Environmental mycobacteria in areas of high and low tuberculosis prevalence in the Islamic Republic of Iran

This research compared the numbers and types of different Mycobacterium species in soil samples taken from 2 areas of Golestan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1 with a high prevalence of tuberculosis and 1 with a low prevalence. From 220 samples, 91 grew positive cultures (41.4%) and 161 different strains were diagnosed. The most common species isolated were Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. flavescens and M. chelonae. The frequencies of environmental Mycobacterium in the low-prevalence area were much higher than in the high-prevalence area, perhaps due to different environmental factors

Single chip camera active pixel sensor

A totally digital single chip camera includes communications to operate most of its structure in serial communication mode. The digital single chip camera include a D/A converter for converting an input digital word into an analog reference signal. The chip includes all of the necessary circuitry for operating the chip using a single pin

Finance, foreign (direct) investment, and the Dutch disease: the case of Colombia

In recent years Colombia has grown relatively rapidly, but it has been a biased growth. The energy sector (the locomotora minero-energetica, to use the rhetorical expression of President Juan Manuel Santos) grew much faster than the rest of the economy, while the manufacturing sector registered a negative rate of growth. These are classic symptoms of the well-known ‘Dutch disease’, but our purpose here is not to establish whether the Dutch disease exists or not, but rather to shed some light on the financial viability of several, simultaneous dynamics: (i) the existence of a traditional Dutch Disease being due to a large increase in mining exports and a significant exchange rate appreciation; (ii) a massive increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in the mining sector; (iii) a rather passive monetary policy, aimed at increasing purchasing power via exchange rate appreciation; (iv) more recently, a large distribution of dividends from Colombia to the rest of the world and the accumulation of mounting financial liabilities. The paper will show that these dynamics constitute a potential danger for the stability of the Colombian economy. Some policy recommendations are also discussed

Dutch disease-cum-financialization booms and external balance cycles in developing countries

We formally investigate the medium-to-long-run dynamics emerging out of a Dutch disease-cum-financialization phenomenon. We take inspiration from the most recent Colombian development pattern. The “pure” Dutch disease first causes deindustrialization by permanently appreciating the economy’s exchange rate in the long run. Financialization, i.e. booming capital inflows taking place in a climate of natural resource-led financial over-optimism, causes medium-run exchange rate volatility and macroeconomic instability. This jeopardizes manufacturing development even further by raising macroeconomic uncertainty. We advise the adoption of capital controls and a developmentalist monetary policy to tackle these two distinct but often intertwined phenomena

The macroeconomics of a financial Dutch disease

We describe the medium-run macroeconomic effects and long-run development consequences of a financial Dutch disease that may take place in a small developing country with abundant natural resources. The first move is in financial markets. An initial surge in foreign direct investment targeting natural resources sets in motion a perverse cycle between exchange rate appreciation and mounting short- and medium-term capital flows. Such a spiral easily leads to exchange rate volatility, capital reversals, and sharp macroeconomic instability. In the long run, macroeconomic instability and overdependence on natural resource exports dampen the development of nontraditional tradable goods sectors and curtail labor productivity dynamics. We advise the introduction of constraints to short- and medium-term capital flows to tame exchange rate/capital flows boom-and-bust cycles. We support the implementation of a developmentalist monetary policy targeting competitive nominal and real exchange rates in order to encourage product and export diversification

FIELD TRIALS OF A SLOW-RELEASE COPPER MOLLUSCICIDE IN KHUZESTAN, SOUTH-WEST OF IRAN

In the field trials of slow-release nollusicide, copper content McCkechnie Chemical Inc. 30 cuso4 5H2o or 7.5 cupellet/sinking material 7 days release life were tested against the common aquatic snails bulinus truncatus, Physa acuta and Lymnaea gedrosiana in stagnant water bodies in Khuzestan province, south-west of Iran. Snail densities before treatment and 7 days after mollucicide application were determined by 10 deep nets per man. The results of the present trials as shown on tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 indicate that the effect of different concentration of copper based slow-relased mollnscicide (7.55 cu) is different for different species of aquatic snails. The maximum concentration to achieve 100 ppm. Mortality rate was 20 ppm for Lymnaea gedrosiana, 100ppm for physaacuta and over 120ppm for Bulinus truncatus. The high susceptibility of lymnaea snails to the chemical is very promising for the control of livestock trematodes infection in this area

Performance of Electrocoagulation Process for Removal of Sulphate Ion from Aqueous Environments Using Plate Aluminum Electrodes

Background and Objectives: Sulphate ion is one of the main ions available in natural and waste water. The high rate of sulphate in drinking water causes health problems such as irritation and digestive problems and makes water taste bitter. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of sulphate ion removal from drinking water through Electrocogualation process (EC) using plate aluminum electrodes.Methods: This study was conducted as a pilot plant using one glass tank in the volume of 1.3liter containing 6 plate aluminum electrodes. These electrodes were attached to a power supply in a mono-polar and parallel arrangement in order to switch the alternating current to the direct one. That is, each electrode was attached to positive and negative poles directly and alternately. The tank was filled with synthetic water containing sulphate ion with the concentration of 350 & 700mg/L. Percentage of sulphate ion removal in potential range of 10, 20 and 30 V, reaction times of 40, 20 and 60min and pH 7.0, 3.0 & 11.0 were measured.Results: In this study the maximum efficiency of sulphate ion removal was in the electrical potential of 30 V, reaction time of 60min and pH 11.0. With increase of ion concentration, the time needed to achieve a suitable efficiency of removal increased, that is, it indicated the direct effect of pH and difference of electrical potential on removal of sulphate ion through EC process.Conclusion: The results of this research show that Electrocogualation technology can be introduced as a suitable and promising technique to remove sulphate ion from aqueous environments using plate aluminum electrodes

Impact of Cocoa on Short Chain Fatty Acid Production From Ispaghula by Colonic Bacteria in Vitro

No abstract available

Efficiency of the Electrocoagulation Process with Alternating and Direct Current for Eliminating Lead from Battery Industry Wastewater by Using Metal Iron and Stainless Steel Electrodes

Introduction:Lead and zinc are among the most poisonous unnecessary heavy metals available in the environment and are among the first grade poisonous pollutants. In this study the efficiency of electrocoagulation process using alternating and direct current and iron and stainless steel rods for elimination of lead and zinc from battery industrial wastewater has been investigated. Methods:Wastewater samples were taken from the battery building industry. In the electrochemical cell, metal iron and stainless steel rod electrodes were used and were connected together serially and unipolarly to the feeding source. Results:By using alternating current, the elimination of lead and zinc was done successfully with iron electrodes and in the density of 6 mA/cm2 which were 96.7% and 95.2% and with stainless steel electrodes in density of 8 mA/cm2 which were 93.8% and 93.3% respectively. By using direct current, the optimum elimination of lead and zinc with iron electrodes leveled at 97.2% and 95.5% and in density of 6mA/cm2 and with stainless steel electrodes was equal to 93.2% and 92.5% in density of 8mA/cm2 respectively. Conclusion:The results from this research are in line with the results from other studies. According to the results, this process can be applied as a suitable method for a wide use of electrolyte reactors in industrial scale and for eliminating lead and zinc from aqueous environments