A novel heuristic for the transportation problem: dhouib-matrix-tp1

The transportation problem is widely applied in the real world. This problem aims to minimize the total shipment cost from a number of sources to a number of destinations. This paper presents a new method named Dhouib-Matrix-TP1, which generates an initial basic feasible solution based on the standard deviation metric with a very reduced number of simple iterations. A comparative study is carried out in order to verify the performance of the proposed Dhouib-Matrix-TP1 heuristic.

Souhail dhouib

Role of human liver microsomes in in vitro metabolism of metamizole

Metamizole or Novalgin® is a widely used well tolerated analgesic drug which is however compromised by agranulocytosis as adverse effect. Subsequent to nonenzymatic hydrolysis, the primary metabolic step is N-demethylation of 4-methylaminoantipyrine (4-MAA) to 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AA). The aim of the present study was to identify the human cytochrome P-450 enzyme (CYP) mediating this reaction. This study identified the relevant CYP using virus expressed isolated human CYP, human liver microsomes and rat liver microsomes with chemical inhibition studies. The substrate of 4-methylaminantipyrine was employed at six different concentrations (25, 50, 100, 400, 800 and 1200 µmol per l) with varying concentrations of selective inhibitors of CYP1A2 (furafylline, fluvoxamine), CYP3A4 (ketoconazole), CYP2A6 (coumarin), CYP2D6 (quinidine), CYP2C19 (omeprazole, fluvoxamine, tranylcypromine), CYP2C9 (sulphaphenazole) and CYP1A1 (alpha-naphthoflavone). 4-MAA and 4-AA were analyzed by HPLC and enzyme kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax) were determined by regression (Sigma plot 9.0). The N-demethylation of 4-MAA by microsomes prepared from baculovirus expressing human CYP was pronounced with CYP2C19. Intrinsic clearance of the most active enzymes were 0.092, 0.027 and 0.026 for the CYP enzymes 2C19, 2D6 and 1A2, respectively. Metabolism by human liver microsomes was strongly inhibited by fluvoxamin, omeprazole and tranylcypromine (IC50 of 0.07, 0.07 and 0.18, respectively) but with coumarin, sulphaphenazole, ketoconazole, moclobemid, quinidine alpha-naphthoflavone and furafylline were 0.79, 1.20, 1.36, 1.44, 3.46, 4.68 and 8.41, respectively. The enzyme CYP2C19 apparently has an important role in N-demethylation of 4-methylaminoantipyrine which should be further analyzed in clinical studies and which may also be interesting concerning the agranulocytosis.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

Effect of occupational exposure on hematological and biochemical parameters in workers at oil and gas companies

Petroleum refineries are largest chemical industries that are responsible for emission of several pollutants into the atmosphere. Benzene and its metabolites are regarded as the most hazardous compounds that are emitted by petroleum refineries. These contribute to toxic oxidants, which cause many serious health risks to petroleum refineries workers. This study was aimed to analyze the effects of chemical exposure on hematological and biochemical parameters among workers at Zawia oil refinery and Mellituh oil and gas refinery companies. A total of 200 workers participated in this study which consisting of two equal groups (each group: n = 100). The first group consists of petroleum refineries workers and the second group consists of non-oil work civil servants serving were recruited as exposed and control subjects, respectively. The results of blood picture, liver enzymes and kidney functions were compared between the groups. Mean white blood cells counts, platelet counts, and hematocrit count were significantly higher, while the mean red blood cells count was insignificantly changed in petroleum refineries workers. While the mean hemoglobin and corpuscular hemoglobin concentration levels were significantly lower, whereas the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels were insignificantly changed in petrol refineries workers. Liver enzymes and renal functions were significantly higher in petrol refineries workers. The present findings indicate that occupational exposure to benzene causes significant alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters and workers are at high risk of developing blood, hepatic or renal related disorders. Protection and frequent medical attention should be given to petroleum refineries workers.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

Analgesic and antiemetic activities of ficus exasperata vahl., and cleome ciliata schmach and thonn

The present investigation is an attempt to evaluate the analgesic and antiemetic activities of Ficus exasperata and Cleome ciliata leaves methanolic extract by using the chick emesis model (oral treatment) and acetic acid-induced writhing test (intraperitoneal treatment) in mice, respectively. The antiemetic activity (150 mg/kg b.w., of extract) was carried out by using chlorpromazine (150mg/kg) as standard antiemetic drug. The analgesic activity (250 mg/kg b.w. of extract) was performed using aspirin (150mg/kg) as a standard analgesic drug. The results showed significant analgesic and antiemetic effects.

Dr. Salman Ahmed Dr. salman ahmed

Journal of chemical, biological and physical sciences

Banana (Musa spp.) are giant perennial grasses, commonly known as ‘Apple of paradise’.The chromosome counting of Elachi, Poovan and Nendran Banana traits were recorded. In average, a number of chromosomes recorded in Poovan (13.2), followed by Elachi with 11.1 chromosomes and Nendran with 10.9 chromosomes. There are various methods of determining banana ploidy level, one among is estimating stomatal density and size. The present investigation Elachi, Nendran and Poovan stomatal density range from 50 to 55/mm2 which are diploid, while Robusta ranges 34/mm2 which is triploid. Highest stomatal size recorded in Poovan traits (48 μm2) followed by Robusta (45 μm2), Nendran (28 μm2) and Elachi (21 μm2). Another method of ploidy determination is by chloroplast count in a guard cell of stomata. Elachi, Nendran, and Poovan contain 8 chloroplasts in the guard cell thus belongs to diploid. In the analysis of floral characters of all the four traits reveals that there is no significant difference in stigma length and width. Similarly, no significant variation recorded in anther length. Pollen size is often used as a biological parameter to estimate the ploidy and viability of mature pollen grains. Broad variation in pollen viability exists among clones with Musa species. Mycorrhizal association with the higher plants has also shown an increase in agricultural productivity. The percent colonization of AMF with the root system was calculated by two methods. Compare to Method – I and Method – II reveals that in Elachi 2.5%, Poovan 13.3% and 17.5% of variations recorded. Overall in the average highest percent of colonization were recorded in Poovan (76.6%).

Veerabhadraswamy AL Veerabhadraswamy al

Translanguaging and reading comprehension of filipino esl intermediate learners

This study investigated the connection between translanguaging and reading comprehension of Filipino ESL intermediate learners. The respondents were intermediate pupils enrolled in the selected central schools in Bicol, Philippines. The respondents' ages range from 8 to 12 years old, and 124 students (27.55%) were males while 326 students (72.44%) were females. The descriptive-correlational method was used in the study. The descriptive method was used to describe the reading performance of the ESL intermediate learners and their translanguaging factors, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to determine the relationship between the two variables. The primary instruments used were validated teacher-made reading comprehension test and translanguage factors survey questionnaire. Data disclosed that the general reading comprehension of the ESL intermediate learners along with vocabulary, drawing inferences, and getting the main idea, are very satisfactory. Meanwhile, the different translanguaging factors, along with personal, teacher, and social, were surveyed and identified in the study. The statistical test revealed that the reading comprehension of the respondents was significantly correlated with the identified translanguaging factors. Thus, it is recommended that teachers should promote group discussions and allow open interactions in the classroom. Teachers should allow the use of both the home language and English; employ translanguaging pedagogy in teaching reading; foster an understanding and acceptance of linguistic differences; promote multilingualism, and allow indigenous languages to be used in education to facilitate meaningful learning.

Darrel Ocampo Darrel ocampo

Computer fundamentals pdf

Computer as a revolution left no area of life untouched in the present world. It is of tremendous help in all field of life. Hence, the knowledge of computer is a necessity for existence of everybody in this global village. The invention of computer has transformed our simple manual works to sophisticated life of automated works to meet the global demand for the higher productivity and increased efficiency with high precision. Computer is increasingly becoming compulsory in nearly all fields of studies, not because of anything but its accuracy and versatility in processing data. Many tasks at home or office are being automated rapidly with computer. Thus it is becoming apparent that in whatever discipline or working sector, the computer is now a very vital tool for efficiency improvement and precision of job or task execution. This is designed to meet the prerequisite need of everybody that are interested and wish to know about computers science and computing in general. A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory. These instructions tell the achine what to do. The computer is capable of accepting data (input), processing data arithmetically and logically, producing output from the processing, and storing the results for future use. Most computers that sit on a desktop are called Personal Computers (PCs). The "computer" is an ensemble of different machines that you will be using to get your job done. A computer is primarily made of the Central Processing Unit (usually referred to as the computer), the monitor, the keyboard, and the mouse. Other pieces of hardware are commonly referred to as peripherals. In everyday life activities, we process data or encounter cases of data processing. A typical example of data processing is the generation of statement of student result from the marks score in an examination and continuous assessment. It is essential to know that information is as good as the data from which it is derived, and the transformation process which they are subjected to. Meaningless data or inappropriate processing produces wrong information. Thus computer gives you results corresponding to what data you supply and how you process it (i.e. ëgabbage- in, gabbage-outí) Summarily, the intelligent performance of a computer depends on correctness of input data and the intelligence performance of the human being that drives it.

Kamal Singh Kamal singh

Psychological predictors and mediators of subjective well-being in a sample of romanian teachers

The study examined psychological predictors and mediators of teacher subjective well-being. Participants included 174 teachers from urban middle and highschools. The first objective was to explore the psychological correlates of the teacher SWB: self-esteem, general self-efficacy (core self-evaluation), teacher self-efficacy, optimism (cognitive trait related to the psychological well-being), and perceived social support (psychosocial trait related to the psychological wellbeing. The second objective was to investigate the mediating role of self-efficacy in the association between optimism and subjective well-being. The third objective was to explore the mediating role of teacher self-efficacy in the relation between perceived social support and teacher subjective well-being. Correlation, linear regression and mediation model analyses through the Sobel test were computed. Results confirmed the research assumptions. The findings of this study enhance the understanding of personal factors associated with teacher subjective wellbeing. The constructs linked to subjective well-being (predictors and mediators) could be target of school psychologists’ interventions, in order to have more engaged and performing teachers in schools. The findings were discussed in the context of designing the interventions for enhancement of the subjective wellbeing among teachers.

Elena stănculescu

Effect of beetroot juice supplementation on the physical and biochemical profiles of induced metabolic syndrome in rat

Beetroot is vegetable containing phytochemical ingredients with potent antioxidant, hypoglycaemic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is key drivers in the pathophysiology of some metabolic syndromes. Its effect on the progress of induced metabolic syndrome has, however, hardly been investigated. Thus, this study aims to determine the effect of beetroot extract on various biophysical components of metabolic syndrome in rat. Following ethical approval, 50 Wister albino rats were used in this study and divided into three groups: Group A: rats were put on a high-fat-high-fructose (HFHF) diet; Group B: rats were put on an HFHF + fresh beetroot extract while group C: rats were the control group and were given a normal diet. The animals’ body weights and fasting blood sugar were taken fortnightly. Five rats from each group were then sacrificed at weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16 and the following parameters were measured: liver volume, fasting lipid profile, hepatic transaminases and blood platelet level. Compared to the HFHF group, beetroot supplementation resulted in a significant attenuation of overall weight gain (56.91% vs. 34.51%; p < 0> 0.05). Beetroot supplementation further ameliorated the thrombocytopenia caused by an HFHF. Beetroot juice supplementation attenuated the attendant effects of induced metabolic syndrome which might contribute towards averting the consequential cardiovascular sequel. Thus, lifestyle modification comprising beetroot intake as a dietary supplementation may alleviate metabolic syndrome and may offer a potential non-medical adjunct in the routine management of metabolic syndrome.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

The prospect of legal education: an india overview

Education in India is losing its relevance. This seems much more applicable to the situation in the present day of legal education. This essay aims to focus on two aspects of legal education. Whilst, on one hand, it aims to provide details of the existing legal education system on the other, it aims to drive more attention to the various improvements and developments that are needed. The essay firstly shall describe the existing legal education system. It shall analyze and assess the curricula that are available for the various undergraduate law degrees available in India. It aims to provide an understanding of the perceived distinctions between the three-year law degree and the five-year law degree. As a second aspect, the essay aims to explore options to further the quality of legal education in India by considering examples of various law schools or colleges of law across the world that have consistently proven themselves as a cut-above not legal education and research in their global scale. Also, from the learnings of the gaps in the curricula of the law degrees as discussed previously, the essay shall provide suggestions on the various plausible collaborations with foreign law schools and universities for the benefit of the Indian law schools and colleges of law. As a third and final aspect, as a measure to curb fake or bogus law schools or colleges of law within India and to enhance the employability of law graduates in India at par with those across the globe, the essay aims to provide suggestions applicable for the present-day legal education scenario.

Hari hara sudhan r

Open iot service platform technology with semantic web

This paper centers around how innovations adds to enhancing interoperability between IoT gadgets, and making effectively utilization of IoT gadgets. The proposed stage innovation gives semantic-based IoT data administrations, and semantic interoperability of IoT gadgets. This administration stage can be material to a great deal of semantic IoT administrations: gathering imperceptible data in genuine condition by brilliant gadgets, giving keen life benefits by sharing, taking an interest, circulating open detecting data.

Dr H Shaheen Dr h shaheen

Analysis of online purchase intention using scarcity and liking as the persuasion marketing strategies

Customers shopping behaviors have altered because of technological advancement and widespread of internet access. The rise in online sales presents both opportunities and challenges for many e-commerce companies. To successfully increase the customers’ purchase intention, it is important to implement persuasion marketing strategies especially in the online environment, together with other traditional marketing techniques available. The goal of this study is to determine which technique, between Scarcity Tactics and Liking Tactics, has more impact on customers’ Purchase Intention. Zalora Indonesia, as one of the leaders in fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle e-commerce, is chosen to be the research object. Scarcity Tactics and Liking Tactics are the independent variables used in this study, with customers’ Purchase Intention as the dependent variable. Quantitative method using a causal strategy, with an online questionnaire has been delivered to 120 Zalora Indonesia buyers. According to the findings of this research, customers who buy online have the tendency to do purchases when Zalora Indonesia uses Scarcity Tactics and Liking Tactics in its marketing approach. Scarcity Tactics, however, has more influence on online Purchase Intention, whereas Liking Tactics has a promising but insignificant impact. Both Scarcity Tactics and Liking Tactics show influences in customers’ Purchase Intention as much as 60.2%.

Lila Maria Kaban Lila maria kaban

Faculty’s conceptions of teaching introductory economics in higher education: a phenomenographic study in a south african context

In view of the on-going global debate about the economics curriculum and its teaching, this paper explores how the faculty responsible for teaching introductory economics at a South African university understand learning and teaching of their subject. We have adopted a qualitative research approach, phenomenography, to complement what we already know from mainstream literature on undergraduate economics education, predominantly published by academic econ- omists using a quantitative methodology. After a phenomenographic analysis of interview data with lecturers and tutors, six conceptions of teaching introductory economics (Economics 1) emerged: (I) team collaboration to implement the economics curriculum; (II) a thorough knowledge of the content; (III) implementing the curriculum in order for students to pass as- sessment; (IV) helping students learn key economics concepts and representations to facilitate learning; (V) engaging students through their real-life economics context to acquire economic knowledge; and (VI) helping students think like economists. These are discussed first in relation to the implications for student learning and second, in a broader context of higher education discourses and educational development

Dr Emmanuel Ojo Dr emmanuel ojo

Recent approches of" impurity profiling" in pharmaceutical analysis: a review

Impurity is something that is impure or makes something else impure. An impure substance may be defined as follows: a substance of interest mixed or impregnated with an extraneous or usually inferior substance, from the standpoint of its usage, the drug substance is compromised in terms of purity even if it contains another material with superior pharmacological or toxicological properties. The impurity may be developed either during formulation, or upon aging of both API’s and formulated API’s in medicines. The presence of these unwanted chemicals, even in small amount, may influence the efficacy and safety of the pharmaceutical products. The impurities are not necessarily always inferior. Highly sophisticated instrumentation, such as mass spectra meters attached to a Gas Chromatography or HPLC, are inevitable tools in the identification of minor components (drugs, impurities, degradation products, metabolites) in various matrices. Present article reveals different impurities found in the API’s, methods for identifying them and the possible measures to deal with the interferences caused by them in pharmaceutical analysis.

Prasanna Pradhan Prasanna pradhan

A review on globally used antiurolithiatic monoherbal formulations belonging to boraginaceae, brassicaceae, malvaceae and poaceae families

Urolithiasis is a common worldwide problem with high recurrence. This review covers thirteen (13) antiurolithiatic plants of the family Boraginaceae, twenty (20) from Brassicaceae, twenty-three (23) from Malvaceae and twenty-four (24) from Poaceae used globally in different countries. Hopefully, this review will be helpful for the general public and attract the scientific world for antiurolithiatic drug discovery.

Dr. Salman Ahmed Dr. salman ahmed

Phytochemical analysis and anti-emetic activity of illicium verum hook. f. fruit by chick emesis model

Emesis is defined as a forceful expulsion of stomach contents via the mouth. The adverse effects of available anti-emetic drugs potentiate us to evaluate natural products to explore effective natural anti-emetics with fewer side effects. The fruits of Illicium verum Hook. f. were selected for anti-emetic activity based on their folkloric use against gastrointestinal complaints. Crude methanolic extract and its aqueous, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and hexane fractions were evaluated using the copper sulphate-induced chick emesis model. Emesis was induced by the oral administration of copper sulfate 10 ml/kg body weight and metoclopramide (150 mg/kg p.o.) as a standard anti-emetic drug. The anti-emetic effect was observed by calculating the mean decrease in the number of retches compared to that of the control. Methanolic extract and its fractions were tested at 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg oral doses. Among all tested fractions, ethyl acetate showed the highest (94.46%), and hexane showed the lowest (56.30%) anti-emetic activity at 50 mg/kg. Further, isolation and purification from the same fractions are in process to discover effective natural anti-emetic compound(s) with less unwanted effects.

Dr. Salman Ahmed Dr. salman ahmed

Focus groups

A focus group is an investigative tool for social research based on a structured and focused discussion with a small group of people, run by a facilitator (moderator) to generate qualitative data through a set of open-ended questions. The focus group technique is a qualitative research methodology popularly used in social research in a wide range of sectors. A researcher uses a set of open-ended questions on a specific topic to generate qualitative data. The focus group is an efficient way of gathering data about particular opinions or attitudes by covering a large number of people in the same group. This entry explores the methodology and processes of focus groups as well as the analysis of data from focus group research.

Mukhles m. al-ababneh

Comparing machine learning classification models on a loan approval prediction dataset

In the last decade, we have observed the usage of artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning models in industry, education, healthcare, entertainment, and several other areas. In this paper, we focus on using machine learning algorithms in the loan approval process of financial institutions. First, we briefly review some prior research papers that dealt with loan approval predictions using machine learning models. Next, we analyze the loan approval prediction dataset we downloaded from Kaggle, which was used in this paper to compare several machine learning classification models. During this analysis, we observed that credit scores and loan terms are the attributes that probably most affect the result. Next, we divided the dataset into a training set (80%) and a test set (20%). We trained 27 various machine learning models in MATLAB. Three models were optimized with Bayesian optimization to find the best hyperparameters with minimum error. We used 5-fold cross-validation for the validations to prevent overfitting during the training. In the following step, we used the test set on trained models to measure the models' accuracy on unseen data. The result showed that the best accuracy both on validation and test data, more than 98%, was reached with neural networks and ensemble classification models.

Ladislav Végh Ladislav végh

Improving the performance of double-expansion chamber muffler using dielectric beads; optimization using factorial design

Purpose Noise pollution is a common health hazard worldwide which is emitted along with chemical air pollutants, simultaneously from many sources. Some studies have been conducted to control these pollutants, simultaneously with promising results being achieved. Dielectric beads have been used in air pollution control technologies, successfully and probable effectiveness of them in noise reduction can be promising in dual use of them in the exhausts emitting noise and air pollution, simultaneously. Methods In order to investigate the effectiveness of dielectric beads in noise reduction, two types of them; namely glass and ceramic beads, were placed separately inside the connecting tube of a double-expansion chamber muffler. Then the transmission loss (TL) of muffler was examined using impedance tube. A factorial design was used to evaluate and optimize the effect of noise related parameters on TL of such a system. Results Results show that the presence of dielectric beads has significant effect on TL of muffler. The maximum TL was obtained as 74.76 dB for muffler with ceramic beads, under the optimal condition of 5250 Hz and 120 dB. Measurement of TL and sound absorption coefficient (SAC) of glass and ceramic beads showed that the noise reduction in muffler with ceramic and glass beads is probably due to SAC in ceramic beads and noise reflections in glass beads, respectively. Conclusion These results promise the dual use of dielectric beads in the exhausts emitting noise and air pollution simultaneously.

Niloofar

. biological control of rhizobacteria against rice diseases caused by rhizoctonia solani (sheath blight) and sarocladium oryzae (sheath rot),

Sheath blight and Sheath rot of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani and Sarocladium oryzae is an economically important disease causing rigorous yield losses. Biological control of the disease using plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a potential substitute to the presently available chemical control methods. The present investigation was aimed to study the plant growth promoting (PGP) activity and antagonistic activity of two rhizobacteria Pseudomonas fluorescence and Rhizobium sp., isolated from rhizosphere area of rice, against two major rice pathogens. In the present work IAA (Indole acetic acid production) was found maximum amount in Pseudomonas fluorescence (30 mg / ml) and trace amount in Rhizobium sp. Maximum amount of Siderophore production was noticed in both isolates. Pseudomonas fluorescence showed positive result for the HCN production but Rhizobium sp., was found to be negative and both bacterial isolates solubilized phosphate in very effective manner. Both rhizobacteria were found to produce ammonia and catalase. The cross streak studies revealed that the complete inhibition of mycelia growth of Rhizotonia solani (85%) and partial inhibition of Sarocladium oryzae (45%) against two rhizobacteria. Antifungal compound extracted from both rhizobacteria were found to exhibit maximum antagonism against rice pathogens. This result concluded that both PGPR’s can be used as best bio-control agent against rice pathogens instead of hazards chemicals.

Dr. SARANYA DEVI K Dr. saranya devi k

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