A Methodology for Assessing The Impact of Landuse Changes on Watershed Runoff

With rapid land development and limited water resources, good quality water becomes an important commodity that every economic sector is competing for. Landuse changes in a watershed can affect the watershed hydrology in various ways. Some types of land development can be associated with increased impervious area causing increase in surface runoff and decrease in ground water recharge. Both of these processes can have large-scale ramifications through time. Increased runoff results in higher flows during rainfall events, which in turn increases the number of times that a river floods the adjacent land areas. Likewise, this increase in runoff and channel flows can drastically increase the erosion of river channel beds and banks, potentially destabilizing bridges or local structures. On the other hand the groundwater recharge decreased due to the increase in the impervious surfaces and decrease in the soil infiltration rate. This may leads to rescission in the river base flow especially during the dry season. Since rainfed agriculture in Malaysia may not have reservoirs for irrigation water supply, it is very important to maintain high base flows so that enough water is available for irrigation during the dry season. Understanding how the landuse change influences the river basin hydrology may enable planners to formulate policies to minimize the undesirable effects of land development. The main objective of this study was to develop a methodology to assess the impacts of landuse changes on the watershed runoff. The need for spatial and temporal land-cover change detection over a larger scale makes satellite imagery the most cost effective, efficient and reliable source of data. The applicability of GIs makes it an important and efficient tool for spatial hydrologic modeling. In this study Satellite images and GIs were integrated with a developed spatial hydrological model to evaluate the impacts of land development in the Upper Bernam River Basin of Malaysia. The Bernam River is the main source of irrigation water for a rice granary area. A methodology to assess the hydrological impacts due to landuse modifications was developed using a physically based hydrological model and a mathematical model. While conceptual or physically based models are important in understanding hydrological processes, there are many practical situations where the main concern is with making accurate predictions at specific locations. The wellestablished HEC-1 model was calibrated and used to simulate the runoff process. Runoff hydrographs were generated for wet and dry seasons using lumped and distributed modeling concepts. In the distributed modeling approach, hydrographs fiom each sub basin was routed to the outlet point using the Muskingum routing method. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was developed because it has the ability to extract the non-linear relation between the inputs and outputs of a process, without the physics being explicitly provided to them, this makes the simulation process more applicable. The models were tested and validated using data collected fiom the study area. The models performances were checked using both graphical and statistical analysis. Mean absolute errors (MAE), mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), Theil's coefficient, coefficient of determination (R~),coefficient of efficiency (E), T-test and regression analysis were -use9 as e va uation criteria for model performance. The models show good performance in simulating the runoff process. Results from the hydrological model gave 0.79, I .35, 0.22, 0.91 and 0.67 for MAE, MSE, U, R~ and E, respectively. The weighted curve number (CN) was found to have increased by 2% in year 2001 compared to 1989, and had caused an increase in peak flow by 7%. The effect of change in CN is more on the rising limb of the hydrograph and peak runoff than on the falling limb. As CN increases the rising limb shifted backwards. For the ANN model, it was found that correlation coefficients between simulated and observed flow are 0.94 and 0.89 for the training and testing phases, respectively. The model outputs were within the confidence level of 95 %, and most of the scatter output values were within 15 % deviation bands. The statistical evaluation during the training phase gave the values of 0.001,4.77,0.06 and 0.87 for MAE, MSE, U and E, respectively, and these values were found to be 17.6, 5.6, 0.1 1, and 0.58 for the testing phase, respectively. For both models applications, it was found that the percentage change in runoff due to landuse change is constant for different landuse, irrespective of the rainfall pattern and time of occurrence. The models were then applied to simulate the runoff from future land development for the year 2020 and from different landuse scenarios. Predictions from the hydrological model show that an increase in weighted CN by 7 % and 13 % for the wet and dry seasons, respectively, will cause an increase in flow volume by 53 % and 62 % and increase in peak flow by 80 % and 76 % for the wet and dry seasons, respectively. This methodology can be applied for any future development plans to predict the hydrological impacts to mitigate the risk of floods occurrence and avoid the shortage of irrigation water. The methodology can be used as a decision making tool when formulating landuse policies. It can be a practical tool for hydrologists, engineers and town and country planners. The irrigation engineers can use this tool during the planning for irrigation water supply and determination of future cultivable areas based on the availability of the irrigation water due to the land development

An In-Vitro Assessment of Anti-Tumor Activity of Some Plant Extract and Natural Products, Using Potato Discs Bioassay Technique

   Objectives: This study aimed to examine some plant extracts and natural products for anti-tumor activity. Methodology: Potato disc bioassay was used to estimate anti-tumor activity of some plant extracts and natural products. Five plant extracts and natural products recommended in a questionnaire filled by local botanists in addition to an introduced fermented food “Manda Koso” were used in this study. Study design: A questionnaire was designed and filled by 60 botanists looking for plant extracts and natural products having anti-cancer activity. In addition, computer surveys were conducted for gathering information on promising natural compounds act as anticancer agents. The potato disc bioassay was conducted using the Complete Randomized Design with three replicates. Each treatment in each replicate was represented by two Petri dishes contained five potato discs each. Petri dishes treated with sterilized water were used as control. Four separate experiments were carried out using TLC technique. Results & Discussion: Results showed highly significant differences among treatments with respect to total number of tumors and inhibition average percentage (%). The inhibition average percentage (IAP) for the different products ranged between 80.95-100% for the different products and equal zero for the control. It was 100% for Manda Kosa and bees honey followed by 90.23% for olive oil. Other treatments showed moderate anti-tumor effect of 80.95% IAP. Conclusions: Results concluded that Manda Koso, bees honey and olive oil have anti-tumor activity. Great association was found between anti-tumor activity obtained in this study and those published for anticancer activity of the promising material. الملخص: أجريت الدراسة بمعمل الاحياء الدقيقة بكلية الهندسة والتكنولوجيا بجامعة الجزيرة فى الفترة من 3 ابريل وحتى21 سبتمبر(2008) وذلك بغرض دراسة  مقدرة بعض المستخلصات النباتية على تثبيط  الاورام المستحثة باستخدام   سلالة محلية من  البكتيريا الزراعية  Agrobacterium tumefaceins تسمى SDB0012”" وذلك باستخدام تقنية قرص البطاطس وتقنية الفصل الكروماتوجرافى للتعرف على الجزيئات الفعالة للمستخلصات الطبيعية المستخدمة فى هذه الدراسة. اوضحت النتائج فروقات معنوية عالية ما بين المستخلصات المستخدمة في العدد الكلي للاورام  واحجامها.   اعطي  المستخلص اليابانى ماندا كوسو " Manda Koso" فعالية عالية على التثبيط الكلي للأورام المستحثة,  تليها عينة محلية لعسل النحل ثم زيت الزيتون ثم زيت الحبة السوداء (الكمون) ثم زيت الثوم  واقل نسبة رصدت في زيت الحلبة. أوصت الدراسة لاستخدام كل من ماندا كوسو, العسل و زيت الحبة السوداء كمثبطات نمو الاورام. اتضح من خلال هذه الدراسة فعالية استخدام تقنية اقراص البطاطس في تحديد مثبطات لنمو الاورام في كل من البطاطس والانسان وذلك من خلال تقارب النتائج بين هذا الاختبار في هذه التجربة و النتائج العالمية في هذه المستخلصات. هذا وقد اقترحت الدراسة إجراء استخدام تقنيات الفصل الكروماتوجرافى و كروماتوجرافيا الغاز GC و تقنية HPLC  بالاضافة لتقنية الهجرة الكهربية electrophoresis gel لفصل البروتينات

The Initiative of Sheltering Homeless Male Children During COVID 19:A Paradigm of Social Accountability of Gezira University, Sudan

Due to the rapid outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant economic constrains, different social and health services in low income and low-middle income countries have witnessed a decline in the health delivery standards, and increase in the costs.   Social distancing has become the frontline defense against the corona virus spread. In the combat for this pandemic, a lack of access to adequate housing is a potential hazard for people living a homelessness for having the disease and puts the broader population at continuous  risk. The homeless children in Sudan have always been overlooked, because of the strenuous economic crises; the authorities assigned to bear this problem are exhausted not only because of devaluation of Sudanese currency  but also the inherited wrecked system of all social welfare program. In this context, the University of Gezira addressed the housing needs of homeless children on an urgent and priority basis by procurement of an emergency accommodations for the homeless children to ensure the practicality of  physical distancing, self-isolation, quarantine and other health recommendations issued by the World Health Organization including water/sanitation, food, social and psychological supports, health services and testing for COVID-19 (according to the national policy). By doing such good initiative we can ensure their equal protection against the virus and the protection of the broader population. The result was 100% of the homeless children accommodated by the University of Gezira with no clinical suspicion for COVID-19 throughout the first three months pandemic period. The partnership in health delivery during health crises would rather provide more opportunity for optimal management of this crises

Erectogenic Effects of Clerodendron capitatum

Clerodendron capitatum (Willd) (family: verbenaceae) is locally named as Gung and used traditionally to treat erectile dysfunction. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the erectogenic properties of C. capitatum. The relaxation effect of this plant was tested on phenylephrine precontracted rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM). The effects of C. capitatum were also examined on isolated Guinea pig atria alone, in the presence of calcium chloride (Ca2+ channel blocker), atropine (cholinergic blocker), and glibenclamide (ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker). These effects were confirmed on isolated rabbit aortic strips. The extract, when tested colorimetrically for its inhibitory activities on phosphordiesterase-5 (PDE-5) in vitro towards p-nitrophenyl phenyl phosphate (PNPPP), was observed to induce significant dose-dependent inhibition of PDE-5, with an ID50 of 0.161 mg/ml (<.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that C. capitatum possesses a relaxant effect on CCSM, which is attributable to the inhibition of PDE-5, but not mediated by the release calcium, activation of adrenergic or cholinergic receptors, or the activation of potassium channels

Understanding of how the properties of medical grade lactide based copolymer scaffolds influence adipose tissue regeneration: Sterilization and a systematic in vitro assessment

Aliphatic polyesters are the synthetic polymers most commonly used in the development of resorbable medical implants/devices. Various three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds have been fabricated from these polymers and used in adipose tissue engineering. However, their systematic evaluation altogether lacks, which makes it difficult to select a suitable degradable polymer to design 3D resorbable implants and/or devices able to effectively mimic the properties of adipose tissue. Additionally, the impact of sterilization methods on the medical devices, if any, must be taken into account. We evaluate and compare five different medical-grade resorbable polyesters with l-lactide content ranging from 50 to 100 mol% and exhibiting different physiochemical properties depending on the comonomer (d-lactide, ε-caprolactone, glycolide, and trimethylene carbonate). The salt-leaching technique was used to prepare 3D microporous scaffolds. A comprehensive assessment of physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the scaffolds was carried out in PBS at 37 °C. The cell-material interactions and the ability of the scaffolds to promote adipogenesis of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells were assessed in vitro. The diverse physical and mechanical properties of the scaffolds, due to the different composition of the copolymers, influenced human adipose tissue-derived stem cells proliferation and differentiation. Scaffolds made from polymers which were above their glass transition temperature and with low degree of crystallinity showed better proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of stem cells. The effect of sterilization techniques (electron beam and ethylene oxide) on the polymer properties was also evaluated. Results showed that scaffolds sterilized with the ethylene oxide method better retained their physical and chemical properties. Overall, the presented research provides (i) a detailed understanding to select a degradable polymer that has relevant properties to augment adipose tissue regeneration and can be further used to fabricate medical devices/implants; (ii) directions to prefer a sterilization method that does not change polymer properties.publishedVersio

Enhancing Teaching Skills Through Short Courses: A Quantitative Review of Public Health Education in Sudan

This evaluation draws evidence on the effectiveness and outcome of learning and teaching courses that were offered to a number of teaching staff of the Academies of Health Sciences, Midwifery Schools and Centres for Continuous Professional Development in Sudan. It is based on a cross-sectional study consisting of self-administered questionnaires conducted from October 2017 to January 2018. The questionnaires were used to measure the extent to which the participants of the training courses acquired knowledge and skills and applied these skills in their jobs. Data was analysed using Excel sheets and SPSS version 21 and significant tests performed. The response rate for the self-administered questionnaire was 80%. Most of participants were females, early middle-aged, bachelor’s degree holders with more than 9 years of experience in the area of teaching health care professionals. The results are presented following the Kirkpatrick framework for evaluation of training, which was used to measure participants' reactions, learning and change of behaviour. Most of the participants were satisfied with the design and content of the course but expressed concerns regarding its duration and lack of residential facilities for course participants. Pre and post tests were used to measure learning. Comparison of the two results showed that participants gained knowledge in writing learning outcomes, although presentation skills showed no improvement following the training and the use of technology remained a challenge even after the course. In terms of application of the newly gained knowledge and skills, the findings illustrated that over 90% of the participants were satisfied with what they had learned after 3 months or more following the training course, and over 65% of the participants stated that the knowledge gained from the training remained useful. In conclusion, short courses on teaching and learning can be a valuable investment to both instructors and students. The evaluation has shown that course participants were satisfied with the training courses, gained new knowledge, and were able to apply the acquired knowledge and skills without any difficulties. It is therefore suggested to cascade these training courses to all remaining States in Sudan in order to improve the skills and capabilities of teaching staff

Impact of Irrational Use of Antibiotics Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit on Clinical Outcomes in Sudan

Background: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a specialized ward where critically ill patients are admitted to provide intensive health care Inappropriate antimicrobial therapy (AMT) and high mortality rates were documented in the ICU. The influence of irrational use of empiric antibiotics on clinical outcomes in ICU patients is not well studied in Sudan. Aim: This study aims to determine the rational use of antibiotics and its impact on clinical outcomes among ICU patients. Methods: Using data collection form, a retrospective longitudinal study was conducted among ICU patients at Omdurman Military Hospital, Khartoum State. Patients admitted from January 2019 to December 2019 were included in the study. Patients who stayed in ICU < 48 hr were excluded. Appropriateness of AMT is assessed using culture sensitivity test (CST) and the American Society of Infectious Diseases (IDSA) guideline. Results: Among 102 patients, 54.9% male, one-third of patients developed nosocomial infections, 80.4% received empiric therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics. The CST is done in 19%, and 43% patients are prescribed inappropriate AMT. Inappropriate AMT is associated with recurrent infections 38.4% (p=0.028) and high mortality 33.8% (p=0.014). Overall mortality rate 63.7% ICU patients. Elevated mortality in nosocomial 57.8%, decreased with inappropriate AMT in 21.6% patients. Significantly higher mortality rates 90.7% among uncontrolled infections (p<0.001), 80.6% nosocomial infections (p=0.001), and 76.7% renal compromised (p=0.002). Conclusion: Empirical AMT reduces the frequency of nosocomial infections, which has an impact on mortality. Inappropriate AMT is significantly associated with uncontrolled infections and lower mortality. Implementing a restrictive infectious control system and effective stewardship programs in hospital ICU wards is recommended

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Diversity and ethics in trauma and acute care surgery teams: results from an international survey

Background Investigating the context of trauma and acute care surgery, the article aims at understanding the factors that can enhance some ethical aspects, namely the importance of patient consent, the perceptiveness of the ethical role of the trauma leader, and the perceived importance of ethics as an educational subject. Methods The article employs an international questionnaire promoted by the World Society of Emergency Surgery. Results Through the analysis of 402 fully filled questionnaires by surgeons from 72 different countries, the three main ethical topics are investigated through the lens of gender, membership of an academic or non-academic institution, an official trauma team, and a diverse group. In general terms, results highlight greater attention paid by surgeons belonging to academic institutions, official trauma teams, and diverse groups. Conclusions Our results underline that some organizational factors (e.g., the fact that the team belongs to a university context or is more diverse) might lead to the development of a higher sensibility on ethical matters. Embracing cultural diversity forces trauma teams to deal with different mindsets. Organizations should, therefore, consider those elements in defining their organizational procedures. Level of evidence Trauma and acute care teams work under tremendous pressure and complex circumstances, with their members needing to make ethical decisions quickly. The international survey allowed to shed light on how team assembly decisions might represent an opportunity to coordinate team member actions and increase performance

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

Background: The EMPA KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population. Methods: EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110. Findings: Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5–2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62–0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16–1·59), representing a 50% (42–58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all &gt;0·1). Interpretation: In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease. Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council