Cytotoxicity of Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Aluminum in Murine Thymocytes and Lymphocytes

The effects of low concentrations of aluminum chloride on thymocytes and lymphocytes acutely dissociated from young mice were studied using flow cytometry with a DNA-binding dye. We demonstrate a rapid and dose-dependent injury in murine thymocytes and lymphocytes resulting from exposure to aluminum, as indicated by an increase in the entry into the cell of the DNA-binding dye, propidium iodine. A 60-minute exposure to 10 μM AlCl3 caused damage of about 5% of thymocytes, while 50% were injured after 10 minutes at 20 μM. Nearly all thymocytes showed evidence of damage at 30 μM AlCl3 after only 5 minutes of incubation. In lymphocytes, injury was observed at 15 μM AlCl3 and less than 50% of cells were injured after a 60-minute exposure to 20 μM. Injury only rarely proceeded to rapid cell death and was associated with cell swelling. These results suggest that aluminum has cytotoxic effects on cells of the immune system

Emissions Reduction Resulting from Renewable Energy Projects in Jordan

This paper aims to present energy supply, demand and policy reforms, in Jordan, that had helped in transforming renewable energy schemes into bankable projects. The current study focuses on implemented and planned renewable projects and its investment as a case study aiming to identify impacts on economy and environment, with emphasis on the power sector. In order to attract private sector participation in the development of such projects, the government developed and enacted a new system of direct proposals as well as needed regulations. This resulted in the construction of more than 1000 MWe of renewable energy and awarding about 1500 MWe to be completed until end of 2024. According to the adopted methodology, in this study, the calculated avoided GHG emissions resulting from the completion of these projects, during the study period from 2016 and up to 2025, are significant. The net anticipated accumulated reduction of GHG emission over this period exceeded 16 million ton of CO2 eq. The solar PV sharing ratio being the highest, i.e. 45% of total accumulated reduction, followed by wind, about 24%, and direct applications of renewables by 28%. Such figure may increase in the future depending on the completed capacity and would touch 20 million ton by 2025, when all planned projects are completed. Keywords Solar, Wind, Biogas, Emissions, GHG, Power Generation, Water-Energy Nexus DOI: 10.7176/JETP/9-6-06 Publication date: August 31st 201

Statistical Model for Predicting Slump and Strength of Concrete Containing Date Seeds

Incorporating agro-based waste in concrete can reduce environmental pollution and lead to preserving the ecosystem. In order to reduce trial and error in achieving desired slump and compressive strength of concrete containing Date Seed (DS), this paper examines the slump and compressive strength of concrete using date seeds as a partial replacement for crushed granite. Preliminary tests were conducted on the aggregates to ascertain their suitability for concrete production. Concrete with DS-crushed granite ratios of 0:100, 5:95, 10:90, 15:85, and 20:80 were prepared using a mix ratio of 1:2:4 and a water-cement ratio of 0.5. Slump loss was used to estimate the workability of the fresh concrete. The freshly prepared concrete was cast in 150 x 150 x 150 mm and the compressive strength was determined after curing by full immersion in water for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Results showed that the slump of concrete increased with an increase in the content of date seed. The compressive strength was inversely proportional to the date seed content with a DScrushed granite ratio of 20:80 recording the lowest compressive strength (20N/mm2 ). Linear regression models for slump and compressive strength were developed and found to be sufficient in explaining the experimental data based on a Mean Square Error (MSE) of 0.37 and 0.029 and R2 of 88% and 99% obtained for slump and compressive strength respectively. The study has concluded that DS can be used as a partial replacement for crushed granite in concrete and a linear model is sufficient in predicting the slump and strength of concrete containing date seed

Anti-Americanism in Arabic Twitter discourses is driven by perceptions of U.S. impingement in the region.

Recent years have seen very public expressions of anti-American sentiment in many parts of the Middle East. But are these sentiments driven by American actions in the region, or by the country itself? In new research, Amaney A. Jamal, Robert O. Keohane, David Romney, and Dustin Tingley use data from Arabic Twitter from 2012 and 2013 to investigate anti-American attitudes. By looking at reactions to the potential for U.S. intervention in situations such as the Syrian Civil War, they find that in the Arabic Twitter world, negative attitudes are driven by the perceptions of potential American social and political impingement. They also find that these negative attitudes can be directed at other impinging powers, such as Iran

A new design of photonic transmitter for terahertz spectroscopy and imaging applications

In this paper we present the Design of Continuous Wave Terahertz photonic transmitter based on photodetector, THz antenna, and low-pass filter (LPF) and Direct Current “DC” Probe Bias. Before validating the whole system, we processed firstly with the optimization of the antenna which is responsible of the transmitting the RF signal providing from the photodetector then we have conducted a study on the design of a low pass filter “LPF” whose role is to block the received RF signal to reach the DC probe. After the optimisation of the proposed LPF, we have integrated the different components mounted on multi-layers GaAs substrate and simulated the final photonic transmitter by using an EM solver “Momentum” integrated in ADS “Advanced Design System”. The dimensions of the whole circuit are  .The simulation results permit to validate the final circuit at 1.6 THz, the proposed photonic transmitter is suitable for terahertz spectroscopy and imaging applications

Poisson-to-Wigner crossover transition in the nearest-neighbor spacing statistics of random points on fractals

We show that the nearest-neighbor spacing distribution for a model that consists of random points uniformly distributed on a self-similar fractal is the Brody distribution of random matrix theory. In the usual context of Hamiltonian systems, the Brody parameter does not have a definite physical meaning, but in the model considered here, the Brody parameter is actually the fractal dimension. Exploiting this result, we introduce a new model for a crossover transition between Poisson and Wigner statistics: random points on a continuous family of self-similar curves with fractal dimension between 1 and 2. The implications to quantum chaos are discussed, and a connection to conservative classical chaos is introduced.Comment: Low-resolution figure is included here. Full resolution image available (upon request) from the author

Study of the Monthly and Annual Behavior of Temperature and its Impact on Climate Change in Iraq for the Period (1982-2012)

Temperature in Iraq is an important meteorological factors because of its great impact on the daily life of human in terms of health, work and others. This research aims at identifying and studying the climate change in the study stations and during the specific period of time and its future impact on the climate of Iraq. This study analyzes the behavior of monthly and annual temperature data obtained from the (ECMWF) for selected stations from Iraq (Mosul, Baghdad and Basrah), which represent (Northern, Middle and Southern) Iraq, respectively, for the period of one and thirty years (1982-2012) and found the relationship between the temperature with period of study from 1982 to 2012 using some statistical methods (SLR and Rsqr), The lowest monthly average of temperature was in DEC and the highest monthly average of temperature was in JUL in all stations of the study, and found that the lowest annual average of temperature was in 1992 and the highest annual average of temperature in 2010 and for all stations, and found that there is a change climate in the month of MAY of Spring and the month of SEP of the autumn with the summer months (JUN, JUL and AUG), and found that there is a clear increase in the annual average temperature during the study period, where the Rsqr for Mosul station was (R2=0.4), Baghdad station was (R2=0.5) and Basrah station was (R2=0.4), with the possibility of dividing study stations (Mosul, Baghdad and Basrah) into three regions climate in terms of total annual average of temperature (low, high, and very high) respectively, and Predictability of future drought in Iraq

Oral Administration of 17α-Methyltestosterone Increased Male Percentage of Freshwater Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus

Cherax quadricarinatus is one of freshwater crayfish species that has enormous potential for expanding its farming in future.  Application of monosex male culture using steroid sex hormone administration method during the period of sex differentiation or early developmental stage might be increased efficiency in farming.  This study was aimed to increase male of C. quadricarinatus by oral administration of diet containing 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) towards production efficiency.  Two-week-old of Cherax quadricarinatus were fed ad libitum on diets containing various dose of MT, i.e., 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 mg/kg diet or diet containing no MT as control, 3 times daily for 30 days.  After MT-treatment, crayfish were fed frozen Chironomus sp.  and shrimp diet.  Sex ratio, survival and growth rate (by length and weight) were observed at the end of experiment.  Sex was determined by visual observation; the male sex organ is located at the fifth walking leg while the female is at the third.  Data was analyzed by F and BNT tests.  The results of study show that administration of MT was significantly changed the male ratio of crayfish.  Treatment dose of 50 mg/kg diet was effective to increase male sex percentage from 24.93% (control) to be 59.96%. Growth was also significantly being improved, while survival rate was insignificant.  Thus, oral administration of MT is an effective way to increase male sex percentage of crayfish, although other methods and the time of hormone administration are needed to be verified to obtain maximal results. Keywords: monosex, 17α-methyltestosterone, sex reversal, Cherax quadricarinatus   ABSTRAK Salah satu jenis lobster air tawar yang berpotensi tinggi untuk dikembangkan usaha budidayanya adalah Cherax quadricarinatus. Aplikasi teknik budidaya tunggal kelamin (monoseks) dengan metode pemberian hormon seks steroid yang diberikan pada saat diferensiasi kelamin atau masa perkembangan awal ikan diduga dapat meningkatkan efisiensi usaha.  Penelitian ini ditujukan untuk meningkatkan persentase C. quadricarinatus jantan menggunakan metode seks reversal melalui pemberian pakan yang mengandung 17α-metiltestosteron (MT) sebagai upaya efisiensi produksi.  C. quadricarinatus umur 2 minggu diberi pakan yang mengandung MT dengan dosis 25, 50, 75, 100 dan 150 mg/kg pakan atau tanpa hormon secara ad libitum, 3 kali sehari selama 30 hari.  Setelah perlakuan lobster uji diberi pakan alami Chironomus sp. beku dan pakan udang. Parameter yang diamati meliputi nisbah kelamin, kelangsungan hidup dan pertumbuhannya (panjang dan berat mutlak), yang dilakukan pada akhir penelitian. Identifikasi jenis kelamin dilakukan secara visual; alat kelamin lobster jantan terdapat pada bagian pangkal kaki jalan kelima, yang betina terletak pada bagian dasar kaki jalan ketiga.  Data dianalisis menggunakan uji F dan BNT. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemberian hormon MT berpengaruh nyata terhadap persentase kelamin jantan lobster. Perlakuan dengan dosis 50 mg/kg pakan efektif untuk meningkatkan persentase jantan C. quadricarinatus dari 24,93% (kontrol) menjadi 59,96%.  Pertumbuhan panjang dan berat mutlak  juga menunjukkan pengaruh yang berbeda nyata, sementara kelangsungan hidup tidak berbeda.  Dengan demikian pemberian hormon MT melalui pakan cukup efektif untuk meningkatkan persentase lobster jantan yang dihasilkan, meskipun penggunaan metode lain dan waktu pemberian hormon MT masih perlu diteliti untuk memperoleh hasil maksimal.  Kata kunci: tunggal kelamin, 17α-metiltestosteron, seks reversal, Cherax quadricarinatu

Zeta Function Zeros, Powers of Primes, and Quantum Chaos

We present a numerical study of Riemann's formula for the oscillating part of the density of the primes and their powers. The formula is comprised of an infinite series of oscillatory terms, one for each zero of the zeta function on the critical line and was derived by Riemann in his paper on primes assuming the Riemann hypothesis. We show that high resolution spectral lines can be generated by the truncated series at all powers of primes and demonstrate explicitly that the relative line intensities are correct. We then derive a Gaussian sum rule for Riemann's formula. This is used to analyze the numerical convergence of the truncated series. The connections to quantum chaos and semiclassical physics are discussed