Response Matrix Solution Using Boundary Condition Perturbation Theory for the Diffusion Approximation

A second-order response matrix method is developed for solving the diffusion equation in a coarse-mesh grid. In this method, the problem domain is divided into a grid of coarse meshes (nodes) of the size of a fuel assembly. Then, by using the fact that all nodes have the same eigenvalue, an equation is developed for the node interface current to flux ratio. The fine-mesh solution in the domain is then obtained by evaluating perturbation expressions for the core eigenvalue and the flux with the node interface current to flux ratios and the precomputed Green's functions for the unique assemblies in the system. The Green's functions and the perturbation expressions for the eigenvalue and flux are based on a high-order boundary condition perturbation method developed recently. Two example problems are used to assess the accuracy of the new method

Association between nucleotide mutation of eNOS gene and serum level of vessel expansion factor (VEF) in non-smoker patients with vascular heart disease

Various mutation on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOs) gene cause reduced production of NO, the expansion factor (VEF) and may accelerate the process of atherosclerosis. The study was designed to investigate the frequency of T-786C polymorphism of the gene or nucleotide mutation of eNOS gene in patients suffering from vascular heart disease (VHD) or coronary artery disease (CAD) in North West of Iran. 120 subjects including 60 patients with angiographically diagnosed CAD and 60 age and sex matched CAD-free subjects as control were studied. The levels of Nitric oxide in the samples were measured with the Griess method. The genotype studies were carried out using allele specific PCR. Comparing with the control reduced levels of NO were noticed in the patient group (P<0.05) and significantly high frequency of eNOs -786C genotype was found in CAD patients (P<0.05). The low levels of NO and increased frequency of T-786C polymorphism might be a risk factor in progression of coronary artery disease in the studied subjects.Keywords: Vascular heart disease, endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene, TC 786 SNP, vessel expansion factor (VEF), non-smokerAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(20), pp. 3023-302

Study on the possibility of producing low-fat spread using gelatin extracted from cultured carp wastes

By-products consist of more than half of the total weight of fish. Most part of these wastes made from connective tissue proteins that provide good potential to produce gelatin. Nowadays, consumers are more health conscious and have responded to the call for a diet that contains low calorie and low fat. This work involved the characterization of a low-fat spread made of fish gelatin as gelling agent, emulsifier and fat replacer. Six treatments with Fish gelatin (FG) to pectin ratio 1:1 and 2:1, with pectin concentration of 1, 2 and 3%, were produced and evaluated for quality changes and storage-life at refrigerated storage. The results showed that prepared emulsions were physically stable and no phase separation observed during 8 wks. The pH of treatments was 4.5 to 4.9. The moisture content of treatments varied from 68.9% for T1 (FG/pectin ratio 1:1) to 65.4% for T6 (FG/pectin ratio 6:3). The Max. lipid of samples was measured 28.4%. Max. and min. protein of samples were 3.8% for T6 and 1.6% for T2 (FG/pectin ratio 2:1), respectively. No significant differences (p≥0.05) were observed between ash content of all treatments and control (commercial margarin). The acidity of treatments increased during storage and were significantly different from production day (p≤0.05). Peroxide value (PV) of treatments increased significantly at refrigerated storage. No significant differences were observed between PV of treatments during different wks of sampling. The results of texture profile analysis showed that firmness, compressibility and adhesiveness properties were significantly increase with higher substitution of FG with pectin. Color, Aroma, Taste and texture properties of prepared samples were found to significantly lower than control, according to sensory evaluation. Significant increases were observed in mold/yeast and psychrophilic count of treatments during storage. The macroscopic growth of molds was observed on all samples in 8th wks. No coliform growth was observed in all treatments at any time. Results suggest that low-fat spread properties were significantly influenced by different ratios of fish gelatin and pectin incorporated. It seems that these results can provide new opportunities to develop market with introducing novel products to response consumer demands. Some quality defects observed in this study can be improved by using suitable machinery at industrial scale

Evaluation the tilapia meat freshness during storage in ice and refrigerator by Quality Index Method (QIM)

In this study, measurement of freshness fish tilapia species) Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by Quality Index method in whole fish in the 4 treatments and fillets in 6 treatments intended purpose of this research is to measure the qualitative factors (sensory , chemical and microbiological evaluation) and the ratio of 3 to 1 (Ice- fish) ice cover was (mean temperature in fish during the study period between 0.1±0.05 to 0.2±0.1 °C) were kept at cool temperatures for 10 days for the measure fillet Recently, 100 fish (50 pieces, 50 pieces of black and red) and washed her head and tail, the skin and the fillet 30 for each treatment in each treatment 3 Normal packing, vacuum and modified atmosphere (Tilapia fillets treated for red and black tilapia fillets 3 treatment) with an average weight of 114.5±22.50 grams packed and refrigerated at 3°C was maintained. The results showed maximum retention time for fish stomachs empty and whole fish respectively was 9 and 7 days. Also for tilapia fillet freshness in 3 different packaging and stored at -3°C, showed fillet packaged in MAP, has the most lasting, and results by the analysis Statistical was significant

The road not taken: international aid’s choice of Copenhagen over Beijing

A decade after the United Nations conferences on gender equality and social development, this paper explores their policy origins and discusses their differential impact on international aid since 1995. The author draws on her direct experience to consider why Copenhagen led to Poverty Reduction Strategies and the first Millennium Development Goal whereas Beijing has become largely invisible in the mainstream world of aid. She argues that the powerful influence of economic rational choice theory associated with bureaucratic modes of thought has meant that the central debate in development policy has remained that of growth versus equity. Beijing's agenda of societal transformation offered another paradigm of development that has remained marginal. The paper concludes with a proposal. If international aid policy could handle more than one paradigm and thus be more open to different ways of thinking about economy, society and politics, aid agencies would be better able to support transformative processes for social justice

Relocating participation within a radical politics of development

In response to (and in sympathy with) many of the critical points that have been lodged against participatory approaches to development and governance within international development, this article seeks to relocate participation within a radical politics of development. We argue that participation needs to be theoretically and strategically informed by a notion of ‘citizenship’, and be located within the ‘critical modernist’ approach to development. Using empirical evidence drawn from a wide range of contemporary approaches to participation, the paper shows that participatory approaches are most likely to succeed where (i) they are pursued as part of a wider radical political project; (ii) where they are aimed specifically at securing citizenship rights and participation for marginal and subordinate groups; and (iii) when they seek to engage with development as an underlying process of social change rather than in the form of discrete technocratic interventions. However, we do not use these findings to argue against using participatory methods where these conditions are not met. Finally, the paper considers the implications of this relocation for participation in both theoretical and strategic terms