Oyster resources of Ashtamudi lake, South West Coast of India

Edible oysters of the genera Crassostrea and Saccostrea occur in the estuaries, backwaters and coastal areas of India. Crassostrea madrasensis is the dominan~ oyster along Indian coast. In the recent years, extensive surveys were conducted in the estuaries of Tamil Nadu to study the potential oyster resource (Rao et al . 1987; Sarvesan et al.. 1988; Thangavelu and Sanjeevaraj. 1988). Along the Kerala coast oyster beds are distributed in the coastal zones and estuaries

Response of FBG-bonded graphene plate at different applied stress location

In this study, the response of a FBG-bonded-graphene plate at different applied stress location is demonstrated. The sensing element utilized for this purpose is a 35.9-mm FBG sensor bonded onto the surface of a graphene plate. The lateral displacement is changed with corresponding increase or decrease in the FBG’s curvature. The change in center wavelength of the reflected spectrum is almost linear, without a significant hysteresis effect. It was also observed that the sensitivity of the FBG changes for location of applied stress. Likewise, the area under the reflection curve is observed to increase with increase in strain level, indicating an increase total power reflected. This is verified by an increase in the voltage output as observed from the oscilloscope

Potential Anti-Tuberculosis Activity of the Extracts and Their Active Components of Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. and Perr. with Special Emphasis on Polyphenols

In Sudanese traditional medicine, decoctions of the stem bark of Anogeissus leiocarpa are used for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). However, this plant has not been investigated before for its antimycobacterial effects. Our screening results show, for the first time, that many extracts of various parts of A. leiocarpa exhibit growth inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged between 625 and 5000 µg/mL, with an ethyl acetate extract of the root showing the lowest MIC value. The good antimycobacterial effects of the root part could be due to its high concentration of ellagic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, and flavonoids. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) fractionation resulted in some fractions with better activity than the starting point crude methanol extract (MIC 2500 µg/mL). Those fractions with the lowest MIC values contained a high number of antioxidant compounds. Fractions 3 and 4 (MIC 1500 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively) contained high concentrations of di-methyl ellagic acid ([M-H]− 329.0318). Fraction 6 (MIC 2000 µg/mL) contained a lower concentration of di-methyl ellagic acid and was not as growth inhibitory as fractions 3 and 4. Moreover, in fraction 3, an acetylated ellagic acid derivative ([M-H]− 343.0477) and di-methyl-ellagic acid xyloside ([M-H]− 461.0739) were tentatively characterized. Di-methyl ellagic acid xyloside was also present in fraction 4 and could strongly contribute to the antimycobacterial effect of this fraction. Additionally, protocatechuic acid ([M-H]− at m/z 153.0196) was present in fraction 4. Our antimycobacterial results obtained from this research justify the use of A. leiocarpa in Sudanese folk medicine against cough related to TB. Roots, stem bark, and leaves of A. leiocarpa are sources for new potent anti-TB drug lead compounds

Potential Anti-Tuberculosis Activity of the Extracts and Their Active Components of Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. and Perr. with Special Emphasis on Polyphenols

In Sudanese traditional medicine, decoctions of the stem bark of Anogeissus leiocarpa are used for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). However, this plant has not been investigated before for its antimycobacterial effects. Our screening results show, for the first time, that many extracts of various parts of A. leiocarpa exhibit growth inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged between 625 and 5000 µg/mL, with an ethyl acetate extract of the root showing the lowest MIC value. The good antimycobacterial effects of the root part could be due to its high concentration of ellagic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, and flavonoids. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) fractionation resulted in some fractions with better activity than the starting point crude methanol extract (MIC 2500 µg/mL). Those fractions with the lowest MIC values contained a high number of antioxidant compounds. Fractions 3 and 4 (MIC 1500 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively) contained high concentrations of di-methyl ellagic acid ([M-H]− 329.0318). Fraction 6 (MIC 2000 µg/mL) contained a lower concentration of di-methyl ellagic acid and was not as growth inhibitory as fractions 3 and 4. Moreover, in fraction 3, an acetylated ellagic acid derivative ([M-H]− 343.0477) and di-methyl-ellagic acid xyloside ([M-H]− 461.0739) were tentatively characterized. Di-methyl ellagic acid xyloside was also present in fraction 4 and could strongly contribute to the antimycobacterial effect of this fraction. Additionally, protocatechuic acid ([M-H]− at m/z 153.0196) was present in fraction 4. Our antimycobacterial results obtained from this research justify the use of A. leiocarpa in Sudanese folk medicine against cough related to TB. Roots, stem bark, and leaves of A. leiocarpa are sources for new potent anti-TB drug lead compounds

Characteristics of the Electrical Conductivity of the Basalt-Aluminum System Manufactured by Powder Technology

تضمنت الدراسة تدعيم مساحيق البازلت بواسطة الالمنيوم باستخدام طريقة المساحيق حيثُ تم اخذ نسب تدعيم الالمنيوم     (0, 10, 20. 30, 40 and 50%)  مع المادة الاساس البازلت. ثم خلط المساحيق وكبسها بمكبس كهربائي عند (ton4) ولزمن دقيقة واحدة, تم تلبيد العينات الناتجة بفرن حراري عند (1000) وباستخدام غاز الاركون لتقليل التأكسد ولزمن ساعتين فقط. تم دراسة البنية التركيبية للنماذج باستخدام المجهر الالكتروني الماسح (SEM) وكذلك دراسة الخصائص الكهربائية وعند مدى ترددي 50-5×106 Hz)) شملت الخصائص الكهربائية كل من (ثابت العزل الحقيقي والخيالي, زاوية الفقد, التوصيلية الكهربائية المتناوبة, المقاومة الكهربائية) مع التردد وعند درجة حرارة الغرفة. وجد من خلال الخصائص التركيبية تجانس النماذج وخصوصاً نموذج التدعيم 20Al)%) اما الخصائص الكهربائية اظهرت انخفاض لقيم ثابت العزل و زاوية الفقد مع زيادة التردد و زيادة قيم التوصيلية عند نموذج التدعيم 20Al)%) اكثر من بقية النماذجThis study included reinforcement of basalt powders with aluminum using powder method, where the reinforcement ratios of aluminum were (0, 10, 20. 30, 40 and 50%) with basalt material as a matrix. The two powders were mixed and have been pressed up to (4 ton) for (1 minute). The samples were sintered inside an oven at a temperature of (1000 ˚C) with the presence of Argon (Ar) gas in order to minimize oxidation, along two hours. The microscopic structure of the samples has been examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM)  along with the electrical properties in the frequency range between (50-5×106 Hz). The electrical properties included (real and imaginary dielectric constant, loss angle, electrical conductivity, electrical resistivity) were studied with the ranged frequencies at room temperature. The microstructure properties exhibited a homogenized properties especially sample with (20%Al). Concerning the electrical properties, the results showed a decrease in the dielectric constant and the loss angle with increasing the frequency and increasing the conductivity values at the (20%Al)  among other samples

The Effect of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene on Estrogen Metabolism and Endometrial Cancer Risk

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) demonstrate differential endometrial cancer (EC) risk. While tamoxifen (TAM) use increases the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and malignancy, raloxifene (RAL) has neutral effects on the uterus. How TAM increases the risk of EC and why TAM and RAL differentially modulate the risk for EC, however, remain elusive. Here, we tested the hypothesis that TAM increases the risk for EC, at least in part, by enhancing the local estrogen biosynthesis and directing estrogen metabolism towards the formation of genotoxic and hormonally active estrogen metabolites. In addition, the differential effects of TAM and RAL in EC risk are attributed to their differential effect on estrogen metabolism/metabolites. The endometrial cancer cell line (Ishikawa cells) and the nonmalignant immortalized human endometrial glandular cell line (EM1) were used for the study. The profile of estrogen/estrogen metabolites (EM), depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts, and the expression of estrogen-metabolizing enzymes in cells treated with 17β-estradiol (E2) alone or in combination with TAM or RAL were investigated using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS(2)), ultraperformance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and Western blot analysis, respectively. TAM significantly increased the total EM and enhanced the formation of hormonally active and carcinogenic estrogen metabolites, 4-hydroxestrone (4-OHE1) and 16α-hydroxyestrone, with concomitant reduction in the formation of antiestrogenic and anticarcinogenic 2-hydroxyestradiol and 2-methoxyestradiol. Furthermore, TAM increased the formation of depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts 4-OHE1 [2]-1-N7Guanine and 4-OHE1 [2]-1-N3 Adenine. TAM-induced alteration in EM and depurinating DNA adduct formation is associated with altered expression of estrogen metabolizing enzymes CYP1A1, CYP1B1, COMT, NQO1, and SF-1 as revealed by Western blot analysis. In contrast to TAM, RAL has minimal effect on EM, estrogen-DNA adduct formation, or estrogen-metabolizing enzymes expression. These data show that TAM perturbs the balance of estrogen-metabolizing enzymes and alters the disposition of estrogen metabolites, which can explain, at least in part, the mechanism for TAM-induced EC. These results also implicate the differential effect of TAM and RAL on estrogen metabolism/metabolites as a potential mechanism for their disparate effects on the endometrium

Fluid Inclusions Usage for Assessing Oil Migration in Duhok, North of Iraq

Studies of primary and secondary fluid inclusions were done on epigenetic barite samples which collected from carbonates in Lower part of Sarmord Formation (Lower Cretaceous and Aqra-Bekhme Formations (Upper Cretaceous) in Duhok localities of North of Iraq. Lead isotopes composition in galena which associated barite that contained fluid inclusions helped the identification two events of fluid inclusions. These fluid inclusions contain brine water and hydrocarbons. Primary and secondary fluid inclusions in barite as well as lead isotopes composition in galena helped the interpretation of oil migration history and the pathway of oil migration. Ages of galena are syngronous with the events of oil and water trapping as inclusions within barite, and hence the interpreted galena generation could be assigned to the fluid inclusions age. Accordingly, the events are two phases of early and late generations that correspond to 120 m.y. and 30 m.y. respectively. Correlation with 10 PetroMod basin modeling of the generated oil from the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous Formations fitted with the event of early galena generation, whereas the oil migration started before 70 m.y and continued to 30 m.y ago. Palynomorphs study confirms that the oil in source rocks is similar with the migrated oil

Burden of visceral leishmaniasis in villages of eastern gedaref state, Sudan: an exhaustive cross-sectional survey.

Since December 2009, Médecins Sans Frontières has diagnosed and treated patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Tabarak Allah Hospital, eastern Gedaref State, one of the main endemic foci of VL in Sudan. A survey was conducted to estimate the VL incidence in villages around Tabarak Allah