudaiba 2 was practiced and the lowest was obtained by skipping of irrigation at flowering, which reflected the sensitivity of this stage for water deficit. Hence, it is recommended to grow Hudaiba2 maize cultivar and irrigate every 10 days

Responses of Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) to soil and foliar applications of Haza (Haplophyllum tuberculatum).

This study aimed to investigate the responses of Periwinkle plants to soil and foliar applications of Haza plant in two separate tests under the conditions of the nursery at Shambat, Khartoum North, Sudan. The foliar treatments were for boiled water extracts of hand crushed Haza shoots in concentrations: 0.0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/l, while the soil dressing test was for powder of dry shoots of Haza applied in doses of: 0.0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g per plant. The Periwinkle transplants were planted in 18 inch plastic pots containing River Nile sedimentary soil. The study was arranged in complete randomized design and each treatment was replicated 7 times. Data were collected 4 months after applications. The results showed substantial increments in vegetative and reproductive growth parameters coupled with high alkaloids content from soil dressing with 10 g/plant Haza treatment or the foliar application of the 10 g/l Haza extract. These findings elucidated the bio-stimulating potential of Haza applications for enhanced vegetative and reproductive growth beside alkaloids content of Periwinkle. This stimulating potential may be of value for trials on organic production of other horticultural crops

Case report: Nerve fiber regeneration in children with melanocortin 4 receptor gene mutation related obesity treated with semaglutide

Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) mutations are the commonest cause of monogenic obesity through dysregulation of neuronal pathways in the hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex that regulate hunger and satiety. MC4R also regulates neuropathic pain pathways via JNK signaling after nerve injury. We show evidence of corneal small fiber degeneration in 2 siblings carrying a heterozygous missense variant c.508A>G, p.Ille170Val in the MC4R gene. Both children were treated with once weekly semaglutide for 6 months with no change in weight, and only a minor improvement in HbA1c and lipid profile. However, there was evidence of nerve regeneration with an increase in corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) [child A (13.9%), child B (14.7%)], corneal nerve branch density (CNBD) [child A (110.2%), child B (58.7%)] and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) [child A (21.5%), child B (44.0%)]

Optimization study on sewage sludge conditioning using Moringa oleifera seeds

Disposal of sewage sludge is a main problem faced by local municipalities in Malaysia. Sludge conditioned with chemical polymer often termed as undesirable use for land application. However, using natural polymer will help to reduce the impact of this problem. In this study, optimization using Moringa oleifera seeds as a natural polymer in sewage sludge conditioning is highlighted. An earlier sludge conditioning using jar test apparatus was conducted using Moringa oleifera seeds in three different forms; dry powder, distilled water extracted and salt extracted (1 N NaCl). Results from the study indicate that Moringa oleifera in distilled water extracted form shows the most optimum reduction in Capillary Suction Time (CST) value. Optimization of three important factors namely mixing speed, mixing duration and Moringa oleifera dosage for distilled water extracted form was done using Design of Experiments (DOE). Optimum values for the selected factors were obtained using Box-Behnken design, Response Surface Design Method (RSM). There was a total of seven set of optimized solutions produced. The best solution generated showed lowest CST and Specific Resistance to Filtration (SRF) was obtained at 4.5 s and 1.22 x 1011 m/kg respectively. These values were obtained under the optimum conditions of mixing speed at 100 rpm, mixing duration of 1 min and Moringa oleifera dosage of 4695 mg/L. The desirability index for the optimized solution was 1.000

Keyboard warrior, online predator or cyber bully? The growing menace of child exposure to internet harm based on research evidence

The internet has come along with a myriad of positive and negative challenges. One of the positive developments is the increased access for all age categories, especially people of young ages; however, it is not without a side effect. A cyberbullying threat has become interesting areas of research over the years because of the importance of the concepts toward understanding children’s online behaviours and making the internet safe again for the kids to surf. Thus, this article seeks to provide a further understanding of the phenomenon by reporting the findings of a study performed in Selangor, a state of Malaysia. A questionnaire was administered to 375 respondents selected using stratified random sampling from a population of 6,671 primary and secondary school pupils aged 9 to 16 years. The key findings revealed that most children had been involved in the act of cyberbullying. Interestingly, most of them were aware of online threats but did not know that it was bad behaviour. However, most of them were rarely involved in a sex-related cyberbullying incident. A collective approach to guarantee the internet safety of children and balance their online prospects and risks is recommended to ensure children’s online safety

Can mangroves help combat sea level rise through sediment accretion and accumulation?

Mangroves have substantial roles to induce sedimentation in the vulnerable coastal regions, which subsequently helps to combat climate change induced impacts like sea level rise. Although Sarawak has numerous pristine estuarine mangroves, studies on the roles of these mangroves in regards to sediment deposition are scanty. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the sediment accretion and accumulation pattern of pristine Sibuti mangrove using tiles and sediment traps from January to December 2013. Monthly average accretion and accumulation rate of sediments of this mangrove were 0.55 mm and 0.08 g cm-2, respectively. A total of 6.56 mm and 0.93 g cm-2 sediments were accreted and accumulated annually. Significantly positive correlation (r=0.794) was found for the monthly accretion of sediments with accumulation. Accretion and accumulation of sediments were also positively correlated with rainfall. Comparatively higher rate of accretion and accumulation of sediments were estimated in the months of wet season when the rainfall and tidal inundation duration were high. Erosion was found higher in the months of dry season when the rainfall was low. Seasonal variations were not found for sediment accretion as well as accumulation in the study area. The findings of the study suggest that the roles of this forest in regards to sediment accretion through retention is compatible with the predicted annual rate of sea level rise of 1.8 to 5.9 mm within 21st century by IPCC