Sampling Technique and Minimization of Inspection Errors in Leather Sorting

         Leather processing is one of the oldest industries. It involves processing of animals skins and hides for use in various products. The objectives of this study were to adopt a Sampling Plan Technique by comparison of various Sampling Plans in order to identify the best to be used in inspection process. This is to overcome human fatigue, to minimize the inspection time and to draw the Operating Characteristic Curve. A lot of 18000 pieces of wet blue goat skins for export was inspected for quality assurance to the standard quality level. These were set to be 10% & 5% for acceptable and rejects level by the supplier and customer respectively. Then various Acceptance Sampling Plans were compared then the probability of acceptance for lot quality level was evaluated using Operating Characteristic Curve. The results Showed that for quality assurance the best plan was when the lot size (N) was equal to  18000, the sample size (n) was equal to 350 and number of defects (c) was equal to 10. It is recommended that Acceptance Sampling Plan technique can be adopted by all Sudanese tanneries and related fields.           &nbsp

Saudi SCD patients’ symptoms and quality of life relative to the number of ED visits

Background Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) have significantly increased emergency department (ED) use compared to the general population. In Saudi Arabia, health care is free for all individuals and therefore has no bearing on increased ED visits. However, little is known about the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and frequency of acute care utilization in this patient population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 366 patients with SCD who attended the outpatient department at King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through self-administered surveys, which included: demographics, SCD-related ED visits, clinical issues, and QoL levels. We assessed the ED use by asking for the number of SCD-related ED visits within a 6-month period. Results The self-report survey of ED visits was completed by 308 SCD patients. The median number of SCD-related ED visits within a 6-month time period (IQR) was four (2-7 visits). According to the unadjusted negative binomial model, the rate of SCD-related ED visits increased by (46, 39.3, 40, and 53.5 %) for patients with fever, skin redness with itching, swelling, and blood transfusion, respectively. Poor QoL tends to increase the rate of SCD-related ED visits. Well education and poor general health positively influenced the rate of SCD-related ED visits. Well education tends to increase the rate of SCD-related ED visits by 50.2 %. The rate of SCD-related ED visits decreased by 1.4 % for every point increase in general health. Conclusion Saudi patients with sickle cell disease reported a wide range of SCD-related ED visits. It was estimated that six of 10 SCD patients had at least three ED visits within a 6-month period. Well education and poor general health resulted in an increase in the rate of SCD-related ED visits

Application of Process Quality Control in Leather Industry

Quality Control is the regulatory process measuring actual quality performance, comparing it with standards, and rectifying the difference. The objective of this study was to design control charts for raw and export goat skins to ensure that non-defective items are used, and to ensure that defective items are not passed to customers. Ten random samples of raw goat skins of different sizes (32 – 125pieces) were taken and inspected, and then a control chart was drawn. For outgoing wet blue goat skin, ten samples of the same size each of (125pieces) were taken and inspected then a control chart was drawn. The results were as follow; the process involved in delivery of raw skins was out of control, because the proportion defective (0.2080) in one of the samples was located above the upper action limit. The process of outgoing skin showed stability on control chart because all samples were within control limits

A Survey of the Processing and Chemical Composition of Gariss Produced by Nomadic Camel Women Herders in AlGaderif State, Sudan

Abstract Gariss is the most popular stable food for the camel herders who depend on Gariss for the sustainability of their livestock. The objective of the current study is to assess the traditional fermented camel milk (Gariss) prepared by nomadic camel woman herders in AlGadarif State in Butana. It is also meant to improve the quality of camel milk products through sharing knowledge. The samples (n= 19) were collected during rainy and dry seasons. The nomad's housekeepers were interviewed in the study area. The effect of different types of containers and the additives used during Gariss preparation and the compositional quality were all estimated. The survey reported the different types of spoilage and the variations in the shelf life of Gariss. When compared with the mean values of the Gariss samples collected during dry season, the result indicated that the values of the total solids and the pH of the samples collected during the rainy season were significantly higher (p<0.05), whereas the values of the fat, protein and ash were significantly lower (p<0.05). The container types had a significant (p<0.05) effect on the total solids, fat and ash content only. The Gariss prepared in Bukhsa showed the highest total solids content (13.15±0.54%) and that prepared in stainless steel showed the highest fat (4.65± 0.34%) content. However, when Gariss was prepared in plastic containers it showed the lowest pH value (3.59±0.16%), whereas samples from ''Siin'' (goat leather) was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the ash content (0.35± 0.09%). The present study concludes that the chemical composition of Gariss from the nomadic camel women herders is affected by seasons, types of additives and containers used. Hence more studies are needed to be done on the effect of the additive and containers on Gariss quality

Screening of some sorghum genotypes for resistance to sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis (= Contarinia) sorghicola Coqillet (diptera: Cecidomyiidae) under gedarif rainfed conditions

Preliminary experiments were conducted at Northern area, Gedarif State during seasons of 2002-03, 2006-07.Where as advanced trials during 2008/2009 to 2012/2013 at northern and Southern areas. The objective was to evaluate selected sorghum genotypes for sorghum midge resistance. A total of 3000 accessions were obtained from Gene Bank Resources. Resistant genotype, DJ 6514 (Resistant Check already released in 2007) was obtained from International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Result showed that the midge damage rating was significantly different among genotypes. The midge damage rating scores ranged between, 1.3- 8.6; 1.1- 9.2; 1.4- 9.0; 1.1 – 9.4; and 1.2- 9.2 for all seasons (2008/09; 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12 and 2012/13). However, the lowest midge damage rating was recorded by DJ 6514 (Resistant check), followed by P₁ 570162 (Hag Abbakar); GBM 30 (Early Feterita); Wad Baco; and Safra (1.4; 1.5; 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7), respectively. Genotypes, P₁ 570162 (Hag Abbakar); GBM 30 (Early Feterita); Wad Baco; Safra and Harerai showed lowest % yield loss and performed similar to the resistant check (14.2; 14.5; 14.5; 17.0 and 17.3%), respectively. The combined analysis showed that a significant difference was observed between genotypes. The genotypes were significantly different in panicle types, compact and semi-compact headed genotypes showed lower % glumes coverage (1.3- 4.5%), while semi-compact headed genotypes ranged between 5.5 – 7.8%. Genotypes, Wad Baco; P₁ 570162 (Hag Abbakar); GBM 30 (Early Feterita); Safra; Wad Ahmed; Harerai and Wad Akar showed the shortest glumes coverage (1.3; 1.3; 1.5; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7 and 1.8 %). Compact headed genotypes recorded lowest midge density (6.5 adults/ 5 heads), while the semi-compact headed genotypes were recorded 15.7 adults/ 5 heads compared with others types of heads

Charcoal characterization and application is solar evaporator for seawater desalination

Solar desalination is the most attractive and simple technique for desalination process but suffers low thermal efficiency. The objective of this research is to study the effect of charcoal in seawater desalination for clean water production. The experiment was conducted in a basin type solar evaporator by using seawater with charcoal to seawater mass ratio variation of 1:50 to 1:500. The investigation was carried out for eight hours in sunny daylight. The water qualities including pH, conductivity, total dissolve solid (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity of the seawater and amount of evaporated water were determined. The spent and fresh charcoals were also characterized by using Nitrogen Adsorption (BET), X Ray Detector (XRD) and Scanning Electromagnetic Microscope (SEM). It is found that the addition of charcoal in the water leads to20 % increment of water temperature. Charcoal’s exposed area to the energy source significantly affects the temperature raise. The best charcoal to water mass ratio was achieved at 1:100 to produce 16.8% evaporated water. Charcoal was stable in seawater because minimum changes of pore size and pore volume were observed. In conclusion, charcoal is a potential salt adsorbent and medium for solar thermal energy storage for seawater solar desalination process

In-beam fast-timing measurements in 103,105,107Cd

Fast-timing measurements were performed recently in the region of the medium-mass 103,105,107Cd isotopes, produced in fusion evaporation reactions. Emitted gamma-rays were detected by eight HPGe and five LaBr3:Ce detectors working in coincidence. Results on new and re-evaluated half-lives are discussed within a systematic of transition rates. The $7/2_1^+$ states in 103,105,107Cd are interpreted as arising from a single-particle excitation. The half-life analysis of the $11/2_1^-$ states in 103,105,107Cd shows no change in the single-particle transition strength as a function of the neutron number

Logic Design for Linear Regression Model Using ASIC in Engine Oil Degradation Monitoring System

A degradation analysis in automotive engine oil is concerned with the unrespectable cost of equipment for data storage. System-on-Chip gives possible cost effective in reducing the bulky equipment and reliance on labor. This article discusses a new technique of degradation monitoring where an engine oil degradation model is used and translated into the logic gate based on the Least Square Method of statistical analysis. The degradation model is based on the optical properties where the percentage transmittance of light is varied due to the increase of contaminates contents in the engine oil at a certain period. A linear regression model is chosen in register-transfer level (RTL) development of the digital circuit design. In the algorithm development, the data set are collected at every one hour up to 300 hours and stored in a temporary register. Linear regression is implemented at every 5 data to obtain the degraded condition based on the variation of the slope

Readmission and death after an acute heart failure event: predictors and outcomes in sub-saharan africa: results from the thesus-hf registry

Aims: Contrary to elderly patients with ischaemic-related acute heart failure (AHF) typically enrolled in North American and European registries, patients enrolled in the sub-Saharan Africa Survey of Heart Failure (THESUS-HF) were middle-aged with AHF due primarily to non-ischaemic causes.We sought to describe factors prognostic of re-admission and death in this developing population. Methods and results: Prognostic models were developed from data collected on 1006 patients enrolled in THESUS-HF, a prospective registry of AHF patients in 12 hospitals in nine sub-Saharan African countries, mostly in Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa. The main predictors of 60-day re-admission or death in a model excluding the geographic region were a history of malignancy and severe lung disease, admission systolic blood pressure, heart rate and signs of congestion (rales), kidney function (BUN), and echocardiographic ejection fraction. In a model including region, the Southern region had a higher risk. Age and admission sodium levels were not prognostic. Predictors of 180-day mortality included malignancy, severe lung disease, smoking history, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and symptoms and signs of congestion (orthopnoea, peripheral oedema and rales) at admission, kidney dysfunction (BUN), anaemia, and HIV positivity. Discrimination was low for all models, similar to models for European and North American patients, suggesting that the main factors contributing to adverse outcomes are still unknown. Conclusion: Despite the differences in age and disease characteristics, the main predictors for 6 months mortality and combined 60 days re-admission and death are largely similar in sub-Saharan Africa as in the rest of the world, with some exceptions such as the association of the HIV status with mortality

Notch signaling during human T cell development

Notch signaling is critical during multiple stages of T cell development in both mouse and human. Evidence has emerged in recent years that this pathway might regulate T-lineage differentiation differently between both species. Here, we review our current understanding of how Notch signaling is activated and used during human T cell development. First, we set the stage by describing the developmental steps that make up human T cell development before describing the expression profiles of Notch receptors, ligands, and target genes during this process. To delineate stage-specific roles for Notch signaling during human T cell development, we subsequently try to interpret the functional Notch studies that have been performed in light of these expression profiles and compare this to its suggested role in the mouse