• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.739-759
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• 2016

The failure of civil engineering systems is a consequence of decision making under uncertain conditions. Generally, buried flexible pipes are designed for their transversal behavior to prevent from the important failure mode of buckling. However, the interaction effects between soil and pipe are neglected and the uncertainties in their properties are usually not considered in pipe design. In this regard, the present research paper evaluates the effects of these uncertainties on the uncertainty of the critical buckling hoop force of flexible pipes shallowly buried using the subgrade reaction theory (Winkler model) and First-Order Second-Moment (FOSM) method. The results show that the structural uncertainties of the studied pipes and those of the soil properties have a significant effect on the uncertainty of the critical buckling hoop force, and therefore taking into account these latter in the design of the shallowly flexible pipes for their buckling behavior is required.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.621-629
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• 2014

Malaria is one of the most widespread infectious diseases of tropical countries with an estimated 207 million cases globally. In India, there are endemic pockets of this disease, including Aligarh. Hundreds of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax cases with severe pathological conditions are recorded every year in this district. The aim of this study is to find out changes in liver enzymes and kidney markers. Specific diagnosis for P. falciparum and P. vivax was made by microscopic examination of Giemsa stained slides. Clinical symptoms were observed in both of these infections. Liver enzymes, such as AST, ALT, and ALP, and kidney function markers, such as creatinine and urea, were estimated by standard biochemical techniques. In Aligarh district, P. vivax, P. falciparum, and mixed infections were 64%, 34%, and 2%, respectively. In case of P. falciparum infection, the incidences of anemia, splenomegaly, renal failure, jaundice, and neurological sequelae were higher compared to those in P. vivax infection. Recrudescence and relapse rates were 18% and 20% in P. falciparum and P. vivax infections, respectively. Liver dysfunctions and renal failures were more common in P. falciparum patients, particularly in elderly patients. Artesunate derivatives must, therefore, be introduced for the treatment of P. falciparum as they resist to chloroquine as well as sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combinations.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.35-49
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• 2013

Research work on removal of fluoride from water, referred to as water defluoridation, has resulted into the development of a number of technologies over the years but they suffer from either cost or efficiency drawbacks. In this work, enhancement effects of phosphate and silicate on defluoridation of water by low-cost Plaster of Paris (calcined gypsum) were studied. To our knowledge, the influence of silicate on defluoridation was not reported. It was claimed, that the presence of some ions in the treated water samples, was decreasing the fluoride removal since these ions compete the fluoride ions on occupying the available adsorption sites, however, phosphate and silicate ions, from its sodium slats, have enhanced the fluoride % removal, hence, precipitation of calcium-fluoro compounds of these ions can be suggested. Percentage removal of $F^-$ by neat Plaster is 48%, the electrical conductance (EC) curve shows the typical curve of Plaster setting which begins at 20 min and finished at 30 min. The addition of phosphate and silicate ions enhances the removal of fluoride to high extent > 90%. Thermodynamics parameters showed spontaneous fluoride removal by neat Plaster and Plaster-silicate system. The percentage removal with time showed second-order reaction kinetics.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.111-125
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• 2020

The flow behavior of polymer melts within a slit die is an important consideration when designing a die geometry. The quality of the extruded polymer product can be determined through an evaluation of the flow homogeneity, wall shear rate and pressure drop across the central height of the die. However, mathematical formulations cannot fully determine the behavior of the flow due to the complex nature of fluid dynamics and the nonlinear physical properties of the polymer melts. This paper examines two slit die geometries in terms of outlet velocity uniformity, shear rate uniformity at the walls and pressure drop by using the licensed computational fluid dynamics package, Ansys POLYFLOW, based on the finite element method. The Carreau-Yasuda viscosity model was used for the rheological properties of the polypropylene. Comparative analysis of the simulation results will conclude that the modified die design performs better in all three aspects providing uniform exit velocity, uniform wall shear rates, and lower pressure drop.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.944-950
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• 1999

Hexavalent chromium (CrVI) was fed to one day old chicks of Gallus domesticus in the form of different concentrations (250 and 500 mg/kg feed) of potassium dichromate mixed with the feed, ad libitum, for 32 weeks. After 20 weeks of feeding, the total body weight was higher in the low dose (260 mg/kg (feed) group and lower in the high dose (500 mg/kg feed) group, as compared with the control chicks. After 32 weeks of feeding, however, the total body weight was significantly decreased in both the treated groups. Egg laying was enhanced. Fertility remained unaffected, whereas hatchability was considerably decreased after CrVI-treatment. The egg shell thickness increased significantly (13%). Cr was deposited in a dose dependent manner in the liver and lungs. Some structural derangements in liver were also noted in treated chicks. The results of this study i.e., rapid ageing, excessive Cr deposition, decreased hatchability and hepatotoxicity indicate toxic effects of CrVI.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.13
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• 2012

When medicine is unable to cure, and the end becomes imminent, or when the patient is tired of the side effects associated with chronic use of drugs, the search for alternative and new ways of healing is begun. Coincidentally, sometimes the alternative is the origin, as is the case for traditional Arab medicine and traditional American Indian healing. Traditional healing is the first healing that all people have used for 200,000 years, since the beginning of Homo sapiens. The sources and elements of traditional Arab medicine have been examined in books and by consulting with traditional Arab healers. Arabic medicine is a career combining both elements of science and philosophy based on religion and traditions, and includes a diversity of healing approaches: spiritual, physical, and using natural products. These approaches are discussed with emphasis on wet cupping (Alhijamah), a practice that is undergoing a revival nowadays in Arab countries. American Indian healing is a career based on religion, tradition, an innate healing gift and extensive training, both in a medical school setting and as an apprentice. Arabic healing approaches are compared to American Indian healing approaches.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2015

Thermostable enzymes derived from Thermotoga maritima have attracted worldwide interest for their potential industrial applications. Structural analysis and docking studies were preformed on T. maritima β-glucosidase enzyme with cellobiose and pNP-linked substrates. The 3D structure of the thermostable β-glucosidase was downloaded from the Protein Data Bank database. Substrates were downloaded from the PubCehm database and were minimized using MOE software. Docking of BglA and substrates was carried out using MOE software. After analyzing docked enzyme/substrate complexes, it was found that Glu residues were mainly involved in the reaction, and other important residues such as Asn, Ser, Tyr, Trp, and His were involved in hydrogen bonding with pNP-linked substrates. By determining the substrate recognition pattern, a more suitable β-glucosidase enzyme could be developed, enhancing its industrial potential.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 1997

High temperature materials used in the elevated temperature and corrosive atmosphere must have the good oxidation resistance and preserve their own mechanical properties simultaneously. For the oxidation resistance, it is very important to form a protective oxide scale such as $Al_2O_3$ or $Cr_2O_3$ on the substrate. However, the additions of protective oxide forming elements such as Cr and Al in the alloy to enhance its oxidation resistance are limited due to the deleterious effects on their mechanical properties. PECVD(P1asma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) coating processes were employed to improve the oxidation resistance at high temperature. Cr and/or A1 were coated on the substrates of Ni and Inconel 600 at various temperatures of 400, 500, $600^{\circ}C$ and at different conditions of specimen surfaces. Then, coated specimens were exposed to isothermal and cyclic oxidation conditions in air at 1000 and $1100^{\circ}C$. In order to enhance the adhesion between the substrate and coated layer, heat treatments of the coated specimens were conducted in a vacuum. At isothermal oxidation experiments, Al-coated Ni specimen showed better oxidation resistance than pure Ni. At cyclic oxidation experiments at $1000^{\circ}C$. Cr and Al-coated specimen showed better oxidation resistance. Cr-coated Inconel 600 had also showed better oxidation resistance due to Cr in the substrate. By PECVD coating process, oxidation resistance could be improved, but it was not improved as expected due to the weakness of the adhesion between the substrate and the coated layer.

• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.175-193
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• 2021

This study provides the first report of the presence of Coolia malayensis in the Mediterranean Sea, co-occurring with C. monotis. Isolated strains from the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia (South-eastern Mediterranean) were identified by morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis. Examination by light and scanning electron microscopy revealed no significant morphological differences between the Tunisian isolates and other geographically distant strains of C. monotis and C. malayensis. Phylogenetic trees based on ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and D1-D3/28S rDNA sequences showed that C. monotis strains clustered with others from the Mediterranean and Atlantic whereas the C. malayensis isolate branched with isolates from the Pacific and the Atlantic, therefore revealing no geographical trend among C. monotis and C. malayensis populations. Ultrastructural analyses by transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of numerous vesicles containing spirally coiled fibers in both C. malayensis and C. monotis cells, which we speculate to be involved in mucus production.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.63-73
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• 2021

This study investigates the key determinants of exchange rate (RER) misalignment for the period 1991 to 2020. The BEER technique has been used to estimate the degree of the equilibrium exchange rate. To explore the actual exchange rate misalignment and to assess the behavior of variables that are different in different regimes of undervaluation and overvaluation, the nonlinear technique of Markov regime-switching (MSM) was applied. The mean and variance of each regime are highly significant and show that undervaluation episodes have a low mean (116.139) and more volatility (1.229) while overvaluation episodes have a high mean (126.732) with less volatility (0.871). The findings show that MSM accurately identifies exchange rate misalignment in both regimes as separate incidents of overvaluation and undervaluation. Results further depict that misalignment of the RER is affected by terms of trade, net foreign assets, interest differential, government investment, and consumption decision. Results recommend that if policymakers want to use the exchange rate as a policy tool, they must first consider the drivers of the equilibrium exchange rate. As a result, any deliberate actions to address exchange rate misalignment must focus on the underlying fundamentals that drive the exchange rate.