The effect of low altitude on blood count parameters

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESHigh altitude has an effect on blood count parameters, but low altitude (especially below sea level) has not been studied.DESIGN AND SETTINGA cross-sectional study of aymptomatic subjects aged between 18 to 35 years of age who had reported to the blood bank at the King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH)/Irbid and Ministry of Health, Jordan, during the period between January 2010 to June 2011 for blood donation.METHODSHematological values were compared in healthy adult blood donors living in areas 200 to 300 meters below sea level and areas 500 to 1500 meters above sea level. The study population consisted of 800 females and 666 males aged between 18 to 35 years.RESULTSThe mean values for hemoglobin level, mean corpuscular volume and leukocyte counts were significantly higher in people living above sea level than in people living below sea level (P<.0001), whereas platelet count and red cell distribution width were significantly higher in people living below sea level than in people living above sea level (P<.0001).CONCLUSIONWe found a significant difference in hematological parameters in healthy adults living above and below sea level. The hematological values presented here are from a large, representative population sample and the first report of people living below sea level

Optimisation of Novel Elliptically-Based Web Opening Shapes of Perforated Steel Beams

A new study was carried out and presented herein, on the optimisation of novel elliptically-based web opening shapes which enhance the structural behaviour of the perforated beams as well as lead to economic design in terms of both manufacture and usage. The finite element (FE) model used in the study was validated against experimental work conducted by the authors and the results of the comprehensive study are presented in this research paper. For ease of comparison, the yield patterns and deflected shapes of the perforated beams are presented at three characteristic load level points. Finally, shear-moment interaction FEM curves are presented for six different web opening shapes to allow for easy use of the empirical design formulas that have previously been proposed by the authors in a complementary research paper. An overall study of many standard and non-standard web opening shapes, it was shown that perforated beams with vertical and inclined classic elliptical web openings (3:4 width to depth ratio) behave more effectively compared to perforated beams with conventional circular and hexagonal web openings, mainly in terms of stress distribution and local deflection. Therefore, perforated steel beams with large novel elliptically-based web openings with short critical opening length at the top and bottom tee-section as well as straight-line edges are presented for first time and examined in the current research programme

Study the effect of Antibiotics on pyocyanin production from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and pyocyanin as Antibiotic against different pathogenic bacteria

aeruginosa was cultured on nutrient agar containing different antibiotics,the growth and pigment of bacterial colonies were treated. Azithromycin killed the bacteria on low concentration,colonies of P. aeruginosa treated with Ampicillin,Amoxycillin,and Cefixime appeared light green .Cephalexin and Azithromycin led to formation of light green-yellow colonies,while Doxycillin ,and Clindamycin appeared green ,but there was slight change in colonies color. The pigment(pyocyanin) was extracted from the untreated cells of bacteria and its effect as antibiotic used against many different pathogenic bacteria have been studied,the pigment inhibited E. coli, Acinetobacter,Staphylococcus auraus ,and Streptococcus pneumoniae but not Klebsiella pneumoniae ,and Proteus vulgari

Isolation, Identification, and Determination antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteria Isolated from Mobile Phones of Student

In general from this study it can be concluded that the rate of bacterial contamination of mobile phone is height. A total of 25 samples were collected from the cell phones of the students of college of science biology department, Baghdad University. Bacteria encountered include: (gram positive; S. aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci (S. peidermidis), S. Pyogenes, B. spp.), and gram negative; E. coli, and P. aeruginosa) most of these bacteria species are harmful and cause infection to humans. And in this study was found the percent of contamination in mobile phones of male (61.11%) more than in female (38.88%) mobile phones. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed the variety of resistance of isolated bacteria to antibiotics used in this study, but most isolated bacteria were sensitive to streptomycin and kanamycin except the isolates of B. spp. and P. aeruginosa were the most resistant bacteria for antibiotics used in this study approximately

Genetic Detection of IMP-1 Gene and its Relationship with Biofilm Formation in Klebsiella pneumonia

المقدمة: Klebsiella pneumoniae,تعتبر بكتريا طبيعية موجودة على الجلد وفي الامعاء .لكن تسبب تلف الرئة و خطر هذه&nbsp; البكتريا هو التعرض لها اثتاء التواجد في المستشفى. المواد وطرق العمل: تم تشخيص البكتريا بواسطة الطرق المظهرية و البايو كيميائية وتم التاكيد على التشخيص بنظام الفايتك .مقاومة البكتريا للمضادات الحياتية تم باستخدام طريقة كيربي-باير.وبالطريقة الجينية تم الكشف عن وجود جينات الميتالوبيتالاكتاميز باستخدام تفاعل البلمرة و بعدها تحديد تكوين البايوفيلم بالعزلات بطريقة الاطباق الدقيقة . النتائج والمناقشة: تضمنت الدراسة الحالية جمع 50 عينة من عينات سريرية مختلفة (40٪ من الدم ، 30٪ من البول ، 20٪ من البلغم، 10٪ من الجروح). 10 Klebsiella pneumoniae واظهرت جميع العزلات قيد الدراسة مقاومة عالية تجاه السيفيتريكسون ، الأمبيسلين ، الأموكسيسيلين ، التيكارسيلين ، التيكارسيلين + حامض كلافولانيك ،و السيفتازيديم باختبار الانتشار بالاقراص. تميزت جميع العزلات باحتوائها على أعلى مقاومة بنسبة 100٪ ضد المضادات الحيوية قيد الدراسة. حددت هذه الدراسة قيمة التركيزالمثبط الأدنى لثمانية شرائط باستخدام اختبارE للعزلات. وكذلك كانت العزلات ذات إنتاج بيوفيلم قوي لثلاثة عزلات ، بينما كانت ثلاثة عزلات متوسطة تكوين الأغشية الحيوية والعزلات الأخرى كانت ضعيفة الانتاج, عندما كانت قيمة (P≤0.05) تعتبروجود فروق معنوية. والكشف عن النمط الجيني لجينات Metalo-beta ᵦlactamase ، ( (IMP-1,( &nbsp;بواسطة تقني PCR تفاعل البلمرة المتسلسل في Klebsiella pneumoniae ، تم الكشف عن ثلاث عزلات فقط ؛ 30٪ من العزلات (اثنتان من البول وواحدة من الدم) تحتوي على الجين. (IMP-1) كما وجدت الدراسة علاقة بين جين. وتكوين الأغشية الحيوية في العزلات التي كانت تحتوي &nbsp;الجين عندما كانت .(P≤ 0.05) الاستنتاجات: تم عزل البكتريا من مصادر مختلفة. كانت جميع العزلات مقاومة للمضادات الحياتية قيد الدراسة . العزلات كانت حاملة لجينات المقاومة IMP-1, ,كما وجدت الدراسة لن هناك علاقة بين وجود جين1 .IMP- &nbsp;وتكوين البايوفيلم في&nbsp; هذه البكتريا .Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae were considered as normal flora of skin, and intestine. It can cause damage to human lungs; the danger of this bacterium is related to exposure to the hospital surroundings. materials and methods: the detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae on morphological and biochemical tests and then assured with VITEK 2 system. Resistance to antibiotics was determined by Kirby-Baeur method. And genotyping of IMP-1 in isolates was done by PCR technique, then biofilm formation was identified by Micro titer plate method. Results: The present study included a collecting of 50 specimens from different clinical specimens, (blood 40%, urine 30%, sputum 20%, wound infection 10%); 10 isolates were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae . All isolates, under study, developed high resistance toward Cefitrixon, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Ticarcillin, Ticarcillin+Clavulanic acid, and Ceftazidim estimated by disc diffusion method. All isolates characterized by harboring the highest resistant in a percentage reached 100% against antibiotics, under study. This study determined the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration were detected by eight E-test strips for isolates. As well as the isolates were strong biofilm production for three isolates, while three were moderate of biofilm formation and other isolates were weak former; at the value of (P≤0.05) was considered as a significant. Genotype detection of Metalo-beta lactamase (IMP-1) by PCR technique in Klebsiella pneumoniae . Upon using PCR technique exposed only three isolates;30% of isolates (two from urine, one from blood) samples harbored IMP-1 gene. The study was also found relationship between IMP-1 and biofilm formation in isolates which were harboring these genes, when (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: K. pneumoniae were isolated from different sources. All isolates were resistant to most antibiotics used in this study. The isolates have Metallo-beta lactamse. PCR was showed K. pneumoniae have IMP-1 gene,.This study also found there was relationship between biofilm formation and IMP-1 gene in K. pneumoniae (P≤0.05). &nbsp

Production of durable and cost effective sewer pipes using petroleum and industrial waste by-products

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2017. The Arabian Gulf environment has an adverse impact on concrete structures because of the high ambient temperature, humidity, salt contaminated dust, sea water and underground salts. As an innovative solution, reinforced modified sulfur concrete (MSC) pipes are recognized as a durable and economical solution for deterioration of pipelines. This work describes the manufacture and characterization of new MSC based on a cost effective sulfur modification process. Bitumen, a by-product from crude oil refining process was used to modify elemental sulfur and enhance its physical, mechanical properties, and mostly to increase its corrosive resistivity. The study has focused on optimizing the proportions of an offered MSC mixes that are composed of modified sulfur (MS) as a binder, crushed sand, dune sand and ladle furnace (LF) slag as aggregates, and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGFBS) as a filler. To maximize the physical and mechanical properties of MSC sewer pipes, different mixtures were prepared and investigated. The optimum mix of MSC has a maximum compressive strength of 64 MPa, maximum splitting tensile strength of 4.5 MPa, maximum flexural strength of 21 MP, with a high corrosion resistance in acidic and salty environments

Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome at a Single Institution

In MDS, the bone marrow produces abnormal, immature blood cells called blast cells. Imprecise, in half of pediatric MDS, blast count is normal. A retrospective observational study was conducted to review the outcome of our HCT in pediatric patients with MDS. Record of 35 MDS patients after BMT, 1993-2016, were reviewed. Median age at transplant was 4 yrs (0.8-14.8) and median time to transplant from diagnosis 8.1 (2.3-102.5) months. TRM was 17.1% (6); [low risk (LR) = 5 (19.2%) and high risk (HR) = 1 (11.1%)] MDS group succumbed within first 100 days. The rest were fully engrafted; [low risk = 21 (72.4%) and high risk = 8 (27.6%)]. Primary and secondary graft failure was observed in one patient each (2.9%). VOD was seen in 2 patients (5.7%) and 5 (14.3%) had hemorrhagic cystitis. With a median follow-up of 112.4 months and 12 events of mortality, 3-years OS was 68.1% ± 8.0%. No significant risk factor including age, time to transplant, disease risk group, gender, conditioning regimen, source of stem cells, or a GvHD through uni- or multi-variable analyses were found to be associated with OS. Bu/Cy/±ATG conditioning regimen showed a trend of superiority for OS and EFS in our small series. The relapse incidence in our cohort was 11.5% in LR MDS

Combined web distortional and lateral-torsional buckling of partially restrained I-section beams

publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Combined web distortional and lateral-torsional buckling of partially restrained I-section beams journaltitle: International Journal of Mechanical Sciences articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2017.06.057 content_type: article copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved