Open Science Journal (OSJ)
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Estimating the Value of Time and Its Application
Get PDFValues of travel time are essential factors in the design of transport infrastructure. The value of time is used in transport models to monetize travel time related to the socio-economic background of travelers. This paper assesses the estimation of the value of time based on questionnaires distributed to travelers in a preference survey. The mode choice approach is employed to estimate these values dependent on vehicle classes for weekdays and at the weekend. Two of the main conclusions using the mode choice approach are that the value of time for private vehicle users is approximately 1.5 times the value of time for public transport users; and the value of travel time on the weekday is twice that of the weekend. This indicates that public transport passengers have more travel time savings than when they use other modes. Another method, the income approach, arrives at similar values of time as that estimated by the mode choice approach. The willingness to use public transport in weekdays is increasing. As a consequence, public transport should be operated at a higher frequency
Selection of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP), and CHP Generation Compared to Buying of Electrical Power from the National Grid and Separate Thermal Heat Production
Get PDFIn this work, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is critically discussed and its application analytically compared with alternative energy source.CHP efficiency was first compared with the conventional generation and realised that, for equivalent heat and power production, CHP exhibits a higher efficiency than conventional generation. For example, energy input of 215J and 170J for Conventional generation and CHP respectively produces equal amounts of heat and power with CHP having efficiency of 76.5% which is 16.5% more efficient than the conventional type with 60%. Factors influencing the choice of a CHP plant such as financial considerations, Environmental and Compliance considerations, Site Specific considerations and Technical parameters Considerations are vastly discussed. Since the choice of a CHP and its application depends on the type of the prime mover, different types of the CHPs and their applications were then discussed to understand their working principles and the choice of the fuel used. Two typical case scenarios were analytically compared to look into the most economical way of acquiring heat and power for a plant. Cogeneration (A) was compared with buying of electrical power from the national grid and at the same time producing thermal energy in the plant using natural gas fired boiler(B). From cost analysis of the case scenarios, it is confirmed that cogeneration (A) is the most economical aspect compared to alternative B. Finally, the advantages and the disadvantages of a CHP are explored.
Economic Status and Maternal Health: Analysis of the 2013-14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey
Get PDFWith the current high maternal mortality rates prevailing in Zambia, it is imperative to analyze the effect that the economic status of women has on maternal health outcomes. It is hypothesized that wealth is positively linked to better health outcomes. As a result, maternal health outcomes will improve when the economic status of women improve. Using data for women from the 2013-14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to ascertain the impact of wealth as a proxy for economic status and other variables based on five independent outcomes (Number of antenatal care visits, timing of first antenatal care visit, tetanus toxoid vaccination, iron tablet/syrup uptake, and place of delivery) and a composite measure of maternal health. The results revealed that women’s wealth and region were the only significant factor associated with all the five independent indicators and the composite measure of maternal health. However, for the composite measure, literacy and age of the mother were also found to be associated with maternal health. The study therefore concluded that economic status is an important factor in improving maternal health outcomes in Zambia. As a result, policy should be aimed at providing support to women within the lowest wealth quintiles so as to enable them access maternal health services
Prevalence and Clinical Presentations of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Sudanese patients with Heart Failure.
Get PDFBackgroundIdiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease of undefined cause that commonly presents as congestive cardiac failure. The etiology of weakness of the heart muscle is often unknown, but many causal factors had been identified. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical presentations of dilated cardiomyopathy in Sudanese patients with heart failure.MethodA prospective hospital-based observational study was undertaken during the period of January to April 2007 in two teaching hospitals namely Academy Charity Teaching Hospital and Shaab Teaching Hospital. All patients diagnosed by the physician to have heart failure were included in the study after their well informed consent and the consent of their treating physician. A standardized questionnaire developed by the researcher was used to collect data on patients socio-demographic characteristics, results of clinical, laboratory and radiography exams. All data were analyzed through the Statistical package for Social Sciences. Significance testing of difference between proportions was conducted using the Chi-square test were applicable, adjusted by Pearson's or Fisher's exact test, depending on the number of observations, with a value corresponding to p <0.05 for significance unless otherwise.ResultsOf the 72 patients in the study, 53.0% were males and 47.0% were females. The prevalence of DCM was found to be 43.1% (31 out of 72 heart failure patients). The prevalence was higher in males than females with a prevalence of respectively 47.4% and 38.2%. There was no significant difference in gender distribution of DCM (p=0.4). DCM affected older age with a mean age of 55.4 years (SEM=2.5). Palpitations, severe grade of dyspnea (grade 3 and 4), raised jugular venous pressure and cardiomegaly were the most frequent clinical presentations. The mean ejection fraction in DCM was found to be 36.7 (SEM=1.4).ConclusionContrary to common belief among clinicians in Sudan DCM is one of the commonest causes of heart failure. Its prevalence called up a best practice among clinicians, in particular those practicing in emergency units
The Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Center’s (OAPGRC) Science Café: A Success Story”
Get PDFScience Cafés are held in many towns and cities across the world for the promotion of scientific culture and the understanding of our daily lives, which we live in. They provide a platform for interaction and dialogue between scientists, researchers, businesses and the community on trends towards current scientific issues the extent of their impact on culture and society. The Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Center (OAPGRC) Science Cafe is a forum for the discussion of important and interesting scientific topics and issues. Since May 2013 to December 2015, OAPGRC has held a series of science café sessions on topics related to biodiversity, food security, climate change, pollution and sustainable use. The OAPGRC science café is the first in Oman to be put on the international map of scientific cafes around the world. Reviewing the data on the outcomes and performance of these sessions indicates that the session attendance and active participation was 51% by men and 49% women. This is an exceptional case where the interest is almost equal between the genders. As for the age group, the highest percentage 49% was of a class of young people aged between 18-25 years. Followed by the age group (26-35 years) which was 30%. The lowest percentage was 21% for the age group of above 35 years. The experience of the science café in Oman has been proved as a major success for both the scientific and social aspects. Therefore there are different plans to maintained and develop it in the near future
Identity politics and national integration in Nigeria
Get PDFThe aim of the paper is to examine the impact of identity politics on national integration in Nigeria. This paper relies on secondary sources of data, and contends that identity politics can create the necessary awareness and actions needed to redress the inequities promoted by the structural imbalance of the Nigerian State. The redress of the inequities can be a stabilizing force necessary for the actualization of national integration in Nigeria. On the other hand, it argues that identity politics can also be a divisive factor which can seriously threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria and make our quest for integration illusory. Also, the paper is of the view that national integration can be achieved when identity politics is guided by certain objective conditions expressed in democracy. Therefore, it recommends that there should be an internalization and demonstration of the democratic culture in everyday life of Nigerians.
Type of Music on the Growth and Laying Performance, Behavior and Marketability of Quails
Get PDFA study was conducted to determine how different type of music influences the performance, egg quality, behavior and economics of raising Japanese quails. A total of 165 sexed day-old chicks was randomly assigned to five treatments and replicated three times with eleven quails (10 females and 1 male) per replication and was conducted from August to November, 2016. All data were subjected to ANOVA following the CRD and differences between treatments were subjected to Tukey’s Test. Analysis revealed that quails exposed with random music showed highly significant (p<0.05) final body weight, compared to quails provided with metallic, reggae and quails that was not provided with any kind of music but is similar with quails exposed with classical music. Quails exposed to random, metallic and reggae music had significantly higher (p<0.05) % hen-day production and are more efficient in converting feeds into dozen of eggs. Quails exposed to random and classical music had significantly higher (p<0.05) egg white weight, fertility and hatchability rate and had thicker shell. However, results revealed comparable egg yolk weight and yolk color regardless of types of music. Results showed that quails exposed with reggae music significantly improved eating habit and are less aggressive compared to quails provided with metallic music and quails not subjected with any kind of music but are comparable with the eating habit and aggressiveness of quails exposed with random and classical music while provision of different type of music did not trigger chirping and feather pecking among Japanese quails. The EFPR, net income and ROI of quails subjected to random and classical music was significantly higher. These results implies that provision of random and classical music increases egg production and improved FCR that consequently increases profit than the normal management practices in quails reared without any exposure to music
The Policy and the Strategy of the Provision of Bicycle Lane in East Java, Indonesia
Get PDFUnderstanding the characteristics of the cyclists and stakeholders’ preferences towards the provision of bicycle lanes is the first step for sustainable transportation. The Government support for providing bicycle lanes can increase the number of cyclists, thus reducing the noise and air pollution, and providing safety, discipline and smooth traffic. Therefore, is required a study of a policy strategy about the provision of bicycle lanes. The aim of this study is to obtain a policy for handling the provision of bicycle lanes based on internal and external factors by considering the preferences of cyclists, road users and stakeholders. Data was collected by interviewing all stakeholders, i.e. the staffs from the City Government of the city of Malang, Jember, and Surabaya and the Department of Public Work Bina Marga of East Java. The analytical method used is SWOT Internal Factor Evaluation-External Factor Evaluation (SWOT IFE-EFE).Analysis of matrix of external and internal factors for the provision of bicycle lanes explains that positions of the current condition and the future condition are in the cell V (2.451; 2.493) and in the cell I (3.338; 3.135) respectively. The position of the cell V and the cell I indicates that the provision of bicycle lanes under development is a position of grow and develop.The development strategy can be applied through vertical integration thus all the strategic elements of government and stakeholders are able to jointly reformulate the strategy, starting from the preparation of legal protection for the provision of bicycle lanes in the neighborhood (“RT/RW”) of sub-district. The city authority is expected to reinforce the operational implementation. Meanwhile, the preference weight towards the provision of bicycle lanes of road users and stakeholders is 83.7%. Herewith the provision of dedicated bicycle lanes is required
Economic and monetary consequences of Lebanese National debt
Get PDFThe Lebanese financial condition is miserable. The national debt to GDP is increasing to horrible levels, and the deficits in government is increasing and expected to increase in the subsequent years, the government spending is increasing without any deterrent in the time the revenues to the government are decreasing, the inflation rates are increasing and the economic growth is decreasing. The fallouts of these conditions have direct effect on Lebanese pound and threaten its value. With all the assures from Lebanese central bank governor and the financial officers, a prudent man can sense the risk that is coming on the Lebanese pound and never believe that the Lebanese pound will stay forever the mountain that never lean with wind. Lebanon must take rapid corrective actions to save the country and its currency from a disaster that would howl.Corrective actions of economic, financial, political, and direct reforms must be studied and activate it directly before the zero time comes and remorse will not benefit
Centrally acting antihypertensive agent Ketanserin potential role in delirium management: A review.
Get PDFAbstract:Delirium is a psychiatric disorder that is well known for being a clinical challenge due to its complex pathophysiology and the wide range of risk factors associated with it. Up to this date, no medical agent is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of delirium; despite the fact that, a number of clinical guidelines and protocols have recommended the use of some drugs in the management of delirium. Delirium risk factors; predisposing, hospital and acute underlying disease factors, are considered critical points in understanding delirium mechanism. Furthermore, several pathophysiological hypotheses; neurotransmitters imbalance hypothesis, inflammatory hypothesis and structural defects hypothesis, were introduced to explain delirium pathogenesis. Nevertheless, the current evidence is mainly based on and validates the neurotransmitters imbalance theory, since neurotransmitters form the molecular basis of the central nervous system and can be affected by any change occurs in the brain normal conditions. Moreover, pharmacological options introduced as delirium therapies with relative efficacy are mainly based on the neurotransmitters imbalance theory. Ketanserin is a centrally acting antihypertensive agent that has been in the market for over 30 years from now; thus, safety profile is well established. Ketanserin special and unique mechanism of action by inhibiting a wide range of central nervous system receptors; serotonergic (5-HT1D, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C, 5-HT6), dopaminergic (D1, D2) and adrenergic (α1, α2) receptors, theoretically seems to match with the pathophysiological hypothesis of neurotransmitters imbalance. Moreover, ketanserin might also serve as an empirical therapy for delirium, when the cause of delirium; other than the underlying medical condition, is not determined and an immediate intervention is needed. As it antagonizes almost all the receptors thought to be associated with delirium. Nevertheless, up to this point, it is still a theoretical assumption about the potential role of ketanserin as a pharmacological option in delirium management that needs further investigations to confirm its efficacy.