Study the Changes in (pH, Turbidity, Hardness, and Total Organic Carbon) Levels of Water using Plant Membrane (Palm Leaves Powder) and Aquatic Plant System (Vine Stems)

Due to the increasing industrialization and urbanization, the requirement of clean water has been growing quite fast and it has the potential to keep increasing. There are many regions facing water crisis even some countries with a rich water source. In this study, three types of water (tap, ground, and light sewage) have been collected from different places in Ibrahim Ahmad site in Sulaymaniyah city/Kurdistan region – Iraq. The research studies the effects of plant membrane method, and aquatic plant system on the improvement of pH, turbidity, hardness, and total organic carbon (TOC) of water samples. In the plant membrane, palm leaves were crushed and used as a powder in filter bags; whereas in the aquatic plant system, vine stems were used by growing up the vines. The experimental results showed that the pH, hardness, turbidity, and TOC of water samples after using palm leaves powder and vine stems have been changed significantly with slight variation in some test results. The results of turbidity showed that using palm leaves powder as plant membrane was more effective than the vine stems in an aquatic plant system. On the other hand, the results of hardness and TOC tests of all water samples after using both methods proved that the vine stems method was more reliable than the palm leaves method. Finally, the pH results of all water samples after using both methods have been decreased to the normal range with a slight variation between the vine stems and palm leaves methods

Overexpression of Reticulon 3 Enhances CNS Axon Regeneration and Functional Recovery after Traumatic Injury

CNS neurons are generally incapable of regenerating their axons after injury due to several intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including the presence of axon growth inhibitory molecules. One such potent inhibitor of CNS axon regeneration is Reticulon (RTN) 4 or Nogo-A. Here, we focused on RTN3 as its contribution to CNS axon regeneration is currently unknown. We found that RTN3 expression correlated with an axon regenerative phenotype in dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGN) after injury to the dorsal columns, a well-characterised model of spinal cord injury. Overexpression of RTN3 promoted disinhibited DRGN neurite outgrowth in vitro and dorsal column axon regeneration/sprouting and electrophysiological, sensory and locomotor functional recovery after injury in vivo. Knockdown of protrudin, however, ablated RTN3-enhanced neurite outgrowth/axon regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of RTN3 in a second model of CNS injury, the optic nerve crush injury model, enhanced retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival, disinhibited neurite outgrowth in vitro and survival and axon regeneration in vivo, an effect that was also dependent on protrudin. These results demonstrate that RTN3 enhances neurite outgrowth/axon regeneration in a protrudin-dependent manner after both spinal cord and optic nerve injury

Commercial cultivation by farmers of medicinal plants in Northern Bangladesh

Medicinal plants (MPs) are an important component of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), which are traditionally used in healthcare and source of livelihood all over the world. In an over-populated country like Bangladesh, the pressure on natural forests is immense; thus the cultivation of MPs can significantly contribute towards improving the livelihood of poor people, reducing the pressure on natural forests and enhancing biological diversity. Notwithstanding the growing recognition of its importance and economic and ecological potential, there has been little research on MPs, especially the cultivation, management and marketing aspects, in Bangladesh. Based on extensive fieldwork in a northern district of Bangladesh, this study explores various aspects of the cultivation, management and marketing of MPs. How collective efforts have brought economic and social benefits to communities was also examined in this study. It assesses the major processes and elements of management, identifies key problems and challenges and indicates ways of maximizing the potential of this important sector. The issues covered in this research include: farmers ’ perceptions and experiences; existing research and policy-making processes related to the MP sector; constraining factors (such as lack of processing technology, inadequate transportation, logistics, financial and storage infrastructure, lack of institutional capacity); markets, finance and networking; land use; pattern of livelihood and value chain issue

Bond Strength of Fusion Bonded Epoxy-Coated Reinforcement in Concrete

Fusion-bonded epoxy-coated steel is expected to extend the service life of the reinforced concrete structure in chloride-laden environments. However, the effect of coating on the bond-strength between rebar and concrete is not well understood yet. This research, therefore, studied the effect of epoxy-coating on the bond characteristics of reinforcing bars in concrete. The bond characteristics were assessed through pullout test considering variables viz. concrete strength, embedded length and bar diameter. The load was applied to reinforcing bars embedded in concrete until bond strength between the bar and concrete exceeded. Bond strength of epoxy-coated bars was compared with that of the uncoated bars. It was found that epoxy-coating reduced the bond strength approximately 25% for Ø20mm bar and 12% for Ø16mm and Ø12mm bar. As with uncoated bar, bond strength of coated bars were also increased with concrete strength. However, the bond strength ratio between coated and uncoated bars was found almost independent of concrete strength. Based on the test results, a development length modification factor of 1.33 is proposed for Ø20mm bar and 1.15 for Ø12mm and Ø16mm bar to compensate the bond strength reduction due to the epoxy coating

The Burden of Surgical Cancellations and No-Shows : Quality management study from a large regional hospital in Oman

Objectives: The operating theatre (OT) is a vital facility that utilises a considerable portion of the hospital’s budget; thus proper OT utilisation is essential. Surgical cancellation is a leading cause of OT underutilisation. This study aimed to report the rate and reasons for surgical cancellations and no-shows in a large regional hospital in Oman. Methods: This study took place as part of a retrospective quality management project at the Ibri Regional Hospital, Ibri, Oman. All elective surgical procedures scheduled between January and December 2014 were included. Cancelled procedures were reviewed to determine the reasons for cancellation. Results: A total of 4,814 elective procedures were scheduled during the study period; of these, 1,235 (26%) were cancelled. Patient no-shows were the most prevalent reason for surgical cancellation (63%), followed by surgical reasons (17%); in contrast, OT-associated reasons were responsible for only 2% of cancellations. According to speciality, general surgery had the highest percentage of total cancellations (65%), while ear, nose and throat had the highest rate of surgical cancellations among their scheduled cases (42%). Conclusion: Ibri Regional Hospital had a higher surgical cancellation rate due to no-shows than those reported in the literature. Regular audits, quality management projects and the appointment of a dedicated procedure booking coordinator may enhance proper utilisation of the OT, potentially saving funds, conserving resources and alleviating the burden of cancellations

Correlations of complete blood count, liver enzyme and serum uric Acid in Sudanese pre-eclamptic cases

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a serious disorder of pregnancy with unknown ethological factors that may occur at any stage of second or third trimester of pregnancy. The objectives of the present study were to assess changes in complete blood counts including platelets, liver enzymes and serum uric acid in pre-eclamptic cases compared to second-half normal pregnant and non-pregnant Sudanese women and their correlations to other biomarkers.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, case-control study performed from December 2008 to December 2010; in Omdurman Maternity Hospital, in concomitance with other studies in pre-eclampsia. The sample size included three groups, 72 up pre-eclamptic cases in their recent pregnancies, 96 normal pregnant in their second half of pregnancy and 63 non- pregnant (control) women; a total of 231 subjects. Questionnaire Interviews and clinical examination were done for all participants. Laboratory investigations were done including complete blood picture, liver enzymes and uric acid.  Results: The mean Hb concentration of the pre-eclamptic (11.3g/dl±1.7) was statistically significantly lower than that of the non-pregnant (12.1g/dl±0.2) (P=0.01) but not from that of the normal pregnant (11.4g/dl±0.1) (P=0.882) .There was no statistical significant difference in the mean WBC count between the pre-eclamptic (7.4x103/mm3±0.3) and non-pregnant (7.3x103/mm3±0.3) (P=0.797) and between the pre-eclamptic and normal pregnant (7.7x103/mm3±0.2) (P=0.270). There was a considerable statistical significant decrease in the mean platelets count of the pre-eclamptic (236.4/mm3±8.3) compared to the non-pregnant group (322.0/mm3±10.4) (P=0.0001) s well as to the normal pregnant (275.0/mm3±8.9) (P = 0.003). In the pre-eclamptic cases, serum ALT correlated significantly with TWCC (r=0.26, P=0.03) and serum AST (r=0.65, P=0.000). In the pre-eclamptic cases, serum AST correlated significantly with Hb (r=0.26, P=0.03), serum ALT and serum uric acid (r=0.36, P=0.01).Conclusions: There was a considerable statistical significant decrease in mean platelets count of the pre-eclamptic compared to the non-pregnant group and to the normal pregnant may be explained by hemodilution; whereas further decrease was due to pre-eclampsia. ALT and AST are strong prognostic indicators of pre-eclampsia

Gamma Radiated Wheat for Combating Devastating Blast Disease (Magnaporthe Oryzae Triticum) In Bangladesh

Wheat is a global food security crop, providing 20 percent of protein and calories consumed worldwide and up to 50 percent in developing countries. It is the second most important cereal next to rice in Bangladesh and playing an important role in attaining food security. But wheat is very susceptible to diseases that often place major biological constraints on production. In 2016, a new wheat disease called “blast” was identified by wheat scientists for the first time in Bangladesh. Wheat blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae triticum is causing enormous yield loss worldwide. At present, control of blast disease is a great challenge due to frequently introduction of new races of the pathogen. The present investigation focused on screening M2 population of gamma radiated wheat where four doses of radiations viz. 150 Gy, 200 Gy, 250 Gy, and 300 Gy were applied to the seeds of three wheat varieties viz. BARI Gom-25, BARI Gom-29 and BARI Gom-30 from a Cobalt 60 source (Gamma Chamber 5000). The irradiated seeds were sown in farmers’ fields of a wheat blast disease-prone area Chandbil, Meherpur Sadar. All the doses of irradiation showed a significant effect on incidence and severity of wheat blast disease in all three varieties. Among the treatments 200 Gy and 250 Gy reduced the disease effectively. Molecular detection of Magnaporthe oryzae triticum was also done using specific primer. The size of the band (350 bp) confirms the infection of M2 families by Magnaporthe oryzae triticum. Development of wheat blast resistant variety through irradiation could be a potential substitute to replace the available chemical control methods and it is described as eco-friendly, sustainable and nonhazardous strategy to reduce wheat yield loss due to blast disease

Improving predictions of critical shear stress in gravel bed rivers: Identifying the onset of sediment transport and quantifying sediment structure

Understanding when gravel moves in river beds is essential for a range of different applications but is still surprisingly hard to predict. Here we consider how our ability to predict critical shear stress (τ c ) is being improved by recent advances in two areas: (1) identifying the onset of bedload transport; and (2) quantifying grain‐scale gravel bed structure. This paper addresses these areas through both an in‐depth review and a comparison of new datasets of gravel structure collected using three different methods. We focus on advances in these two areas because of the need to understand how the conditions for sediment entrainment vary spatially and temporally, and because spatial and temporal changes in grain‐scale structure are likely to be a major driver of changes in τ c . We use data collected from a small gravel‐bed stream using direct field‐based measurements, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and computed tomography (CT) scanning, which is the first time that these methods have been directly compared. Using each method, we measure structure‐relevant metrics including grain size distribution, grain protrusion and fine matrix content. We find that all three methods produce consistent measures of grain size, but that there is less agreement between measurements of grain protrusion and fine matrix content