Impact of Cotton Preparation on Grade and Price

      This study is concerned with enhancement of the quality and grade of Sudanese cottons in order to improve their marketability in international markets. Field experiments were conducted during 2()()0 2002 at Gezira Scheme, Sudan on Barac (67)B variety in Baracat Block , while the variety Barakat-90 was the subject of the study in Umdagatsi Block. The objectives of this study were to improve cotton fibre quality, grade and to reduce honey due contamination in the commercial cotton cultivars; and Barac(67)B Results indicated that scheduled cotton picking and seed cotton cleaning improved cotton quality by a full grade. Also, cotton homogeneity was improved ensuing lower fiber properties variability and reduced stickiness contamination. The results of this study ascertained that on amount of 21.2 million dollars could be secured to the national income and Sudan's cotton position in the international marked is strengthened, provided that recommendation of this study, are applied. &nbsp

RESIDUES OF SOME ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN HUMAN BLOOD IN THE FADASI AREA, SUDAN

 Introduction: For many years, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been of interest, because of their toxicity and high persistence .In developing countries, (OCPs) were used in large quantities to control agricultural pests and vectors of endemic diseases. In Sudan (OCPs) were restricted to public health purposes in 1981.  Objective: This study was conducted to asses the residue levels in the human blood. Methodology: A randomized population sample from Fadasi Village, which is located in a rural area where pesticides have been used for over 35 years were examined.   Result and Discusion: Analysis of human blood revealed the presence of  HCH, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide and DDE in varying concentrations. Statistical correlation was found to exist between the pesticide concentration and age, weight and duration of exposure. DDE was present in high concentrations, ranging between 0.38  6.88 ppm

Microstructure and Hardness Properties of Additively Manufactured AISI 316L Welded by Tungsten Inert Gas and Laser Welding Techniques

Abstract In this study, 316L austenitic stainless-steel (ASS) plates fabricated using an additive manufacturing (AM) process were joined using tungsten inert gas (TIG) and laser welding techniques. The 316L ASS plates were manufactured using a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique, with building orientations (BOs) of 0° and 90°, designated as BO-0 and BO-90, respectively. The study examined the relationship between indentation resistance and microstructure evolution within the fusion zone (FZ) of the welded joints considering the effects of different BOs. Microstructural analysis of the weldments was conducted using optical and laser confocal scanning microscopes, while hardness measurements were obtained using a micro-indentation hardness (HIT) technique via the Berkovich approach. The welded joints produced with the TIG technique exhibited FZs with a greater width than those created by laser welding. The microstructure of the FZs in TIG-welded joints was characterized by dendritic austenite and 1–4 wt.% δ-ferrite phases, while the corresponding microstructure in laser-welded joints consisted of a single austenite phase with cellular structures. Additionally, the grain size values of FZs produced using the laser welding technique were lower than those produced using the TIG technique. Therefore, TIG-welded joints showcased hardness values lower than those welded by laser welding. Furthermore, welded joints with the BO-90 orientation displayed the greatest cooling rates following welding processing, leading to FZs with hardness values greater than BO-0. For instance, the FZs of TIG-welded joints with BO-0 and BO-90 had HIT values of 1.75 ± 0.22 and 2.1 ± 0.09 GPa, whereas the corresponding FZs produced by laser welding had values of 1.9 ± 0.16 and 2.35 ± 0.11 GPa, respectively. The results have practical implications for the design and production of high-performance welded components, providing insights that can be applied to improve the efficiency and quality of additive manufacturing and welding processes.Abstract In this study, 316L austenitic stainless-steel (ASS) plates fabricated using an additive manufacturing (AM) process were joined using tungsten inert gas (TIG) and laser welding techniques. The 316L ASS plates were manufactured using a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique, with building orientations (BOs) of 0° and 90°, designated as BO-0 and BO-90, respectively. The study examined the relationship between indentation resistance and microstructure evolution within the fusion zone (FZ) of the welded joints considering the effects of different BOs. Microstructural analysis of the weldments was conducted using optical and laser confocal scanning microscopes, while hardness measurements were obtained using a micro-indentation hardness (HIT) technique via the Berkovich approach. The welded joints produced with the TIG technique exhibited FZs with a greater width than those created by laser welding. The microstructure of the FZs in TIG-welded joints was characterized by dendritic austenite and 1–4 wt.% δ-ferrite phases, while the corresponding microstructure in laser-welded joints consisted of a single austenite phase with cellular structures. Additionally, the grain size values of FZs produced using the laser welding technique were lower than those produced using the TIG technique. Therefore, TIG-welded joints showcased hardness values lower than those welded by laser welding. Furthermore, welded joints with the BO-90 orientation displayed the greatest cooling rates following welding processing, leading to FZs with hardness values greater than BO-0. For instance, the FZs of TIG-welded joints with BO-0 and BO-90 had HIT values of 1.75 ± 0.22 and 2.1 ± 0.09 GPa, whereas the corresponding FZs produced by laser welding had values of 1.9 ± 0.16 and 2.35 ± 0.11 GPa, respectively. The results have practical implications for the design and production of high-performance welded components, providing insights that can be applied to improve the efficiency and quality of additive manufacturing and welding processes

SOIL SOLAR-WARMING WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF MULCH

temperature was studied during two successive seasons of 2002 and 2003 at Kaha experimental station, Agricultural Research Center, Cairo, Egypt (Latitude, longitude, and altitude are 30.8, 31.15, and 16.9 m respectively). Cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L. F1 local hybrid Sinai 1) were grown in clay soil under unheated two plastic houses. One of them was covered with one year old cladding material (PE 200μm) while the other was covered with new cladding. Soil surface was covered with different plastic mulch colors, i.e., black, silver, and transparent, in addition to a new suggested mulch that was craft-paper saturated with paraffin wax. Soil temperatures were measured at 5 cm depth. Global solar radiation and air temperature were measured inside and outside the greenhouses. The vegetative growth , i.e., plant height, leaf number, leaf fresh and dry weight, early and total yield were recorded. The results showed that new cladding cover promoted plant growth and yield. Craft-paper saturated with paraffin wax gave the highest soil temperature during the sunny days in comparison with other mulches and best results concerning vegetative growth and yield were obtained by both black mulch and craft-paper saturated with paraffi

Using Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in undergraduate psychiatric nursing education: Is it reliable and valid?

s u m m a r y a r t i c l e i n f o While there is widespread use of OSCE in general nursing specialties, psychiatric nursing has been slow to adopt this evaluation method and it has only recently been introduced to psychiatric nursing education. Aim: The main aim of the present study is to test the first application, validity and reliability of the OSCE in undergraduate psychiatric nursing education. Method: OSCE was developed to assess undergraduate psychiatric nursing students' clinical skills. The students' evaluation of the OSCE process was obtained after the completion of each OSCE circuit. Results: The psychiatric nursing OSCE proved to be a reliable and valid method in assessing psychiatric nursing clinical competencies. In general, the students perceived OSCE as a positive experience and stressful on the other hand. Conclusion: OSCE is a reliable and valid method of assessing the students' psychiatric nursing competency skills. It has been shown to have many advantages over traditional methods of assessment and has the ability to objectively assess psychiatric nursing skills