A Numerical Algorithm for Solving Stiff Ordinary Differential Equations

An advanced method using block backward differentiation formula (BBDF) is introduced with efficient strategy in choosing the step size and order of the method. Variable step and variable order block backward differentiation formula (VSVO-BBDF) approach is applied throughout the numerical computation.The stability regions of the VSVO-BBDFmethod are investigated and presented in distinct graphs.The improved performances in terms of accuracy and computation time are presented in the numerical results with different sets of test problems. Comparisons are made between the proposed method and MATLAB’s suite of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) solvers, namely, ode15s and ode23s

Delay as a Challenge in Prosecuting Non-Compliance in the Halal Industry

This is aresearch identifying the causes and consequence of delay in prosecuting halal industry violation. In determining the reasons for the delay, the authors will look into firstly the procedure and process which shows non-uniformity of legal administration, secondly the scattered laws, policy, standards for the halal industry. The authors will refer to a reported local case law, making comparative study on previous legislation and the current one, to see the elaborated scope of law in relation to the courts decision as a result of delay

QSMSOR Iterative Method for the Solution of 2D Homogeneous Helmholtz Equations

In this paper, we consider the numerical solutions of homogeneous Helmholtz equations of the second order. The Quarter-Sweep Modified Successive Over-Relaxation (QSMSOR) iterative method is applied to solve linear systems generated form discretization of the second order homogeneous Helmholtz equations using quarter sweep finite difference (FD) scheme. The formulation and implementation of the method are also discussed. In addition, numerical results by solving several test problems are included and compared with the conventional iterative methods

Development of a Small Scale Okro Slicing Machine

The technique of slicing Okro using kitchen knife often exposes users to the danger of knife cut and the output of the technique has been found to be low due to the drudgery involved in the process. It was in recognition of the need to reduce drudgery, injury and associated rigors to the user and to enhance quality, hygiene and efficiency in Okro processing that the research of developing a suitable Okro slicing machine was initiated. A simple motorized device was developed for slicing okra using locally available materials which include: bearings, shaft, pulleys, electric motor, cutting blade, rail, bolts and nuts. The slicing mechanism was based on the high shear stress that is generated when a blade edge is brought into contact with fibrous material causing the blade to move in rotary motion and to the direction of the applied force. After coupling and testing the machine, results obtained showed that it takes 3 seconds to slice one Okro using machine while in the case of manual slicing, it takes 8.22 seconds. The device has a slicing efficiency of 66.67%.  The machine has shown to enhance processing of okra in small scale industry application. The machine therefore is of great importance to the industries within the country and beyond where preservation of Okro in sliced and dried form is important

Spread of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii co-expressing OXA-23 and GES-11 carbapenemases in Lebanon

© 2015 The Authors. Objectives: The acquisition of carbapenemases by Acinetobacter baumannii is reported increasingly worldwide, but data from Lebanon are limited. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of imipenem-resistant A. baumannii in Lebanon, identify resistance determinants, and detect clonal relatedness. Methods: Imipenem-resistant A. baumannii were collected from nine Lebanese hospitals during 2012. Antimicrobial susceptibility, the cloxacillin effect, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) synergy were determined. Genes encoding carbapenemases and insertion sequence IS. Aba1 were screened via PCR sequencing. IS. Aba1 position relative to genes encoding Acinetobacter-derived cephalosporinases (ADCs) and OXA-23 was studied by PCR mapping. Clonal linkage was examined by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR). Results: Out of 724 A. baumannii isolated in 2012, 638 (88%) were imipenem-resistant. Of these, 142 were analyzed. Clavulanic acid-imipenem synergy suggested carbapenem-hydrolyzing extended-spectrum β-lactamase. A positive cloxacillin test indicated ADCs, while EDTA detection strips were negative. Genotyping indicated that 90% of isolates co-harbored blaOXA-23 and blaGES-11. The remaining strains had blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaGES-11, or blaOXA-24 with blaGES-11. ISAba1 was located upstream of blaADC and blaOXA-23 in 97% and 100% of isolates, respectively. ERIC-PCR fingerprinting revealed 18 pulsotypes spread via horizontal gene transfer and clonal dissemination. Conclusion: This survey established baseline evidence of OXA-23 and GES-11-producing A. baumannii in Lebanon, indicating the need for further surveillance

Countrywide spread of OXA-48 carbapenemase in Lebanon: Surveillance and genetic characterization of carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae in 10 hospitals over a one-year period

© 2014 The Authors. Objectives: To detect, characterize, and assess the genetic clonality of carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae in 10 Lebanese hospitals in 2012. Methods: Selected Enterobacteriaceae isolates with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems were subject to phenotypic study including antibiotic susceptibility, cloxacillin effect, modified Hodge test, and activity of efflux pump inhibitor. Carbapenemase genes were detected using PCR; clonal relatedness was studied by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Results: Out of 8717 Enterobacteriaceae isolated in 2012, 102 (1.2%) showed reduced susceptibility to carbapenems. Thirty-one (70%) of the 44 studied clinical isolates harbored blaOXA-48, including 15 Klebsiella pneumoniae, eight Escherichia coli, four Serratia marcescens, three Enterobacter cloacae, and one Morganella morganii. The majority of OXA-48 producers co-secreted an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, while one had an acquired AmpC of the ACC type. In the non-OXA-48 producers, carbapenem resistance was attributed to the production of acquired AmpC cephalosporinases of MOX or CIT type, outer membrane impermeability, and/or efflux pump overproduction. DNA fingerprints revealed that OXA-48 producers were different, except for clonal relatedness among four K. pneumoniae, two E. coli, two E. cloacae, and three S. marcescens. Conclusions: Nosocomial carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae are moderately spread in Lebanon and the predominant mechanism is OXA-48 production

Evaluation of the environmental noise levels in Abuja Municipality using mobile phones

Background: Noise remains a nuisance which impacts negatively on the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of man. It aggravates chronic illnesses like hypertension and other cardiopulmonary diseases. Unfortunately, increased activities from industrialization and technological transfers/drifts have tumultuously led to increased noise pollution in most of our fast growing cities today and hence the need for concerted efforts in monitoring and regulating our environmental noise.Objectives: To assess the equivalent noise level (Leq) in Abuja municipality and promote a simple method for regular assessment of Leq within our environment.Methods: This is a cross-sectional community based study of the environmental Leq of Abuja municipality conducted between January 2014 and January 2016. The city was divided into 12 segments including residential, business and market areas via the Abuja Geographic Information System. The major markets were captured separately on a different scale. Measurements were taken with the mobile phone softwares having validated this withExtech 407730 digital sound level meter, serial no Z310135 . Leq(A) were measured at different points and hours of the day and night. The average Leq(A) were classified according to localities and compared with WHO standard safety levels.Results: LeqD ranged 71-92dB(A); 42-79dB(A) and 69-90dB(A) in business/ parks, residential and market places respectively. The Night measurements were similar 18dB(A)-56dB(A) and the day-night Leq(A)=77.2dB(A) and 90.4dB(A) for residential and business zones.Conclusion: The night noise levels are satisfactory but the day and daynight levels are above the recommended tolerable values by WHO and therefore urgently call for awareness and legislative regulations

Measurement of the Generalized Forward Spin Polarizabilities of the Neutron

The generalized forward spin polarizabilities $\gamma_0$ and $\delta_{LT}$ of the neutron have been extracted for the first time in a $Q^2$ range from 0.1 to 0.9 GeV$^2$. Since $\gamma_0$ is sensitive to nucleon resonances and $\delta_{LT}$ is insensitive to the $\Delta$ resonance, it is expected that the pair of forward spin polarizabilities should provide benchmark tests of the current understanding of the chiral dynamics of QCD. The new results on $\delta_{LT}$ show significant disagreement with Chiral Perturbation Theory calculations, while the data for $\gamma_0$ at low $Q^2$ are in good agreement with a next-to-lead order Relativistic Baryon Chiral Perturbation theory calculation. The data show good agreement with the phenomenological MAID model.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, corrected typo in author name, published in PR

Genetic polymorphism of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in type 2 diabetes and in combination with arterial hypertension among Dagestan inhabitants

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension are frequent comorbidities under which activation the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is important pathogenetic link. The functional state of the RAAS is genetically determined. Genetic polymorphisms of the RAAS system associated with the development of both type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension have been identified and mapped. Associations of polymorphic variants of the RAAS genes with type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension among the inhabitants of Dagestan have not been studied. AIM: Studying the association of the most relevant polymorphic variants of the C521T and T704C AGT gene, as well as the A1166C AGTR1 gene with type 2 diabetes and when combining type 2 diabetes with arterial hypertension among Dagestan inhabitants. METHODS: We examined 16 patients with type 2 diabetes, 59 patients with type 2 diabetes combined with arterial hypertension and 51 patients with arterial hypertension, all residents of Dagestan. The control group included 47 healthy persons of the same age group. SNP polymorphisms were investigated by the method of allele-specific Real-Time PCR. The C521T and T704C polymorphisms of the AGT gene and the A1166C polymorphism of the AGTR1 gene were studied. RESULTS: In the group of patients with a combination type 2 diabetes with arterial hypertension, the genotype CT of the C521T polymorphism of the AGT gene is less common compared to the control (23% vs. 43%, χ2 = 3,868, p = 0,049), OR score – 0,4 (0,2-0,9 ). The situation is similar with the TC genotype of the T704C polymorphism of the AGT gene (39% versus 61%, χ2 = 4,282, p = 0,039). OR was 0,4 (0,2–0,8).On the contrary, in the same patients, but the carriers of the homozygous CC genotype of the T704C polymorphism of the AGT gene, OR exceeded one and made 2.5 (1.02-5.9), the frequency of occurrence was 42% vs. 23%, χ2 = 3,363, p = 0,05. The frequency of the mutant allele C of the A1166C polymorphism of the AGTR1 gene in patients with arterial hypertension alone was 31% vs. 14%, χ2 = 5.496, p = 0,019, OR – 2,5 (1,2-5,0). The frequency of the wild allele A in these same patients was 69% versus 84%, χ2 = 5,496, p = 0,019, OR – 0,4 (0,2-0,8). A similar situation is determined with the AA genotype (52% versus 73%, χ2 = 3,609, p = 0,05), OR = 0,4 (0,1-0,9). CONCLUSIONS: The association of the C521T and T704C polymorphisms, as well as the A1166C candidate genes AGT and AGTR1 with type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension, is an important component in assessing the susceptibility to the development of these diseases in Dagestan residents

A Search for Sigma^0_5, N^0_5 and Theta^++ Pentaquark States

A high-resolution (sigma_instr. = 1.5 MeV) search for narrow states (Gamma < 10 MeV) with masses of M_x approx 1500-1850 MeV in ep -> e'K^+ X, e'K^- X and e' pi^+ X electroproduction at small angles and low Q^2 was performed. These states would be candidate partner states of the reported Theta^+(1540) pentaquark. No statistically significant signal was observed in any of the channels at 90% C.L. Upper limits on forward production were determined to be between 0.7% and 4.2% of the Lambda(1520) production cross section, depending on the channel and the assumed mass and width of the state.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. C, update with responses to referee suggestion