Mass transfer efficiency of a tall and low plate free area liquid pulsed sieve-plate extraction column

Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge Chakwal group of industries for funding the project. Ms. Madiha, Ms. Zona, Mr. Sohaib, Mr. Abdullah, Mr. Mudassar, and Mr. Salahuddin also deserve our acknowledgements for their assistance in different ways.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Assessment Of Ricinus Communis Ml Crude Extracts Towards Urinary Tract Infection Strains With Their Associated Ailments

Cases of synergic Urinary Tract Infections with its associated ailments has become a menace. Due to its high costs of treatment, unavailability of relevant antibiotics, misdiagnosis and recurrence, most patients within Africa Sub-Sahara regions prefer ethnopharmacological ways of taking boiled and sieved liquid concoction made from mature leaves (ML) of ricinus communis to clear the urinary tract system from these microbes with their associated ailments. Crude extracts of methanol, chloroform, hexane, and Diethylether prepared from ricinus communis dried powered mature leaves were subjected to phytochemical screening, antibacterial, GC/MS and antioxidant assays. Crude methanolic and chloroform extracts prepared from a mixture of coarsely powdered dried twigs and mature leaves were evaluated for cytotoxic activity on cancer cell line (HCT-116 and K-562).  Antibacterial assay of the crude extracts reveals recommendable range of values categorized as moderate and high sensitive with respect to the standard measure. Methanol extract exhibited antibacterial activities against all gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial species while diethylether extract showed its potency against the gram-positive staph only among escherichia, klebsiella and pseudomonas species. Chloroform, diethylether and hexane crude extracts proven to be inert against pseudomonas strain. Highest scavenging capacity range obtained is 60.38 ± 0.034 percent while the lowest cytotoxicity range is 20.18 ± 1.37 μg/ml-1revealing the medicinal value and safeness of the plant extract. Phytochemical analysis and GC/MS results revealed the presence of phytoconstituents and museum of bioactive agents with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiarrheal, antimutagenic and anti-oxidant properties thus ascertaining its efficacy towards the infection with associated ailments

Cooling enhancement for engine parts using jet impingement

A computational study has been performed to evaluate the use of jet impingement for cooling applications in the automotive industry. The current study uses an entire internal combustion engine cylinder with its components as a computational domain. An unsteady numerical solution for the Navier-Stokes equations was carried out using Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (IDDES). The volume of fluid approach is proposed to track and locate the liquid jet surface that is in contact with the air. The conjugate heat transfer approach is used to link the heat transfer solution between the fluid and the solid. The boundary conditions that are employed in the study are provided from lab experiments and one-dimensional simulations. The cooling jet in this study targets the hottest region in the piston, i.e., the region underneath the exhaust valve. Three nozzle sizes with flows at different Reynolds numbers are chosen to examine the thermal characteristics of the cooling jet. The computational study reveals that for a specific Reynolds number, the smaller diameter nozzle provides the highest heat transfer coefficient around the impingement point. The maximum relative velocity location at the impingement point slightly leads the location of the maximum Nusselt number. The maximum temperature in the piston decreases by 7% to 11% as the nozzle diameter changes from 1.0 to 3.0 mm for a jet Reynolds number of 4,500. If a correct selection is made for the nozzle size, the cooling jet can be efficiently used to reduce the temperature and alleviate the thermal stresses in the piston in the region underneath the exhaust valve where the maximum temperature occurs

Impact of antimicrobial stewardship programme on hospitalized patients at the intensive care unit: a prospective audit and feedback study

AIMS: Inappropriate use of antibiotics is one of the most important factors contributing to the emergence of drug resistant pathogens. The purpose of this study was to measure the clinical impact of antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) interventions on hospitalized patients at the Intensive care unit at Palestinian Medical Complex. METHODS: A prospective audit with intervention and feedback by ASP team within 48-72 h of antibiotic administration began in September 2015. Four months of pre-ASP data were compared with 4 months of post-ASP data. Data collected included clinical and demographic data; use of antimicrobials measured by defined daily doses, duration of therapy, length of stay, readmission and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 176 interventions were made the ASP team with an average acceptance rate of 78.4%. The most accepted interventions were dose optimization (87.0%) followed by de-escalation based on culture results with an acceptance rate of 84.4%. ASP interventions significantly reduces antimicrobial use by 24.3% (87.3 defined daily doses/100 beds vs. 66.1 defined daily doses/100 beds P < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) of length of stay was significantly reduced post ASP [11 (3-21) vs. 7 (4-19) days; P < 0.01]. Also, the median (interquartile range) of duration of therapy was significantly reduced post-ASP [8 (5-12) days vs. 5 (3-9); P = 0.01]. There was no significant difference in overall 30-day mortality or readmission between the pre-ASP and post-ASP groups (26.9% vs. 23.9%; P = 0.1) and (26.1% vs. 24.6%; P = 0.54) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective audit and feedback programme was associated with positive impact on antimicrobial use, duration of therapy and length of stay

Análisis polínico de dos genotipos de Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni incorporados a Tucumán

Stevia rebaudiana Bert. (2n=2x=22), es una planta herbácea, perenne de la familia Asteraceae, que presenta glucósidos de esteviol de alto poder edulcorante. El steviósido, el glucósido más abundante en esta especie, posee un poder edulcorante 300 veces mayor que el azúcar común y es no calórico (Duke, 1993).EEA FamailláFil: Budeguer, Carlos Jorge. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Erazzu, Luis Ernesto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Andrada Mansilla, Bruno A. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Pastoriza, Adriana del Valle. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Pulido, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Nasif, Alicia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Herrero Nasif, P. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentin

Unraveling the tripartite interaction of volatile compounds of Streptomyces rochei with grain mold pathogens infecting sorghum

Sorghum is a major grain crop used in traditional meals and health drinks, and as an efficient fuel. However, its productivity, value, germination, and usability are affected by grain mold, which is a severe problem in sorghum production systems, which reduces the yield of harvested grains for consumer use. The organic approach to the management of the disease is essential and will increase consumer demand. Bioactive molecules like mVOC (volatile organic compound) identification are used to unravel the molecules responsible for antifungal activity. The Streptomyces rochei strain (ASH) has been reported to be a potential antagonist to many pathogens, with high levels of VOCs. The present study aimed to study the inhibitory effect of S. rochei on sorghum grain mold pathogens using a dual culture technique and via the production of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). mVOCs inhibited the mycelial growth of Fusarium moniliforme by 63.75 and Curvularia lunata by 68.52%. mVOCs suppressed mycelial growth and inhibited the production of spores by altering the structure of mycelia in tripartite plate assay. About 45 mVOCs were profiled when Streptomyces rochei interacted with these two pathogens. In the present study, several compounds were upregulated or downregulated by S. rochei, including 2-methyl-1-butanol, methanoazulene, and cedrene. S. rochei emitted novel terpenoid compounds with peak areas, such as myrcene (1.14%), cymene (6.41%), and c-terpinene (7.32%) upon interaction with F. moniliforme and C. lunata. The peak area of some of the compounds, including furan 2-methyl (0.70%), benzene (1.84%), 1-butanol, 2-methyl-(8.25%), and myrcene (1.12)%, was increased during tripartite interaction with F. moniliforme and C. lunata, which resulted in furan 2-methyl (6.60%), benzene (4.43%), butanol, 2-methyl (18.67%), and myrcene (1.14%). These metabolites were implicated in the sesquiterpenoid and alkane biosynthetic pathways and the oxalic acid degradation pathway. The present study shows how S. rochei exhibits hyperparasitism, competition, and antibiosis via mVOCs. In addition to their antimicrobial functions, these metabolites could also enhance plant growth.Peer reviewe

Dinámica social en la formación de grupos de trabajo : Análisis de un caso con profesionales universitarios

Nos proponemos aquí analizar la formación de un grupo de trabajo integrado por profesionales recién egresados de las carreras de Ingeniería Mecánica, Eléctrica y Agronomía de las Facultades de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología, y Agronomía y Zootecnia de la U.N.T., en una empresa azucarera de la provincia de Tucumán. Se seleccionaron, luego de diversas entrevistas, dos Ingenieros Mecánicos, dos Ingenieros Agrónomos, y tres Ingenieros Electricistas. El proceso comenzó con un período de ambientación donde se fijaron propósitos y objetivos del grupo. No tardaron en aparecer conflictos y serios problemas con el manejo del personal obrero. Se solicitó a la alta gerencia un especialista en Liderazgo y manejo de personal, y esto resultó sumamente beneficioso para los componentes del grupo, saliendo a relucir que el principal problema que tenían era que durante su paso por el sistema universitario no habían recibido prácticamente formación alguna sobre este tema, ya que los problemas técnicos (de su área de incumbencia) los solucionaban con facilidad, mientras que los que se les presentaban en el aspecto operativo de los grupos humanos que les tocaba dirigir, planteaban serias dificultades. En este caso se encauzó el proceso de consolidación de la mano de un especialista, lo que puso de manifiesto un déficit en la formación en el área de las relaciones humanas de los egresados universitarios de carreras técnicas. Es necesaria la toma de conciencia y la reflexión sobre la imperiosa necesidad de incluir esta temática en la Currículo de nuestras carreras técnicas.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Characteristics of CNG Bubbles in Diesel Flow under the Influence of the Magnetic Field

This paper conducts an analytic study of the hydrodynamics of a small CNG bubbles in laminar horizontal Diesel flow under the influence of the magnetic field. Investigation based on experiments was carried out to identify the effects caused by varying the magnetic field intensity on the trajectory, the formation of bubbles and their shape and velocity. Different images at different positions were captured through a high speed camera, image processing technique and downstream from the CNG bubbles injection point delivered information on bubble velocity, bubbles size, spatial location and gas area fraction as a function of changing magnetic field intensity. The outcomes confirmed that CNG bubbles under magnetic field grow up vertically to have a bigger elliptical shape in the Diesel phase with the twofold of diameter. Also, it has been noted that the CNG bubbles velocity decreased as the magnetic field strengthened

Co-inoculation of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizae for growth promotion and nutrient fortification in soybean under drought conditions

Drought is significant abiotic stress that affects the development and yield of many crops. The present study is to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar on root morphological traits, growth, and physiological traits in soybean under water stress. Impact of AMF and biochar on development and root morphological traits in soybean and AMF spores number and the soil enzymes' activities were studied under drought conditions. After 40 days, plant growth parameters were measured. Drought stress negatively affected soybean growth, root parameters, physiological traits, microbial biomass, and soil enzyme activities. Biochar and AMF individually increase significantly plant growth (plant height, root dry weight, and nodule number), root parameters such as root diameter, root surface area, total root length, root volume, and projected area, total chlorophyll content, and nitrogen content in soybean over to control in water stress. In drought conditions, dual applications of AMF and biochar significantly enhanced shoot and root growth parameters, total chlorophyll, and nitrogen contents in soybean than control. Combined with biochar and AMF positively affects AMF spores number, microbial biomass, and soil enzyme activities in water stress conditions. In drought stress, dual applications of biochar and AMF increase microbial biomass by 28.3%, AMF spores number by 52.0%, alkaline phosphomonoesterase by 45.9%, dehydrogenase by 46.5%, and fluorescein diacetate by 52.2%, activities. The combined application of biochar and AMF enhance growth, root parameters in soybean and soil enzyme activities, and water stress tolerance. Dual applications with biochar and AMF benefit soybean cultivation under water stress conditions.Peer reviewe