5,923 research outputs found
Effect of Moringa oleifera marinade on microbial stability of smoke-dried African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
The study examined the antimicrobial effect of Moringa oleifera marinade on smoke-dried catfish stored at ambient temperature (37±20C) for two months. The experimental treatments are the control, 1%, 2% and 3% (w/v) Moringa oleifera Marinade (MOM) and 5% Brine (w/v) solutions. Seventy-five fishes of average weight of 260±8g were gutted, washed and randomly assigned to the treatments. Thereafter, the fishes were soaked in the treatments for 2 hours and later hot smoked for 12hours. After smoking, the fishes were stored in netted boxes and placed on laboratory shelves for two months. Microbial counts were conducted at 7-day interval while biochemical tests were conducted on the 8th week. Seven bacterial species namely; Staphylococcus sp, Bacillus sp, Klebsiella sp, Corynebacterium sp, Pseudomonas sp, Escherichia coli and streptococcus sp and six fungal species namely; Penicillium italicum, Cladosporium sp, Neurospora crassa, Candida sp, Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were observed in the study. There was a general increase in microbial load as storage progressed. However, the increment was pronounced in the control and brine treated fish samples. In all levels of MOM and 5% Brine, there was decrease in the bacterial and fungal counts as compared with the control samples. 3% MOM exhibited the highest antibacterial potency while 5% Brine exhibited the highest antifungal potency. Moringa oleifera marinade could be use to protect stored smoke-dried catfish from microbial spoilage thus limiting economic loss and possible heath risk to consumers.Key words: Moringa, marinade, bacteria, fungi, catfish, smoke-drie
Knowledge and attitude of primary health care staff screening and not screening for domestic violence against women
No Abstract
Finding Crush: Environmental DNA Analysis as a Tool for Tracking the Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas in a Marine Estuary
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a rapid, non-invasive method for species detection and distribution assessment using DNA released into the surrounding environment by an organism. eDNA analysis is recognised as a powerful tool for detecting endangered or rare species in a range of ecosystems. Although the number of studies using eDNA analysis in marine systems is continually increasing, there appears to be no published studies investigating the use of eDNA analysis to detect sea turtles in natural conditions. We tested the efficacy of two primer pairs known to amplify DNA fragments of differing lengths (488 and 253 bp) from Chelonia mydas tissues for detecting C. mydas eDNA in water samples. The capture, extraction, and amplification of C. mydas eDNA from aquaria (Sea World, San Diego, CA, United States) and natural water (San Diego Bay, CA, United States) were successful using either primer set. The primer pair providing the shorter amplicon, LCMint2/H950g, demonstrated the ability to distinguish cross-reactive species by melt curve analysis and provided superior amplification metrics compared to the other primer set (LTCM2/HDCM2); although primer dimer was observed, warranting future design refinement. Results indicated that water samples taken from deeper depths might improve detection frequency, consistent with C. mydas behaviour. Overall, this pilot study suggests that with refinement of sampling methodology and further assay optimisation, eDNA analysis represents a promising tool to monitor C. mydas. Potential applications include rapid assessment across broad geographical areas to pinpoint promising locations for further evaluation with traditional methods
Effect of Receiver Orientation on Resource Allocation in Optical Wireless Systems
Optical wireless communication (OWC) systems have been the subject of a significant amount of interest as they can be used in sixth generation (6G) wireless communication to provide high data rates and support multiple users simultaneously. This paper investigates the impact of receiver orientation on resource allocation in optical wireless systems, using a wavelength division multiple access (WDMA) scheme. Three different systems that have different receiver orientations are examined in this work. Each of these systems considers 8 simultaneous users in two scenarios. WDMA is utilised to support multiple users and is based on four wavelengths offered by Red, Yellow, Green and Blue (RYGB) LDs for each AP. An angle diversity receiver (ADR) is used in each system with different orientations. The optimised resource allocations in terms of wavelengths and access point (AP) is obtained by using a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model. The channel bandwidth and SINR are determined in the two scenarios in all systems. The results show that a change in the orientation of the receiver can affect the level of channel bandwidth and SINR. However, SINRs in both scenarios for all users are above the threshold (15.6 dB). The SINR obtained can support data rate of 5.7 Gbps in both scenarios in all systems
Impact of User Distribution on Optical Wireless Systems
In this paper, we investigate the impact of user distribution on resource allocation in visible light communication (VLC) systems, using a wavelength division multiple access (WDMA) scheme. Two different room layouts are examined in this study. Three 10-user scenarios are considered, while an optical angle diversity receiver (ADR) with four faces is used. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is utilized to identify the optimum wavelengths and access point (AP) allocation in each scenario. The results show that a change in user distribution can affect the level of channel bandwidth and SINR. However, a uniform distribution of users in the room can provide a higher channel bandwidth as well as high SINR above the threshold (15.6 dB) for all users compared to clustered users, which is a scenario that has the lowest SINR with supported data rate above 3.2 Gbps
Development of dilated cardiomyopathy and impaired calcium homeostasis with cardiac-specific deletion of ESRRβ.
Mechanisms underlying the development of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remain poorly understood. Using transcription factor expression profiling, we identified estrogen-related receptor-β (ESRRβ), a member of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors, as highly expressed in murine hearts and other highly oxidative striated muscle beds. Mice bearing cardiac-specific deletion of ESRRβ (MHC-ERRB KO) develop DCM and sudden death at ~10 mo of age. Isolated adult cardiomyocytes from the MHC-ERRB KO mice showed an increase in calcium sensitivity and impaired cardiomyocyte contractility, which preceded echocardiographic cardiac remodeling and dysfunction by several months. Histological analyses of myocardial biopsies from patients with various cardiomyopathies revealed that ESRRβ protein is absent from the nucleus of cardiomyocytes from patients with DCM but not other forms of cardiomyopathy (ischemic, hypertrophic, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy). Taken together these observations suggest that ESRRβ is a critical component in the onset of DCM by affecting contractility and calcium balance.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Estrogen-related receptor-β (ESRRβ) is highly expressed in the heart and cardiac-specific deletion results in the development of a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). ESRRβ is mislocalized in human myocardium samples with DCM, suggesting a possible role for ESRRβ in the pathogenesis of DCM in humans
NOMA Visible Light Communication System with Angle Diversity Receivers
In this paper, a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) visible light communication (VLC) system is investigated. The system uses angle diversity receivers (ADRs) to provide high data rates. The ADR has 4 branches, each directed to a different direction. An 8m x 4m sized room is modelled to study the resource allocation to users according to their channel conditions to maximize the data rate. The results show that using ADRs improves the data rate by an average of 35% compared to a system using wide FOV receivers
Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy for ischemic stroke
Ischemic stroke represents a major, worldwide health burden with increasing incidence. Patients affected by ischemic strokes currently have few clinically approved treatment options available. Most currently approved treatments for ischemic stroke have narrow therapeutic windows, severely limiting the number of patients able to be treated. Mesenchymal stem cells represent a promising novel treatment for ischemic stroke. Numerous studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells functionally improve outcomes in rodent models of ischemic stroke. Recent studies have also shown that exosomes secreted by mesenchymal stem cells mediate much of this effect. In the present review, we summarize the current literature on the use of mesenchymal stem cells to treat ischemic stroke. Further studies investigating the mechanisms underlying mesenchymal stem cells tissue healing effects are warranted and would be of benefit to the field
Control of Drives in Biomass Combustion Process
Import 23/07/2015Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá návrhem řídicího procesu dopravy paliva při výrobě elektrické energie. Jedná se o reálnou technologii pro průmyslovou praxi, která je součástí zakázky společnosti Polycomp, a.s. Práce popisuje celý proces a zaměřuje se na dopravu paliva z provozního zásobníku paliva do spalovací komory řízením dvou šnekových dopravníků a turniketu paliva. Pro řízení těchto pohonů je společností zvolen programovatelný PLC automat Siemens Simatic S7-1200, jehož konfigurace a popis jeho vlastností jsou v práci popsány. Pro tento proces byly navrženy tři řídicí programy, které v době realizace této práce nebylo možné vyzkoušet na reálné zakázce, a proto byly simulovány na simulační desce s PLC automatem Siemens Simatic S7-200.This thesis deals with a design control process of transportation of fuel during the production of electrical energy. Real technology for industrial practice is concerned, that is a part of a contract of a company Polycomp, a. s. The thesis describes the whole process and focuses on transportation of fuel from fuel reservoir to furnace by controlling of two screw conveyors and a fuel turnstile. To control those drives, it is chooses a programmable PLC automat Siemens Simatic S7-1200, whose configuration and description of its features are described in this thesis. For this process, three controlling programs were designed, that were not possible to test on real contract at the time of realization of this thesis and that is why they were simulated on a simulation desk with the automat Siemens Simatic S7-200.352 - Katedra automatizační techniky a řízenívelmi dobř
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