216 research outputs found
Approach
No full textThis study aims to design epitope-based peptides for the utility of vaccine development by targeting glycoprotein G and envelope protein F of Nipah virus (NiV) that, respectively, facilitate attachment and fusion of NiV with host cells. Using various databases and tools, immune parameters of conserved sequence(s) from G and F proteins of different isolates of NiV were tested to predict probable epitope(s). Binding analyses of the peptides with MHC class-I and class-II molecules, epitope conservancy, population coverage, and linear B cell epitope prediction were analyzed. Predicted peptides interacted with seven or more MHC alleles and illustrated population coverage of more than 99% and 95%, for G and F proteins, respectively. The predicted class-I nonamers, SLIDTSSTI and EWISIVPNF, superimposed on the putative decameric B cell epitopes, were also identified as core sequences of the most probable class-II 15-mer peptides GPKVSLIDTSSTITI and EWISIVPNFILVRNT. These peptides were further validated for their binding to specific HLA alleles using in silico docking technique. Our in silico analysis suggested that the predicted epitopes, either GPKVSLIDTSSTITI or EWISIVPNFILVRNT, could be a better choice as universal vaccine component against NiV irrespective of different isolates which may elicit both humoral and cell-mediated immunity
Journal of Occupational Health Prevalence of Cervical Spondylosis and Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Coolies in a City of Bangladesh
No full textAbstract: Prevalence of Cervical Spondylosis and Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Coolies in a City of Bangladesh: Md H. MAHBUB, et al. Department of Hygiene, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine-To assess the prevalence of cervical spondylosis and musculoskeletal symptoms among coolies a cross-sectional study was performed in Narayangonj City of Bangladesh on a random sample of 98 male coolies, using a questionnaire and the results of cervical spine X-rays. Statistical associations were investigated using the chi-square test. The results show a considerably higher prevalence of cervical spondylosis among the coolies (39.8%). More than half (51.3%) of the cases of cervical spondylosis were in subjects below the age of 40 yr, and a significant association was found between age group and prevalence of cervical spondylosis. The study also observed a significant association between duration of occupation and prevalence of cervical spondylosis. Coolies who had worked for 10 to 15 yr, or more than 15 yr, had higher rates of cervical spondylosis. In this study it was found that those who carried heavier loads s u ff e r e d m o r e f r o m c e r v i c a l s p o n d y l o s i s . Musculoskeletal symptoms in multiple body regions (two or more) were more prevalent (61.2%) than those in single body region (29.6%). Symptoms in the hands/ fingers were the most frequent followed by the back and arms/forearms. In conclusion, the high prevalence of cervical spondylosis and musculoskeletal symptoms among professional coolies may be associated with the practice of carrying heavy loads on the head. Further study with a large sample of population is required to investigate this problem and to explore preventive measures. (J Occup Health 2006; 48: 69-73) Field Stud
Study on the Effect of Hydrometeors on the Track and Intensity of Tropical Cyclone using WRF-ARW Model
No full textThis thesis is submitted to the Department of Physics, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Physics,December 2015.Cataloged from PDF Version of Thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 116-121).In this research microphysical and cumulus parameterization schemes on Weather
Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW core) model have been used to study the effects of hydrometeors on the prediction of track and intensity of tropical cyclones Mala (2006),
Sidr (2007) and Phailin (2013) which formed over the Bay of Bengal and hit Myanmar,
Bangladesh and eastern coast of India respectively. The hydrometeors are cloud water, rain water, graupel, snow, ice and water vapor mixing ratio. The initial and boundary conditions are drawn from the global operational analysis and forecast products of National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP-GFS) available for the public at 1°×1° resolution. The model was run by using Kessler, Lin et al., WSM 3-class simple ice, Ferrier (New Eta), WSM 6-class graupel and Thomson graupel microphysics (MP) coupling with different cumulus parameterization (CP) schemes. The CP schemes used to simulate the Tropical Cyclone are Kain-Fritsch (KF) and Betts-Miller-Janjic (BMJ). The model domain consists of 8-24°N and 77-96°E and has 12 km horizontal resolution with 28 vertical sigma levels. The model was run for 96 and 72-h using initial data at 0000 UTC of 26 and 27 April 2006 for TC Mala, at 0000 UTC of 8 and 9 October 2013 for TC Phailin and at 0000 UTC of 11 and 12 November 2007 for TC Sidr. In order to examine the effect of hydrometeors on the movement of tropical cyclones space-averaged vertical profiles of water vapor, cloud water, rain water, graupel, snow, ice mixing ratio (g kg-1 ), vorticity and relative humidity have been calculated once every three hours. For the analysis of effects of cloud hydrometeors the model domain has been divided into 5 different regions. The different regions are Dl (22oN-26oN and 87°E-93oE), D2 (18oN-22°N and 81oE-87°E), D3 (14oN- 18°N and 78-84°E), D4 (12oN-22oN and 84cE-94°E) and D5 (17°N-22°N and 94oE-97°E). The tracks and intensity are compared with those provided by the operational centers like JTWC and IMD. The simulated result suggests that the hydrometeors and vorticity have impact on the track of tropical cyclones. The amount of hydrometeors are started to increase 2 to 3 days before
in a direction where the tropical cyclone moves. In all combination of MP and CP the area
and time average of water vapor mixing ratio (g/kg) provides similar results. Water vapor
mixing ratio has not change significantly during the period of movement of tropical
cyclones.Md: Jakir HossainMaster of Philosophy in Physic
Growth and Poverty in Pakistan: Implications for Governance
No full textAccording to the Economic Surveys, Pakistan’s real GDP has grown at an average annual rate of 6.8 percent in the 1960s, 4.8 percent in the 1970s, 6.5 percent in the 1980s and 4.7 percent in the 1990s. However, that did not seem to have mitigated poverty as parallel to this growth the number of poor also kept swelling. Although different estimates put number of poor in Pakistan around 50 million, the actual could be more [Ahmad (2001)]. The average growth rates in the first halfcentury of Pakistan have been around 2 percent [Hasan (1997)]. It is pertinent to state that this discussion paper is not an attempt to challenge the figures either of the growth rates or the numbers of the poor in Pakistan. This is rather an attempt to understand the correlation of governance with growth on one hand and poverty on the other. It offers conceptual analysis of the concepts and their respective interpretation, explanation, application and ensuing misunderstandings. This paper has also attempted to challenge certain (usual) assumptions and perceptions regarding the role and relationship of growth and governance in reducing poverty in Pakistan. One has pointed out that most of the studies on the subject focus on symptoms and not the causes of poverty. This leads to on one hand growth of poverty, as poverty does not seem to halt despite certain evidence of relatively high growth particularly in 1960s. On the other hand we witness poverty of growth as whatever growth we have had it has hitherto failed either translating into corresponding mitigation of poverty or equitable collective prosperity. This is because there have not been efforts at governance level to ensure equity of impact of growth through adequate distribution mechanisms, sufficient social and human investments leading to education and skill development of women and men, who in turn could benefit from opportunities arising by way of process of economic growth.
Surface heated membrane with laser-induced graphene technique for membrane distillation
No full textFreshwater scarcity has become a major concern due to accelerating population growth that increases the demand from the agricultural and industrial sectors. To address the increasing freshwater supply and demand, we need to rely on different desalination techniques. However, existing technologies face challenges while treating waters having high TDS (> 70000 mg/L). Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising technology that can be used to treat hypersaline water. MD is a newer desalination technology requiring a relatively lower operating temperature and is less prone to fouling than pressure-driven processes. An efficient MD process operation requires a porous hydrophobic membrane that prevents liquid intrusion to the permeate side while only allowing water vapor to diffuse through the membrane. However, the lack of a robust hydrophobic membrane and lower energy efficiency requirements limits MD’s true potential. In this context, exploring more robust hydrophobic membranes and devising more innovative solutions to reduce the energy consumption of the MD process have been the subject of extensive research. The primary focus of the research outlined in this dissertation is to propose a novel membrane fabrication technique for developing electroconductive surface-heated membranes and integrating innovative heating techniques that can be used in MD applications.
The synthesis approach for the new membrane includes the phase inversion step to fabricate the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane substrate, followed by CO2 laser ablation. Different membrane substrates with different PES concentrations were fabricated with casting thicknesses of 700 µm. PES membrane substrates were soaked in 10 wt.% CaCl2 after being taken out of the coagulation bath. After drying, CO2 laser ablation was performed while controlling various laser parameters such as power, speed, pulse per inch (PPI), and line per inch (LPI – also known as image density). Different types of laser patterns were studied, which can give electroconductive membranes suitable for surface heating techniques integrating radiofrequency (RF) and Joule heating (JH). During the laser ablation, the polymeric surface of the membrane converts to a three-dimensional, porous conductive graphene, referred to as laser-induced graphene (LIG). Laser parameters significantly impact surface-wetting properties as these parameters control the formation of graphene on the PES membrane substrate. SEM-EDS was performed on the membranes for surface and cross-sectional morphological study, which confirmed a preserved porous structure underneath the LIG. Water contact angles were measured, which show an increase from 60° to 143.6° with increasing laser power. Raman spectroscopy and XPS analysis were also carried out to confirm graphene formation with laser ablation. The prepared LIG membrane was used in conventional VMD first before integrating surface heating. A successful VMD performance was observed, and then surface heating with RF was investigated, which eliminates MD's bulk feed heating requirement. LIG heating capability was studied first in the RF field. LIG materials showed excellent thermal response in the RF field with a maximum steady-state temperature of 500 °C. Unprecedented heating rates, as high as 502 °C/s, were observed when LIG was exposed to RF fields at 200 MHz frequency and 4.6 W power. RF parameter was further optimized for application specific to the VMD membrane module in this work , showing surface average temperature of ~140 °C. The PES-LIG membrane's mechanical and thermal properties are characterized by an investigation of its feasibility for MD application. VMD with RF heating shows permeate flux up to 13.5 L m-2 h-1 with >99% salt rejection. Cyclic thermal and mechanical stability tests and long-term VMD tests were performed, which showed stable performance of the LIG membranes. This work demonstrates a novel MD technique strategy that can potentially address challenges impeding its commercialization.
The surface heating study of VMD was further extended with the JH technique for the PES-LIG membranes. JH requires a different type of laser pattern for enhanced electrical properties of the membrane, which gives a hydrophilic LIG layer. To obtain a hydrophobic surface, PDMS-SiO2 coating was introduced with drop-casting, which gave a water contact angle of 152°, making a superhydrophobic LIG surface. JH in two modes, with direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC), was investigated. It has been found that electrode corrosion on DC JH can be overcome with AC JH. JH technique with the PES-LIG membrane prepared in this work showed successful application in VMD with permeate flux as high as 11.9 L m-2 h-1 with >99% salt rejection
Mobile irrigation lab (MIL): center pivot uniformity evaluation procedure and field results
No full textPresented at the 15th annual Central Plains irrigation conference and exposition proceedings on February 4-5, 2003 at the City Limits Convention Center in Colby, Kansas.MIL team members: Danny Rogers, Gary Clark, Mahbub Alam, Robert Stratton, Dale Fjell, and Steven Briggeman
Study of Rainfall Distributions over Bangladesh associated with Tropical Disturbances in the Bay of Bengal
No full textThis thesis is submitted to the Department of Physics, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Physics, February, 2009.Cataloged from PDF Version of Thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 76-82)Cataloged from PDF Version of Thesis.Tropical cyclone is the most disastrous natural phenomenon for Bangladesh. Only preparedness can reduce the losses of lives as well as properties. Rain, one of the three means of destruction due to Tropical cyclone, is closely related with the Tropical cyclone. From its birth to death tropical cyclone produces rain, but the amount and region of rainfall at different stage of the tropical cyclone is different. Keeping this information in mind, in this dissertation, we have studied the rainfall distribution over Bangladesh with the movement of the tropical disturbances in the Bay of Bengal that crossed the Bangladesh coast. As our interest was limited over Bangladesh only, we have chosen those events whose eventual landfall was in the Bangladesh coast from the database created with the help of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). The main objective of this study is to identify the relationship between the amount of rainfall that is observed in different meteorological stations all over Bangladesh and the track of the tropical disturbances affecting Bangladesh. For that purpose rainfall data of 30 stations located all over Bangladesh is analyzed. We have plotted the isolines to identify the rainfall pattern over Bangladesh map along with the track of the disturbances. Then these figures are analyzed to identify the relationship between the rainfall and the track of the disturbances. In this study, 17 cyclonic disturbances of different categories, 8 Severe Cyclonic Storms with a core of hurricane wind (SCS (H)), 2 Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS), 3 Cyclonic Storm (CS), 3 Deep Depression (DD) and 1 depression, have been considered that occurred during 1974 to 2001. The analysis shows that heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred on the front-right quadrant of the track on the day and the day before the system approached the Bangladesh coast.Morsheda FerdousiMaster of Philosophy in Physic
Study on Effect of Energy Fluxes in Relation to the Movement and Intensity of Tropical Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal
No full textThis thesis is submitted to the Department of Physics, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physics, February, 2017.Cataloged from PDF Version of Thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 88-92).Comprehensive sensitivity analysis on physical parameterization schemes of Weather
Research and Forecasting model (WRF v3.2.1) have been carried out for the effects of energy
fluxes on the prediction of track and intensity of Tropical Cyclone Roanu, Hudhud and Mala
those formed in the Bay of Bengal and crossed Bangladesh, Visakhapatnam of India and
Myanmar coast during May 2016, October 2014 and April 2006 respectively. The initial and
boundary conditions of tropical cyclone (TC) are drawn from the global operational analysis
and forecast products of National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP-GFS)
available for the public at 1°×1o resolution. The model was run by using Kessler (KS), Lin et
al. (Lin), WSM3-class simple ice, Ferrier (FE), WSM6-class graupel and Thomson (TH)
graupel microphysics (MP) schemes coupling with different cumulus parameterization (CP)
schemes and different initial conditions. Kain-Fritsch (KF) and Betts-Miller-Janjic (BMJ)
schemes have been used to study the effects of energy fluxes on the track of TC. The model
domain consists of 8-24oN and 77-96oE and has 12 km horizontal resolution with 28 vertical
sigma levels. The model was run for 96 and 72-h using initial conditions at 0000 UTC of 18
and 19 May 2016 for TC Roanu, 120 and 96-h using initial conditions of 0000 UTC of 8 and
9 October 2014 for TC Hudhud, and 120 and 96-h using initial conditions of 0000 UTC of 26
and 27 April 2006 for TC Mala. To examine the effect of energy fluxes on the movement of
TC we have considered five different regions inside the model domain. The regions are R1
(22-26oN & 87-93oE), R2 (18-22oN & 81-85oE), R3 (14-18oN & 78-84oE), R4 (12-22oN & 85-
94oE) and R5 (17-22oN & 94-97oE). In this research the Convective available potential energy
(CAPE), Convective inhibition (CIN), Downward long wave heat flux (DLHF), Downward
shortwave heat flux (DSHF), Ground heat flux (GHF), latent heat flux (LH), moisture heat
flux (QFX), Outgoing long wave radiation (OLR), and upward heat flux (HFX) have been
analyzed in R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 to observe the impact of these parameters for the
movement of TC. The vertically integrated space averaged CAPE, CIN, DLHF, DSHF, OLR
have found to decrease continuously for all MPs in combination with KF and BMJ schemes
in a region where TC moves. These parameters have decreased for TC Roanu in R1, for TC
Mala in R5 and TC Hudhud in R2. The QFX and LH have been increased in a region where
TC moves.Kaniz FatemaMaster of Science in Physic
TIME-COURSE MORTALITY AND RADIOSENSITIVITY INDICES IN GAMMA-IRRADIATED TRIBOLIUM SPP. (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE
No full textThe effect of gamma irradiation on the time-course mortality and radiosensitivity indices in 1- and 10-day-old adult Tribolium anaphe, T. brevicornis, T. castaneum, T. destructor and T. freemani, was studied. Longevity was always adversely affected by irradiation, and it was linearly dependent on the dose rate. Except for 10-day-old adults, all the insects died within 12 weeks of γ-irradiation at 4 and 5 krad. In addition, T. destructor was markedly more radioresistant at all dose levels, and lived longer than the other species. The mean survival times of adults were generally shorter in females than in males for all species. The radiosensitivity indices did not vary widely among the species, but decreased as the dose increased in all the species, indicating that the resistance of the species was dose-dependent. RÉSUMÉ On a étudié l'effet des radiations gamma sur l'évolution de la mortalité et les indices de radiosensibilité d'adultes de Tribolium anaphe, T. brevicornis, T. castaneum, T. destructor et T. freemani, âgés de 1 et 10 jours. La longévité est toujours négativement affectée par les radiations et elle est linéairement liée à la dose. A l'exception des adultes âgés de 10 jours, tous les insectes meurent en moins de 12 semaines avec des radiations gamma à 4 et 5 krad. De plus,T. destructor est nettement plus radiorésistant à toutes les doses, et vit plus longtemps que les autres espèces. Les temps moyens de survie des adultes sont généralement plus courts chez les femelles que chez les mâles pour toutes les espèces. Les indices de radiosensibilité ne varient pas beaucoup entre les espèces, mais décroissent avec l'augmentation de la dose chez toutes les espèces, indiquant que la résistance des espèces est dose-dépendante
Improved Quality Management of the Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) for Enhanced Efficacy of the Sterile Insect Technique
No full textThe sterile insect technique (SIT) is considered an environmentally friendly, autocidal control tactic to manage insect pests. This work dealt with the improvement of quality management of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) for enhanced efficacy of the SIT. The results indicated that egg hatching of irradiated mature eggs of P. interpunctella was higher than that of younger eggs, indicating that mature eggs were significantly more tolerant than younger eggs. Moreover, our data revealed that a dose of 500 Gy completely prevented pupal formation in irradiated young and mature larvae. Crosses between irradiated and non-irradiated adults resulted in considerable variations in fecundity. The mating competitiveness index (CI) value was higher for a ratio of 5:1:1 (sterile male, fertile male, and fertile female, respectively) as compared with the ratio 1:1:1 for the irradiated individuals of all life stages. Low temperature (5 °C) maintenance of irradiated pupae significantly affected adult emergence. Using cylinders to assess flight ability, we found that the flight performance of adults that were developed from cold treated irradiated pupae was influenced by cylinder diameter, cylinder height and the number of hours the insects were in the cylinders. The percentage of DNA damage of the reproductive organs of adults developed from cold treated pupae that were irradiated with 100 and 150 Gy varied significantly. The results of this study should be used to implement pilot-scale field tests aiming at a sterile- to-fertile male ratio of 5 to 1
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