The presence of glutamine synthetase in the thylakoids of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum

The intracellular distribution of glutamine synthetase (GS) in cell-free extracts of Nostoc muscorum has been investigated. 64–73% of the enzyme activity was associated with the thylakoid membranes. No enzyme activity was found in cytoplasmic membranes. 92% inhibition of the enzyme activity was obtained with an antiserum raised to the thylakoids using Triton-treated membranes, in comparison to 7.95% inhibition with the intact membranes. This suggests that the majority of the enzyme is embedded inside these membranes. This was also supported by the effect of pronase on the exposed glutamine synthetase using intact membranes.     

Some Histological Observation and Morphometric Measurements of the Millivora Capenesis Epidermis

This study is conducted on back skin of three female belong to Millivora capenesis wild animals. Histological preparations carried out to reveal the structural features of the stratum of epidermis. The skin ofMillivora capensis was covered with keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, the mean thickness is 427.85 ± 4.28 μm. The superficial layer is stratum corneum. The basic properties of this stratum consist of dead, flattened, polygonal cells which are free from nuclei and keratin accumulate in dead cells in order to give protective feature. The mean thickness of stratum corneum is 90.5 ± 2.44 μm. Beneath the stratum corneum, there is translucent layar composed of keratin fibrils and homogenous materials which is termed Eldin. The mean thickness of stratum lucidum is 18.14±0.52 μm. While the mean thickness of stratum granulosum intensive affinity to basophilic spinosum is formed from prickle cells with cytoplasmic processes like spines which represented the desmosomes. The mean thickness of both stratum basal is 55.63 ± 1.75 μm .Our histological findings revealed epidermal papillae extended to the papillary layer of dermis, and these papillae were bifurcates and some papillae fused with each other in order to give the rigidity and power to epidermis.     

Disequilibrium of uranium isotopes in some Syrian groundwater.

Uranium concentration in groundwater samples from three areas of Syria was determined using alpha-spectrometry and INAA. It was in the range of 0-6.13 microg/l in the phosphate areas, and lower than 1 ppb in the volcanic areas. The activity ratio of 234U/238U was investigated, and disequilibrium of uranium isotopes was found to occur (234U/238U = 0.52-2.02). The excess of 234U was calculated. This excess can be interpreted by higher mobility of 234U, which more readily forms the soluble (UO2)2+ ion in comparison with 238U, most of which remains in the insoluble 4+ state. This excess increases with increase in uranium concentration. Thorium concentration was measured using INAA, it was found to be in the rang 0-1.15 microg/l.     

Histological Study of Ovarian Interstitial Glands in IRAQI Buffaloes at Six and Nine Years Old

The present study was revealed some histological observations of interstitial glands in Iraqi buffalo＇s ovaries. This study was conducted on （24） ovaries collected from A1-Najaf slaughter house. The ovarian tissue specimens was fixed in （10%） formalin and histological preparations were carried out, then stained with H and E. Histologically the overian buffalo cortex at six year old that revaled single glands were lined by simple cuboidal epithelial cells. The glands were surrounded by collagen fibers, blood vessels and fibroblasts. The ovarian cortex at nine years old consisted of group of interstitial glands, lined by cuboidal cells. The epithelial lining single and group of interstitial glands were filled with fat droplets. The lumen of groups of interstitial glands contains acidophilic secretion. The present study was suggested that the present of fat droplets in the cells of interstitial glands due to androgens （steroid hormones） and that ensure less fertility in the female buffaloes.     

Enhancing the Impact Strength of Prepacked Aggregate Fibrous Concrete Using Asphalt-Coated Aggregates

The brittleness of plain concrete represents a significant issue to the integrity of concrete structures when subjected to impact loading. Recent rapid industrialization has attracted researchers to find a solution for concrete brittleness and enhance its ductility. In light of this, the prepacked aggregate fibrous concrete (PAFC) with single and double precoated coarse aggregates using asphalt is proposed and examined. Nine different mixtures were designed using polypropylene and steel fibre of 3% dosage with single and double asphalt-coated aggregates. Specimens were prepared with natural aggregate and 100% C-graded asphalt-coated aggregate to evaluate their impact strength. The ACI Committee 544 drop-weight impact standard was followed in the testing of all specimens. Results indicated that using asphalt-coated aggregate can improve the impact energies of concrete. The impact energy at cracking and failure of the single asphalt-coated aggregate specimen was 1.55 and 2.11 times higher, while the double-coated aggregate specimens exhibited 1.73 and 2.56 times greater than the natural aggregate specimen, respectively. The contribution of fibres in enhancing the impact resistance is remarkable compared to the single- and double-coated aggregates used in PAFC.     

Repeated Impact Response of Normal- and High-Strength Concrete Subjected to Temperatures up to 600 °C

With the aim of investigating the response of concrete to the dual effect of accidental fire high temperatures and possible induced impacts due to falling fragmented or burst parts or objects, an experimental work is conducted in this study to explore the influence of exposure to temperatures of 200, 400 and 600 °C on the responses of concrete specimens subjected to impact loads. Cylindrical specimens are tested using the recommended repeated impact procedure of the ACI 544-2R test. Three concrete mixtures with concrete nominal design strengths of 20, 40 and 80 MPa are introduced to represent different levels of concrete strength. From each concrete mixture, 24 cylinders and 12 cubes are prepared to evaluate the residual impact resistance and compressive strength. Six cylindrical specimens and three cubes from each concrete mixture are heated to each of the three levels of high temperatures, while the other six cylinders and three cubes are tested without heating as reference specimens. The test results show that the behavior of impact resistance is completely different from that of compressive strength after exposure to high temperatures; the cylindrical specimens lose more than 80% of the cracking and failure impact resistance after exposure to 200 °C, while impact resistance almost vanishes after exposure to 400 and 600 °C. Concrete compressive strength is found to be effective on the unheated impact specimens, where the higher-strength cylinders retain significantly higher impact numbers. This effect noticeably decreases after exposure to 200 and 400 °C, and vanishes after exposure to 600 °C.     

Dolasetron decreases postoperative nausea and vomiting after breast surgery

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, we compared the efficacy of dolasetron, dexamethasone, and metoclopramide in a preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in women undergoing breast surgery. Patients were allocated randomly to one of four groups (20 patients each): group A received 12.5 mg dolasetron, group B received 8 mg dexamethasone, group C received 20 mg metoclopramide, and group D received placebo intravenously. If patients complained of retching or vomiting or if patients demanded an antiemetic, 1.25 mg droperidol was administered intravenously. To quantify postoperative nausea and vomiting, the following score was used: 0 = no nausea, 1 = nausea, 2 = retching, 3 = single vomiting, 4 = multiple vomiting. Dolasetron and dexamethasone reduced the postoperative nausea and vomiting score significantly (p < 0.02 versus metoclopramide; p < 0.0001 versus placebo). Metoclopramide also reduced the postoperative nausea and vomiting score (p < 0.02 versus placebo). Fisher's exact test showed a significant reduction of vomiting in the dolasetron and dexamethasone groups compared with metoclopramide-treated patients (p < 0.007) and placebo-treated patients (p < 0.000006) and a significantly lower rate of nausea in comparison to the placebo group (p < 0.009). There were no significant differences between the metoclopramide and the placebo groups (using Fisher's exact test). The use of postoperative droperidol was significantly lower in both the dolasetron group (p < 0.04 versus metoclopramide; p < 0.0001 versus placebo) and dexamethasone group (p < 0.04 versus metoclopramide; p < 0.0001 versus placebo), as well as in the metoclopramide group (p < 0.02 versus placebo). Intravenous dolasetron and dexamethasone were equally effective and both are more effective than metoclopramide for preventing vomiting after breast surgery. Also both were significantly superior to either metoclopramide or placebo for postoperative nausea and vomiting and the need for droperidol rescue.     

Preliminary studies on the bacterial and parasitic microflora and microfauna of domestic sewage in northern Jordan

Domestic sewage of the city of Irbid in northern Jordan is mainly treated by an activated sludge process and for one stage only. Various types of heterotrophic Gram negative bacteria were isolated from sewage samples at all stages of treatment. Raw sewage was found to contain Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Aeromonas hydrophilia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The percentage removal of bacteria attained by settling tank effluent (El) was 95%. However, 14 colonies per ml of E. coli and P. vulgaris were counted in treated final effluent (E2). About 23% of the bacterial population of sewage sludge was 5. typhi. Shigella sonnei was the only Shigella species found in digested sludge. Chlorella, Chlamydomonas and filamentous cyanobacteria were also found in the aerated and finally treated effluent samples. Non‐pathogenic bacteria were found only in effluent, i.e. E. coli and P. vulgaris. The percentage removal of parasite cysts and ova from finally treated effluent was 67% from Entamoeba coli, 100% from Giardia spp., 88% for Ascaris lumbericoides and 100% for Parascaris equorum. Parasitic species potentially infective to man were detected in sewage samples. The number of parasite and/or parasite ova varied for the different species and their numbers also varied at different points of the sewage treatment works. Digested sludge and sludge had the highest number of parasites. Three parasite species, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica and Ascaris lumbericoides were detected in final effluent at concentrations of 20,50 and 10 per litre respectively.