Microbiological assessments of car surfaces remain a fundamental approach to control hotspots of microbial contamination. This study was aimed at assessing the level microbial contaminations associated with car doors and steering wheel of cars within the faculty of science, Benue state university, Makurdi. A total of forty (40) samples were collected in duplicates. These included twenty duplicate samples from car door handles and twenty duplicate samples from car steering wheels respectively using sterile swab sticks and transported to Charis Research and Diagnostic laboratory for analysis. The samples were analysed using cultural, biochemical and morphological techniques. The results revealed that the heterotrophic bacterial count range from 1.97 x 104 to2.41 x 104 CFU/cm2 while the fungi count range from 1.9 x 103 to 3.7 x 103 CFU/cm2. Staphylococcus spp. had the highest occurrence of 14(70%) and 9(45%), Proteus spp. had an occurrence of 6(30%) and 2(10%) for car door handles and car steering wheels while there was no detection of Salmonella in all the samples assessed. The fungi occurrence rate observed was Aspergillus spp. [7(35%)] for car door handle and 3(15%) for car steering wheel while Rhizopus spp. had a prevalence rate of 4(20%) for car door handle and 1(5%) for car steering wheel. This study affirmed that car surfaces could serve as a reservoir of potential pathogens. Hence, routine disinfection of these surfaces is very important.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most frequent infectious agents causing hospitals and community associated infections. Developing the treatment for methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a challenging arena for effective therapeutics. Application of antimicrobial peptides is an alternative option to control MRSA infection. The potential of the bioactive peptide against MRSA was previously revealed; however, the study on the effect of KR-12-a5 on the various clinical MRSA growth was not elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of bioactive peptide KR-12-a5 on the growth of MRSA isolated from patients. Evaluation of KR-12-a5 peptide using antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed. Antimicrobial activity assay showed that the KR-12-a5 at 2-64 μM could inhibit the growth of S. aureus ATCC 29213 in the range of 55.0±0.8%-81.0±6.2%. In case of KR-12-a5 treatment at 2, 4, and 8 μM, growth of all twenty clinical MRSA isolates could be inhibited less than 90% in the range of 0.0-75.9±1.6%, 0.0-73.0±4.2%, and 0.0-77.1±1.7%, respectively. Whereas the treatment of those at 16, 32, and 64 μM, growth of clinical MRSA could be significantly inhibited more than 90% (p < 0.05) in the range of 94.3±6.7%-100.4±0.4% in 3 isolates (15%), 97.3±0.3%-99.5±0.2% in 4 isolates (20%), and 91.6±0.8%-99.0±0.1% in 9 isolates (45%), respectively. These findings indicated that the KR-12-a5 effectively controls growth of both S. aureus ATCC 29213 and clinical MRSA isolates

The objectives of this research are twofold: 1) to compare the effectiveness before and after using a dialogue-based English speaking skills training model for effective communication, and 2) to identify guidelines for adjusting the English speaking skills training model using the Random Forest technique suited to students enrolled in the English for communication course at Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok. The methodology were 1) a dialogue-based English speaking skills assessment questionnaire, and 2) observation of English speaking behaviour for communication. The research findings indicated that the average scores before implementing the speaking skills training model were 3.11, which was considered good. After the training, the average scores increased to 4.30, indicating a significantly higher level of proficiency. The statistical test yielded a t-value of 15.871. Therefore, it could be concluded that the English speaking skills training model significantly enhanced students' English communication abilities at a significance level of .05. Regarding the guidelines for adjusting the English speaking skills training model using the Random Forest technique, the data classification results demonstrated an accuracy rate of 86.78%, a recall rate of 85.4%, and a precision rate of 83.13%. Additionally, 18 rules were identified as having significant correlations. The adjusted training model focused on various topics, including Greetings, Feelings and Emotions, Health, Asking for and Giving Directions, Weather, and University Life.

This work aims to investigate the interaction of charged particles (alpha and proton) with the CeBr3 scintillator by using Monte Carlo simulation. The total mass stopping power (TMSP), projected range, ion distributions, and ion ranges in the CeBr3 at an energy range of 0.01 - 10,000 , were computed by SRIM and FLUKA programs. The simulation results show that the TMSP of CeBr3 obtained by both programs is in good agreement. The alpha particle has a higher TMSP of the CeBr3 than the proton. The projected range of alpha and proton particles increases with increasing energy. The projected range of the proton is higher than that of the alpha particle when compared at the same energy. Finally, the 2D visualization of ion distributions and ion ranges for alpha and proton particles was reported.
 
 

The frequent collapse of concrete structures (Buildings, Bridges and Culverts) these days in the global construction industries has led to claiming of many innocent lives. From the literature perspective, the observed major causes of this failure are the errors developed from the programmed structural software; the method used in running the software, its usage error during the analysis and design of structural members; and possibly, error committed by unskill personnel while using the structural software. Allowing the continuity of these errors in the construction industries will cause greater damages to lives and properties globally, thus; a more accurate and reliable design software has to be developed to eradicate errors occurrence in structural design. The results of this investigation proved that Microsoft Excel sheet is accurate for structural members’ analysis and design; good for accurate calculation in designing, it can be access quick; so reliable, and error free. Its application in construction industries will bring accuracy and stability to designed structures, and more lives will be saved. As a case study, the architectural plans of Maryland Catholic Grammar School, Ogbomoso (MARCGSO)’s principal lodge building was used as a prototype to show how efficient is Microsoft Excel in structural analysis. At MARCGSO, this has been tested and found reliable. During the investigation, the structural details of the designed concrete structural members were carried out using AUTOCAD software. Analysis and design of members were carried out from the basic principle of structural design using BS 8110 part 1:1999. The result shows that, Microsoft Excel and BS 8110 part 1:1999 code are the best design tools needed for analysis and design of structural members. It is very fast, accurate and error free. Also, the output of analysis carried out using Microsoft Excel are traceable, amendable and reliable, thus, its application in designing will prevent sudden structural failure. Likewise, it is very easy for young and structural engineers to operate, thus, its application can be done by: open a fresh Microsoft Excel sheet, get BS 8110 part 1:1999 code of structural design, prepare a general arrangement of architectural plan of structure to design, then follow the step by step of designing stated in this study. It required no application download or software purchase. In conclusion, the use of Microsoft Excel in structural analysis and designing will save many lives and prevent sudden collapse of structures resulting from wrong code or software error.

This research aims to develop bio- based nurseries or plant pots that contain soil nourishment from agricultural waste, namely rice straw. Tapioca starch glue as a binder was mixed with rice straw and then pressed by a hydraulic compression machine to form the sheet. To promote soil nourishment, the straw was fermented. The fermentations with and without enzyme assistance were compared as well as the fermentation time. The tensile strength of the specimens was assessed through a tensile test, revealing a surprising increase in strength with fermentation. The key distinction between the specimens with and without enzyme assistance was the time it took to reach the maximum value. Without the presence of enzyme, the specimens reached a maximum tensile strength of 0. 67 MPa after 7 days of fermentation. For fermentation with enzyme assistance, this value increased to 0. 81 MPa but required 14 days of fermentation to reach its maximum point. Not only the fermentation duration but also the inclusion of enzymes showed a slightly impact on water absorption and water swelling. Spectrophotometry was employed to analyze the value of phosphorus ( P) and potassium ( K) , while the amount of nitrogen ( N) was determined by the Kjeldahl method. As expected, soil nourishment can be promoted by fermentation and boosted by enzymes. The sheet from straw fermented with the enzyme at 21 days gives thehighest soil nourishment, i.e., 17.90%w/w for total K2O, 0.40%w/w for total P2O5, and 1.89%w/w for total N.

Gun-related violence in Thailand is in a high rate. Resume reports showed that most of them caused by gun-shooting.Thus, Firearms and bullets are important evidence in the judicial process to link the events and the perpetrators.Therefore, the aim of this study was to present the system recognizes the digital image of pistol shell casings by developing algorithms combined with deep learning. The objectives of this forensic study were to 1) analyze, design, and develop a Pistol Identification System (PIS) based on breech face marks of cartridge case digital images, and 2) achieve a guideline or an alternative method for facilitating an expert to investigate firearms linked to the offender. In this research the PIS that was designed with programming language applied to develop algorithms for identification of the breech face marks of cartridge case digital images. In addition to that, MATLAB’s tools were applied in the deep learning process to achieve the final PIS model. The steps of deep learning technique were composed of designing a training and repeat the experiments over multiple cycles (Epoch) for the purpose of confirming, test and adjust the proportions of the hidden layers until reaching the ratio of 80:10:10 and accomplishing a satisfied averaged accuracy rate. The PIS model was subsequently used for comparison and predict the image pair through database management technology. Materials used in this study were composed of 50,000 images of rear plates of .38 Cartridge case, Camera, Mobile Phone, Computer, MATLAB language and Microsoft Access software. The findings showed that the PIS developed is of satisfactory accuracy capable of accurately matching the pairs of images stored in the database and could also be traced back to the gun used at the scene and gun owners. The results of this study would apply as the alternative or guideline to PIS and even would help forensic practitioners to cross-checking and investigating firearms in relation to the offender.

Hafnium oxide layer was deposited on unheated silicon wafer and glass substrates at different power by using RF magnetron sputtering technique. The structural property was investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, HfO2 structure in monoclinic major phase especially at high RF power was found from the Raman spectra in vibrational modes. In addition, oxidations state of hafnium oxide thin films was gained by synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) using Hf L3-edge of XANES techniques and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well. The XANES and XPS results show that the oxidation state of HfO2 films is unchanged at different powers. The thin film prepared at higher power tends to have lower of oxygen vacancy.

The objective of this research aims to study the surface modification of acrylic for superhydrophobic applications. The acrylics were modified using annealing at 50, 75 and 100 °C for 1 h. To evaluate the effect of etching on the morphology of acrylic substrates, two different acids between tetrahydrofuran (THF) and chloroform with their concentration of 99.8 % v/v were used to etch for 1 min. Then, the annealed acrylics were etched by THF because chloroform has highly hazardous acid and low transparency after etching. The effects of annealing and wet chemical etching on morphology, optical properties and wettability can be characterized using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Vickers hardness tester, UV/Vis spectroscopy and water contact angle measurement. This result exhibits that the hardness of acrylic increases with the increase of annealing temperature. Furthermore, the wet chemical etching has direct affected to the wettability of acrylics due to the increasing of surface roughness.

Slip casting is a ceramic processing technique which can be used to produce complex-shape ceramic object. In the present work, slip casting was applied to produce the 70 mm × 10 mm × 15 mm green samples from recycled soda-lime glass. The slip with 60% solid loading was prepared from 100 g of recycled cullet, 1 g of sodium silicate as a binder, 50 ml of DI water, and 16.7 ml of deflocculant. The deflocculant for slip casting was 0.1 wt% sodium tripolyphosphate solution. After slip casting, the samples were dried at room temperature for 3 days. Then the samples were sintered at 680, 700, and 720 °C with the soaking time of 1 and 2 hrs with 5 °C/min heating rate. The results from statistical analysis showed that there was a high variation on flexural strength which should be from the high closed porosity and high pore-size variation of the samples. Therefore, our glass produced from slip casting is not suitable for load bearing applications. However, this technique still can be used to produce other art products such as Buddha amulets.