The impact of Tolerance Limit on Cost of Quality

In this paper, the recommended extensions by Chiadamrong [1] was successfully adopted and significant modifications was proposed when computing costs of quality model in a manufacturing system In the literature shows that there is strong connection exist between the tolerance designs with the quality characteristic of a product and the cost associate in achieving the specific quality of the product. With the intention of utilizing the reciprocal power model in determine the relation between the tolerance and the cost, the tolerance has to be converted and set to a standard value at different confidence level. The proposed costs of quality model was tested using real life data obtain from the industry and through simulation works, the results was generated

Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Mn-Bi-Sb Alloys

MnBi1-xSbx alloys were prepared by the conventional melt technique. The Seebeck coefficient (S), electrical resistivity (ρ), and magnetic susceptibility (c) were measured at various temperatures ranging from ~100 to 400 K. The electrical resistivity of x £ 0.15 shows both semiconducting and metallic behavior depending on temperature and Sb content, whereas samples x 3 0.2 have only semiconductor behavior in all the temperature range. The negative sign of the Seebeck coefficient increases, i.e., the positivity decreases with the increasing Sb content. The magnetic susceptibility (χ) shows that alloys undergo ferro-paramagnetic transition at a certain temperature (TC) and the TC values decrease with increasing Sb content. From thermoelectric measurements and electronic thermal conductivity calculated, it was observed that Sb doping increases the power factor (PF) and the figure of merit (ZT). Thus, Sb content plays an essential role in making these alloys applicable in the thermoelectric industry

HYPOLIPIDEMIC AND ANTI-FATTY LIVER EFFECTS EXERTED BY STANDARDIZED PUNICA GRANATUM L. PEEL EXTRACT IN HEPG2 CELL-LINE AND HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED MICE

Objective: Pomegranate, (Punica granatum L., Lythraceae) peel has concentrated amounts of lipid-lowering elements that demonstrated, in various hoary and recent studies, their effects against obesity and hyperlipidemia, which involves elevated rates of lipid and lipoprotein levels in blood and increases risks of cardiovascular diseases.We aim to study expression modulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism by the impact of standardized pomegranate peel extract (PPE) in a comprehensive research on human liver cells and experimental mice.Methods: Using reverse-transcription real-time PCR, an in vitro study harnessing HepG2 cell line was conducted to determine the hyperlipidemia-related gene expression profiles and cytotoxic effects upon treatment with PPE. In another complementary in vivo study, male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or an HFD supplemented with PPE for 14 d to define the expression of lipid metabolism related genes that control obesity. Fatty liver proportions were also estimated after treatment.Results: Higher mRNA expression of LDL receptor (LDL-R) and down-regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBF-2), (SRBEP-1c), Fatty acid synthase (FAS) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) upon PPE treatment in HepG2 cell line were significantly recorded. In vivo study indicated significant weight reduction of body and liver, besides amelioration of fatty liver state detected by histological analysis. Moreover, the reverse-transcription real-time PCR assay demonstrated suppression (FAS) expression and up regulation of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) in mice isolated liver and white adipose tissues.Conclusion: Our study manages to affirm the hypolipidemic and anti-fatty liver influence of Punica granatum L. peel extract, reflected by molecular evaluation above and beyond other physiological assays.Keywords: Pomegranate, Peel extract, Hyperlipidemia, LDLR, SREBP, FAS, HMGCR, HS

SERUM ZINC LEVELS IN SUDANESE PATIENTS WITH ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Background: Zinc acts as growth protector for neoplastic cells and its deficiency was contributed to carcinogenesis. However, the determinations of serum zinc in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) prediction and prognosis requires more investigations. Objective: To evaluate and compare serum zinc in ALL patients and healthy controls and to correlate the serum zinc levels with hematological prognostic markers. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in Khartoum state-Sudan during the period from December 2013 to September 2014, it involved a case group of ALL patients (N=100) matched for age and gender with a control group (N=100). Serum copper and zinc levels and full blood count were investigated. Results: The ALL patients showed lower levels of Zn 0.73 ± 0.18 mg/dl compared to controls 1.01 ± 0.25 mg/dl [P = 0.003]. The serum Zn levels were inversely correlated with total white cell (-0.804, P < 0.0001) and blast counts (-0.935, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: These findings ALL associated with lower serum zinc levels and higher serum copper levels. The determination of serum zinc and copper could be used as ALL prognostic markers. KEYWORDS: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Zinc; Carcinogenesis

SERUM ZINC LEVELS IN SUDANESE PATIENTS WITH ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Background: Zinc acts as growth protector for neoplastic cells and its deficiency was contributed to carcinogenesis. However, the determinations of serum zinc in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) prediction and prognosis requires more investigations. Objective: To evaluate and compare serum zinc in ALL patients and healthy controls and to correlate the serum zinc levels with hematological prognostic markers. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in Khartoum state-Sudan during the period from December 2013 to September 2014, it involved a case group of ALL patients (N=100) matched for age and gender with a control group (N=100). Serum copper and zinc levels and full blood count were investigated. Results: The ALL patients showed lower levels of Zn 0.73 ± 0.18 mg/dl compared to controls 1.01 ± 0.25 mg/dl [P = 0.003]. The serum Zn levels were inversely correlated with total white cell (-0.804, P < 0.0001) and blast counts (-0.935, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: These findings ALL associated with lower serum zinc levels and higher serum copper levels. The determination of serum zinc and copper could be used as ALL prognostic markers. KEYWORDS: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Zinc; Carcinogenesis

Can Vitamin D Supplemental Therapy improve the Disturbed Follicular Fluid Milieu and affect the Outcome of ICSI?

Background: Vitamin D (VD) receptor is widely distributed in reproductive systems thus hypovitaminosis D can impair the response to ovarian stimulation. Objectives: Determination of the effect of VD supplemental therapy (VD-ST) on the ovarian follicular fluid (FF) milieu in infertile women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Patients and Methods: 103 infertile women were evaluated clinically and gave blood samples for estimation of serum and FF levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-VD), and FF levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and total antioxidant capacity and underwent a cycle of ICSI using the antagonist protocol before and after receiving 3-month VD-ST. The study outcome is the impact of VD-ST on the clinical pregnancy rate. Results: Serum (P=0.0004) and FF (P=0.040) levels of 25-OH-VD were significantly increased, while FF levels of TNF-α were significantly (P95% fragmentation (P=0.019) rates were significantly increased with doubling of number of high-grade embryos and clinical pregnancy rate. These changes were correlated positively with increased in serum and FF levels of 25OH-VD and decrease of TNF-α level. Statistical analyses defined the higher increase in serum and FF levels of 25OH-VD as the important predictors for the number of oocytes and clinical pregnancy, while the higher decrease in FF levels of TNF-α was the important predictor for the rate of high-grade embryos. Conclusion: VD-ST may play an important role for success of ICSI through increasing serum and FF levels of VD and decreasing FF levels of TNF-α

The effects of residue management practices on phosphorus and potassium uptake in pineapple

Pineapple residue in Malaysia is usually burnt. The need for sustainable agricultural development coupled with the 1997 haze problem in Southeast Asia has led to the calls for "zero burning". A study was initiated at Simpang Renggam Pineapple Estate, Johore to quantify P and K uptake in pineapple parts and to also compare the efficiency of P and K uptake for burn and no-burn practices. At maturity (sixteen months after planting), three plants were sampled from each treatment and partitioned into roots, stem, leaves, fruit, peduncle and crown, and their dry weight, P and K concerntrations determined. Irrespective of treatment difference, P uptake was highest in the fruit, followed by the leaves, stem, crown and roots. The order of K was fruit, stem, peduncle, crown and roots. Between 66 and 58% of the total P and K taken up is recycled and the rest (42 and 34%) is lost through harvest. In situ burning of pineapple leaves before planting does not improve P and K uptake and yield. Major difference in P efficiency for butn (51.60%) and no-burn (53.21%) under fertilized was not observed