Effect Of Ethanolic Extract From Elaeophorbia drupifera Leaves On The Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle Of The Rabbi

The crude extract from E. drupifera leaves was prepared using standard methods. The rabbit intestine was removed and separated into three segments (duodenum, jejunum and ileum). About 3-4cm of each segment was mounted in an organ bath containing Tyrode solution at 37 ± 1oC. The spontaneous and rhythmic contractions were recorded and the effects of the crude extract (2-g/ml) on the tissue responses were investigated. The effect of Ca2+ concentration and temperature of the bathing fluid were also studied. From the results, the extract (2-300g/ml) increased the amplitudes of contractions in a dose-dependent manner. However, regional differences occurred in the responsiveness of the tissue preparations. The ED50 values were found to be 25.12, 44.67 and 15.85 μg/ml for the duodenum, jejunum and ileum respectively. Certain conditions such as calcium availability and increase in bath temperature favoured the action of the extract on the tissue preparations. Drugs like mepyramine or methysergide failed to influence the action of the extract. However, the extract-induced contractions were prevented or blocked by noradrenaline or atropine sulphate. The contractions were however ameliorated by the addition of acetyleholine or neostigmine to the bath solution. From the results, it is likely that the extract causes increased contractions of the tissue preparation via acetylcholine-like agent, which stimulates the muscarinic cholinoceptors. Key words: E. drupifera, extract, leaves, intestinal contractions, increase, cholinergic. Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol.19(1&2) 2004: 60-6

Induced Secretion Of Pepsin-Rich Gastric Juice In The Rat By The Crude Extract From Elaeophorbia drupifera Leaves: A Dual Pathway Mechanism

Ninety male white Wistar rats (200 - 320g) were fasted for 48 hours, and used in the experiments for the collection of gastric juice according to the method of Shay et al, 1954. The extract (2.5 - 200 mg/kg) increased the secretion of gastric juice which was low in volume but rich in pepsin concentration. The adrenergic drugs dihydroergoergotoxine (hydergine) (1.25 mg/kg) and phentolamine (1.5 mg/kg) both also increased gastric secretion, which were high in volume, titratable acidity and total acid output but low in pepsin concentration. When the extract (20 mg/kg) was given in combination with either of the two sympatholytic drugs, the pepsin concentration in the juice was richer than that evoked by either of the two drugs alone. Also, atropine-extract combination significantly (

Computational Intelligence In Digital Forensics: Forensic Investigation And Applications

The Series "Studies in Computational Intelligence" publishes new development and advances in the various areas of computational intelligence - quickly and with a high quality. The intent is to cover the theory, applications, and design methods of computational intelligence, as embedded in the fields of engineering, computer science, physics and life science, as well as the methodologies behind them. The series contains monographs, lecture notes and edited volumes in computational intelligence spanning the areas of neural networks, connectionist systems, genetic algorithms, evolutionary computation, artificial intelligence, cellular automata, self-organizing systems, soft computing, fuzzy systems, and hybrid intelligent systems. Of particular value to both the contributors and the readership are the short publication timeframe and the world-wide distribution, which enable both wide and rapid dissemination of research output

Optimal Placement and Sizing of Distributed Generators Based on a Novel MPSI Index

The Objective: This paper presents a method to identify the optimal location and size of DGs based on the power stability index and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm.Materials and methods: First, a novel maximum power stability index (MPSI) is derived from the well-established theorem of maximum power transfer. The MPSI is utilized as an objective function to determine the optimal DG locations. Next, a PSO-based model with randomized load is developed to optimize DG sizing in view of the system’s real power losses.Results and Conclusion: Lastly, a IEEE 30-bus test system is employed in the simulation. The performance of proposed MPSI index are comparable with other voltage stability indices. The DG optimization model considering voltage stability and loss minimization provides better results compared to that obtained using only loss minimization approach

Performance comparison of PI and PI-fuzzy controller for grid-connected fuel cell inverter system

This paper presents the modeling, simulation, and performance evaluation of a hybrid proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with an energy storage system utilized in a grid-connected distributed generation (DG) system. To control the fuel cell/battery grid-side voltage source inverter (VSI), the conventional voltage-mode and currentmode control schemes with improved proportional-integral (PI)-fuzzy controller for both inner current and outer voltage control loops have been developed. The proposed PI-fuzzy controller has the advantage of fuzzy control while maintaining the simplicity and robustness of the PI controller. The space-vector pulse width modulation technique has been applied to the VSI control to generate a sinusoidal waveform. A comparison has been made between the PI-fuzzy controller and the PI controller in the VSI in terms of the generated total harmonic distortion (THD). The results showed that by applying PI-Fuzzy controller, the voltage and current THD are reduced to 0.40 % and 3.77 %, respectively compared to 0.43 % voltage THD and 14.08 % current THD using the conventional PI controller

Computation of the complex error function using modified trapezoidal rules

In this paper we propose a method for computing the Faddeeva function w(z) := \re^{-z^2}\erfc(-\ri\,z) via truncated modified trapezoidal rule approximations to integrals on the real line. Our starting point is the method due to Matta and Reichel ({\em Math.\ Comp.} {\bf 25} (1971), pp.~339--344) and Hunter and Regan ({\em Math.\ Comp.} {\bf 26} (1972), pp.~339--541). Addressing shortcomings flagged by Weideman ({\em SIAM.\ J.\ Numer.\ Anal. } {\bf 31} (1994), pp.~1497--1518), we construct approximations which we prove are exponentially convergent as a function of $N+1$, the number of quadrature points, obtaining error bounds which show that accuracies of $2\times 10^{-15}$ in the computation of $w(z)$ throughout the complex plane are achieved with $N = 11$, this confirmed by computations. These approximations, moreover, provably achieve small relative errors throughout the upper complex half-plane where $w(z)$ is non-zero. Numerical tests suggest that this new method is competitive, in accuracy and computation times, with existing methods for computing $w(z)$ for complex $z$

Seroprevalence of toxocariasis among Orang Asli (Indigenous people) in Malaysia using two immunoassays

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic helminthic infection of humans caused by the dog roundworm (Toxocara canis) or cat roundworm (Toxocara cati). There are two main human syndromes: visceral larva migrans (VLM), which are characterized by symptoms associated with major organs and ocular larva migrans (OLM), in which pathological effects on the host are restricted to the eye and the optic nerve. The present study evaluated the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among the Orang Asli with an IgG4-ELISA using recombinant antigens (rTES-26, rTES-30 and rTES-120) and an IgG-ELISA commercial kit (Cypress Diagnostic, Belgium). A total of 188 serum samples were analyzed using IgG4-ELISA recombinant antigens while 83 were tested using IgG-ELISA. Overall, 9 out of 188 (4.8) samples were positive with the former assay: rTES-26 (2.7) and rTES-30 (2.1); and 63 out of 83 (75.9) were positive with the IgG-ELISA. In general, the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among males (9.5) was higher compared to females (1). Children below 12 years (6.3) have higher seroprevalence rate compared to adults (1.2). Out of 59 IgG positive samples, 56 (94.9) were also positive with soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections which may indicate high false positivity. None of the IgG4-ELISA positive samples were positive with STH infections. Of 9 positive samples with IgG4-ELISA, 7 were also positive with IgG-ELISA giving the probability of true cases. The present finding indicated that exposure to Toxocara infection is not unusual among Malaysian aborigines, and it affects both sexes and all age groups. As a prevention strategy, more effective public health programmes to promote better understanding on the consequences of toxocariasis among the Orang Asli communities are deemed necessary

Qualite des eaux du Bandama-Blanc (Cote D’ivoire) et de ses affluents soumis a de fortes activites

La qualité écologique des eaux des localités soumises à l’exploitation artisanale et clandestine de l’or au niveau du Bandama-Blanc et de ses affluents a été étudiée entre le 01 et le 15 Avril 2015. Le prélèvement du phytoplancton a été réalisé à l’aide de la bouteille hydrologique et du filet à plancton, tandis que le périphyton a été récolté par les méthodes de grattage et d’expression respectivement sur cailloux, bois et feuilles immergés. Cent soixante (160) taxons composés de 84 taxons de Chlorophyta, 42 taxons d’Euglenophyta, 25 taxons de Cyanobacteria, 5 taxons de Dinophyta, 2 taxons de Chrysophyta, 1 taxon de Rhodophyta et 1 taxon de Xanthophyta ont été identifiés au niveau des sites d’échantillonnage. La densité des Cyanobacteria est élevée dans les sites soumis aux activités d’orpaillage, de pêche et d’élevage au niveau des eaux du barrage et de la carrière avec une contribution élevée de Microcystis aeruginosa. Les valeurs des indices de diversité ont montré que les eaux de la zone d’étude sont diversifiées avec un peuplement dominé par les espèces Microcystis aeruginosa et Peridinium cinctum. Une mésotrophie des sites d’échantillonnage de la zone d’étude a été révélée par les valeurs de l’indice B proposé par Nygaard (1949).Mots clés : Phytoplancton, périphyton, diversité, barrage, Côte d’IvoireEnglish Abstrarct Water quality of the Bandama-Blanc (Cote D'ivoire) and its tributaries subject to strong anthropogenic activities from the algal microfloraEcological waters quality of the localities subjected to artisanal and clandestine gold mining at the level of Bandama-Blanc and its tributaries was studied between 01 and 15 April 2015. Phytoplankton sampling was performed using the hydrologic bottle and plankton net, while periphyton was harvested by scraping and expression methods respectively on rocks, wood and floating leaves. The microalgae comprised 160 taxa, mainly Chlorophyta (84 taxa), Euglenophyta (42 taxa), Cyanobacteria (25 taxa), Dinophyta (5 taxa), Chrysophyta (2 taxa), Rhodophyta (1 taxa) and Xanthophyta (1 taxa). Highest Cyanobacteria densities was observed in the localities subjected to gold mining, fishing and rearing activities at the level of the Kossou dam and the quarry with a high contribution of the species Microcystis aeruginosa. Values of the diversity indices showed that the waters of the study area are diversified with a stand dominated by the species of Microcystis aeruginosa and Peridinium cinctum. Mesotrophy of the sampling sites in the study area was revealed by the Nygaard B index values (1949).Keys words : Phytoplankton, periphyton, diversity, dam, Côte d’Ivoir

Prevalence of needle stick injuries and compliance to infection control guidelines among health care workers in a teaching hospital, Malaysia

Introduction: Health care workers (HCW) are constantly exposed to blood-borne illnesses through needle stick injuries (NSI). Despite the increasing trend of NSI, evidence regarding the actual practice of universal precautions among these HCWs is lacking. This study assessed the practice of universal precautions towards prevention of NSI among HCWs in a teaching hospital setting. Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved a newly-designed self-completed questionnaire assessing demographic data, exposure to NSI and practice of universal precautions. Questionnaires were distributed to every ward and completed questionnaires were collected after a period of 7 days. Results: A total of 215 HCWs responded to the survey. 35.8% were exposed to bodily fluid, with 22.3% had NSI in the last 12 months. Blood taking was the commonest procedure associated with NSI. Of practices of universal precautions, recapping needle and removing needle from syringe were still wrongly practiced by the HCWs assessed. Conclusion: NSI among HCW are still common despite the introduction of universal precautions in our hospital. Incorrect practices in handling sharps should be looked into in order to reduce the incidence of blood-borne illnesses through NSI in the hospital

Seroprevalence of toxocariasis among Orang Asli (Indigenous people) in Malaysia using two immunoassays

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic helminthic infection of humans caused by the dog roundworm (Toxocara canis) or cat roundworm (Toxocara cati). There are two main human syndromes: visceral larva migrans (VLM), which are characterized by symptoms associated with major organs and ocular larva migrans (OLM), in which pathological effects on the host are restricted to the eye and the optic nerve. The present study evaluated the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among the Orang Asli with an IgG4-ELISA using recombinant antigens (rTES-26, rTES-30 and rTES-120) and an IgG-ELISA commercial kit (Cypress Diagnostic, Belgium). A total of 188 serum samples were analyzed using IgG4-ELISA recombinant antigens while 83 were tested using IgG-ELISA. Overall, 9 out of 188 (4.8%) samples were positive with the former assay: rTES-26 (2.7%) and rTES-30 (2.1%); and 63 out of 83 (75.9%) were positive with the IgG-ELISA. In general, the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among males (9.5%) was higher compared to females (1%). Children below 12 years (6.3%) have higher seroprevalence rate compared to adults (1.2%). Out of 59 IgG positive samples, 56 (94.9%) were also positive with soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections which may indicate high false positivity. None of the IgG4-ELISA positive samples were positive with STH infections. Of 9 positive samples with IgG4-ELISA, 7 were also positive with IgG-ELISA giving the probability of true cases. The present finding indicated that exposure to Toxocara infection is not unusual among Malaysian aborigines, and it affects both sexes and all age groups. As a prevention strategy, more effective public health programmes to promote better understanding on the consequences of toxocariasis among the Orang Asli communities are deemed necessary