Business strategy toward wealth creation

Business strategy toward wealth creation 1s an important scope especially on small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs). Researchers look at the question of whether SMEs are aware and understand the importance of business strategies toward wealth creation and how the elements such as organizational factors, environmental factors and business strategies influenced the creation of wealth. Therefore a total of 300 questionnaire respondents of SMEs from different business sectors in Melaka have been involved in this study and the results from analysis finds that there is a strong and positive relationship between business strategy and wealth creation. The results also showed a strong influence of organizational factors on business strategy, which also prompted the creation of wealth. Environmental factors also influence the business strategy towards the creation of wealth. End, it was clearly shown that the elements of organizational factors, environmental factors and business strategies have a strong influence on the creation or wealth creation. This study also opens to other researchers to continue the research by taking into account other relevant factor

CFD Simulation of Biomass Gasification using Detailed Chemistry

The use of biomass as a CO2-neutral renewable fuel and the only carbon containing renewable energy source is becoming more important due to the decreasing resources of fossil fuels and their effect on global warming. The projections made for the Renewable Energy Road Map [1] suggested that in the EU, the use of biomass can be expected to double, to contribute around half of the total effort for reaching the 20 % renewable energy target in 2020 [2]. To achieve this goal, efficient processes to convert biomass are required. At the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, a two-stage process called bioliq [3], for the conversion of biomass into synthetic fuel, is being developed. In this process, straw or other abundant lignocellulosic agricultural by-products are converted to syngas through fast pyrolysis and subsequent entrained flow gasification. After gas cleaning and conditioning, the syngas is converted into different chemicals via known processes such as direct methanol synthesis or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The prime goal of this thesis was the modeling and simulation of the gasification of biomass-based pyrolysis oil-char slurries in an entrained flow gasifier, which is an important step of the bioliq process. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), as a powerful tool for modeling and simulation of fluid flow processes, was utilized in this thesis. A lab scale entrained flow gasifier, located at KIT, was simulated using the CFD code ANSYS FLUENT 12.0. Due to the turbulent nature of the flow, the realizable k-epsilon model was used to model the turbulence. The discrete phase model (DPM) was employed to describe the fluid phase, consisting of char particles suspended in ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol served as non-toxic model fuel for pyrolysis oil, mainly because of its similar C/H/O-ratio and its similar physical properties to biomass derived liquid pyrolysis products. A detailed reaction mechanism for high temperature oxidation of ethylene glycol was implemented in the CFD code. The mechanism comprised of 43 chemical species and 629 elementary reactions. The use of detailed chemistry enables one to have a deeper insight into the gasification process. Turbulence-chemistry interactions were modeled with the eddy dissipation concept (EDC). The in-situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) procedure was employed to dynamically tabulate the chemistry mappings and reduce computer time for the simulation. The effect of the thermal radiation was taken into account by using the discrete ordinates model (DOM). The radiative properties of the gas were described with the weighted sum of gray gases model (WSGGM). The simulation results were compared with the experimental measurements wherever possible, with good agreement. The simulations depicted the importance of the recirculation zone in entrained flow gasification. Furthermore, the main reaction path of ethylene glycol gasification could be observed and analyzed. In order to study the effect of boundary conditions on the gasification process, a series of simulations were done to perform sensitivity analysis. Four parameters were varied, namely: oxidizer and fuel inlet temperatures, the oxidizer composition, the air-fuel ratio and the operating pressure of the gasifier. Effects of the parameter variations on the gasification efficiency and the composition of the product gas were studied. Three different chemistry models (i.e. equilibrium chemistry, flamelet model and EDC) were studied in this thesis. Their relative advantages and disadvantages for the simulation of gasification processes were examined. The EDC model proved to be the better choice for entrained flow gasifiers with recirculation zones. The slurry gasification simulations were performed to study the effects of the mass fractions of the char particles on the process. With the aid of the detailed chemistry model, sub-processes could be analyzed and suggestions for the improvement could be made. The simulations performed in this work help to better understand the gasification process inside entrained flow gasifiers and considerably reduce the number of experiments needed to characterize the system. The simulations produced spatial and temporal profiles of different system variables that are sometimes impossible to measure or are accessible only by expensive experiments. However, more experimental measurements help to validate and optimize the CFD model. The sensitivity analyses performed in this study are considered as a basis to find optimized operating conditions and assist the successful scale-up of entrained flow gasifiers

Tailorable optical scattering properties of the V-shaped plasmonic nano-antennas: a computationally efficient and fast analysis

We introduce an efficient computational scheme based on Macro Basis Function (MBF) method, to analyze the scattering of a plane wave by the V-shaped plasmonic optical nano-antennas. The polarization currents and the scattered fields for symmetric and anti-symmetric excitations are investigated. We investigate how the resonant frequency of the plasmonic V-shaped nanoantenna is tailored by engineering the geometrical parameters and by changing the polarization state of the incident plane wave. The computational model presented herein is faster by orders of magnitude than commercially available finite methods and is capable to characterize also other nanoantennas comprising of junctions and bends of nanorods.Comment: Final version published in JOSA A (6 pages, 9 figures). Work sponsored by DARPA/MTO Young Faculty Award #N66001-11-1-414

Impact of Gatorade Beverage on Elite Female Badminton Players' Performance

Sports beverages assumed as one the principle factor on players' performance, and impact on their indicators, noticeably. Gatorade beverage is one of this primary beverages that in present study focused on its impact on elite female badminton players' performance in Iran. In the present survey has been considered in 2 groups of Gatorade and control that included 79 participants. The data has been got based on 24 hours' recall questionnaire on three different days in every week. As well, skin folds' brachial triceps index was applied for body fat percent assessment. To quantity VO2max, Shuttle runs sub-maximal test was used. Also, for controlling fluid intake in every two groups based on players' body weight,150 ml per every 70 kg weight for every 15 minutes was recommended. Besides, for control of blood volume changes related to plasma blood glucose, hematocrit, hemoglobin, sodium, and potassium was measured during three time periods of zero, 30 minutes after the start and 90 minutes after the start. To end, to measure performance, standardized tests measure the indicators: aerobic power, speed, flexibilityy, agility, muscular strength, and endurance were used. The results showed that supply adequate water and fluids in during of sport, play a critical role in gaining the high level of female badminton players' performance. In truth, the players who supply enough water shown better performance as compared with those who provide Gatorade beverage

Impact of Gatorade Beverage on Elite Female Badminton Players’ Performance

AbstractSports beverages assumed as one the principle factor on players' performance, and impact on their indicators, noticeably. Gatorade beverage is one of this primary beverages that in present study focused on its impact on elite female badminton players' performance in Iran. In the present survey has been considered in 2 groups of  Gatorade and control that included 79 participants. The data has been got based on 24 hours’ recall questionnaire on three different days in every week. As well, skin folds’ brachial triceps index was applied for body fat percent assessment. To quantity VO2max, Shuttle runs sub-maximal test was  used. Also, for controlling fluid intake in every two groups based on players’ body weight,150 ml per every 70 kg weight for every 15 minutes was recommended. Besides, for control of blood volume changes related to plasma blood glucose, hematocrit, hemoglobin, sodium, and potassium was measured during three time periods of zero, 30 minutes after the start and 90 minutes after the start. To end, to measure performance, standardized tests measure the indicators: aerobic power, speed, flexibilityy, agility, muscular strength, and endurance were used. The results showed that supply adequate water and fluids in during of sport, play a critical role in gaining the high level of female badminton players’ performance. In truth, the players who supply enough water shown better performance as compared with those who provide Gatorade beverage. Keywords: Badminton, Elite Female, Gatorade, Iran, Players, Sport Beverages.

Effectiveness of iron supplementation (6- and 12- weeks) on hematological parameters among non-anemic iron deficient female students

Background and aim: According to the current protocols made by international organizations, the duration of iron supplementation depends on the severity of iron deficiency, ranging from 3 to 6 months in individuals with iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia, respectively. This study was performed to compare 6 and 12 weeks iron supplementations on iron status among a group of non-anemic iron deficient female students. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study 53 female students were selected. Students were divided into two groups. Control group were consisted of 30 students who had Hemoglobin level more than 12 ml/dl and serum ferritin level more than 23 ng/dl. Experimental group were 23 non-anemic iron deficient female students with ferritin level less than 23 ng/dl. Experimental group were orally given ferrous fumarate (containing 50 mg iron elemental) daily for three months. Blood samples were collected from experimental group in the beginning, 6 and 12 weeks after the study and for the case group samples were collected in the beginning and at the end of the study and the number of blood cells (CBC), ferritin level and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were measured. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance and Paired-t tests. Results: Blood hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations increased after 6 weeks of supplementation among supplemented group, and were remained almost constant until the 12th week (P>0.001). Changes in serum iron concentrations at the end of study were not statistically different between two groups. Similar trend was observed for TIBC. Conclusion: This study showed that 3-month iron supplementation among iron deficient subjects, as advised by WHO, did not further improve iron status in non anemic iron deficient females compared to 6-weeks daily supplementation of 50 mg elemental Iron. It is obvious that these results cannot be considered to anemic subject

Maternal weight gain might predict child’s weight at the 12th and 24th months of age in Damavand city, North-East Tehran

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association between pregnancy weight gain and child weight at the 12th and 24th months of age in Damavand city, North-East Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, using existing data collected by the urban health centers, records of 266 women who attended urban health centers for prenatal care and delivered between March 2004 and March 2008 with singleton term pregnancy were analyzed. Data on pre-pregnancy weight and height, total pregnancy weight gain, mother’s age, parity, neonatal birth weight, birth order, mother’s education, working status, breastfeeding practice and child weight at the 12th and 24th months of age were extracted. Pregnant Women were categorized based on their pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) as underweight, normal, and overweight and obese. Chi-square and ANOVA tests were employed to analyze data using SPSS software. Mean (±SD) of gestational weight gain was 11.4±3.9 kg. On average, 34% of mothers had inadequate weight gain, while 44 and 22% gained appropriate and excessive weight, respectively, based on the US Institute of Medicine (IoM-1990) guidelines. About 11, 56, 20 and 13% of mothers were defined as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese based on their BMI values. Initial BMI and educational level was associated with pregnancy weight gain. There was a significant difference between mean child weight at the 12th and 24th months of ages in all three categories of pregnancy weight gain, i.e. inadequate (<6.8 Kg), normal (6.8–11.3 Kg), and excessive (>11.3 Kg) (p< 0.01). Gestational weight gain seemed associated with child weight. Educating and assisting pregnant women to meet the weight gain within recommendations range might therefore be an important strategy to prevent child malnutrition, both under- and overweight, in early life.

7-Chloro-2-[1-(4-methoxy­phen­yl)pyrazol-4-yl]-3,3-dimethyl-3H-indole

In the title compound, C20H18ClN3O, the dihedral angle between the pyrazole and the 3H-indole components is only 13.28 (6)°, indicating that there is conjugation between the two heterocyclic subunits. The N-methoxy­phenyl unit makes a dihedral angle of 25.10 (7)° with the pyrazole ring

Arsenic intakes from spices and sheep tail (Donbeh) in a high oesophageal cancer area: Pilot study from Iran

Arsenic is a carcinogenic and toxicant element widely found in the environment and might be part of causation web of Oesophageal Cancer (OC), which has one of the highest incidence rates in Golestan Province, Northeast Iran. In this pilot study, we collected 10 Sheep tail (donbeh) and 9 mixed spices samples, as widely consumed foods in the region, from main counties in the province and analyzed for arsenic concentrations using AOAC atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. Findings showed that arsenic levels in all samples were less than the safe level of 1 ppm. Total arsenic intake from sheep tail and mixed spices sources were estimated at 4.68 and 4.24 µg/day in men and women, respectively. Therefore, the study suggests that arsenic intake from these commonly consumed foods do not seem as a major hazard for OC etiology

Can current supply figures support the nutritional recommendation of fish consumption in Iran?

   "Fish consumption twice per week" recommendation has been adopted in many countries, including Iran, by Nutrition experts. Data derived from food balance sheets (FBSs) and national household food consumption surveys (NHFCSs) show that fish consumption has been increased in the last 20 years in Iran. The gap between supply and recommendation figures in order to analyze the feasibility of this policy however needs to be determined. In this study, we took current figures of fish supply and consumption in Iran and calculated the amount of fish needed to support the recommendation of fish consumption. Data obtained from FAOSTAT-FBSs in 1980-82, 1990-92 and 2000-02, and NHFCS reports in 1992-95 and 2001-03. Fish supplies needed to fulfill the nutritional policy were calculated based on 120 and 180 gr/caput/wk scenarios. Sharp increase happened in the average fish supply from 1980s to 1990s, but slowed down afterwards. In early 2000, fish availability and intake were 4.73 and 4.43 kg (as raw-whole fish)/capita/year, respectively. The amount of fish required to fulfill the recommendation were however calculated as 10.97 and 16.43 kg/caput/yr based on the two scenarios, respectively. This study reveals that the gap between present fish consumption and the amounts for nutritional goal is still big. Whether bridging this gap in terms of feasibility, ecological, environmental and logistical burdens is attainable, needs more evaluation. Nutrition educators should be aware of the effects of their campaigns on the nationwide food policy as well as on issues such as consumer demand, prices, and environment.