Comparison of the effect of some plant powders on the protection of cowpea seeds from the infection of the southern cowpea beetle Callosobruchus maculates (Fab.) (Coleoptera:Bruchidae)

     اجريت الدراسة في مختبر الحشرات/ كلية الزراعة/ جامعة بغداد والكلية التقنية/ المسيب، لغرض معرفة تأثير المساحيق النباتية (الزنجبيل Zingiber officinale، الدارسين Cinnamon zeyalanicum  ، الكركمCurcuma longa  وقشور الليمون(Citrus limon  بالاوزان 1، 3 و5 غم في بعض الجوانب الأداء الحياتي لحشرة خنفساء اللوبيا الجنوبية Callsobrucus  maculatus تحت الظروف المختبرية، شملت التجربة على أربع معاملات بالإضافة الى معاملة السيطرة وبواقع ثلاثة مكررات وعشر حشرات لكل مكرر. أظهرت نتائج الدراسة تفوق مسحوق الكركم بالنسبة لهلاك اليرقات إذ أعطى أعلى معدل 17.7% عند وزن 5 غم بالإضافة الى إنه الأفضل من بين المساحيق المستعملة وبجميع الاوزان، كما تفوق مسحوق الزنجبيل على بقية المساحيق بجميع الوحدات الوزنية بالنسبة للإنبات إذ بلغ 96.7% فيما أعطى مسحوق قشور الليمون أقل نسبة للإنبات بلغت 76.7% مقارنة بمعاملة السيطرة التي بلغت 96.7%، فيما أظهر مسحوق الزنجبيل تأثيراً طارداً بنسبة 100% بينما حقق مسحوق قشور الليمون تأثيراً جاذباً بنسبة 60% عند الوزن 5غم.The study was conducted in the insect lab / College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad and Technical College / Musayyib, for the purpose of knowing the effect of plant powders (officinale Zingiber, Cinnamon zeyalanicum, longa Curcuma, and limon Citrus) in the  weights 1, 3 and 5 g in some biological aspects of the cowpea beetle insect Callosobruchus maculates under laboratory conditions. The experiment included four treatments in addition to control treatment with three replicates and ten insects per replicate, The results of the study showed that turmeric powder is superior to larvae, giving the highest rate of 17.7% at the weight unit of 5 g. In addition, it is better than the used powders and all the weight units. Ginger powder also surpasses the rest of the powders in all weight units by germination rate of 96.7% The lemon peel powder gave the lowest percentage of germination at 76.7% compared to the 96.7% control treatment. The ginger powder showed a 100% repellent effect while the lemon peel powder achieved an attractive effect of 60% at the weight unit of 5 g

Development of Photonic Crystal Fiber Based Gas/ Chemical Sensors

The development of highly-sensitive and miniaturized sensors that capable of real-time analytes detection is highly desirable. Nowadays, toxic or colorless gas detection, air pollution monitoring, harmful chemical, pressure, strain, humidity, and temperature sensors based on photonic crystal fiber (PCF) are increasing rapidly due to its compact structure, fast response and efficient light controlling capabilities. The propagating light through the PCF can be controlled by varying the structural parameters and core-cladding materials, as a result, evanescent field can be enhanced significantly which is the main component of the PCF based gas/chemical sensors. The aim of this chapter is to (1) describe the principle operation of PCF based gas/ chemical sensors, (2) discuss the important PCF properties for optical sensors, (3) extensively discuss the different types of microstructured optical fiber based gas/ chemical sensors, (4) study the effects of different core-cladding shapes, and fiber background materials on sensing performance, and (5) highlight the main challenges of PCF based gas/ chemical sensors and possible solutions

Diagnosis of enteric fever in the emergency department: a retrospective study from Pakistan

Background:Enteric fever is one of the top differential diagnoses of fever in many parts of the world. Generally, the diagnosis is suspected and treatment is initiated based on clinical and basic laboratory parameters.Aims: The present study identifies the clinical and laboratory parameters predicting enteric fever in Patients visiting the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.Methods:This is a retrospective chart review of all adult Patients with clinically suspected enteric fever admitted to the hospital through the emergency department during a 5-year period (2000-2005).Results:A total of 421 emergency department Patients were admitted to the hospital with suspected enteric fever. There were 53 cases of blood culture-positive enteric fever and 296 disease-negative cases on culture. The mean age in the blood culture-positive group was 27 years (SD: 10) and in the group with negative blood culture for enteric fever, 35 years (SD: 15) with a male to female ratio of 1:0.6 in both groups. Less than half (48%) of all Patients admitted with suspected enteric fever had the discharge diagnosis of enteric fever, of which only 13% of the Patients had blood culture/serologically confirmed enteric fever. None of the common clinical and laboratory parameters differed between enteric fever-positive Patients and those without it.Conclusion:Commonly cited clinical and laboratory parameters were not able to predict enteric fever

The use of complementary and alternative medicine by 7427 Australian women with cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: A cross-sectional study

© 2016 Fisher et al. Background: To assess the prevalence of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort and to detail the pattern of complementary and alternative (CAM) use adopted by women for the treatment of these symptoms. Methods: Data from the 2012 national Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH) cross-sectional survey of 7427 women aged 34-39 years were analysed to estimate the prevalence of endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), irregular or heavy periods and severe dysmenorrhoea and to examine the association between their symptoms and their visits to CAM practitioners as well as their use of CAM therapies and products in the previous 12 months. Results: The prevalence of endometriosis was 3.7 % and of the perimenstrual symptoms assessed, PMS was most prevalent at 41.2 % whilst irregular bleeding (22.2 %), heavy periods (29.8 %) and severe period pain (24.1 %) were reported at lower levels. Women with endometriosis were more likely than non-sufferers to have consulted with a massage therapist or acupuncturist and to have used vitamins/minerals, yoga/meditation or Chinese medicines (p < 0.05). PMS sufferers were more likely to consult with an osteopath, massage therapist, naturopath/herbalist or alternative health practitioner and to have used all forms of CAM therapies except Chinese medicines than women who had infrequent PMS (all p < 0.05). Women with irregular periods did not have different patterns of CAM use from non-sufferers and those with heavy periods did not favour any form of CAM but were less likely to visit a massage therapist or use yoga/meditation than non-sufferers (p < 0.05). For women with severe dysmenorrhoea there was no difference in their visits to CAM practitioners compared to non-sufferers but they were more likely to use aromatherapy oils (p < 0.05) and for more frequent dysmenorrhoea also herbal medicines, Chinese medicines and other alternative therapies compared to non-sufferers (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort amongst women in this age group. Women were using CAM differentially when they had specific symptoms of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. The use of CAM needs to be properly assessed to ensure their safe, effective use and to ascertain their significance as a treatment option enabling women with menstrual problems and their care providers to improve their quality of life

Comparison of the effect of some plant powders on the protection of cowpea seeds from the infection of the southern cowpea beetle Callosobruchus maculates (Fab.) (Coleoptera:Bruchidae)

The study was conducted in the insect lab / College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad and Technical College / Musayyib, for the purpose of knowing the effect of plant powders (officinale Zingiber, Cinnamon zeyalanicum, longa Curcuma, and limon Citrus) in the  weights 1, 3 and 5 g in some biological aspects of the cowpea beetle insect Callosobruchus maculates under laboratory conditions. The experiment included four treatments in addition to control treatment with three replicates and ten insects per replicate, The results of the study showed that turmeric powder is superior to larvae, giving the highest rate of 17.7% at the weight unit of 5 g. In addition, it is better than the used powders and all the weight units. Ginger powder also surpasses the rest of the powders in all weight units by germination rate of 96.7% The lemon peel powder gave the lowest percentage of germination at 76.7% compared to the 96.7% control treatment. The ginger powder showed a 100% repellent effect while the lemon peel powder achieved an attractive effect of 60% at the weight unit of 5 g