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Reformulation of Adams-Moulton Block Methods as a Sub-Class of Two Step Runge-Kutta Method
Get PDFAdams-Moulton methods for k = 2 and k = 3 were constructed together with their continuous forms using multi-step collocation methods. The continuous forms were then evaluated at various grid points to produce the block Adams-Moulton methods.
The block methods were then reformulated as a sub-class of two step Runge-Kutta methods (TSRK). Both the Adams and the reformulated methods were applied to solve initial value problems and the reformulated methods proved superior in terms of stability
Adverse Effects of Lead Acetate on Light Weight Protein of Bactrocera dorsalis
Get PDFALarge number of insects are influenced easily by a number of pollutants; such as, the influence of lead (as lead acetate) on Bactrocera dorsalis. Lead is considered to be an important toxic waste which could contaminate the environment, such as soil, air and water. Therefore, insects could be influenced by the lead. Bactrocera dorsalis, was studied at 48 hours post treatment, under the effects of lead acetate, in different concentrations. Lead is found to exert a definite specific physiological and morphological effect on these flies. It was observed that under the effect of lead abnormalities and deformities were developed in the larvae of flies. Thus these flies could present a useful module for the quick transmission of the environmental hazards due to lead contamination, which exerts a specific physiological and morphological effect on these flies. The purpose of the present work was to determine the effects of lead on proteins as a major indicator of physiological features along with morphological features of larvae of Bactrocera dorsalis flies
Protective Effect of Melatonin Against Malathion Induced Alterations in Antioxidant Defense System and Morphology of Erythrocytes in Wistar Rats
Get PDFMalathion intoxication has been shown to produce oxidative stress due to the generation of free radicals and alter the antioxidant defense system in erythrocytes. Previous studies have shown the ameliorative role melatonin against oxidative stress induced by generation of free radicals. Present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of melatonin against malathion induced oxidative stress. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control; Melatonin (10mg/Kg body weight) group; Malathion (250mg/Kg body weight) treated group; Malathion + Melatonin treated group. Animals were administered an acute dose of malathion orally. The result of this study shows that in vivo administration of malathion caused inhibition in AChE activity in erythrocytes. Malathion intoxication also significantly increased the oxidative damage as evidenced by increased level of LPO and GSH content. The Inhibition of GSH level and increased lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes was relieved in malathion + melatonin group. Enhanced activities of SOD, CAT, GR and GPx were observed in erythrocytes of malathion treated rats as compared to control group. Moreover, melatonin supplementation in malathion treated rats maintain normal level of antioxidant enzymes as compared to malathion treated rats which indicates that melatonin provide protection against malathion-induced oxidative stress in erythrocytes. No significant change in the membrane bound enzymes such as Na+/K+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase was observed in malathion intoxicated rats. Findings of scanning electron micrographs of erythrocytes revealed that both the malathion treated and malathion+melatonin treated groups exhibited morphological changes in erythrocytes. However, concomitant melatonin supplementation normalized the morphological alterations in erythrocytes induced by malathion toxicity. In conclusion, melatonin supplementation may ameliorate malathion-induced oxidative imbalance by enhancing the glutathione level, reducing lipid peroxidation and normalizing antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes
Effect of Irrigation Methods and Plastic Mulch on Yield and Crop Water Productivity of Okra
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted during 2014-15, aiming to observe the efficiency of irrigation methods and plastic mulch on the yield and crop productivity of Okra. Okra seeds (cv. Subzpari) were grown on ridges with plastic under two different irrigation methods i.e. Every Furrow Irrigation (EFI) and Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AFI). The soil physical properties of ridges being affected by plastic mulched were analyzed before sowing and after harvesting. The results revealed that dry density of soil decreased by 0.03 g cm-3 and 0.04 g cm-3 for AFI and EFI methods, respectively. The total volume of irrigation water applied under AFI method (2169.70 m3 ha-1) was calculated to be half of the total irrigation water applied to EFI method (4340.91 m3 ha-1). Yield obtained under EFI method was 8518 kg ha-1 which was 10.5% greater than yield obtained under AFI method (7621 kg ha-1) and 31.40% when compared with traditional method. The crop water productivity (CWP) for AFI method (3.51 kg m-3) was calculated to be greater than CWP obtained under EFI method (1.96 kg m-3). The study concluded that both EFI and AFI methods, under plastic mulched ridges practices were beneficial to increase the crop yield with improved crop water productivity
Role of Traffic Network in Monitoring Crime and Violence Patterns in Karachi
Get PDFCrime and geographical accessibility has very special relationship, if monitored on appropriate time it could resolve many complex issues of the crime dynamics. Karachi being the largest city of Pakistan is also very high in the intensity of street crimes that often has very close relationship with the network of the roads. This paper will assess the potential of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the analysis of crime pattern and its relationship with the road network in Karachi that would be beneficial for various crime agencies. Present research aims to provide a collective set of methods and techniques for geospatial analysis and 3D mapping of crime scenes. After identification of Hotspots assessment of relationships between robbery or snatching clusters and their spatial neighborhood is initiated by including the urban milieu. For obtaining the desired target copious geospatial data as well as a three-dimensional model is included for analysis. The combined and mutual effort of crime mapping methods with modern 3D modelling helps to facilitate on the spot clutch of multipart spatial phenomena in mapping of crime, and fruitful for both, the communal and responsible decision makers
pH- Modified Solid Dispersions of Cefdinir for Dissolution Rate Enhancement: Formulation and Characterization
Get PDFObjective: Cefdinir is a poorly- water-soluble drug, it belongs to Biopharmaceutical Classification System class IV, which shows that it may have limited therapeutic effects due to its low solubility and poor bioavailability. The aim of the present work was to design a pH-modified solid dispersion (pHM-SD) that can improve the dissolution rate of cefdinir and subsequently its bioavailability.
Materials and Methods: pHM-SDs of cefdinir were prepared at different drug-to-carrier ratios by the spray-drying technique. The solid dispersions were investigated by dissolution studies at different pH media, drug release kinetics were studied, and their solid-state characterizations were performed by FTIR spectrophotometer, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD).
Results: PVP- based and HPMC- based pHM-SDs exhibited a marked improvement in the dissolution behavior when compared with crystalline cefdinir powder, whereas Eudragit L100-based pHM-SDs showed lower dissolution at pH 1.2 and 4.5.
FTIR results may indicate a formation of a salt between cefdinir and the alkalizer. Solid-state characterization may indicate a change in crystallinity of cefdinir into an amorphous state. Mathematical modeling of in vitro dissolution data indicated the best fitting with Korsmeyer–Peppas model and the drug release kinetics primarily as Fickian diffusion.
Conclusion: According to these observations, pHM-SD in the presence of an alkalizer for a poorly water-soluble acidic drug, cefdinir, appeared to be efficacious for enhancing its dissolution rate
Gadolinium Orthovanadate GdVO4:Eu3+ Nanoparticles Ameliorate Carrageenan-Induced Intestinal Inflammation
Get PDFGadolinium orthovanadate GdVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles (VNPs) have been shown to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), making them a promising therapeutic agent in inflammation.
This study aims to assess the effects of VNPs administered orally on E407a-induced inflammation.
Materials and Methods: Fragments of the small intestine of 8 rats treated orally with a carrageenan-containing food additive E407a at a dose of 140 mg / kg of weight during 2 weeks, 8 animals orally exposed to both E407a and VNPs at a dose of 20 μg / kg of weight during the same period of time, and 8 control rats were stained routinely and immunostained for CD3 and CD68 with the subsequent immunohistochemical scoring. Moreover, analysis of viability and cell death modes of granulocytes was performed by flow cytometry using Annexin V and 7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD).
Results: Oral exposure to the food additive E407a resulted in the development of enteritis associated with altered small intestinal morphology, infiltration of the lamina propria with macrophages and T-lymphocytes, and activation of peripheral blood granulocyte apoptosis. VNPs administered against the background of E407a-induced slight intestinal inflammation improved small intestinal morphology, decreased infiltration rate of the immune cells mentioned above without affecting the intensity of granulocyte apoptosis.
Conclusion: Oral administration of VNPs ameliorates E407a-induced enteritis
Impact of Biogenic Amines on the Growth of a Chlorella vulgaris Culture
Get PDFThe present work aims to develop a new approach enabling biotechnologists to increase the yield of Chlorella vulgaris biomass by means of biogenic amines (serotonin, dopamine, and histamine) that are known to stimulate growth of various unicellular organisms. C. vulgaris strain ALP was cultivated in the light with constant aeration at 24oC in a minerals-containing medium. Experimental systems contained 1, 10, or 100 mM of dopamine, histamine, or serotonin. Algal cells were counted using a light microscope. Serotonin caused a slight increase in biomass yield at a concentration of 10 mM, but not at the other tested concentrations. 1 and 10 mM (but not 100 mM) dopamine increased the cell number in the C. vulgaris culture at early cultivation stages. Histamine is the most efficient growth stimulator at concentrations of 1 and 10 mM, but not at a concentration of 100 mM, which even proved inhibitory to the algal culture. The data obtained demonstrate that the neurochemicals exert a stimulatory influence on the growth of the Chlorella culture at relatively low (micromolar) concentrations. Since animals often produce biogenic amines in response to stress or injury, the data give grounds for the suggestion that planktonic algae can benefit, in terms of growth rate, from the substances released by stressed or wounded representatives of aquatic fauna. In biotechnological terms, the data obtained hold some promise with regard to developing a relatively economical technique of boosting Chlorella biomass production
Anthropometry and Liver Function Parameters in Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome
Get PDFMetabolic syndrome (MS) is a metabolic condition commonly associated with central adiposity and altered liver function parameters (LFPs). Several studies have suggested these altered LFPs as a result of fatty liver diseases (e.g., non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases) often prevalent in MS. Since altered LFPs are very common in MS, there is a possibility they can be used as predictors of MS. However, only a few studies have been carried out to evaluate this possibility. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the potential of LFPs as predictors or risk factors of MS. The study groups included 50 individuals diagnosed with MS (case group) and 50 apparently normal individuals (control) from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Anthropometric measurements, phlebotomy, liver function tests, and lipid profile estimations were done using standard procedures. (The result and conclusion section has been omitted)
Poisson Regression Models for Count Data: Use in the Number of Deaths in the Santo Angelo (Brazil)
Get PDFWhen speaking about data, presuppose its good quality otherwise the accuracy of information would be affected, which would lead to false interpretations. In Health Statistics data is obtained through surveys presented in its simplest expression, taking advantage of existing records; making an inquiry or by means of experiments. The rational organization of the data allows characterizing the priority issues and thus establishing health programs. To analyze the mortality data it is necessary to consider the mortality rate of certain age groups, so that we can find data which shows the prevalence of major groups of deaths. The analysis of data is followed by subsequent formulation of the Poisson regression models, where each group in question by age group is represented by a number of counting time. The Poisson regression model is a specific type of Generalized Linear Models (GLM) and non-linear. As [1], its main features are: a) to provide, in general, a satisfactory description of experimental data whose variance is proportional to the mean. b) It can be deduced theoretically from the first principles with a minimum of restrictions c) If events occur independently and randomly in time with constant average rate of occurrence, the model determines the number of time specified. At the end of this study, it could be seen through the analysis of the data that the age group from 70 to 79 years old sustains the highest incidence of deaths with 21.1%. Then comes the range of 60 to 69 years old with the morality rate of 20%. This was recorded for the time worked in January 2000 to December 2004. The death rate was 52.27and variance was equal to 102.43 in the city of Santo Angelo (Brazil). It was further found that the data analyzed over dispersion variance greater than average. AS a result it was necessary to remove the over dispersion to find the appropriate template. With the pattern found, some short-term forecasts were made