Physical Activity and Obesity Indicators: National Cross Sectional Study on Lebanese Adults

Association between higher levels of physical activity and lower rates of obesity has been shown. The aim is to assess the relation between the prevalence of physical activity and the Physical Activity Index (PAI) of 300 Lebanese healthy adults, with age, gender, occupation, body mass indices and waist circumferences (WC). The cutoff points of WC for both genders were determined using the values of Body Mass Index (BMI). A cross-sectional study using self-reported valid questionnaire was conducted randomly on 150 men and 150 women, between 18 and 74 years, from Beirut region. Association between variables was performed using chi2, T-Test and ANOVA. Linear regression determined the WC cutoffs based on BMI. 22% of the population was obese with WC mean level of 92.47±14.4cm (87.71±14.4 cm for women and 97.24±12.96 cm for men). The prevalence of physical activity was 34% in overall population (27% in women and 40% in men).There was no significant association between BMI values and PAI (p< 0.085 for men and p< 0.300 for women). However there was an inverse association between WC values and PAI in both genders (p<0.043 in men and p< 0.036 in women). Linear regression showed WC cut-off point in Lebanese women with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and ≥30 kg/m2 of 86 cm and 100 cm respectively, whereas for men it was 92.12 cm and 105 cm respectively. The prevalence of physical activity in Beirut is low with differences among genders. The highest physical activity index is associated with the decreased values of waist circumference

3D numerical modelling of shallow tunnel in weathered granite incorporating multi-stage excavation and pre-support

Generally tunnelling in urban ground condition is not always favourable due to the tunnels’ susceptibility to major displacement especially when excavated in the soft soil and/or weak weathered rock formation. Apart from conventional support systems, pre-support measure like forepoling umbrella arch is frequently used to reinforce the ground. Modern computational tools allows the inclusion of multi-stage excavations and pre-support which was not possible in two dimensional (2D) plane strain. This paper demonstrates the three dimensional (3D) finite element analysis of Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer tunnel, as a reference case, where multi-stage excavation and pre-support are incorporated as intrinsic part of the model. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM)-3 segments which encountered Grade III weathered granite, having shallow overburden cover, was selected for numerical analysis using RS3 software. Comparison between simulated and observed data has shown good agreement during verification

Morphological and Molecular Observation to Confirm the Taxonomic of Coptocercus Biguttatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on Cloves in Ambon and Part of Ceram Island

This research was conducted to confirm the species of longhorn beetle (Coptocercus biguttatus) drilling clove stems in Ambon and part of Ceram Island, Moluccas, which has been noted as an important pest. Aim of this investigation was to characterize the species morphologically, and more detailed with molecular technique via mtCO1 gene analysis. The longhorn beetle was taken in Ambon and part of Ceram Island, Moluccas and then was etablished in laboratory with host rearing method on pieces of clove stem. The results showed that C. biguttatus attacking clove stems in Ambon and part of Ceram Island, Maluku was closely related and grouped into same cluster with C. rubripes and P. semipunctata in of New Zealand with 85% homology value. C. biguttatus distributed evenly in all clove planting areas in Ambon and part of Ceram Island. IntisariPenelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengonfirmasi spesies kumbang sungut panjang (Coptocercus biguttatus) yang menggerek batang tanaman cengkih di Pulau Ambon dan sebagian dari Pulau Seram, Maluku menggunakan karakter morfologi dan molekuler berbasis gen mtCO1 untuk sidik kekerabatan. Pengambilan sampel kumbang sungut panjang dilakukan di Pulau Ambon dan sebagian dari Pulau Seram, Maluku dengan cara host rearing pada potongan batang cengkih. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa C. biguttatus di Pulau Ambon dan sebagian dari Pulau Seram, Maluku berkerabat dekat dan berada dalam satu kelompok dengan C. rubripes dan P. semipunctata di New Zealand dengan nilai homologi 85%. Penyebaran C. biguttatus di Pulau Ambon dan sebagian dari Pulau Seram merata di seluruh area pertanaman cengkih

Atomistic investigation on the effect of temperature on mechanical properties of diffusion-welded Aluminium-Nickel

Atomistic investigation of diffusion welding between Aluminium and Nickel has been investigated, by means of Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation. This study focuses on examining the effect of temperature on diffusion welding between Al-Ni for which it is still lacking. Employing several different temperatures, this study aims to examine the influence of temperature on the mechanical properties of diffusion-welded Al-Ni. The results have shown that the structural evolution significantly affected by the temperature. Better bonding structure is achieved as the temperature is increased which indicated by the wider interfacial region thickness on concentration profiles. However, as the temperature is increased lower ultimate tensile strength is obtained. Therefore, precisely estimates the temperature for particular materials in diffusion welding is a critical point. In this study, the optimum condition that fitsA on the diffusion welding process is when the temperature set on 500 K

Deforestation awareness among the community living near mangroves in Mukim Tanjung Kupang, Johor, Malaysia

A study was carried out on the deforestation awareness among the community living nearest to Sungai Pulai mangrove forest under mukim (sub-district) Tanjung Kupang in Johor Bahru, Peninsular Malaysia. A Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on respondents’ socioeconomic condition, their familiarity to mangroves and awareness from six villages which have been selected randomly. Majority of the respondents were male, Malay, Muslim and from middle aged group. About 82% respondents had some level of education. Average household size was 5.5. About 71% respondents’ livelihoods were dependent on mangrove ecosystem of which 65% were fishermen, 5% aquaculture and 1% tourism. Mean monthly income of respondents was quite lower than national average income. Moreover, monthly average income of mangrove dependent group was lower than the non mangrove dependent group. About 93% of the respondents were somehow familiar to mangroves. Responden ts mean awareness score of 3.78 indicates respondents were aware about the mangroves. It was also found that male had significantly higher awareness than female for two out of ten awareness components. Likewise,mangrove dependent group had significantly higher awareness than the non- mangrove dependent group for six out of ten awareness components

Pemodelan Retak Pada Struktur Beton Bertulang

. This paper presents a crack model for reinforced concrete structures by using nonlinear finite element method. The crack model used in this study is a discrete crack to simulate strain discontinuity, Discrete cracks are inserted into the structure when the principal tensile stress of nodes have reached the tensile strength of concrete. Insertion of discrete cracks into the structure is only performed when resulting stress combinations are dominated by normal tension stress. Nevertheless, if the principle tension stress on a Gauss point has exceeded the tensile strength of concrete, the craks is treated as a smeared crack with a change in material behavior from one isotropic to another orthotropic character. To find the appropriate direction and pattern of cracks, insertion of discrete cracks into the structure is not only performed by node separation at nodes which have reached the tensile strength of concrete, but also by rotation of the crack perpendicular to the direction of the principle tension stress and dragging the crack-tip node as far as the crack has propagated. Some specimens with different cases e.i Beam J4 (Burns and Siess 1962), Beam OA (Bresler dan Scordelis 1963) and Beam A4 (Ahmad et al. 1986) were analyzed to validate the model. The model is not only able to shows that the structure response is very close to the experimental test, but also can describe the proper crack pattern

Survei Penggerek Batang Jagung dan Kompleks Musuh Alaminya di Provinsi Gorontalo

Corn borer is one of the important pests on corn plant in Gorontalo Province, especially in three districts which are the center of maize planting development. Corn borer and its natural enemy complex in Gorontalo Province has not been clearly studied. The purpose of this study is to determine the complexity of the natural enemies of maize stem borer by calculating the diversity and composition. The survey method was used, in which the older larvae, pupae, and corn borer natural enemies were collected from the field in the three districts (Gorontalo, Boalemo, and Pohuwato). Observation plots in each district area of 2,500 m2, were divided into 3 sub plots with the size of 3×3 m, each plot is consisted of 45 plants at the spacing of 75×25 cm. The data were analysed descriptively and organized into tables. Shannon Index was used to count the diversity and composition of the pests and their natural enemies. The results showed that the corn borer species was Ostrinia furnacalis, while the dominant natural enemy was the tachinid fly. The analysis of Shannon diversity index for natural enemies of three districts of Gorontalo, Boalemo, and Pohuwato were 0.63, 0.61, and 0.97 respectively. Penggerek batang jagung adalah salah satu hama penting pada tanaman jagung di Provinsi Gorontalo terutama di tiga kabupaten sentra pengembangan jagung. Hama penggerek batang jagung dan kompleks musuh alaminya di Provinsi Gorontalo belum banyak dikaji. Tujuan kajian ini adalah melihat kompleksitas musuh alami penggerek batang jagung dengan menghitung keragaman dan komposisi. Metode yang digunakan adalah survei, yaitu mengumpulkan larva instar akhir, pupa penggerek batang jagung dan musuh alaminya dari lapangan di tiga kabupaten (Gorontalo, Boalemo, dan Pohuwato). Petak pengamatan di setiap kabupaten seluas 2.500 m2 yang dibagi dalam 3 sub plot berukuran 3×3 m. Jumlah tanaman jagung per plot sekitar 45 tanaman dengan jarak tanam 75×25 cm. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif dan disusun dalam tabel, untuk keragaman dan komposisi menggunakan Indeks Shannon. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa jenis penggerek batang jagung adalah Ostrinia furnacalis, musuh alami didominasi Ordo Diptera Famili Tachinidae. Analisis Indeks Shannon keragaman musuh alami untuk Kabupaten Gorontalo, Kabupaten Boalemo, dan Kabupaten Pohuwato berturut-turut sebesar 0,63; 0,61; dan 0,97

Development of Foreign Material Detection in Food Sensor Using Electrical Resistance Technique

Food inspection has been a serious matter in the food industry as the contamination by foreign materials such as metals, bone, plastics and glass in food plays a major impact on the industry. In spite of a great deal of effort to prevent mixing foreign bodies in food materials, food manufacturers have still not been able to detect them. Electrical Resistance Sensor to detect the foreign material in food detection sensor is constructed and presented in this work. This project focuses on how to design and implement the system to detect and distinguish between food and foreign material using resistance concept. The electrode plate of Electrical Resistance Sensor (ERS) is designed using COMSOL Multiphysics Software to see the electric field and contour of the electric potential of the system. The resistance value from the sensor is measured based on the AC Circuit concept. The alternating current from the sensor flows to the charge detector circuit providing the voltage corresponding to the resistance between the electrode pair. The voltage from the charge detector circuit has been amplified by the amplifier circuit to obtained DC output from an AC input signal. The voltage form circuit has been converted from the analog to digital signal using Bluetooth Electronics Application via Arduino Uno through HC-05 Bluetooth module. The Bluetooth Electronics Application is used as a graphical user interface (GUI) to display the condition of the material tested including food and foreign material to a smartphone.  The experiment results show that the electrical resistance sensor are able to detect the foreign material in food by changes of the resistance value. If the food was detected with the foreign material (non-conductive), the value of resistance will decrease due to the flow of electric current