Low-dose β-carotene Supplementation and Deworming Improve Serum Vitamin A and β-carotene Concentrations in Preschool Children of Bangladesh

Despite the national vitamin A and antihelminthic prophylaxis programmes, both intestinal geo-helminths and subclinical vitamin A deficiency continue to be prevalent among children in developing countries. Studies on potential synergistic effects of vitamin A supplementation and deworming on retinol status have inconsistent results. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impacts of low-dose β-carotene supplementation and antihelminthic therapy on serum retinol and β-carotene concentrations in preschool children of Bangladesh. Two hundred and forty-four children, known to be infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, were randomized into four treatment groups: I-IV. Group I and II received two oral doses of 400 mg of albendazole each, the first dose at baseline and the second dose after four months; Group III and IV received placebo in place of albendazole. In addition, Group I and III received 1.2 mg of β-carotene powder in capsule daily for six months, and Group II and IV received placebo in place of β-carotene. Serum retinol and β-carotene levels were measured before and after six months of the interventions. Serum retinol and β-carotene increased significantly in Group I where both antihelminthic therapy and daily β-carotene supplementation were given (p<0.05 and p<0.001 respectively). Antihelminthic therapy alone only improved serum β-carotene concentration (p<0.0001). Low-dose β-carotene supplementation, along with an antihelminthic therapy, synergistically improved vitamin A status. This finding has public-health implications for improving vitamin A status of children in developing countries

Metabolic derangements in IUGR neonates detected at birth using UPLC-MS

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with short- and long-term metabolic consequences which are possibly dictated by in utero programming together with environmental and dietetic manipulation after birth. Early detection of metabolic derangements in these babies through metabolomics approach will help recognition of cases in need for further follow-up and can help future development of therapeutic and preventive strategies for the late consequences.Objective: To compare amino acids and acyl carnitine levels in neonates with IUGR to normal birth weight controls; as a part of metabolic profiling.Methods: Cord blood samples were collected at birth from 40 small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates and 20 normal birth weight gestational age-matched neonates, for quantification of amino acids and acylcarnitines using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS).Results: Significantly elevated acylcarnitine levels especially C18-OH and C16-OH were found in IUGR neonates vs. controls (p &lt; 0.001). Specific amino acids that were significantly elevated in IUGR neonates included Histidine, Methionine, Arginine, Aspartic, Valine, Alanine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Glutamic acid, Tyrosine, Ornithine, Phenylalanine, and lastly citrulline. These derangements were recognized to be similar to those found in different disorders.Conclusion: We conclude that IUGR neonates have unique metabolic derangements detectable by UPLCMS at birth with similarities to derangements found in certain disorders. These babies should be closely followed up for early detection of the metabolic consequences of IUGR

A Modified Routine Analysis of Arsenic Content in Drinking-water in Bangladesh by Hydride Generation-Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

The high prevalence of elevated levels of arsenic in drinking-water in many countries, including Bangladesh, has necessitated the development of reliable and rapid methods for the determination of a wide range of arsenic concentrations in water. A simple hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS) method for the determination of arsenic in the range of \u3bcg/L to mg/L concentrations in water is reported here. The method showed linearity over concentrations ranging from 1 to 30 \u3bcg/L, but requires dilution of samples with higher concentrations. The detection limit ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 \u3bcg/L. Evaluation of the method, using internal quality-control (QC) samples (pooled water samples) and spiked internal QC samples throughout the study, and Standard Reference Material in certain lots, showed good accuracy and precision. Analysis of duplicate water samples at another laboratory also showed good agreement. In total, 13,286 tubewell water samples from Matlab, a rural area in Bangladesh, were analyzed. Thirty-seven percent of the water samples had concentrations below 50 \u3bcg/L, 29% below the WHO guideline value of 10 \u3bcg/L, and 17% below 1 \u3bcg/L. The HG-AAS was found to be a precise, sensitive, and reasonably fast and simple method for analysis of arsenic concentrations in water samples

An analysis of a direct contact ice slurry generator

2008 Proceedings of the ASME Summer Heat Transfer Conference, HT 20081149-15

Analyses of ice slurry formation using direct contact heat transfer

10.1016/j.apenergy.2008.11.003Applied Energy867-81170-1178APEN

Analyses of ice slurry formation using direct contact heat transfer

In the present study, ice slurry is produced by direct contact heat transfer between water and a coolant, Fluroinert FC 84. An analytical model has been developed to predict the growth of ice around the injected supercooled coolant droplets, which involves phase change and heat transfer between layers. During the journey of the coolant droplets through the ice generator, detachment of ice layer formed on the droplets occurs. Equations have been development to describe the process of detachment. Experiments were performed to validate the model developed to predict the ice generation. Parametric studies were then carried out on ice growth rate for different variables, such as droplet diameters and initial liquid temperatures. Both droplet diameters and initial liquid temperatures play an important role in the ice formation around the supercooled liquid surface. Ice growth rate increases with the increase of the droplet diameter, while the growth rate decreases with the increase of the initial temperature of the liquid droplet. For an ice slurry system, it is found that the predicted values of ice slurry generation are in good agreement with the experimental findings.Ice slurry Direct contact heat transfer Ice layer growth Mushy layer growth Droplet diameter Inlet temperature

Penetration of a Small Caliber Projectile into Single and Multi-layered Targets

The normal penetration of armor-piercing projectiles into single and multi-layered steel plates has been investigated. An experimental program has been conducted to study the effect of spaced and in-contact layered targets on their ballistic resistance. Armor piercing projectiles with caliber of 7.62 mm were fired against a series of single and multi-layered steel targets. The projectile impact velocities were ranged from 300-600 m/s, whereas the total thicknesses of the tested single, spaced and in-contact layered steel targets were 3 mm. The penetration process of different tested target configurations has been simulated using Autodayn-2D hydrocode. The experimental measurements of the present work were used to discuss the effect of impact velocity, target configurations and number of layers of different spaced and in-contact layered steel targets on their ballistic resistance. In addition, the post-firing examination of the tested targets over the used impact velocity range showed that the single and each layer of spaced and in-contact laminated steel targets were failed by petalling. Finally, the obtained experimental measurements were compared with the corresponding numerical results of Autodyn-2D hydrocode, good agreement was generally obtained

Photocatalytic degradation of methyl red dye

Silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are active in the photocatalytic degradation of methyl red dye (MR). Si2 NPs and Si2 NPs that have been doped with either silver (Ag NPs) and/or gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were prepared. The particle size and morphology of the catalysts were assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. The rate of photocatalytic degradation of MR was found to increase from SiO2 NPs, SiO2 NPs coated with both Au NPs and Ag NPs, SiO2 NPs coated with Ag NPs, SiO2 NPs coated with Au NPs, Ag+-doped SiO2 NPs to Au3+-doped SiO2 NPs

Sprinkler irrigation uniformity and crop water productivity of barley in arid region

An investigation has been organized to study the effect of the sprinkler irrigation system design on irrigation uniformity and its impact on barley crop yield and crop water productivity (CWP). The spring irrigation operating pressures (P) were 200 kPa (P1), 250 kPa (P2) and 300 kPa (P3). The sprinkler riser heights were 100 cm (H1), 125 cm (H2) and 150 cm (H3) from the ground. The results demonstrated that the maximum values of coefficient of uniformity (CU) and distribution uniformity (DU) (91.37 % and 0.85, respectively) were obtained at P3H3, while the minimum values (78.21 % and 0.71, respectively) were obtained at P1H1.Under P3H3 treatment, the highest values of 5.50 t ha-1 and 63.49 cm of grain yield (GY) and barely plant height (PH), respectively were recorded. The highest CWP value (0.75 kg m-3) was obtained when the P3H3 treatment was applied, while the lowest yield (0.36 kg m-3) was recorded under P1H1 treatment. According to the results of this experiment, under Sebha environmental conditions and similar regions, it is recommended to operate the solid set sprinkler irrigation system at P3H3 to obtain the highest CU and DU and consequently the highest GY, PH and CWP