A field study of indoor air quality and overheating in newly built primary classrooms in low-carbon UK schools

School buildings confront complex design and layout problems due to needing to respond to a wide range of environmental factors while accommodating intermittent high-density occupancy. Despite current policy-driven emphases on improving building energy efficiency, focusing exclusively on energy issues fails to capture the full effect buildings have on their occupants and the environment. This paper investigates recently constructed low-carbon schools in the UK, examining indoor environmental quality and assessing overheating assessment against established standards. The findings reveal that carbon dioxide concentrations exceeded the maximum threshold (1,000 ppm) for more than 60% of school hours during both heating and non-heating seasons and that particulate matter levels exceeded 20 g/m3 during the heating season and 10 g/m3 during the non-heating season, indicating annual individual exposure above recommended health guidelines. Furthermore, the classrooms monitored experienced overheating for more than 40% of the school day.publishedVersio

Relationship Between Pattern of Fingerprints and Obesity

The goal was to research the pattern of fingerprints in all the fingers of both hands and to study the association between obesity and fingerprint among university students in different faculties of Koya University with statistical analysis. Dactylography or the fingerprint system relies on the study of stratum ridges and their configurations [dermatoglyphic (derma = skin+ glyph = carving)] in the fingers, palms, and soles. Estimates that probabilities are about one in sixty-four thousand million for two individuals with similar finger impressions. Arbitrate heredity and environment in combination affect the pattern of ridges. We have conducted a study with 120 individual (30 males and 30 females normal and obesity) having the different weight of (normal and obesity), this study was carried out in different faculties in Koya University. All the 10 fingerprint patterns were divided into loop, whorl, and arch. The fingerprint was taken with the help of a stamp pad imprinting the fingerprint ridges over A4 size white paper.The general distribution of the pattern of fingerprint showed high frequency (58.41%) of the loop, whereas whorls were moderate (37.83%) and arches were least (3.75%) in frequency. Loops are dominated in both normal and obesity for both individual males and females. The study suggests an association between fingerprint pattern and obesity ( whorls in left hand of male and female, and arches in different finger of right and left hand of male, also whorls in different finger of right and left hand of female, and arches in different finger of right hand of female) but there is no association between fingerprint pattern and obesity in (loops, whorls, arches, among subject normal and obesity male right hand, loops, and arches among subject normal and obesity of male in left hand, also there is no association between loops, whorls, arches among subject normal and obesity of female right hand, and loops and arches among subjects normal and obesity of female in left hand, also loops and whorls in different finger of right and left hand of male, then loops in different finger of right hand of female, and also loops and arches in different finger of left hand of female) based on statistical analysis of chi-square test when results combined between both genders

Relationship Between Pattern of Fingerprints and Obesity

The goal was to research the pattern of fingerprints in all the fingers of both hands and to study the association between obesity and fingerprint among university students in different faculties of Koya University with statistical analysis. Dactylography or the fingerprint system relies on the study of stratum ridges and their configurations [dermatoglyphic (derma = skin+ glyph = carving)] in the fingers, palms, and soles. Estimates that probabilities are about one in sixty-four thousand million for two individuals with similar finger impressions. Arbitrate heredity and environment in combination affect the pattern of ridges. We have conducted a study with 120 individual (30 males and 30 females normal and obesity) having the different weight of (normal and obesity), this study was carried out in different faculties in Koya University. All the 10 fingerprint patterns were divided into loop, whorl, and arch. The fingerprint was taken with the help of a stamp pad imprinting the fingerprint ridges over A4 size white paper.The general distribution of the pattern of fingerprint showed high frequency (58.41%) of the loop, whereas whorls were moderate (37.83%) and arches were least (3.75%) in frequency. Loops are dominated in both normal and obesity for both individual males and females. The study suggests an association between fingerprint pattern and obesity ( whorls in left hand of male and female, and arches in different finger of right and left hand of male, also whorls in different finger of right and left hand of female, and arches in different finger of right hand of female) but there is no association between fingerprint pattern and obesity in (loops, whorls, arches, among subject normal and obesity male right hand, loops, and arches among subject normal and obesity of male in left hand, also there is no association between loops, whorls, arches among subject normal and obesity of female right hand, and loops and arches among subjects normal and obesity of female in left hand, also loops and whorls in different finger of right and left hand of male, then loops in different finger of right hand of female, and also loops and arches in different finger of left hand of female) based on statistical analysis of chi-square test when results combined between both genders

Potential for soil organic carbon sequestration in grasslands in East African countries: A review

Grasslands occupy almost half of the world's land area. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key indicator of soil fertility and grassland productivity. Increasing SOC stocks (so‐called SOC sequestration) improves soil fertility and contributes to climate change mitigation by binding atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Grasslands constitute about 70% of all agricultural land, but their potential for SOC sequestration is largely unknown. This review paper quantitatively summarizes observation‐based studies on the SOC sequestration potential of grasslands in six East African countries (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) and seeks to identify knowledge gaps related to SOC sequestration potential in the region. In the studies reviewed, SOC stocks in grasslands range from 3 to 93 Mg C/ha in the upper 0.3 m of the soil profile, while SOC sequestration rate ranges from 0.1 to 3.1 Mg C ha‐1 year‐1 under different management strategies. Grazing management is reported to have a considerable impact on SOC sequestration rates, and grassland regeneration and protection are recommended as options to stimulate SOC sequestration. However, a very limited number of relevant studies are available (n = 23) and there is a need for fundamental information on SOC sequestration potential in the region. The effectiveness of potential incentive mechanisms, such as payments for environmental services, to foster uptake of SOC‐enhancing practices should also be assessed

Magnesium oxide as alternative binder for unfired clay bricks manufacturing

Replacement of fired bricks by unfired ones could be an effective way to reduce the building industryenvironmental footprint: Their manufacture not only requires less energy and natural resources but alsogenerates less waste. Bricks are based on the use of an additive cementitious material in the form of a binder,usually lime or cement. Such additives have a great environmental impact owing to the high energy consumptionand CO2during in their manufacturing process. In this article experiments are carried out in order to investigatethe applicability of a MgO rich industry by-product as a binder for the production of unfired clay bricks. Fromthe experiments, the MgO was observed to show ability to enhance the mechanical properties of a clay brick inmuch the same way as lime does. Water absorption tests on bricks revealed the superiority of MgO over lime inenhancing the durability properties of unfired bricks. The laboratory results demonstrate the high potential ofMgO based additives as alternative binders to the calcium based ones. Consequently, this offers opportunity forreducing the environmental impact associated with the use of fired clay bricks. In addition, it could allow aneffective way for the valorization of MgO containing industry by-products that currently discarded to landfillsThis work was supported by Research Project OTRI 2011021091 with MAGNESITAS NAVARRAS S.A. company

Efficacy of Nasobiliary Tubes and Biliary Stents in Management of Patients with Bile Leak after Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review

Background/Aims Bile leak is one of the most common complications of liver transplantation. The treatment options for bile leaks include conservative management, surgical re-intervention, percutaneous drainage and endoscopic drainage. We aimed to perform a systematic review to identify the efficacy of endoscopic treatment in the resolution of post-transplant bile leaks. Methods Two independent reviewers performed systematic literature search in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, grey literature and relevant references in May 2017. Human studies in English with documented post-liver transplant bile leaks were included. Results Thirty-four studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled efficacy of biliary stents for the resolution of post-transplant bile leaks was 82.43% compared with 87.15% efficacy of nasobiliary tubes. The efficacy of biliary stents was lower for anastomotic leaks (69.23%) compared to T-tube (90.9%) or cut-surface/ cystic duct stump related leaks (92.8%). Similarly, the efficacy of nasobiliary tube was also lower for anastomotic leaks (58.33%) compared to T-tube or cut-surface related leaks (100%). Conclusions In this systematic review, the overall efficacy was 82.43% in biliary stent group, and 87.15% in nasobiliary tube group. Both biliary stent and nasobiliary tube were more effective in managing non-anastomotic leaks compared to anastomotic leaks

Molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its relationship to histopathological diagnosis in paraffin-embedded lymph node tissues

Background: Tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBL) is one of the most common forms of extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) worldwide, with difficulty in its diagnosis. And since in the Sudan, the routinely used method for diagnosis is conventional histopathology, the aim of this study was to confirm the histopathological diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Methods: In this study 718 lymph node (LN) biopsies were retrieved, of which 161 were diagnosed as TBL (histopathological evidences). PCR technique was performed for all 161 positive samples to detect the IS6110 sequence of M. tuberculosis as well as to obtain the sensitivity and specificity of morphological diagnosis.Results: Out of 161 specimens 135 (84%) were found to be positive with PCR, the remaining 26 (16%) were negative.Conclusions: Although PCR indicated high sensitivity it can’t be a substitute for conventional histopathology in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in tissue

Chemical Characterization and Detection of Adulteration in Olea Europaea Linn. Oil by ATR-FTIR Method

Olea europaea Linn. (Olive; Oleaceae) commonly known as Zaytoon in the Mediterranean region. Olive oil and fruits are an important component of the Mediterranean diet as cooking oil and as a salad. Adulteration in Olive oil is very common with cheap edible oils. Thorough literature shows that there is no study conducted to check adulteration in Olive oil produced in Iraqi Kurdistan. The aim of the present study is to screen genuine Olive oil samples and also develop a method for the detection of adulteration by ATR-FTIR. The detection of adulteration in O. europaea oil was performed by the ATR-FTIR method. The sesame oil (SO), coconut oil (CO), sunflower oil (SFO), and refined olive oil (ROO) were selected as adulterants. For detection of adulteration in O. europaea oil, different binary-mixtures of various concentrations of O. europaea oil with sesame oil (SO), coconut oil (CO), sunflower oil (SFO), and refined olive oil (ROO) (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100% v/v) were prepared and FTIR spectra of each concentration were recorded. FTIR results of binary-mixtures were quite difficult to find out adulteration. Hence, on the basis of IR spectra’s only it is very difficult to check adulteration in Olive oil. So, we proposed an alternate way and easily to check adulteration in Olive oil. For that, we searched each binary-mixtures in the library of ATR-FTIR (IRAffinity-1S, Shimadzu, Japan), and results are presented in terms of FTIR search score. This method was found fast, easy, and reliable for the detection of cheap edible oils in pure Olive oils