Observation of extensive bed of giant mangrove whelk in Minicoy, Lakshadweep

Terebralia palustris (Linnaeus, 1767) is a species of Caenogastropod belonging to the family Potamididae, distributed widely in Indo-Pacific region and African coast. An extensive bed of T. palustris approximately 500 m long and 70 m wide, appearing like a canal stretching into the beach was observed along the south west coast of Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Associated with Diarrhea in Children in Cairo, Egypt

In this study we isolate and identify the Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) causing diarrhea in children less than five years in Cairo, Egypt, during different seasons. Children younger than five years with diarrhea, attending the Pediatric Gastroenterology Intensive Care Unit of the Cairo University Pediatric Hospital in one year period were our group of study. Our control group was age and sex matched concurrent healthy children. The identified E. coli isolates were subjected to antimicrobial disc diffusion susceptibility test and further identified for EPEC serotype by slide agglutination test, using antiserum E. coli somatic trivalent I (O111, O55, O26) according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Out of 134 patients 5.2% of them revealed EPEC in the fecal sample, while the 20 children control group showed no EPEC isolates in their samples. Our EPEC frequency showed variations from the compared results of other studies. Higher rate of EPEC (18.7%) was found in patients between 2 to 3 years, while EPEC rate was (7.5%) in patients less than 6 months old, with P < 0.05. EPEC was identified from fecal specimens as a unique pathogen or associated with other pathogens in acute and chronic diarrhea in children. EPEC were detected in all seasons except in winter, and was predominant in summer season. Four (57%) EPEC isolates were resistant to ampicillin, ticarcillin, and cotrimoxazole, and (14.3%) to the third generation cephalosporins

Experimental and numerical investigations of composite concrete steel flexural members with angle shear connectors under negative moment

Experimental and numerical research has been conducted to investigate the role of using angle shear connectors as a replacement of headed stud (HS) on the performance of the composite beams under the effect of the negative bending moment (NBM). The replacement was done by using the same cross-section area for both connectors. A total of five specimens were fabricated and tested under the effect of NBM. Shear connector type, bond interaction (partial and full), and angle shear connectors arrangement were considered as the main parameters. A finite element model (FEM) was built using commercial software for modeling the composite beams. The experimental results, the ultimate strength decreased by 4.12% for single angle shear connectors, compared to the specimens with HS shear connectors. The numerical results showed a good agreement with the experimental results in terms of load-displacement relation and mode of failure

Polymer stabilization of the smectic C-alpha* liquid crystal phase—Over tenfold thermal stabilization by confining networks of photo-polymerized reactive mesogens

The smectic C*-alpha (SmCa*) phase is one of the sub-phases of ferroelectric liquid crystals that has drawn much interest due to its electro-optical properties and ultrafast switching. Generally observed above the ferroelectric SmC* phase in temperature, the SmCa* commonly shows only very narrow phase temperature range of a few degree Celsius. To broaden the SmCa* phase, polymer stabilization was investigated for thermal phase stabilization. Two different reactive monomers were tested in three mixtures, and all three broadened the temperature range of the SmCa* phase from 3 C to 39 C. The current reversal method was used to determine the phase existence versus temperature. Moreover, the texture and network structure was studied by polarized optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, with the latter revealing the confinement of the smectic layer structure within the porous polymer network

Detection of AFM1 in Milk and Some Dairy Products in Iraq using different techniques

The 130 samples of milk and some dairy products were randomly collected from Baghdad markets from September 2014 to June 2015 and distributes into imported and local samples include: liquid and powder milk, white and soft cheese in addition to yoghurt. The samples were analyzed to qualitative and quantitative detection of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) using different techniques {Thin layer chromatography- TLC (qualitative), High performance liquid chromatography- HPLC and Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay- ELISA (quantitative}. The positive results (contaminated with AFM1),  showed  as 50 (38.5%), 65 (50 %) and 70 (53.8%) respectively,  furthermore,  yogurt and cheese showed more contamination with AFM1 than other products and the highest concentration of AFM1 in the local cheese reached 300.7ng/L and 939.67ng/L when detected with HPLC and ELISA techniques respectively. We concluded that ELISA technique was found to be most advisable for detection of low-level AFM1 contamination in milk and dairy products . On other side the local products were contaminated with AFM1 than imported products , in addition to  yogurt and cheese were more contaminated with AFM1 than other samples. Key words: Detection, AFM1, TLC, HPLC , ELISA, Milk, Dairy Products, Ira

Evaluation the Non-Thermal Plasma Application Activity in AFB1 Detoxification

Contamination raw agricultural materials has been a food safety concern for human and animals. A non thermal plasma or cold plasma  is a novel antimicrobial intervention, that can be reduce the level of aflatoxin B1(AFB1) in complete cow's feed samples .AFB1 are carcinogenic compound produce primarily by two certain strain of Aspergillus include A. flavus and A. parasiticus , the  contamination of feed is arise for  animals health. Fifty samples from complete cow's feed were designated into imported 15 samples and local 35 samples , obtained randomly from different region in Baghdad from March 2014 to February 2015. Samples were tested for AFB1 by ELISA and HPLC technique and exposure to application cold plasma protocol to treatment of AFB1 contamination the samples in different time (5, 10 and 15) seconds at 3.5 cm between the plasma source and samples then tested by ELISA and HPLC. There are appears the best time successful in reducing levels of toxin at 10 sec. in local samples 3.12, 0.05 ng / g imported samples 1.21, 6.19 ng / g in HPLC and ELISA. In local and imported samples at 10 sec and that was 15 sec less time periods ability to reduce toxin level in local and imported samples, that indicated the length of exposure to NTP application is not necessary to reduce toxin level. According to the study we observed that the results from ELISA method were more sensitive, accuracy and simplicity when compared with results from HPLC technique. Keyword: Cold plasma, decontamination,AFB1, HPLC, ELISA

Record of double operculum in silver conch

Lentigo lentiginosus Linnaeus, 1758 is a caenogastropod belonging to the family Strombidae. The species is found in coral reefs and shallow parts of lagoon and widely distributed across Indo-Pacific region. The shells are moderately large, solid with a characteristic deep stromboid notch, and a flared,very thick and posteriorly expanded outer lip with a pinkish cream aperture and glossy parietal wall. Size of the shell varies from 55 to 104 mm in length and used in shell crafts industry

Role of the Sunda shelf biogeographic barrier in the cryptic differentiation of Conus litteratus (Gastropoda: Conidae) across the Indo-Pacific region

Geographical and oceanographic processes have influenced the speciation of marine organisms. Cone snails are marine mollusks that show high levels of endemism and a wide distributional range across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Discontinuities in distributions caused by biogeographic barriers can affect genetic connectivity. Here we analysed the connectivity within Conus litteratus using samples from the Lakshadweep archipelago (Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean) and from the Pacific Ocean. Maximum likelihood analyses based on the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) and on the non-coding 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) genes revealed cryptic diversity within C. literatus occupying distinct oceanographic regions. The intraspecific genetic distances between the two distinct clades of C. literatus from the Arabian Sea and the Pacific Ocean ranged from 7.4% to 7.6% for COI and from 2.4% to 2.8% for 16S rRNA genes, which is larger than the threshold limit for interspecific differentiation. The haplotype network analysis also corroborated the existence of two different lineages within C. litteratus. The detected genetic discontinuities reflect the effect of the Sunda shelf biogeographic barrier on the allopatric divergence of C. litteratus

Cone Snails of India

Molecular taxonomy and phylogeny of cones (cone snails) and strombs (Mollusca, Gastropoda) of the Indian coas