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Estimation of Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Producing Ability of Cr (VI) Resistant Bacterial Strains from Tannery Effluent
Get PDFChromium is a known heavy metal and recognized as a carcinogen to the biological systems. Previously isolated Cr (VI) resistant Exiguobacterium UE1 and UE4 were used in this study. These strains were analysed for exopolysaccharides (EPS) production for the remediation of Cr (VI) contaminated soils. Both the strains could tolerate about 250µg/ml of Cr (VI) stress. Strain UE1 showed 100% Cr (VI) removal whereas UE4 reduced 99.2% at an initial concentration of K2CrO4 100µgml-1. Optimum growth was observed at 37ºC and pH 7 for both strains. Strains exhibited significant EPS production under Cr (VI) stress and non-stress conditions. However, UE1 showed increased production of released as well as loosely bound EPS (0.36g/100ml and 0.152g/100ml respectively) under Cr (VI) supplemented condition. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) technique confirmed the presence of sugars in EPS samples after hydrolysis. Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed the involvement of various functional groups such as hydroxyl group and aromatic compounds in the binding of Cr (VI) ions to the EPS. These findings suggest that strains UE1 and UE4 isolated from local tanneries of Pakistan can be used for remediation of Cr (VI) pollutes soils
Preemptive Effects of Administration of Tualang Honey on Inflammatory Responses in Adult Male Rats
Get PDFBackground: Honey was reported to reduce pain and inflammation from burn wound. To date, no study has compared between the effects of Tualang honey and prednisolone on inflammatory responses in rats. This study has examined the effects of Tualang honey and prednisolone on inflammatory pain and its associated inflammatory responses secondary to formalin injection.Methods: Twenty-one Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomised into control, Tualang honey (1.2 g/kg) or prednisolone (10 mg/kg)groups. Formalin test was conducted and the rats were sacrificed at four-hours post-formalin injection. Serum was collected for measurement of leukocytecounts and interleukins level. All data were analysed using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Scheffe’s or Dunnet’s C test. Significance level was taken as less than 0.05.Results: Tualang honey and prednisolone groups had significantly reduced pain behaviour and paw edema compared to control group. Tualang honey group demonstrated a significant increase in blood neutrophil count while prednisolone group had significant reduction in blood lymphocyte and monocyte counts compared to control group. Only interleukin-6 level was significantly reduced in honey group. Both interleukin-6 and -8 levels were significantly reduced in prednisolone group.Conclusions: Tualang honey is comparable to prednisolone in modulating the inflammatory pain responses in rats; however, with regards to local and systemic inflammatory responses, it has differential effects compared to prednisolone
Sliding Scale Regular Human Insulin for Identifying Critically Ill Patients Who Require Intensive Insulin Therapy and for Glycemic Control in those with Mild to Moderate Hyperglycemia
Get PDFTwo sliding scale regular human insulin (RHI) algorithms (SSI) were retrospectively evaluated to identify those who develop severe hyperglycemia (blood glucose (BG) > 180 mg/dL) and for glycemic management of continuously-fed, critically ill trauma patients with mild to moderate hyperglycemia (BG 126 to 179 mg/dL). Assignment of low or high SSI was based upon anticipated severity of difficulty in glycemic control. BG was obtained every 3 to 6 hours. Target BG range was 70 to 149 mg/dL. Patients who were unable to achieve a BG < 150 mg/dL with SSI and who required a continuous intravenous RHI infusion were identified. Twenty-five of 121 patients (21%) failed SSI necessitating more intensive insulin therapy. The low and high intensity SSI groups exhibited a baseline BG of 123 + 33 mg/dL and 164 + 20 mg/dL (P = 0.001). Average BG for each group was 129 ± 14 mg/dL and 145 ± 21 mg/dL (P = 0.001). Each group spent 20 ± 4 and 16 ± 5 hours/day within the target BG range (P = 0.001), respectively. Mild hypoglycemia (BG 40 - 60 mg/dL) occurred in 11% and 7% of patients from each group (P = N.S.). Severe hypoglycemia (BG < 40 mg/dL) occurred in zero and two (5%) patients, respectively (P = N.S). SSI served as a useful technique to identify those requiring more intensive insulin therapy and was safe and efficacious for continuously-fed, critically ill trauma patients with mild to moderate hyperglycemia
A Diabetes and Obesity Crisis: Preliminary Study of Lifestyle, Diet, Knowledge and Attitude of Malaysian Pharmacy Undergraduates Towards Type-2 Diabetes
Get PDFBackground: Patient education and self-care are important not only for diabetes prevention but also chronic disease management. Community pharmacists are an ideal position to play a role in providing medicines management, lifestyle and preventative advice specific to type-2 diabetes care, Malaysian pharmacists must be ready and willing to firmly establish such clear roles and as such, undergraduate pharmacy students need to be equipped with the skills and mind-set to accept such a challengeObjective: To explore knowledge and awareness of pharmacy undergraduate students at Universiti Technology MARA (UiTM) towards diabetes risk factors. To identify potential diabetes risk factors by evaluating dietary intake and to determine students’ attitude towards their future roles as health care providers.Method: 159 Malaysian third-year undergraduate pharmacy students were provided a questionnaire and a two-day food diary. The questionnaire consisted of four sections to examine demographics, lifestyle and diet, together with knowledge of diabetes and the perception of pharmacists’ role.Results: A total of 113 completed questionnaires were received. 20% of the respondents were overweight or obese and 21% had elevated blood pressure. 95% of students consumed only 50% of the recommend daily calorie intake for adults. Students however possessed good knowledge of diabetes with a positive attitude towards pharmacist roles in healthcare.Conclusion: Overall, the health status of Malaysian pharmacy students is very similar to the general population, displaying similar risk factors and dietary habits despite their status as future healthcare professionals. Students do however display a good knowledge of diabetes and appear positive towards their roles as future pharmacists
Phosphorus Adsorption Capacity of Four Soil Series for P Requirement of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L)
Get PDFA pot experiment was conducted in order to know the phosphorus requirement of wheat as affected by different levels of phosphorus (P) for obtaining 95% relative yield grown in four soil series i.e. Gishkori, Buzdar, Sultanpur and Tikken of Dera Ismail Khan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The various treatment levels were consisted of 0, 5.5, 11.0, 16.5 and 22.0 mg P/kg of soil. Wheat dry matter yield remained at highest (1.1g) where P was supplemented at 22.0 mg P/kg in Gishkori and lowest (0.95g) in Tikken soil with the same P applied level. An increase in phosphorus concentration was recorded in wheat shoot with an increase in applied P level. Maximum phosphorus percentages recorded in wheat were 0.28 and 0.26 grown in Gishkori and Buzdar soil series followed by Sultanpur and Tikken with values of 0.11 and 0.10 respectively against P applied level of 22.0 mg P/kg soil. Minimum P concentration was noted in control. The phosphorus content of wheat and P levels were highly correlated with r values of 0.99. 0.99. 0.98 and 0.74 for Gishkori, Buzdar, Sultanpur and Tikken soil series respectively
Analysis of Growth and Carcass Traits of Dumbi Sheep Breed Male Lambs Different Management Systems
Get PDFPresent research was performed on twelve male lambs of Dumbi sheep breed kept in 2 management systems at Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, | department of Livestock Management, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. Animals were divided into two different groups. A groups animal were kept in semi intensive with provision of open grazing and concentrates while, Bgroup animals were kept in intensive management system with provision of green fodder and concentrate. Study was performed till 8 weeks and lambs were observed weekly foraverage body weight and carcass characteristics of both groups were recorded. The results of current study showed that average body weight of group A was (8.33 kg)found significantly high (P>0.05) as compared to the group B (6.86 kg). Moreover carcass characteristics of Dumbi lamb was also observed higher in group A as compared group B. While during comparison of the economical values of both groups, it was observed that group A was found more economical than group B. It is concluded that semi-intensive management system was found better as compared to intensive management system
ARIMA Forecasting Chinese Macroeconomic Variables Based on Factor and Principal Component Backdating
Get PDFIn this paper the backdating methods based on factors and principal components are applied for the first time to emulate the historical macroeconomic variables in China. The numerical results show that these procedures are useful to backdate some missing or not available historical data. ARIMA forecasting experiments based on backdated historical data are conducted and compared with forecasting procedures using directly factors and principal components. Our results suggest that some key variables like GDP can indeed be forecasted more precisely with the principal components backdated data
Effect of Neem Products and Synthetic Insecticides against Sucking Insect Pests of Cauliflower under Field Conditions
Get PDF:A field study was carried out during 2015 at Muhammad Bachal farm at Bakrani District Larkana. Four treatments with three replications were applied. The treatments were: T1=Chemical control (Diamond 20SP), T2=Neem oil, T3= Neem kernel, T4= Untreated (Control). Two insect pests were found infesting Cauliflower including white fliesand thrips. Pre-treatment- and post-treatment observations were recorded. The results revealed that against thrips, the first spray of chemical control (Diamond) showed highest reduction percent (50.61%) followed by neem oil (43.33%), neem kernel (40.42%), and lowest for untreated control (10.31%); while in the second spray also, chemical control (Diamond) showed highest effect against thrips (58.51%); followed by neem oil (57.88%), neem kernel (52.43%) and least by untreated plot (14.77%). Against white flies chemical control (Diamond) showed highest effect (82.89%) as observed during 1st spray, followed by neem oil (72.47%), neem kernel (72.68%), and untreated control (5.12%), while after second spray also chemical control (Diamond) showed highest reduction percent (85.53%) followed by neem oil (74.34%), neem kernel (72.26%), and the lowest was resulted by untreated control (4.11%). Chemical control (Diamond) showed its superiority in effect to combat sucking insect pests studied in cauliflower, followed by neem oil, neem kernel, and untreated control remained the least
Comprehension and Intuition of the Sixth Sense Technology: A Survey Based Case Study of Pakistan
Get PDF: This paper emphasize on the sixth sense technology which is estimated to be blowout worldwide in upcoming year. It is one of the latest technology which helps to tie the physical world with the digital world. Sixth Sense technology is a technology by means of which a system could be taught to distinguish and percept, and act in response as preferred in the real world objects.To conduct the study a set of survey questions have been prepared and distributed among participants of selected groups. Therefore the result has been evaluated based on the pros and cons of the latest technology.Researches have been made on this latest and most breathtaking technology which is thus far to be publicizing in the market. Distinctive realization methodology and the potential applications and prospect of such technology is under considerations
Assessment of Drinking Water Quality Status and its Impact on Health in Tandojam City
Get PDFUnsafe drinking water is one of the major concerns in developing countries. The southern Sindh is province of Pakistan that adjoins the Arabian Sea coast where the drinking water quality is deteriorating due to unrefined urban waste and excessive use of agro-chemicals. Present study aimed to assess the quality of ground water source and to compare it with WHO standards. Water borne diseases associated with drinking it in the vicinity Tandojam city were identified. Water from ground water source was sampled at selected locations in the study area. The samples were collected mostly from pumped waters. The samples were analyzed for physico-chemical properties in order to identify the quality problems and suggest safe source for drinking purpose. Findings revealed that the ground water quality in Muzaffrabad colony is deteriorating. The situation was much worse in Muzaffrabad colony, Jam Ghar and Mir colony with high TDS and salty taste, respectively at few sampling locations. In addition, laboratory analysis of the water quality parameters revealed the detail of variation in the groundwater. TDS, hardness, sodium (Na), chloride (Cl) and magnesium (Mg) etc. were considerably beyond the WHO permissible limits. The poor quality of the water has created different waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea etc. Moreover, the samples of SAU Colony and Amar Town showed that the water quality of these areas was within acceptable limits according to WHO standards and was suitable for the purpose of drinking