Assessment of Coefficient of Variation of Emitters Flow Rate with Respect to Design, Manufacturer and Plugging in Installed Drip Irrigation Systems at Selected Sites of Peshawar Valley

The study was conducted to assess the performance of drip irrigation systems installed at Charsadda, Malakand Agency and Nowshera. The performance parameters of the drip irrigation system included the coefficient of variation of emitters flow rate with respect to design of manufacturer, hydraulics, grouping of the emitters, plugging, uniformity, efficiency, adequacy and estimated design discharge , measured Cv(H) values for all plots are less than 30%.  Hydraulic design seems to be only one of the minor factors in the evaluation of overall uniformity of a micro-irrigation system. Having the Cv(HM) variations are only about 0-7% except plot No.1 of Nowshera farm that is 24.16%, expressed by Cv. micro-irrigation system can be designed hydraulically to maintain emitter flow uniformity within 10% or 20% emitter flow variations. Grouping variation of emitters flow is 0-4% in Charsadda and Malakand Agency farm. In plot No.1 of Nowshera farm its 20.60% while in plot No.2 and 3 it is 0%. The group coefficient is affected by emitters flow rate that is uniform. In Charsadda and Malakand Agency farm the overall effect of hydraulic, manufacturer and grouping are 0-7.11% and 0-1.02% in plot No.3 and 2 of Nowshera farm, in plot No.1 it is 31.75%. Among all the factors affecting the uniformity, plugging is the most significant factor. The Cv(P) is 0% resulted from partial plugging. 5-10% plugging could produce Cv(P) of 23-33%. This system has no plugging, which implies that the system is performing excellent. Cv(HMP) was evidently affected most by hydraulic and manufacture variation. The overall Cv(HMP) is maximum in Charsadda plot No.2 is 16.1%  while in plot No.3 and 4 this range from 1.8 to 0.6%. In Malakand and Nowshera farm this overall variation give negative values due to more variation in the level of plugging and CV(HM). . Keywords: Coefficient of Variation, Emitters, Plugging, Uniformity, Drip Irrigatio

Assessment of Estimated Design Discharge with Physical Need Based Installed Drip Irrigation Systems in Selected Sites of Peshawar Valley

The study was conducted to assess the performance of drip irrigation systems installed at Charsadda, Malakand Agency and Nowshera. The performance parameters of the drip irrigation system included the coefficient of variation of emitters flow rate with respect to design of manufacturer, hydraulics, plugging  were compared with physical need based CROPWAT software estimation were evaluated. The emitters discharge was collected at the beginning, 1/3 down, 2/3 down and end of each selected lateral by volumetric method. The soil texture and infiltration data was also determined for the efficiency and adequacy of drip irrigation system. The head loss along the laterals was determined for uniformity of the drip irrigation system. These collected values were averaged for each plot and water requirement was determined by using CROPWAT computer software. Results of the study revealed that the head loss in Malakand Agency (0.6 m) irrigation systems remained uniform while these are varying in Nowshera and Charsadda (0.4-1.5 m). Theoretical discharges are mostly less than actual discharges with a maximum of 55 % increase in Malakand Agency and a minimum at Charsadda with 3.3 % increase in actual discharge. Due to increased laterals length with more emitters per lateral gives fluctuation in discharge and pressure. Discharge variation was more due to low-pressure head in Nowshera. Keywords: Coefficient of variation, Design, Plugging, Head Loss, Theoretical Discharg

Performance Assessment of Existing Drips Irrigation Systems’ Parameters (Uniformity, Efficiency and Adequacy Degree Installed In Selected Sites of Peshawar Valley

The study was conducted to assess the performance of drip irrigation systems installed at Charsadda, Malakand Agency and Nowshera. The performance parameters of the drip irrigation system included the coefficient of variation of emitters flow rate with respect to uniformity, efficiency, adequacy and estimated design discharge by Dadex were compared with physical need based CROPWAT software estimation were evaluated. The emission uniformity in Charsadda farm range from 99.1 to 99.7%. In Malakand Agency farm it range between 96.1 to 97.9% while in Nowshera it range from 86.1 to 100%. Statistical uniformity calculated in Charsadda farm range from 99.3-99.8%. In Malakand Agency it is between 96 –97.3% and 82.8 to 100% in Nowshera farm. Application efficiency of drip system in Charsadda farm is between 88 to 100%. In Malakand it ranges from 67 to 83% while in Nowshera farm it is from 36 to 62%. The storage efficiency is maximum (80.3%) in Malakand Agency farm and minimum in Nowshera farm (24.9%). Charsadda farm has 62.5% average storage efficiency. Adequacy of irrigation having full irrigation of 2.4cm which is he desired depth of application. The adequacy of irrigation for the field in figure 21 is 52.5 percent, since 52.5 percent of the field receives the desired depth of application or more. Keywords: Performance, Drip Irrigation, Application Efficiency, Uniformity, Statistical Uniformity, Coefficient of Global Variation

Expression and sequence characterization of growth hormone binding protein of Nili-Ravi buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) was isolated from the liver of Nili-Ravi buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplified and sequence characterized. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated high degree sequence identities (97.3 to 99.6%) of BbGHBP cDNA with Bos taurus, Ovis aries and Capra hircus. An expression plasmid was constructed for the production of BbGHBP in Escherichia coli BL21 (RIPL) CodonPlus under the control of T7lac promoter. On induction with isopropyl β-D thiogalactopyranoside, the BbGHBP was expressed at levels >30% of the total E. coli proteins. The target protein expressed as inclusion bodies was solubilized in denaturing solution and refolded by step/pulsatile dilution method using cysteine and cystine redox potential. Purification to near homogeniety (>98%) was achieved by ion-exchange chromatography with a recovery yield of 64%. Mass spectrometric analysis of the purified BbGHBP showed a single peak of 30,756 Da. A radioprotein assay evaluated the binding affinity of recombinant BbGHBP with iodinated bovine growth hormone (bGH) which demonstrated active conformation of BbGHBP. These results demonstrate high expression and sequence characterization of BbGHBP in Nili-Ravi buffaloes and provide the basis for the assessment of BbGHBP in other breeds of buffalo.Keywords: Liver, Nili-Ravi buffalo, GHBP, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, radioprotein binding assay, refoldin

Clinical radiology research in Pakistan: from evidence to practice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical radiology research productivity in Pakistan by type of publication, sources of funding and name of journals. METHODS: A systematic search strategy using key words related to techniques and type of clinical radiology was carried out to identify various studies published in Indexed (Medline) and non-indexed (Pakmedinet) medical journals. RESULTS: Total of 397 studies were identified out of which 173(43%) from Medline (indexed database) and 220 (57%) from pakmedinet (Indexed and non- indexed database of Pakistan Medical journals). Original articles were 294 (74%) but most of them (68%) were published in non-indexed journals and significantly different from other articles types (case reports, short reports, review articles and letter to editors) (p-value \u3c 0.001). No Randomized Controlled Trial was identified. No research was funded by any formal financial agency. As high as 78% of indexed studies were published by radiology centers of Sind province. Private hospitals having radiology department contributed significantly in indexed journals compared to government hospitals (p-value \u3c 0.001). Majority (74%) of the studies were done by radiologists as compared to other non-radiology clinical colleagues (p-value \u3c 0.001). The most preferred journal for publication was the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association (JPMA; N = 43) followed by Annals of King Edward medical college (Ann KEMC; N = 20). Australasian journal of radiology was the most preferred international journal for publication (Australas Radiol N = 3). No significant difference was found in radiology research production in terms of number of publication from and before the year 2000 (p-value 0.51). CONCLUSION: Clinical radiology research production from Pakistan is low in terms of quality and number. Only few studies reach the standard of publication in international medical journals. There is an urgent need of building the foundation of research programmes in radiology and strengthen research capacity building at facility and health policy level

Assessment of menisci and ligamentous injuries of the knee on magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with arthroscopy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of MRI, in the assessment of the meniscal and cruciate ligamenteous injuries of the knee joint and comparison with arthroscopic findings. METHODS: A one year prospective cross-sectional study from January 2006 to January 2007, was performed on 50 patients (32 males & 18 females) with knee injury presenting at the orthopedic unit of AKUH. The patients were referred to radiology department for MRI evaluation and arthroscopy. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for MRI of the menisci and ligaments were as follows: medial meniscus resulted in 100% sensitivity, 69.27% specificity, 90% PPV, 100% NPV and 92% accuracy: lateral meniscus resulted in 87.5% sensitivity, 88.23% specificity, 77% PPV, 93% NPV and 88% accuracy: anterior cruciate ligament resulted in 86.67% sensitivity, 91.43% specificity, 81% PPV, 94% NPV and 88% accuracy; posterior cruciate ligament resulted in 100% sensitivity, 95.83% specificity,50% PPV, 100 NPV and 96% accuracy. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging is a good, accurate and non invasive modality for the assessment of menisci and ligamenteous injuries. It can be used as a first line investigation in patients with soft tissue trauma to knee

Staging of endometrial carcinoma by magnetic resonance imaging: correlation with surgery and histopathology

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of MRI in staging of endometrial carcinoma, and comparison with surgery and histopathological findings. METHODS: A one year prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 10/3/2005 to 31/5/2006, at the Radiology department, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi. Fifty two patients with diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma, referred to radiology department for preoperative staging by MRI and had undergone surgery were included. RESULTS: MRI was found to be 79% sensitive, 85% specific and 80% accurate for staging endometrial carcinoma while PPV and NPV were 97% and 66% respectively. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging is a good, safe, accurate and non invasive imaging modality in staging of endometrial carcinoma. It can be used as a first line radiological investigation in patients with endometrial carcinoma for treatment planning

RELATIVE COMPARISON OF STABILITY AND DEGRADATION OF METHYLCOBALAMIN TABLETS OF DIFFERENT BRANDS AT DIFFERENT STORAGE SETTINGS

Objective: To assess relative comparison of stability and degradation of Methylcobalamin tablets of different brands at various storage circumstances. Methods: The comparative in vitro study of Methycobal (innovator brand) with its other 5 different brands Cobalamin, Neuromet, Incobal, Qbal and Mecobal was organized for evaluation of physicochemical features of hardness, thickness, friability, weight variation, disintegration time and accelerated stability at 3 temperatures, 25 °C, 30 °C±65 % and 40 °C±75 % respectively for 3 mo. Later all brands were passed through HPLC for checking the extent of degradation of drug products. Results: All tablet brands were within the weight variation specified limits except Mecobal with a relative standard deviation of 6.83%. The weight variation values of Methycobal, Cobalamin, Neuromet, Incobal, Qbal and Mecobal were 0.29%, 0.11%, 0.09%, 0.13%, 0.09% and 0.14% after friability test respectively as per standard limits. The average thickness of Cobalamin, Incobal and Mecobal were not within specified limits. The average hardness of all trades was within limits except Cobalamin and Mecobal exceeding 6kp. The disintegration time of all companies was as per specifications. Conclusion: Qbal was found economical and cost-effective. However, study facts unveiled no noteworthy variety in the Q. C assessments of Methylcobalamin brands

Synthesis of N'-Substituted-2-(5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1,3,4- oxadiazol-2-ylthio)acetohydrazide Derivatives as Suitable Antibacterial Agents

Purpose: To evaluate antibacterial activity of a series of molecules bearing 1,3,4-oxadiazole and azomethine moieties.Methods: The 4-chlorobenzoic acid (1) was precursor to N'-substituted-2-(5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3,4- oxadiazol-2-ylthio)acetohydrazide, 8a-p, through a multistep synthesis of corresponding ester, 2, hydrazide, 3 and 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 4. The molecule, 4, was subjected to electrophilic substitution by ethyl-2-bromoacetate to yield 5 which was stepped to 2-(5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2- ylthio)acetohydrazide (6). The target molecules, 8a-p, were synthesized by nucleophilic addition of 6 to arylaldehydes, 7a-p. The proposed structures of all the synthesized molecules were elucidated by Infra Red (IR), Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) and Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry (EIMS) spectral data. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by the principle that microbial growth is in a log phase of growth and so results in increased absorbance of broth medium which is observed.Results: The molecule, 8b, was active against S. aureus and 8c against S. typhi only. The molecule, 8p, was the most active against S. typhi with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 10.04 ± 1.25 μM while 8e was active against E. coli with MIC of 9.45 ± 1.00 μM, both relative to the reference standard, ciprofloxacin, which displayed MIC of 9.13 ± 2.00 and 8.90 ± 1.65 μM, respectively.Conclusion: Most of the synthesized molecules exhibit 50 % antibacterial activity relative to the reference. Molecules 8b and 8c are the least active compounds.Keywords: 1,3,4-Oxadiazole, 4-Chlorobenzoic acid, Antibacterial activity, Azomethin