An Analytical Relation Derivation for Threshold Voltage as a Function of Operation Time for Self-Quenching GM Counters

At normal temperatures, it is known that The threshold voltage of GM counter tubes, which are filled mixture of inert gas and quenched organic gas, was shifted toward higher voltages during operation time because of  disintegration of quenched organic molecules. While threshold voltage of GM counter tubes, which are filled mixture of inert gas and quenched halogen, was shifted towards lower voltages during operation time because of  reaction of quenched halogen molecules with anode and cathode.  In this article, assuming that the counter tube operates at constant temperature and constant activity exposure, we have derived an analytical relation of Geiger threshold voltage as function of operation time. This relation indicates that the Geiger threshold voltages of the tubes which contain organic gas are exponentially increased during operation time. the Geiger threshold voltages of the tubes which contain halogen are exponentially decreased during operation time. Keywords:  analytical relation ,threshold voltage, operation time, GM counter

Screening of rice cultivars for Cr-stress response by using the parameters of seed germination, morpho-physiological and antioxidant analysis

Rice is the most important crop for the majority of population across the world with sensitive behavior toward heavy metals such as chromium (Cr) in polluted regions. Although, there is no information on the Cr resistance phenotyping in rice. Herein, two different groups of rice cultivars (normal, and hybrid) were used, each group with 14 different rice cultivars. Firstly, seed germination analysis was conducted by evaluating various seed germination indices to identify the rice cultivars with greatest seed germination vigor. Furthermore, exposure of chromium (Cr) toxicity to 28 different rice varieties (NV1-NV14, HV1-HV14) caused noticeable plant biomass reduction. Subsequently, NV2, NV6, NV10, NV12, NV13 (normal type), HV1, HV4, HV8, and HV9 (hybrid types) were pragmatic as moderately sensitive varieties, while NV3, NV4, NV9, and NV14 (normal type), HV3, HV6, HV7, and HV13 were observed as moderately tolerant. Although, NV7, and HV10 were ranked most sensitive cultivars, and NV11, and HV14 were considered as most tolerant varieties as compared to the other rice (both groups) genotypes. Afterward, Cr induced reduction in chlorophyll pigments were significantly lesser in HV14 relative to NV11, NV7, and especially HV10, and as a result HV14 modulated the total soluble sugar level as well as reduced ROS accumulation, and MDA contents production by stimulating the antioxidant defense mechanism conspicuously which further reduced the electrolyte leakage as well. Our outcomes provide support to explore the Cr tolerance mechanism in cereal crops as well as knowledge about rice breeding with increased tolerance against Cr stress.This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32072127), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No. LY21C130006), Dabeinong Funds for Discipline Development and Talent Training in Zhejiang University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production co-sponsored by Province and Ministry (CIC-MCP) and Zhenjiang International-joint fund (No. GJ2020010). The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSP-2021/168), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Forecasting future irrigation water sustainability in upper Bernam river basin Malaysia

The Bernam river basin where Proton city is located is rapidly developing, changing from agriculture based to an industrial area. Land development can be associated with increased impervious areas causing increase in surface runoff and decrease in ground water recharge. The study area is the main source of irrigation water supply for paddy fields in the downstream of the watershed. The required water for paddy irrigation should be made available continuously for double cropping via maintaining high base flows so that enough water is available for irrigation during the dry season. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to study the effects of land-use changes on water resources sustainability. The study results confirmed that change of land-use pattern altered the runoff volume. In the year 2020 runoff is predicted to increase in the rainy season due to large increase of land use changes especially urban and forest, which then accelerate runoff and decrease base flow due to an increase in the impervious area. Providing such information in AgriGRID will help planners and decision makers to take the effect of land-use changes into account when formulating future plans for land development and include some structural best management practices (BMPs) within their future plan to control and manage water resources in the watershed

School-Based Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Kharif District of Amran Governorate, North of Yemen: Need for Chemopreventive Strategy Revisiting

Dawla HZ Alansi,1 Mohammed AK Mahdy,1 Rashad Abdul-Ghani,1,2 Ahmed A Azazy3 1Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen; 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Rashad Abdul-Ghani, Email [email protected]: Urogenital schistosomiasis is a persistent public health problem in many rural areas of Yemen. Since 2014, Schistosoma haematobium epidemiology has not been assessed in Amran governorate, north of Yemen, where S. haematobium is known to be highly endemic. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with S. haematobium infection among schoolchildren in Kharif district of the governorate.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 529 schoolchildren aged 7 to 15 years in Kharif district. Data on children’s demographics, clinical features, behaviors, and infection-related environmental factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. The urine filtration technique was used to detect and count S. haematobium eggs, and chemical reagent strips were used to detect microhematuria. The number of eggs per 10 mL of urine (EP10mL) was used to estimate the intensity of infection, which was classified as light (≤ 50 EP10mL) or heavy (> 50 EP10mL). Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of infection.Results: Light-intensity S. haematobium infection was prevalent among 34.8% of schoolchildren in Kharif district, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 30.7 to 38.8. Infection was significantly associated with microhematuria (P < 0.001) and self-reported dysuria (P = 0.003). Family ownership of agricultural land was significantly associated with S. haematobium infection among schoolchildren [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.10– 3.17; P = 0.030], which was further identified as an independent predictor of infection (adjusted OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.21– 3.95; P = 0.010).Conclusion: A considerable proportion of schoolchildren in Kharif district have light-intensity S. haematobium infections, mostly presenting with microhematuria and self-reported dysuria. The district’s level of risk should be updated to moderate. Consequently, the chemopreventive strategy needs to be revisited to treat all school-age children biennially, regardless of enrollment status.Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium, prevalence, risk factors, schoolchildren, Yeme

The Effect of Six Sigma on Organizational Performance: The Mediating Role of Innovation Culture

Improving organizational performance is the main objective of any organization.Six Sigma is one of the most important approaches to improve performance and sustain competitive advantage. This article reviewed the literature related to organizational performance and explains the potential impact of Six Sigma and innovation culture on organizational performance. Given that previous studies have reported inconclusive results, this paper tries to establish a mechanism to explain the role of Six Sigma in improving organizational performance. Therefore, based on the theoretical foundation and comprehensive review of previous literature, a research framework is proposed. This proposed framework is grounded in the implementation of Six Sigma projects; it also establishes that innovation culture can help organizations to achieve success in a turbulent business environment

Tolfenamic Acid Derivatives: A New Class of Transcriptional Modulators with Potential Therapeutic Applications for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders

The field of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has witnessed recent breakthroughs in the development of disease-modifying biologics and diagnostic markers. While immunotherapeutic interventions have provided much-awaited solutions, nucleic acid-based tools represent other avenues of intervention; however, these approaches are costly and invasive, and they have serious side effects. Previously, we have shown in AD animal models that tolfenamic acid (TA) can lower the expression of AD-related genes and their products and subsequently reduce pathological burden and improve cognition. Using TA as a scaffold and the zinc finger domain of SP1 as a pharmacophore, we developed safer and more potent brain-penetrating analogs that interfere with sequence-specific DNA binding at transcription start sites and predominantly modulate the expression of SP1 target genes. More importantly, the proteome of treated cells displayed ~75% of the downregulated products as SP1 targets. Specific levels of SP1-driven genes and AD biomarkers such as amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Tau proteins were also decreased as part of this targeted systemic response. These small molecules, therefore, offer a viable alternative to achieving desired therapeutic outcomes by interfering with both amyloid and Tau pathways with limited off-target systemic changes

Awareness and Knowledge of Drug-Laboratory Test Interferences among Medical Laboratory Technologists in Yemen

Background: Drug-laboratory test interactions (DLTIs) can mislead the health care professionals and provide incorrect information regarding the patient’s health status. To date there are no specific courses in medical laboratory science curricula in Yemen that specialize in this topic. Objective: This study aims to reveal the knowledge about DLTIs among laboratory technologists in Yemen. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 governorates in Yemen to evaluate the awareness about DLTIs among laboratory technologists. An electronic questionnaire was distributed, and responses were analyzed. Results: A total of 396 laboratory technologists participated in this study. The majority of respondents (96.4%) reported that certain medications can affect laboratory test results, and 89.4% of participants showed knowledge about common medication interferences, but specific drug class awareness varied considerably. Only 53 (13.3%) had received formal training on drug-laboratory test interference and scored the highest in the knowledge questions. Conclusion: Formal training on DLTIs is important to ensure accurate laboratory test results

Risk Factors for Early Preterm Birth at King Salman Armed Force Hospital in 2010

AIM: To investigate risk factors for early preterm birth.METHODS AND MATERIAL: A retrospective comparative study was conducted at Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period from January to December 2010. Five hundred and ninety-five patient's files and delivery registry logbooks were reviewed, the following information was collected; demographic data, current and past obstetric histories. Then the early and late preterm births were compared for various risk factors. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22) was used. The Chi-square and t-test were used to test the statistical significance and a P-value&lt;0.05 considered significant.RESULTS: Prevalence of early preterm birth was found to be 2.5% in our study group. Women at risk for early preterm birth were: primigravidas (33.7% vs. 26.2% for control), P-value 0.039, OR 1.429 and 95% CI 0.982 - 2.079); multiple gestations (87.7% vs. 95.1% for control, P-value 0.002, OR 0.368 and 95% CI 0.196 - 0.688); and patients with a prior history of placental abruption (3.7% vs. 1.0% for control, P-value 0.027, OR3.928 and 95% CI 1.1360 - 13.586).CONCLUSIONS: Current study indicated that early preterm births differed from preterm as a whole; primigravida, multiple gestations and a history of placental abruption are independent risk factors for them

Análise de sensibilidade e calibração do modelo SWAT aplicado em bacia hidrográfica da região sudeste do Brasil

Estimativas da perda de água e solo por erosão têm sido realizadas ao redor do mundo, com base na utilização de modelos empíricos ou conceituais, como o SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). O SWAT, amplamente utilizado para predizer o impacto das alterações no uso e no manejo do solo, entre outros, sobre a perda de solo e a vazão de curso de água, é extremamente sensível à qualidade dos dados de entrada. Assim, antes da simulação é necessário que se realize uma análise de sensibilidade de tal forma que se possa dar ênfase maior à aquisição e refinamento de determinados dados, diminuir as incertezas e aumentar a confiança nos resultados gerados. O processo de calibração, embora demorado, deve ser sempre realizado a fim de garantir que os resultados da simulação sejam comparáveis aos dados obtidos em campo. O sucesso da aplicação do modelo nessa bacia, sem estudos desse tipo, possibilita que os resultados sejam extrapolados para bacias de características semelhantes. Neste trabalho, a partir dos resultados produzidos em 10 parcelas experimentais instaladas na bacia hidrográfica do ribeirão São Bartolomeu, região Sudeste do Brasil, foram realizadas a análise de sensibilidade e a calibração do modelo SWAT. Os resultados foram satisfatórios, de acordo com o coeficiente de eficiência de Nash e Sutcliffe (COE), utilizado para avaliação do desempenho do modelo, sendo obtidos os valores de COE de 0,808 para a produção de sedimentos e 0,997 para a vazão, os quais representam modelos bem calibrados. A análise de sensibilidade não foi influenciada pela maior ou menor discretização da bacia, o que facilitou o processo de análise. A sensibilidade dos parâmetros foi variável em cada sub-bacia, de acordo com seu uso e ocupação, não podendo ser generalizada, isto é, as características das sub-bacias exercem influência na sensibilidade dos parâmetros