Phytochemical Screening and Elemental Analysis of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Datura innoxia Seeds and Leaves

The present study is aimed to screen the phytochemicals analysis and elements content of Datura innoxia seeds and leaves. The aqueous and methanol extracts were carried out by using the maceration method and soxhlet apparatus, respectively. Results of the study of Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of a high concentration of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpines, and low concentration of saponin and coummarins. The elements in the leaves and seeds (K, Ca, S, Si, Cl, Fe, Al, P, Mg, Ti, Mn, Zn, Sr, Cu, V, Br, and Zr) were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. K content was the highest in seeds (5.469 ± 0.021%), Ca and S the highest in leaves (2.461 ± 0.019 %, 1.254 ± 0.022 %, respectively). The elements Ti, Mn, Sr, V, Br, and Zr were detected in the leaves with range concentration 0.062-0.002 %. The elements Si, Cl, Fe, Al, P, Mg, and Zn concentration in seeds varied from 0.002 to 0.942% and in leaves varied from 0.014 to 0.346%. The concentration of these elements did not exceed the standard of dangerous toxic levels

Rockall score of the acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding patients the experience in Sudan

subjective evaluation of outcome of patient treatment.Objectives: To predict the morbidity and mortality in patients presenting with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding at Ibn-Sina Hospital using the Rockall score.Patients and methods: Prospective hospital-based study conducted from June 2007 through December 2007 at the Ibn-Sina Hospital Bleeding Centre. Demographic, data of history and physical examination and results of laboratory investigations of 238 patients were collected and allotted a Rockall score, Child-Pugh class and fed to Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) to calculate means and find the levels of statistical differences and define the predicted and observed mortality rates.Results: The mean (±SD) age 44.6 (±15.31) range (8 - 85) years. There were 190 (79%) males. Patients with oesophageal varices, peptic ulcer, and upper GI tumours were 215 (90.3%), 18 (7.6%), and 5 (2.1%) respectively.The mean predicted mortality was 3.8% while the actual observed mortality 3.8%. The mortality in cases of oesophageal varices was 8(3.4%), while that of bleeding peptic ulcers was one (0.4%).Conclusion: Rockall score is feasible, accurate, effective system for predicting outcome in patients with upper GI bleeding. The risk factor for mortality are Rockall score >3, age >70 and rebleeding.Key words: Mortality, morbidity, upper GIT bleeding, Rockall score

Neurological manifestaions among Sudanese patients with multiple myeloma

Background: Multiple myeloma may involve the nervous system at every level, including the neuromuscular junction, peripheral nerve, plexus, spinal nerve root, spinal cord, meninges, and brain. Such involvement may be primary or secondary, as well as non-invasive paraneoplastic effects.Objective: To find out the perevalence and pattern of CNS manifestations in Sudanese patients with multiple myeloma seen in Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital and Khartoum Nuclear Hospital.Methodology: This is a prospective descriptive cross sectional, hospital based study. It was conducted in Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital and Khartoum Nuclear Hospital in the period from June2009 to June 2010. 50 patients with multiple myeloma were included in the study.Results: Males were more than females with ratio of 2.8:1. The common (36%) age of presentation was between 55-64 years. There was increased incidence of multiple myeloma in patients from the west of Sudan. Farmers and free workers had high incidence of multiple myeloma (34% and 27%respectively). The study demonstrated that the most common non-  neurological symptoms was locomotor symptoms (24%) ,while the most common neurological symptoms were backache and neck pain .The most common neurological findings were cord compression (8%) followed by peripheral neuropathy (2%) and CVA (2%). 22% of patients completed treatment with good response, 12% with partial response, 18% with no response and 48% are still on treatment.Conclusion: CNS involvement among our studied group was not  uncommon.Keywords: neuromuscular, paraneoplastic, monoclonal immunoglobulin

Poetry by HopeTowns: Creative Writing Project with Refugees

A curated selection of eight poems taken from Hopetowns - a community of refugees and volunteers. Hopetowns have recently undertaken a creative writing project and included here are a curated collection of poems, stories and memories as part of our creative writing project, which formed part of the Hopetowns `Past, Present and Future: From Sudan and Syria to London With Love’ Publication. The full `Past, Present and Future: From Sudan and Syria to London With Love’ publication along with the individual poems and stories are also available as part of a curated exhibition on the Living Refugee Archive, available at https://www.livingrefugeearchive.org/archives/hopetowns-poetry-archive/

Microbial Contamination of Date Rutab Collected from the Markets of Al-Hofuf City in Saudi Arabia

The microbial contamination of 60 samples from six date cultivars in the rutab stage purchased from different retail outlets in AL-Hofuf City, Saudi Arabia was studied. All samples were found contaminated with aerobic mesophilic bacteria at loads in the order 102 to 105 cfu/cm2 with some significant differences among varieties that can be attributed to differences in the weather conditions during rutab season. Also all samples, except only one, were contaminated with molds and yeasts at loads in the order 102 to 103 cfu/cm2. Potentially pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 57 samples and A. flavus/parasiticus in 13 samples, while coliforms were detected in 39 samples

Reducing greenhouse energy consumption using novelty rooftop: a simulation

Recently, more than 80% of total energy of commercial greenhouse in the northern hemisphere is used just for heating. Mostly, the energy loss happens up to 40% caused by the poor U-value of the façades. Therefore, by lowering the U-value would decrease the energy consumption significantly. This simulation is conducted using EnergyPlus software to calculate the heat loss, heating demand and daylighting of a greenhouse with different envelope materials especially novelty rooftop. The orientation of buildings and its effect to electricity generated by semi-transparent PV double glazing are also discussed. In addition, the effect of the novel rooftop to daylighting inside the greenhouse is also investigated. The simulation shows that use materials with low U-value and novel rooftop could decrease the source energy consumption by 65% which is remarkable compared to commercial greenhouse. Besides, the best orientation for the PV module of the greenhouse in Nottingham, UK is facing west-south-east. While the indoor daylighting factor declined up to 65%. Therefore, using PVs with high efficiency would diminish the electricity losses and could be used for lighting energy alternative and others

Recent passive technologies of greenhouse systems: a review

There are 130 countries produces greenhouse vegetables commercially with more than 1.1 million acres in 2016. Most of the greenhouses deal with high operating costs due to the great energy needs. The high heat loss because of the greenhouse envelope material is responsible for the high energy demand in greenhouses. Nevertheless, each area having a specific need which affects to the energy level and conventional greenhouse technologies tend to have poor U-values. It causes energy for heating is very dominant up to 85% of the total greenhouse energy demand in cold climates countries. While, for the hot climate countries the energy for cooling is more prevalent. Therefore, this paper presents the latest technological developments used in greenhouses in various countries used to control the microclimate in the greenhouse focusing on passive techniques. It is found that PCM recently used to provide heating and cooling for Mediterranean climate. Moreover, closed greenhouse concept based system for Northern climatic improves the reduction energy demands by 80% with a potential payback of 6 years. Additionally, for most countries double glazing envelopes to be the most frequently powerful to increase the greenhouse performance

Study of Environmental Pollution Rustling from Balhaf Liquid Natural Gas Station Using Spectroscopy Analysis, Shabwah Governorate – Yemen

The present work aimed to determine the contaminants in soil resulting due to emissions that come from natural gas in the station of Balhaf which is it LNG project in Shabowah Gov, Republic of Yemen. Total 20 samples soil samples were collected at depth of approximately (0-10 cm) from different locations from the Balhaf natural gas station. These samples were analyzed by Laser Breakdown Plasma Spectroscopy (LIBS) to determine the samples toxic elements. The components of the toxic elements present in the soil samples were further confirmed by spectroscopic technique induced coupled plasma (ICP) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The LIBS spectra showed the presence of different amounts of elements, including radioactive and toxic elements such as (Ac, Pu, Th, U) and (Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Tl, Zn), in all of the soil samples. The concentrations of the elements were calculated by ICP spectroscopy. The average concentrations of elements in the samples appeared to be 410 ppb for Al, 1.9 ppb for Ba, 2.6 ppb for Cd,2.7 ppb for Co, 2.3 ppb for Cr, 257 ppb for Cu, 30 ppb for Mn, 6,8 ppb for Ni, 63 ppb for Th, 56 ppb for Tl and 6.1 ppb for Zn, but these values did not exceed normal levels for these elements in earth crust according to reference values such as ATSDR 2020, IAEA, 200. The presence of a high concentration of toxic elements in the soil around the natural gas facility, that indicates the presence of emissions from this facility that leads to the accumulation of these elements in the soil