Coral Growth and Skeletal Density Relationships in Some Branching Corals of the Red Sea, Egypt

The coral reefs at the exposed zones are exhibited to strong wave action, renewable water masses, clear seawater and small temperature variations, however, in the sheltered zones they exposed to high turbidity, high temperature variations and protected from the surge waves and currents. In situ measurements of seasonal and annual growth rates and the branch thicknesses using Varner Caliber and the laboratory measurements of skeletal densities using Archimedes’s Principle were done in four branching coral species growing in the exposed and sheltered zones of Hurghada and Hamrawin at the northern Red Sea. Acropora humilis recorded the highest seasonal and annual growth rates at all zones; 0.68±0.02, 0.76±0.03, 0.66±0.03 and 0.69±0.02mm/month and 7.25±0.20, 7.96±0.33, 7.10±0.11 and 7.34±0.14mm/yr respectively. Pocillopora damicornis recorded the highest averages of skeletal density at the different zones of Hurghada and Hamrawin; 2.04±0.35, 1.64±0.26, 2.64±0.66 and 1.96±0.18gm/cm3 respectively and the highest averages of the branch thicknesses at the exposed and sheltered zones of Hurghada (1.66±0.42cm2, 1.51±0.30cm2) while, A. humilis recorded the highest average of the branch thicknesses at the exposed and sheltered zones of Hamrawin (1.49±0.16cm2, 1.14±0.08cm2). A. humilis was the fastest growing species in the worm season at the exposing and sheltered zones of Hurghada and Hamrawin, while P. damicornis was the slowest growing species because of it tends to form thick and dense branches. The oceanographic and local conditions as; temperature variations, aragonite saturation, turbidity, effects of surge waves and light intensity are responsible about the differences in the skeletal parameters of the studied species. Keywords: Branching corals – Growth rates - Skeletal density – Branch thicknesses – exposed and sheltered zones

Data-centric communication framework for multicast iec 61850 routable GOOSE messages over the WAN in modern power systems

In this paper, a data-centric communication framework is proposed for multicast routable generic object-oriented substation event (GOOSE) messages (MRGM) over the wide area network (WAN) for effective substation-to-substation (SS2SS) and substation to control center (SS2CC) communications. In this structure, the IEC 61850 GOOSE message is transmitted over the WAN using the data distribution service (DDS) as a fast, reliable, and secure data-centric communication middleware. The main feature of this framework is its multicast capability, where several authorized subscribers can receive a published message simultaneously. This can significantly improve the system monitoring and control of the protection systems in modern smart grids, where intelligent schemes can be applied. The effectiveness of the proposed platform, in terms of total end-to-end delay between participants, is evaluated through experimental results obtained from the actual hardware-based test setup developed at the Florida International University (FIU) smart grid testbed. The results demonstrate that the latency between sending and receiving a GOOSE message among participants is within its maximum time span defined by the IEC 61850-90-5 working group for communications over the WAN

The Differential Efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris and Oscillatoria sp. to Treat the Municipal Wastewater

The utilization of microalgae to treat wastewater becomes an alternative biological wastewater treatment technique worldwide because of its low cost and environmental clean. Chlorella vulgaris and Oscillatoria sp. were cultured in municipal wastewater under controlled laboratory conditions with continuous light illumination and aeration. Physical properties (pH, TDS and Salinity), and nutrient contents (ammonia, nitrite and total phosphorus)were measured in the raw wastewater. Growth rates of the cultured species in terms of optical densities and cell counts, nutrient salts removal efficiencies were measured during the experimental durations after; 24, 48, 72, 96 , 120 and 144hrs. Lipids, proteins and carbohydrates contents were also evaluated after 144hrs. The recorded optical density of Chlorella vulgaris was 0.188±0.01 at 680 nm and 0.17±0.01 at 750 nm after 24hrs then increased to 1.45±0.002 at 680nm and 1.43±0.01 at 750nm at the end of 120hrs, meanwhile the optical density of Oscillatoria sp. was increased from 0.132±0.01 at 680 nm and 0.102±0.01 at 750 nm after 24hrs to 1.054±0.004 at 680 nm and 0.99±0.002 at 750 nm at the end of 120hrs of the experiment. On the other hand, the cell count of Chlorella vulgaris was enriched from 6.8±2.2 cell/ml after 24hrs to 720±120 cell/ml at the end of 120h of the culturing. Overall, efficiencies of nutrients removal were 99.426%, 100% and 82.211% for ammonia, nitrite and total phosphorus respectively at the end of 120hrs of Chlorella vulgaris culturing, while Oscillatoria sp nutrient removal efficiencies recorded 98.125%, 100% and 84.718% for ammonia, Nitrite and total phosphorus respectively. Chlorella vulgaris biomass was estimated 26.66±7.5% lipid 35.1±1.6% protein and 29.34±3.25% carbohydrate, however Oscillatoria sp. biomass was estimated 11.76±0.79% lipids, 32.9±1.92% protein and 27.36±3.78% carbohydrates. Keywords: municipal Wastewater, Chlorella vulgaris, Oscillatoria sp., nutrient removal, biochemical parameters

Insulin sensitizing agent improves clinical pregnancy rate and insulin resistant parameters in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients with acanthosis nigricans: a randomized controlled study

Objective: To investigate the effect of adding metformin to clomiphene citrate (CC) in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients with acanthosis nigricans (AN) who were previously not responding to CC. Material and Methods: A double blinded randomized controlled trial (NCT02562664) included 66 PCOS women with acanthosis nigricans who were CC resistant (at least 3 months). Day 3 follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level, fasting insulin, fasting glucose and homeostatic model assessment were used to quantify insulin resistance. Participants were randomly assigned to either group I (CC with placebo tablets) or group II (CC with metformin) for three cycles. Insulin resistance parameters as well as clinical pregnancy rate had been evaluated in both groups. The statistical analysis was done using Chi- square and Fischer exact tests. Results: The demographic data was comparable in both groups, however; there was higher cumulative pregnancy rate after three cycles of stimulation in group II (18/33) (54.5%) in comparison with group I (7/33) (21.1%) (P=0.03). There was a significant improvement in the insulin resistance parameters after three months of combining clomiphene citrate with metformin as compared with CC alone. Conclusion: Adding metformin to CC in clomiphene citrate resistant PCOS patients who have acanthosis nigricans improves the pregnancy rate and insulin resistant parameters

Obstetric hemorrhage and shock management: using the low technology Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment in Nigerian and Egyptian tertiary care facilities

Abstract Background Obstetric hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality globally. The Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) is a low-technology, first-aid compression device which, when added to standard hypovolemic shock protocols, may improve outcomes for women with hypovolemic shock secondary to obstetric hemorrhage in tertiary facilities in low-resource settings. Methods This study employed a pre-intervention/intervention design in four facilities in Nigeria and two in Egypt. Primary outcomes were measured mean and median blood loss, severe end-organ failure morbidity (renal failure, pulmonary failure, cardiac failure, or CNS dysfunctions), mortality, and emergency hysterectomy for 1442 women with ≥750 mL blood loss and at least one sign of hemodynamic instability. Comparisons of outcomes by study phase were assessed with rank sum tests, relative risks (RR), number needed to treat for benefit (NNTb), and multiple logistic regression. Results Women in the NASG phase (n = 835) were in worse condition on study entry, 38.5% with mean arterial pressure <60 mmHg vs. 29.9% in the pre-intervention phase (p = 0.001). Despite this, negative outcomes were significantly reduced in the NASG phase: mean measured blood loss decreased from 444 mL to 240 mL (p < 0.001), maternal mortality decreased from 6.3% to 3.5% (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.89), severe morbidities from 3.7% to 0.7% (RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.08-0.50), and emergency hysterectomy from 8.9% to 4.0% (RR 0.44, 0.23-0.86). In multiple logistic regression, there was a 55% reduced odds of mortality during the NASG phase (aOR 0.45, 0.27-0.77). The NNTb to prevent either mortality or severe morbidity was 18 (12-36). Conclusion Adding the NASG to standard shock and hemorrhage management may significantly improve maternal outcomes from hypovolemic shock secondary to obstetric hemorrhage at tertiary care facilities in low-resource settings

Bacterial Diseases Affecting the Cultured Sepia Officinalis Leading to Increase Mortality Rates in The Laboratory

The early growth, mortality rates and bacterial infections of the cultured Sepia Officinalis were experimentally studied in the laboratory. Two hundred eighty-five sepia larvae were hatched and placed in a 100-liter capacity rectangular glass aquarium (filled with seawater) in the laboratory. The Sepia individuals (285 individuals) were divided into two groups the first fed on a mixture of amphipods, rotifers and artemia and the second group fed only on amphipods to follow their growth and mortality. The second group was observed to grow faster with length 6.76 ± 0.06mm and weight 0.11 ± 0.01gm than the first one. The survival rate was 100% by the end of the first week and decreased gradually by the end of the second week. The recorded mortality rate reached 49% by the day 15th, where they infected with bacterial disease of Vibrio alginolyticus. The clinical signs of the diseased S. Officinalis were lethargic condition, food fasting and multiple skin ulcers with white-gray discoloration were observed and appeared on the body. The main postmortem lesions were congestion of the internal organ, beside the presence of ascetic fluid. The mortality among the diseased Sepia was increased by age; however, it may cause death of most individuals by increasing time more than two weeks. The findings of antibiotic sensitivity test cleared that the isolated V. alginolyticus was sensitive to amoxiclav (amoxicillin-clavulanate), streptomycin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol. Controversially, it was resistant to oxytetracycline, tobramycin, gentamycin and enrofloxacin

Bacterial Diseases Affecting the Cultured Sepia Officinalis Leading to Increase Mortality Rates in The Laboratory

The early growth, mortality rates and bacterial infections of the cultured Sepia Officinalis were experimentally studied in the laboratory. Two hundred eighty five sepia larvae were hatched and placed in a 100 liter capacity rectangular glass aquarium (filled with seawater) in the laboratory. The Sepia individuals (285 individuals) were divided into two groups the first fed on a mixture of amphipods, rotifers and artemia and the second group fed only on amphipods to follow their growth and mortality. The second group was observed to grow faster with length 6.76 ± 0.06mm and weight 0.11 ± 0.01gm than the first one. The survival rate was 100% by the end of the first week and decreased gradually by the end of thesecond week. The recorded mortality rate reached 49% by the day 15th, where they infected with bacterial disease of Vibrio alginolyticus. The clinical signs of the diseased S. Officinalis were lethargic condition, food fasting and multiple skin ulcers with white-gray discoloration were observed and appeared on the body. The main post mortem lesions were congestion of the internal organ, beside the presence of ascetic fluid. The mortality among the diseased Sepia was increased by age; however it may causes death of most individuals by increasing time more than two weeks. The findings of antibiotic sensitivity test cleared that the isolated V. alginolyticus was sensitive to amoxiclav (amoxicillin-clavulanate), streptomycin, ciprofloxacin and chlormphinicol. Controversially, it was resistant to oxytetracycline, tobramycin, gentamycine and enrofloxacin.Keywords: Sepia Officinalis - growth rate - mortality rate - bacterial infection