Protecting the marine environment from land-based sources of marine pollution: towards an effective cooperative International arrangement

This thesis explores the applications and shortcomings of international regimes addressing land-based sources of marine pollution (LBSMP). It identifies the sources and effects of LBSMP in addition to problems and associated issues in controlling them. Management principles, policy, and laws of LBSMP control are examined at both regional and international levels along with the problems and prospects of present regimes of LBSMP control. The investigation commences with a descriptive account of international management principles and policies of LBSMP control and proceeds by examining relevant provisions of international and regional legal regimes. It also examines the major strengths and weaknesses of these regimes and difficulties involved in their implementation. These are investigated in order to gain an understanding of, and to fill in the gaps in present regimes of LBSMP control, and to formulate and suggest an effective international legal framework. Global findings estimate that 80% of marine pollution originates from land-based sources and is trans-boundary in nature. A number of legal and policy initiatives have been undertaken incorporating international management principles to establish international regimes to protect the marine environment from LBSMP. However, they are still inefficient, and questions remain as to how effective present regimes are. It is concluded here that the existing global arrangements of LBSMP control are unsatisfactory. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC), the only global treaty addressing LBSMP, inadequately covers this issue. Several globally agreed rules, standards, and recommended practices have been adopted together with detailed strategies. Although they have provided guidance on actions needed, and emphasis on the importance of cooperation at international and regional levels to control LBSMP, they are of a non-binding nature. Nevertheless, it is found that LBSMP control is better addressed at regional levels. Provisions in regional treaties are more onerous and precautionary than those of the LOSC. However, over all, satisfactory outcomes are yet to be seen at regional levels. Finally, progress has been achieved only in regions where developed countries or jointly developed and developing countries, are the participants in a LBSMP control regime. LBSMP control is grossly neglected where control regimes comprise only developing countries. These findings suggest that more effective arrangements remain to be designed, particularly to reinforce LBSMP control opportunities for developing countries cooperating through regional regimes. Based on the conclusions of the thesis, one possible solution to the deficiencies of the existing legal regimes of LBSMP control is proposed. That is, a comprehensive global treaty, with a new model of effective cooperation through the interlocking of regional and global arrangements, is proposed

Prevalence of malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal care in General Hospital Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State

Background: Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease affecting human and other animals caused by parasitic single – called microorganism belonging to the plasmodium group. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, malaise, vomiting, and headache, in severe cases it cause jaundice, seizures, coma or death. Malaria infection during pregnancy poses substantial risk to the mother, her fetus, and the neonate.Aim: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence, predisposing and risk factors of malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal care in general hospital Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area, Kaduna State.Methodology: Four hundred and eighteen (418) blood samples were randomly collected among the pregnant women attending ante natal care in General Hospital Saminaka and then taken to the laboratory for examination. The investigation was carried from November, 2018 to January, 2019. Thick and thin blood films were employed for the diagnosis.Results:88 (21%) had no malarial infection, 330 (79%) had malarial infection: of which 56 (17%) had anaemia as complication due malarial in pregnancy, 13 (4%) had miscarriage and 3 (1%) had hypoglycemia. Woman with age bracket of 15-20 has the highest prevalence 138(33.0%), followed by those with age bracket, 21-25(30.4%) and then those with age group of 26-30 (21.5%) respectfully, while age group of 31-35 and 36-40 had the lowest prevalence of 31 (7.4%) and 32 (7.7%). Respondents occupation shows Trader were the highest with the frequency 159(38%), Unemployed (house Wife) 112 (26.8%), Civil Servant 37(8.9%), Unskilled Labourers 16(3.8%) and Farmers 9(2.2%) respectfully. Respondents level of education shows Primary were the highest with frequency of 128(30.6%), Secondary 126(30.1%), Informal 77(18.4%) and Tertiary 44(10.5%) respectfully.Conclusion: The ability to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of malaria infection among the pregnant women is a major challenge. Malaria is playing a considerable role in causing anaemia, miscarriage, hypoglycemia in pregnancy in this part of the globe. In most part of the developing world like Nigeria, maternal and child health services should be given utmost support at every level for the prevention and control of malaria in pregnant women

Toward prevention of Hemoglobinopathies in Oman

Hemoglobinopathies (HBP) are the most common autosomal recessive genetic disorder in Oman. Carriers are usually asymptomatic but carrier couples are at 25% risk of getting a severely affected child. Public health authorities have focused not only on state of the art management and patient care but also on prevention. The focus of this thesis is to study the molecular spectrum of HBP and the associated genetic determinants to work towards the development of prevention strategies for severe HBP__s in Oman. We have defined the molecular spectrum of the disease all around the country, including beta, alpha and delta globin gene mutations. Furthermore, genotype/phenotype correlation studies were investigated in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) by looking at determinants such as haplotype/sub-haplotype, alpha thalassemia and hydroxyurea response based on XmnI polymorphism. Identifying genetic determinants is necessary for prognostic purposes, accurate diagnosis and planning for the best tailored treatment to the affected patients. While providing tools for a better care and a better insight on the management of these severe diseases in Oman, the results from this thesis will help to facilitate the prevention of HBP in the country.UBL - phd migration 201

Egypt and Sub-Saharan Africa: does Egypt's future lie in Africa?

ASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

Mutagenic effects of Sodium azide (NaN3) on morphological characteristics on two varieties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill)

The Impact of Sodium Azide on the Germination and Growth of Two Varieties of Tomato was investigated with the aim of inducing variability that could be exploited in the improvement of some quality traits in tomato plants. The seeds of two varieties of Tomato (Roma and UC82B) were treated with three different concentrations of Sodium Azide (0.1mM, 1.0 mM, 2.0 mM and 0.0 mM as control). The result obtained revealed a highly significant differences (P≤0.01) in the effects of Sodium Azide on seedlings heights, Height at maturity, fruit weight, pericarp thickness, number of leaves and pH(Potential of Hydrogen) Significant improvement (P≤0.05) was also recorded in fruit diameter, while no significance difference was found on Root dry weight. The result revealed that Sodium Azide improve important quality traits in tomato. However, the response of variety UC82B to Sodium Azide was higher. More so, significant differences were observed between the seasons except in the number of leaves, fruit number, pericarp thickness and fruit diameter. It was concluded that 0.1 mM of Sodium Azide improve some quality traits of tomato that could be utilized in the improvement of tomato.Key Words: Sodium Azide, Tomato, Mutation, Varieties, Morphology, UC82B, Roma

Serum low density lipoprotein receptor related protein-6 is a discriminator of occluded ‎coronary artery assessed by coronary angiogram

Background: Human lipoprotein receptor-related protein -6 (LRP6) plays a role in the development of coronary artery disease. This study aimed to determine the serum level of the LRP6 in patients referred to the coronary angiogram taking into considerations the findings of ‎coronary angiography, evidence of dyslipidemia, obesity and co-existed diabetes mellitus. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 96 patients who referred to coronary angiogram as an interventional diagnostic test for coronary artery disease. The patients were grouped into Group I (negative angiogram); Group IIA (non-obstructed coronary vessels, positive angiogram) and: Group IIB (obstructed coronary vessels, positive angiogram).  The anthropometric measurement, blood pressure, and fasting serum lipid profile and glucose were determined. The serum levels of LRP6 were determined by using the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA).  Results: A non-significant higher serum level of LRP6 observed in patients with a positive angiogram ‎0.175 ± 0.074 ng/ml (Group IIA) and ‎0.166 ± ‎‎0.063 ng/ml (Group IIB) ‎compared with the negative angiogram (Group I: 0.160 ± 0.019 ng/ml). The area under the curve of LRP6 in patients with positive angiogram was significantly lower than that with a normal angiogram. Conclusion: We conclude that the serum level of LRP6 is a good discriminator of patients with coronary ‎artery disease as the area under the curve of the serum levels of LRP6 is significantly decreased as the number of occluded coronary vessels increased.

Study the effect of echinacea purpurea extract on cellular delayed type hypersensitivity and splenocyte proliferation in BALB/c mice

Objective: Purple cone flower plant (Echinacea purpurea) is one of the most important Herbal products in many countries. Up to now a lot of experiments demonstrated the controversial effects of this herb on immune system . In this research we study the in vivo and in vitro effect of Iranian E.purpurea extract on cellular immunity. Materials and Methods: At first we determined the lethal dose of E.purpurea extract after intraperitoneal injection in BALB/c mice. Then we made five groups of mice and treat them by four times intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml extract at different doses (0, 0.4, 2, 10 and 50 mg/ml) during two weeks. Splenocyte proliferation response to extract was assessed by MTT method. Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) response was evaluated by priming mice with 1×108 Sheep Red Blood Cell (SRBC) injected subcutaneously in the back on day 7after treatment. Results: As a result no significant variation in weight and spleen index of test groups to control was observed. Splenocyte proliferation and DTH response of test groups to control increased significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion: However these data confirmed the results of previous studies, in addition presented the first results about significant increase in DTH response that could not be seen before. Scince the main reason of this difference refers to active compounds of herb extract, comparing effective component of this extract with that of E.purpurea cultivated in other geographical condition will consider as the next studies

Studying of Mechanical Properties for AlSiC Composites

This search include to produce Al-SiC composites, containing two different weight percentages 25%, 50%, of SiC and sintering at three different temperatures (300,400,600) ̊C have been fabricated by powder metallurgy method. Wear,Vickers microhardness characteristics of Al–SiC composites have been tested, in Wear test has been investigated under sliding conditions and compared with those observed in pure aluminum. Wear sliding tests have been carried out using pin-on-disk wear test rate normal loads of 500 g and at constant sliding velocity of 500 rpm. While in Vickers test the load that are used 50 g, 0.49N for 15 sec.,Weight loss of samples was measured and the variation of cumulative Wear loss with increasing temperature and with SiC additives has been found for both pure aluminum and the composites. It was also observed that the Wear rate varies with normal load and found that a better values in addition 1g in SiC composites at 600̊C but lower in composites of 25% and in pure Al at other sintering temperature, on the other hands it’s found a fluctuation in (600,400,300)̊C, at 25 % at 5min, 3min.this return to the same reason of adhesive wear and its type. in Vickers micro hardness has high values for 600̊C , for both pure Al and Al SiC composite, and this fluctuation also seen in time of wear rates that be lower value in 1min., 5 min. while in 3 min. has a high value

Milt quality determination of a critically endangered fish, olive barb (Puntius sarana, Ham.) in Bangladesh

The present study was aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the olive barb sperm. Milt was collected fortnightly from 49 male fish (mean weight 90.8 g and length 18.64 cm) from April to July in 2008. In the olive barb ejaculated milt, volume (µl/g), motility (%), duration of motility (s), concentration (x 10 super(10)/ml) and pH values were found to be 6.06±0.32, 88.27±0.71, 171.41±7.41, 5.16±0.05 and 7.75±0.04, respectively. Milt volume was significantly (P<0.05) correlated with sperm concentration. Milt volume, sperm concentration, motility and duration of motility significantly varied (P<0.05) during spawning season