Cranberry juice vs. placebo as prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infection in adult women: A systematic review

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of cranberry juice consumption as prophylaxis for urinary tract infection (UTI) in women with a history of recurrent UTI. Methods: Systematic literature review using Google Scholar with search terms “cranberry juice prophylaxis.” Results: Our search resulted in three randomized-control trials (RCTs), two of which demonstrated no benefit of cranberry juice in preventing recurrent UTI. Conclusion: Because of the significant heterogeneity among published studies, there is no definitive proof that cranberry juice is effective or useless as UTI prophylaxis

Optimization of Welding Input Parameters Using PSO Technique for Minimizing HAZ Width in GMAW

In order to conceive command systems for welding equipment based on intelligence techniques similar to human thinking; it is better to use artificial intelligence methods, for example: Genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization. Freshly, this latter has received increased attention in many research fields. This paper discuss the application of particle swarm optimization algorithm to optimize the welding process parameters and obtain a better Width of Head Affected Zone (WHAZ) in the welding machine which is gas metal arc welding. The effect of four main welding variables in the gas metal arc welding process, namely welding speed, welding voltage, nozzle-to-plate distance and wire feed speed on the WHAZ are studied. A source code is developed in MATLAB 8.3 to perform the optimization

Antimicrobial activity of potato Rhizospheric Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens from Sétif Algeria

Aims: This study was assessed to demonstrate the antimicrobial activity in vitro of an identified fluorescent Pseudomonas strain characterized for its capacity to produce phenazine compounds. Methodology: First Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp aureofaciens was inoculated on Nutrient Broth supplemented with Yeast Extract (NBY) and with glucose at a final concentration of 2%, after incubation the filtered culture was acidified with HCl to pH 2. The solution was extracted twice with the same volume of ethyl-acetate. The organic supernatants were combined, dried over anhydrous Na2SO4, and evaporated to dryness. The crude extract was resuspended in methanol and tested for antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity was determined (i) by disc diffusion technique for bacteria and (ii) using serial dilution technique in soft PDA for fungi. Secondly the antifungal activity of the bacterial strain was tested against several phytopathogenic fungi in dual culture. Results: The studied strain has an important activity against the phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi tested. Among the tested fungi Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis is the most sensitive to the actions of this Pseudomonas, where the inhibition rate reached 77.78%. The less sensitive one was Pythium ultimum with a rate of 55.56%. While for pathogenic bacteria only Salmonella enteridis was sensitive to the tested strain. Conclusion: Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp aureofaciens showed appreciable antagonistic activity, in vitro, against special forms of Fusarium oxysporum and the tested phytopathogenic bacteria

Study of the performance of fault-tolerant multi-level inverter included in shunt active power filter

Nowadays, the large number of shunt active power filters (SAPF) is installed in many grid networks to eliminate the source currents harmonics and enhance power quality. These filters are installed in different places according to the filtration requirements. The connection between SAPF and grid network has a negative effect during the open-circuit fault of the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switch of the SAPF. This paper proposes the application of the new diagnostic method based on the trigonometric circle and mean value variations techniques to the early detection and precise location of the open-circuit fault of the IGBT switches, and the inclusion of the modified reconfigurable inverter topology to allow the perfect continuity of the filter currents, and improve the diagnostic of the open-circuit fault. A single-sided amplitude spectrum technique (SSAS) is applied on the source currents to get the THDi% value. The obtained simulation results prove, the great success of the proposed diagnostic method, the ability of the modified reconfigurable inverter to be adapted to the grid network, the short response time between the diagnosis and the reconfiguration process is about 7 ms which is very sufficient to guarantee the rapid continuity of the shunt active power filter

SIMULATION MODEL MANAGEMENT: RESOLVING THE TECHNOLOGICAL GAPS

Model management poses requirements and responsibilities that extend throughout the life cycle of a simulation model. Recent publications have identified major problems in cost and time overruns, which are traceable to deficiencies in project and sponsor management. Beginning with the division of the simulation model life cycle into seven phases, we define "model management" and develop the requirements for a Model Management System (MMS). The functional description of a MMS focuses on those phases that jointly characterize the model development effort. Recent research in simulation model development is described, and particular emphasis is given to the approach taken with the Conical Methodology

Bacteriocins contributing in Rhizospheric competition among Fluorescent Pseudomonads

Aims: To examine the production of bacteriocins through the study of a group of rhizospheric Pseudomonas isolates already known to produce metabolites that are antagonistic to fungi. Methodology: Fourteen rhizospheric strains of fluorescent Pseudomonads spp., were tested as well as two referenced strains Pseudomonas protogens CHA0 and Pseudomonas aureofaciens 30-84, for their ability to produce induced bacteriocins. The induction is carried out first by UV light, and secondly by mitomycin C. Results: In addition to the reference strains, six isolates were found to produce bactericidal substances after UV light induction against Pseudomonas target bacteria but also against other genera (Escherichia and Staphylococcus). Producing strains were treated with mitomycin C, and then lysed with chloroform. Analysis of the lysates by trypsin and freezing treatments, suggests that the active compounds are of high molecular weight. Conclusion: It is therefore suggested that these bacteria could be good competitors for their introduction as biocontrol agents

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF PISTACIA LENTISCUS AQUEOUS EXTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study was to study the antioxidant potential and the antibacterial activity of leaves aqueous extract of Pistacia Lentiscus as well as the protective effect of this extract against the haemolysis in hypotonic condition, in oxidative stress and in the existence of saponin injury.Methods: We studied the antioxidant capacity through the DPPH assay, H2O2 scavenging activity, Ferric-reducing power (FRAP) assay, total antioxidant assay and the antibacterial activity using the disc diffusion method. We also investigated the haemolytic activity with the spectrophotometric method.Results: The result showed that the aqueous extract had a good antioxidant capacity, which was calculated as IC50. IC50 of the aqueous extract was found to be 9.89±0.7µg/ml for DPPH scavenging, 200±18.02µg/ml for H2O2 scavenging assay, 54.06±12.66µg/ml for Ferric-reducing power (FRAP) and 500±22.3 µg/ml for total antioxidant capacity. The aqueous extract also inhibited the growth of the tested bacterial strains with a maximum inhibition zone of 30.33±5.5 mm observed on Pseudomonas aeruginosa for wood-seed and a moderate activity against all other strain. The haemolytic analysis showed that the aqueous extract is not toxic for the human erythrocytes and protects them against the oxidative and osmotic stress and also against saponin injury.Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that the aqueous extract of leaves of Pistacia lentiscus possess potent anti-haemolytic activity, are a good source of natural antioxidant.Â

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Algerian propolis against fish pathogenic bacteria

Five different varieties of propolis from four sites from Sétif region (East of Algeria) (Babor, Setif; Ain-Abbassa and El-Hamma), and one site from the center of Algeria (Tizi-Ouzou) were chemically analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. One hundred and two compounds were identified including aromatic acids, linear hydrocarbons and their acids, terpenes and alcaloïdes. Furthermore, the in vitro bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of the aqueous extracts were evaluated against one Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, used as probiotics in aquaculture) and two Gram negative (Vibrio anguillarum and Vibrio harveyi, pathogenic for fish) bacteria. The obtained results showed that all aqueous extracts of propolis inhibit the growth of B. Subtilis while the growth inhibition of fish pathogens was achieved when using higher propolis concentrations. These antibacterial properties would warrant further studies on the clinical applications of propolis in aquaculture field. Keywords: Bactericidal activity; Chemical characterization; Propolis; Vibrio

Improved PSO with Disturbance Term for Solving ORPD Problem in Power Systems

The essential purpose of an energy sys- tem is to provide electricity to its loads effectively and economically, as well as safely and reliably. Therefore, the solutions to the problems of Optimal Power Flow (OPF) and Optimal Reactive Power Dispatch (ORPD) to enable the efficient employment of various energy distributions should be found. Our work focuses on the ORPD issue; it can be formulated as a non-linear con- straint and with single or multiple objectives optimiza- tion problems. Minimizing total losses is one of the main objective functions to solve the ORPD problem. This paper presents the use of an improved particle swarm optimization -with a disturbance term- (called PSO-DT) algorithm, to find the solution of ORPD in the standard IEEE 30-bus power system for reduc- ing electrical power transmission losses. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed method is more efficient and has a more extraordinary ability to get better solutions compared to the basic PSO method

Resistance of Telluric Fungi to Chemical Fungicides

Our work focuses on the identification of resistance of telluric fungi to commonly used fungicidesin chemical control. We investigate the resistance of telluric fungi (Fusarium sp., Chalara sp., Sporonema sp., Stiebum sp., Didymabotrium sp., Dothichiza sp. and Sclerotopsis sp.) from cereal fields to four fungicides (Propicone, Vapcotop, Curitine V and Kazir). This study was based on direct contact of the telluric isolates with fungicides on Petri dishes. For the four tested fungicides different rates of resistance and susceptibility were observed according to the isolate and the used concentration. One of the isolates showed a high resistance to Vapcotop with 500 mg%252Fl. Generally the statistical analysis revealed that there are no significant differences in the effect of fungicides concentrations against isolates, while significant differences are observed between isolates