An analysis of discharge and water quality of an urban river and implications for stormwater harvesting

Development in urban catchments often result in rivers being converted into large stormwater canals where stormwater is removed as quickly as possible to prevent flooding. A combination of elevated peak flows, increased nutrients and contaminants and reduced biotic richness are typical features of these urban waterways. This study explored the dynamics of an urban river in Cape Town by using high-resolution monitoring sensors and loggers to analyse and model real-time discharge and water quality data during and after 14 rainfall events. Discharge and water quality data were collected from the Liesbeek River at three sites during the rainfall events. As expected, the upper most sampling site had the lowest discharge and pollution load, compared to sites in the middle and lowest reaches of the river. An analysis showed significant correlations between the discharge and electrical conductivity at all three sampling sites. Rainfall was the primary factor in altering discharge and electrical conductivity. Predictive modelling using selected rainfall designs indicated that average discharge and total volume increases with increasing rainfall. Linear regression analysis for electrical conductivity indicated a strong relationship whereby an increase in discharge resulted in a decrease in electrical conductivity. This study revealed the discharge and water quality of stormwater in the Liesbeek River during rainfall events showed the improved water quality conditions in the river during the rainfall events particularly after the peak discharge. Furthermore, the implications of this study revealed that the Liesbeek River can become a water source for recharging groundwater and aquifers

Drugs prevention according to modern trends in the Arabic language course (Loughati Al Jamilah) of the Higher-level elementary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This study aimed at identifying the modern trends of drug prevention, and determining the availability of drug prevention items according to the modern trends in the Arabic language course (Loughati Al Jamilah) of the Elementary level in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Determining how to distribute drug prevention items into the units of Loughati Al Jamilah course (student book and workbook). A descriptive and analytical method (content analysis) were used to achieve the study objectives. Results showed a number of findings, the most important that the modern trends of drug prevention are no longer limited to awareness and education, but they go beyond that to address the factors that cause drug abuse that include communication skills , thinking skills, problem solving , effective use of technology, time management, and acquiring good health habits. It was also found that critical thinking skills and problem solving, communication skills are the most frequent drug prevention items in Loughati Al Jamilah`) course, Concepts and facts related to the drug problem didn’t appear in (Loughati Al Jamilah) course in the student book and work book. It was also found that the distribution of drug prevention items is not regular and does not achieve continuity in the units of the student book and workbook

Medication understanding and health literacy among patients with multiple chronic conditions: a study conducted in Bangladesh

Objectives: Medication understanding is critical for patients who suffer from multiple chronic conditions in order to reduce medication error and is often associated with poor health outcomesand low adherence. This study aims to identify the gap of medication knowledge among multiple chronic condition patients in Bangladesh, in order to aid physicians and other healthcare providers in improving health literacy.Methods: Individual interviews of a convenience sample of multiple chronic condition patients in Bangladesh were heldwhere they were asked a number of questions for assessing medication related literacy.Results: More than 26% patients failed to cite the brand name of all their prescribed medications while the rate of patients not knowing the generic names was far worse (88.1%). Nearly 1 out of every 4 patients did not know the purpose of all their medications and more than half of the participants (55%) did not know the strengths of their drugs. While knowledge about medication routes and regimen was satisfactory, awareness regarding risk factors of medicine was lowest of all. Only 1 out of every 4 patients had a habit of reading drug information leaflet. Patient’s ability to correctly state the purpose of their medication seemed to be positively associated with age (p=0.004) and negatively associated with number of medicines taken (p=0.03).Conclusions: Many patients demonstrated poor health literacy regarding medication. Routine review of medications from physician or health provider can significantly improve their health literacy, leading to better treatment outcome and medication adherence

Production and characterization of pectinase enzyme from rhizopus oryzae

The research was conducted with the production of pectinase enzyme by fungal fermentation using Rhizopus oryzae and characterization of produced enzyme with respect to pH, temperature, incubation time, and substrate specificity. Carbon source was optimized replacing sugar with different concentration of pectin (0.5, 0.75, and 1.0%) during submerged fermentation. The outcomes of the fermentation process showed that media containing carbon source of 1% pectin replaced dextrose at pH 6.0 incubating for 72 hours at 35 °C were the best condition for pectinase production. The maximal activity for pectinase enzyme produced from Rhizopus oryzae by fermentation was 3.16 U.mL-1 and it was found at 40 °C and pH 6.5. The produced pectinase enzyme was found thermo stable up to 60 °C for 50 min. The activity of the enzyme was increased with the increasing pectin concentration in the media and maximum activity was found at the pectin concentration of 5 mg.mL-1. The km and Vmax values were found 0.84 mg.mL-1 and 5.294 mg.mL-1 respectively at optimized condition. The outcomes of the research may be useful for further research in low cost production of pectinases from R.oryzae for domestic consumption in many industries

Fundamental of natural hydrocarbons transport

Посібник містить огляд основних видів транспорту вуглеводнів в Україні і світі. Описані технологічні та економічні аспекти трубопровідного, автомобільного, залізничного, морського та річкового транспорту нафти, газу та конденсату. Подані методологічні основи розрахунку трубопровідного транспорту вуглеводнів, зокрема, розрахунку магістральних та міжпромислових газопроводів. Описано принципи та обладнання LNG і CNG технологій «віртуального трубопроводу». Посібник призначений для студентів спеціальності «Нафтогазова інженерія та технології»

Synthesis and characterisation of nickel oxide reinforced with polycaprolactone composite for dielectric applications by controlling nickel oxide as a filler

Developing new absorbing and sheilding materials with a large band of frequency and high performance to allow the coexistence of the electronic components without the damaging electromagnetic interference (EMI) is needed. This paper is about the development of microwave-absorbing material from polycaprolactone by the addition of nickel oxide. Preparation of NiO/PCL composites to homogeneous were carried out using a Brabender Internal Mixer using the melt blend technique. These composites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Dielectric properties were obtained over a broad range of frequency of 8–12 GHz at the room temperature. It is found that the permittivity values increased via NiO filler content increments and decreased with frequency hikes. An instrument of rectangular waveguide is connected to a network analyzer (PNA) and the values of transmission (S21) and reflection (S11) parameters were measured which were also used for calculating reflection loss, microwave absorption values and the shielding properties of EMI by NiO/PCL composite at X-band frequencies. The measurement results found the material has good EMI shielding application potential as its microwave absorption has shown

BK polyomavirus infection: more than 50 years and still a threat to kidney transplant recipients

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a ubiquitous human polyomavirus and a major infection after kidney transplantation, primarily due to immunosuppression. BKPyV reactivation can manifest as viruria in 30%–40%, viremia in 10%–20%, and BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN) in 1%–10% of recipients. BKPyVAN is an important cause of kidney graft failure. Although the first case of BKPyV was identified in 1971, progress in its management has been limited. Specifically, there is no safe and effective antiviral agent or vaccine to treat or prevent the infection. Even in the current era, the mainstay approach to BKPyV is a reduction in immunosuppression, which is also limited by safety (risk of de novo donor specific antibody and rejection) and efficacy (graft failure). However, recently BKPyV has been getting more attention in the field, and some new treatment strategies including the utilization of viral-specific T-cell therapy are emerging. Given all these challenges, the primary focus of this article is complications associated with BKPyV, as well as strategies to mitigate negative outcomes

Mild hyperkalemia and low eGFR a tedious recipe for cardiac disaster in the elderly: an unusual reversible cause of syncope and heart block

Hyperkalemia affects the myocardial tissue producing electrocardiographic abnormalities, such as prolongation of the P-R interval, tall peaked T waves, a reduction in the amplitude and an increase in the duration of P wave, and atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, including variable degree heart blocks. Elderly patients are particularly predisposed to developing hyperkalemia and the associated abnormalities due to an age-related reduction in glomerular filtration rate and pre-existing medical problems. Therefore, the impact of aging on potassium homeostasis must be taken into consideration, and preventive measures, such as early recognition of possible hyperkalemia in the geriatric population treated with certain medications or supplements must be investigated. The threshold for cardiac arrhythmias in the elderly can be lower than the general population. We report 3 unusual cases of mild hyperkalemia in elderly patients presenting with hypotension, syncope and variable degree heart blocks which resolved spontaneously with the correction of hyperkalemia