Investigation of Geology and Hydro-geophysical Features Using Electromagnetic and Vertical Sounding Methods for Abu Zabad Area, Western Kordofan State, Sudan

The geology and hydro-geophysical features can aid in identifying borehole location. The study aims to investigate groundwater aquifers and best location of boreholes in the crystalline basement area of Abu Zabad near El Obeid Southwest, Sudan. The study area is underlain by two aquifers formations from Precambrian age. The oldest units of basement complex of area under investigation consist of metamorphic rocks including gneiss, schist, and quartzite.The geophysical methods electromagnetic (EM) and vertical electrical sounding (VES) surveys showed that best aquifers yield for construction of boreholes are in weathering and fractures formation. The EM results revealed that structural features are significant for groundwater potential and interpretation of the VES data also revealed four geo-electric layers, but generally two distinct lithologic layers, which include Superficial deposit and bedrock-basement respectively. The curves generated from the data revealed H curve and HK curve, and thickness of these layers varies from 15 m to 50 m in the area. The aquifer thickness range from 20 m to 30 m. The study concludes that these techniques are suitable for identifying borehole location in the basement rock in Abu Zabad Area Sudan

Neutron Flux Variation at the Inner Irradiation Channel of the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1)

In order to ascertain the level of flux variation in one of the inner irradiation channels of the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1), the irradiation container used for routine activation analysis was employed with copper wires as flux monitors. Measurements were carried out with these wires arranged in axial direction to determine the thermal neutron flux at selected positions using absolute foil activation method. Our results show that there exists a slight flux variation from one position to another ranging from (4.57 ± 0.24) x 1011 to (5.20 ± 0.20) x 1011 cm-2s-1. Individual foil shows slight flux variation from one position to another in the same irradiation container but they all pointed toward a level of stability in spite of the recent installation of the cadmium lined irradiation channel. The values obtained in this work are in good agreement with the previously measured value of (5.14 ± 0.24) x 1011 cm-2s-1 after commissioning of NIRR-1. This shows that the cadmium lined installation does not affect the flux stability. In order to improve the accuracy of neutron activation analysis (NAA) using NIRR-1 facility, there is need for flux corrections to be made by miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR) users during NAA particularly long irradiation, where more than six samples are irradiated simultaneously in the same container

Effect of police training during the confinement period on some cardiopulmonary and hematological parameters in Khartoum, Sudan

Background: Pulmonary function tests (PFT) serve as a tool of health assessment and as a predictor of occupational fitness. Police officers must develop and maintain high levels of physical fitness for physical demanding tasks they perform. The training program starts with confinement of five to eight weeks according to the trainee. Previously it has been shown that the police students have better lung functions values compared to their civilian colleagues. In this study the effect of the confinement training on pulmonary function tests was investigated.Methods: Eighty one policemen trainee were randomly selected from a new batch in the faculty of police sciences and Law, the National Ribat University, Khartoum, Sudan at their starting confinement period. Subjects were medically fit with no history of Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma or use of any long term medications. Pulmonary function tests (FVC, FEV1 and PEFR) were performed using a micro-plus spirometer. Blood pressure, pulse rate, and hemoglobin were measured. All these were repeated at the end of the confinement.Results: The age of participants ranged from 24 to 26 years. FVC, FEV1 and PEFR significantly increased after the confinement period. The blood pressure and the pulse significantly decreased. The weight of the participants decreased after the confinement but Hb significantly slightly increased.Conclusions: Regular police training during the confinement improved the pulmonary and cardiovascular reserve function

Effect of pregnancy on packed cell volume and total white blood cells count among Sudanese pregnant women attending antenatal care at Ribat University Hospital (Khartoum state)

Background: During pregnancy the women undergo several structural and physiological changes almost in all body systems including the hematological profile. The main reported hematological change is the plasma expansion and haemodilution which affect the red blood cells(RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) count in addition to other hematological indices including packed cell volume (PCV). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of pregnancy on packed cell volume and white blood cells among Sudanese pregnant women and derive a formula for the normal values in pregnant women in relation to the packed cell volume.Methods: An analytical case control study was conducted in Khartoum state, Sudan 2017. The study included20 Sudanese pregnant women in the second and third trimesters attending the antenatal care at The National Ribat university hospital and 20 Sudanese non-pregnant women in the same age group as control. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data.5ml of venous blood was collected in a container containing EDTA. Complete blood count (CBC) was measured by using automated cell counter Sysmex.Results: There was statistically significant decrease in PCV value during 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant control group with p values (0.00 and 0.04 respectively), and statistically significant increase in WBCs count during 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant control group with p values (0.04 and 0.00 respectively). Also, a progressive increase in WBCs count with gestational age was demonstrated (second trimester 6.65×103/uL, third trimester 7.43×103/uL). The results showed mean WBCs of 7.79×103/uL, when compared to the estimated values the results showed no significant difference with the mean WBCs in 2ndand 3rdtrimesters (p value 0.06 and 0.39 respectively).Conclusions: During pregnancy there was statistically significant decrease in PCV values, statistically significant increase in WBCs count and by considering the haemodilution factor there was a higher increase in WBCs count

Effects of different mycotoxins on humans, cell genome and their involvement in cancer (Review)

The chemical nature of most of the mycotoxins makes them highly liposoluble compounds that can be absorbed from the site of exposure such as from the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract to the blood stream where it can be dissimilated throughout the body and reach different organs such as the liver and kidneys. Mycotoxins have a strong tendency and ability to penetrate the human and animal cells and reach the cellular genome where it causes a major mutagenic change in the nucleotide sequence which leads to strong and permanent defects in the genome. This defect will eventually be transcribed, translated and lead to the development of cancer. In this review, the chemical and physical nature of mycotoxins, the action of mycotoxins on the cellular genome and its effect on humans, mycotoxins and their carcinogenicity and mycotoxins research gaps are discussed, and new research areas are suggested. The research review posed various questions. What are the different mycotoxins that can cause cancer, what is the role of mycotoxins in causing cancer and what types of cancers can be caused by mycotoxins? These questions have been selected due to the significant increase in the mycotoxin contamination and the cancer incidence rate in the contemporary world. By revealing and understanding the role of mycotoxins in developing cancer, measures to reduce the risks and incidents of cancer could be taken