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Currently, nanofibers cellulose is becoming a trend because has been widely applied as reinforcement for biodegradable matric which can increase the resistance in film materials. In this research, nanofibers cellulose was produced from oil palm mesocarp fibers by the chemical-ultrasonic process. The cellulose obtained will be hydrolyzed using 5% HCl and 5% H2SO4 under the effect of 20 kHz ultrasonic waves for 90 minutes. The nanofiber cellulose produced will be tested for characteristics as well Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). Based on the PSA results, nanofibers cellulose obtained had an average size of 17.88 nm. This is also supported by the morphological results in SEM and TEM which show that cellulose nanofiber particles are visible, the fibers are formed and FTIR results show cellulose functional groups are formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollutants have become a dreadful problem and burning issues for the present world irrespective of a country who is responsible for it. The objective of the study is to investigate impact of financial development and institutional quality on environmental degradation. The study is based on panel data for developing and developed countries over the time of 1996-2016. For the empirical analysis fixed effect and the random effect is carried out. Results show that institutional quality, economic growth, foreign direct investment, gross primary enrolment, and industrial growth have significant positive effect on corban emissions whereas financial development, population growth, trade openness, urban population and R&D expenditures have significant negative effect on corban emissions. One percent point increase in the index of institutional quality leads towards 0.006 percent points increase in the level of CO2 emissions. One percent point increase in the economic growth lead to increase the CO2 emissions by 0.39 percent points. One percent point increase in inflows of foreign direct investment increase the level of CO2 emissions by 0.016 percent points. One percent point increase in industrial growth leads to a 0.38 percent points increase in the level of CO2 emissions. Furthermore, one percent point increase in the index of financial development leads to 0.05 percent points decrease in the level of CO2 emissions. One percent point increase in urban population leads to almost 0.05 percent points fall in the level of CO2 emissions. Finally, one percent point rise in R&D expenditures leads to decrease in the level of CO2 emissions by 0.068 percent points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climbing Perch or its scientific name, Anabas testudineus is one of the freshwater fish belonging to the family of Anabantidae. It is widely distributed in ponds, swamps and estuaries in Asia. In this study, cholinesterase (ChE) was partially purified from the liver of A. testudineus through ion exchange chromatography. This purification method provided a recovery yield of 5.36% with a purification fold of 6.6. The optimum conditions for ChE assay were identified to be 2.5 mM of butyrylthiocholine iodide (BTC) with pH 8.0 in Tris-HCl buffer at 40°C. Substrate specificity profile also indicated that ChE favours BTC as substrate because it records the Bioindicator Cholinesterase (ChE) highest catalytic efficiency (Vmax/Km). Protein analysis through Native-PAGE showed that ion Inhibition Metal ions exchange chromatography is an effective method to partially purify ChE. Metal ion inhibition tests were conducted and mercury (Hg) was found to show the highest inhibition effect (87.30%) whereas lead (Pb) shows the lowest inhibition effect (28.01%). All these findings showed that partially purified ChE from the liver of A. testudineus is suitable to be used as a bioindicator to detect the presence of metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyse the portrayal of Malala Yousafzai after her attempt of assassination by Taliban in the editorials of four Pakistani English newspapers, The News, Dawn, The Nation and Daily Times from October 10, 2012 to November 10, 2012. It also investigates how newspapers framed Taliban after attacking Malala. The study is theoretically linked with framing theory and conducts the comparative analysis of the editorials of four Pakistani leading newspapers. A total of 29 editorials (five in The News, six in Dawn, nine in Daily Times and nine in The Nation) were analysed. The findings depict that Malala was portrayed as a courageous girl who opposed the Taliban and their mindset against the girl's education in Swat valley. The findings also show that Taliban have a negative image in the Pakistani newspapers after their attack on Malala Yousafzai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the influence and role of political talk shows in generating political awareness amongst Pakistani educated youth. The researcher aims at measuring the youth's level of political awareness and involvement, and the extent to which these educated youth are persuaded by political talk shows about political affairs. The respondents involved in this study consist of the students of Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan. The researcher selected 200 respondents from all departments of Government College University Faisalabad. The researcher applied non-probability sampling technique for data collection. Questionnaires were used as a tool for data collection. Findings showed that political talk shows influenced the youth and played a key role in providing political awareness. These findings also revealed that political talk shows have great deal of impacts on youngsters in helping them to get the knowledge about their basic social and political rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-point incremental forming (SPIF) is relatively a novel sheet forming process to produce small lots with low cost. In this article, guidelines for tool size selection for SPIF of an aerospace grade alloy (AA-2024) are presented. The role of tool size, with respect to sheet thickness employed, on the formability in SPIF (i.e., spifability) is clarified. The response surface method is employed in order to study the significance of sheet thickness (to) and tool radius (r) on the spifability. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) show that the sheet thickness and tool radius are not significant individually, however, a strong interaction between these parameters exists. Moreover, for a particular sheet thickness, there exists only oner/tovalue at which the spifability can be maximized under a given set of conditions. Furthermore, for a given sheet thickness, if a tool with radius lesser than a particular value is used (i.e.,r/to < 2) the material squeezes out from the tool/sheet interface. And, such a condition adversely affects the material spifability. FEA using LS-DYNA has also been carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Single point incremental forming (SPIF) has potential to be employed commercially and can replace conventional sheet stamping process if its defects, such as poor geometrical accuracy, can be overcome. In the present article, three forming defects, namely, squeezed out wall formation, corner fold corner, and bulge height, are introduced. It is demonstrated that the formation of these defects has adverse effect on the formability in SPIF. In order to eliminate, if possible, the formation of these defects, the potential effect of operating (i.e., tool radius and step size), geometrical (i.e., wall angle), and material (i.e., sheet thickness and material property) parameters and their interaction on the defect formation and growth has been quantitatively investigated by employing response surface design method. With the help of proposed empirical models, the investigated defects can be overcome through parametric optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a well established fact that time to market is a key factor in the success of a new product in this era of free trade. The target of reducing time to market can be achieved by accelerating the development process of a new product. This paper reports a case study of an ergonomically designed computer mouse in which the concepts of reverse engineering and rapid prototyping have been successfully demonstrated. The work ranges from scanning of selected physical object till virtual mold making. By employing the suggested methodology, Small and Medium Scale Industries can lower the development cost associated with a new product. This will consequently lead towards a lower selling price per unit and help in improving the competitive advantages of such industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 200 consecutive patients aged 35 years or less undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Patients and Methods: Findings in these 200 patients (≤ 35 years of age) were analyzed to find the extent and severity of CAD. The mean age was 31.69 (±3.76) years. Majority were males (94%) and from the Arab ethnicity (70.5%). Result: Smoking (71%) and history of premature CAD (27%) were the most frequent risk factors (RF). History of previous ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) was present in 68%. Anterior wall MI was the most frequent location (63.3%). The majority (54.3%) had moderate or large size MI. Ejection fraction (EF) less than 50% was noted in 30.3%. Left main or triple vessel CAD was seen in 15%. One- and two-vessel CAD was seen in 32.5% and 19% patients, respectively. Coronary angiogram was completely normal in 23.5%. The majority (54.5%) were treated conservatively and the rest (45.5%) needed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The mean number of stents used was 1.3 ± 0.67 and the mean length of stents used was 20.3 ± 12.6 mm. Conclusion: The extent and severity of CAD was very significant in this subgroup of very young (≤35 years) Asian patients. Smoking was the main risk factor and half of the patients needed either PCI or CABG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In negative incremental forming, a characteristic thinning band occurs on the parts when wall angles approach the maximum obtainable [D. Young, J. Jeswiet, Wall thickness variations in single point incremental forming, Proceedings of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Part B, Journal of Engineering Manufacture 218 (2004) 1453–1459]. The effect of this ultra-thin band on the fracture occurrence of part was studied in the current investigation. It was found that the occurrence of a thinning band on the test specimen of a formability test does not mean an effect on the test result. A reduction in the formability due to the occurrence of the thinning band occurs only if the specimen fractures in the flange area. In order to evaluate the real forming limit of a sheet metal, a condition regarding the occurrence of part fracture is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

OBJECTIVE: To compare the visualisation of bronchopulmonary collaterals and bronchopulmonary collateral blood flow in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension 2nd primary pulmonary hypertension. SETTING: Referral centre for cardiology at an academic hospital. PATIENTS: Nine patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and 17 with primary pulmonary hypertension. INTERVENTIONS: Bronchopulmonary collaterals were visualised by selective bronchial arteriography or thoracic aortography. Bronchopulmonary collateral blood flow was estimated by injecting indocyanine green into the ascending aorta and sampling below the mitral valve from the left ventricle. RESULTS: The degree of pulmonary hypertension was comparable in the two groups. Large bronchopulmonary collaterals were visualised in all the patients with thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension who had bronchial arteriography or aortography or both. None of the primary pulmonary hypertension group studied by aortography had bronchopulmonary collaterals (P < < 0.001). All the patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension had significant bronchopulmonary collateral blood flow, which was (mean (SD)) 29.8 (18.6)% of the systemic blood flow. There was no recordable collateral blood flow in 11 of 15 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. In the remaining four patients the mean value was 1.1 (1.8)% of the systemic blood flow (P < < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Visualisation of bronchopulmonary collaterals by thoracic aortography or by bronchial arteriography, or the demonstration of an increased bronchopulmonary collateral flow, helps to distinguish patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension from those with primary pulmonary hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The maximum wall angle or thinning limit can be used as formability parameter in negative incremental forming. In the present study, the effect of the curvature of a part''s generatrix on the formability of an aluminum sheet has been investigated systematically. It was found that the formability increases as the radius of curvature decreases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]