Potency of Trona on Fungi Associated with Tinea Capitis from Children in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS)

Aim: The potency of trona against fungi associated with dermatophytes isolated from children in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) local farming community was investigated. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry and Department of Pharmacognosy, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria, between January 2017 and September 2017. Methodology: The samples were collected from errand children within UDUS, and the organisms were isolated and identified microscopically using standard methods. Elemental analysis of the two types of trona (red and white) was also determined using standard Analytical methods. The sensitivity test was carried out using agar well diffusion method. Results: In the two types of trona (red and white) Sodium was found to have the highest Original Research Article Nata’ala et al.; SAJRM, 2(1): 1-6, 2018; Article no.SAJRM.41598 2 concentration of 9500 mg/kg and 8300 mg/kg, and the lowest was 0.15 and 0.10 mg/kg. Potassium was reported to have a concentration of 4400 mg/kg and 1800 mg/kg for the white and red trona respectively. Some of the organisms identified were Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes etc. Highest mean zone of inhibition of 20.7 and 23.3 mm was recorded for the red and white trona respectively. The least zone of inhibition recorded was 2.7 and 4.7 mm for the red and white trona respectively. Increased activity was recorded when the concentration of the trona was increased. Conclusion: The results revealed promising potentials of trona in the treatment of fungi associated with dermatophytoses. However, further studies should be done to determine the mechanism of action of trona on these organisms.

Effect of Dilute Acid and Alkaline Pretreatment of Typha australis (Typha Grass) for Bioethanol Production

Typha australis (Typha grass) obtained from Kware Lake was used in this research to produce bioethanol. Different pretreatment methods including dilute acid (0.2M H2SO4), dilute alkaline (0.2M NaOH) and liquid hot water pretreatments were used to pretreat the Typha grass sample before enzymatic saccharification for 7 days using Aspergillus niger isolated from soil sediment and the hydrolysate was seeded with Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from palm wine to produce bioethanol. HPLC was used to analyze bioethanol product. The result showed that pretreatment with 0.2M H2SO4 removed more hemicelluloses (7.0%) when compared with other pretreatment methods used, but pretreatment with 0.2M NaOH and liquid hot water removed more lignin (14.29%) than dilute acid pretreatment. The highest percentage reducing sugar concentration of 0.58% was obtained from lower part of the sample pretreated with liquid hot water while Typha grass pretreated with 0.2M H2SO4 and 0.2M NaOH produced the highest percentage reducing sugar concentration of 0.32% each from the upper part of the sample. Also, the highest Bioethanol concentration of 2.07% was obtained at day 6 of fermentation from the Typha grass pretreated with Original Research Article Auwalu et al.; SAJRM, 2(3): 1-6, 2018; Article no.SAJRM.45694 2 liquid hot water while Typha grass pretreated with 0.2M H2SO4 and 0.2M NaOH produced highest Bioethanol concentration of 0.43% and 0.54% respectively. The results indicate that Typha grass can be harnessed for bioethanol production thereby reducing their negative impact on Lakes.

Protective Effect of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on Antituberculosis Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Isoniazid and rifampicin are drugs primarily used in antituberculosis treatment. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester's protective effect on liver function tests and to trace elements in hepatic damage caused by isoniazid and rifampicin on rats. Forty Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1: Sham, Group 2: caffeic acid phenethyl ester application, Group 3: isoniazid and rifampicin given, Group 4: isoniazid + rifampicin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester application. After 30 days, the rats were sacrificed by taking blood from the heart. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, zinc, copper, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidative status, and oxidative stress index levels were evaluated. The rats to which isoniazid + rifampicin+ caffeic acid phenethyl ester were given had less oxidative stress and copper levels (P < 0.001, P = 0.019) but have higher zinc levels (P = 0.001) compared to the isoniazid + rifampicin group. Liver enzyme levels were also lower in rats that were given isoniazid + rifampicin + caffeic acid phenethyl ester (P < 0.001). The results of this study suggested that caffeic acid phenethyl ester influences the levels of trace elements (copper and zinc) that are important for the physiologic mechanisms of organisms, reducing liver damage.

Medical treatment experience following carotid endarterectomy in atrial fibrillation presenting with carotid artery stenosis

HYDRODYNAMICS OF EXTENDED DUBAI CREEK SYSTEM

Dubai Creek is a semi-enclosed waterway approximately 14 km long located in the Emirate of Dubai. At its mouth, the creek has an opening of approximately 200m and then widens to approximately 1200m towards the upper end of the creek. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a RAMSAR designated conservation site is located at the upper end of the creek. The average depth of the creek ranges approximately 6.5 to 7m below Dubai Municipality Datum (DMD) throughout the waterway. Tidal flushing and mixing are the dominant transport processes in Dubai Creek. Treated sewage effluent (fresh water with nutrient content) from Al Awir sewage treatment plant is discharged into creek forming a source of pollution.

REAL TIME COASTAL MONITORING FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF DUBAI COAST

The Dubai coastal zone is defined as a land mass stretching from the Abu Dhabi border in the south to Al Mamzar lagoon in the north, from approximately +4 m DMD (Dubai Municipality Datum) onshore to 10 nautical miles offshore. In its natural state this approximately 70km long coastline consists primarily of long sandy beaches backed by low level dunes and ridges. However, recent infra-structural developments related to trade, tourism and real estate have resulted in significant development within the Dubai coastal zone. These developments have interfered with the natural coastal processes of waves, tidal currents and sediment transport. To understand the dynamics of coastal processes Coastal Zone & Waterways Management Section (CWMS) of Dubai Municipality (DM) developed an advanced coastal real-time monitoring system for coastal management and future planning. This paper provides an overview of the coastal monitoring programme and how these data are used in managing the coastal zone and decision making.

APPLICATION OF COMPOSITE GROYNES IN STABILIZING DUBAI BEACHES

The increase in demand for waterfront living has led to the development of large-scale offshore reclamation projects - The Palm Jumeirah, The World etc., rapidly transforming the coastal zone of Dubai. Development of such offshore islands have interfered with the coastal processes causing reorientation of shorelines at several stretches of Dubai coast (Mangor et al 2008). Regular beach nourishment programs to maintain the required minimum beach width for recreational activities was found to be ineffective due to non-availability of beach quality sand and environmental impacts of dredging and sand shifting operations.

OPERATIONAL FORECASTING SYSTEM FOR DUBAI COASTAL WATERS

The abstract is based on decision support system for Dubai Coastal Zone and Waterway Operations. This is a sophisticated project to couple a suite of meteorology and ocean models with data management infrastructure and web-based tools to deliver data and decision support information to Dubai Municipality as well as public users. The latest open-source modeling technology available from the research and academic communities to build an operational forecast system that is a suite of interconnected components that allows for seamless interaction of different models, real-time data, and custom web-based reports and tools that access model forecasts and real-time observations. This included measurements taken in the Dubai coastal zone, satellite and atmospheric measurements across the Arabian Gulf, and from a variety of online global environmental models. The data specifically used to create each of the meteorological, hydrodynamic, spectral wave, inundation and oil-spill models. The circulation modeling studies of the Arabian Gulf were carried out by Kampf (2006), Thoppil (2010) and Xue and Eltahir (2015).

ENHANCEMENT OF β-GALACTOSIDASE ACTIVITY OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA IN FERMENTED CAMEL MILK

doi: 10.9755/ejfa.2018.v30.i4.1660

Impact of hydrolyzed lactose by β-galactosidase enzyme on the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of fermented camel milk

The present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of lactose hydrolysis by using two different strategies (by addition of β-galactosidase (HA-LACTASE™) before fermentation of camel milk to get hydrolyzed camel milk as substrate that included three levels of lactose-hydrolyzed milk (LHM) 25, 50 and 90% or together with the starter cultures during fermentation (co-hydrolysis)) on the microbiological, physicochemical and sensory properties of fermented camel during manufacturing and the storage period of 21 days at 5oC. In general, the results showed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in fermentation time with an increase in the level of lactose hydrolysis. The co-hydrolysis fermented milk exhibited a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the fermentation time (279 min) in comparison to control treatment (452.5 min). After 6 h of the incubation period, the viable cell counts were more outstanding in the co-hydrolysis and LHM 90% fermented milk, about 1 log cycle higher than other treatments. The mean values of pH were a highly significant (P<0.05) dropped in co-hydrolysis and LHM 90% samples and reached to pH 4.6 in 6 hours, whereas the control, LHM 25 and 50% samples reached to the near of the same degree of pH in 8 hours of the fermentation process. Furthermore, the higher amount of exopolysaccharide (EPS) was found in co-hydrolysis fermented milk 262.3 mg/kg followed by LHM 90% 250.3 mg/kg, while control, LHM 25 and 50% treatments had the lowest amount of 178.3, 185.3 and 197.7 mg/kg, respectively. The higher amount of EPS in co-hydrolysis and LHM 90% treatments caused a concomitant increase of the apparent viscosity and a signicant (P<0.05) decreased in susceptibility to syneresis in comparison to other treatments. Moreover, the co-hydrolysis fermented camel milk had significantly (P<0.05) higher ratings for all sensory characteristics and more liked than other treatments. Although the LHM 90% samples had a better rheological characteristic, the panelists rated as unacceptable because of the strong sweet taste. Results showed that the simultaneous addition of enzyme and starter together demonstrated to be a satisfactory strategy in making fermented camel milk with high quality in the texture and overall acceptability beside its beneficial properties as a functional dairy product.