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Abstract : Grafting of Cellulose Extracted from Kenaf Using Xanthate Method
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Abstract: Mass spectra of reconstructed ion chromatogram (MRIC) technique are used to follow up the grafting copolymerization of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VP), 1-vinyl-3-anisylidine-2-pyrrolidinone (VAP) and ethylmethacrylate (EMA) and cellulose extracted from kenaf using xanthate method. Grafting is carried out under ionic and/or free radical mechanism conditions. Factors affecting grafting yield such as temperature, sodium hydroxide concentration, liquor ratio, carbon disulfide concentration, monomer and grafting time have been studied. Keywords: Cellulose, Cellulose xanthate, Ethylmethacrylate, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 1-vinyl-3-anisylidine-2-pyrrolidinone.Download Full Article |
Abstract : Factors Determining Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Low Income Women: Focus Group Findings from Rural, Urban, and Peri-Urban Women Groups in Lilongwe District-Malawi
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Abstract: Most high prevalence sub-Saharan African countries tend to over-emphasize fidelity and condom use as major preventative measures relative to HIV and AIDS prevention. Studies of behavior change that focus exclusively on these strategies of most interest to the prevention community bias examinations of behaviour change downward by ignoring other potentially effective ways of limiting the epidemic. Regardless of the dearth in efficacy, as well as tolerance bottlenecks; the prevailing debate over provider initiated testing in Malawi may depict a shift towards HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention. The current study examines factors that determine VCT uptake among low income women in the Lilongwe district. A qualitative paradigm- the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was utilized to inform the study. Convenient sampling was used to isolate three women groups namely; St John Nsamba, Women of Action, and National Association of People Having AIDS in Malawi (NAPHAM) support group as participants. The first two groups were sampled as primary groups, the former representing the urban domain with the later representing the rural domain respectively. Between 10 – 15 participants from each group, approximately within the age category 20-49 were involved. Findings suggest socio-cultural gender stereotypes inhibiting negotiating testing with partners as well as the social comparison or optimistic bias motivating ordinary women to underestimate their risk of contracting HIV relative to significant others as major barriers. Recurrent illnesses was considered the major motivator, downplaying the empirical impression about access to treatment as major incentive. The methodical conclusion drawn from the study is that VCT has the potential to mitigate the spread of HIV but for the preventative measure to be successful there is need to surmount various ethnographic and socio-cultural constraints currently impeding the intervention. Keywords: VCT, Preventative health device, Diagnostic tool, Couple testing, Lilongwe, home-based service provision.Download Full Article |
Abstract : Detecting Intraspecific Character Displacement by Morphological Markers in Riverine-Dwelling Invertebrate Larvae: The Case Study of Head Shape Variability in Leuctra fusca (Plecoptera: Leuctridae)
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Abstract: Since morphological markers are recognized as useful tools to evaluate events of anthropic disturbances, we performed a preliminary study on head shape variability in the riverine-dwelling Leuctra fusca larvae as early alarm systems in running waters. Particularly, heads of 32 larvae were collected from two localities of River Aniene (central Italy) and photographed for digitizing landmarks and semilandmarks. The Cartesian x-y coordinates of all points were firstly converted to shape coordinates by Procrustes superimposition, and then analyzed for exploring the full potential of the application of geometric morphometric techniques. Where the principal component analysis revealed a clear pattern of variation between the 2 sampling sites, the Procrustes ANOVA highlighted this variation as highly associated with fluctuating asymmetry, the latter being traditionally connected with developmental accidents due to environmental conditions. No directional asymmetry was observed. Finally we didn’t find any pattern of allometric variation in the studied structure. Our study indicates that further studies ought to be employed to use geometric morphometrics as a valid tool for detecting and describing morphological variation as biomarkers in invertebrate organism such as stoneflies. Keywords: Asymmetry, biomarker, central Italy, freshwater, geometric morphometrics.Download Full Article |
Abstract : Attentional Strategies During Rowing
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Abstract: This investigation explored the relationship between task intensity, competitive setting, and attentional strategy in collegiate rowers. Here, the associative-dissociative dimension of attentional focus is considered. Associative thoughts are task-related, whereas dissociative thoughts are not. Previous work has linked associative strategies with higher level performance, and higher intensities of exercise (i.e. those which exceed the ventilatory threshold). Male and female collegiate rowers (N = 298) completed three training sessions (one each at low, moderate, and high intensity) and two races (short and long distance). Results revealed that the higher the training intensity, the greater the degree of association. A greater degree of association was also observed in competition as opposed to training, and in short distance versus long distance races. There was no gender difference in attentional strategy. Finally, it was shown that the variation in attentional strategy was inversely proportional to exercise intensity. These findings support previous work examining the effect of task intensity on attentional focus [1], in a field based setting. Furthermore, new insight is offered regarding how competition interacts with intensity in this relationship. Keywords: Cognitive strategies, association, dissociation, rowing, attentional focus..Download Full Article |
