Archives-June...  

The major sources for cracking in the bridge decks are the settlement cracking. As these cracks continued growth due to the factors effect on the durability of the structures such as chloride and sulfates attacks, corrosion if the reinforcement, freeze-thaw damage and others. So these cracks considered a very severe problem at the life time. The object of this paper is to assess the effect of pozzolanic materials on the settlement cracking of concrete. 85 mixes were cast to explore the aim of this research. The main variables were type of concrete (self-compacted concrete, normal concrete), type of supplementary materials (silica fume, fly ash). 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5% of silica fume as a replacement of cement content was used. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 % of fly ash as a replacement of cement content were used. The results clearly that the supplementary materials enhanced the micro-structure of the mixes by reducing the settlement cracking compared with the control mixes. Fly ash reduces the settlement cracks more than silica fume. Settlement cracking didn't observe for the self-compacting concrete mixes. Out of this research; decreasing the settlement cracks yield to get better the durability of the structures, eliminate the abrasion and corrosion of the reinforcement. This yield to decreases the cost needed for maintenance and increases the life time of the structures.

This study investigated the total quality management practices and competitiveness in Saudi Arabia contractors. The effectiveness of total quality management initiatives that result in sustainable competitive advantage and enhanced business performance have been a major subject of interest for business and academia. Total quality management is about continuous organisational success based on customer satisfaction and the contribution of all employees constantly working to enhance organisational processes, services, and products. Thus, a quantitative approach using the survey method was employed. With assistance from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, survey questionnaires were distributed to selected contractors from across five geographically diverse areas in Saudi Arabia. The collected data were analysed using correlation, multiple regressions. The key findings were the confirmation of significant relationships between all total quality management practices and competitiveness, significant relationships between total quality management practices and quality culture, and a positive relationship between total quality management practices and competitiveness. Furthermore, total quality management practices were found to be able to explain 36.6% of the variance in competitiveness while quality culture explained 12.5% of the variance in competitiveness.

Developing countries face increasing local demand for energy in rural areas, they also have both economic and environmental pressure on agricultural lands. The possibility of growing energy crops such as [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider] has the potential to enable some smallholder farmers, producers and processors to cope with these pressures. In this concern, A field experiment was carried out at a private farm in Manshyet El Gammal, Tamiah district, Fayum Governorate to study the effect of foliar application with tap water (control),  zinc (300 ppm Zn-EDTA), potassium (2.0% KNO₃) or ascorbic acid (200 ppm) on vegetative growth and some physiological aspects of Jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider] under three drip irrigation treatments ( irrigation every 3,5 and 7 days ( represent optimum, moderate and severe water stress. Increasing irrigation interval significantly decreased all the studied growth characters, as well as the content of potassium and zinc.  While it increased the content of chlorophyll a+b , proline, soluble carbohydrates as well as the value of succulence and osmotic potential. Foliar application with potassium, zinc or ascorbic acid positively affected all the growth and physiological criteria of the tested plants compared with (control treatment). Foliar application with potassium surpasses the other foliar application treatments especially by prolonging the irrigation interval period.

This paper is to examine the relationship between the KSE100 index and some of economic variables namely interest rate, inflation rate, CPI and foreign exchange rate. For analysis purpose secondary data were used for the period of 1991 to 2005. Multiple Regressions and Pearson,s correlation model were applied to the data to find the relationship between KSE100 index and macroeconomic variables. Model was good fit and was strong relationship between dependent and independent variables. The tests show that there is 83% variation in the stock prices by variation in independent variables. The results also suggest that the impact of independent variables is positive on KSE-100 index except interest rate.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including coronary arter disease, cerebrovascular events, rheumatic heart disease and arter diseases, remain the most common cause of death in the world. Changes in the regulation of vasoactive peptides in abnormal conditions, cardiovascular diseases; Endothelial dysfunction, which is the critical processes underlying vascular damage, results in vascular repair and inflammation. Studies with specific receptor antagonists; It will be very important to understand the physiological role of urotensin II and its receptor and to reveal its therapeutic potential. The aim of this study is to know the pathophysiological role of U-II following the development of UT receptor antagonists and to give an insight into the design of new drugs and to give a current perspective. The development of urotensin receptor antagonists may provide a useful diagnosis tool as well as a new treatment for cardiovascular diseases.

Epilepsy is a chronic condition that often begins in childhood and is characterized by the occurrence of spontaneous and recurrent epileptic seizures. The aim of our study is to identify the different etiologies of epilepsy in children and to highlight the importance of imaging in the etiological diagnosis, in the extension assessment and in the therapeutic management of epilepsy. Our study was carried out over a 5-year period from January 2014 and 2019, and involved 30 cases in the pediatric radiology department of the Rabat Children's Hospital. Seizures and loss of consciousness dominated the clinical picture. The etiological diagnosis in the majority of our series was based on CT scan and brain magnetic resonance imaging. The evolution under treatment was favourable for all our patients.

Enforcement of competition and consumer protection regime and ensuring fair competition and consumer interest in a free market economy depends, among others, upon the effectiveness of competition and consumer protection organ, which is responsible for enforcing. Existing studies reveal that establishment of competition and consumer protection authorities are the most effective way to implement competition and consumer protection law. Despite Ethiopia’s effort to legislate three times in a decade and improve the structure of competition and consumer protection authority, still, the competition and consumer protection legal regime have gaps that will negatively affect enforcement of competition and consumer protection law. This article mainly focuses on identifying authorities and institutional designs for consumer protection and competition, which have, in one way or another, the powers on competition and the consumer protection regime under Ethiopian trade competition and consumer protection laws. Moreover, it will assess and evaluate the autonomy and main functions of the existing enforcement organ of competition and consumer protection law based on the pertinent provisions of the current legislation of the country. Finally, the article ends up with a short conclusion and recommendations on the matters discussed under the main body of the article.

The physicochemical parameters of the Nypa fruticans ( Nypa palm) frond and petiole have been determined. The fibre dimensions determined were: fibre length, fibre diameter, cell wall thickness, lumen diameter, slenderness ratio, flexibility ratio and Runkel ratio. Chemical composition determined were lignin contents, cellulose contents and the ash contents. Soluble contents were also determined. Petiole contained more water soluble than the frond but the frond contained more 1% NaOH soluble. The solubles in 1:2 ethanol-benzene were of the same order for both samples. Soda pulps were produced at the pulping temperature of 120oC using 8% and 12% NaOH as cooking liquors at the pulping time of 30 and 60min. The pulps obtained were characterized by determining the pulp yield and residual Klason lignin. Pulp yield and residual Klason lignin decreased with increase in the concentration of the pulping liquor and the cooking time. These results obtained indicate that Nypa fruticans frond and petiole left as waste in Nigeria can be exploited for the production of commercial pulps for several industrial applications.

Though major earthquake of large magnitude has not occurred in Nigeria from previous records, however, the incessant earth tremor currently being experienced within the central northern Nigeria basement complex whose cause is yet to be ascertained calls for concern. Hence, the need for site seismological evaluation and characterization becomes paramount before putting up structures. The aim of this research therefore is to carry out a detail seismic survey of the site under investigation, and determine among other factors, the velocity distribution, the overburden thickness, depth to aquifer, depth to weathered and fresh basement, which will be used to infer and evaluate the nature of Geological Hazards, Seismic shaking hazard, surface fault rupture hazard, ground lurching, liquefaction Hazard, water inundation and shrink swell potential of near-surface soil of the site. The results of the investigation revealed that the seismic wave velocity registered a general increase of velocity with depth, with velocity range of 990 m/s to 3340 m/s. The velocity distribution gave an indication that the site is majorly characterized by hard rocks which are of low elevation thereby ruling out the possibility of landslide in the event of seismic shaking from a remote earthquake. The seismic survey did not detect any obvious fracture or fault that will constitute geological hazard by acting as pathway for contaminant to move into the underground water, or that could engender major earthquake that will cause surface fault rupture hazard. The investigation also reveals that the soil is not predominantly loose sand and the groundwater is restricted to isolated aquifers, therefore the structure sited within this site will not heave or lurch in the event of any shaking because, the possibility of soil liquefaction is ruled out. It was also observed that since the near surface material is not predominantly clay but laterite, therefore the swell potential of the near surface soil will be infinitesimally small. The geological hazard analysis have revealed that the site under investigation is not prone to any geological hazards that could be induced by earthquake, faults, elevation depth to aquifer, and nature of soil.

Experiential learning method (ELM) is more strategic and easy to implement activities for language learning. When experience is made the nucleus of the learning process, learning takes place automatically. It is also possible to make ELM a guiding star to show the destination of communication. Successful learning of language skills occurs through the process of experiential learning cycle. This method allows the learning transformation to take place within the learner without much enforcement from the teachers and allows the learners to naturally overcome the inhibition and actively participate in doing activities. This method also permits learner independency and getting familiarized with the learning methods. The learner’s personal experience becomes the point of initiation for learning experience. Familiarity of the context and the content chosen for the classroom activities, enable the learners to involve fully which, in turn, allows the learning possible. The present experiment was done with a group of 30 students from the second year under graduate course of an arts and science college situated in Thrissur, Kerala state.