American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS)
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Women as Saviours of Men’s Faces in Four Selected Flora Nwapa’s Novels : Efuru, Idu, One is Enough, and Women are Different
Get PDFIn this article, the concern has been to investigate four selected novels by the Nigerian author Flora Nwap namely Efuru, Idu, One is Enough and Women are Different to find out whether men shy away from their marital duties as well as the social ones and women comply with men’s duties instead. The research has been carried out through reader-response approach. At the end of the research, it has been brought to light that eventually men do not comply with their duties be in marital and social fields such as paying bride price, providing their household with sufficient daily food, even providing for themseves and so on and women play men’s roles. 
Increase Microgrid\u27s Consumer Comfort by Using Fuzzy and Optimization Algorithms
Get PDFWhereas the most important fundamental factor for today’s human is energy and wasting energy leads to increasing costs and destruction of natural resources, it is attempted through using modern and electronic methods to optimize the energy consumption and preventing of wasting energy. According to technological advancements and level of knowledge of people and having different electronic means, it is applied from several methods including: wireless sensor networks at home automation, energy management system, BEMS system and intelligent electrical keys on building to respond the requirements of users that leads to comfort of users, reducing costs, optimization of energy consumption and prevention of wasting energy. In this article, it is benefit from intelligent control methods by using optimization algorithms (PSO & GA) and fuzzy logic for controlling energy of building in order to obtain the maximum welfare and comfort of inhabitants in a building using from new pneumatic and solar recyclable resources. In order to show this performance, it is benefit from simulation at MATLAB environment
Theoretical Studies of the Chemical Reactivity of a Series of Coumarin Derivatives by the Density Functional Theory
Get PDFThe global descriptors of reactivity such as HOMO and LUMO energies, chemical hardness, electrophilicity, softness and dipole moment are theoretically determined for five coumarin derivatives in this paper. The analysis of the determined descriptors allows us to classify the studied molecules according to their reactivities. Thus, compound M3 is qualified to be the most reactive and the least stable with 3.933 eV as its gap energy ?Egap. It is at the same time the softest, the best electron donor, the most electrophilic and the most polar molecule. The study of thermodynamic parameters shows that all the reactions of formation of studied coumarin derivatives are exothermic and spontaneous with less disorder. Furthermore, Hirschfield population analysis was carried out in order to locate the reactive sites, that are assumed to be the electrophilic and nucleophilic sites of the molecules. It appears that all the reactive sites are located on carbon atoms except those of molecule M3 which are located on oxygen atoms. Compounds M1 and M2 have the same electrophilic site (C15) and the same nucleophilic site (C13) thereby showing that the methyl group does not have any influence on the reactive site. The electrophilic site of the molecule M3 is located on both the identical oxygen atoms O33 and O34 while its nucleophilic site is located on the oxygen atoms O12. The electrophilic sites of compound M4 and M5 are the same and it is located on carbon atom(C11) while the nucleophilic site is located on carbon atom C23 for molecule M4. Concerning the nucleophilic sites of molecule M5 it is located on carbon atom C20. The difference nucleophilic reactive site may be due to the conjugation of activity of both fluorine atom and methyl group on the M5
Assessing the Relevance of Phonemic Awareness Activities in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning
Get PDFPhonemic awareness (PA) has been used primarily used to investigate children early reading comprehension and pronunciation skills and later on extended to second and foreign language vis-à-vis learners reading comprehension and pronunciation enhancement. Similarly, the current study uses PA activities based on Lee and VanPatten (2003) structured input activities model as an effective way to raise learners’ awareness of the English phonemes exposed to them in order to attend to them by efficiently identifying, representing, and manipulating them. The participants involved in this study are first year students from the Department of Anglophone studies who speak Moore as first language, French as intermediate language, and English as foreign language. Having difficulties identifying, representing, and manipulating English phonemes, this study aims at helping them via structured PA activities. Using the Mann Whitney Wilcoxon Test as a statistical treatment, the findings of this study prove the effectiveness of PA activities since the group that benefited from the intervention outperformed the control group that received no treatment with a P-value less than 0.05 as 0.0001<0.5. In this logic the median of the PA group is higher than the control group: 14.5>10 though it was approximatively the same before the treatment. Also, the Likert’s scales approach which is further used to correlate students’ reactions to the results of the experiment proves that almost all students appreciate the PA activities as relevant and beneficial. Therefore, structured PA activities should be recommended in foreign language teaching when phonology is involved (244 words).
 
Chia Biofortification With Lithium Sources Applied by Foliar Fertilization
No full textLithium (Li) is an element considered essential for humans, however, low concentrations in soil, water and food have caused low consumption by the world population. Consequently, fertilization via lithium leaf to increase its concentration in food employing biofortification is an alternative, given the growing health problems in the population caused by low intakes of this trace element. Thus, the objective was to evaluate doses and sources of lithium, applied by foliar fertilization in the development and productivity of chia, in the south of the state of Tocantins. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Tocantins, Campus de Gurupi, in the agricultural year 2016/17 in pots with 8dm3 containing a dystrophic red-yellow Latosol, with a clay texture, in a randomized block design, in a factorial scheme 5x2, with four replicates. The first factor was constituted by five doses (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 g ha-1) and the second factor by two sources of Li (lithium hydroxide - LiOH and lithium sulfate - Li2SO4). Two applications were carried out by foliar fertilization, the first at 75 and the second at 95 days after transplanting. At 120 days, the characteristics of plant height, the height of the upper stem, stem diameter, bunch length, number of bunches and after harvest (145 days), the weight of a thousand grains, grain yield and Li content were evaluated in the grains. The supply via Li leaf through LiOH and Li2SO4 sources promoted the biofortification of chia grains. The highest concentrations of Li in the grains were obtained with the application of 29.2 and 31.8 g ha-1 of LiOH and Li2SO4, respectively. The best responses in cluster length, thousand-grain mass, and pH were obtained using LiOH. Regardless of the source, doses of lithium above 35 g ha-1 promote a reduction in the morphological and agronomic characteristics evaluated in the culture of chia. 
Utilization of Healthcare Services by the Elderly Patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra
Get PDFObjective: The study assessed the association between predisposing, enabling and need factors on utilization of healthcare services by the elderly attending the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey using a mixed method approach. Simple random sampling was used to sample three hundred and sixty-one elderly patients from seven (7) Out-Patient Departments in the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital who responded to a structured questionnaire. Ordinal Logistic Regression was used to determine the association between the predisposing, enabling and need factors of the elderly and variables measuring utilization of healthcare. In the qualitative study, purposive and convenient samplings were used to select 76 elderly persons from the seven Out-Patient Departments of the hospital. Content analysis was used to analyze the voice recorded qualitative interview data and explained using an appropriate theory.
Quantitative findings: The elderly who obtained above secondary school education were 0.49 times less likely to rate accessibility of healthcare on a higher scale compared with the elderly with pre-secondary education (OR=0.49, 95% CL; 0.28-0.85, p=0.11). The elderly who were beneficiaries of NHI were 0.42 times less likely (OR=0.42, 95% CI; 0.18-0.97) to rate accessibility of healthcare services on a higher scale compared with the elderly who were non-beneficiaries (p=0.042).
The elderly with multiple chronic conditions were 1.56 times more likely to rate the cost of healthcare on a higher scale compared with the elderly with one chronic condition (OR=1.56, 95% CI=1.04-2.34, p=0.03).
Qualitative findings: The elderly persons described the waiting time as long and stressful. They developed swollen feet and bodily pains due to the long waiting time. They clarified that the diagnostic investigation, medication and consultation fees were expensive, leading to postponement of their subsequent visits and deterioration of their health.
Conclusion: Cost was a determining factor in utilizing healthcare. The study recommends that policy makers should include elderly persons from age 60 years to 69 years in the National Health Insurance exemption policy to enable the majority of them to utilize healthcare. Additionally, there is the need to review visits to the healthcare units to schedule time appointments to reduce the long and stressful waiting time
Introducing a Matrix and its Characteristics
Get PDFWhen we take only the real constants of a linear equation or a system of linear equations and make an array then it becomes a matrix. There are different types of matrix which is identified and defined based on the structure consisting elements in different ways and existing in different positions. This research paper will briefly discuss on a matrix different from other types of matrix described in various books and papers. Some important properties and characteristics of this matrix are included in this paper
A Numerical Assessment of Daylight Performance of Office Buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Introducing Light Shelves to Enhance Daylighting Quality
Get PDFDaylighting is one of the significant factors affecting the working environment in an office which is recognized as a vital source of energy savings. Occupants require proper daylight for desk jobs in their working spaces which largely depends on a set of internal and external aspects. This paper aims at analyzing the natural daylighting performance of the office buildings in Dhaka and providing a few design options concerning light shelves in order to enhance interior daylighting performance. A total of eleven commercial office buildings were selected in the survey based on a set of building parameters that has significant effects on daylighting. Among those selected buildings, one typical office building was further analyzed and simulated for a more detailed assessment of daylighting performance. Daylighting performance is assessed in terms of illuminance value concerning useful daylighting illuminance. The resultant data shows the inner office region lags in terms of illuminance value and is not very suitable for office works. Hence, light shelves were introduced as architectural design elements which were then simulated at different heights and angles to find out the optimum solution for daylighting enhancement which will save electrical lighting energy consumption
Evaluation of Cow Bone Ash (CBA) as Additives in Stabilization of Lateritic and Termitaria Soil
Get PDFContinual pavement distresses on Nigerian highways, as well as environmental contamination from abattoir solid wastes such cow-bones have been a major concern. This study examined the usage of additives in stabilizing weak soils and enhancing their geotechnical properties utilizing Cow Bone Ash (CBA) on lateritic and termitaria soils. The following engineering confirmatory tests were carried out on the samples: compaction test, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) test. CBA at 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% were added to the soil samples. The study revealed that for lateritic and termitaria soils, the maximum amount of CBA that would allow for an increase in soaked CBR value was at 6% and 8%, respectively, while for the unsoaked CBR, the peak values was obtained at 8%. Also, the addition of CBA increased the UCS of both soil samples. The addition of CBA resulted in decreasing optimum moisture content (OMC) for termitaria soils as its pore spaces are filled up by the CBA while for the lateritic soils, increase in CBA resulted in increased OMC values. Also, the addition of CBA to both soil samples resulted in an increase in maximum dry density (MDD) values. The study revealed that termitaria soils have higher strength than the lateritic soils due to higher cohesiveness within its pore structure, lower OMC, higher MDD, UCS, and CBR values. The study concludes that the use of CBA to a maximum of 8% as an additive in stabilization of lateritic and termitaria soils is effective and therefore recommends its use in light and medium trafficked roads
Development a Framework for Assessment of Water Security in Egypt
Get PDFWater Security is very urgent for sustainable development in Egypt. Growing population needs more food production, water for drinking, hygiene, and to respond to economic activities which rely on access to more water.The objective of this paper is to develop an operational and applicable framework for assessment of water security index for Egypt. The water security index for Egypt was calculated according to the methodology of the Asian Water Development Bank Outlook (AWDO) using 2020 data and it was found that the water security situation is below average and huge efforts are needed to enhance this indicator in order to meet the current water challenges. After applying AWDO methodology for assessment of water security and its five indicators, it was found that some of them are misleading and some are not applicable to Egypt. In this paper, a modification for the indicators will be proposed to be more relevant to Egypt and to be more practical. The modified framework and its new indicators have represented the situation in Egypt with the challenges of an arid and extremely variable climate. The modified water security index evaluation methodology is also used in light of the Egyptian local conditions in predicting the indicator Water security for 2030 based on the assumed expectations of three water shortage scenarios. These future scenarios helped draw a road map for the necessary measures needed to secure the water situation and thus economic growth