Evaluation of the Efficiency of Allium sativum and Alhagi maurorum Extracts as Antimicrobial Agent in Inhibiting Biofilm Formation of some Pathogenic Bacterial Species

مقدمة ان القدرة على تكوين الأغشية الحيوية من قبل الكائنات الدقيقة حيث يعد تكوين الغشاء الحيوي احد عوامل الضراوة وتستخدمها البكتيريا لإحداث المرض ويتم قياسها من خلال قياس الكثافة البصرية ، وهو مقياس لتقدير تركيز نمو الأنواع البكتيرية في الوسط الزرعي . طرق العمل تم تنشيط مزارع بكتيرية لست عزلات بكتيرية مختلفة من S. Serratia marcescens و Klebsilla pnemoniae و Enterococcus cloacea ، Eshcherchia coli ، Staphylococcus aureus ، Psedomonas aeruginosa  من المخزون المجمد والتي تم تشخيصها باستخدام جهاز VITEK 2 Densi ,بعدها تم تحضير المستخلصات النباتية من Allium sativum و Alhagi maurorum لاختبار تأثير هذه المستخلصات النباتية على العزلات البكتيرية قيد الدراسة . تم قياس الكثافة الضوئية باستخدام جهاز المطياف الضوئي بطول موجي 490 نانوميتر قبل وبعد معاملة العزلات البكتيرية بالمستخلصين A.sativum and A. maurorum . النتائج وجد أن قدرة K. pnemoniae و S. marcescens و E. cloacea على تكوين الغشاء الحيوي قد انخفضت و بلغت الامتصاصية 0.52 ± 0.01 ، 0.66 ± 0.03 ، 0.8 ± 0.01 على التوالي. ولوحظ تأثير مستخلص A. maurorum على E. cloacea ، E. coli ، حيث انخفضت قدرتها على تكوين الغشاء الحيوي وبلغت الامتصاصية 0.66 ± 0.01،0.66 ± 0.005 على التوالي . الاستنتاجات يعد تكوين الأغشية الحيوية أحد عوامل الضراوة التي تساعد الكائنات الحية الدقيقة على مقاومة البيئة التي توجد فيها ومقاومة المضادات الحيوية. لذلك ، يتم استخدام المستخلصات النباتية الطبية كبديل ، والتي ثبت أنها تمنع نمو بعض أنواع البكتيريا المسببة للأمراض.Background:            The ability to form biofilms by microorganisms is one of the virulence factors used by bacteria to cause disease and is measured by measuring optical density (O.D), which is a measure to estimate the concentration of bacterial species growing in the culture media. Materials and Methods:           The bacterial cultures of six different bacterial isolates of S. marcescens and Klebsilla    pnemoniae , Enterococcus cloacea , Eshcherchia coli , Staphylococcus aureus, Psedomonas aeruginosa were reconstituted from frozen stock, which diagnosed by using VITEK 2 Densi screening tool, then plant extracts  of Allium sativum and Alhagi maurorum were prepared to test the effect of these extracts on the bacterial isolates under study.Optical density was measured using a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 490 nm before and after treatment of the bacterial isolates with the two extracts A.sativum and A. maurorum . Results:          The ability of K. pnemoniae , S. marcescens and E. cloacea, to form biofilm reduced with absorption value 0.52±0.01, 0.66±0.03, 0.8±0.01 respectively, and the ability to form biofilm from E. cloacea , E. coli after adding A. maurorum extract was decreased and the absorbance value reached 0.66±0.01,0.66±0.005 respectively after being treated with A. maurorum extract. Conclusion:        Biofilm formation is one of the virulence factors that helps microorganisms resist the environment in which they exist and resist antibiotics. Therefore, medicinal plant extracts are used as an alternative, which have been shown to inhibit the growth of some pathogenic bacterial species

The Motorcycle Design Parameter Database (MDPD) for Different Motorcycle Models

AbstractGlobally, motorcycle road accidents are increasing annually. Among the efforts in overcoming this dire scenario, motorcycle simulators were developed. The Postura MotergoTM which was developed by researchers at the Motorcycle Engineering Technology Lab (METAL) is an example of such simulators. The Postura MotergoTM has a unique capability in replicating various riding postures according to the Riding Posture Classification (RIPOC) system. However, there is the need for a novel database that gives information on the workstation design parameters of various motorcycles. Hence, a specifically built mannequin (the D5EM110N) was developed as a tool to measure various workstation dimensions on actual motorcycles. As of April 2015, the mannequin's design is being filed for an intellectual property (IP) protection. The motorcycles’ design parameters which were collected via the D5EM110N mannequin was then tabulated into the Motorcycle Design Parameter Database (MDPD). The database is then could be utilized to set up the Postura MotergoTM to accurately replicate the desired motorcycle model's workstation design parameters. This is vital in ensuring that the motorcycle simulator could accurately simulate an immersive user experience to the subject in utilizing the desired motorcycle model. By having this novel database and mannequin design, researchers have greater opportunity in conducting various studies in a controlled laboratory setting with respect to motorcycle workstation designs and its possible connection with road accidents

A Review on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) in Broadband Wireless Access

OFDMA is the basis of future broadband access, due to its many inherent advantages such as scalability and fine granularity for multi-user access. OFDMA is a multi-user version of the popular Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation scheme. Multiple accesses are achieved in OFDMA by assigning subsets of subcarriers to individual users. The purpose of this paper is to review on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) in broadband wireless access. The review analysis is purely based on OFDMA Uplink system, OFDMA Cognitive Radio Networks, OFDAM cellular networks and the OFDMA interference. Some of the challenges faced in a multi-carrier OFDM/OFDMA system are dynamic resource allocation which requires the exact knowledge of channel status that is not always easy to be obtained. This paper reviewed a wide range of challenges faced by OFDMA and their suggested solutions extensively. Apart from that a thorough comparison analysis between different techniques is studied and presented in this paper

Balanced dual-segment cylindrical dielectric resonator antennas for ultra-wideband applications.

yesIn this paper, balanced dual segment cylindrical dielectric antennas (CDRA) with ultra wide-band operation are reported. First a T-shaped slot and L-shaped microstrip feeding line are suggested to furnish a balanced coupling mechanism for feeding two DRAs. Performance of the proposed antenna was analyzed and optimized against the target frequency band. The proposed antenna was then modified by adding a C-shaped strip to increase the gain. The performances of both balanced antennas were characterized and optimized in terms of antenna reflection coefficient, radiation pattern, and gain. The antennas cover the frequency range from 6.4 GHz to 11.736 GHz, which is 58.7% bandwidth. A maximum gain of 2.66 dB was achieved at a frequency of 7 GHz with the first antenna, with a further 2.25 dB increase in maximum gain attained by adding the C-shaped strip. For validation, prototypes of the two antennas were fabricated and tested. The predicted and measured results showed reasonable agreement and the results confirmed good impedance bandwidth characteristics for ultra-wideband operation from both proposed balanced antennas

Investigating the effect of GaCl3 incorporation into the usual CdCl2 treatment on CdTe-based solar cell device structures

The incorporation of GaCl3 into the usual CdCl2 post-deposition treatment solution of CdTe-based solar cells has been investigated. Both CdS and CdTe layers used in this work were prepared by electroplating technique and they are n-type in electrical conduction as observed from photoelectrochemical cell measurement technique. Before applying the chemical treatments to the device structures, the effect of GaCl3 incorporation into the usual CdCl2 treatment was first studied on the structural and optical properties of CdTe thin films. The results of the optical properties show that the bandgap of CdTe thin films treated with a mixture of GaCl3 + CdCl2 is closer to that of bulk CdTe layers than the ones treated only with CdCl2 solution. The structural properties also showed that CdTe thin films treated with GaCl3 + CdCl2 is more crystalline than CdTe thin films treated only with CdCl2 solution. The addition of GaCl3 into the CdCl2 solution have been seen to drastically enhance the solar-to-electric conversion efficiency of CdS/CdTe based solar cells. One of the effects of Ga incorporation into the usual CdCl2 treatment was seen in the series resistance reduction which ultimately leads to enhancement in the observed short-circuit current density, fill factor and overall solar cell efficiency. For the glass/FTO/n-CdS/n-CdTe device structures, the cell efficiencies were observed in the range 1.9–2.1% after being treated with CdCl2 solution only. When treated with CdCl2 + GaCl3, the efficiency increased to 6.1–6.4%. Subsequent study on multi-junction graded bandgap solar cells using the GaCl3 + CdCl2 chemical solution for the surface treatment of glass/FTO/n-ZnS/n-CdS/n-CdTe device structures results in solar cell efficiency >10%

Complete paraparesis following resection of parasagittal meningioma: recovering function with an early intensive neurorehabilitation program

Paraparesis can occur as a primary presentation of brain pathology at the motor strip along the parasagittal region. It could also occur as a neurological complication especially following resection of parasagittal meningioma with infiltration of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). We report a case of a complete paraparesis immediately following resection of bilateral parasagittal meningioma with infiltration of the middle third of the SSS. A gradual improvement in neurological recovery and functional outcome was observed over a period of one year after undergoing an intensive neurorehabilitation program beginning from the acute inpatient phase post surgery

Motor function outcome in postnatal insult-related cerebral palsy

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was developed to establish uniform communication between healthcare providers, patients, and the patients' families. It is also used to prognosticate the outcome of motor function. Based on previous reports, prognostication of ambulation status in cerebral palsy is based on the motor development curve, which shows a plateau at a certain known age. CASE REPORT: This report illustrates the case of a boy with spastic triplegic cerebral palsy secondary to postnatal insult at early childhood. The patient was noted to have tremendous progressive improvement in his GMFCS level beyond 7 years old: from level IV at 4 years old to level II at 9 years old. CONCLUSION: Prognostication of ambulation in cerebral palsy based on the motor development curve provides a basis for physicians to predict motor function outcome and plan appropriate intervention. This case report shows that other important factors need to be considered in the clinical evaluation before rendering the prognostication of motor function outcome, including environmental factors as well as the etiology of cerebral palsy, for which special consideration should be given in cases of postnatal insult-related cerebral palsy

Managing smallholder teak plantations: field guide for farmers

The typical practice by smallholder teak growers of letting trees grow without management input has resulted in poor quality plantations. Various questions arise when farmers start to better manage their teak plantations. This book provides practical guidance in addressing these questions by explaining in detail the techniques of parent tree selection, seed preparation, seedling production, planting, fertilising, thinning, pruning, controlling pest and disease and harvesting. To be more easily understood, the descriptions are complemented by illustrations, photographs or tables. This manual is somewhat different from other teak silvicultural manuals because it is written in simple language, specifically designed for smallholder teak farmers. Specific problems faced in managing teak plantations are often not addressed in existing manuals. How to plant teak on rocky land, how to thin trees in uneven-aged stands, how to maintain coppices from stumps, and how to harvest trees with a need-based cutting system are addressed. Some techniques discussed are adopted from farmers’ traditional knowledge in Gunungkidul

Observation of Built-up Edge Formation on a Carbide Cutting Tool with Machining Aluminium Alloy under Dry and Wet Conditions

This paper presents the morphology of built-up edge (BUE) formation under wet and dry conditions with low and high cutting speeds. The workpiece materials and cutting tools selected for this work were aluminium alloy and canela carbide inserts graded PM25. The cutting tools underwent turning operation machining tests and their performance was evaluated by the flank wear and observation of the tool wear area. The machining tests were conducted at different spindle speeds and feed rates while the cut depth was kept constant. The analysis showed that formation of the BUE was dominant at low cutting speeds in dry conditions, but in wet conditions at high cutting speeds, a better performance was exhibited in terms of wear analysis