IJASR Volume 2- Issue 3, September 2014 Edition
All listed papers are published after full consent of respective author or co-author(s).
For any discussion on research subject or research matter, the reader should directly contact to undersigned authors
A bio-hybrid material with special water affinity made from polyvinyl alcohol, rice starch and silk fibroin
Kuchaiyaphum1,2, R. Watanesk2, S. Watanesk2 and T. Yamauchi1
ABSTRACT: A hybrid material composing of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), rice starch (RS) and silk fibroin (SF) with opposite water affinity on each surface was successfully prepared. The hybrid material was prepared by placing PVA/RS/SF hydrogel onto glycerol-modified PVA/RS/SF film and leaving them to adhere. SF content in the hydrogels was optimized first by mixing various SF amounts to a mixture of PVA:RS (2:1 by weight). The 8.00 part per hundred of polymer (php) of SF was an appropriate concentration revealed by the maximum values of gel fraction and percent porosity. This SF content caused the blend to exhibit the highest water saturation and best mechanical properties. The glycerol-modified hydrophobic film with the same PVA/RS/SF composition was prepared and found that the water contact angle of the film had increased approximately three times after water soaking. The hybrid material was then prepared and characterized. As evidenced by physical appearance and SEM images, the interface between layers became homogeneous after 30 h layering time. Water contact angle values pointed out the hydrophilic nature of the hydrogel surface, while the film surface was hydrophobic. Coupling of the hydrogel with the film improved overall mechanical properties as indicated by stress and % elongation at break.
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Factors Affecting Customers’ Attitude among Foreign and Domestic Footwear Products
Zemenu Aynadis1
ABSTRACT: This research has been conducted to assess factors affecting customers’ attitude towards foreign brand footwear products. And it is discovered that customers’ have positive attitude towards foreign footwear products. Different factors have contributed for the customers to have positive attitude towards such products. These factors include quality of product, the price of the product, the attractiveness of the product, the durability of the product, the quality & design of the products, the perceived social status of the product, the brand name of the product and the fashionability of the product. Moreover the correlation analysis between the dependent variable and explanatory variables is conducted. And it is found that all of the independent variables have association with the dependent variable thought their level of association differs. Such association between the dependent and independent variables is an indication that attitude of customers is affected by the above mentioned explanatory variables.
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Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in South Indian Essential Hypertensive Patient
Dr. Peersab .M. Pinjar1, Dr Praveenkumar Devarbahvi1 and Dr Vasudeva Murthy.C.R2, Dr.S.S.Bhat1, Dr.Jayaraj S G1
ABSTRACT
Background: It is well known that hypertension is an important cause for diastolic dysfunction. Hence we aimed to evaluate the application of Doppler echocardiography in determining left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with essential hypertension. Methodology: Present study is based on analysis of 60 (33 males, 27 females) patients of essential hypertension coming to outpatient department and admitted to S.S.Hospital attached to S.S.Institute of Medical sciences, and Research Centre Davanagere, during January 2013 to December 2013. 60 age and sex matched controls were analysed for diastolic function. Detailed history and physical examination was done. Cases and Controls were subjected to ECG, CXR, USG abdomen, routine investigations and Doppler Echocardiography. Results: A total of 60 patients were studied. 24 patients showed diastolic dysfunction with E/A ratio <1, with increased atrial filling fraction. Out of 24 (males 15, female 9) patients 15 showed LVH. Out of 36 patients with normal diastolic function (E/A>1) 9 had LVH. There was significant difference in various diastolic filling parameters in cases with diastolic dysfunction compared to cases with normal diastolic function. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that myocardial damage in patients with essential HTN affects diastolic dysfunction before systolic dysfunction. LVH was significantly associated with diastolic dysfunction. There was significant difference in various diastolic filling parameters in cases with diastolic dysfunction compared to cases with normal diastolic function.
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Examining the Efficiency and the Effectiveness of Islamic and Conventional Banking: Evidence from Indonesia
Dr. Said Jaouadi1, Rachida Ben Jazia2 and Azza Ziadi3
ABSTRACT: The paper attempted to shed the light on assessing the efficiency and the effectiveness of the Indonesian Islamic banks in the economy, through comparing the financial determinants of profitability of Islamic and conventional banks in short run. The authors carried out an empirical research as an attempt to find out if there is minor or major discrepancies in the financial factors and determining the types of operations affecting the profit generation of Islamic and conventional banks in Indonesia. The pattern conducted in the present empirical survey relies on monthly data about financial indicators of the banking sector of Indonesia. The data used in the research covered the period March 2010 to July 2011. The empirical investigation of the current paper enabled us to infer that Islamic finance could be considered as source of valuable economic contribution in the finance of developing countries, like bare out from the Indonesian pattern.
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Comparison of Digestion Methods for Determination of Pb (II), Cr (VI) and Cd (II) Contents In Some Ethiopia Spices Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
KASSA BELAY*, Abi Tadesse
ABSTRACT: The concentrations of Lead, Cadmium and Chromium in spice samples collected from eastern Ethiopia were determined after digesting the samples by different digestion methods using FAAS. Oven-dried 1 g spice samples were first Wet-digested in 8 mL of (69–70%) HNO3 and 2 mL of (30%) H2O2 for 3 hr at a temperature of 120 °C and the second is dry ashed for 5 hr in a temperature of 500 °C followed dissolution in 4 mL HNO3. The third digestion method is microwave oven by using an oxi acid mixture of 4:2 mL HNO3/H2O2 for 2 min in 250 watt. We compared wet, dry and microwave digestion procedures for the digestion of the spice samples. Microwave oven digestion method showed very fast, safer, simple and cleaner and also gives satisfactory recovery, detection limits and standard deviation. Contents of investigated trace metal in spice samples of Lead in Fenugreek, Black cumin, garlic and ginger ranged from 0.0126 to 0.0155, 0.0205 to 0.0254, 0.0046 to 0.0066 and 0.0161 to 0.0178 mg/kg respectively. Cadmium is detected only in Fenugreek in the ranged of ND to 0.0175mg/kg where as Chromium in Fenugreek, Black cumin, Garlic and Ginger ranges from 0.0187 to 0.0219, 0.0134 to 0.0152, 0.0014 to 0.0016 and 0.0258 to 0.0346 mg/kg respectively.
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Design and Implementation of a Two Axis Solar Tracking System
Using PLC Techniques by an Inexpensive Method
E. Michael Assaf
Has been withdrawn “plagiarized manuscript”