The relationship between water activity and fish spoilage during cold storage : a review

This review paper presents clearer picture about the relationship between spoilage of cold stored fish and water activity. The paper was an attempt of presenting the recent existing information and the latest development in this regard. It covered the relationship between water activity and moisture content, water activity control, spoilage of fish and its different phases and the relationship between the spoilage and water activity. The paper revealed that during the initial period of storage some of the characteristics of the fish product reduce in intensity or are lost and in the later stage bacterial degradation of tissues became evident. The water activity (aw) played an important factor in fish spoilage and the growth of different microorganisms depends on its rate. If the aw reduced to 0.6, the growth of bacteria and moulds can be prevented. The detection of spoilage can be determined by controlling water activity and in the same time can be retarded by reducing the aw of the fish by either drying or freezing to keep the fish in good stage with high nutritional and organoleptic quality. The information presented in this study is very important and can assist in preventing spoilage of fishes and their products particularly when production and processing operations are applied

A Note on the Perturbation of arithmetic expressions

In this paper we present the theoretical foundation of forward error analysis of numerical algorithms under;• Approximations in "built-in" functions.• Rounding errors in arithmetic floating-point operations.• Perturbations of data.The error analysis is based on linearization method. The fundamental tools of the forward error analysis are system of linear absolute and relative a prior and a posteriori error equations and associated condition numbers constituting optimal of possible cumulative round – off errors. The condition numbers enable simple general, quantitative bounds definitions of numerical stability. The theoretical results have been applied a Gaussian elimination, and have proved to be very effective means of both a priori and a posteriori error analysis

RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM HYBRID PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA SURYA DAN PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA AIR HUJAN

RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM HYBRID PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA SURYA DAN PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA AIR HUJA

Copper Oxide NPs: Synthesis and their Anti-Dermatophyte Activity against Trichophyton rubrum

Trichophyton rubrum (T.rubrum) is a pathogenic dermatophyte that can causes fungal infection in keratinized layer of the human tissues such as skin, hair and nails. This work was carried out to study the antifungal activity of CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on the viability of T.rubrum. CuO NPs have been synthesized by pulsed laser ablation of copper target immersed in liquid media using Q-switched pulsed Nd:YAG laser with 1064 nm. The optical properties and the surface charge of CuO NPs colloidal were characterized using UV–Vis spectrophotometer and Zeta potential techniques. UV–Vis spectrophotometer exhibited two peaks of absorption of CuO NPs colloidal: sharp peak at 200 nm and another peak at 630 nm. Zeta potential technique showed negative charge of CuO NPs colloidal (-28.16 mV). The morphological properties of CuO NPs such as particle size, shape and particle size distribution were characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), the shapes were spherical and the particle size distribution was inhomogeneous which ranges between 20 to 180 nm. The synthesized CuO NPs presented suitable fungistatic activity against T.rubrum and its highest growth-inhibitory effectiveness was at high concentration (100 μg/ml) and high exposure time (3 hrs). Moreover, the inhibition rate of T. rubrum progressively increased with increasing CuO NPs concentration and exposure time

Genetic variability, heritability and character association of grain yield and its components among selected genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.), Gezira State, Sudan

In the Sudan, the low yield of maize was mainly due to the use of low yielding land races and open-pollinated varieties. Hence, the current study was conducted to measure the extent of genotypic and phenotypic variability, genotypic performance, heritability, genotype x season interaction, and the magnitude of association among seed yield and its components of 10 maize genotypes. The experiment was carried out during the summer of 2017 and the winter of 2017/18, using a randomized complete block  design with three replicates, at the University of Gezira Farm, Wad Medani, Sudan. The characters measured were days to 50% tasseling and silking, plant and ear height, number of kernels per row and per ear, ear diameter, cob length, 100-kernels weight and grain yield. High significant phenotypic variability was detected for all the measured characters. Seasonal differences were also significant. High broad sense heritability estimates were recorded for 50% tasseling and silking and plant height while the rest of the characters showed moderate estimates. The study confirmed the fact that maize is a summer crop in central Sudan. In summer, the highest seed yield genotype was HSD 5158 (2609 kg/ha) and in winter was HSD 3538 (2285 kg/ha). Days to 50% tasseling and silking and plant height were significantly and positively correlated with yield and so recommended as selection criteria for seed yield improvement. It is recommended to grow genotypes HSD 5158 in summer and HSD 3538 in winter as well as genotypes VMH 4040, VMH 4102 and HSD 5007 in both seasons. Testing of these genotypes under different locations and seasons is suggested.              يعزى ضعف إنتاجية الذرة الشامية بالسودان لزراعة أصناف مفتوحة التلقيح وسلالات محلية ضعيفة الإنتاج. هدفت هذه الدراسة لقياس التباين الظاهري والوراثي ودرجة التوريث على المدى العريض وتفاعل الطراز الوراثي والموسم وارتباط إنتاج البذور ومكوناته. نفذت التجربة في صيف 2017 وشتاء 18/2017 بتصميم القطاعات العشوائية الكاملة بثلاث مكررات بمزرعة جامعة الجزيرة، واد مدني، السودان. الصفات التي  قيست هي : عدد الأيام لظهور 50% من الأزهار المذكرة والمؤنثة وطول النبات وارتفاع القندول وعدد بذور الصف والقندول ومحيط القندول وطول الكوز ووزن مائة حبة وإنتاج البذور. أظهرت النتائج اختلافاً معنوياً بين الطرز الوراثية لكل الصفات وفي الموسمين. تأثير الموسم كان معنوياً. سجلت قيم عالية لدرجة التوريث بالمعنى العريض لصفات 50% إزهار مذكر ومؤنث وطول النبات ولكن الصفات الأخرى أظهرت قيم وسطية. ثبت أن محصول الذرة الشامية في وسط السودان محصول صيفي. الطراز الذي أعطى أعلى إنتاجية صيفاً هو HSD 5158 (2609 كجم/هـ) وشتاءً  هو  HSD 3538 (2285 كجم/هـ). ارتبطت صفات الإزهار المؤنث والمذكر وطول النبات ارتباطاً موجباً ومعنوياً بالإنتاجية وعليه يمكن استعمالها كمؤشرات انتخاب لتحسين إنتاجية الحبوب. يوصى بزراعة الطراز HSD 5158  صيفاً والطراز HSD 3538 شتاءً والطرز VMH 4040 و VMH 4102 و HSD 5007 في الموسمين معاً. يوصى بزراعة هذه الطرز المقترحة في مواسم ومواقع متعددة لتأكيد النتائج. &nbsp

Dyeing Properties of Cotton Fabrics using Extracted Dyes from Ethiopian and Congolese Coffee

A natural dye on textiles has gain significant importance for the reason that it was eco-friendly non-toxic, and increased environmental cognizance in order to avoid some dangerous synthetic dyes. In this study, the natural coloring substances such as Ethiopian and Congolese coffee (Coffee Arabica L) were useful to cotton fabrics, dyeing to both functionalize in addition to color the fabrics. The dyeing solution was prepared by extracting coffee grounds collected from Wad Medani Market-Sudan, they were extracted in hot water at 90 °C (raw coffee, medium-roasted and dark-roasted coffee). Also, the caffeine is separated and dyed with the coffee residues, the result was similar to the samples that were dyed with coffee. The coffee extract was used to Cotton fabrics using an infrared (IR) dyeing machine by conventional method at pH 8 for 90 min. The dyeing and surface properties of Cotton fabrics were investigated by Spectrophotometry and were characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to understand the performance of these natural dyes, respectively. The colors of the dyed Cotton fabrics obtained were found to be significantly light green for raw coffee, brown in appearance for medium-roasted and dark-roasted coffee, and their color fastness to washing and rubbing of dyed fabric with natural colorant extracts were compared. The results of fastness were found to be in the range of good to excellent. The dyeing properties of the color was found to be significantly reliable on the concentration of extracts and the degree of roasting of coffee

DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF NON - RETURN VALVES OPERATING AT SMALL OPENING

In the present work a general dynamic behavior of non return valves subjected to jet flow is presented. The differential equations of valve motion and discharge were developed in a non-dimensional from, in terms of suitable dimensionless variables and parameters of the valve system. The derived equations are coupled nonlinear differential equations. Thus, a computer program was developed using a package called (MatLab) to solve these equations. The study shows that there are three types of the valve responses depending on the overall hydrostatic pressure difference and it is found that the valve vibrating at a constant limit cycle, which is leading to the failure of the system. It is also shown that the limit cycle frequency decreases with increasing the stiffness parameter and inertia factor. Finally the study shows that the losses factor has negligible effect on valve vibration and discharge

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EFFICIENT MICROPROPAGATION PROTOCOLS FOR THREE KENAF (HIBISCUS CANNABINUS L.) CULTIVARS

This study was aimed to establish an efficient micropropagation protocol for three popular kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) cultivars (V36, HF992 and KB6) using different types of plant growth regulators (PGR’s) on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS). The shoot tip, cotyledon and hypocotyl isolated from 2 weeks old seedlings were used as explants. MS medium fortified with different types and concentrations of cytokinins and auxin were evaluated for establishment callus formation, shoot multiplication and rooting. Among different PGR’s used, 5.0 mg/l 2iP + 0.1 mg/l NAA was the best concentration for direct shoot regeneration from cotyledon with shooting percentage of 55% in HF992 cultivar. In multiple shoot induction experiment, 1.0 mg/l TDZ + 0.1 mg/l NAA mg/l concentration has induced the highest (10.4) shoots/explant. Moreover, indirect shoot regeneration was established from callus which was induced from cotyledon, maximum callus induction percentage (88.75%) was recorded on 0.5 mg/l TDZ and 1.0 mg/l NAA in V36 variety. While, for shoot elongation and rooting, MS media half strength supplemented with 1.0 mg/l kinetin + 1.0 mg/l IBA was found to be an optimum concentration

Fatalistic: The Land of Sufi and Allah Jey Likhay Khay

Flood has been noted as one of the major natural disaster contributors in the world causing huge suffering to human beings. Majority of flood victims link natural disaster to an act of God, whereas God is punishing human beings because of sins committed by individuals. However, Pakistani society, which is deeply intertwined with religion, hence, its flood related narratives must have impact on its flood experiences. Since present research participants are Kacha farmers from Sindh, province of Pakistan and they are prone to flooding. Thus, present research investigated flood narratives impacted by religious beliefs. This research study employed qualitative research methodology and recorded flood narratives of 31 research participants. This research design is appropriated for current research and subsequently a thematic analysis was performed. The key finding noted that Kacha farmers strongly believe in Sufism, hence they supposed that they are protected by Sufi saints, whose tombs are near flood site. Moreover, they also viewed that floods are God’s wrath upon those individuals who have committed sins and must be punished. These flood narratives contradict with modern flood hazard management practices in the developed countries who firmly argue that any flood disaster is subjected to human act and thus concerned people are accountable. This is sharp contrast with the present finding where Kacha farmers link natural disasters to act of God thus, all related officials and individuals absolve themselves from accountability about flood related management decisions

mRNA in situ hybridization analysis of MMP-9 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Background: Several factors render chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) an interesting subject for study by researchers. These include marked progress in understanding the molecular biology of normal and neoplastic lymphocytes and recent advances in molecular genetics techniques. Among molecular markers, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), have been widely studied. Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of MMP-9 in the pathogenesis of CLL and to assess its prognostic role. Patients and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study done on 60 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia compared with 20 controls (anemic patients), all recruited at the Medical City Teaching Hospital laboratories from January 2004 to December 2007. The bone marrow biopsy of each patient was re-examined histologically. MRNA-In situ hybridization was performed to detect MMP-9. Results: The frequency of MMP-9 positivity was 78.3% (47 of 60 cases). A significant inverse correlation was found between increasing MMP-9 scores and lower PCV level. A significantly larger number of patients with high score were associated with advanced modified Rai stage than patients with low score. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between increasing scores of MMP-9 and advancing clinical stage. Conclusion: MMP-9 positivity was high and the score was significantly associated with advanced clinical stage of the diseas