Archives-December  

Nutrients are considered as one of the most important parameters in the estuarine environment influencing growth, reproduction and metabolic activities of living beings. The results of an investigation carried out during March 2010 to August 2010 on physico-chemical and diversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton at the Manakkudy estuary (Southwest coast of India) were reported. Presence of Mangrove forest gives a helping hand in the maintenance of biodiversity and increase in fauna and flora of Manakkudy estuary (Brackishwater). Presently, 66 phytoplankton species representing different classes, viz., Bacillariophyceae (25); Chlorophyceae (18); Cyanophyceae (10); Dinophyceae (8) and Euglenophyceae (5) were recorded. Totally 93 species of zooplankton viz., Rotifera (42); Protozoa (24); Arthropoda (12); Cnidaria (11) and Annelida (4) were identified.

This Paper presents the parametric study for a four stroke single cylinder SI Engine using a dual fuel Gasoline and LPG as an alternative fuel for investigating the performance and emissions of SI Engine. The performance parameters brake power, torque, Bsfc, Bmep were examined with using AVL BOOST Software. In addition the exhaust emissions like NOX, CO & HC were also measured.SI engine fuelled by LPG has slightly decreased on power output as compared to Gasoline. However, engine fuelled by LPG reduce on specific fuel consumption (SFC). This study investigates the effect of dual fuel LPG with gasoline in a four-stroke spark ignited single cylinder SI Engine. The study was carried out at varying load for constant engine speed. The main objective of the parametric study is to investigate the effects of replacing individual petrol and LPG with their optimum mixture of dual fuel in a spark ignition engine, and to prove reduction in emissions.

Frequent pattern mining algorithms are designed to find commonly occurring sets in databases. This class of algorithms is typically very memory intensive, leading to prohibitive runtimes on large databases. A class of reconfigurable architectures has been recently developed that have shown promise in accelerating some data mining applications. In this paper, I propose a new architecture for frequent pattern mining based on a systolic tree structure. The goal of this architecture is to mimic the internal memory layout of the original pattern mining software algorithm while achieving a higher throughput. We provide a detailed analysis of the area and performance requirements of our systolic tree-based architecture, and show that our reconfigurable platform is faster than the original software algorithm for mining long frequent patterns.

This study had tried to assess the determinants of the food security of rural people of Malawi. The study was based on data collected from Malawi Third Integrated Household Survey (IHS3) in 2010/11. Since the objective variable is dichotomous type the study employ logistic regression model for analysis. There was consideration of different economic as well as societal factors to check that whether they significantly affect the dependent variable one or not. Based on the regression result eight of the regressors are significant in affecting probability of households to be food secured. Variables like education participation of households, sex of household head and age square positively affect the probability of being food secured. Other variables like cassava production, emergency of shocks, participation in off farm activities and age of household head affect probability of being food secured in the opposite direction as to the expectations. TLU and Land holding are insignificant in affecting the probability of rural households in order to be food secured.

This study focused on the production of fuel briquettes from wheat offal. The variables investigated are particle size and blending ratio. The wheat offal used was sourced from Maiduguri Flour Mill. The material was sieved into fine, medium and coarse particle sizes using 1mm and 2mm wire mesh. Each particle size was thoroughly mixed with gelatinous cassava starch in ratios; 90:10, 85:15, 80:20 and 75:25 by weight. The blended material was then hand-fed into a 3.11cm x 40.50cm cylindrical mould and compressed at a pressure of 10.76kg.cm-2. In order to have enough briquettes for material testing, each production was replicated 10 times. The physical properties; stability of the briquettes was evaluated as a function of compressed and relaxed density, relaxation ratio, moisture content while the combustion properties; %volatile matter, %ash content, %fixed carbon and heat value were evaluated for each production. The result shows that all the physical properties of the briquette were greatly influenced by particle size (p<0.001). In density, there is no significant effect of the binder level on the briquette produced but gives the highest result when medium particles size was used with the valued of 1.06g/cm3 and lowest in coarse particle 0.46g/cm3, binder level had no significant effect on briquette produced (p= 0.281).The EMC was best in medium particle size with the value 131.25% at 25% binder level with the value 135.63%, EMC was significantly affected by binder level. Volatile matter was not influenced by particle size and binder level at (p=0.581) and (p=0.980) respectively but has better performance in medium particle size of 4.30% at 15% with the value of 4.14%. Ash content was not significantly influenced by particle size at (p=0.0069) but significantly influenced by binder level at (p<0.002) and was preferable in medium particles of 2.40% at 10% binder level with the value 2.08%. Fixed carbon was not influenced by particle size at (p=0.150), also better in medium particle of 93.84% at 20% binder level with value 94.01%, while Heat value was influenced by particle size and binder level at( p=0.005)and (p=0.0021) respectively, highest with medium particles of 33.52mj/kg at 20% level of binder with the value 33.59mj/kg. It was observed that better and combustible briquette can be obtained from medium particles of wheat offal at low binder ratio.

Strategic supply chain partnership is a collaborative coalition of two or more firms in a market to facilitate joint efforts collaborations in one or more core values. Many different stakeholders are involved in health care supply chain practices. Therefore, the application of supply chain management practices in a health care setting is almost by definition related to organizational aspects like building relationships, allocating authorities and responsibilities, and organizing interface processes. The performance of most public health facilities in supply chain management has been wanting. The study therefore sought to establish effect of strategic partnership on organizational performance. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The target population was 3500 employees in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Purposive sampling was used to select employees in the procurement department that gave a sample size of 133 respondents. Questionnaires was used to collect data. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v 21.0). The study established that the organization maintains good relationship with suppliers and distributors, collaborates with suppliers in coming up with specification, involves major suppliers in their planning and collaborates with major suppliers in implementing business activities. Strategic partnership has significant effect on organizational performance. The study recommended that the organizations should explore other avenues that they can benefit on strategic partnership with the suppliers.

Instant yam (pre-gelatinized) flour was made from different yam species by varying steaming methods and time. Diced cubes were steamed in autoclave for 5 min and Barlet steamer at for 10, 20 and 30 min. Raw and pre-gelatinized cubes were dried and milled. Pasting properties of flour and sensory analysis of reconstituted dough were determined. Pasting properties of samples steamed for 5 min in autoclave were close to those steamed for 20 min in Barlet steamer, which were not significantly (p<0.05) different from those steamed for 30 min. Pre-gelatinized D. dumetorum flour could serve as thickening agent in instant food products. Its cultivation should be encouraged for industrial application.

This work was aimed to prepare four non ionic surfactants based on tolyl triazole (I, II, III and IV), and evaluate their efficiency as corrosion inhibitors for X – 65 type carbon steel in deep oil well formation using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and weight loss measurements. The experimental results showed that these inhibitors revealed a very good corrosion inhibition even at low concentrations. It was found that, the adsorption ability of the surfactant molecules on carbon steel surface increased with the increase of both ethylene oxide units and molecular size. Critical micelle concentration (cmc) represents the key factor for the selected surfactants. Potentiodynamic polarization curves indicate that the inhibitors under investigation act as mixed type i.e., promoting retardation of both anodic and cathodic discharge reactions. Also, EIS data showed that both (I %) and charge transfer resistance (Rt) are increased where as electrochemical double layer resistance (Cdl) is decreased. Finally, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X- rays analysis (EDX) were used to study the nature of the protected film formed on carbon surface.

Emotional intelligence is a different way of being smart. It includes knowing what your feelings are and using your feelings to make good decisions in life. It’s being able to manage distressing moods well and control impulses. It’s being motivated and remaining hopeful and optimistic when you have setbacks in working toward goals. It’s empathy; knowing what the people around you are feeling. And it’s social skill—getting along well with other people, managing emotions in relationships, being able to persuade or lead others. Emotional intelligence was popularized in 1995 when psychologist Daniel Goleman wrote his book, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Emotional, or social intelligence, involves at least five types of skills: 1- Self-awareness is a person’s ability to understand and be aware of their feelings and moods. Self-awareness helps a person keep an eye on their thoughts and emotions so they can better understand why they feel a particular way. 2- Managing emotions This skill helps people display their emotions in socially appropriate ways. It helps one control anger, sadness, and fear. 3- Motivation helps a person use their emotions to reach their goals. It helps them hold back their impulses and delay gratification to reach these goals. 4- Empathy is the ability to understand how a person feels. It is different from feeling sorry for someone. It is feeling like “walking in their shoes.” 5- Social skills are dealing with others in social situations. It is the ability to carry on a conversation and deal with other’s emotions. It is being socially competent.

It is increasingly being recognised that entrepreneurship education is essential not only for individuals but also for the success of entire nations. It has been said that India is the land of entrepreneurs and business lies in the blood of majority of Indians, but still what have we as Indians gained? Undoubtedly Rolls Royce for a lucky few but no food & housing for all! That’s where the true growth lies! Even after 60 years of independence we have not been able to eradicate Poverty, Illiteracy, unemployment and various other social evils, a possible answer to all the above stated evils can be effective Entrepreneurship