Selective inhibition of toxic cyanobacteria by β-carboline-containing bacterium Bacillus flexus isolated from Saudi freshwaters

AbstractA bacterial strain SSZ01 isolated from a eutrophic lake in Saudi Arabia dominated by cyanobacterial blooms, showed an antialgal activity against cyanobacteria species. Based on the analysis of the 16S rDNA gene sequence, the isolated strain (SSZ01) most likely belonged to the genus Bacillus with a 99% similarity to Bacillus flexus strain EMGA5. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of the ethyl acetate extract of this bacterium revealed that this strain can produce harmine and norharmane compared to different β-carboline analog standards. Harmine and norharmane were also detected in considerable amounts in bacterial growth medium, indicating a potential excretion of these compounds into the aquatic environment. The crude extract of Bacillus flexus as well as pure materials of harmine and norharmane inhibited the growth of tested species of cyanobacteria. However, the bacterial crude extract has a higher toxicity against tested species of cyanobacteria than harmine and norharmane. In addition, harmine was more toxic to cyanobacteria than norharmane. On the other hand, neither pure compounds of harmine and norharmane nor crude bacterial extract showed any antialgal activity against tested species of green algae. The results of the present study suggest that B. flexus SSZ01 or its crude extract containing harmine and norharmane could be a candidate for the selective control of cyanobacterial blooms without affecting other algal species

Design and Analysis of an Intelligent Integrity Checking Watermarking Scheme for Ubiquitous Database Access

As a result of the highly distributed nature of ubiquitous database accessing, it is essential to develop security mechanisms that lend themselves well to the delicate properties of outsourcing databases integrity and copyright protection. Researchers have begun to study how watermarking computing can make ubiquitous databases accessing more confident work environments. One area where database context may help is in supporting content integrity. Initially, most of the research effort in this field was depending on distortion based watermark while the few remaining studies concentrated on distortion-free. But there are many disadvantages in previous studies; most notably some rely on adding watermark as an extra attributes or tuples, which increase the size of the database. Other techniques such as permutation and abstract interpretation framework require much effort to verify the watermark. The idea of this research is to adapt an optimized distortion free watermarking based on fake tuples that are embedded into a separate file not within the database to validate the content integrity for ubiquitous database accessing. The proposed system utilizes the GA, which boils down its role to create the values of the fake tuples as watermark to be the closest to real values. So that it's very hard to any attacker to guess the watermark. The proposed technique achieves more imperceptibility and security. Experimental outcomes confirm that the proposed algorithm is feasible, effective and robust against a large number of attacks

Regression-Based Models for Predicting Discharge Coefficient of Triangular Side Orifice

- This study introduced another technique to predict the discharge coefficient (Cd) of the triangular side orifice (TSO). This technique is based on the SPSS software as multiple linear regression (MLR) and multiple nonlinear regression (MNLR) models. These models were established using 570 experimental datasets, 70 and 30% for calibration and testing stages, respectively. These sets considered five non-dimensional parameters, including (orifice crest height, orifice length, orifice height, upstream flow depth, and Froude number of the main channel). Results showed that the MLR and MNLR models in the calibrating stage had higher determination coefficients and lower errors. In addition, the importance of the input parameters was investigated, showing that the orifice crest height and Froude number highly affect the discharge coefficient value by 36%. In the testing stage, the estimated discharge coefficient by the MLR and MNLR models stayed within the range ±12 and ‡5%, respectively, of the experimental values. The MNLR model demonstrated a high level of equivalence compared to previous studies, which provided a mathematical expression to easily predict the TSO\u27s discharge coefficient

STR-862: APPLICATION OF 4D AND 5D BIM IN COLD-FORMED STEEL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Traditional residential building systems are not sufficient to produce the required number of housing units needed every year to solve the current housing problem in many countries. To meet such a challenge, it is necessary to explore the latest construction technologies, and to create innovative building systems that have the potential to bring high-performance affordable housing within reach of new markets. Light (cold-formed) steel (CFS) framing systems have proven to be a worthy alternative to traditional systems. Recent advances in the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) into the Architecture-Engineering-Construction industries present an additional mean to further enhance the efficiency of CFS projects. This paper presents a BIM based integrated approach for project scheduling and cost estimating of cold formed steel residential buildings. The approach integrates the basic 3D BIM model with the construction management tools used for project scheduling and cost estimation to produce a 4D BIM and 5D BIM models that can be used to enhance the project efficiency in both the design and construction phases. The developed models facilitate communication among all project participants and support project management in effectively planning on-site construction activities. A case study is presented to demonstrate the methodology

Power Quality and System Stability Impact of Large-Scale Distributed Generation on the Distribution Network: Case Study of 60 MW Derna Wind Farm

Wind energy (WE) has become one of the most promising and developed forms of renewable energy source due to its efficiency and the availability of different capacities according to the loading requirements. The integration of wind turbines in the Libyan network has become an indispensable choice due to Libya’s distinguished location and for the Libyan National Initiative. Despite the numerous benefits of WE, the penetration of WE sources in the distribution network has some negative impacts related to the quality and reliability of the electric power supplied to the network. Owing to, the intermittent nature of these sources and electronic circuits needed to regulate the extracted power to comply with the grid requirements. In this chapter, implementation of the eastern Libyan network in NEPLAN and MATLAB/SIMULINK packages are carried out to investigate and analyze the significance of wind farm penetration in the medium voltage level of Libyan Distribution Network. A 60 MVA wind farm system has been connected to the Libyan distribution network according to the Libyan National Initiative. Different penetration scenarios are simulated to testify the technical aspects of integrating WE on the distribution level

Étude du rapport entre la géométrie des fils et la rugosité des tissus

La suavidad de los tejidos es difícilmente cuantificable puesto que está asociada a una serie de sensaciones subjetivas. Se ha intentado evaluar objetivamente mediante diversos métodos. Uno de los parámetros cuantificables más importantes, que diversos autores relacionan con el tacto de los tejidos es su aspereza o rugosidad superficial. En este trabajo se estudia la relación entre la rugosidad superficial de una serie de tejidos y la deformación filar de los hilados que los constituyen; la deformación filar depende de la geometría de los hilados y esta, a su vez está condicionada por diversas variables. En el trabajo se establecen las relaciones entre la deformación filar y la composición, título y torsión de los hilados de PES/CV, en un intento de poder establecer como influyen estas variables en la rugosidad de los tejidos.The smoothness of the fabrics is hardly quantifies since is associated to a series of subjective sensations. It has been tried to evaluate objectively by means of diverse methods. One of the more important measurable parameters that diverse authors relate to the smoothless of a fabric is its superficial roughness. The present work studies the relationship between the superficial roughness of a series of fabrics and the deformation of the yarns that constitute them. The yarn deformation depends on the geometry of the yarn and this is, as well, depending of diverse variables. In the work the relationships between the yarn deformation and the account and torsion of yarns of different PES/CV compositions are also studied in an attempt of how these variables influence the superficial roughness of the fabrics.La douceur des tissus est difficilement quantifiable car elle est associée à une série de sensations subjectives. Elle a fait l'objet d'une tentative d'évaluation objective à l'aide de plusieurs méthodes. L'un des paramètres quantifiables les plus importants, que divers auteurs associent au tact des tissus, est leur âpreté ou rugosité superficielle. Cette étude porte sur le rappot entre la rugosité superficielle d'un série de tissus et la déformation filaire des filés qui les constituent; la déformation filaie dépend de la géométrie des filés et celle-ci est, à son tour, conditionnée par plusieurs variables. Des rapports son établis entre la déformation filaire et la composition, le titre et la torsion des filés de PES/CV, pour tenter d'établir comment ces variables jouent sur la rugosité des tissus

The Response, Operability, and Type of Surgery Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Sudanese Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Background:Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) treatment has become the standard treatment for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) in many centers worldwide. Objectives: This study evaluates the short-term response of patients with LABC to NACT and its impact on operability and the type of surgery. Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive analytical hospital-based study including 147 patients with LABC who were presented to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit at Soba University hospital (SUH), between January 2012 and December 2014, and were treated with NACT. Clinical and pathological responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were evaluated according to Union for International Cancer Control criteria, operability, and the type of surgery performed was also recorded. Results: All patients were females, the mean age was 43 ± 7 years, of them 53.7% were pre-menopausal, 51% presented with a breast lump, 19.7% with nipple discharge, and 19% with skin changes and ulceration. The mean initial tumor size was 7 cm ± SD. Following NACT, complete clinical response was reported in 30 patients (20.4%), partial clinical response in 92(62.6%), stable clinical response in 20 (13.6%), and five (3.4%) had progressive clinical response. Initial smaller tumors (size < 5 cm) showed a better clinical response to NACT as 76.7% of complete clinical response was achieved.Pathological complete response was achieved in 25(17%) patients, pathological partial response in 102(74.1%), and pathological stable disease in 13(8.8%). Following NACT, breast conserving surgery was performed in 78(53.1%) patients, Modified Radical Mastectomy in 64(43.5%), 25 of them had Latissimus Dorsi, and five patients were not offered surgery as they developed progressive disease during the study period. Conclusion: Following NACT, it was possible to perform surgery in more than 96% of patients with LABC

Can deficit irrigations be an optimum solution for increasing water productivity under arid conditions? A case study on wheat plants

Water scarcity is of growing concern in many countries around the world, especially within the arid and semi-arid zones. Accordingly, rationalizing irrigation water has become an obligation to achieve the sustainable developmental goals of these countries. This may take place via using deficit irrigation which is long thought to be an effective strategy to save and improve water productivity. The current study is a trial to evaluate the pros and cons of using 50 and 75 % of the irrigation requirements (IR) of wheat (deficit irrigations) versus 100 %IR, while precisely charting changes in wheat growth parameters, antioxidant enzymes in plant shoots and the overall nutritional status of plants (NPK contents). Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted for two successive seasons, followed a split-plot design in which deficit irrigations (two irrigations to achieve 50 % of the irrigations requirements (IR), three irrigations to attain 75 % IR, and four irrigations to fulfill 100 % IR) were placed in main plots while four different studied wheat cultivars were in subplots. Results obtained herein indicate that deficit irrigations led to significant reductions in growth parameters and productivity of all wheat cultivars, especially when using 50 % IR. It also decreased NPK contents within plant shoots while elevated their contents of proline, peroxidase, and catalase enzymes. On the other hand, this type of irrigation decreased virtual water content (VWC, the amount of water used in production on ton of wheat grains). Stress tolerance index (STI), and financial revenues per unit area were also assessed. The obtained values of grain productivity, STI, VWC and financial revenues were weighted via PCA analyses, and then introduced in a novel model to estimate the efficiency of deficit irrigations (ODEI) whose results specified that the overall efficiency decreased as follows: 50 %IR < 75 %IR < 100 %IR. In conclusion, deficit irrigation is not deemed appropriate for rationalizing irrigation water while growing wheat on arid soils