Archives-May 2015

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were determined in twenty (20) pineapple and cocktail fruit juice of eight (8) brands collected from various markets in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Each brand was replicated thrice or twice based on diffrrent batch number. A survey was conducted to ascertain farmers view on organochlorine pesticides and pesticide/insecticide used during pineapple and mango production. Fruit juice samples were also analysed to investigate pesticide residue levels in them. Fruit juice samples were analysed by gas chromatography prepared with electron capture detector for organochlorines. Thirty (30) mango and twenty-five (25) pineapple farmers interviewed used pyrethroid based pesticides in controlling insect pest on their farm.Aldrin (0.007 ± 0.004 mg/kg), Dieldrin (0.001 ± 0.003 mg/kg), Endrin (0.0004 ± 0.001 mg/kg) cis heptachlor (0.000001 ± 0 mg/kg), Heptachlor (0.09 ± 0.088 mg/kg), trans heptachlor (0.0003 ± 0.001 mg/kg), trans_nonachlor (0.003 ± 0.004 mg/kg), alpha_HCH (0.002 ± 0.001 mg/kg), beta_HCH (0.000001 ± 0 mg/kg), delta_HCH (0.007 ± 0.008 mg/kg), gamma_HCH (0.003 ± 0.006 mg/kg), cis chlordane (0.000001±0 mg/kg), Hexachlorobenzene (0.0008 ± 0.001 mg/kg), o_p_DDD (0.00024 ± 0.001 mg/kg), p_p_DDD (0.005 ± 0.007 mg/kg) o_p_DDE (0.000001 ± 0 mg/kg), p_p_DDE (0.0006 ± 0.001 mg/kg), o_p_DDT (0.0009 ± 0.001 mg/kg), and p_p_DDT (0.0003 ± 0.001 mg/kg) were present in all the samples collected. The observations made on this studies, suggest that, effective regulations guiding the use of pesticides on fruits should be enforced and regular checks of pesticide residues in freshly consumed products.

The nutrient and anti- nutrient compositions of the raw and cooked species of Cucurbita maxima fruit consumed in the eastern part of Nigeria were determined. The proximate compositions of the fruit samples showed that the fruit was high in moisture (87.1±0.38%) but low in protein (1.87±0.1%), fat (0.8±0.62%) and carbohydrate (3.96±0.17%). The low fat and protein contents appear to be a common feature of the fruits of the Cucurbitacae family. The fruit of C. maxima sample was found to be poor in the mineral elements. However, it had higher values of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus but very low values of potassium and sodium. The compositions of the mineral elements were also reduced after boiling. The fruit sample had low values of vitamins A (42.39±1.05 mg/100g), E (14.25±0.18 mg/100g) and C (25.67±1.27 mg/100g). Vitamins A and E were not significantly affected by boiling. The fruit sample was found to be rich in some phytochemicals with established medicinal values as well as some anti-nutrients (tannins, HCN and oxalates). However, boiling which is a normal food preparation technique was found to be able to reduce these anti-nutrients to safe levels.

This essay has attempted to investigate the basic concerns and requirements of blind and visually impaired translators. Following such necessities, the major instruments and technologies designed to fulfil them have also been examined. The researcher has interviewed with two individuals poor in vision, one being a translator and the other having studied translation in the university. Each individual was asked six questions. Their responses to the researcher’s questions were examined to draw conclusions in order to answer the research questions. The most important concern of these translators is the Persian dimension of translation process. Their major requirements include such instruments as accessible computers, high-quality scanners, specific software capable of verbalizing such visual elements as tables, diagrams, figures, etc., accessible dictionaries and databases, and such issues as appropriate financial and occupational status.

The world population is composed of a large number of people heterogeneous in several dimensions such as age, gender, social class, educational level, political and economic status, abilities and disabilities, and so forth. The dimension of abilities and disabilities has led to formation of various groups of individuals including the group of blind people. Translation is one of the professions maintained by many blind individuals resulting in formation of such a sub-group as blind translators. Blind translators, like other translators, perform different translation-related tasks, one of which is ‘diagram translation’, the main focus of this paper. This essay investigates different aspects of diagram translation by blind people. Major ‘accommodations and assistive technologies’ used by blind individuals including screen-readers, speech synthesizers, OCR technology, and Braille devices are the primary points discussed. Basic computerized systems designed exclusively for the purpose of diagram translation by such individuals are the next points covered in this paper. A significant categorization of electronic accessibility devices (based on the media of representation through either haptic or audio) with major innovations in each category are other points mentioned here. The researcher indicates various strong and weak points of these applications and technologies and makes comparisons between them in order to suggest blind translators the best options in accordance with their aims and necessities.

In this study the temporal variations in field soil respiration were investigated over a two year period, together with laboratory soil respiration rates in a park grassland at University of Essex, UK. Field soil respiration was measured with portable environmental gas monitor, while laboratory soil respiration was by incubation and titrimetric methods. Field soil respiration varied over time of day, sites and seasons, with the summer months recording the highest respiratory activity (127.8 and 69.8 mmol m-2 h-1 over two years respectively) while the winter months recorded the lowest field soil respiration rates (27.2 and 29.8 mmol m-2 h-1 for the same periods respectively). Soil temperature and water filled pore spaces (WFPS) also varied seasonally with highest temperature and lowest WFPS recorded in the summer months. Field soil respiration was dependent on either soil temperature or WFPS in first year only. A multiple regression analysis also recorded a significant relation between field soil respiration, temperature and WFPS (R2 multiple = 0.5, FSR = 45.6 + 10.5T + 86.9 WFPS mmol CO2 m-2 h-1) for the two years. Laboratory measurements are vital for explaining the factors that influence C-fluxes in the field.

The optimized molecular structure and corresponding vibrational assignments of 2,4-Difluoroanisole (24DFA) have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP with 6-311+G** basis sets. The Fourier transform infrared and Fourier transform Raman spectra of title molecules were recorded. A detailed interpretation of the FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of 24DFA are reported on the basis of the calculated potential energy distribution. The theoretically calculated harmonic frequencies are scaled by common scale factor. The observed and the calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement. Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs) have been constructed at B3LYP/6-311+G** level to understand the electronic properties. The first hyperpolarizability (?0) of this noval molecular system and related properties (?, ?0, and ??) of 24DFA are calculated using B3LYP/6-311+G** method on the finite-field approach. Finally the calculations results were applied to simulated infrared and Raman spectra of the title compound which show good agreement with observed spectra. The chemical parameters were calculated from the HOMO and LUMO values. Electronic excitation energies, oscillator strength and nature of the respective excited states were calculated by the closed-shell singlet calculation method were also calculated for the molecule.

We are very happy to announce that from 30th April 2015, Dr.S.Ezhil Vendan has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Insect-Plant Interactions and Insect Pest Management. Dr.S.Ezhil Vendan currently working as Scientist Fellow, Food Protectants & Infestation Control, CSIR Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India. The appointment of Dr.S.Ezhil Vendan as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com.

We are very happy to announce that from 7th May 2015, Dr. Abhijit Ghosh has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Applied Chemistry. Dr. Abhijit Ghosh currently working as Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA. The appointment of Dr. Abhijit Ghosh as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. 

We are very happy to announce that from 11th May 2015, Dr. Semra Benzer has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Metal Accumulation and Hydrobiology. Dr. Semra Benzer currently working as Assist. Professor, Gazi Education Faculty, Gazi University, Science Education Yenimahalle Ankara, Turkey. The appointment of Dr. Semra Benzer as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. 

We are very happy to announce that from 12^th May 2015, Dr. Recep Benzer has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Computer Engineering and Information System. Dr. Recep Benzer currently working as Teaching Staff, Science Institute Forenscis Computer Engineering, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. The appointment of Dr. Recep Benzer as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal.