The Journal of American Science
ISSN 1545-1003
Volume 6, Issue 3, Cumulated
No. 24, March 1, 2010
Cover
Page, Introduction, Contents, Call
for Papers, All
papers in one file
All
comments are welcome: editor@americanscience.org
Welcome to send your
manuscript(s) to: americansciencej@gmail.com.
CONTENTS
No.
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1
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Composting of Some Dangerous and Toxic Weeds Using Eisenia foetida
Avnish Chauhan* and Joshi PC
Department of Zoology and Environment
Science, Gurkula
Kangri University, Hardwar,
Uttaranchal 249404, India.
*Corresponding author: avnishchauhan_in@yahoo.com
Abstract: The experiments were conducted to
obtain compost from some toxic weeds by using vermicomposting
and conventional methods. The weeds used in the experiment were
congress grass (Parthenium
hysterophorus Linn.), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
and bhang (Cannabis
sativa Linn.). Total six sets of
experiments were setup by using above materials. Three of them
were test experiments and rests were control experiments. In
all the test experiment 50 worms were introduced. The results
show a high increase in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and a
high decrease in organic carbon, C/N, C/P ratio in the
experiment having Eisenia
foetida. The otherwise toxic weeds used in this experiment
are thus converted into compost with higher concentration of
nutrients. [Journal
of American Science 2010;6(3):1-6]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Parthenium hysterophorus L., Eichhornia crassipes,
Cannabis sativa L., Eisenia foetida, cow dung.
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2
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Soil and Water Conservation in Kenya-Operations, Achievements
and Challenges of the National Agriculture and Livestock
Extension Programme (NALEP)
Titus Wambua Mutisya1*,
Luo Zejiao1 and Nenkari Juma2
1School
of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)
Lumo Road 388, Wuhan City, 430074
Hubei Province, P.R. China
2 Department
of Livestock Production, Ministry of Livestock Development.
Republic of Kenya
tmutisya2003@yahoo.com;
mutisya2003@gmail.com
Abstract:
This
paper gives an historical analysis of the soil and water
conservation activities in Kenya, introduces the national soil
and water conservation project and then gives an insight in to
the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme
(NALEP), which was designed after several previous projects
failed to address the sustainability of such development
projects leading to progressive decline in soil fertility and
agricultural output. The achievements and challenges faced
while implementing the programme activities are also discussed.
The general project information was gathered from the various
policy documents, programme documents and workshop reports
while the achievements and challenges were drawn as a result of
the involvement of two of the authors in the programme
activities in 45 focal areas that have been implementing it
since inception. The strong stakeholder involvement in all the stages of
project development is the basis of the anticipated
sustainability. The synergy between the key stakeholders is
necessary for a sustainable development programme. Activities
which involved the farmers, Government staff, and other
development partners were found to be more successful than
those that involved only one institution. NALEP framework is
worth being replicated in any development project in the
country. Scaling-up and replication of the success cases is
recommended to improve the general household food security,
economic empowerment and environmental conservation. This is the first paper analyzing
the soil and water conservation, NALEP and its sustainability
measures. The stakeholders could use the information to improve
the programme. [Journal
of American Science 2010;6(3):7-15]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Key words: Soil and water conservation, NALEP,
sustainability, stakeholders
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3
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Helminth
Parasites of some Freshwater Fish from River Niger
at Illushi, Edo State,
Nigeria
Onyedineke,
Nkechi Esther1; Obi, Uchechukwu2;
Ofoegbu, Pearl Ugochi1 and Ukogo, Ifeoma1
1Department of Biology, Federal University
of Technology,
Owerri, Nigeria.
2Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli
University,
Ekpoma, Nigeria.
nonyedineke@yahoo.com
Abstract: Although there are some reports on
parasites of fish at different locations on River Niger,
there had been no report for Illushi. Parasitological
investigation of 71 fish samples belonging to 14 genera from
river Niger
at Illushi showed a 60.6% prevalence infection and an infection
rate of 59.15%. The gills, stomach and sometimes muscles were
infected; no parasites were found infecting the liver and eye
lens. Nematodes, acanthocephalans, trematodes and cestodes were
recovered in decreasing order of abundance. Proteocephalus
sp. was found in Ctenopoma kingsleye and was the only
parasite infecting Tilapia galilaeus. Diphyllobothrium
sp. was only found in the stomach and gills of Chrysichthys
nigrodigitatus. Paramphistomum sp. was the only trematode
found in the gills of examined fishes. Bucephalus sp was
only found in Synodontis eupterus and Distichodus
engycephalus. Acanthocephalans were represented by Pomporhynchus,
Quadrigidae and Neoechinorhynchus. Neoechinorhynchus
was found only on the intestine of Lates niloticus.
Parasites were more prevalent in fish of10 – 30cm
standard length. There
was no specific trend in parasite prevalence in S. eupterus,
S. clarias, C. nigrodigitatus and C. kingsleye as
regards the weight classes. The study showed the intestine as
the preferred organ for infection, no infection was noticed in
the oesophagus. [Journal of American Science 2010;6(3):16-21].
(ISSN: 1545-1003).
Key words: helminth parasites, prevalence,
freshwater fish, River Niger
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4
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STRUCTURAL AND OPTICAL
CHARACTERIZATION OF SPRAY DEPOSITED SnS THIN FILM
B.G. Jeyaprakash1*, R.
Ashok kumar2, K.Kesavan2, A. Amalarani1
1.
Department of Physics, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College of
Engineering and Technology
Thanjavur -613 403, TamilNadu, India
2. Department of Physics,
PRIST University, Thanjavur – 614 904, Tamilnadu, India
*Corresponding author email: bgjpabr@yahoo.co.in
Abstract: Tin sulfide thin films were prepared
on glass substrate by home built microcontroller based spray
pyrolysis unit. X-ray diffraction confirmed the nanocrystalline
SnS phase formation with preferential orientation along (111)
plane. The intensity of XRD peaks increases with the increase
of substrate temperature which implies better crystallinity
takes place at higher temperature. Scanning electron micrograph
of the film revealed the manifestation of nano SnS with size
lying in the range of 31 -49nm as the function of substrate
temperature. VIS-NIR spectrophotometric measurement showed high
transparency of about 87% in the wavelength range 600-1100nm
with a direct allowed bandgap lying in the range of 1.30
– 1.40eV as substrate temperature increases. [Journal of American Science
2010;6(3):22-26]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Key words: Tin sulfide, thin film, spray
pyrolysis
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5
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Performance of an Otto engine with
volumetric efficiency
Rahim Ebrahimi
Department of Agriculture
Machine Mechanics, Shahrekord University, P.O. Box 115,
Shahrekord, Iran
Rahim.Ebrahimi@gmail.com
Abstract: In this paper,
the performance of an Otto engine is evaluated under variable
volumetric efficiency. Finite-time thermodynamics is used to
derive the relations between power output and thermal
efficiency at different compression ratio and volumetric
efficiency for an air-standard Otto cycle. The effect of the
volumetric efficiency on the irreversible cycle performance is
significant. It was found that the effect of volumetric
efficiency on the cycle performance is obvious, and they should
be considered in practice cycle analysis. The conclusions of
this investigation are of importance when considering the
designs of actual Otto engines. [Journal of American Science
2010;6(3):27-31]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Volumetric efficiency;
Irreversibility; Analysis; Performance; Otto cycle
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6
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Regeneration and Plant Diversity of
Natural and Planted Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.F.)
Forests in the Terai – Bhabhar of Sohagibarwa Wildlife
Sanctuary, India
D.S. Chauhan, Bhupendra Singh, Shashi
Chauhan, C.S. Dhanai & N.P. Todaria
Department of Forestry, Post Box No.
59, H. N. B Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal)
–246174, Uttarakhand, India
Email: dschauhan2008@gmail.com;
nptfd@yahoo.com
Abstract. We compared regeneration,
tree diversity and floristic diversity of natural and planted
tropical deciduous Sal (Shorea robusta) forest in
Northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Species richness (105 and
95 species in natural and planted forests respectively) as well
as species evenness was higher in natural forests than in
planted forests. Natural forests also had higher mature tree,
pole, sapling, and seedling densities compared to planted
forest sites. In spite of differences in diversity, natural and
planted forests did not differ significantly in species
composition and 84 species occurred on both forests. Natural
and planted forests did differ in soil moisture%, organic
carbon%, available Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and soil pH.
Dominant families in both forests types are Fabaceae (14
species), Mimosaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae (7 species
each) followed by Verbenaceae and Caesalpiniaceae. Tree species
dominated the flora (63 %). Of the 196 species found in both
sites, 49% species showed good reproductive success, 40%
species appeared poor and no seedling & sapling stages. The
remaining 11% species were present as seedlings but not as
adult individuals. Good quality timber species are not regenerating,
with the exception of Shorea robusta, although mortality
at seedling stages of this species is high. Our results suggest
that the species richness and evenness differed between natural
and planted forests and regeneration of some important tree
species also varied from natural to planted forests due to
differences in microclimate and soil characteristics. Moreover,
the good reproductive success of both types of forests
indicates the potential of forestry plantations in tropical
deciduous forests. This study will help in the formation of
effective forest management and conservation strategies.
[Journal of American Science 2010;6(3):32-45]. (ISSN:
1545-1003).
Key words. Shorea
robusta, diversity, regeneration, natural forest, planted
forest and density.
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7
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Microstrip Rectangular Patch Antenna
Printed on LiTi Ferrite with Perpendicular DC Magnetic Biasing
Naveen Kumar Saxena1,* (IEEE
Student Member), Nitendar Kumar2 and
P.K.S. Pourush1
1.
Microwave Lab, Department of Physics, Agra College Agra 282002
(U.P) India.
Nav3091@rediffmail.com,
ppourush@yahoo.co.in
2.
Solid State Physics Laboratory, Timarpur, Delhi 110007 India. Nitendar@rediffmail.com
Abstract: Characterization of a tunable &
switchable microstrip rectangular patch antenna printed on
synthesized LiTi ferrite substrate with a normal magnetic bias
field is presented. In this paper the concept of switching and
tuning are described by magnetostatic and spin waves
phenomenon. The DC magnetic biasing generate these both type of
waves which response a number of novel magnetic and electrical
characteristics including switchable and polarized radiations
from a microstrip antenna. In such a case of substituted
polycrystalline ferrite antenna due to the DC biasing, most of
the power will be converted into mechanical waves and little
radiates into air. Under such condition the antenna become
switch off, in the sense of effectively absence as radiator.
The preparation of ferrite by the solid state reaction
technique is also précised with the short description of
electric and magnetic properties. [Journal
of American Science 2010;6(3):46-51]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Substituted ferrite, microstrip patch antenna,
magnetostatic waves, spin waves, X-band frequency range.
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8
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Vitamin E and Curcumin Intervention on
Lipid-Peroxidation and Antioxidant Defense System ِ
1Ali Reza Amani, 2Muhammad Nazrul Hakim
Abdullah, 3Mohd Majid B Konting, 4Kok
Lian Yee
1,4 Department of
Sport Science, Faculty of educational Studies, University Putra
Malaysia
2 Department of Biomedical Science,
Faculty of Health and Medical, University Putra Malaysia
3Department of Foundations of Education, Faculty of
educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia
¹Alireza.daryasar@gmail.com
Abstract: The generation of free radical
species may represent the negative aspect of exercise. There
are a lot of data which have been shown an association between
exercise and the increased free radical formation. Living
cellular damage may lead human towards hasty aging and variant
cancers. It is widely agreed that with increasing
consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreased intake of
unsaturated fat and moderate exercise will enhance fitness and
improved cardiovascular health of the population in most of the
developed and near-developed countries. Vitamin E and Curcumin
have been known as a strong Antioxidant for prevent of the
lipid peroxidation and improve the antioxidant defense system.
Curcumin is a phenolic compound presented as a strong
anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic property,
widely used in Indian medicine and culinary traditions. Recent
investigation has shown that curcumin prevents lipid
peroxidation and DNA strand breakage. This review have been
shown the effect of the curcumin and vitamin E supplement on
the lippid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system specify
during the exercise. [Journal of American Science
2010;6(3):52-62]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Vitamin E, Curcumin, Exercise,
Antioxidant, Lipid-Proxidation, Free radical
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9
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The
African Debt Dilemma: An Overview of Magnitude, Causes, Effects
and Policy Options
Maleshoane Lekomola
College of International Business and Management; Shanghai
University; Baoshan District, Shang Da Rd #99, Z Building, Room
Z1-312, Shanghai 200444, PRC, Cell: +8613764357204 or
+26658704048 , Tel: +86-21-66131401, Fax: +86-21-66134536
lekomolas@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract:
This paper attempts to highlight the African debt dilemma. It
tries to highlight empirically, the magnitude, causes and
effects of African indebtedness that has grown several times
between 1997 and 2007. It identifies factors responsible for
African’s debt to include excessive budget deficits, economic
mismanagement, rising real interest rates in industrialized
world, global oil shocks and commercial banks’ lending practices
of the 1970s. The paper concludes with some policy
recommendations that are likely to help reduce Africa’s huge
external debt and its impacts on development; therefore,
Africa’s debt problem should be a joint effort by all
participants. [Journal of American Science 2010;6(3):63-69].
(ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords:
External debt, debt poverty, economic growth and basic transfer |
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10
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Regional Development Disparities in
Malaysia
Mohammad Sharif Krimi, Zulkornain
Yusop, Law Siong Hook
Department of Economics, Faculty of
Economics and Management, University Putra Malaysia,
Serdang 43400, Malaysia. sharifkarimi@yahoo.com
Abstract: Achieving balanced regional
development will remain as one of the key objectives of
national development during the development Plans in Malaysia.
Therefore this paper analyses regional disparities amongst
major states in Malaysia to find out gap and rank of regional
development during two development plan (Seventh and Eighth plan).
The paper proposes a new methodology that includes TOPSIS
(Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal
Solution) and Shannon entropy for first time in terms of
ranking in this field. The empirical results indicate that in
terms of regional balance, little progress was made in reducing
development gaps between regions during two plans and Wilayah
Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur was the most developed region in 2000
and 2005. On the other hand, Sabah was the least developed
region in same period. [Journal of American Science 2010;
6(3):70-78]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: TOPSIS,
Shannon Entropy, Regional Development, Malaysia
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11
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Effect of Combined Cocoa Pod Ash and
NPK Fertilizer on Soil Properties, Nutrient Uptake and Yield of
Maize (Zea mays)
Dr. Ayeni, L.S. (Ph.D Soil Fertility)
University of Agriculture, Department
of Soil and Land Management, Abeokuta, Nigeria
E-mail: leye_sam@yahoo.com
Abstract: Field experiments were conducted in
two cropping seasons (March and September, 2007) at two
locations to determine the effect of cocoa pod ash ( 5 and 10 t
ha-1) and N 20:10:10 fertilizer (150 and 300
kg ha-1) on soil chemical properties, nutrient
uptake and yield of maize in southwest Nigeria. The experiments
were sited at Adeyemi College of Education Research Farm, Ondo
and Okegun both Alfisol. Ondo soil was sandy clay, deficient in
OM, N, P and K while Okegun soil was clay loam, deficient in
OM, N and K. The treatments were laid out in randomized
complete block design with three replications. Combined cocoa
pod ash and NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer significantly (p<0.05)
increased soil OM, N, P and K at Ondo and OM, P and K at Okegun
than cocoa pod ash and NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer singly applied.
Plant N, P and K were also increased significantly compared
with single application of cocoa pod ash and NPK20:10:10 except
300 kg ha-1.at the two locations as well as plant
height, grain, stover and dry root yields. At Adeyemi (sandy
clay), compared with control, the percentage increase in grain
yield were C10F150 (81%), F300 (74.76%), C5F150 (65.71), C10
(47.62%), C5 (38.5%) and F150 (32.28%). For Okegun (clay loam),
grain yield significantly increased (p<0.05) by C10F150
(75.85%), F300 (54.36%), C5F150 (42.46%), C10 (8.10%), C5
(19.84%) and F150 (17.06%). Treatment C10F150 gave the highest
increases in soil nutrient values and growth parameters of
maize. Soil total N, available P and exchangeable K tended to
increase as the level of the treatment combinations increased
at both locations. Cocoa pod ash combined with
reduced level of NPK 20:10:10 was more effective than single
application of cocoa pod ash and NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer in
both locations. Sandy clay responded to application of cocoa
pod ash than clay loam in this experiment. [Journal of American
Science 2010;6(3):79-84] (ISSN: 1545 - 1003)
Keyword: integration, Fertilizer, maize,
soil, nutrient uptake
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12
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Seasonal
Variations in the Water Chemistry and Benthic
Macroinvertebrates of a South Western Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria
*Nkwoji,
J. A., Yakub A., Ajani, G. E., Balogun, K. J., Renner, K.O.,
Igbo,
J. K., Ariyo, A. A., Bello, B. O.
Nigerian
Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Lagos, Nigeria
Email:
josephniomr@yahoo.com;
Phone: +2348023739253
ABSTRACT:
The water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrates of a
south-western lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria was studied in July, 2008
and March, 2009 representing wet and dry seasons respectively.
The salinity ranged from 0.0 0/00 in the
wet season indicating a typical freshwater condition to 32.0 0/00
in the dry season indicating a marine condition. Higher
Dissolved Oxygen values were recorded in the wet season than in
the dry season.47.47% of the total organisms was sampled in the
wet season while 52.53% was collected in the dry season.
Species diversity was also higher in the dry season than the
wet season. Tellina nymphalis, Clibanarius africana, and
Penaus notialis sampled in the dry season were absent in
the wet season. Only one species (Crassostrea gazar)
sampled in the wet season was absent in the dry season. There
was an indication of a general defaunisation of this lagoon for
which reasons including pollution of the lagoon are plausible. [Journal of
American Science 2010;6(3):85-92]. (ISSN: 1545-1003)
Keywords:
Benthic, Macroinvertebrates, Rainfall pattern, Salinity,
Defaunisation
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13
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Microbiological
Impacts of Produce Water Discharges in Nearshore Shallow Marine
Waters Near Chevron’s Escravos Tank Farm, Nigeria
Dr.
Chuma C. Okoro
Department
of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Caleb University,
Lagos Nigeria
Tel:
08033072754, 01-7430285. e-mail: chuma2k2001@yahoo.com
P.
O. Box 146, University of Lagos Post Office, Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract:
A microbiological survey was undertaken in produced
water and it’s receiving environment with the aim of
verifying the likely impacts of produced water microbial flora
especially the hydrocarbon utilizing types and the sulphate
reducing bacteria on the immediate receiving marine near shore
shallow environment. The sampling was carried out in two
seasons, late wet season and late dry season. The results
obtained indicate that produced water from Escravos tank farm
had relatively moderate concentrations of hydrocarbon utilizing
microorganisms and sulphate reducing bacteria and the
concentration of these organisms are much higher at the point
of discharge of the produced water including the surface water
and the bottom sediment. Bottom sediment samples up to a distance
of 500m upstream also showed relatively moderate concentration
of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms and sulphate reducing
bacteria. A distance of 500m downstream showed relatively low
concentrations of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria without any
presence of sulphate reducing bacteria. The two seasons under
investigation showed similar results. The results obtained
indicate that the impacts of produced water microbial flora on
the receiving environment is limited to the vicinity of the
discharge point of about 100 meters in diameter and also to
some extent up to a distance of 500m upstream along the
direction of flow of produced water discharges. This assertion
is supported by the experimental data which showed considerable
accumulation of produced water hydrocarbons in the sediment at
the discharge point up to 500m upstream with relatively high
concentration of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms and
sulphate reducing bacteria. It is expected that while the
hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms plays a beneficial
role of degrading and detoxifying abundant produced water
hydrocarbons in the sediment and the surface water, Sulfate
reducing bacteria might at the same time be playing a
detrimental role of oxidizing certain organic compounds or
hydrogen and reducing sulphate and other reduced sulphur
compounds in the sediment to hydrogen sulphide, the
hydrogen sulphide when released can be very toxic
to bacteria, aquatic animals and man. [Journal of American
Science 2010;6(3):93-101]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords:
Produced water, Sulphate reducing bacteria, Hydrocarbon
utilizing bacteria
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Traditional wireless Communication and
its Model in South Asian Region
DharmaKeerthi Sri Ranjan, G.D.
Faculty of Mass Media, SriPalee
Campus, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Department of Sociology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072
P.R. China.
Sri_2007@hotmail.com
Abstract: Traditional wireless Communication is
encompassed by the new communication technologies and the
heterogeneous vision of a culturally diverse society. This
speedy diffusion of latest applications of the new media is
exploited for the information and entertainments in the rural
locales. As a consequence of this the traditional media net
work is being affected at an alarming rate in the periphery.
The folk cultural tradition has become to tune pop songs and
pop songs associated cultural traditions. These
associations mainly occur at the economically and socially
marginalized people. These modern information identities,
based on the science and technology, are experiencing the
western cultural denominations. But the traditional wireless
communicational patterns were interconnected collectively with
the nature oriented human factors. The newly contextualized
model (DSR Model*) on the traditional media based on the
Ethnographic approach, discuses the traditional wireless
communication system, established in the indigenous territory. [Journal
of American Science 2010:6(3) 102-108]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Key Words: Traditional media, Traditional
social context, New Model for the traditional media
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15
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Lesser Chamber Effect inside Open Top
Chambers Provides Near-Natural Microenvironment for CO2
Enrichment Studies in an Alpine Region of India
Ashish Kumar Chaturvedi,* Pratti
Prasad and Mohan Chandra Nautiyal
High
Altitude Plant Physiology Research Centre, Post Box No. -14, H
N B Garhwal University
Srinagar Garhwal – 246174,
Uttarakhand, India. *ashi_spc@rediffmail.com, ashispc@gmail.com
Abstract: Open top chambers (OTCs) were designed
and established for the first time in an Indian alpine
territory for revealing the effects of realistic elevated
carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations on growth forms
of alpine region of India in natural conditions. Comparison of
the microclimatic parameters which affect the growth and
physiology of alpine plants was done in three conditions viz.
open field, polyhouse and OTCs to trace out the chamber effect
inside OTCs. Present communication reveals the efficiency of
Open Top Chambers for climate simulation techniques in Indian
alpine region. Simple designing and construction of open top
chambers make them the most probable method to be used for
long-term elevated CO2 revelation of alpine
ecosystems. The operation of the system was satisfactory during
the first growing season and repeatability of the gas
treatments can be regarded well in this low cost exposure
system. [Journal of American Science
2010;6(3):109-117]. (ISSN: 1545-1003)
Keywords: Climate change; Open Top Chambers; CO2
enrichment; Alpine region; Garhwal Himalaya
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Phyllosphere Fungi of Alnus
nepalensis, Castanopsis hystrix and Schima
walichii in a Subtropical Forest of North East India
A. Kayini and
R.R. Pandey
Department
of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal –
795 003, India
kayinkrich@gmail.com; pandey.rr@rediffmail.com
Abstract: A total of 38 epiphytic and
endophytic phyllosphere fungi were isolated from living leaves
of Alnus nepalensis, Castanopsis hystrix and Schima
walichii by using a combination of cultural methods i.e.
dilution plating, washed disk and surface sterilization,
respectively at bimonthly intervals during July, 2008 to May,
2009. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides,
Fusarium oxysporum and Pestalotiopsis sp. were the
dominant colonizers of three forest tree leaves. The type of
fungal species isolated from different test leaves were found
to be influenced by the method of isolation. Some species could
be recovered by a particular culture method while others were
recovered by two or all three isolation methods. Alternaria
raphani, Epicoccum purpurascens and Gliocladium
roseum from Alnus nepalensis leaves and Scopulariopsis
sp. and Trichoderma harzianum from Castanopsis
hystrix were the species recovered specifically by
washed disk method. Whereas, Gliocladium fimbriatum
was isolated only from Schima walichii leaves as
endophytic fungi. [Journal of American Science
2010:6(3):118-124]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Key
words: Phyllosphere
fungi, epiphytes, endophytes, Alnus nepalensis, Castanopsis
hystrix, Schima walichii
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Land Management and its problems in Notse, small
town in southern togo
Komlan Dela Gake
Master Student in Applied Geographic
Information System
China University of Geosciences, 388
LuMo road, Wuhan, China. Zip code 430074
glanok79@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT: Nowadays the analysis of any urban
city uses modern techniques such as remote sensing and
geographic information system. But in the cities of developing
countries this is not often the case, due to lack of means and,
on the other hand, lack of political will. The case of Notse, a
small town in southern Togo is no exception. Therefore the
analysis of the city in this paper will be based on the results
of research carried out on the field. However the goal is to
reach the constitution of databases that can be used as
starting point for the use of the new technologies. Our
investigation allowed us to update the problems undermining the
development of the town, namely: the lack of reliable data on
urban planning, the lack of services and basic facilities to
name a few. Further on the assessment will allow us to draw the
necessary conclusions and a useful approach to improve the
development of the city with new technologies. Consequently, a
spatial development plan is proposed to serve as a starting
point to a more technological and professional approach of what
a 21st century city planning should be. This plan is
essentially based on the results of spatial and demographic
data analysis. [Journal of American Science 2010;6(3):125-135].
(ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Field work, Geographic Information
System, Database constitution, Spatial Development Plan.
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Using Topsis
Method with Goal Programming for Best selection of Strategic
Plans in BSC Model
Javad Dodangeh 1,
Rosnah Bt Mohd Yusuff 1, Javad Jassbi 2
1. Department of
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University Putra
Malaysia, Malaysia
2. Department of Industrial Management, Islamic Azad
University, Science & Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
jdodangeh@yahoo.com
Abstract: Strategic
planning is expressly significant for organization's success
and competitive advantage making in an increasingly competitive
business environment. Implementation of applicable strategies
plays an important role for organizations' success. Balanced
scorecard is a suitable tool for designing operative
strategies. However, one of the balanced scorecard difficulties
is the selection in strategic plans' performance. In this issue
paper, was demonstrated a model for selection and ranking of
strategic plans in Balanced Scorecard using Topsis method Goal
Programming model. So first using the view and consensus of
organization's managers and experts' opinions, measures of four
perspectives and objectives are settled in BSC. And then using
experts' opinions and taking the relative importance of
decision makers' opinions into consideration, by using Goal
Programming model and Topsis method, the implementations of
strategic plans are selected in BSC model. The results are
revealed that the introduced methods are more reliable and
acceptable and the experts were verified the model for
selecting of strategic plans in BSC in operation.
The initiated methods were used in a study and derived results
from it were analyzed from various points of view. In this
article Initiative is called strategic plans. [Journal of
American Science 2010;6(3):136-142]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Balanced scorecard model, MADM, MODM,
Goal Programming, Topsis
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Biodegradation
of Produced Water Hydrocarbons by Aspergillus Fumigatus
Chuma
C. Okoro1, Olukayode O Amund2
1 Department
of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Caleb University,
Lagos
2
Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos,
Nigeria
Tel:
08033072754, 01-7430285. e-mail: chuma2k2001@yahoo.com
P.
O. Box 146, University of Lagos Post Office, Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract: Biodegradation
studies of hydrocarbons in untreated produce water from an oil
production facility in Nigeria were undertaken over a period of
time using pure cultures of Aspergillus fumigatus
isolated from the zone of produce water discharge into the
receiving sea water. The rate of reduction in some
petroleum hydrocarbon fractions such as n-Alkanes, Aromatics,
Nitrogen Sulfur and Oxygen (NSO) containing compounds and
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were monitored by means
of Gas chromatography and Mass spectrometry using mechanically
treated produced water as a reference. Gas chromatographic
analysis showed that untreated produced water used in the study
had an oil and grease content of 1407mg/l, this includes
n-alkanes(608mg/l), Aromatics (13.88mg/l), NSO compounds
(12.68mg/l) PAHs(0.833mg/l) and some unidentified greasy
components. Upon mechanical treatment, the oil and grease
component of produced water was reduced to 44mg/l comprising of
n-alkanes (38.40mg/), Aromatics (2.65mg/), NSO
compounds(1.78mg/), PAHs (0.0655mg/) and some unidentified
greasy component. A pure culture of Aspergillus fumigatus after
120 days of exposure to untreated produce water was able to
reduce the hydrocarbons to the following components. n-Alkanes
(78.5mg/l), Aromatics(1.58mg/l), NSO compounds (1.22mg/l) and
PAHs (0.0168 mg/l). This result indicate that produce water
from Chevron’s Escravos tank farm is readily
biodegradable and the Aspergillus fumigatus culture used
in the study was very effective in degrading the PAHs and NSO
components of the hydrocarbon when compared with the
conventional mechanical treatment process even though the
biodegradation process was very slow. [Journal of American Science
2010;6(3):143-149]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords:
Pure culture, Produce water, Biodegradation, Oil and
Grease.
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Comparison of the Type of the Web Base
Advertising on E-Commerce Improvement
Maryam Mazandarani, m93.maryam@yahoo.com
Abstract: There are several
investigation that have been shown increase the Ecommerce
improvements by web base advertising. Recently and specifically
after developing on the personal, news, e-shops and web2
websites have been increase interesting to do E-commerce and
improve it by the web based advertising. This investigation
have been focused on comparison of the two type of the web base
advertise on the visitors direction to the targets websites.
Result of this investigation have been shown that the picture
banner base advertise inside the news content is more effective
to direction of the visitors to the targets website. Researcher
in this research has been suggested to make the text base
advertising in side the content to improve the E-commerce. [Journal of American Science
2010;6(3):150-156]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Bossiness, E-commerce, Website,
Web2, PHP Programming
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Contribution of Rice Husk Ash to the
Properties of Mortar and Concrete: A Review
Alireza Naji Givi 1, Suraya
Abdul Rashid 2, Farah Nora A. Aziz 3,
Mohamad Amran Mohd Salleh 2
1. Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra
Malaysia, Malaysia
2. Department of Chemical and
Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti
Putra Malaysia
3. Department of Civil Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
2. Department of Chemical and
Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti
Putra Malaysia
najigivi@yahoo.com
Abstract:
In the last decade,
the use of supplementary cementing materials has become an
integral part of high strength and high performance concrete
mix design. These can be natural materials, by-products or
industrial wastes, or the ones requiring less energy and time
to produce. Some of the commonly used supplementary cementing
materials are fly ash, Silica Fume (SF), Ground Granulated
Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) etc. RHA is
a by-product material obtained from the combustion of rice husk
which consists of non-crystalline silicon dioxide with high
specific surface area and high pozzolanic reactivity. It is
used as pozzolanic material in mortar and concrete, and has
demonstrated significant influence in improving the mechanical
and durability properties of mortar and concrete. This paper
presents an overview of the work carried out on the use of RHA
as partial replacement of cement in mortar and concrete.
Reported properties in this study are the mechanical,
durability and fresh properties of mortar/concrete. [Journal of
American Science 2010;6(3):157-165]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Key
words: Rice husk ash;
concrete; mechanical properties of concrete; durability of
concrete
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Quality Models
in Software Engineering Literature: An Analytical and
Comparative Study
Rafa E. Al-Qutaish, PhD
Al Ain University of Science and
Technology – Abu Dhabi Campus, PO Box: 112612, Abu Dhabi,
UAE.
rafa@ieee.org
Abstract: The quality of the software is critical
and essential in different types of organizations. In some
types of software, poor quality of the software product in
sensitive systems (such as: real-time systems, control systems,
etc.) may lead to loss of human life, permanent injury, mission
failure, or financial loss. In software engineering literature,
there are a number of quality models in which they contain a
number of quality characteristics (or factors, as called in
some models). These quality characteristics could be used to
reflect the quality of the software product from the view of
that characteristic. Selecting which one of the quality models
to use is a real challenge. In this paper, we will discuss the
contents of the following quality models: McCall’s
quality mode, Boehm’s quality model, Dromey's quality
model, FURPS quality model and ISO 9126 quality model. In
addition, we will focus on a comparison between these quality
models, and find the key differences between them. [Journal of
American Science 2010; 6(3):166-175]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Software Quality; Quality Models;
Quality Engineering; ISO 9126; McCall’s Quality Model;
Boehm’s Quality Model; Dromey's Quality Model; FURPS
Quality Model
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Study on the Metal Absorption by two Mosses in Delhi
Region (India)
Santosh Kumar Vats, Anjana Singh,
Monika Koul and Prem Lal Uniyal
Department of Botany, University of
Delhi, Delhi- 110007, India
Telephone Number- +91-11-27190671,
+91-9968279822 (M). uniyalpl@rediffmail.com
Abstract: Bryophytes act as precise and
sensitive bioindicators as well as bioaccumulators of metal
deposition in the environment. Heavy metals are ubiquitous
pollutants which are persistent and get transferred from one
tropic level to another. Two moss species Physcomitrium cyathicarpum
and Barbula constricta growing across different regions of Delhi
have been used as indicators of metal. The estimation of
important heavy metals like Cr, Co, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni and Pb
have been carried out in the tissues of both the moss species
using atomic absorption spectroscopy, the level being highest
for Fe, Ni, Cu and Cr followed by Co, Cd, Pb and Hg. The
concentrations of Fe, Co, Cu and Cr was found high in both the
species growing in North Delhi region followed by South and
West Delhi suggesting the regions with industrial belt,
vehicular traffic and
heavy industries which release chemical effluents. The
low level of metal pollutants was observed in moss specimens
collected from Central and East Delhi.
Overall, Fe, Cu and Pb are responsible for causing major
pollution in the studied sites and the concentration of metals in
plant as well as in the substratum was found to be higher in
North, South and West Delhi
region. Statistical analyses also revealed that correlation
exist between the metal content in mosses and degree of
pollution in studied sites. [Journal of American Science 2010;6(3):176-181].
(ISSN: 1545-1003).
Key words: Accumulation
capacity, Heavy metal uptake, Metal ions, Moss, Pollution
Monitoring
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The Cost of Climate Change
in Tanzania: Impacts and Adaptations
Ceven
Shemsanga, Anne Nyatichi Omambia, Yansheng
Gu
School of Environmental Studies, China University of
Geosciences, Wuhan
Abstract: In
recent years, Tanzania has witnessed a number of climate
related disasters namely, flooding, droughts, widespread crop
failures, livestock deaths and intensification of climate
sensitive diseases among others. Regular climate discussions in
the country have often underestimate crucial problems related
to climate change like chronic energy crisis and influx of
people to urban areas arguably because of failing agriculture
in farming areas. This paper has highlighted the fact that the
poor, usually with limited resources and who contribute the
least to the causes of climate change are the most affected in
many ways. In addition, it gives a detailed account of the
issues of climate change in Tanzania and explains the effects
of climate variability using examples. The effects of climate
change in the country are widespread and significantly interfere
with agriculture, while at the same time, reducing the ability
of the society to deliver services. Indigenous knowledge such
as survival skills and coping mechanisms adopted by different
societies in Tanzania, have been discussed in the paper. Such
coping mechanisms however are overwhelmed by the impacts of
climate change on the people. Different institutions including
the government have taken some positive steps towards combating
climate change; however the efforts done so far are
insufficient. In addition, addressing climate change in
Tanzania is hindered with inadequate resources, corruption and
poor coordination and implementation of combating measures.
Generally current climate variability in the nation is an issue
of concern for all future plans and must be addressed. [Journal
of American Science 2010; 6(3):182-196]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Keywords: Climate
change, Tanzania, Adaptations, Responses.
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