A single-shot line-scanning spatially dispersed short coherence interferometer using Fourier transform profilometry

Single-shot inspection at nanoscale resolution is a problematic challenge for providing on-line inspection of manufacturing techniques such as roll-to-roll processes where the measurand is constantly moving. An example of such a measurement challenge is defect detection on vapor barrier films formed by depositing an aluminum oxide layer several tens of nanometres thick on a flexible polymer substrate. Effective detection and characterisation of defects in this layer requires a single-shot approach with nanometre scale vertical resolution. This paper describes a line-scanning interferometer where a short coherence light source having a 25 nm linewidth source is spatially dispersed across the measurand thus encoding spatial position along a profile by wavelength. Phase shift interferometry (PSI) can be used to decode phase and thus height information, but requires multiple image captures. In order to realise single-shot measurement which is more suitable for online applications, a Fourier transform profilometry (FTP) approach is necessary. This paper explores the implementation of the FTP approach and presents a comparison of the measurement capability of FTP with the previously reported PSI method

Elucidating the Function of an Evolutionarily Conserved Embryonic Splice Variant of Type II Collagen During Vertebrate Development

The goal of our study is to observe early development of our vertebrate model organism while manipulating the levels of the embryonic splice variant of col2a1a. Understanding the relationship between col2a1a and embryonic development will help elucidate the function of the col2a1 splice variant during embryogenesis

NATURAL GAS MARKET DEVELOPMENT - IMPLICATIONS FOR DIVERSIFICATION OPTIONS OF EU: CASE STUDY OF SLOVAKIA

European Union has been exposed to major changes on global natural gas markets since beginning of 21.century. Shale gas, development, liberalization on Russian market accompanied by lower consumption due to economic crises and interconnecting of natural gas network created a matrix of interacting elements which can clearly influence energy security of EU. The aim of this article was to analyze how the global trends on natural gas market from recent years so far affected the EU natural gas market in terms of diversification with special focus being dedicated to Slovakia. We came to conclusion that shale gas has so far only indirect implications, LNG impact is limited and EU will be in the closest future affected mainly by Russian natural gas export politics. As case of Slovakia documents EU diversification efforts have not been successful so far and EU internal energy market suffers from policies distorting market environment

A Study of Faculty Members’ Perceptions of the Effect of the Globalization on Higher Education: The Case of Jordan

The purpose of study was to investigate Jordanian higher education faculty members’ perceptions of the phenomenon of globalization and its effect on higher education. The participants in this study were 6 faculty members from a Jordanian university. Four of the participants have leadership positions at the university. Two of them were deans, one of them was vice dean, and the fourth one was a head of department.  Semi-structured interviews were used as research method. The researchers formulated the interview questions based on the purpose of the research. Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to analyze participants’ responses.  Participants’ responses to the interview questions were organized, coded, interpreted, and represented. The findings showed that the Jordanian faculty members are aware of the effects of globalization on the fields of higher education. All the participants believed that globalization have positive effect on higher education. Most of the participants believed that the institutions of higher education should work on facing the negative impact of globalization on the national identity, culture, and heritage. Mixed results were found regarding the challenge of applying the principle of free market on the fields of higher education due to the globalization. Based on the findings, some of recommendations were presented. Keywords: Globalization, Faculty Perceptions, Jordanian Higher educatio

Quantitative determination of alliin in dried garlic cloves and products by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

Purpose: To standardize the garlic samples and its products for alliin contents.Methods: A direct high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method was developed to determine alliin in Chinese (CG) and Indian garlic (IG) and two other marketed products from USA and UK, respectively. Scanning and quantification were performed at 205 nm. Furthermore, chromatography was performed on pre-coated HPTLC plates with the solvent mixture, n – hexane:ethyl acetate (29:1 v/v), as the mobile phase. In addition, the parameters suggested by International Conference on Harmonization for analytical procedures were considered to validate the proposed method.Results: The system gave a compact spot of alliin at RF = 0.19 ± 0.01 The linear regression data for the calibration plots showed a good linearity (r2 = 0.996) in the concentration range of 200 - 1600 ng. Linear regression equation was represented by Y = 1.792x + 182.855, while LOD and LOQ values were 40.42 ngband-1 and 111.72 ng.band-1, respectively. The method showed excellent accuracy with recovery of 98.20 – 99.10 % and good precision with RSD of 1 - 2.65 %.Conclusion: The proposed method is selective, sensitive and accurate for the determination of alliin in garlic and its products. It is also evident from the results obtained that raw Indian garlic has higher alliin content than Chinese garlic.Keywords: Garlic, HPTLC, Alliin, Hypercholesteremia, Quantificatio

The Effects of Age, Gender, and Major on Measures of Jordanian Students’ Attitudes towards Academic Group Learning in Computer Training Courses

The purpose of study was to investigate students’ attitudes towards academic group learning in computer training courses in education department at a university in Jordan as well as the effect of age, gender, and major on students’ attitudes towards academic group learning. The participants in this study were 183 undergraduate and graduate students who were enrolled in on-campus educational technology courses at a public Jordanian university over two semesters. Cross-sectional survey design was selected in the current study. The questionnaires, which were designed to measure students’ attitudes toward academic group learning, were distributed and collected at the end of the semesters. The analysis of students’ responses showed that the students had positive attitudes toward academic group learning. In addition, students’ attitudes towards academic group learning were not different accordance with students’ gender and age. However, students’ responses for one of the scales of their attitudes toward group learning   were different accordance with students’ major, where computer science and computer engineering students showed more favorable attitudes towards academic group learning compared to education students. The results were useful in providing faculty members empirical data regarding students’ preferred teaching methods that they can employ in their educational practice. Keywords: Group learning, Students’ Attitudes, Computer Training Courses

Assessment of antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum and phytochemical screening of some Yemeni medicinal plants

Developing countries, where malaria is one of the most prevalent diseases, still rely on traditional medicine as a source for the treatment of this disease. In the present study, six selected plants (Acalypha fruticosa, Azadirachta indica, Cissus rotundifolia, Echium rauwalfii, Dendrosicyos socotrana and Boswellia elongata) commonly used in Yemen by traditional healers for the treatment of malaria as well as other diseases, were collected from different localities of Yemen, dried and extracted with methanol and water successfully. The antiplasmodial activity of the extracts was evaluated against fresh clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. The selectivity parameters to evaluate the efficacy of these medicinal plants were measured by in vitro micro test (Mark III) according to World Health Organization (WHO) 1996 & WHO 2001 protocols of antimalarial drug tests. Among the investigated 12 extracts, three were found to have significant antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values less than 4 µg/ml, namely the water extracts of A. fruticosa, A. indica and D. socotrana. Six extracts showed moderate activity with IC50 values ranging from 10 to 30 µg/ml and three appeared to be inactive with IC50 values more than 30 µg/ml. In addition, preliminary phytochemical screening of the methanolic and aqueous extracts indicated the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides and peptides

University Students Use of WhatsApp and their Perceptions Regarding its Possible Integration into their Education

The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to investigate first year university students’ use of WhatsApp for personal and educational purposes and 2) to examine their perceptions of the formal integration of WhatsApp into their education. A cross-sectional study design was followed in which 154 university students completed a questionnaire. The results showed that participants had access to smartphones and WhatsApp. The use of WhatsApp was common among participants. Students use WhatsApp for personal and social purposes on a daily basis. However, among the participants, the use of WhatsApp for educational purposes was limited. The participants perceived the integration of WhatsApp into their education to be easy, fun, and useful. They had positive feelings and intentions about using WhatsApp in their formal learning if it was introduced. But they were not sure about whether the use of WhatsApp in their education would be accepted by the wider community. Based on the findings, a set of recommendations is presented