Microbial Assessment of Water Samples in Houston, Texas

Houston watersheds and air ecosystems are susceptible to microbial contamination and chemical contaminations from bordering industrial facilities. We sought to evaluate bacterial loads in various Houston bayous, and settled indoor household dust, and isolate pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria for characterization. Isolates included Klebsiella aerogenes and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The specific objectives of the study are (1) Determine bacterial loads and Pb toxicant levels in Houston area watersheds and indoor dust samples; (2) Identify down selected bacterial isolates from environmental samples using ribotyping 16S ribosome RNA and BIOLOG MicroStation identification; (3) Compare environmentally and reference Klebsiella spp. for growth rate, kinetic activity, biofilm production, oxidative stress resistance, and eukaryotic co-culture system. All 17 down-selected colony isolates (including 6 Gram-positive isolates) were identified (using ribotyping and BLAST analysis) and included three human enteric pathogens: K. pneumoniae, K. aerogenes, and Serratia marcescens. We characterized the Mustang Bayou K. pneumoniae and Dickinson Bayou K. aerogenes as pathogenic isolates for all downstream applications. To determine whether exposure to metal contaminants found in Houston watersheds promoted adaptations in the environmental isolates, both the environmental and reference strains were exposed to various Pb concentrations. Pb levels were elevated in bayou water samples exceeding THH criteria of 1.15 ppb and approaching the actionable levels of 15 parts per billion (ppb) limits on drinking water. Only the 50 ppb Pb challenge significantly slowed bacterial growth for all four strains evaluated, while the K. pneumoniae environmental isolate appeared less sensitive to Pb exposure than its reference strain. We exhibited increased resistance to antibiotic chemotherapeutics: ampicillin, gentamicin, streptomycin, penicillin, tetracycline, and erythromycin. Interestingly, Environmental Stains Klebsiella spp. Isolates were slightly more resistant to gentamycin, streptomycin, and tetracycline than their reference strains. For our Biofilm formation, when comparing our K. pneumoniae environmental isolate to the reference strain, there were significantly higher biofilm levels produced by the ecological isolate when challenged with Pb concentrations of 10 and 50 ppb. Determine the effects of Pb- dose-dependent exposure on eukaryotic primary lung Beas-2B and CCD 841 gut cells. We found Pb dose-dependent exposure elicits cytotoxic effects on epithelial lung and gut cells and induces apoptosis measured at 3-, 6-, and 12-hours exposure periods. The cytotoxicity increased at high Pb concentrations level and generated apoptosis effects on Beas-2B, CCD 841 were recorded up to 80% and 60%, respectively, at 12 hours exposure time. When grown in eukaryotic cell co-culture with Beas-2B lung cells and CCD841 gut primary cells in the presence of 20 ppb Pb, Conversely, the K. pneumoniae environmental isolate had a significantly higher fold-increase over 6 hr. in a BAES 2B co-culture than its surrogate counterpart—Taken together, the environmentally isolated Klebsiella spp. Appeared to be more Pb-tolerant than their respective reference strains, a possible environmental adaptation. Such enhanced tolerance can promote environmental persistence and increase the possibility of causing human disease. Keywords: environmental isolate, eukaryotic co-culture, lung, and gut infectio

Study Effect of Fibrinogen on Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Cardio vascular disease has become a great problem throughout the world. It is connected to increase morbidity and mobility and decrease quality of life in patients compared to the general population. many cases of disease has been described in cardiovascular disease. The study conducted on too Iraqi patient with chronic atherosclerosis at age rang (29-70years) in Baquba teaching hospital in (center care unit) during the period from 25 September 2020to may 2021. The patients divided in (55 mans and 45 patients) the total patient divided in tow groups according the treatment (30) of total patient under go to treatment for two to three days after atherosclerosis and 70 patient in same day of diagnosis of atherosclerosis. Fibrinogen value increase and we can use this as biomarkers with Atherosclerosis

Highly sensitive fiber-optic temperature sensor based on tapered no-core fiber for biomedical and biomechanical applications

A low-cost, easy to fabricate real-time temperature sensation device built on an In-Line Mach–Zehnder interferometer basis was manufactured by fusing a segment of no-core fiber amongst two fibers of single-mode. Two different structures, tapered no-core fiber, and untapered no-core fiber both retaining acrylate polymer coating were investigated. The 3 cm length tapered no-core fiber sensor showed the highest sensitivities of ∼ −1.943 nm ◦C−1 and ∼ −1.954 nm ◦C−1 for two different dips respectively. The sensor exhibited high linearity with a very good resolution of 0.0102 ◦C. making the most of the high coefficient of thermal expansion, thermo-optic properties of the acrylate polymer, and the tapering effect, the sensor could be utilized in many temperatures observing applications like biochemical labs, biomechanical studies, and bio-sensing analyses

Why that language, in that context, right now? : the use of the L1 in L2 classroom interaction in an Egyptian setting

This thesis explores the relationship between the use of the L1 and L2 in different classroom contexts. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of the L1 within the overall interactional organisation of L2 classroom discourse using a combination of CA sequential analysis and a CL approach. The data for this study consist of 27 video-recorded hours of classroom interaction from primary to university classes. It is argued that a CA context-based approach to the use of the L1 may be more suitable for depicting the variations in L2 classroom interaction than an overall description of the functions within the lesson as a whole that does not take into account the different contexts that can occur within a single lesson. Following Seedhouse’s (2004 p. 207) concept of L2 classroom context as “the instantiation of a particular pedagogic focus and a particular organization of interaction”, the study looks at how the L1 and the L2 are used in each context. The organisation of turn-taking and repair within each context is illustrated using classroom transcripts. The argument is developed using the emic sequential analysis of CA and adapting the classic CA question: “why that language, in that context, right now?” The functions of L1 use by both teachers and learners are identified using an adapted version of Ferguson’s (2003) system of categorisation. Some of the identified functions are similar to those found in previous studies, while new ones are also identified. The functions are located within the different contexts with the help of CL. It was found that at the macro context level some functions are pertinent to a specific context and that those functions are appropriate to the pedagogical focus of the context in which they operate. Moreover, some other functions behave differently in different contexts. At the micro-interaction level, two distinct uses of the L1 were identified: background and foreground uses of the L1. The study concludes that the use of the L1 can facilitate L2 classroom interaction and that a combination of CA and CL could provide a more complete understanding of L2 classroom discourse. It is also recommended that managing language alternation in the L2 classroom could be incorporated as a component of classroom interactional competence (Walsh 2006).EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceMinistry of Higher Education of the Egyptian governmentrepresented by the Egyptian Culture & Educational Bureau in LondonGBUnited Kingdo

ENHANCING ORAL BIOAVAILABILITY OF CARVEDILOL USING SOLID DISPERSION TECHNIQUE

Objective: Carvedilol (CRV) is a beta blocker drug that is basically used for the treatment of hypertension, heart failure and arrhythmias. The objective of this study is to increase the oral bioavailability of CRV by using solid dispersions to enhance its solubility and dissolution rate.Methods: Various preparations of CRV-solid dispersions (SDs) and physical mixtures (PMs) were prepared using different carriers; polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) K30 and tartaric acid. Effect of type and concentrations of carriers on solubility and dissolution of CRV were studied. Selected CRV-SDs and PMs that showed the best solubility and dissolution were exposed for further investigations e. g. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, the oral antihypertensive activity of the optimized formula compared to pure CRV was evaluated in induced hypertensive adult albino male rats.Results: All carriers enhanced the dissolution rate of CRV. Tartaric acid had the most persuasive effect on the rate and the extent of dissolution of CRV, followed by PEG4000 and PVP. FTIR, DSC and XRD diffraction revealed an interaction between CRV and tartaric acid with the possibility of a polymorphic change in CRV. The optimized formula CRV-tartaric acid (SD 1:0.3) causes a marked increase in the antihypertensive activity compared to pure CRV.Conclusion: Tartaric acid is a promising and efficient carrier for improving the solubility, dissolution and oral bioavailability of CRV.Keywords: Carvedilol, Solid dispersion, Physical mixture, Hypertension, Oral bioavailabilit

Popularity of the Consumption of Dietary Supplements and its Associated Factors among Students in an Egyptian University: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Dietary supplements (DS) use has substantially become prevalent worldwide. However, a limited number of studies have addressed the consumption of DS among college students. AIM: The objective of the study was to explore the prevalence of DS use among college students in an Egyptian college, their motives for DS use, and the association with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 (18–25 years) college students at Helwan University. A self-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, DS use, commonly used types, reasons for use, and sources of information was employed. RESULTS: More than two-thirds of the participants (117 students) have used DS with no difference among sex except for the types and motives for use (p < 0.001). The most used types were amino acids and proteins, multivitamins and minerals, and weight-loss herbals. Male students mainly used amino acids and proteins (54.7%), multivitamins, and minerals (17.2%), for building muscles (50%), gaining more energy (14%), and maintaining good health (14%). Female students consumed multivitamins and minerals (35.8%), weight-loss herbals (28.3%), for health promotion (34%) and weight management (28.3%). The main sources of information were the internet, health-care providers, and coaches. Male users depended primarily on the internet; however, female users received information from health-care providers (p < 0.001). Practicing exercise, non-smoking, and dietary patterns were associated with DS use. CONCLUSION: DS use is remarkably common among college students in Egypt since their freshmen year. The findings highlight an urgent need to raise students’ awareness regarding the appropriate use of DS from reliable sources to control DS use and prevent adverse effects

Representation Of The "Self" And "Other" Of Arab Spring Reporting In CNN And AJE'S Online News Articles

This study aimed to explore the situation often referred to as the 'Arab spring' that prevailed in the Arab world after 2010-2011 by analyzing CNN and AJE's online news articles released in their websites 2013. The main concern of the study is to unveil the two well-known agencies' ideologies in relation to the Arab spring upheaval and to discover how their media discourse has been manipulated to control people's minds with respect to countries involved in the Arab spring, namely, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria

Study of Nuclear Structure of 42-43 Ti isotopes by using F7MBZ & F742 interactions

In this work, The energy levels and lowered electric quadruple transition probability B(E2)  were calculated with the use of the OXBASH code in the F7shell and the F7MBZ& F742 effective interaction for the 42-43Ti isotopes. All nucleon combinations in the 1 7/2 orbits are included in the model space. Additionally, the shell model does a good in describing the invading states' energies. Computations have been done using effective interactions F7MBZ and F742 in full f7 space, As well as the shell model , Lowlying states and binding energies computed and it was found that the calculated rates of electric quadrupole transitions between the isotopes 42-43Ti were consistent with the existing experimental published data.