Self-compacting concrete (SCC) incorporating secondary raw materials has been extensively used around the globe due to its improved fresh, mechanical and durability properties. This study was planned to evaluate the suitability of locally... more
Self-compacting concrete (SCC) incorporating secondary raw materials has been extensively used around the globe due to its improved fresh, mechanical and durability properties. This study was planned to evaluate the suitability of locally available waste alumina powder (AP) and nylon textile fibers (NF) as a partial replacement for fine and coarse aggregates with the ultimate goal to locally produce SCC with desired properties. The used AP was acquired from a local market and NF was collected from a local textile factory. Various dosages of AP (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% by volume of fine aggregates) and NF (1% and 2% by volume of coarse aggregates) were studied. Tests including slump flow, V-funnel and J-ring tests were performed for examining the fresh properties of developed SCC. Results showed that the addition of AP has an insignificant effect on the superplasticizer dosage for maintaining a constant flow of 70 cm. However, a higher dosage of superplasticizer was required for a...
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This study assessed suitable smart grid areas for power generation and distribution from solar and small hydro energy resources in Western Uganda by employing the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) based on geographic information... more
This study assessed suitable smart grid areas for power generation and distribution from solar and small hydro energy resources in Western Uganda by employing the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) based on geographic information system (GIS) data. This was performed based on the selected economic, environmental, and technical criteria by the authors guided by the experts’ judgements in the weighing process. The main criteria also included various sub-criteria. The sub-criteria of the economic criterion included distance from transmission lines, topography, and distance to roads. The environmental sub-criteria covered land use, sensitive areas, and protected areas. The technical sub-criteria were on distance from demand centers, available potential energy resources (solar and hydro), and climate (rainfall and sunshine). The weights of the main criteria and the sub-criteria were calculated by using the fuzzy AHP. These weights were then used in the GIS environment to determine bo...
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The quantitative attribution of changes in streamflow to climate change (CC) and land cover change (LCC) for the Yangtze River Source Region (YRSR), China, was assessed. We used a combination of the SWAT model along with the statistical... more
The quantitative attribution of changes in streamflow to climate change (CC) and land cover change (LCC) for the Yangtze River Source Region (YRSR), China, was assessed. We used a combination of the SWAT model along with the statistical technique one factor at a time (OFAT) and innovative trend analysis (ITA) to achieve the study objectives. The climate and hydrology data from 1961 to 2016 and land-cover maps of 5 years’ difference from 1985 to 2015 were used. The model was calibrated (1964–1989) using a land-cover map of 1985 and validated for 1990–2016. This validated model was further validated for all other land-cover maps used in this study. The SWAT model simulation showed that streamflow had been significantly influenced by CC compared to LCC using land-cover maps of 1985–1990, 1990–1995. However, the SWAT model simulations did not result in further changes in streamflow for land cover maps of 2000–2005, 2005–2010, and 2010–2015 because there have not been any significant cha...
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Wind energy is one of the most promising renewable energy technologies worldwide; however, assessing potential sites for wind energy exploitation is a challenging task. This study presents a site suitability analysis to develop a... more
Wind energy is one of the most promising renewable energy technologies worldwide; however, assessing potential sites for wind energy exploitation is a challenging task. This study presents a site suitability analysis to develop a small–scale wind farm in south–eastern Thailand. To this aim, the most recent available data from 2017 to 2019, recorded near the surface, at nine weather stations of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) were acquired. The analysis was conducted using standard wind–industry software WAsP. It was found that the mountain peaks and ridges are highly suitable for small–scale wind farm development. Nevertheless, the wind data analysis indicates that regions fall in low–to–moderate wind classes. The selected sites in south–eastern Thailand have mean wind speeds ranging from 5.1 m/s to 9.4 m/s. Moreover, annual energy production (AEP) of 102 MWh to 311 MWh could be generated using an Enercon E–18 wind turbine with a rated power of 80-kW at the hub height of 28...
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Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in various aspects of plant growth and development, including fruit development and ripening, seed dormancy, and involvement in response to various environmental stresses. In almost all higher... more
Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in various aspects of plant growth and development, including fruit development and ripening, seed dormancy, and involvement in response to various environmental stresses. In almost all higher plants, ABA signal transduction requires three core components; namely, PYR/PYL/RCAR ABA receptors (PYLs), type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs), and class III SNF-1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2s). The exploration of these three core components is not comprehensive in soybean. This study identified the GmPYL-PP2C-SnRK2s gene family members by using the JGI Phytozome and NCBI database. The gene family composition, conservation, gene structure, evolutionary relationship, cis-acting elements of promoter regions, and its coding protein domains were analyzed. In the entire genome of the soybean, there are 21 PYLs, 36 PP2Cs, and 21 SnRK2s genes; further, by phylogenetic and conservation analysis, 21 PYLs genes are classified into 3 groups, 36 PP2Cs genes ar...
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The headwaters of the Yangtze River are located on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, which is affected by climate change. Here, treamflow trends for Tuotuohe and Zhimenda sub-basins and relations to temperature and precipitation trends during... more
The headwaters of the Yangtze River are located on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, which is affected by climate change. Here, treamflow trends for Tuotuohe and Zhimenda sub-basins and relations to temperature and precipitation trends during 1961–2015 were investigated. The modified Mann–Kendall trend test, Pettitt test, wavelet analysis, and multivariate correlation analysis was deployed for this purpose. The temperature and precipitation significantly increased for each sub-basin, and the temperature increase was more significant in Tuotuohe sub-basin as compared to the Zhimenda sub-basin. A statistically significant periodicity of 2–4 years was observed for both sub-basins in different time spans. Higher flow periodicities for Tuotuohe and Zhimenda sub-basin were found after 1991 and 2004, respectively, which indicates that these are the change years of trends in streamflows. The influence of temperature on streamflow is more substantial in Tuotuohe sub-basin, which will ultimately i...
Research Interests: Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Climate Change, Water, and 15 moreWater resources, Multidisciplinary, Wavelet, Hydropower, Streamflow, Periodicity, Trend Analysis, Precipitation, Water Science and Technology, DDC, Snowmelt, Mann Kendall, Aquatic science, Surface Runoff, and Drainage basin
Urbanization has made tremendous contributions to China’s economic development since its economic reforms and opening up. At the same time, population agglomeration has aggravated environmental pollution and posed serious challenges to... more
Urbanization has made tremendous contributions to China’s economic development since its economic reforms and opening up. At the same time, population agglomeration has aggravated environmental pollution and posed serious challenges to China’s environment. This article empirically investigates the impacts of China’s urbanization on eco-efficiency, comprehensively reflecting economic growth, resource input, and waste discharge. We first measured the provincial eco-efficiency in China from 2005 to 2015 using the Super Slack-Based model (Super-SBM). We then constructed a spatial model to empirically analyze the effects of urbanization on eco-efficiency at the national level, and at four regional levels. The results indicated that the regional eco-efficiency in China has fluctuated, but is generally improving, and that a gap between regions was evident, with a trend toward further gap expansion. We observed an effect of spatial spillover in eco-efficiency, which was significant and posi...
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Abiotic stresses affect the plant growth in different ways and at different developmental stages that reduce the crop yields. The increasing world population continually demands more crop yields; therefore it is important to use low-cost... more
Abiotic stresses affect the plant growth in different ways and at different developmental stages that reduce the crop yields. The increasing world population continually demands more crop yields; therefore it is important to use low-cost technologies against abiotic stresses to increase crop productivity. Soil microorganisms survive in the soil associated with plants in extreme condition. It was demonstrated that these beneficial microorganisms promote plant growth and development under various stresses. The soil microbes interact with the plant through rhizospheric or endophytic association and promote the plant growth through different processes such as nutrients mobilization, disease suppression, and hormone secretions. The microorganisms colonized in the rhizospheric region and imparted the abiotic stress tolerance by producing 1-aminocyclopropane-1- carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, antioxidant, and volatile compounds, inducing the accumulation of osmolytes, production of exopolysac...
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The experiments in an open-channel flume with modeled vegetated weir-like structures have been used to understand how the flow is affected by them. Laser Doppler velocimeter measurements of the water flow velocities over trapezoidal... more
The experiments in an open-channel flume with modeled vegetated weir-like structures have been used to understand how the flow is affected by them. Laser Doppler velocimeter measurements of the water flow velocities over trapezoidal vegetated and non-vegetated weir-like structures (dike, groyne) have been made. The measurements extended to a distance of 20 weir heights downstream of the weir crest, it also included the flow separation zone behind the weir crest. The Reynolds's number was of the order of 10 4 in the flume, and imperfect flow conditions with Froude number<0.4 above the weir crest were considered. Two discharge values were considered in the experimental work. A comparison between the flow characteristics of vegetated and non vegetated weir-like structure was made. The variables investigated included longitudinal and vertical velocity components. Reynolds shearing stresses have also been investigated. The measured mean and turbulent velocities provided more detai...
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In many flood plains summer dikes, access roads and spur dikes (groins) are present and these obstacles are generally submerged during floods (high water stages). Often these elevated parts are covered with vegetation. The same holds for... more
In many flood plains summer dikes, access roads and spur dikes (groins) are present and these obstacles are generally submerged during floods (high water stages). Often these elevated parts are covered with vegetation. The same holds for the groins, which are perpendicular to the main channel and mostly vegetated. These vegetated dikes and groins produce high resistance to flow, so it causes flood level rise in the rivers. Hydraulic roughness of these features is difficult to estimate. Computer models (1D and 2D flow models) should be improved with respect to representation of vegetation resistance. The resistance to flow due to vegetation has been studied extensively, but the combined effect of submerged vegetated dikes and groins has not yet been studied in depth. Moreover proper description and interpretation of the combined losses is lacking, so the objective of this study is to estimate and parameterize the form drag due to vegetated weir- like obstacles. Experimental study has...
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In this article, the authors emphasize the value of proper understanding of the nature of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in order to reach the right diagnosis based on clinical symptoms and signs. The authors review the literature and... more
In this article, the authors emphasize the value of proper understanding of the nature of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in order to reach the right diagnosis based on clinical symptoms and signs. The authors review the literature and provide information regarding epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis, diagnosis, and features of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures as they compare to epileptic seizures. The authors make suggestions for treatment and provide a clinical diagnostic tool that can aid clinicians in identifying a psychogenic nonepileptic seizure episode.
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The purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between working capital management strategies of a firm and its profitability. We also make an attempt to understand the impact of the global macroeconomic conditions on this... more
The purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between working capital management strategies of a firm and its profitability. We also make an attempt to understand the impact of the global macroeconomic conditions on this relationship. We apply correlation analysis and fixed effects estimation on our sample of Indian manufacturing companies. Cash conversion cycle has been utilized as a measure of the working capital management, whereas gross operating profit is used as a proxy for a firm’s profitability. Furthermore, interactive dummies are utilized to investigate the impact of global macroeconomic conditions on the relationship under consideration. The results reveal that cash conversion cycle of a company has a negative correlation with its profitability. Our results also suggest that managers can improve the performance by decreasing the number of days receivables and increasing the number of days payables. Furthermore, our outcomes demonstrate that the working capital strategies should be formulated taking global macroeconomic conditions into consideration. The findings highlight the importance of efficient working capital management practices to improve the profitability of companies.
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This thesis is submitted in the partial satisfaction of degree requirement, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering with Emphasis on Telecommunications at Department of Computing at Blekinge Institute of Technology Sweden. ... 1.... more
This thesis is submitted in the partial satisfaction of degree requirement, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering with Emphasis on Telecommunications at Department of Computing at Blekinge Institute of Technology Sweden. ... 1. Sajjad Ali E-mail: Sajj_ali2003@yahoo.com
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Poly (sodium acrylate) supporting NaOH (NaOH/NaPAA) was prepared by in situ polymerization of aqueous solution of acrylic acid with an over-neutralization by adding excess of NaOH. NaOH/NaPAA presented a promising selectivity for water... more
Poly (sodium acrylate) supporting NaOH (NaOH/NaPAA) was prepared by in situ polymerization of aqueous solution of acrylic acid with an over-neutralization by adding excess of NaOH. NaOH/NaPAA presented a promising selectivity for water absorbency and good water retention with negligible swelling capacity in the organic solvents of methanol, glycerol, rubber seed oil methyl esters, and rubber seed oil. NaOH/NaPAA catalysts showed a basic strength of 15.0<H_<18.4 and their basicity increased with the increase of the NaOH loading amount. NaOH/NaPAA catalysts exhibited almost the same catalytic activity in the transesterification of rubber seed oil with methanol under the optimized reaction conditions compared to conventional homogeneous NaOH catalyst. Furthermore, the functional absorbent/catalyst system presented a good water resistance in the transesterification which retained high catalytic activity when a water concentration in the reaction system was less than 2wt.%.
Research Interests: Chemistry, Catalysis, Medicine, Nuclear Chemistry, Multidisciplinary, and 12 moreNatural rubber, Methanol, Biodiesel Production, In Situ Polymerization, Transesterification, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylic Acid, Aqueous Solution, Catalytic Activity, Methyl Ester, Bioresource technology, and water retention
Pectate lyases harness anti beta-elimination chemistry to cleave the alpha-1,4 linkage in the homogalacturonan region of plant cell wall pectin. We have studied the binding of five pectic oligosaccharides to Bacillus subtilis pectate... more
Pectate lyases harness anti beta-elimination chemistry to cleave the alpha-1,4 linkage in the homogalacturonan region of plant cell wall pectin. We have studied the binding of five pectic oligosaccharides to Bacillus subtilis pectate lyase in crystals of the inactive enzyme in which the catalytic base is substituted with alanine (R279A). We discover that the three central subsites (-1, +1, and +2) have a profound preference for galacturonate but that the distal subsites can accommodate methylated galacturonate. It is reasonable to assume therefore that pectate lyase can cleave pectin with three consecutive galacturonate residues. The enzyme in the absence of substrate binds a single calcium ion, and we show that two additional calcium ions bind between enzyme and substrate carboxylates occupying the +1 subsite in the Michaelis complex. The substrate binds less intimately to the enzyme in a complex made with a catalytic base in place but in the absence of the calcium ions and an adjacent lysine. In this complex, the catalytic base is correctly positioned to abstract the C5 proton, but there are no calcium ions binding the carboxylate at the +1 subsite. It is clear, therefore, that the catalytic calcium ions and adjacent lysine promote catalysis by acidifying the alpha-proton, facilitating its abstraction by the base. There is also clear evidence that binding distorts the relaxed 2(1) or 3(1) helical conformation of the oligosaccharides in the region of the scissile bond.
Research Interests: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Catalysis, Medicine, Macromolecular X-Ray Crystallography, and 12 moreStereochemistry, Enzyme, Bacillus subtilis, Substrate Specificity, Protein Conformation, Pectin, Pectins, Pectate Lyase, Biochemistry and cell biology, Oligosaccharides, binding sites, and Medical biochemistry and metabolomics
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Short‐term, fixed‐line surveys using mist‐nets and visual censuses were made of bird populations on five plots in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Plots included two segments of moderately‐disturbed hill forest, a remnant patch of... more
Short‐term, fixed‐line surveys using mist‐nets and visual censuses were made of bird populations on five plots in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Plots included two segments of moderately‐disturbed hill forest, a remnant patch of humid ravine forest surrounded by young coffee, a mature coffee plantation with remnant natural forest overstory, and a sub‐mature teak monoculture. Species‐number and diversity (H') were measured to be highest in the two hill forest plots. Equitability was highest in the Teak plot. Population numbers were highest in one of the forest plots and the Coffee plot. ‘Over‐dominance’ by tramp species was exhibited in the Coffee plot, in which the three most common bird species (two bulbuls and a white‐eye) comprised more than half of the individuals censused. All censuses were dominated by non‐forest and forest‐edge species; few raptors and species larger than 100 g were recorded in censuses. The patch of Ravine Forest was species‐poor and yet supported ...