Top soil layer equi-electrical conductivity and pollution with salts mapping for a region located within Baghdad city

This research deals with the study of top soil electrical conductive regions located within Baghdad City. The research included measuring the dissolved soil material extraction Electrical Conductivity (EC) with an aqueous solution for the top (0-30 cm) soil layer of the study area. As the electrical conductivity values increase by increasing the amount of dissolved salts in principle, we can consider that the aim of this research is to predict the amount and distribution of (soil contamination with salts) which is represented by the (Salt Index), this factor calculated for each soil representative sample taken from the region with a depth of (30 cm). Laboratory (EC) test values measured by the use of solutions (EC) digital meter for the extract of the dissolved soils with a distilled de-ionized water using the ratio of (2:1) .The distributed (EC) values for the field representative soil samples used lately to plot a contour equi-electrical conductivity map and EC soil fluctuation profiles, in which reflected the top soil layer salinity distribution according to Tigris river position in the study area , also it reflects the increase and decrease of this layer salinity in a relation to the river position. This study concluded that the highest soil salinity concentrations located at the southern east part of the study area, while the lowest concentrations are located on the intersection areas with Tigris river stream, other areas in which are few kilometers far from the river stream showed moderate salinity concentrations. These results could be helpful for Environmental and agricultural benefits, through identifying the salty soil pollution region and look for ways of treatment

Experimental Establishing of Moving Hydraulic Jump in a Trapezoidal Channel

This research was prepared as a preliminary laboratory study to achieve a moving hydraulic jump with controlled discharges. It is an initial part of the study that is being prepared to treat the salt tide occurring in the Shatt al-Arab due to the lack of water imports that were coming from the Karun and Karkheh rivers from Iranian territory, as this scarcity caused a salt tide that affected significantly the environmental reality of the city of Basra and the agricultural lands surrounding the Shatt al-Arab, such as the Shatt al-Arab district and the Siba orchards. As part of the proposed solutions, a moving hydraulic jump is created that pushes the salt tongue into the Persian Gulf; the results were promising. A moving hydraulic leap is a good example of unstable super- and sub-critical flow regimes and is regarded as a specific case of unsteady flow in a channel. There aren't many published experiments on this particular flow type, and the quantitative simulation of such a flow state has some inherent complexity. An experimental setup was created for this work in order to assess the hydraulic performance of a moving hydraulic jump in a trapezoidal flume. A sluice gate was installed at the flume's upstream edge to provide an unstable supercritical flow regime, movable hydraulic jumps along the channel, and temporal water stages at the gate's upstream side for the various downstream end boundary situations. Several flow factors, including energy head, pressure head, and flow depth, were estimated from the recorded data. The study found connections between discharge and shifting hydraulic jump variables. By employing relatively stable momentum and energy formulas, simple and time-independent formulas were developed that accurately predicted the pressure head in the subcritical region of an unstable mixed flow. As a result, the moving hydraulic jump factor can be correctly predicted using time-independent correlations by using the discharge variation as a boundary scenario. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-04-08 Full Text: PD

Rates and determinants of antibiotics and probiotics prescription to children in Asia-Pacific countries

Antibiotic therapy may have important side effects. Guidelines recommend the administration of specific probiotics to reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD). The rates and determinants of antibiotics and co-prescription of probiotics in children remain poorly known in Asia-Pacific countries, which are very heterogenous in terms of economic development, health care organization and health policies. A survey among general practitioners (GPs) and paediatricians was performed in seven countries of the Asia-Pacific area (Australia, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Singapore, and South Korea). Physicians completed an online questionnaire that explored their current habits and the determinants for prescribing antibiotics and probiotics. For the 731 physicians who completed the questionnaire (390 paediatricians and 341 GPs), 37% of all consultations for a child led to the prescription of antibiotics (ranging from 17% in Australia to 47% in India). A large majority of physicians (84%) agreed that antibiotics disrupted gut microbiota and considered probiotics an effective intervention to prevent AAD (68%). However, only 33% co-prescribed probiotics with antibiotics (ranging from 13% in Japan to 60% in South Korea). The main reasons for prescribing probiotics were previous episodes of AAD (61%), presence of diarrhoea (55%), prolonged antibiotic treatment (54%) or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid therapy (54%). Although current local guidelines recommend the use of selected probiotics in children receiving antibiotics in Asia-Pacific area, the rates of antibiotics and probiotics prescription significantly vary among countries and are deeply affected by country-related cultural and organisational issues

Impact of volatile phenols and their precursors on wine quality and control measures of Brettanomyces/Dekkera yeasts

Volatile phenols are aromatic compounds and one of the key molecules responsible for olfactory defects in wine. The yeast genus Brettanomyces is the only major microorganism that has the ability to covert hydroxycinnamic acids into important levels of these compounds, especially 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol, in red wine. When 4-ethylphenols reach concentrations greater than the sensory threshold, all wine’s organoleptic characteristics might be influenced or damaged. The aim of this literature review is to provide a better understanding of the physicochemical, biochemical, and metabolic factors that are related to the levels of p-coumaric acid and volatile phenols in wine. Then, this work summarizes the different methods used for controlling the presence of Brettanomyces in wine and the production of ethylphenols

EVALUATION OF EFFECTING FACTORS OF TRADITIONAL AND SUPER PLASTICIZER CONCRETE CORE STRENGTH

This paper deals with the investigation factors effecting core strength estimation by conducting an experimental study which included casting of six plain concrete beams. For each beam, 12 cubes were cast in addition to twenty-four core samples were extracted. The investigated factors involved the concrete compressive strength, concrete type, core extracting direction, core location, core depth in the beam, and the damage factor. It obtained results showed that the ratio of compressive strength in the vertical to horizontal cast direction is (1.075) and (1.080) for the traditional and superplasticizer concrete, respectively. Also, the depth factor of bottom to top zone strength in vertical cast direction is (1.110) and (1.066) for traditional concrete and the super plasticizer concrete respectively, while the location factor of center zone in vertical cast direction corresponding to (1.088) and (1.103). Finally, the damage factor is directly proportional with the concrete strength for both concrete types

Top soil layer equi-electrical conductivity and pollution with salts mapping for a region located within Baghdad city. Baghdad Science JournalVol.8(2)2011

<div>Abstract:</div><div>This research deals with the study of top soil electrical conductive regions located within Baghdad City. The research included measuring the dissolved soil material extraction Electrical Conductivity (EC) with an aqueous solution for the top (0-30 cm) soil layer of the study area. As the electrical conductivity values increase by increasing the amount of dissolved salts in principle, we can consider that the aim of this research is to predict the amount and distribution of (soil contamination with salts) which is represented by the (Salt Index), this factor calculated for each soil representative sample taken from the region with a depth of (30 cm). Laboratory (EC) test values measured by the use of solutions (EC) digital meter for the extract of the dissolved soils with a distilled de-ionized water using the ratio of (2:1) .The distributed (EC) values for the field representative soil samples used lately to plot a contour equi-electrical conductivity map and EC soil fluctuation profiles, in which reflected the top soil layer salinity distribution according to Tigris river position in the study area , also it reflects the increase and decrease of this layer salinity in a relation to the river position. This study concluded that the highest soil salinity concentrations located at the southern east part of the study area, while the lowest concentrations are located on the intersection areas with Tigris river stream, other areas in which are few kilometers far from the river stream showed moderate salinity concentrations. These results could be helpful for Environmental and agricultural benefits, through identifying the salty soil pollution region and look for ways of treatment.</div

Effects of dietary chicory (Chicorium intybus l.) and probiotic blend as natural feed additives on performance traits, blood biochemistry, and gut microbiota of broiler chickens

The experiment was designed to determine the effect of different levels of chicory (Chicorium intybus L.) powder and a probiotic blend (PrimaLac®) on productive performance, blood biochemical parameters, and ileal microbiota in broiler chickens. A total of 225 one-day-old broilers (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design with five experimental diets as follows: 1—basal-diet without supplements (control-group); 2—basal-diet including probiotic blend; 3— basal-diet including 0.10% chicory; 4—basal-diet including 0.15% chicory; 5—basal-diet including 0.20% chicory. At 42 days of age, representative birds per replicate were randomly selected for blood samples and carcass measurements. Results showed that the body weight gain of broilers fed the probiotic blend or 0.10% chicory was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than those fed on the other treatments. The abdominal fat pad was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) lower in birds fed diets including chicory compared with control or probiotic. Blood triglycerides and LDL levels were reduced (P &lt; 0.05) and HDL increased (P &lt; 0.05) when fed probiotic or chicory whereas no significant effect on the other serum parameters was found. Broiler ileal microflora from the control group had significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher count of E. coli and lower Lactobacillus than those from the other groups. From findings, it is possible to conclude that dietary chicory powder supported positively growth performance and improved gut microbiota in broiler chickens. However, more research is needed on this subject to better understand the mode of action of feed additives used