English Non-generic Negation: A Problematic Area for Arabic Translators

The present paper aims to show that the appropriate textualization into Arabic of English non-generic negation by the Adverbials (namely too and hardly/barely/scarcely) can be a problematic area for Arabic translators. The textual data is extracted from several published translations in an attempt to show what procedures translators follow when encountering such negation and how successful they are. While the findings provide solid evidence for the serious mishaps (about 34.2% of the renderings involve one kind of problem or another) that Arabic translators experience in this area, the critical discussion unravels several textual procedures that can capture the subtleties inherent in this kind of adverbial negation.   Keywords: generic negation, non-generic negation, English, Arabic, translation

Punching Capacity of UHPC Post Tensioned Flat Slabs with and Without Shear Reinforcement: An Experimental Study

Punching capacity is one of the main items in the design of both pre-stressed and non-pre-stressed flat slabs. All international design codes include provisions to prevent this type of failure. Unfortunately, there is no code provision for UHPC yet, and hence, the aim of this research is to experimentally investigate the impact of column dimensions and punching reinforcement on the punching capacity of post-tensioned slabs and compare the results with the international design codes’ provisions to evaluate its validity. The test program included five slabs with a compressive strength of 120 MPa: one as a control sample, two to study the effect of column size, and the last two to study the effect of punching reinforcement. Comparing the results with the design codes showed that ACI-318 is more accurate with an average deviation of about 5%, while EC2 is more conservative with an average deviation of about 20%. Besides that, punching reinforcement reduces the size of the punching wedge by increasing the crack angle to 28° instead of 22° for slabs without punching reinforcement. Also, the results assure that both ductility and stiffness are enhanced with the increased column dimensions and punching reinforcement ratio. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-03-06 Full Text: PD

Development of A New Local Mineral Admixture for Enhancing Concrete properties

Proceeding from the saying of our God almighty on his book, the holy Qur'an: "Then ignite for me, O Hāmān, (a fire) upon the clay (From which bricks are made) and make for me a tower....". Therefore, this paper presents an investigation on, using calcined ball-clay (CBC) as mineral pozzolanic admixture for concrete production. CBC is obtained from calcination processes for local ball-clay at specified conditions. To evaluate ball-clay calcination process, various temperatures (600–900 ºC) and burning durations (2, 3 and 4 hours) are used and the optimum temperature and burning time for calcination are assessed by strength activity index at age of 28 days. The hardened properties development of concrete mixtures containing 0%, 10%, 15% and 20% CBC as cement partial replacement are analysed in terms of compressive strength at 7, 28, 90 and 180 days, water absorption, ultra-sonic pulse velocity and electrical resistivity. In addition, microstructure by XRD of the cement pastes incorporating CBC was studied. The results showed that the optimum calcination process to obtain CBC are carried out at temperature 800 °C for 4 hours. The replacement of cement by 10% of CBC is an optimal dosage for concrete mixtures since it achieved an increase of compressive strength by 28% as compared with control one. Therefore, adding CBC can lead to a beneficial utilization of natural local resources, which reduces energy consumption and minimizes CO2 footprint during the manufacturing of cement concrete, thus, concrete can become an eco-friendly and sustainable material

Assessment of energy credits for the enhancement of the Egyptian Green Pyramid Rating System

Energy is one of the most important categories in the Green Building Rating Systems all over the world. Green Building is a building that meets the energy requirements of the present with low energy consumption and investment costs without infringing on the rights of forthcoming generations to find their own needs. Despite having more than a qualified rating system, it is clear that each system has different priorities and needs on the other. Accordingly, this paper proposes a methodology using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for assessment of the energy credits through studying and comparing four of the common global rating systems, the British Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), the American Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the Australian Green Stars (GS), and the PEARL assessment system of the United Arab Emirates, in order to contribute to the enhancement of the Egyptian Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS). The results show the mandatory and optional energy credits that should be considered with their proposed weights according to the present and future needs of green Egypt. The results are compared to data gathered through desk studies and results extracted from recent questionnaires

Co(II) Based Magnetic Systems. Part I Spin Crossover Systems and Dendritic Frameworks. Part II Co(II) Single Molecule Magnets.

This work comprises two main parts. The first part outlines our efforts to expand on the recent work of Gütlich et.al. by synthesizing Co(II) based spin crossover systems within a dendritic framework. We wanted to investigate the possibility of synthesizing different first generation, triazole containing dendrimers using “click” type reactions and their coordination ability with Co(II) ions. To this end we have had limited success mainly due to the numerous challenges in synthesizing a pure dendrimer product. The second part details our efforts in the synthesis of a mononuclear Co(II) based single molecule magnet. This comes as an extension to recent reports by Chang and Long where they have successfully obtained mononuclear Fe(II) single molecule magnets by inducing structural distortions within the complexes to amplify the spin-orbit coupling. We postulated that the use of Co(II) in conjunction with a bulky ligand framework would lead to desirable magnetic properties. We chose the known bis(imino)pyridine ligand scaffold due to its rich chemistry and its interesting and unexpected coordination behaviour, as we have seen in previous research efforts by our lab. To this end we were successful in isolating and characterizing 4 compounds, and we have carried out detailed magnetic measurements on the two most magnetically interesting species

Influence of certain eco-physiological factors on predation efficiency of Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard) on Culicine mosquito larvae

The effect of light, water temperature and pH on the predation efficiency of Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard) on Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquito larvae was studied under laboratory conditions. Significant predation rate was recorded in light than in darkness for both male and females, despite fish size. The temperature 30°C showed the most favorable degree for predation compared with 25 and 35°C. Also, the predatory efficiency of G. affinis on mosquito larvae was significant at pH 9 than on 7 and 12.  The present results should be taken in consideration in biological control of mosquito larvae

Polymer/Activated Charcoal-Coated Magnetite for the Adsorptive Removal of Emerging Contaminants: Stepwise Synthesis via Two Sequential Routes

Emerging contaminants pose great health risks to humans and living organisms, even when released at minute concentrations over prolonged exposure times. In this work, we fabricate nanocomposites based on activated charcoal-coated magnetite by incorporating the biopolymers of xylan or pectin into their structure. Two synthesis routes which differ in their sequential steps were investigated. It was demonstrated that the synthesis route affects the morphology, textural properties, and chemical structure of the nanocomposites, as confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) measurements, respectively. Hence, in turn, it influences the performance of the nanocomposites in their adsorptive removal for the emerging contaminants of Fluoxetine and Famotidine, whose presence in wastewater have been confirmed in several studies

Polymer/Activated Charcoal-Coated Magnetite for the Adsorptive Removal of Emerging Contaminants: Stepwise Synthesis via Two Sequential Routes

Emerging contaminants pose great health risks to humans and living organisms, even when released at minute concentrations over prolonged exposure times. In this work, we fabricate nanocomposites based on activated charcoal-coated magnetite by incorporating the biopolymers of xylan or pectin into their structure. Two synthesis routes which differ in their sequential steps were investigated. It was demonstrated that the synthesis route affects the morphology, textural properties, and chemical structure of the nanocomposites, as confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) measurements, respectively. Hence, in turn, it influences the performance of the nanocomposites in their adsorptive removal for the emerging contaminants of Fluoxetine and Famotidine, whose presence in wastewater have been confirmed in several studies

Multifunctional Chitosan/Xylan-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles for the Simultaneous Adsorption of the Emerging Contaminants Pb(II), Salicylic Acid, and Congo Red Dye

In this work, we develop chitosan/xylan-coated magnetite (CsXM) nanoparticles as eco-friendly efficient adsorbents for the facile removal of contaminants from water. Characterization of CsXM using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Zeta potential measurements, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis, confirmed the successful preparation of a chitosan/xylan complex coated over magnetite, which is characterized by being mesoporous, thermally stable and of neutral charge. Three contaminants, Pb(II), salicylic acid (SA), and congo red (CR), were chosen as representative pollutants from three major classes of contaminants of emerging concern: heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and azo dyes. Pb(II), SA, and CR at initial concentrations of 50 ppm were removed by 64.49, 62.90, and 70.35%, respectively, on applying 6 g/L of CsXM. The contaminants were successfully removed in ternary systems, with Pb (II) and SA being more competitive in their adsorption than CR. Adsorption followed the Freundlich isotherm model and the pseudo-second order kinetic model, while the binding was suggested to occur mainly via chemical chelation for Pb(II) and physical interaction for SA and CR, which demonstrates the multifunctional potential of the nanoparticles to capture different contaminants regardless of their charge