Archives-December 2014

This study was conducted to Evaluation of vermicompost on the Pigments content of Pelargonium hortorum. This experiment was conducted in the Islamic Azad University, Garmsar branch. Treatments of vermicompost rates included: 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. Also combine of control pot included: 25% cocopeat, 20% pulp tea, 10% rice straw and 45% garden soil. According to analysis of variance, treatments had significant effect on Chlorophyll a and b, Total chlorophyll, Anthocyanin and Carotenoids at 1% statistical probability.With regard to the comparison of treatments and control, 75% vermicompost treatment was the most effective treatments and this level suggest for pelargonium culture.

We proposed a new status based clusterhead election algorithms for mobile ad hoc networks which are responsible for stable clusterhead election for a cluster and maintain a stable clustering by predicting staying time for a cluster and selecting an optimal clusterhead. In proposed method if there is two or more than two cluster heads are within the same radio range, initially clusterhead changes will be delayed up to delay timer. After delay timer expire if both the cluster heads are still in the same radio range, then old new clusterhead change its status from 0 to 1 and become as Clustermember within same cluster. In proposed method old clusterhead within the cluster has priority to act as clusterhead compared to other clusterhead which is coming from other cluster.

The objective of this article is to discuss the reliability analysis of the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) instrument in the Malaysian context. This instrument was developed by Collins (1996) and has been used in western countries to measure the adult attachment style dimension. Items for RAAS were translated to the Malay language to suit the Malaysian adults’ sample. The sample of this study comprised of Malay married couples. A preliminary test and real test were conducted to determine whether its coefficient reliability value achieved the standard. The results of preliminary test and real test showed that the value of coefficient reliability for each dimension in RAAS have fulfilled the standard (p>.70). Based on these findings, the RAAS is a reliable instrument to be used among Malaysian adults. Furthermore, this instrument can be used by marriage counselors to understand how does attachment between husbands and wives may be related to thecouples’ problem or it may serve as a resource for couples to build a greatrelationship.

This study examines the relationship between job stress and mental health in governmental agencies of Sarpol-e-Zahab city. This research method is descriptive-correlation. Statically population is all staffs of governmental agencies. Statically sample is 160 people from governmental staffs. Samples were tested by Job stress questionnaire (IVJSI) and public health (28- GHQ). Results indicate that the positive relationship between job stress and mental health is significant. There was a significant and positive correlation between job stress and physical symptoms of anxiety and depression, but between job stress and social function symptoms is significant negative correlation; thus attention to work environment and agencies work condition cause to enhance the quality of work, employee mental health and efficiency.

Two cationic surfactants namely; N-(2-hydroxyehtyl)-N,N-dimethyldodecane-1-aminium bromide (I) and , N-(2-(2-mercaptoacetoxy)ethyl)-N,N-dimethyl dodecan-1-aminium bromide (II) were synthesized and characterized using FTIR and NMR spectroscopic methods. The two synthesized surfactants were evaluated as corrosion inhibitors for X- 65 type carbon steel in oil wells formation water under CO2 environment at 50 0C and antimicrobial agents against sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). It was found that the percentage inhibition efficiency (?%) was increased by increasing the inhibitor concentration until the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is reached. Potentiodynamic polarization curves indicated that the inhibitors under investigation act as mixed type. The data obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were analyzed to model the corrosion inhibition process through equivalent circuit. The nature of the protective film formed on carbon steel surface was analyzed by SEM and EDX techniques. The serial dilution method was used to evaluate the inhibiting effect of these compounds on the sulfate reducing bacteria growth. The results showed that the prepared compounds have good antimicrobial activities against the SRB as well as they have acceptable efficiency as corrosion inhibitors for X- 65 type carbon steel in oil wells formation water.

Radioactivity concentrations of natural radionuclides, namely 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, in fertilized and non-fertilized soils and vegetables from some agricultural areas were investigated using gamma spectrometry in order to assess the radiological implications of the extended use of phosphate fertilizers in agriculture. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the fertilized soils were 23.84 ± 2.52 Bqkg-1, 43.64 ± 2.19 Bqkg-1 and 199.69±3.67 Bqkg-1 respectively. For the non-fertilized soils, mean activity concentrations were found to be 14.01 ± 5.90 Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, 29.40 ± 2.03 Bqkg-1 for 232Th and 120.92 ± 4.67 Bqkg-1 for 40K. The study has shown that fertilized soils contain slightly higher concentrations of the three radionuclides than non-fertilized soils. The measured activity concentrations of the five most frequently utilized agricultural fertilizers showed that the highest levels of 226Ra (139.37±11.15kg-1) and 232Th (47.58±3.81 kg-1) were measured in NPK 151515 and the highest level of 40K (8383.47±6.70) was measured in Super master. It was also found that Sulphate of Ammonia recorded the lowest levels of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K. The average value of 226Raeq was 93.32 Bqkg-1for fertilized soils and 63.30 Bqkg-1 for non- fertilized soil. The calculated mean values of the internal hazard index (HIN) and external hazard index (HEX) for all samples were less than unity. The average absorbed dose rate (D?r) values were 38.79 nGyh-1for fertilized soil and 25.60 nGyh-1for non- fertilized soils. The calculated mean annual effective dose due to ingestion of vegetables by the general public was 0.11 mSv/y for 226Ra, 0.05 mSv/y for 232Th and 0.62 mSv/y for 40 K. The result from the study indicates that radiation exposure from consumption of vegetables from the selected farming communities does not pose significant radiological hazard.

Fisheries is one of the four important subsectors of the economy recognized and incorporated into the implementation of the second phase of the National fadama Development Project (Fadama II) as a veritable tool aimed at reducing poverty by increasing the productivity and income levels of poor fadama resource users. The assessment of the effect of Fadama II project on fish farming was carried out in this study by using the with-and-without approach. A multistage sampling technique was used in sampling 185 fadama II fish farmers and 60 non-fadama II fish farmers from 9 Fadama Community Associations with the aid of structured interview schedule. Data obtained were analyzed by using frequency count, percentages, mean, standard deviation and t-test analytical techniques. Findings from the study indicated that fadama fish farmers had higher number of ponds, were more educated, larger household sizes, and were more experienced in fish farming business than the non-fadama fish farmers while non-fadama fish farmers were older than the fadama fish farmers. The results of t-test analyses revealed that significant differences occurred in the annual income (t-value=32.28, p<0.01) and production output (t-value=43.14, p<0.01) of fadama and non-fadama fish farmers. The study concluded that the project has a positive effect on the income of fadama fish farmers in Lagos State, Nigeria and recommended that subsequent phases of the NFDP programme should be extended to all fadama users as this will benefit more people.

The bedrock of agricultural development in developing countries of sub-saharan Africa is rural development, without which all efforts at agricultural development will be futile. Agricultural development can only be attained if necessary rural infrastructural facilities are adequately provided in rural areas. This study assessed the availability of rural infrastructural facilities and its effect on agricultural productivity of rural dwellers in Abeokuta North local government area of Ogun state. Interview schedule was used to elicit information from 120 rural dwellers from six rural communities. Information obtained was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Availability of seven rural infrastructural facilities was assessed. The results showed that roads were available to all the respondents while electricity (70.83%) and schools (83.33%) were available to majority of the respondents. Majority of the rural dwellers reported the proper functioning of roads (66.67%) and schools (82%) while partial functioning was recorded for electricity (60%), portable water (50%) and storage facilities (66.67%). The study concludes that sustainable rural development is a function of the availability and accessibility of rural infrastructural facilities to rural dwellers who are mainly small scale farmers. It was recommended that government should make provision for infrastructural facilities in rural areas of the local government.

A system was designed and fabricated to grade apples automatically based on their size using machine vision, in this study. The device included unites to single out, orient and grade apples. A cylinder container with circular hole in bottom which was equipped with agitator was built to single out the apples. This mechanism delivered apples to orientation unit, one by one. Two wooden rails with a specific form which was located on the ramp via adequate slope was used to orient the apples during rolling. After the orientation, apples were placed below the camera to take its photo. The photos were transferred to computer for image processing to determine the grade of apples based on their size. A belt conveyor carries the apples and set them in appropriate place regards to their grade. As a final point, the wind spray valve is opened and the apple is pushed to the marked box. In order to evaluate the constructed system, 10 red and golden delicious apples of each grade were chosen and the completely randomized design test was conducted. The results demonstrated that the most time consumed related to image processing. Almost%85 of apples were properly oriented in the orientation unit and graded correctly. The overall system performance was appropriate, thus the system can be used to grade apples automatically.

The effect of drying behavior on drying rate and quality characteristics of potato slices in a vacuum- infrared drying system was studied. In this work, the effect of the infrared radiation powers (100, 150 and 200 W) and vacuum levels (20, 80, 140 mm [Hg] and atmosphere pressure) at different thickness (1, 2 and 3 mm) on drying rate, shrinkage percentage and rehydration capacity were investigated. From the study, it was concluded that IR power level has significant effects to processing time and drying rate.The processing time reduced,while drying rates were higher with increased in IR power. Drying rate curve of potato slices at initially time of drying because of surface moisture evaporation in the ascending phase and afterward due to the start of influence of water from within of material to surface descending phase occurs. Also shrinkage percentage increased with increase of sample thickness. In other words, shrinkage was decreased at different thickness with increase of infrared radiation power and vacuum level. It was found that the long period of drying and increase of sample thickness may have contributed to a decrease in rehydration capacity. However, rehydration capacity at temperature 100°C for 3 min was more than temperature 25°C in duration 12 min.