Response of Azadirachta Indica and Eucalyptus tereticornis to Bioinoculants (VAM, Phosphobacterium and Azospirillum) in sewage sludge amended soil

Pot culture experiment was conducted in red loamy soil to evaluate the growth response and nutrient uptake of Azadirachta indica and Eucalyptus tereticornis grown in non-amended and sludge amended soil. Sludge application enhanced growth and biomass production of A. indica compared to E. tereticornis. Combined inoculants resulted in a significant increase in plant growth and nutrient uptake. Inoculant effectiveness was higher in tree species grown in sludge-amended soil. The present experiment clearly indicates the feasibility of using inoculation as suitable for conventional fertilizers in the establishment of forest trees

Manufacturing technology adoption among lean manufacturers: An initial study

Lean manufacturing is a technique that allows work to be performed without bottlenecks or delays while eliminating wasteful activities by linking and balancing equal amounts of work steps together, enabling products to be consumed directly into the next step, one piece at a time until completed.The aim of this research is to analyse the level of implementation of manufacturing technology among lean practitioners in Malaysia.It highlights on the types of technologies applied in the lean practice and to what extend the level of technologies being used. A questionnaire survey was used to identify the different manufacturing technologies being used and the level of applications among lean manufacturers in Malaysia. From the questionnaire results, it shows that there are 3 groups of manufacturing technology used by manufacturers, mainly the direct, indirect and administrative technology.Meanwhile, according to the results the level of technologies used by lean manufacturers in Malaysia is considered as within medium level. This might be due to the cost of applying such technologies or the lack of information regarding each manufacturing technologies

An integral equation method for solving neumann problems on simply and multiply connected regions with smooth boundaries

This research presents several new boundary integral equations for the solution of Laplace’s equation with the Neumann boundary condition on both bounded and unbounded multiply connected regions. The integral equations are uniquely solvable Fredholm integral equations of the second kind with the generalized Neumann kernel. The complete discussion of the solvability of the integral equations is also presented. Numerical results obtained show the efficiency of the proposed method when the boundaries of the regions are sufficiently smooth

Solving delay differential equations by using implicit 2-point block backward differentiation formula

In this paper, an implicit 2-point Block Backward Differentiation formula (BBDF) method was considered for solving Delay Differential Equations (DDEs). The method was implemented by using a constant stepsize via Newton Iteration. This implicit block method was expected to produce two points simultaneously. The efficiency of the method was compared with the existing classical 1-point Backward Differentiation Formula (BDF) in terms of execution time and accurac

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Grapefruit Juice on Ulcerative Colitis induced by Acetic Acid in Rats

Grapefruit is commonly consumed around the world due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Ulcerative colitis (UC) accounts for an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) accompanied by irritation, recurrent inflammation, and ulceration of the colon's mucosa. Our objective was to assess the antiinflammatory and antioxidant impacts of grapefruit juice (GFJ) in rat with UC induced by acetic acid (AA). There were five groups made up of 35 mature male rats. Group 2 served as a positive control with UC, whereas group 1 was preserved as a negative control. For 8 weeks, groups 3, 4, and 5 received UC while also given 2.5, 5 or 10% of GFJ orally. Feed efficiency ratio (FER), body weight growth (BWG), and feed intake (FI) were computed. From rat eye orbital plexuses blood samples were taken to separate the serum after centrifugation.  The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity were assessed utilizing serum samples. The antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum were quantified. Serum inflammatory cytokines as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 1 β (IL1 β), IL6 and IL8, as well as triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured. In liver homogenate, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Additionally, histopathology of the colon was accomplished. Our findings specified that GFJ at 10% significantly decreased FI, BWG and FER, cytokines TNFα, IL1 β, IL6 and IL8 and TC and TG. Relative to the positive controls, the rats treated with GFJ exhibited elevated serum concentrations of SOD, GPx, and CAT enzymes. Liver GSH was elevated and MDA was reduced. Histopathological examination of the colon showed that GFJ at 10% reduced ulcerative colitis. Because grapefruit juice has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics and reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in rats, grapefruit juice, at a concentration of 10%, likely protects against ulcerative colitis. Patients with ulcerative colitis may find it helpful to consume grapefruit juice as a beverage.&nbsp

Effect of using micropalm oil fuel ash as partial replacement of cement on the properties of cement mortar

This study investigates the effects of micropalm oil fuel ash (mPOFA) on compressive strength and pore structure of cement mortar. Various experimental techniques, such as compression test, isothermal calorimetry, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and X-ray diffraction, are performed to figure out the effect of using mPOFA as partial replacement of cement on the hydration of cement and determine its optimal replacement level to increase mechanical property of the mortar specimens. 10 wt.% of cement replacement with mPOFA is found to give the highest level of compressive strength, achieving a 23% increase over the control specimens after 3 days of curing. High K2O contents in mPOFA stimulate C3S in cement to form C-S-H at early ages, and high surface area of mPOFA acts as a nucleus to develop C-S-H. Also, small mPOFA particles and C-S-H formed by pozzolanic reaction fill the pores and lead to reduction in large capillary pores. In XRD analysis, a decrease in Ca(OH)2 and SiO2 contents with age confirmed a high pozzolanic reactivity of mPOFA

Binary effect of fly ash and palm oil fuel ash on heat of hydration aerated concrete

The binary effect of pulverized fuel ash (PFA) and palm oil fuel ash (POFA) on heat of hydration of aerated concrete was studied. Three aerated concrete mixes were prepared, namely, concrete containing 100% ordinary Portland cement (control sample or Type I), binary concrete made from 50% POFA (Type II), and ternary concrete containing 30% POFA and 20% PFA (Type III). It is found that the temperature increases due to heat of hydration through all the concrete specimens especially in the control sample. However, the total temperature rises caused by the heat of hydration through both of the new binary and ternary concrete were significantly lower than the control sample.The obtained results reveal that the replacement of Portland cement with binary and ternary materials is beneficial, particularly for mass concrete where thermal cracking due to extreme heat rise is of great concern

Oscillating Magnetohydrodynamic Stability Self-gravitating Fluid Cylinder Pervaded By General Varying Magnetic Field

The dispersion relation of magnetohydrodynamic stability of an oscillation self-gravitating flowing fluid cylindrical enclosed by varying magnetic field is studied. The problem is specified, investigated analytically and the data verified mathematically, the fundamental equations are resolved, non-singular solutions are found using the proper boundary circumstances, also, derived the total second order integro-differential equation of Mathieu equation type. Just the small axisymmetric region is destabilized by the capillary force but is stabilized by the otherwise perturbation modes. The constant magnetic field that permeates the fluid is strongly stabilized regardless of the perturbation type, while the varied magnetic field bound the fluid is completely destabilized in axisymmetric mode(m=0), but it is either so or not in the non-axisymmetric ( ≥ 1) perturbation per the constraint. Moreover, the fluids oscillating flow has a potent inclination to stabilize. Once the capillary forces destabilising effect on the model is diminished and subdued, stability develops

Dumbbells and ankle-wrist weight training leads to changes in body composition and anthropometric parameters with potential cardiovascular disease risk reduction

AbstractObjectivesPromoting physical activity is a global strategy to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine and compare the effect of light resistance training using either dumbbells or ankle-wrist weights on the anthropometric parameters and body composition of adults in Kelantan, Malaysia.MethodsThis randomized community trial was conducted in Kelantan, Malaysia, from March through August 2012. Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 23 kg/m2 were randomized into dumbbell (N = 69) and ankle-wrist (N = 69) weight groups. Participants in the dumbbell group performed structured group exercises three times per week using a pair of one-kilogram dumbbells. Participants in the ankle-wrist weight group were given one pair of 500 gm ankle weights and one pair of 500 gm wrist weights to be worn during the activities of daily living three days per week for at least 20 min. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage (BF%) and skeletal muscle percentage (SM%) were measured at baseline, week 6, month 3 and month 6.ResultsEighty-nine participants completed this study. There were significant reductions in BMI only at week six for the dumbbell group. No significant BMI changes were observed for the ankle-wrist weight group. Significant improvements of WC, WHR, BF%, and SM% were observed in both intervention groups from baseline at week 6, month 3, and month 6.ConclusionResistance exercise using either dumbbells or ankle-wrist weights produced significant improvements in certain components of body composition and anthropometric parameters