Search

Foodcrafts, active in Benin, offer a variety of products including akandji. It is a traditional bread made of corn consumed in South Benin. This work aimed to achieving a technological and socio-economic study related to akandji production and marketing activities in Benin. To do this, the methodology adopted was to conduct a pre-survey and a survey in the form of semi-structured interviews based on a questionnaire in the communes of Abomey, Bohicon and Ouidah (Pahou). After that, production monitoring was carried out with the three oldest akandji producers. The results showed that the production and sale of akandji were secular, exclusively female activities practised by women from Fon socio-cultural and sociolinguistic group. The profit per kg received by akandji producers in Abomey (266 XOF) was similar to that received by akandji producers in Pahou (256 XOF). The daily receipts for weekends and holidays were higher than those for working days in the survey localities. Furthermore, the results of the technological study showed that akandji manufacturing process in Abomey differs from that of Pahou. This process in Abomey involved the malting operation unlike that of Pahou. Fermentation times (12h), cooking times (1h) and production times (6 days) in Abomey exceeded fermentation times (1h30min), cooking times (45min) and production times (6h) in Pahou. In contrast, the fermentation (27oC) and cooking (100 oC) temperatures of akandji at Abomey were lower than those of fermentation (31oC) and cooking (178oC) in Pahou. The production of akandji is a profitable activity that strengthens the social status of the producer and ensures important socio-community functions by providing an appropriate local food for traditional rites and festivals and maintains sales markets firmly rooted in society.

Foodcrafts, active in Benin, offer a variety of products including akandji. It is a traditional bread made of corn consumed in South Benin. This work aimed to achieving a technological and socio-economic study related to akandji production and marketing activities in Benin. To do this, the methodology adopted was to conduct a pre-survey and a survey in the form of semi-structured interviews based on a questionnaire in the communes of Abomey, Bohicon and Ouidah (Pahou). After that, production monitoring was carried out with the three oldest akandji producers. The results showed that the production and sale of akandji were secular, exclusively female activities practised by women from Fon socio-cultural and sociolinguistic group. The profit per kg received by akandji producers in Abomey (266 XOF) was similar to that received by akandji producers in Pahou (256 XOF). The daily receipts for weekends and holidays were higher than those for working days in the survey localities. Furthermore, the results of the technological study showed that akandji manufacturing process in Abomey differs from that of Pahou. This process in Abomey involved the malting operation unlike that of Pahou. Fermentation times (12h), cooking times (1h) and production times (6 days) in Abomey exceeded fermentation times (1h30min), cooking times (45min) and production times (6h) in Pahou. In contrast, the fermentation (27oC) and cooking (100 oC) temperatures of akandji at Abomey were lower than those of fermentation (31oC) and cooking (178oC) in Pahou. The production of akandji is a profitable activity that strengthens the social status of the producer and ensures important socio-community functions by providing an appropriate local food for traditional rites and festivals and maintains sales markets firmly rooted in society. &nbsp

Simulation tools have come a long way for assisting and in providing comparative study between analytical and experimental results. Many software tools have assisted the researchers in overcoming the costlier affairs associated with experimentation while developing new and novel materials. J-OCTA (JSOL Corporation) is a novel software which facilitates validation of the results obtained. J-OCTA deals with molecular dynamics as an output from which glass transition temperature (Tg), stress–strain curve, phase separation, rheological properties, and physical and mechanical properties can be extracted. The present work focuses on finding an alternative novel biomaterial for denture-based applications. For the past eight decades the dental industry is ruled by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). This material does have many shortfalls such as early staining, low color stability, less impact resistance, higher wear rate, lower resistance to fracture or distortion, insufficient surface hardness, and biocompatibility. The objective of the present work is to develop an ecofriendly alternative biomaterial of limpet teeth (aquatic snails teeth—a composition of chitin+goethite), polylactic acid, and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (nonbiomaterial) for the substitution of denture base material, that is, PMMA. Basic and advanced properties of each material were extracted along with their chemical structure using J-OCTA software. Further experimental tests were carried out on the specimens developed using aforementioned materials to determine mechanical properties as per ASTM standard and to correlate the same with J-OCTA and ANSYS Workbench results. As an extension, a typical denture base solid model was built using CATIA DASSAULT SYSTEMS in 3D experience platform 2018 version. Model was tested for worst case scenario by assigning novel identified materials and compared with simulation-based softwares. There were more than 13 parameters around which the entire outcomes were discussed. The outcome of both experimental and simulation works using J-OCTA and ANSYS Workbench, respectively, were in good agreement. The future scope of the work will involve both bio and nonbiomaterials using advanced simulation studies as well as clinical test trials with in-vivo and in-vitro studies.

Evaluation of pain in human neonate is complex and difficult because pain is a subjective phenomenon. Neonates cannot verbalize pain rather they express through cry and body movements. However measurement of pain provides a value of pain. There is no gold standard in pain assessment tool. JCAHO recommends selection of a valid and reliable and also age appropriate pain assessment tool.To determine the interobserver reliabity and clinical utility of NIPS scale To analyze the inter-rater reliability, reproducibility of NIPS scale between three observers prospective observation study was designed to establish reliability and validity of NIPS among 27 neonates who underwent venipuncture, Hepatitis vaccination (intramuscular) and heel prick at a tertiary care level III NICU. The baseline data and behavioral responses to procedural pain were rated by three observers trained in NIPS scale.At the end of 100 observation across the various time intervals and three phases, inter-rater reliability of NIPS scale among the three observers were. 82,.81,.75. Acceptable psychometric properties are reported for the tool which includes cronbach's alpha levels of. 9,.85,.9 between the observers. CNIPS was found to be highly reliable and valid multidimensional scale and practical and has good clinical utility.

Recent trends in wireless sensor networks leads to the development of new protocols for data gathering. In this paper, a secure energy efficient location aware data gathering approach is introduced to secure data gathering. An Elliptic Curve Diffie Hellman Key Exchange (ECDHKE) algorithm is utilized for key generation and key exchange between the sensor nodes to maintain security and prevent the data from malicious nodes. The performance of the proposed scheme is validated in terms of packet drop, throughput, energy consumption, residual energy and network lifetime. The proposed scheme achieves better performance than the existing EEHA and SMART schemes.

Recent trends in wireless sensor networks leads to the development of new protocols for data gathering. In this paper, a secure energy efficient location aware data gathering approach is introduced to secure data gathering. An Elliptic Curve Diffie Hellman Key Exchange (ECDHKE) algorithm is utilized for key generation and key exchange between the sensor nodes to maintain security and prevent the data from malicious nodes. The performance of the proposed scheme is validated in terms of packet drop, throughput, energy consumption, residual energy and network lifetime. The proposed scheme achieves better performance than the existing EEHA and SMART schemes.

The insurance industry of India has started to reveal the potential after the process of reforms were started on the basis of recommendation of R.N. Malhotra Committee, which was set up in 1993 with an objective of creating a more efficient and competitive financial system suitable for the Indian economy. After the implementation of government policies on globalization and liberalization, the consumers have become more critical of the quality of service. Consumers are now very much aware of the alternatives available in relation to services and the provider organizations. The present study is an endeavor to examine the effect of reforms on the performance of the LIC, to assess the comparative service quality level of life insurance companies in India, analyze the effect of service quality on customer loyalty and finally to identify the gaps in the performance so as to make suggestions to improve the performance of the life insurance Industry in India.