Inhibitive effect of ferrous gluconate on the electrochemical corrosion of aluminium alloy in H2SO4 solution

The use of ferrous gluconate as corrosion inhibitor on aluminium alloy in 0.5M H2SO4 solution was studied using gravimetric and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The surface morphology of the aluminium alloy was studied after exposure to 0.5 M H2SO4 solution in the presence and absence of inhibitor using high resolution scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (HRSEM – EDS). The adsorption behaviour of the inhibitor was investigated. The results of the investigation show that increase in concentration of ferrous gluconate corresponds to an improvement on inhibition efficiency. Equally, the results showed the ferrous gluconate to be an effective corrosion inhibitor for the aluminium in the acidic medium. The results obtained from the two methods used were found to correlate with each other

A Model for the Design and Development of a Science and Technology Park in Developing Countries

This paper presents an appropriate model for Science and Technology Parks (STPs) with a view to helping policy makers and STP managers implement and manage STPs. The authors reorganize and prioritize the Cabral-Dahab Science Park Management Paradigm. We identify three critical groups of actors (determinants, reactors and executors) and develop four sub-models from different trajectories of the groups of actors. We place more emphasis on the “determinants” as the most important actors in the establishment and management of STP. A critical evaluation of the sub-models reveals that the sub-model in which government, industry and university/research institutes are all jointly involved in decisive policy direction is the most appropriate for the developing country. The paper concludes that economies in transition should see STPs as having a distinctive organizational structure as a result of its myriads of collaborations and partnerships.Enterprise Development; Science and Technology Park; Model; Developing countries; Cabral-Dahab Paradigm; Determinants; Management

PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN TIPE PICTURE AND PICTURE DALAM MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR DI KELAS VIII SMP NEGERI 2 PEULIMBANG

Banda Ace

Auditing scholarly journals published in Malaysia and assessing their visibility

The problem with the identification of Malaysian scholarly journals lies in the lack of a current and complete listing of journals published in Malaysia. As a result, librarians are deprived of a tool that can be used for journal selection and identification of gaps in their serials collection. This study describes the audit carried out on scholarly journals, with the objectives (a) to trace and characterized scholarly journal titles published in Malaysia, and (b) to determine their visibility in international and national indexing databases. A total of 464 titles were traced and their yearly trends, publisher and publishing characteristics, bibliometrics and indexation in national, international and subject-based indexes were described

What does women’s empowerment have to do with malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from demographic and health surveys from 30 countries

Background: The reduction of childhood malnutrition has been identified as a priority for health and development in sub Saharan African countries. The association between women’s empowerment and children’s nutritional status is of policy interest due to its effect on human development, labour supply, productivity, economic growth and development. This study aimed to determine the association between women’s empowerment and childhood nutritional status in sub Saharan African countries. Methods: The study utilized secondary datasets of women in their child bearing age (15–49 years) from the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in 2011–2017 across 30 sub Saharan Africa countries. The outcome variable of the study was childhood nutritional status while the exposure variable was women’s empowerment indicators such as decision making and attitude towards violence. Analyses were performed at bivariate level with the use of chi square to determine association between outcome and exposure variables and at multivariate level with the use of regression models to examine the effect of women’s empowerment on childhood nutritional status. Results: Women’s socio-demographic and other selected characteristics were statistically significantly associated with childhood nutritional status (stunted and underweight) at p < 0.001. These characteristics were also statistically significantly associated with empowerment status of women (Decision-making, Violence attitudes and Experience of violence) at p < 0.001 except for child age and sex. The association between childhood nutritional statuses and women’s empowerment (all three empowerment measures) was significant after controlling for other covariates that could also influence childhood nutrition statuses at p < 001. Two of the empowerment measures (attitudes towards violence and experience of violence) showed positive association with childhood nutritional statuses while the third (decision-making) showed negative association. Conclusion: There is an independent relationship between childhood nutrition status and women’s empowerment in sub Saharan African countries. Women’s empowerment was found to be related to childhood nutritional status. Policies and programmes aiming at reducing childhood malnutrition should include interventions designed to empower women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Marine crude-oil biodegradation: a central role for interspecies interactions

The marine environment is highly susceptible to pollution by petroleum, and so it is important to understand how microorganisms degrade hydrocarbons, and thereby mitigate ecosystem damage. Our understanding about the ecology, physiology, biochemistry and genetics of oil-degrading bacteria and fungi has increased greatly in recent decades; however, individual populations of microbes do not function alone in nature. The diverse array of hydrocarbons present in crude oil requires resource partitioning by microbial populations, and microbial modification of oil components and the surrounding environment will lead to temporal succession. But even when just one type of hydrocarbon is present, a network of direct and indirect interactions within and between species is observed. In this review we consider competition for resources, but focus on some of the key cooperative interactions: consumption of metabolites, biosurfactant production, provision of oxygen and fixed nitrogen. The emphasis is largely on aerobic processes, and especially interactions between bacteria, fungi and microalgae. The self-construction of a functioning community is central to microbial success, and learning how such " microbial modules" interact will be pivotal to enhancing biotechnological processes, including the bioremediation of hydrocarbons. © 2012 McGenity et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd