A comparative study of concrete properties using coconut shell and palm kernel shell as coarse aggregates

The high cost of conventional building materials is a major factor affecting housing delivery in Nigeria. This has necessitated research into alternative materials of construction. This paper presents the results of an investigation carried out on the comparative cost analysis and strength characteristics of concrete produced using crushed, granular coconut and palm kernel shells as substitutes for conventional coarse aggregate in gradation of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Two mix ratios (1:1:2 and 1:2:4) were used. A total of320 cubes ofsize 100�100�100mm were cast, tested and their physical and mechanical properties determined. The results ofthe tests showed that the compressive strength ofthe concrete decreased as the percentage of the shells increased in the two mix ratios. However, concrete obtained from coconut shells exhibited a higher compressive strength than palm kernel shell concrete in the two mix proportions. The results also indicated cost reduction of 30% and 42% for concrete produced from coconut shells and palm kernel shells, respectively. Considering the strength/economy ratio, it was concluded that coconut shells were more suitable than palm kernel shells when used as substitute for conventional aggregates in concrete production. r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Studies on termite hill and lime as partial replacement for cement in plastering

This study investigated the compressive strength and water absorption capacity of 50�50�50mm mortar cubes made from mixes containing lime, termite hill and cement and sand.Two mix ratios (1:4 and 1:6) and varying binder replacements of cement with lime or termite hill amounting to 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% were used.Test results showed that the compressive strength of the mortar cubes increases with age and decreases with increasing percentage replacement of cement with lime and termite hill.However, for mix ratio 1:6, up to 20% replacement of cement with either lime or termite hill, all the mortar cubes had the same strength; subsequently, the termite hill exhibited a higher compressive strength.For mix ratio 1:4, mortar cubes made from lime/cement and termite hill/cement mixtures had the same strength at 50% replacement.Generally, water absorption is higher in mixtures containing lime (18.10% and 14.20% for mix ratios 1:6 and 1:4, respectively, both at 50% replacement level) than those containing termite hill (16.10% and 13.02% for mix ratios 1:6 and 1:4, respectively, both at 50% replacement level). Termite hills seem to be promising as a suitable, locally available housing material for plastering. r 2005 Elsevier Ltd.All rights reserved

Effect of granite dust on the performance characteristics of kernelrazzo floor finish

This study is part of an on-going research on the durability performance of kernelrazzo, a type of terrazzo floor finish. It investigated the effect of partial replacement of the coarse aggregate with granite dust on the compressive strength, water absorption capacity and density of kernelrazzo. Two mix ratios (1:3 and 1:4), varying aggregate replacements of marble chipping with burnt palm kernel shells amounting to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, varying percentage replacements of all coarse aggregates with granite dust amounting to 0%, 10%, 30% and 50% were used. Cost comparisons were also made. Test results showed that the compressive strength of kernelrazzo increases up to a maximum of 30% coarse aggregate replacement by granite dust for both mixes for 0–50% replacement of marble chippings with palm kernel shells. For 75–100% marble chippings replacement, the compressive strength increases with increasing amount of granite dust. The water absorption capacity and density (upto 30% of granite dust) decrease and increase, respectively, with increase in percentage of granite dust. The cost of kernelrazo decreases with increase in the percentage of replacement of coarse aggregates with granite dust, except for 100% marble chipping replacement. It was recommended that to produce a good kernelrazzo floor finish in terms of strength, durability, density, water absorption capacity and cost, the overall coarse aggregate should not contain more than 50% of palm kernel shells for 1:4 and 1:3 mix ratios with a maximum of 30% aggregate replacement with granite dust. ? 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The effect of carob (Ceratonia siliqua) bean extract on male New Zealand White rabbit semen

[EN] The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) grows naturally in the Mediterranean region. The empiric use of carob cures for their aphrodisiac properties is very common in Turkey. Thus, the experiment was conducted to determine the effects of carob bean extracts on some reproductive parameters in male New Zealand White rabbits. During the adaptation period (stage 1), 6-8 mo old rabbits were trained in semen collection for 30 d. At the beginning of the treatment period (stage 2), rabbits were assigned randomly to 2 groups of 8 animals each. For a period of 49 d (1 spermatogenesis duration), one group was treated with a daily oral dose (10 mL) of carob extract and the other group received the corresponding volume of tap water. Semen was collected weekly. Semen samples taken at week 1 and 7 were analysed separately. At the beginning of stage 2, no differences were observed in the volume and pH of the ejaculate, sperm concentration, percentage of motility, percentage of live spermatozoa, percentage of sperm plasma membrane integrity, plasma concentration of testosterone, and seminal plasma protein levels between the control and carob extract treated animals. Similarly, at the end of stage 2, there were no differences in the volume and pH of the ejaculate, motility percentage, the percentage of live spermatozoa, percentage of sperm plasma membrane integrity, and the seminal plasma protein levels between the control and the carob extract treated animals. However, sperm concentration (P<0.05), plasma concentration of testosterone (P<0.05), and percentage of change in spermatozoa concentration (P<0.02) between groups were affected at the end of stage 2. The data suggested that the use of carob cures prepared by boiling carob fruit could have beneficial influences on sperm concentration in rabbits.Ata, A.; Yildiz-Gulay, O.; Güngör, S.; Balic, A.; Gulay, M. (2018). The effect of carob (Ceratonia siliqua) bean extract on male New Zealand White rabbit semen. World Rabbit Science. 26(3):209-215. doi:10.4995/wrs.2018.10154SWORD209215263Abd El-Ghany M.A. 2007. The relation of antioxidants and sodium nitrite on the oxidation reduction system and reproductive ability of male rats. Egypt J. Nutr., 2: 33-64.Agnes V.F., Akbarsha M.A. 2003. Spermatotoxic effect of aflatoxin B1 in the albino Mouse. Food. Chem. Tox., 41: 119-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-6915(02)00171-0Amico F.P., Source E.G. 1997. Medical plants and phytotheraphy in Mussomeli area (Caltenisseta, Scily, Italy). Fitoterapia, 68: 143-159.Ata A., Hatipoglu F.S., Yildiz-Gulay O., Gulay M.S. 2007. Protective role of ascorbic acid on subacute sperm toxicity in male New Zealand White Rabbits treated with endosulfan. Drug Chem. Toxicol., 30: 181-195. https://doi.org/10.1080/01480540701374896Ayaz F.A., Torun H., Ayaz S., Correia P.J., Alaiz M., Sanz C., Gruz J., Strand M. 2007. Determination of chemical composition of Anatolian carob pod (Ceratonia siliqua L.), Sugars, amino and organic acids, minerals and phenolic compounds. J. Food Quality, 30: 1040-1055. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-4557.2007.00176.xFeng P., Li TL., Guan Z.X., Franklin R.B., Costello L.C. 2002. Direct effect of zinc on mitochondrial apoptogenesis in prostate cells. Prostate, 52: 311-318. https://doi.org/10.1002/pros.10128Hala M.A.W. 2011. Protective effect of Nigella sativa, linseed and celery oil against testicular toxicity induced by sodium valproate in male rats. J. Am. Sci., 7: 687-693.Inouce M., Suzuki R., Koide T., Sakaguchi N., Ogihera Y., Yabu Y. 1994. Antioxidant, gallic acid, induces apaptosis in HL- 60RG cells. Biochem. Res. Commun., 204: 898-904. https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.1994.2544Karkacier M., Artik N. 1995. Determination of physical properties, chemical composition and extraction conditions of carob bean (Ceratonia siliqua L.). Gida, 20: 131-136.Katsiya G.V., Todua T.N., Gorlushkin V.M., Chirkov A.M., Goncharov N.P. 1989. Effect of immobilization stress on the gonadotropic function of the hypophysis in male hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas). Biol. Medit., 107: 231-234.Marakis S. 1996. Carob bean in food and feed: current status and future potentials: a critical appraisal. J. Food Sci. Technol., 33: 365-383.Merzouki A., Ed-Derfoufi F., El Allau A., Molero-Mesas J. 1997. Wild medicinal plants used by local Bouhmed population (Morocco). Fitoterapia, 68: 444-460.Rickard I.J., Holopainen J., Helama S., Helle S., Russell A.F., Lummaa V. 2010. Food availability at birth limited reproductive success in historical humans. Ecology, 91: 3515-3525. https://doi.org/10.1890/10-0019.1Robbins W.A., Xun L., FitzGerald L.Z., Esguerra S., Henning S.M., Carpenter C.L. 2012. Walnuts Improve Semen Quality in Men Consuming a Western-Style Diet: Randomized Control Dietary Intervention Trial. Biol. Reprod., 87: 101-108. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.112.101634Osaretin A.T., Gabriel A.A. 2008. Effect of zinc deficiency on memory, oxidative stress and blood chemistry in rats. Adv. Med. Dent. Sci., 2: 74-82.Saracoglu A.I. 2011. Şifa Kitabı, 1st ed. Haygrup Publishers, Istanbul, Turkey.Takeda A., Tamano H., Tochigi M. 2005. Zinc homeostasis in the hypocampus of zinc deficient young adult rats. J. Neurochem. Int., 46: 221-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2004.10.003Tokeshi I., Yoshimoto T., Muto N., Nakamura S., Ashizawa K., Nakada T., Tatemoto H. 2007. Antihyaluronidase action of ellagic acid effectively prevents polyspermy as a result of suppression of the acrosome reaction induced by sperm-zona interaction during in vitro fertilization of porcine oocytes. J. Reprod. Develop., 53: 755-764. https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.18173Turk G., Sonmez M., Aydin M., Yuce A., Gur S., Yuksel M., Aksu E.H., Aksoy H. 2008. Effects of pomegranate juice consumption on sperm quality, spermatogenic cell density, antioxidant activity and testosterone level in male rats. Clin. Nutr., 27: 289-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2007.12.006Würsch P. 1979. Influence of tannin-rich carob pod fiber on the cholesterol metabolism in the rat. J. Nutr., 109: 685-692. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/109.4.685Zago M.P., Oteiza P.I. 2001. The antioxidant properties of zinc: interactions with iron and antioxidants. Free Rad. Biol. Med., 31: 266-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0891-5849(01)00583-

Genetic diversity and population structure of Turkish native cattle breeds

Cattle are an important livestock species for human life, but certain breeds are at risk of extinction. Maintaining genetic diversity plays an important role in sustainable breeding and conservation programmes in farm animals. The aim of this study was to determine genetic diversity among five Turkish native cattle breeds. A total of 199 Turkish native cattle of the Native Southern Yellow (n = 40), South Anatolian Red (n = 40), Anatolian Grey Cattle (n = 40), Native Black Cattle (n = 39) and East Anatolian Red (n = 40) breeds were investigated using 22 autosomal microsatellite markers. The analysis revealed considerable genetic variation among these breeds. All loci were polymorphic, and a total of 545 alleles were found. Among these loci, only INRA032 was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Thirty-four private alleles with frequencies greater than 5% were found. Expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content indexes were 0.87 and 0.88, respectively. Native Southern Yellow, South Anatolian Red and Native Black Cattle breeds were closely related.Keywords: animal genetic resources, microsatellite, genetic relationship, genetic conservatio

Justice and Maori : reflections on contemporary justice theory and justice for Maori

The thesis investigates the political philosophy of justice for Maori in New Zealand. The recent communitarian critique of liberalism undermines a normative approach to the investigation. Therefore, the critique, as it is presented by Michael Sandel and Alasdair MacIntyre and the liberal reply, as represented by John Rawls and Brian Barry, is explicated in Chapter One and a new normative approach to justice is outlined. This new approach is, in the main, the result of Brian Barry's three theorems of justice: justice as mutual advantage, as reciprocity, and as impartiality. The resulting sketch of the conditions of justice is then applied to five major New Zealand writers on justice for Maori. The five writers are examined first for their coherency of political argument, and second for the theories of justice at work in the texts. Then, with the help of the critiques explicated in chapter one, the writer's theories of justice are judged as to their ability to meet the conditions of a just agreement. The conclusions to be drawn from the thesis are twofold. First, a new liberal approach is possible to defend against the communitarian claims. Second, the New Zealand writers use theories of justice which are likely to produce agreements that are unstable, and need, therefore, coercive enforcement agencies to keep them in place

Productivity and cost of tree felling crew with a chainsaw in Caspian forests

Abstract Tree cutting is the most important component that affects all stages of harvesting. Tree cutting is included felling, cross-cutting (bucking), delimbing and topping. This study was carried out in the northern forests of Iran (i.e. Hyrcanian Forests) near the Caspian Sea in the Neka Chob Company, in order to evaluate subsections of tree felling. The main goals of this study are time study of tree felling, estimating and measuring productivity and costs of chainsaw as well as identifying regression model of tree felling time. Multivariate Regression of felling time was a function of tree diameter, distance among felling trees and air temperature. Hourly production of chainsaw felling was 44.61 m 3 /h (8 trees per hour). There was found a negative relationship between tree diameter and the Tree felling cost of production unit, so that when the tree diameter was increased the cost of Tree felling was being decreasing exponentially

WIYN Open Cluster Study 1: Deep Photometry of NGC 188

We have employed precise V and I photometry of NGC 188 at WIYN to explore the cluster luminosity function (LF) and study the cluster white dwarfs (WDs). Our photometry is offset by V = 0.052 (fainter) from Sandage (1962) and Eggen & Sandage (1969). All published photometry for the past three decades have been based on these two calibrations, which are in error by 0.05 +- 0.01. We employ the Pinsonneault etal (1998) fiducial main sequence to derive a cluster distance modulus of 11.43 +- 0.08. We report observations that are >= 50% complete to V = 24.6 and find that the cluster central-field LF peaks at M_I ~ 3 to 4. This is unlike the solar neighborhood LF and unlike the LFs of dynamically unevolved portions of open and globular clusters, which rise continuously until M_I ~ 9.5. Although we find that >= 50% of the unresolved cluster objects are multiple systems, their presence cannot account for the shape of the NGC 188 LF. For theoretical reasons (Terlevich 1987; Vesperini & Heggie 1997) having to do with the survivability of NGC 188 we believe the cluster is highly dynamically evolved and that the missing low luminosity stars are either in the cluster outskirts or have left the cluster altogether. We identify nine candidate WDs, of which we expect three to six are bona fide cluster WDs. The luminosities of the faintest likely WD indicates an age (Bergeron, Wesemael, & Beauchamp 1995) of 1.14 +- 0.09 Gyrs. This is a lower limit to the cluster age and observations probing to V = 27 or 28 will be necessary to find the faintest cluster WDs and independently determine the cluster age. While our age limit is not surprising for this ~6 Gyr old cluster, our result demonstrates the value of the WD age technique with its very low internal errors. (abridged)Comment: 26 pages, uuencoded gunzip'ed latex + 16 postscrip figures, to be published in A