Benefit-cost analysis of participatory breeding program in Syria

Participatory plant breeding is seen by several scientists as a way to overcome the limitations of conventional breeding by offering farmers the possibility of deciding which varieties better suit their needs and conditions without exposing them to any risk. It exploits the potential gains of breeding for specific adaptation through the selection in the marginal environment. The participation of farmers increases the probability and speed of adoption as well as the breeding efficiency and the effectiveness of the breeding program. The objective of this study is to estimate and compare the benefits and costs of participatory and conventional barley breeding programs. Benefit-cost analysis was used to analyze the costs and benefits of the PPB program at ICARDA and the conventional program at ICARDA and NARS

Performance comparison of SVM and ANN for aerobic granular sludge

To comply with growing demand for high effluent quality of Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), a simple and reliable prediction model is thus needed. The wastewater treatment technology considered in this paper is an Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS). The AGS systems are fundamentally complex due to uncertainty and non-linearity of the system makes it hard to predict. This paper presents model predictions and optimization as a tool in predicting the performance of the AGS. The input-output data used in model prediction are (COD, TN, TP, AN, and MLSS). After feature analysis, the prediction of the models using Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Feed-Forward Neural Network (FFNN) are developed and compared. The simulation of the model uses the experimental data obtained from Sequencing Batch Reactor under hot temperature of 50˚C. The simulation results indicated that the SVM is preferable to FFNN and it can provide a useful tool in predicting the effluent quality of WWTP

Analysis of Working Time of Bubu Catching Equipment Craftsmen (Case Study in Tellu Siattinge District, Bone Regency)

This study aims to determine how much work time the fishing gear craftsmen work in the Tellu Siattinge District and to determine the factors that influence the working time of the trap fishing gear craftsmen in Tellu Siattinge District. This research was conducted from May to June 2021 in Tellu Siattinge District, Bone Regency. The type of research used is a quantitative approach with a survey method. The sampling technique used is proportional sampling. The data analysis of working time is carried out by calculating the amount of time spent by craftsmen and using tabulated primary data, while the factors that affect the work time use multiple linear analysis and statistical tests. From the results of the study, it was found that the working time of frame makers was 0.63 HKP/day, netting craftsmen were 0.25 HKP/day and bottom net makers were 0.34 HKP/day. The factors of wages, age, education and work experience simultaneously have a significant effect on the working time of fishing gear craftsmen in Tellu Siattinge District. Partially, the wage factor and work experience have a significant effect, while the age and education factors have no significant effect on the workload of fishing gear craftsmen in Tellu Siattinge District. 

SCAPS Numerical Analysis of Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Utilizing Copper (I) Iodide as Hole Transport Layer

Here, numerical study of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (SSDSSC) with Copper (I) Iodide as a hole transport layer was investigated using SCAPS-1D simulation software. The complete simulated device structures in this project are composed of FTO/TiO2/N719/CuI/Ni. Several key parameters of HTL such as layer thickness, doping concentration, working temperature, and interface defect have been analysed to obtain the highest efficiency for SSDSSC as well as the influence of back contact. The incorporation with various ETLs such as TiO2, ZnO, and SnO2 were also studied. The results show that SSDSSC with back contact yields a better performance due to low HTL thickness compared to without back contact. In addition, it can also be proved that TiO2 as ETL obtained the best efficiency up to 5.6%. Further investigation also found that combining optimized CuI and TiO2 parameters with a perovskite layer would increase cell efficiency to nearly 30%, higher than previously reported devices. The proposed parameter structure may trigger the temptation for the use of CuI as HTL in solar cell application

REMOVAL OF OIL FROM WASTEWATER BY ADVANCED OXIDATION PROCESS / HOMOGENEOUS PROCESS

In the present work advanced oxidation process, photo-Fenton (UV/H2O2/Fe+2) system, for the treatment of wastewater contaminated with oil was investigated. The reaction was influenced by the input concentration of hydrogen peroxide H2O2, the initial amount of the iron catalyst Fe+2, pH, temperature and the concentration of oil in the wastewater. The removal efficiency for the system UV/ H2O2/Fe+2 at the optimal conditions and dosage (H2O2 = 400mg/L, Fe+2 = 40mg/L, pH=3, temperature =30o C) for 1000mg/L load was found to be 72%

The impact of work stress to job burnout among employees in the Malaysian construction companies

The impact of stress from factors such as absenteeism, work load, work-life balance, and work stress on job burnout among employee has been widely discussed. Job burnout can affect both physical and mental health which often leads to low productivity and job performance. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship and impact between absenteeism, work-load, work-life balance, and work-stress with job burnout. The objective includes assessing the model fit and statistically significant indicator detection. 123 construction companies were sampled using simple random sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires. Results showed adequate fit of a PLS-SEM model, and indicators of absenteeism and work stress were statistically significant on job burnout. The implications of this study is that burnout could affect employee productivity and performance. Burnout is also a serious concern within the healthcare industry as it could affect a person’s mental and physical well-being

Phytohormones as Plant Growth Regulators and Safe Protectors against Biotic and Abiotic Stress

Plants are playing important role in the planet by providing food for humans and stability in the environment. Phytohormones are key regulators in various physiological processes and among the most important small signaling molecules affecting plant growth and yield production. These biochemical also initiate adaptive responses caused by external stimuli, such as biotic and abiotic stress. Generally, on the basis of physiology, plant hormones roughly fall into two classes. In class one, phytohormones fall which is responsible for plants growth-promoting activities, such as cell division, cell elongation, seed and fruit development, and pattern of differentiation. On the other hand, the second class of hormone play important role in plants’ response, such as biotic and abiotic stresses. Some other hormones, such as jasmonates, salicylic acid, brassinosteroids, and strigolactones, also play a key role in plants. Their biochemical signaling network and their crosstalk ability make plant hormones excellent candidates to optimize plant growth and/or mediate abiotic and biotic stresses in agriculture. In the end, the future trends of plant hormone analysis are exploring plant hormones and their applications. We believe the perspective may serve as guidance for the research of plant hormones in the analytical, environmental, and botanical fields

The use of ceramic product derived from non-halal animal bone: is it permissible from the perspective of Islamic law?

A ceramic product derived from the bones of non-halal animal has become an issue for Muslims in terms of its status whether it is halal or haram. The status can be determined by scrutinizing the transformation process or namely as istiḥālah either a complete change (istiḥālah kāmilah) or an incomplete change (istiḥālah ghayr kāmilah). This research used the qualitative research method via the approach of document analysis to examine various opinions of classical and current Islamic jurists on the status of using ceramic products derived from the bones of non halal animal according to the Islamic law. The research discovers an alternative method of processing ceramic products from animal bones through istiḥālah. It is a transformation of filthy or haram materials into other materials which includes physical appearance and its properties such as odor, taste and color