Assessment of the effects of temperature on the development of hide beetle (Dermestes maculatus De Geer 1774)

The present work was carried out to determine the effect of two temperatures (270C and 350C) on the development of hide beetle (Dermestes maculatus De Geer 1774). This research was carried out at the Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, 2015. The samples of hide beetle were collected along with the infested dried fish from a local market in Sokoto metropolis, Sokoto State, Nigeria. The adult hide beetles were identified based on morphological features using standard taxonomic key and mother culture was maintained at ambient temperature and humidity. Eggs viability of 92.6% with 6 larval instars and 82.1 mean pupal survival at 270C was recorded. This was in comparison with 91.7% eggs viability, 8 larval instars and mean pupal survival of 86.7% at 35C. The results showed significant difference for eggs (tcal of 4.4, ttab 2.78 at 5% degree confidence level) larvae (tcal of 6.8, ttab at 2.45 at 5% degree confidence level) and pupae (tcal of 7.44 as against ttab of 2.36).Keywords: Assessment, Development, Effect, Hide Beetle, Sokoto, Temperatur

Fuel Cells as a Source of Green Energy

A fuel cell is an effective tool for extracting chemical energy from a special type of gaseous fuel other than fossil fuels. It is expected to be a replacement for thermal engines and rechargeable batteries within the next few years as they are emission-free and not subjected to Carnot restrictions. The fuel cell can be manufactured in different sizes depending on the amount of energy required, where it can be too small to be used in precision equipment or large enough to work as electrical stations. This proposal shows a demonstration of the principle of work involved in the fuel cells, structure components, and practice ideas to enhance the output power

Identification the internal parameters for mono-crystalline solar module using Matlab-simulation and experimental ascertainment

The research studies the effects of some weather parameters for Baghdad city on the output of the solar module of the type monocrystalline. The experimental part measures the electrical parameters of the photo-voltaic (PV) module for three levels of radiation rate 500, 750, and 1000 W/m2. The theoretical part includes the modeled and simulation of the PV panel, via the proposed mathematical single–diode model (SDM, 5 parameters), and Matlab-simulation. The Newton Raphson method was applied to find the output current of the solar panel and the plotting P-V, I-V curves.  The work involves preparing a simple mathematical model to estimate the optimal ambient conditions to give the highest output of the solar module. The validation of the model was verified by the practical testing of the cell for 6 months. The best results were obtained at standard testing conditions (25℃, 1000 W/m2). The output power calculated by the mathematical model was 30.1 W while from experimental work was 30.45 W. The relative error is 1.15%. The converge between experimental and modeling results for the same conditions is about 98.9% that proves the validity of the proposed model and the possibility of using it for all types of photovoltaic

Intra-colonial Population of Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) [Isoptera: Termitidae] in Sokoto, Semi-Arid Zone of North-Western Nigeria

The intra- colonial population of individuals within the mounds of mound- building termite, Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) occurring in some selected Local Government Areas of Sokoto State were studied. A total of 72 cone shaped mounds were selected based on their heights. Populationswere estimated by randomly collecting and counting core samples from the mounds using a small bucket as the mounds were being excavated. At the end of the excavation, the total sand removed from the mound was crushed and measured using the same bucket. Total number of termites from a mound was extrapolated from the above estimates. Results indicate the presence of five different castes; reproductives, workers, minor and major soldiers and nymphs. The population of individuals per moundapart from the reproductives, ranged between 14158.00 and 24777.67 with an average of 18,795.49 termites per mound. The nymphs were the largest (5,942.60) closely followed by the workers (5,547.70), while the minor soldiers are the least with 3,279.38. Significant difference (p<0.05) occurred between minor soldiers and nymphs, major soldiers and nymphs, minor soldiers and workers and minor soldiers and nymphs in some of the studied areas. The present study show M. bellicosus to have high population within individual mounds enough to cause damage if ignored. Being a pestiferous species that could promote erosion, appropriate control strategies are required for its control.Key words: Macrotermes bellicosus, Mounds- building termites, intra-colonial Population, Mounds, Castes

Laser Improves Biogas Production by Anaerobic Digestion of Cow Dung

This study investigates the digestion of cow dung (CD) for biogas production at laboratory scales. The study was carried out through anaerobic fermentation using cow dung as substrate. The digester was operated at ambient temperatures of 39.5 °C for a period of 10 days. The effect of iron powder in controlling the production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been tested. The optimum concentration of iron powder was 4g/L with the highest biogas production. A Q – swatch Nd:YAG laser has been used to mix and homogenize the components of one of the six digesters and accelerate digestion. At the end of digestion, all digestions effluent was subjected to 5 laser pulses with 250mJ/pules to dispose waste biomass

Simulation of the Entrance to the Escape of the Flood Branching from the Diyala River

The Diyala River is considered the third most important river in Iraq. However, in the recent period, Diyala Governorate has been subject to several floods. This study aims to simulate an efficient labyrinth weir at the flood escape entrance branching from the Diyala River to reach the best entrance through which the flood waves can pass safely. The discharge coefficient was calculated laboratory for five types of trapezoidal side labyrinth weirs with different sidewall angles. Results showed that the coefficient discharge for the trapezoidal labyrinth side weir with an angle of the sidewall is 75ᵒ and has a discharge coefficient greater than the rest of the labyrinth side weirs. The second part of this study is validating the laboratory work using the CFD technique, where the same laboratory channel was simulated with the weirs of the side trapezoidal labyrinth using the Ansys-Fluent program. The numerical study gave very close results compared with the experimental results with MSE, where the error percentage error was from 3.3% to 10%. The last part of the work is numerically simulating the trapezoidal labyrinth side weir with an angle of the sidewall of 75ᵒ at the flood escape entrance branching from the Diyala River. The results showed that the side labyrinth weir has a larger discharge capacity of 4.8% than the rest of the traditional weirs and is more effective in flood treatment

Experimental Investigation about the Effects of Blockage on Upstream Box Culverts

This experimental study focuses on scouring in box culvert inlets under steady-state conditions and at different percentages of blockage ranging from 0% to 65%, and also looks at the hydraulics of water in the culvert. The investigation shows that the blockage of the culverts has influenced the scouring pattern at the blocked culverts' entrances. Ten experiments were carried out at the laboratory to see how blockage impacts the scouring pattern upstream of a box culvert during steady flow. Both partially blocked and unblocked cases were implemented in this study. The experimental tests were done until the equilibrium scour occurred, which took about 3.5 hours of water flow to reach equilibrium conditions.  The results revealed that the blockage will increase the water depth at the inlet by about 30%–50%, which may affect the safety of structures or cause culvert failure. In addition, the results discovered that the maximum scour depth, which inversely correlated with the obstruction upstream of the box culvert, increased with increasing discharge.

Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

SummaryBackground The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 provides an up-to-date synthesis of the evidence for risk factor exposure and the attributable burden of disease. By providing national and subnational assessments spanning the past 25 years, this study can inform debates on the importance of addressing risks in context. Methods We used the comparative risk assessment framework developed for previous iterations of the Global Burden of Disease Study to estimate attributable deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and trends in exposure by age group, sex, year, and geography for 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks from 1990 to 2015. This study included 388 risk-outcome pairs that met World Cancer Research Fund-defined criteria for convincing or probable evidence. We extracted relative risk and exposure estimates from randomised controlled trials, cohorts, pooled cohorts, household surveys, census data, satellite data, and other sources. We used statistical models to pool data, adjust for bias, and incorporate covariates. We developed a metric that allows comparisons of exposure across risk factors—the summary exposure value. Using the counterfactual scenario of theoretical minimum risk level, we estimated the portion of deaths and DALYs that could be attributed to a given risk. We decomposed trends in attributable burden into contributions from population growth, population age structure, risk exposure, and risk-deleted cause-specific DALY rates. We characterised risk exposure in relation to a Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Findings Between 1990 and 2015, global exposure to unsafe sanitation, household air pollution, childhood underweight, childhood stunting, and smoking each decreased by more than 25%. Global exposure for several occupational risks, high body-mass index (BMI), and drug use increased by more than 25% over the same period. All risks jointly evaluated in 2015 accounted for 57·8% (95% CI 56·6–58·8) of global deaths and 41·2% (39·8–42·8) of DALYs. In 2015, the ten largest contributors to global DALYs among Level 3 risks were high systolic blood pressure (211·8 million [192·7 million to 231·1 million] global DALYs), smoking (148·6 million [134·2 million to 163·1 million]), high fasting plasma glucose (143·1 million [125·1 million to 163·5 million]), high BMI (120·1 million [83·8 million to 158·4 million]), childhood undernutrition (113·3 million [103·9 million to 123·4 million]), ambient particulate matter (103·1 million [90·8 million to 115·1 million]), high total cholesterol (88·7 million [74·6 million to 105·7 million]), household air pollution (85·6 million [66·7 million to 106·1 million]), alcohol use (85·0 million [77·2 million to 93·0 million]), and diets high in sodium (83·0 million [49·3 million to 127·5 million]). From 1990 to 2015, attributable DALYs declined for micronutrient deficiencies, childhood undernutrition, unsafe sanitation and water, and household air pollution; reductions in risk-deleted DALY rates rather than reductions in exposure drove these declines. Rising exposure contributed to notable increases in attributable DALYs from high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, occupational carcinogens, and drug use. Environmental risks and childhood undernutrition declined steadily with SDI; low physical activity, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose increased with SDI. In 119 countries, metabolic risks, such as high BMI and fasting plasma glucose, contributed the most attributable DALYs in 2015. Regionally, smoking still ranked among the leading five risk factors for attributable DALYs in 109 countries; childhood underweight and unsafe sex remained primary drivers of early death and disability in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Interpretation Declines in some key environmental risks have contributed to declines in critical infectious diseases. Some risks appear to be invariant to SDI. Increasing risks, including high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, drug use, and some occupational exposures, contribute to rising burden from some conditions, but also provide opportunities for intervention. Some highly preventable risks, such as smoking, remain major causes of attributable DALYs, even as exposure is declining. Public policy makers need to pay attention to the risks that are increasingly major contributors to global burden. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Functional MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Brain Reorganization After Experimental Stroke

The potential of the adult brain to reorganize after ischemic injury is critical for functional recovery and provides a significant target for therapeutic strategies to promote brain repair. Despite the accumulating evidence of brain plasticity, the interaction and significance of morphological and physiological modifications in post-stroke brain tissue remain mostly unclear. Neuroimaging techniques such as functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enable in vivo assessment of the spatial and temporal pattern of functional and structural changes inside and outside ischemic lesion areas. This can contribute to the elucidation of critical aspects in post-stroke brain remodeling. Task/stimulus-related fMRI, resting-state fMRI, or pharmacological MRI enables direct or indirect measurement of neuronal activation, functional connectivity, or neurotransmitter system responses, respectively. DTI allows estimation of the structural integrity and connectivity of white matter tracts. Together, these MRI methods provide an unprecedented means to (a) measure longitudinal changes in tissue structure and function close by and remote from ischemic lesion areas, (b) evaluate the organizational profile of neural networks after stroke, and (c) identify degenerative and restorative processes that affect post-stroke functional outcome. Besides, the availability of MRI in clinical institutions as well as research laboratories provides an optimal basis for translational research on stroke recovery. This review gives an overview of the current status and perspectives of fMRI and DTI applications to study brain reorganization in experimental stroke models