European Journal of Applied Sciences

Existence of the Local Solution of a Non Homogeneous Schrödinger Type Equation

2024-11-05T16:41:02+00:00

Preparation of High-Purity Rutin from Sophora japonica

2024-11-03T18:14:03+00:00

High-Purity Rutin (HPR) was extracted from Sophora japonica by ultrasonication, decolorized using activated carbon, separated by polyamide chromatography, and recrystallized. An orthogonal design of experiment was used to determine the optimal ultrasonic extraction time, number of ultrasonic extractions, and ultrasonic extraction temperature to maximize the extraction yield of rutin. The optimal conditions were determined as follows: 2000 mL of CH₃OH were used to extract 20 g of the dried Sophora japonica flower bud powder for 30 minutes and the extraction was repeated 2 times under ultrasonic conditions (ultrasound frequency: 40 KHZ; water temperature: 40 °C). The decolorization of the CH₃OH extract of Sophora japonica using active carbon was studied. The optimal processes are as follows: The filtrate of CH₃OH extract was concentrated to 200 mL by rotary evaporation; 7.2 g of activated carbon powder was added; and the mixture was refluxed in an 80 °C water bath for 0.5 hours (twice). The polyamide chromatography separation conditions for crude rutin were investigated. The influence of particle size and amount of polyaminde used on extraction yield of rutin was studied. It was found that best separation results were obtained when 50 g of polyamide with particle size of 0.170~0.210 mm was used to purify 3 g of crude rutin. The purity of the HPR obtained was 99.8%, the extraction yield of HPR was 18.6%, and the extraction rate of HPR was 70.8%. The structure of the final product was identified by elemental analysis, IR, HPLC and ¹H NMR. It was experimentally demonstrated that the proposed process was a safe, mild, low-cost and waste-free procedure.

Assessing Middle School Students’ Understanding and Implementation of Social and Emotional Competencies: A Study Conducted in Private Schools in Mount Lebanon

2024-10-29T06:10:29+00:00

The changes taking place in this fast-paced world "have led to the rise of social and emotional processes" (Cefai et al., 2020, p.3). Although Social Emotional Learning (SEL) encompasses many aspects, the primary elements include self-awareness, social awareness, responsible decision making, self-management, and relationship management (Merrell & Gueldner, 2010, p.40). Acknowledging the importance of adolescence as the critical period to explore developments in understanding oneself and others, this study addresses three primary research questions. The first question examines the extent to which middle school students possess SEL competencies in Lebanese private middle schools. The second question explores whether middle school students from lower socioeconomic status differed in their SEL competencies from those coming from higher socioeconomic status (SES). The third question assesses the presence of gender differences in possessing socio-emotional competencies in middle school students. This study’s findings showed that middle school students (n = 165) in Lebanese private schools possess social and emotional competencies to varying extents. The results provide further evidence for the association of SES factors on an adolescents’ acquisition and development of social-emotional competencies, self-control specifically. The findings confirm that, in addition to socioeconomic status (SES), personal and environmental factors—such as community and culture—play a crucial role in shaping the social-emotional development of middle school students. The given recommendations affirm that different stakeholders, including educational policymakers, schools, teachers, and families in Lebanon, should be active partners in supporting SEL by providing various services in safe and nurturing environments.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Today's Agriculture

2024-10-25T16:53:32+01:00

The increasing population poses an ever-increasing demand for food production amidst major constraints like decreasing agricultural labour, increased growth rate of industrialization, urbanization, reduced land and water availability for agriculture, and drudgery in farm works. With rapid development of technology in the field of robotics and AI, has created new horizons for its application in agriculture and allied sectors. These latest technologies help farmers in facing the challenges in food production to ensure food security, environmental sustainability and labour efficiency in the age-old industry. In this review article, a comprehensive view of the current state and future trends of robotics and AI in various agricultural domains, like crop monitoring, weed control, harvesting, sorting and transportation are discussed.

Inheritance and Relationship Between Canalization, Developmental Stability and Morphological Integration in Cichlidae Fish Oreochromis Niloticus, Sarotherodon Melanotheron and their F1 Reciprocal Hybrids

2024-10-09T16:27:10+01:00

Morphological integration, canalization and developmental stability are three major processes involved in phenotypic variability. In spite of increasing interests, they have incurred as factors that may contribute to the evolvability, little is known about some of their properties such as inheritance and the relationship between them. This issue was addressed in the present study through geometric morphometrics approach applied to the body shape of fish belonging to Cichlidae. These fish are Oreochromis niloticus, Sarotherodon melanotheron and their reciprocal hybrids of first generation. Then, the level and morphological patterns of intra et interindividual variation were tackled while taking the relationship between buffering mechanisms into account. As for morphological integration, hypotheses of modularity were tested using 3 statistics. Developmental stability and canalization were found to reflect single mechanistic process according to the congruence of their related morphological patterns between and within groups. Both buffering mechanisms also to act on the same components of shape. An interesting but overlooked observation is that, the congruence between canalization and developmental stability seem to depend on the nature of traits under consideration, specifically those closely related to organism’s fitness. Furthermore, in patterns of morphological integration, the hypotheses that the head represents a relatively integrated unit and the fins of fish are combined in the same module are strongly supported. Finally, it was observed an inheritance of best fitting models together with features of buffering mechanisms which interact mostly with morphological integration.

Evaluation on the Impact of Motivation on Employee Performance: An Assessment of Timber Milling Industry in Zimbabwe

2024-11-05T18:32:20+00:00

Motivation is considered as the force that drives employees towards attaining specific goals. The main purpose of this study was to establish the impact of motivation on employee performance and discuss the factors that motivate employees in the organisation. The study was prompted by low performance by employees, failure to address motivational factors, failure to establish the benefits of motivation in the organisation and how motivation impact on performance. The main objective of the study was toestablish the impact of motivation on employee performance and the effect of motivation on employees. The mixed methods research, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches, were used to establish the effect of dependent variables on performance. The three branches of philosophies namely ontology, epistemology and axiology, which are the methodological rationalism approaches brought in the philosophical alignment. The target population was composed of 175 employees and the sample size was 60 employees. Questionnaire wasused as a research instrumentto gather the necessary data for the study. Mean and standard deviations were used to find out the extent of agreement by respondents and establish if the results could be trusted and generalised. The findings revealed that promotion and advancement, job security, recognition, relationship with management and being involved in decision making played significance roles in the performance of employees. Salary and wage adjustments were also important to reduce labour turnover. The findings revealed that the relationship of motivation and performance of employees proved to be positive basing on the dependent variables researched on. This included motivation, training, resources, work environment, performance management and leadership styles. It was recommended that management adjust their way of operations to improve performance of employees.

Growth, Cost and Carcass Evaluation of Snail (Archachatina marginata) Fed Diet Containing Yam Peel-Soy-Bean Residue Mixture Meal

2024-11-04T14:34:16+00:00

The study was conducted to determine effect of inclusion of dry Yam peel-soybean residues meal (YPSM) as substitute to Maize in the diet of snail (Archachatina marginata). A total of 120 growing snails (average weight of 76.5 ± 2.4g, 4 months old) were used for the study. Four dietary treatments comprising Yam peel-soybean residue meal (YPSM) replaced maize at 0% (YPSM₁), 50% (YPSM₂), 75% (YPSM₃) and 100% (YPSM₄) were compounded and allotted to snails in a completely randomized design. Data were collected on growth performance, reproductive indices, cost implications and carcass yield were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance. There was no significant difference in the mean total feed intake in YPSM₁, YPSM₂ and YPSM₃ (P>0.05). The mean total weight gain was significantly different across the treatments (P<0.05) although no significant difference in the mean total weight gain in YPSM₁, YPSM₂ and YPSM_3. The mean shell length was not significantly influenced by dietary treatments and the values ranged between 12.68 in YPSM₁ and 12.48 in YPSM₄. Shell width and thickness were not significantly different from one another as the level of YPSM in the diet increased (P>0.05). The lowest cost/weight gain was recorded in the diet containing 75% YPSM as replacement for maize while the highest cost/weight gain was recorded in the diet containing 100%YPSM. Based on the results obtained from this study, it could be recommended that Yam peel-soybean residues meal (YPSM) could be included up to 75% as replacement for maize fraction of the diet of snail (Archachatina maginata) without adverse effect but at reduced cost.

Self-concealment Influence on Addictive Behaviour, Suicidal Ideation, and Mental Health Among Drug Addicts from Sampled Rehabilitation Centres in the Coastal Region of Kenya

2024-10-31T04:59:17+00:00

This study investigates the impact of self-concealment on addictive behaviours, suicidal ideation, and mental health among drug addicts in rehabilitation centres located in the coastal regions of Kenya. Self-concealment, defined as the tendency to hide personal information and emotions, is hypothesized to exacerbate psychological distress and hinder recovery processes. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research sampled 200 individuals undergoing rehabilitation, employing standardized questionnaires to assess levels of self-concealment, addiction severity, suicidal thoughts, and overall mental health status. Qualitative interviews provided deeper insights into the lived experiences of participants, highlighting the interplay between self-concealment and their struggles with addiction and mental health. Findings reveal a significant correlation between high levels of self-concealment and increased addictive behaviours, as well as elevated suicidal ideation. Participants who reported greater difficulty in expressing their emotions were more likely to engage in substance use as a coping mechanism, leading to a cycle of addiction and mental health deterioration. The qualitative data further illustrated how societal stigma and fear of judgment contributed to self-concealment, perpetuating feelings of isolation and hopelessness. This research underscores the need for targeted interventions that address self-concealment in therapeutic settings, promoting open communication and emotional expression among individuals in recovery. By fostering an environment of trust and support, rehabilitation programs can enhance mental health outcomes and reduce the risk of suicide among drug addicts in Kenya's coastal regions.

Case Studies: Effective Approaches for Navigating Cross-Border Cloud Data Transfers Amid U.S. Government Privacy and Safety Concerns

2024-10-28T00:30:57+00:00

This study attempts to explain the impact of information exchange from one country to another, as well as the legal and technological implications for these exchanges. Due to the emergence of cloud technology, possibilities for free exchange of information between countries have increased rapidly, as it has become possible to save information in a country and access it in almost any part of the world. Countries all around the world have been confronted with developing frameworks to facilitate this process, although there are significant challenges which must be confronted on legal and technological fronts, as loopholes in the framework adopted by countries may hinder free access to information stored on cloud, and also compromise data privacy. Cloud technology is impacting a lot of issues, including domestic and international businesses, hence the need for a study to propose measures for safe exchange of information using cloud technology.

A Review of Abattoir Reflexes in Relation to Anaerobic Glycolysis and Meat Quality

2024-10-25T07:40:37+01:00

Current research on meat quality is dominated by correlative studies of animal genotypes and histochemical fibre types, correlating features of live animals with features of commercial importance in their meat. But between live muscle and meat, there is an epigenetic realm where random factors mediated by animal treatments and their nervous systems may have strong effects. They have the potential to obscure real correlations between live animals and meat quality, or to produce spurious correlations. Physiological studies in abattoirs may prove things one way or the other.