Archives-June 2012

Background: Diabetes mellitus is important risk factors for some disorders such as nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular diseases that its prevalence is increasing in human society. Herbal medicine is the oldest kind of diseases cure has recognized. However, rational prescription of effective medicinal plants for diabetes cure requires precise information of action mechanism of these plants. Purpose of our project is investigation of Cornus mas effects on blood biochemical parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: In present study, 40 male rats divided in 4 groups. Group 1(normal group) was treated by saline. Group 2(diabetic control) was treated by alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg, i.p). Group 3(extract group) diabetic rats that received hydro-alcoholic extract of C.mas(100mg /kg, i.p). Group 4(glibenclamide group) diabetic rats that received glibenclamide(500mcg /kg, i.p). After 72 hours, the animals were anesthetized and the blood was collected into a tube, then, levels of serum glucose, lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, and VLDL), triglycerides, and total cholesterol were evaluated by enzymatic kits. Results: The results showed significant reduction of glucose, triglyceride, VLDL and LDL levels in group 3 in comparison with group 2(P<0.001). Glucose and LDL reduction by C.mas are similar to glibenclamide and TG, VLDL reduction by C.mas are more than glibenclamide. C.mas also could increase HDL levels significantly in comparison with group 2(P<0.001) that this effect is similar to glibenclamide effect on HDL. Conclusion: According to the results, C.mas can be use in diabetics in order to glucose and lipid reduction, nevertheless, requires more researches.

The present study showed that the broiler chicken in Aurangabad region of Maharashtra harboured 10 species of Eimeria these are, Eimeria tenella, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria praecox, Eimeria mitis, Eimeria nikamae, Eimeria tarabaieandEimeria shivpuri.During the present study ten species of Eimeria are found in Broiler chicken. Seven species are already described and three are new species. The commonest was Eimeria tenella, it was found in 320 of 734 positive samples, showing a prevalence of 43.59% of the positive samples or 12.67% of the total samples examined. Followed by Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria praecox, Eimeria maxima, and Eimeria mitis .Seven species of genus Eimeria (E.) including E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E. mitis, E. praecox and E. brunetti are generally accepted to be the causative agent of avian coccidiosis. E. tenella and E. maxima are considered to be the most important to the poultry industry from consideration of their ubiquity in broiler chicks, innate pathogenicity and immunological features. In India E. tenella is the most prevalent and pathogenic species.Coccidiosis in chickens is generally classified as either intestinal or caecal. Most serious cases of intestinal coccidiosis in India are caused by E. necatrix. Caecalcoccidiosis is due to E. tenella. Coccidiosis occurs most frequently in young birds. Old birds are generally immune as a result of prior infection. Severe damage to the caeca and small intestine accompany the development of the coccidia. Broilers and layers are more commonly infected, but broiler breeders and turkey and pheasant poults are also affected.

The education system of Bangladesh is broadly divided into three stages. These are primary, secondary and higher education. To meet up the demand of education of the country, the government has the highest responsibility. The government of Bangladesh is trying to play her role since its inception. Doing her duty, many methods and techniques of providing education have been using. In the modern age of 21st century, Information Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the latest techniques around the world including Bangladesh to use in the field of education. It is said that the present time is the blessing of ICT. All the sectors of a country like, education, health, agriculture, business, travel, transport, industry etc. can’t work properly with expected outputs without use of technology. Many applications are now being used in all those sectors. Bangladesh is also on the track to utilize the application of ICTs. As a matter of it, Bangladesh has established an ICT policy in 2009, to implement and engage ICTs for some definite purposes. In education sector of Bangladesh, ICTs have been using for many purposes. Computer and internet based technologies have been using in a scattered and limited way for e-learning & distance learning such as in storage of data, video documentary production etc. But the prospects of ICTs in education sector comprising primary, secondary and higher level are multidimensional. Establishing e-learning or online education system, adopting modern educational management, ensuring equal opportunity of education, increasing global connectivity among the educational institutions, providing education for distanced and distressed people etc. could be able to achieve with the help of ICTs. Bangladesh is far behind in the field compared to other countries in the world. Some problems are also identified in this regard. These are lack of computers and lab facility with internet connectivity, inadequate infrastructure, lack of fund and comprehensive policy etc. which hinders to get the maximum benefits from ICTs in education sector. If all these hinders would quickly be minimized, the education system of Bangladesh, especially the secondary and higher stage could be able to produce its outcomes quickly and the government would be able to manage all the education sectors very effectively and efficiently. The present article deals with all these factors and important issues in detail with due attention.

Human affiliative behaviors are indispensable for the physical and psychological wellbeing and normal development of individuals. However, how to study the neurobiology of affiliation from temperamental domain is little examined. Based on theoretical arguments about affiliative behaviors in temperamental domain, this review clarifies the concept of affiliative temperament, and then provides a review of the neurobiology of affiliative temperament by the integration of the mirror neuron system (MNS), the dopaminergic reward system, and the neuropeptides. Reviews show that affiliative temperament is firstly a complex and as a part of it, emotional contagion roots in the MNS from the birth. Secondly, the dopaminergic system relating to affiliative temperament can be divided into the regulative system including dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), anterior cingulated cortex (ACC), and the evaluative system including superior temporal sulcus (STS), ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAcc), insula, and amygdala. Thirdly, oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VAP) modulate neural circuits in VTA and NAcc. Finally, structural and functional abnormalities in affiliation-related brain circuits contribute to the pathogenesis of psychopathological disorders as well as antisocial behaviors.

Acceptance sampling plans developed relating to groups of items on testers are called the group acceptance sampling plan (GASP). In this scheme, a sample of items is distributed into different groups and a lot of product is rejected if more than a specified number of failures are recorded in any group. A group ac¬ceptance sampling schedule can be used to save the time and cost in inspection as compared with classical acceptance sampling. In this paper, a procedure for constructing a group acceptance sampling plan (GASP) indexed through indifference quality level (IQL) and Inverse Rayleigh distribution is proposed. Suitable tables and examples are also provided for easy selection of the plans.

Significant amounts of research and development work on Photovoltaic solar cells generate electricity by receiving sun light or solar irradiance. But solar cell received heat from solar irradiance as well and this will reduced the efficiency of the solar cell so the solution for this was by adding a cooling system (air or water) to the photovoltaic panel. Photovoltaic/thermal technology has been done. Many innovative systems and products have been introduced while evaluated product’s quality by academics and professionals. Some theoretical models also offered that experimental data have been validated their appropriateness. Important parameters in designing have known. Purpose of this paper is give review of trend to development photovoltaic/ thermal technology.

The article extends, study on the removal of heavy metals such as Cr, Zn and Ni from tannery effluent by using macrofungi in the form of mycelial biomass. Mycelial biomass of cultivated mushrooms namely Pleurotus florida, Calocybe indica were collected and subjected for biosorption studies. Among the chosen two mushrooms Pleurotus florida showed the maximum biosorption. Both the mushrooms were found to have the biosorption efficiency of heavy metals namely Cr, Zn and Ni. Pleurotus florida has 88.5%biosorption efficiency of Cr; 68.4% Zn and 58.8%; while Calocybe indica has recorded 55%biosorption of efficiency of Cr;37.9% Zn and 49.1% Ni respectively. As biosorption of heavy metals using macrofungi is an ecofriendly method, it could be an excellent and viable method for the removal of heavy metals form tannery effluent.

This paper presents a new algorithm called Firefly Algorithm (FA) to solve the well-known power system economic load dispatch (ELD) problem. FA is a novel nature-inspired algorithm inspired by social behavior of fireflies and the phenomenon of bioluminescent communication between them. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been tested with the standard 6-bus, IEEE-14 bus and IEEE-30 bus system with several heuristic load patterns. The result of the proposed algorithm is compared with the results available in the literature. The numerical result reveals that the proposed algorithm can provide appreciably better solutions within reasonable time.

Most of the world’s population spend about one-third of their adult life at work, and with work-place injuries and fatalities remaining at unacceptably high levels. This study was carry out to determining occupational hazard awareness and safety practices among cement factory workers in community in Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out and data were collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires. Using multi-stage sampling technique, 283 questionnaires were administered to workers who consented to the study. Two hundred and seventy-one questionnaires were fully completed and used for analysis. Most of the respondents were males, 265(97.8%), between 31-35 years in age, 88(32.5%) and had tertiary education, 181(66.8%). Majority of the respondents, 266(98.2%) were aware of hazards associated with their jobs. Two hundred and sixty two (96.7%) of the respondents accepted that their occupation was hazardous. The most commonly known hazard by the respondents was dust, 206(77.4%), followed by noise 83(31.2%). Most of the respondents, 263(97.0%) had pre-employment medical examination done before starting work while only 106(39.1%) had ever done periodic medical examination. Most of the respondents, 265(97.8%) used protective equipments and nearly all the respondents 268(98.9%) were interested in updating their knowledge about hazards prevention. In the last 1 year preceding the study, 53(19.6%) of the respondents had suffered injuries while at work and forty six (17%) had been absent from work due to work related injuries. In conclusion, the level of awareness about occupational hazards and compliance with safety measures was very high, but the rate of periodic medical examination was low among respondents. It is recommended that periodic medical examination policy be adopted by management.

Important molecular pathways implicated in diverse neurodegenerative diseases are the misfolding, aggregation, and accumulation of the proteins in the brain. Accumulation and misfolding of proteins leads to synaptic dysfunction, neuronal apoptosis, brain damage and disease. The mechanisms which lead to protein misfolding and subsequent neurodegeneration are not clearly understood. The techniques for combating neurodegeneration due to toxic proteins are being investigated. The approach can be two pronged i.e to either do the gene repair using novel techniques like the usage of peptide nucleic acid or to alter the sensitivity or conformation of the receptor proteins or enhancement of enzymes responsible for degradation of these misfolded proteins for e.g ubiquitin-proteosome.