Evaluating of Short-Term Electrical Load Forecasting System Using Fuzzy Logic Control: A Study Case in Sudan

Generation, Transmission and Distribution sections of the electric power grid system are a function of electric load forecasting. This is because, many benefits can be obtained by using load forecasting, such as reduction in the generating cost and increasing the reliability of the power system due to improving energy management. The objective of this study is therefore to design a fuzzy logic system for short-term electric load forecasting to reduce power losses particularly in times where the electric power generation is higher than the electric load demand. In this study, the independent variables that were applied to the developed short-term load forecasting Simulink model were time, temperature, and similar previous electric day load demand, and they were collected from the specific area load control center in Sudan. Fuzzy rules were prepared using Mamdani implication. The obtained fuzzy logic results were compared with the actual load demand, and it was found that there was an error that ranged between 12% and 0.09%

The Effects of Seasons, Age of the Animal and Storage Time on Physical Properties of Camel’s Meat (Camelus Dromedarius

   The aim of this study was to determine the effect of age of the animal and storage time on the physical properties of camel’s meat in autumn, summer and winter seasons. A total number of 135 meat samples from camels ranged between 1-9 years age were chosen. The samples were analysed for pH, water holding capacity, oxidative rancidity and color determination. The ultimate pH and water holding capacity showed a significant difference (p >0.05) in different seasons and storage periods. The rancidity and color determination of meat showed significant difference (p >0.05) in different seasons, different storage period and different age of the animals. The study concluded: those different seasons had a significant effect on the quality of camel’s meat, due to its effect on pH and water holding capacity. Age of the animals had a significant effect on water holding capacity, rancidity and colour, but it had no significant effect on pH. The storage period had a significant effect on the oxidative rancidity and colour that affect the shelf life of meat.&nbsp

Effect of Growth Regulators on In Vitro Morphogenic Response of Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam. Poir. Using Mature Zygotic Embryos Explants

The percent study describes the in vitro responses of mature zygotic embryos of Boscia senegalensis to different concentrations (0.0–5.0 mg/L) of 6-benzyladnine (BA), Thidiazuron (TDZ), α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) supplemented on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS). The plant growth regulators (PGRs) were considerably affected the morphogenetic responses. BA produced adventitious shoots through two ways: direct organogenesis and auxiliary shoot formation. Both 2, 4-D and TDZ tend to produce callus, whereas NAA improve the development of embryos to seedlings. Maximum number of shoots/explant (14.8 ± 0.6) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/L BA. 67.0% of excised shoots were rooted either on 1/2 MS medium augmented with or without 0.25 mg/L IBA. The highest number of roots (1.2 ± 0.4) and root length (0.5 ± 0.2 cm) was produced on 0.25 mg/L IBA-containing medium. Regenerated plants were successfully acclimatized and transferred to the green house with 70% survival rate. All the plants appeared morphologically uniform with normal growth pattern. A rapid (30 days), efficient and without subculturing protocol for in vitro regeneration of B. senegalensis was developed

Assessment of Nutritional Status in Children from Eastern Sudan

Background: Malnutrition is a very important risk factor leading illness and death in children worldwide.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and relevant haematological and biochemical parameters in school children.Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study, was conducted in 120 (70 boys and 50 girls) school going children of 6-7 years of age, for the assessment of their nutritional status. The haemogloblin concentration (Hb%) was measured by equation method, packed cell volume (PCV) was estimated by scale of microhameatocrit reader, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was calculated. Serum total protein, albumin, iron, total iron binding capacity and transferrin were measured by colorimetric methods. Weight (kg) and height (cm) were measured and body mass index was calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version13.0.Results: The mean values for hematological, biochemical and  anthropometrical measurements were much below the normal ranges. The anthropometric percentile measured in the children showed malnutrition cases in 32 (26.7%) and malnutrition and underweight in 73 (60.8%) while the body mass index showed underweight in males in 23 (19.2%) and in females 11 (9.2%).Conclusions: Malnutrition is common in our study population and was seen in 48.3 of children. It was accompanied by anaemia in 60.8 % of children.Key words: Biochemical parameters, Hematological parameters,  Anthropometric measurements, Nutritional status, Anemia

Phytic Acid Anaylsis By Different Bacterial Phytases

Abstract: This study aimed to measure the in vivo (using 70 male Cobb chicks experiments) degradation of the inositol hexaphosphate (IP 6 ) to lower insitol phosphate (IP2-IP5) using different phytases from Aspergillus, Bacillus, E. coli and Klebsiella. The broiler chicks experiment was designed according to the GFE (1999) including two basal diets, one formulated to contain adequate levels of all nutrients (diet A-positive control) while the other was deficient in the phosphorus supply (diet Bnegative control) supplemented with the above mentioned enzymes. The inositol phosphates were analyzed in faeces and ileum content of all broiler chicks groups, the results revealed lower concentration of IP 2 -IP 5 and higher concentration of IP 6 for all groups. Moreover, the inositol hexaphosphate (IP 6 ) degradation was determined, on the basis of daily intake and excretion of inositol hexaphosphate (IP 6 ). The IP 6 degradation was significantly increased by the supplementation of different phytases. The highest degradation rate was 8.5 ± 3.7 µM/g dry matter in faeces caused by the supplementation of E. coli and 7.8 ± 3.5 µM/g dry matter in ileum by Bacillus phytases

Characterization of Vibrio vulnificus isolated from cockles (Anadara granosa): antimicrobial resistance, plasmid profiles and random amplification of polymorphic DNA analysis

Antibiotic susceptibility, plasmid profiles and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were used to study strains of Vibrio vulnificus isolated from cockles (Anadara granosa). Thirty-six isolates were analyzed. The prevalent biotypes were 1 (72.2% of the isolates) and 2 (27.8%). Among these, 21 strains of biotype 1 and two strains of biotype 2 contained plasmid DNA bands ranging in size from 1.4 to 9.7 MDa. Thirty-one (83.3%) were found to be resistant to one or more of the antimicrobial agents tested, however no specific correlation between antimicrobial resistance patterns and a single biotype was found. In addition, no particular plasmid profile was predictive of a particular pattern of antibiotic susceptibility. Two primers produced polymorphisms in all strains tested, producing bands ranging from 0.25 to 2.7 kb, indicating a high variability among both biotype 1 and biotype 2 of the V. vulnificus strains investigated. RAPD identity across biotypes was also observed among Vibrio vulnificus strains

Sero-molecular Epidemiology of Hepatitis E Virus in Blood Donors, Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a hepatotropic pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality in humans. It is an important causative agent of viral hepatitis outbreaks. This study investigates the serological and molecular prevalence of HEV in blood donors attending the Central Blood Bank in Wad Medani City in Gezira State, Sudan. Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data concerning demographic information and risk factors associated with HEV transmission. All enrolled participants (N = 300) were screened for HEV IgG antibodies using commercial ELISA kits, then strong positive samples (N = 84) were selected and rescreened for HEV IgM and HEV RNA by RT PCR. SPSS version 24.0 was used for analysis. Results: Out of 300 male participants, 36.3% (109/300) were positive for HEV IgG. However, only one participant was IgM positive, while the HEV RNA was negative. The highest prevalence rates of the virus were 42 (44.6%) among the age group of 31–40 years, 20 (48.8%) in those who consumed food from outside, 13 (50%) in three to four multiple blood donations, and 5 (62.5%) in those who consumed water from the river source. A significant association of HEV IgG prevalence concerning the occupation of the participants being students or farmers was detected using univariate and multivariate analysis (P-value = 0.007). Conclusion: High prevalence of HEV IgG was demonstrated among the healthy blood donors in this study. Given the possibility of HEV transmission by transfusion from donors to recipients, we recommend that routine screening for HEV should be adopted by blood banks in Sudan

Coronary flow and reactivity, but not arrhythmia vulnerability, are affected by cardioplegia during cardiopulmonary bypass in piglets

Background: Surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is still associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity in both pediatric and adult patients but the mechanisms are not fully understood. Abnormalities in coronary flow and function have been suggested to play an important role. Prior studies suggest protective effects on coronary and myocardial function by short intravenous (i.v.) infusion of cyclosporine A before CPB. Methods: Barrier-bred piglets (10-12 kg, n=20) underwent CPB for 45 min, with or without antegrade administration of cardioplegic solution. Prior to CPB, half of the animals in each group received an i.v. infusion of 100 mg/kg cyclosporine A. The left anterior descending coronary flow velocity responses to adenosine, serotonin, and atrial pacing, as well as left ventricular function and postsurgical vulnerability to atrial fibrillation (Afib) were assessed by intracoronary Doppler, epicardial echocardiography, and in vivo electrophysiological study, before and 8 hours after surgery. Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen were measured at both time-points. Results: Cyclosporine infusion did not influence any of the studied variables (p>0.4). Coronary peak flow velocity (cPFV) rose significantly after surgery especially in the cardioplegia group (p0.4). There was no difference in systolic myocardial function between groups at any time point. Conclusion: In piglets, CPB with cardioplegia was associated with profound abnormalities in coronary vasomotor tone and receptor-related flow regulation, whereas arrhythmia vulnerability appeared to be comparable with that in non-cardioplegia group. In this study, preconditioning with cyclosporine had no detectable protective effect on coronary circulation or arrhythmia vulnerability after CPB