553 research outputs found
A study on the Flora of El-Qantara Sharq in North Sinai, Egypt
AbstractThe study on the Flora of El Qantara Sharq revealed that the presence of 138 species belonging to 110 genera follows 39 Angiospermae families. The percentages of the representation of these families were Gramineae by 15.9%, Compositae by 13.7%, Leguminosae by 10.8%, Chenopodiaceae by 10.1%, and Cruciferae by 4.3%, while each of Caryophyllaceae, Cyperaceae and Polygonaceae was represented by 3.6% and the percentage was 2.8% for both of Convolvulaceae and Zygophyllaceae whereas it was 2.1% for each of Aizoaceae, Amaranthaceae and Tamaricaceae. The percentage was 1.4% for each of Euphorbiaceae, Orobanchaceae, Solanaceae and Umbelliferae. The remainder families, Asclepiadaceae, Ceratophyllaceae, Combretaceae, Geraniaceae, Haloragiadaceae, Juncaceae, Labiatae, Malvaceae, Neuradaceae, Nitrariaceae, Palmae, Plantaginaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Primulaceae, Ranunculaceae, Salicaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Typhaceae, Urticaceae and Verbenaceae were represented by one species (0.7%) for each. Shrubs were represented by 11.5% of the recorded species while the percentages of perennial and annual herbs were 21.7% and 63% respectively. Three parasite species were recorded: Cistanche phelypaea (L.) Cout., Cuscuta campestris Yunck. and Orobanche crenata Forssk
Poisoning emergency visits among children: a 3-year retrospective study in Qatar
Background
Poisoning in toddlers and infants is almost always unintentional due to their exploratory behavior, which is different from adults. The prevalence and background of childhood poisoning in Qatar is still unknown. The aim of this study is to explore the extent of childhood poisoning in Qatar and, specifically, to describe the frequency of poisoning as a cause of Accident & Emergency (A&E) admission, the demographic profile of affected patients, the circumstances leading to exposure, and the specific agents involved in poisoning among children under age 14 in our setting.
Methods
This study was a cross-sectional survey of children up to 14 years old utilizing retrospective data between October 2009 and October 2012. The data were collected from the childhood poisoning case registry and patient medical records at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit of all the Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals. Pharmacists reviewed all the handwritten medical records. Data written on the data collection form were transferred into excel and later into SPSS version 21. The data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, and a chi-square test was used for categorical variables.
Results
Out of 1179 registered poisoning cases listed in the registry, only 794 cases (67.3 %) were usable and included in the final analysis. A&E admissions for unintentional poisoning for children accounted for 0.22 % of all A&E admissions from 2009 to 12. The majority of poisoning cases happened among children between 1 and 5 years old (n = 704, 59.7 %). Cases were more frequent among non-Qatari than Qatari children (39.4 % vs. 28.5 %). Most cases occurred in the living room (28.2 %) and typically took place in the afternoon (29.2 %). Analgesic and antipyretic medicines were the most common agents ingested by children (n = 194, 36.9 %), specifically paracetamol (n = 140, 26.6 %).
Conclusions
Cases of unintentional poisoning are higher among children aged 1 to 5 years, males and non-Qatari. Most cases occurred in the living room and typically took place in the afternoon. The most common type of poison ingested by children was medicines, i.e., analgesics and antipyretics, specifically paracetamol
Prevalence of Prediabetes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Its Relation to In-Hospital Clinical Outcome
Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of vascular disease. The caseload is expected to reach 350 million by the year 2030, and it is estimated that up to 30% of patients are undiagnosed. Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of prediabetes in patients admitted with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who were not known to have diabetes and to determine the impact of prediabetes on in-hospital clinical outcomes versus non-diabetic patients. Patients and methods: This prospective study was conducted on 60 patients with acute coronary syndrome who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University during the period from September 2019 to March 2020. All studied subjects were subjected to full history taking complete clinical examination, complete blood count, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, serum creatinine and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), ECG and ECHO. Results: There was a statistical significant difference between the studied groups regarding acute coronary syndrome types, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum creatinine, and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol. There was statistically significant difference between the studied patients grouped according to the clinical outcome regarding ACS types. Conclusion: Prediabetes is common in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome who are not previously known to have diabetes. Pre-diabetic patients had worse in-hospital clinical outcomes compared with patients without diabetes. Pre-diabetic patients with ACS have greater prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity, and hypertension) as compared to non-diabetic patients
Design of an automatic solar lighting system
Today, the worldwide research trends are heading towards producing environmental friendly outcomes. Thus, today the electricity is mostly generated from renewable sources such as sunlight, wind, tides and other to reduce dependency on non-renewable sources like hydroelectrics, fossil fuels and others. This paper presents an innovation of the automatic lighting system with the solar as a source of the system. Charger controller circuit is necessary to cut off the current of the rechargeable battery when reaching its maximum voltage. Dark-on relay circuit functions as an automatic switch to the light so that the light will be automatically turned on when there is no light or at night. Otherwise, the light will be turned off. The system can be applied to the room light, outdoor light, corridor light, spotlight or streetlight. The system is low cost and beneficial for home usage to save electricity bills and when the occupants are absent for relatively long period of time.Keywords: renewable energy; solar energy; green technology; sustainable; dark on relay; automatic lighting system; analog electronic circuits; LD
Immobilization of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase on aminopropyl-functionalized silica-coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles
Background: Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) from
Amphibacillus sp. NPST-10 was successfully covalently immobilized on
aminopropyl-functionalized silica coated superparamagnetic
nanoparticles; and the properties of immobilized enzyme were
investigated. The synthesis process included preparing of core magnetic
magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles using solvothermal synthesis; followed
by coating of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with dense amino-functionalized
silica (NH2-SiO2) layer using in situ functionalization method. The
structure of synthesized Fe3O4@NH2-SiO2 nanoparticles was characterized
using TEM, XRD, and FT-IR analysis. Fe3O4@NH2-SiO2 nanoparticles were
further activated by gluteraaldehyde as bifunctional cross linker, and
the activated nanoparticles were used for CGTase immobilization by
covalent attachment. Results: Magnetite nanoparticles was successfully
synthesized and coated with and amino functionalized silica layer
(Fe3O4/NH2-SiO2), with particle size of 50-70 nm. The silica coated
magnetite nanoparticles showed with saturation magnetization of 65
emug-1, and can be quickly recovered from the bulk solution using an
external magnet within 10 sec. The activated support was effective for
CGTase immobilization, which was confirmed by comparison of FT-IR
spectra of free and immobilized enzyme. The applied approach for
support preparation, activation, and optimization of immobilization
conditions, led to high yields of CGTase immobilization (92.3%),
activity recovery (73%), and loading efficiency (95.2%); which is one
of the highest so far reported for CGTase. Immobilized enzyme showed
shift in the optimal temperature from 50 to 55\ubaC, and significant
enhancement in the thermal stability compared with free enzyme. The
optimum pH for enzyme activity was pH 8 and pH 7.5 for free and
immobilized CGTase, respectively, with slight improvement of pH
stability of immobilized enzyme. Furthermore, kinetic studies revealed
that immobilized CGTase had higher affinity toward substrate; with km
values of 1.18 \ub1 0.05 mg/ml and 1.75 \ub1 0.07 mg/ml for
immobilized and free CGTase, respectively. Immobilized CGTase retained
87% and 67 of its initial activity after 5 and 10 repeated batches
reaction, indicating that immobilized CGTase on Fe3O4/NH2-SiO2 had good
durability and magnetic recovery. Conclusion: The improvement in
kinetic and stability parameters of immobilized CGTase makes the
proposed method a suitable candidate for industrial applications of
CGTase. To best of our knowledge, this is the first report about CGTase
immobilization on silica coated magnetite nanoparticles
Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase immobilization onto functionalized magnetic double mesoporous core\u2013shell silica nanospheres
Background: Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) from Amphibacillus
sp. NPST-10 was covalently immobilized onto amino-functionalized
magnetic double mesoporous core\u2013shell silica nanospheres
(mag@d-SiO2@m-SiO2-NH2), and the properties of the immobilized enzyme
were investigated. The synthesis process of the nanospheres included
preparing core magnetic magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, coating the
Fe3O4 with a dense silica layer, followed by further coating with
functionalized or non-functionalized mesoporous silica shell. The
structure of the synthesized nanospheres was characterized using TEM,
XRD, and FT-IR analyses. CGTase was immobilized onto the functionalized
and non-functionalized nanospheres by covalent attachment and physical
adsorption. Results: The results indicated that the enzyme
immobilization by covalent attachment onto the activated
mag@d-SiO2@m-SiO2-NH2, prepared using anionic surfactant, showed
highest immobilization yield (98.1%), loading efficiency (96.2%), and
loading capacity 58 \u3bcg protein [CGTase]/mg [nanoparticles]) which
were among the highest yields reported so far for CGTase. Compared with
the free enzyme, the immobilized CGTase demonstrated a shift in the
optimal temperature from 50\ub0C to 50\u201355\ub0C, and showed a
significant enhancement in the enzyme thermal stability. The optimum pH
values for the activity of the free and immobilized CGTase were pH 8
and pH 8.5, respectively, and there was a significant improvement in pH
stability of the immobilized enzyme. Moreover, the immobilized CGTase
exhibited good operational stability, retaining 56% of the initial
activity after reutilizations of ten successive cycles. Conclusion: The
enhancement of CGTase properties upon immobilization suggested that the
applied nano-structured carriers and immobilization protocol are
promising approach for industrial bioprocess for production of
cyclodextrins using immobilized CGTase
Isolation and characterization of novel potent Cr(VI) reducing alkaliphilic Amphibacillus sp. KSUCr3 from hypersaline soda lakes
A strain KSUCr3 with extremely high Cr(VI)-reducing ability under
alkaline conditions was isolated from hypersaline soda lakes and
identified as Amphibacillus sp. on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence
analysis. The results showed that Amphibacillus sp. strain KSUCr3 was
tolerance to very high Cr(VI) concentration (75 mM) in addition to high
tolerance to other heavy metals including Ni2+ (100 mM), Mo2+ (75 mM),
Co2+ (5 mM), Mn2+ (100 mM), Zn2+ (2 mM), Cu2+ (2 mM) and Pb (75 mM).
Strain KSUCr3 was shown to be of a high efficiency in detoxifying
chromate, as it could rapidly reduce 5 mM of Cr(VI) to a non detectable
level over 24 hrs. In addition, strain KSUCr3 could reduce Cr(VI)
efficiently over a wide range of initial Cr(VI) concentrations (1-10
mM) in alkaline medium under aerobic conditions without significant
effect on the bacterial growth. Addition of glucose, NaCl and Na2CO3 to
the culture medium caused a dramatic increase in Cr(VI)-reduction by
Amphibacillus sp. strain KSUCr3. The maximum chromate removal was
exhibited in alkaline medium containing 1.5% Na2CO3, 0.8% glucose, and
1.2% NaCl, at incubation temperature of 40\ub0C and shaking of 100
rpm. Under optimum Cr(VI) reduction conditions, Cr(VI) reduction rate
reached 237 \u3bcMh1 which is one of the highest Cr(VI) reduction
rate, under alkaline conditions and high salt concentration, compared
to other microorganisms that has been reported so far. Furthermore, the
presence of other metals, such as Ni2+, Co2+, Cu2+ and Mn2+ slightly
stimulated Cr(VI)-reduction ability by the strain KSUCr3.The isolate,
Amphibacillus sp. strain KSUCr3, exhibited an ability to repeatedly
reduce hexavalent chromium without any amendment of nutrients,
suggesting its potential application in continuous bioremediation of
Cr(VI). The results also revealed the possible isolation of potent
heavy metals resistant bacteria from extreme environment such as
hypersaline soda lakes
Pharmaceutical Policy Reforms to Regulate Drug Prices in Asia Pacific Region: The Case of Australia, China, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
Medicine price directly affects affordability and access to medicines particularly in countries where a major portion of pharmaceutical spending is through out-of-pocket payment, such as in the Asia Pacific region. We have undertaken a detailed appraisal of the pharmaceutical policy reforms to regulate drug prices in 3 developed (Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea) and 3 emerging (China, India, and Malaysia) economies of the Asia Pacific region. Despite continuous efforts by the authorities in adopting a wide range of reformatory pharmaceutical pricing policies to ensure affordability of medicines, these policies may not be optimal where drug prices were not lowered as expected (eg, in Korea). On the contrary, considerable price reductions of various pharmaceuticals have been observed in New Zealand and India because of the reform in pharmaceutical pricing policy. This review of pharmaceutical pricing reforms reinforces the need for constant monitoring by policy makers in Asia Pacific countries to regulate drug prices and to undertake reform in pharmaceutical pricing policies when necessary to ensure affordability and access to medicines
Effects of substrates and reaction conditions on production of cyclodextrins using cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from newly isolated Bacillus agaradhaerens KSU-A11
The effects of reaction conditions on cyclodextrins (CDs) production by
CGTase from newly isolated Bacillus agaradhaerens KSU-A11 is
reported. Among six types of starch tested, potato starch gave highest
starch conversion into CDs. In addition, CDs yield was about three fold
higher when using gelatinized potato starch in comparison to raw
starch. The total CDs production was increased with increasing pH,
showing maximum starch conversion at pH 10. Furthermore, the proportion
of \u3b3-CD was relatively higher under slightly acidic-neutral
conditions than at alkaline pH with a maximum proportion of 35.6% at pH
7 compared to 7.6% at pH 10. Maximum starch conversion into CDs was
seen at reaction temperature of 55\ub0C. Lower reaction temperature
led to higher proportion of \u3b3-CD with maximum percentage at
35\ub0C. Cyclization reaction was significantly promoted in the
presence CaCl2 (10 mM), while in the presence of ethyl alcohol there
was significant decrease in CD production particularly at high
concentration.
f-CD was the major product up to 1 hr reaction
period with traces of \u3b1-CD and no detectable \u3b3-CD. However,
as the reaction proceed, \u3b3-CD started to be synthesised and
\u3b1-CD concentration increased up to 4 hrs, where the CDs ratios
were 0.27:0.65:0.07 for \u3b1-CD:
f-CD:\u3b3-CD, respectively. In
addition, optimum CGTase/starch ratio was obtained at 80 U/g starch,
showing highest starch conversion into CDs. All the parameters involved
have been shown to affect the products yield and/or specificity of B.
agaradhaerens KSU-A11 CGTase
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