Adverse Effects of Condenser Cooling Seawater Temperature, Fouling, and Salinity on the Output Power and Thermal Efficiency of BWR NNPs

Increasing the thermal efficiency in newly designed power stations is a priority. Keeping the efficiency in existed plants close to the rated one is of paramount importance. This research contributes to investigating the adverse effects of changes in condenser seawater coolant characteristics, (temperature, fouling, and salinity), on the thermal performance of a Boiling Water Reactor Nuclear Power Plant (BWR) NPP. A mathematical model is developed to relate seawater cooling temperature, fouling, and salinity to output power and thermal efficiency. The model also explains the impact of the condenser performance on power and efficiency. The thermal efficiency of the considered BWR NPP is reduced by 2.26% for a combined extreme increases in the condenser cooling seawater temperature, fouling factor of seawater and treated boiler feed water, and salinity by 10 °C, 0.0002, 0.00001 m2K/W, and 100 g/kg, respectively. A rise in the condenser efficiency from 40 - 100 % results in an increase in the output power by 7.049%, and the thermal efficiency increases by about 2.62%. Conclusions are useful for reactor’s desig

Prevalence of Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis and its Associated Risk Factors among Patients Attending Nekemte Referral Hospital, Western Ethiopia

Tuberculosis (TB), one of the widest spread infectious diseases, is the leading cause of death in the world. TB is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the horn of Africa with Ethiopia carrying a heavy burden; it is the third most populous country in Africa. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of smear positive pulmonary TB (PTB) and its associated risk factors among TB suspected patients attending Nekemte Referral Hospital. Oromia Region State, Western,  Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was conducted among 170 TB suspected patients attending Nekemte Referral Hospital from April 1 to May 15, 2012. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The sputum sample was collected and examined following national guide line for diagnosis of TB using direct Ziehl – Nelson staining and sodium hypochlorite concentration techniques. To collect data related to associated risk factors for PTB, pretest structured question was employed. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and described using descriptive statistic and binary logistic regression modeling. The prevalence of smear-positive PTB is 9.41% and 15.88% by direct and sodium hypochlorite concentration Ziehle-Nelson staining technique, respectively. Factors significantly associated with smear-positive PTB were level ofeducation primary (AOR=17.78) and secondary education (AOR=736.19), occupation of merchant (AOR =0.03), sex male (AOR= 0.089), marital status of married (AOR=0.26), monthly income between 500-1000 (OR 0.002), urban residence (AOR= 0.39) and having close contact history with TB patient (OR=AO.113). The prevalence of Smear positive PTB is high at the study area and it is mostly associated with soci-demographic factorsand close contact with TB patient

Noise Pollution in Maize Milling Smes

Maize milling SMEs emit high levels of noise which can have adverse effects on humanbeings and therefore require controlling. This paper reports on a study that involvedassessment and measurement of noise level in maize milling SMEs in DSM and Morogorourban, gathering opinions of workers and the neighbouring population on noise problems,and suggesting solutions for noise control. Noise measurements in 41 SMEs were recordedfrom 89-103 dBA in DSM and 92-103 dBA in Morogoro near the milling machines. Thesevalues were higher than the safe level of 85 dBA for 8 hours working shift. Measurementalso indicated high noise in the immediate neighbourhood of the milling plants. Machineoperators and neighbours indicated health problems which could be a result of machinenoise. Causes of high noise were identified to include loose or untightened machine parts,improper installation of machine system, use of worn out machine bearings, and the use ofimproperly designed and unbalanced milling hammers. Possible administrative andtechnical solutions for these problems were suggested. It is concluded from this study thatmost of maize milling SMEs produce high noise which is indeed pollutant to workers andthe neighbouring population. Therefore, it is important to implement the suggestedadministrative and technical solutions to minimise this problem

Use of isoelectric focusing and polyacrylarnide gel electrophoresis of nonspecific esterase phenotypes for the identification of cyst nematodes Heterodera species

Summary -Nineteen species of Hele1'odera from diverse geographic origins were examined for characteristic differences in meir esterase banding patterns using isoelectric focusing and native gel electrophoresis. Twenry-six major bands of esterase activiry were detected. Sorne bands were common to sorne species, while omers were species specifie. Hele1'odera elachista had distinct speciesspecific phenotypes. Comparisons between ail Heterodera species using cluster analysis were performed in ail possible combinations to examine me coefficients of similariry. Dendrograms were constructed but groupings obtained do not agree wim mose obtained by omer memods. The use of esterase isoenzymes to differentiate species is a simple, rapid, inexpensive and reproducible approach. Résumé -Identification de né1natodes à kystes du genre Heterodera par leur phénotype estérasique non spécifique par ékctrophorèse sur gel de polyacrylamide et par la technique du point isoékctrique -Les différences spécifiques dans les profils estérasiques de dix-neuf espèces d' Hete1'odera d'origine géographique variée ont été observée à l'aide des techniques du point isoélectrique et de l'électrophorèse en gel natif. Vingt-six bandes majeures d'activité estérasique ont été détectées. Quelques bandes sont communes à plusieurs espèces, alors que d'autres sont particulières à certaines espèces. Hele1'odera eliuhista montre des phénotypes distincts et spécifiques. Les comparaisons entre les espèces d'Hele1'odera ont été réalisées par l'analyse en grappe, à tous les niveaux, afin de préciser les coefficients de similarité. Les groupements révélés par les dendogrammes ne concordent pas avec ceux obtenus par d'autres techniques. L'utilisation des isoestérases pour séparer les espèces constitue une approche simple, rapide, peu coûteuse et donnant des résultats reproductibles

Feeding behaviour, food consumption indices and infestation of the tiger moth, Atteva Sciodoxa, on Eurycoma Longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali).

Atteva sciodoxa is a serious pest of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali ) plants in Malaysia. The larvae feed gregariously by building communal webs on terminal shoots. Observations in this study showed infestation levels between 65.0±2.03 and 92.6±1.13% with a population intensity of 2.4±0.28 and 9.5±0.77 larvae per leaf on a plantation plot in Setiu, Terengganu. The infestation was observed from 0.5 to 9.0 year old E. longifolia plantation with plant height of 45.2±1.25 to 151.2±5.44 cm. The highest food ingestibility and efficiency of conversion of digested food was 75.2±0.32% and 67.8±0.74% respectively, in the fifth instar larvae while the highest efficiency of conversion of ingested food and approximate digestibility was 37.0±1.21% and 63.1±0.73%, respectively in the third instar larvae. The food ingestibility and efficiency of conversion of digested food increased with increasing age of larva, while the efficiency of conversion of ingested food and approximate digestibility decreased. The highest food consumption index of 0.51 mg dry leaf mg-1 larval body weight day-1 was recorded in the fourth instar larva and the highest relative growth rate was 0.16 mg larval body weight gain mg-1 larval body weight day-1 in the third instar. The overall consumption index of 0.23 and growth rate of 0.08 indicates A. sciodoxa has high food consumption and assimilation on the host plant, E. Longifolia. This reflects the extent and speed of attack the insect is capable of on tongkat Ali plants

Comparative analysis on the effect of heavy metals: a case study of selected states in Nigeria

In the toxicological aspect, uncontrolled amount of heavy metals is deadly, to the environment and its inhabitants. To complicate issues, reviewed work has revealed that technological advancement is one of the key sources of heavy metals. This can lead to outbreak of diseases, decrease of life span, cancer, and other related effects. Providing sustainable environment, the concentration of these metals need to be periodically regulated. This research studies the effect of some selected heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn) in Kano State Nigeria, using Atomic Absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results were compared with other related work conducted in some states across Nigeria (Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Kaduna, and Bauchi States) and standard international values (WHO, FAO, SEPA and US EPA). The parameters analysed were; Concentration, Bioaccumulation (Plant concentration factor –PCF), Transfer factor (TF), Daily Intake of Metals (DIM), and Health Risk Index (HRI). Statistical package (SPSS) was used, to establish the relationship between these metals in all the sites. The result showed that there were substantial absorption of these metals by the plants and the consumers. Children were more exposed than adults in terms of DIM and the HRI. The comparison showed sequential order in the parameters investigated. All the biological samples exhibited Phytoremediation quality with the TF>1, this will aid in having sustainable environment to the resident and citizen of the state in particular and the nation in general, as well as serving as an impetus for the initiation of safe comprehensive remedy of the subject matter. The PCF for all the samples varied across states and plants.Keywords: AAS, Adults, ANOVA. Children, Concentration, DIM, HRI, PCF, Phytoremediatio

Effect of a Decision Aid on Access to Total Knee Replacement for Black Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Key Findings: An educational video on the risks and benefits of total knee replacement increased the rate of surgery among black patients, in a clinical trial of an intervention that could reduce known racial disparities in treatment of osteoarthritis

CXCR 3 expression on CD4+T cells and in renal tissue of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Background: Pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) accounts for about 20% of all cases of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), with nephritis occurring in approximately 50% of the patients. Objective: to evaluate the expression of CXCR3 in the kidneys and on CD4+ T cells in pSLE. Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with pSLE following up at the Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University and 45 age and sex matched healthy children as a control group. Medical history, clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations for assessment of disease activity were done for all patients, the frequency of CXCR3, CD4+ T cells was determined in all patients and controls. Twenty-five Paraffin blocks of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) (available at the time of the study) underwent immunohistochemistry staining for the frequencies of Chemokine C receptor (CXCR3). Results: The absolute level and percentage of serum CD4+CXCR3+ were significantly lower among our patients as compared to healthy controls. A significant direct correlation was found between serum CD4+CXCR3+ and both the lymphocytic count and quantitative Systemic Lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), as well as a significant inverse correlation between it and 24 hours urinary proteins. Variable degrees of CXCR3expression seemed to have no impact on laboratory tests, British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) score and cumulative doses of Immunosuppressives. Conclusion: Serum CD4+CXCR3+ and not renal CXCR3 may be a potential marker of LN activity