Admonian's method for Hammerstein integral equations arising from chemical reactor theory

An ordinary differential equation with a parameter in the boundary conditions describes the steady state in an adiabatic tubular chemical reactor. In this paper, the problem is considered as a Hammerstein integral equation and solutions are obtained using Adomian's decomposition method

Generation Y-Turnover: A Complementary Fit Perspective

Generation Y becomes the main pillar of workforce around the world. This generation enters the workplace with different values and characteristics from their counterparts of other generational workforces. In Malaysia, generation Y employees are well known of their high job mobility. Human resource managers are in dilemma of how to retain this new workforce? This paper serves the purpose to respond to such queries by investigating the factors contributing to Generation Y employees’ Turnover from a complementary fit perspective. This study was conducted in Malaysian Business Process Outsourcing Sector (PBO). The total sample was comprised of 318 respondents belong to generation Y employees. The data was analysed in Amos using two steps approach. Extrinsic, freedom and demand abilities fit were the predictors of Generation Y employees’ intention to quit in Malaysian BPO sector.Using cross sectional method limits our understanding to whether the predictors of turnover intention were due to career effects or generational effects. This study provides empirical evidences to Malaysian HR Managers to what makes generation Y employees leave the organization. This is a better surrogate of the existed anecdotal information. Furthermore, this study informs HR Managers that stereotyping the findings from Western context may be treated with caution

Mobile Learning Approach in Higher Education Institutes (HEIS): Insights beyond the Acceptance Model of Technology

The purpose of the study is to develop a framework beyond the technology acceptance model (TAM) whereby the study aims to understand the slow adoption of M-learning approach in HEIs. For this purpose, this study carries out an extensive review of the literature in order to design a conceptual framework to investigate how to enhance the utilization of this technology among lecturers and learners/students. The investigation was carried out using a deductive approach to examine the proposed hypothesizes. The findings from this study suggest a wide range of factors such as cultural dimension (i.e. uncertainty avoidance), psychological factors (i.e. perceived risk, self-efficacy) technical skills (i.e. digital literacy). These factors are regarded to be relevant towards enhancing the utilization of M-learning in HEIs. This study has the originality of ideas by providing insights into M-learning utilization beyond the conventional TAM. These identified factors require to be substantiated in this context

Pfannenstiel incision for intact specimen extraction in laparoscopic transperitoneal radical nephrectomy: a longitudinal prospective outcome study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the intra- and postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with intact specimen extraction through a Pfannenstiel transverse suprapubic incision. METHODS: Prospective follow-up of 26 laparoscopic transperitoneal radical nephrectomies for suspected renal tumors in which the kidneys were extracted via a Pfannenstiel lower abdominal transverse incision. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 152.3 (80-255) minutes, and the mean blood loss was 90 (20-300) ml. The mean extraction time was 20.4 (12-35) minutes. The mean weight of the removed specimen was 631.5 (190-1505) grams, and the mean longest diameter of the extracted specimen was 17.4 (9-25) cm. The mean extraction incision size was 10.7 (7-16) cm. No open surgical conversions were necessary. Pain control was excellent, with minimal intravenous morphine equivalent narcotic use by patients: 15.7 (0-31) mg in the recovery room, 33.8 (0-127) mg on the first postoperative day and 8.7 (0-60) mg in the first week after discharge. The patients experienced a short duration to full ambulation and normal dietary intake. Postoperative follow-up visits were recorded for at least six months. The patients reported a high cosmetic satisfaction rate of 97.7% (60-100). No late postoperative complications were observed related to the extraction site. CONCLUSIONS: The operative specimen can be extracted via a low transverse Pfannenstiel incision during radical laparoscopic nephrectomy. This incision ensures the extraction of large specimens while preserving the aesthetic and functional advantages of laparoscopy without increasing the cancer risk. The absence of muscle cutting maintains the integrity of the abdominal wall and elicits minimal pain. No postoperative incisional hernias or keloid formations were observed

EFFICACY OF EXTRACTS OF SOME PLANTS IN AVOIDING FUNGAL DISEASES OF STORED CEREALS

ABSTRACT   Objective: Plant metabolites and plant-based pesticides appear to be one of the better alternatives to the synthetic pesticides. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the antifungal properties of the aqueous, ethanolic, methanolic and chloroform extracts of the leaves and stems of five wild plants (Astrachantha echinus; Seriphidium herba-album; Peganum harmala; Diplotaxis acris and Tamarix aphylla) collected from Tabuk deserts of KSA, against seed-born mycoflora isolated from stored corn, wheat and barley grains.Methods: In vitro antifungal activities of the 5 extracts were tested using the poisoned food technique.  Separation  of    the different    fractions    from selected extracts were carried out using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to characterize the separated fractions and estimate the in vivo reduction in mycotoxins levels due to plants extracts.Results: Most of these extracts significantly suppressed radial growth of the tested fungi in vitro with varying levels and/or caused their complete inhibition (100%, P ≤ 0.01). Results of separation of selected extracts using TLC, and then their characterization by HPLC analysis revealed that these promising extracts  were rich in p-Coumaric acid, Catechin, Caffeic acid, Cinnamic acid, Ferulic acid, Vanillic acid and Gallic acid in concentrations ranging from 97.0 µg mL-1 (Vanillic acid) to 471.1 µg mL-1 (Gallic acid).  In addition, methanolic, ethanolic extracts of Astrachantha echinus and Seriphidium herba-album plants showed potent in vivo antimycotoxigenic activity (P ≤ 0.01) against toxigenic isolates of Apergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides in comparison with the synthetic fungicide.Conclusion: These novel methanolic, ethanolic extracts of Astrachantha echinus and Seriphidium herba-album plants could be commercially used as worldwide ecofriendly phytofungicides to prevent fungal biodeterioration of cereals; prevent mycotoxins production and/ or decreasing them to an acceptable level; displace the use of synthetic fungicides and high cost refrigeration of cereals during storage

Six-locus high resolution HLA haplotype frequencies derived from mixed-resolution DNA typing for the entire US donor registry

AbstractWe have calculated six-locus high resolution HLA A∼C∼B∼DRB3/4/5∼DRB1∼DQB1 haplotype frequencies using all Be The Match® Registry volunteer donors typed by DNA methods at recruitment. Mixed resolution HLA typing data was inputted to a modified expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm in the form of genotype lists generated by interpretation of primary genomic typing data to the IMGT/HLA v3.4.0 allele list. The full cohort consists of 6.59million subjects categorized at a broad race level. Overall 25.8% of the individuals were typed at the C locus, and 5.2% typed at the DQB1 locus, while all individuals were typed for A, B, DRB1. We also present a subset of 2.90million subjects with detailed race/ethnic information mapped to 21 population subgroups, 64.1% of which have primary DNA typing data across at least A, B, and DRB1 loci. Sample sizes at the detailed race level range from 1,242,890 for European Caucasian to 1,376 Alaskan Native or Aleut. Genetic distance measurements show high levels of HLA genetic divergence among the 21 detailed race categories, especially among the eight Asian–American populations. These haplotype frequencies will be used to improve match predictions for donor selection algorithms for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and improve the accuracy in modeling registry match rates

he intercultural formal grammar – requirements, aims and procedures

Beschreibungen der verschiedenen Sprachen sind grundsätzlich unvollständig bzw. lückenhaft. Das liegt an der Komplexität des Phänomens Sprache, aber auch an dem Entwicklungsstand und dem Umfang der einzelnen Linguistiktraditionen, die dies- bezüglich etliche Unterschiede aufweisen. Daher kann der Blick auf andere Sprachen/ Sprachbeschreibungen auf die Lücken bzw. Unzulänglichkeiten der einzelnen Sprachbeschreibungen aufmerksam machen. Das bildet den Ausgangspunkt der interkulturellen Systemgrammatik. Wenn Sprachen / Sprachbeschreibungen aufein- ander bezogen werden, kann das eine vervollständigende Funktion für die beteiligten Sprachbeschreibungen haben. Man kann Phänomene bzw. Probleme aufdecken, die in der vorhandenen grammatischen Beschreibung nicht erfasst sind bzw. nicht existieren, und / oder adäquatere Erklärungsmuster für gemeinsame Phänomene oder Lösungen für Problembereiche finden. Dieser Beitrag will die Vorausset-zungen der interkulturellen Systemgrammatik und an Hand des grammatischen Transfers zwischen dem Deutschen und Arabischen ihre Vorgehensweisen und Erkenntnisinteressen vorstellen.Descriptions of various languages are fundamentally incomplete and fragmentary. This is due to the complexity of language, and also to the extent and level of development of linguistic traditions that have quite a few differences among them. Therefore, the views of other languages and / or language descriptions may draw attention to the gaps or inadequacies of the individual language descriptions. This is the starting point for intercultural formal grammar. When languages and / or language descriptions are related to each other both descriptions may gain and become more comprehensive. Problems or phenomena not represented in existing grammatical descriptions may be uncovered and / or more adequate explanations for similar phe-nomena or solutions to problem areas can be found. This paper will present the requirements of intercultural formal grammar and show its procedures and aims on the basis of grammatical transfer between German and Arabic