e-Student Residential Hall Management Model (eSRHMM)

A key factor which makes Web Based Applications (WBA) highly recommended over stand alone system is centralized mechanism used in those applications. Students' Residential Hall managements in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) use variety of systems which are mostly mixture of WBA and some manual procedures. This study would try to enhance the process of the current management procedures by converting it entirely into a WBA which would solve some of the critical issues which are not supported by the current system. The proposed system would adopt Extreme Programming (XP) and Rational Unified Process (RUP) methodology in order to fulfill its objectives

A technical and tactical profile of the judokas medalists. Case of the category (-81 kg)

International audienceThe objective of this study was to determine the technical and tactical modalities susceptible to optimize the performance of the Olympic medalists judokas in the category (-81 kg). Our observation relate to the video recordings of twenty-one fights medalists judokas at the 2012 Olympic Games (n=4; age 26.8±4.6 years; height 180±0.1cm) who took part in 5.3±0.5 fights of average duration 303.4±88.5 seconds. The analysis focused on the frequency of techniques used; dominant technical groups, emerging techniques, technical effectiveness, combat score, attack direction and tactical option chosen. Seoi-nage was the most used technique and Ashi-waza was the most requested group. Te-waza has distinguished itself by its great variety within the Kokusai-shiai-waza. In tactics, direct attack is the most preferred option. The determined technical and tactical profile can be considered as a crucial factor in the preparation of judokas of this weight category in improving their efficiency in competition

Use of expanded polystyrene in developing solid and hollow block masonry units

Light weight mortar of various densities are developed using Expanded polystyrene (EPS) to partially substitute sand. Lightweight mortars are used herein to develop three types of lightweight hollow blocks: 1-plain, 2- steel wire mesh reinforced (ferrocement) and 3- GFRP mesh reinforced (fibro-cement) as well as lightweight solid bricks. The objective of this research is to obtain lightweight masonry units of sufficient mechanical, long-term and thermal characteristics for low-rise building applications in arid environments. Different tests were conducted to assess the mechanical strength; durability and thermal conductivity. Five mixtures were prepared; four EPS mortar mixes with average density range 1748, 1498, 1258, 988 kg/m3, depending on the EPS content and a control mortar mix with average density 2118.4 kg/m3. The mechanical test program included the measurement of the compressive strength of cubes, cylinders, hollow blocks and solid bricks, in addition to the measurement of the static modulus of elasticity, the stress-strain curve, and splitting tensile strength of cylindrical specimens. The durability test program was conducted wholly on hollow blocks and involved 48-hour water absorption test as well as subjecting them to wet-dry cycles of saturated salt solution and of 5% concentration sulfuric acid solution. The thermal conductivity test was conducted with the hot wire method on solid bricks. A finite element numerical model was developed on the GAMBIT-FLUENT package to assess the equivalent thermal conductivity of the plain hollow blocks. The effect of the three mode of heat transfer, namely, conduction, convection and radiation was reported and the interaction between them was analyzed. The results showed that the addition of EPS aggregates to mortar reduced the density as well as the mechanical properties. For a density range between 2200 and 980 kg/m3, the compressive strength of the cubes ranged between 32.6 and 3.5 MPa, and the net compressive strength of the hollow blocks ranged between 9.5 and 2.4 MPa. For the same density range the modulus of elasticity and the split tensile ranged between 15.5 and 1.2 GPa, and 2.87 and 0.55 MPa respectively. The presence of EPS in the cement matrix tremendously improved the failure pattern of all the EPS mixes. On the other hand, the durability cycles proved that EPS hollow blocks were resilient to acid and salt exposure. The weight loss and compressive strength loss of the hollow blocks due to ettringite leach decreased significantly with the addition of EPS aggregates. The salt wet-dry cycles adversely affected the compressive strength plain, ferrocement and GFRP mesh reinforced hollow blocks. The plain hollow blocks suffered from efflorescence and salt crystallization that adversely affected the compressive strength. Moreover, the compressive strength of the GFRP mesh reinforced hollow blocks was the most affected and the ferrocement EPS hollow blocks were less affected. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity tests showed that the inclusion of EPS aggregates decreased the thermal conductivity of mortar remarkably. The average thermal conductivity of the control bricks was 1.8 W/m. K. and ranged between 1.53 and 0.16 W/m. K. for the EPS mortar bricks. However, the thermal conductivity obtained numerically for the hollow blocks considering all heat transfer modes was 1.43 W/m. K. for the control blocks and ranged between 1.27 and 0.25 W/m. K. for the densest and lightest EPS mortar hollow blocks respectively. The equivalent thermal conductivity determined from the thermal model suggested that lighter EPS hollow blocks of density range 1258 and 988 kg/m3 would be more thermally efficient if they were solid. This is because, thermal conductivity of the hollow blocks inflated when the radiation heat transfer mode was accounted for. Finally, the results show that EPS mortar hollow blocks and bricks are suitable for non-load bearing application of exterior walls within the limits presented by ASTM C 129 and the Egyptian Standards (EOS 2005/42 2005), maintain their integrity while resisting salts and acids and have superior thermal insulation

Cytogenetic and Genotoxic Effects of Penconazole and Chlorpyrifos Pesticides in Bone Marrow of Rats

The current study was undertaken to explain the cytogenetic and genotoxic effects of penconazole (PEN) fungicide and chlorpyrifos (CPF) insecticide in male rats. Rats (N=10/group) were treated with 500 mg/kg body weight PEN orally for 24 h, 48 h and 100 mg/kg body weight for 30 days and the control animals were administered distilled water only. Chlorpyrifos exposed groups received 39 mg/kg body weight for 24 h and 48 h and 8 mg/kg body weight for 30 days by oral gavage and the control group was received corn oil. Blood samples were collected for complete blood count. Bone marrow was flushed from the femur bones for chromosomal aberration (CA) and comet assay. Spleen samples were preserved in 10% formalin for histological examination. The level of DNA damage was measured using DNA damage index. The results showed that PEN and CPF caused significant hematological changes, significant increase in DNA damage index and increased the number of nuclei with I, II, III and IV degrees of damage. Different types of CA were recorded in PEN and CPF exposed groups including chromosomal break, deletion, attenuation, chromosome ring, gap and fragments. In addition, numerical aberration as polyploidy appeared in CPF exposed groups only. PEN and CPF caused histopathological changes in spleen in the form of apoptosis, congestion, thrombosis and hemosiderosis. In conclusion, PEN and CPF induced genotoxic and cytogenetic effects in bone marrow. DNA damage index and the percentage of CA were higher in CPF than PEN groups

Epizootiološko istraživanje slinavke i šapa u Sudanu: stanje nakon dva desetljeća

In order to update information on the situation regarding foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the Sudan, a serosurvey and disease survey were conducted. Recently collected data on FMD in the Sudan showed that FMD is a major constraint to animal production in the country. It presents no threat nor does it cause mild disease in sheep and goats. The disease, with obvious clinical signs, has been detected in cattle only, and is caused by serotype O and SAT 2. Seasonal occurrence of the disease in the cold, dry season has been observed and animal movement seems to play a major role in virus dissemination. A total of 1,069 sera were collected from cattle, sheep, goats, and camel, from seven states in the Sudan, for the detection of antibodies to FMDV. Application of liquid phase blocking (LPB) ELISA revealed that antibodies to four serotypes were present in ruminants; namely O, A, SAT 1 and SAT 2. No antibodies to FMDV were detected in camel sera. The results differed from early reports regarding the prevalence of serotype specifi c antibodies in different species; for instance, in cattle, the antibodies to type A (78.13%) surpassed that of type O (69.39%) and the antibodies to type SAT 2 (44%) surpassed that of type SAT 1 (20.2%). This work elucidates the current epidemiology of FMD in some parts of the Sudan.Radi pružanja informacija o sadašnjem stanju slinavke i šapa u Sudanu provedena su serološka istraživanja te je prikazana njezina pojavnost. Svježe prikupljeni podatci o pojavi slinavke i šapa u Sudanu pokazali su da ona predstavlja veliku prepreku životinjskoj proizvodnji u toj zemlji. U ovaca i koza javlja se kao blaga bolest i ne predstavlja veliku prijetnju, dok se u goveda javlja s očitim kliničkim znakovima, a uzrokovana je serotipovima O i SAT 2. Bolest se javlja sezonski u hladnoj i suhoj sezoni, a promet životinjama ima glavnu ulogu u širenju virusa. Ukupno je bilo prikupljeno 1069 uzoraka seruma goveda, ovaca, koza i deva podrijetlom iz sedam država u Sudanu radi pretrage na prisutnost protutijela za virus slinavke i šapa. Blokirajućim imunonenzimnim testom dokazana su protutijela za četiri serotipa virusa: O, A, SAT 1 i SAT 2. Protutijela za virus slinavke i šapa nisu bila dokazana u uzorcima seruma deva. Rezultati se razlikuju od ranijih izvješća s obzirom na prevalenciju specifi čnih protutijela u različitih vrsta. Npr., specifi čna protutijela za serotip A dokazana su u 78,13% goveda, za serotip O u 69,39%, serotip SAT 2 u 44% te serotip SAT 1 u 20,2% goveda. U radu je prikazano sadašnje epizootiološko stanje slinavke i šapa u nekim dijelovima Sudana

The Importance of Farm Trees in Rural Livelihoods in Eastern Galabat Locality, Sudan

The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess the share of farm trees in farmers' total income; (ii) determine and analyze the factors influence the farmers' decision on farm trees planting; and (iii) identify the attitudes and perceptions of farmers towards planting farm trees. A sample of 60 farmers was purposively selected from Galabat locality in 2015 and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis. Farm tree products were found contribute 31% of farmer’s total annual income. Farmer’s land holding in feddan (P= 0.009), farmer's family size (P=0.000), farmer’s income (P=0.042) and extension services from Forests National Corporation (EXT from FNC) (P = 0.001)  were found to positively and significantly associated with farmers’ decisions to plant trees on farmlands. The study results also indicate that the farmers have awareness of the benefits associated with trees, and their attitudes towards trees planting are mostly positive. It is concluded that farmer’s decisions to plant farm trees are driven by their socioeconomic circumstances. Thus, it is recommended that the farmers' socioeconomic characteristics should not be overlooked when designing future tree planting programs in the region.Keywords: Trees outside forests, Farm trees, Determinants of tree planting, Environmental awarenes

Analysis of agromorphological diversity of southern Tunisia faba bean (Vicia faba L.) germplasm

Forty two faba bean landraces (traditional farmers’ varieties) (Vicia faba L.) from southern Tunisia, belonging to 8 oasis agro-ecosystems were assessed using morphological descriptors. The studied descriptors focused on morpho-phenological and morpho-agronomical traits. The data obtained is extracted on the basis of 35 descriptors of 42 populations from 8 localities, at a rate of 30 replications (plants) per population, in totality of 1260 individuals. The data underwent an analysis of variance and a multivariate analysis. Significant differences among populations for the thirty five descriptors were observed. The multivariate analysis performed on averages of all parameters revealed eight main groups, and variation within the same oasis agro-ecosystems was extremely important. Particularly, the group of ‘Tozeur’ made up of five populations (P38, P39, P40, P41 and P42), and the group of ‘Medenine’ composed of seven populations (P19, P20, P21, P22, P23, P24 and P25) showed a special characters than the other populations especially for seedling characters. The geographical location did not seem to be the main factor structuring the variability of the studied landraces. There proved to be substantial phenotypic variability in the Tunisian faba bean germplasm.Keywords: Diversity analysis, germplasm, faba bean (Vicia faba L.), oasis agro-ecosystems, Southern Tunisi

A Modified Generalized Laguerre-Gauss Collocation Method for Fractional Neutral Functional-Differential Equations on the Half-Line

The modified generalized Laguerre-Gauss collocation (MGLC) method is applied to obtain an approximate solution of fractional neutral functional-differential equations with proportional delays on the half-line. The proposed technique is based on modified generalized Laguerre polynomials and Gauss quadrature integration of such polynomials. The main advantage of the present method is to reduce the solution of fractional neutral functional-differential equations into a system of algebraic equations. Reasonable numerical results are achieved by choosing few modified generalized Laguerre-Gauss collocation points. Numerical results demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency, and versatility of the proposed method on the half-line