Effects of soil variation between peat soil and mineral soil on fruit quality of pineapple (Ananas Comosus) cultivars: N36 and josapine

Consumption of pineapple is predicted to increase in the near future in which the demand for continuous supply of the fruit becomes of major interest. This research is focused on finding the influence of growth medium between peat soil and mineral soil to the weight and production of vitamin C and sugar contents of the pineapple fruits. Two cultivars were investigated: N36 and Josapine. The vitamin C is quantified by Iodate Titration and sugar content is analyzed by Digital Refractometer. The chemical soil properties were analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer at the Soil Analysis Section laboratory from Department Of Agriculture, Malaysia. All data were analyzed statistically through ANOVA by using SPSS. Results indicated that pineapple planted on peat soil produced heavier fruits than those in mineral soil. N36 pineapple reports no significant difference (p < 0.05) of the vitamin C content and the sweetness between different cultivation soil types. However, Josapine pineapples cultivated on mineral soil (FIMA Plantation) produce significantly 115% higher vitamin C content (19.243 ± 7.191 mg∙100g-1), and significantly 30% lower sugar content (5.403 ± 1.721% °Bx) than cultivated on peat soil (Peninsula Plantations). The finding of the soil type’s influence on the fruit quality production is beneficial for pineapple producers and researchers to broaden up the development of pineapple-based products in the long run. The promotion of pineapple nutritional contents is beneficial to increase consumers’ knowledge and awareness on the importance of pineapple consumption especially in Asian regions

EFL LEARNERS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS THE ACTIVE READING SOFTWARE AS A LEARNING TOOL TO ENHANCE READING COMPREHENSION

The present study endeavored to explore EFL students' perceptions regarding the acceptance and intervention of ARS in enhancing reading comprehension ability at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia. The study engaged 30 male undergraduates of English major B.A program. For data collection, the study utilized a qualitative technique using semi-structured interviews and the interview questions were constructed based on the principles of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Davis (1989). Active Reading Software (ARS) was employed as a technological tool for teaching reading comprehension. The treatment group received intervention from ARS for the duration of four weeks in the computer lab. Qualitative data obtained from the students' interviews were evaluated by means of thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework. The results of the thematic analysis pointed out five major themes considered to be the factors that influenced participants’ perceptions towards ARS as a learning tool for improving reading comprehension at the tertiary level. Findings of the present study offer essential implications for language instructors and educational institutions providing technology-integrated courses. Understanding the factors influencing the learners’ perceptions towards the adoption of technological tools in learning is significant for its success. Article visualizations

Myelinating glia differentiation is regulated by extracellular matrix elasticity

The mechanical properties of living tissues have a significant impact on cell differentiation, but remain unexplored in the context of myelin formation and repair. In the PNS, the extracellular matrix (ECM) incorporates a basal lamina significantly denser than the loosely organized CNS matrix. Inhibition of non-muscle myosin II (NMII) enhances central but impairs peripheral myelination and NMII has been implicated in cellular responses to changes in the elasticity of the ECM. To directly evaluate whether mechanotransduction plays a role in glial cell differentiation, we cultured Schwann cells (SC) and oligodendrocytes (OL) on matrices of variable elastic modulus, mimicking either their native environment or conditions found in injured tissue. We found that a rigid, lesion-like matrix inhibited branching and differentiation of OL in NMII-dependent manner. By contrast, SC developed normally in both soft and stiffer matrices. Although SC differentiation was not significantly affected by changes in matrix stiffness alone, we found that expression of Krox-20 was potentiated on rigid matrices at high laminin concentration. These findings are relevant to the design of biomaterials to promote healing and regeneration in both CNS and PNS, via transplantation of glial progenitors or the implantation of tissue scaffolds

Bionanocomposite based on cellulose nanowhisker from oil palm biomass-filled poly(lactic acid)

Cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) extracted from plant fibers exhibit remarkable properties that make them suitable for use in the development of bionanocomposites. CNW have demonstrated the capability to enhance the properties of a polymer matrix at low filler loading. In this study, poly (lactic acid) (PLA) bionanocomposites were prepared using the solution casting technique, by incorporating the PLA with the CNW obtained from an oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed no significant changes in the PLA peak positions, which indicates that incorporating the CNW into the PLA did not result in any significant changes in the chemical structure of the PLA. Thermogravimetric analysis, on the other hand, revealed that the bionanocomposites (PLA-CNW) had better thermal stability than the pure PLA. The tensile strength of PLA-CNW increased by 84% with the addition of 3 parts of CNW per hundred resins (phr), and decreased thereafter. Moreover, a linear relationship was observed between the Young's modulus and CNW loading. Elongation at break, however, decreased with the addition of 1-phr CNW, and remained constant with further addition. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that agglomeration of CNW occurred at 5-phr loading, consistent with the tensile strength results. Overall, the CNW obtained from OPEFB can enhance the tensile and the thermal properties of bionanocomposites

Wrinkling for stretchable electronic devices

The concept of stretchable electronic devices has garnered great interest in recent years, and many techniques for developing and producing such devices have been presented. Elastic substrates are particularly crucial in these devices, and Shape Memory Hybrids, a novel member of the Shape Memory Materials family, possess the ability to substitute the well-known substrate material Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Herein, a comprehensive approach to identify appropriate materials and fabrication techniques for the development of stretchable electronic devices using shape memory hybrids is discussed.Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering

Evaluating the efficacy of active reading software in enhancing EFL learners’ reading comprehension skills

Reading ability of the learners plays a pivotal role in their academic success. Reading without comprehension affects learners’ learning outcomes. However, the development of learners’ reading ability has always been a great challenging task for language teachers. The efficacy of computer-assisted language (CALL) in improving language skills has been endorsed by many studies under different socio-cultural settings. However, in Saudi EFL context, using CALL in teaching and learning languages is still scarce and there are more for researchers to explore. The current study intended to examine the effects of Active Reading Software (ARS) on reading comprehension skills of Saudi EFL learners at tertiary level. A quasiexperimental study was carried out at Majmaah University involving 30 EFL learners, which were equally clustered into a control group and an experimental group. A four- week treatment incorporating the ARS was assigned to the experimental group, while the control group received the same learning materials in a traditional classroom setting. Data acquired from the study were evaluated using t-test. Findings revealed a substantial difference between the mean scores of the two groups in terms of reading comprehension; the experimental group outperformed the control group. These results indicate that utilizing ARS can further enhance the EFL learners’ reading comprehension skills and thus, it can be assumed that the ARS software can be a facilitative learning tool in the teaching and learning of reading

Exploring the EFL learners' attitudes towards the integration of active reading software in learning reading comprehension at tertiary level

The role of technology in language pedagogy and learning is significant both in EFL and ESL contexts. Educational technology facilitates language teachers to enhance their teaching practices by implementing certain strategies to assist learners to achieve their academic goals successfully. However, the adoption and effective use of technology in EFL classes depend on the positive attitudes of the learners. The current study attempts to explore EFL learners' attitude towards technology-enhanced instructions of reading comprehension at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia. Participants of the study consisted of 60 male EFL learners, divided into two pre-formed groups. The study adopted a quantitative approach, and an attitude scale questionnaire was administered to explore the learners' attitude towards Active Reading Software (ARS) instruction. The experimental group received four-week treatment in the computer labs using ARS. The results of the descriptive statistics indicated positive attitudes of EFL learners toward Active Reading Software as a learning tool in improving reading comprehension achievement

Levels of interleukins in patients with chronic kidney disease and periodontitis: a systematic review

Aim: To systematically review the in vivo clinical studies available in the literature evaluating the effect of interleukin (IL) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic periodontitis (CP). Materials and Methods: A search was initially performed using Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases published from the year 2003 to 2020. Among the keywords used in the search were “periodontal diseases,” “interleukin,” “chronic kidney diseases,” and “inflammation.” After relevant articles were found, a critical assessment was made to select those that met the criteria for the systematic review. Among the inclusion criteria needed for the papers were randomized clinical trials, longitudinal clinical trials, clinical studies, no sample size limits, and only English language articles. Case reports, conference abstracts, and unpublished data were excluded for this study. Result: Based on the keywords, 16 of the relevant articles were listed and seven of them were selected for a systematic review. Conclusion: After reviewing the articles based on their results and conclusion, it can be concluded that serum IL level increased significantly in patients with CKD and CP and periodontal therapy can significantly reduce the level of serum IL. Moreover, the effect of modern periodontal therapy in CKD and CP is still unknown and inflammatory gene expression profile in patients with CKD will still need to be evaluated within different population