Behaviour of Roofing Materials Facing to Micro-Organisms

An accelerated water-streaming test was used to evaluate several roofing materials regarding their behavior to colonization by algae, by closely reproducing the phenomenon of natural biological soiling. A set of roofing materials with defined physical and chemical characteristics was thus investigated against the colonization by algae. Porosity, roughness and chemical composition showed to be factors of influence in the establishment of those micro-organisms.

Effect of Natural Surface Secretes of Some Common Ornamental Plants Leaves on Pathogenic Micro-organisms

This study presents the antimicrobial effect of natural surface secretes of some common ornamental plants leaves （Ficus elastica, Philodendrom bipinnatifidum and Aglonema） against some pathogenic bacteria （ Escherichia coli, P. aeruginosa and Staph. Aureus）, and fungi （Microsporum gypseum and Aspergillus flavus）. It was concluded that all tested washing water of the plants leaves secretes exhibited various inhibitory effects, both Philodendrom more antibacterial activity than Ficus elastica. While both E. coli and P bipinnatifidum and Aglonema commutatum had exhibited aeruginosa were being more sensitive than Staph. aureus. The same inhibitory effects were observed when the plants leaves inoculated in their surface with pathogenic bacteria. In contrast to bacterial inhibitory effects, the washing water of natural surface secretes of tested ornamental plants leaves induced mycelium growth of both tested fungi. Microsporum gypseum mycelium growth induced more than Aspergillusflavus especially in case of the washing water of Ficus elastic that have highest effects at 7.5/500 mL of medium. This study concluded the uses of ornamental plants for the indoors and outdoors to control the growth of pathogenic microbes and problems associated with hospital.

BIOCONVECTION IN A NON-DARCY POROUS MEDIUM SATURATED WITH A NANOFLUID AND OXYTACTIC MICRO-ORGANISMS

The aim of this paper is to present a continuum model for bioconvection of oxytactic micro-organisms in a non-Darcy porous medium and to investigate the effects of bio- convection and mixed convection on the steady boundary layer flow past a horizontal plate embedded in a porous medium filled with a water-based nanofluid. The governing partial differential equations for momentum, heat, oxygen and micro-organism conser- vation are reduced to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations that are numerically solved using a built-in MATLAB ODE solver. The effects of the bioconvection parameters on the nanofluid fluid properties, nanoparticle concentration and the density of the micro-organism are analyzed. A comparative anal- ysis of our results with those previously reported in the literature is given. Among the significant findings in this study is that bioconvection parameters highly influence beat, mass and motile micro-organism transfer rates.

Micro-organic dust combustion considering particles thermal resistance

Organic dust flames deal with a field of science in which many complicated phenomena like pyrolysis or devolatization of solid particles and combustion of volatile particles take place. One-dimensional flame propagation in cloud of fuel mixture is analyzed in which flame structure is divided into three zones. The first zone is preheat zone in which rate of the chemical reaction is small and transfer phenomena play significant role in temperature and mass distributions. In this model, it is assumed that particles pyrolyze first to yield a gaseous fuel mixture. The second zone is reaction zone where convection and vaporization rates of the particles are small. The third zone is convection zone where diffusive terms are negligible in comparison of other terms. Non-zero Biot number is used in order to study effect of particles thermal resistance on flame characteristics. Also, effect of particle size on combustion of micro organic dust is investigated. According to obtained results, it is understood that both flame temperature and burning velocity decrease with rise in the Biot number and particle size.

High Optical Magnification Three-Dimensional Integral Imaging of Biological Micro-organism

A high optical magnification three-dimensional imaging system is proposed using an optic microscope whose ocular （eyepiece） is retained and the structure of the transmission mode is not destroyed. The elemental image array is captured through the micro lens array. Due to the front diffuse transmission element, each micro lens sees a slightly different spatial perspective of the scene, and a different independent image is formed in each micro lens channel. Each micro lens channel is imaged by a Fourier lens and captured by a CCD. The design translating the stage in x or y provides no parallax. Compared with the conventional integral imaging of micro-objects, the optical magnification of micro-objects in the proposed system can enhanced remarkably. The principle of the enhancement of the image depth is explained in detail and the experimental results are presented.

Impact of Melting Heat Transfer and Variable Characteristics on an MHD Non-Newtonian Shear-Thinning Fluid Flow with Gyrotactic Microorganisms over a Nonlinear Stretched Surface

The objective of this work is to examine how temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and concentration-dependent molecular diffusion affect Reiner-Philippoff nanofluid flow past a nonlinear stretching sheet. At the interface of the elongated surface zero-mass flux and melting heat condition are incorporated. The formulated mathematical problem is simplified by implementing suitable similarity transformations. For the numerical solution bvp4c is utilized. The parameters emerging in the model are discussed versus allied profiles through graphical illustrations. It is perceived that the velocity of the fluid decays on incrementing the Bingham number. The gyrotactic microorganism profile declines on amplifying the Peclet number. The validation of the proposed model is also added to this study. .

Sustainable Bio-Conversion of Rice Straw Waste into High Quality Organic Fertilizer

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of different additives including biochar, effective micro-organisms (EM), animal manure and commercial microbial inoculants on the bioconversion of rice straw. Different compost piles were constructed, and each contained 50 kg of rice straw and mixture of natural rocks to enrich the compost nutritional value. The physical, chemical and biological parameters indicating the decomposition of organic material, maturation and quality of the organic fertilizer product were investigated during the composting process. A rapid increase in compost temperature was obtained in inoculated piles. All piles reached maturation after around 42 days. All analysis of the properties of the final compost products indicated that it was in the range of the matured level and can be used as organic fertilizer without limitation. The highest decomposition rate and highest organic fertilizer quality were obtained in the pile inoculated with EM and 10% biochar compared to other treatments.

Antibacterial activity of Lawsonia inermis Linn(Henna) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Objective:To investigate the antibacterial activity of henna(Lawsonia inermis Linn) obtained from different regions of Oman against a wide array of micro-organisms.Methods:fresh henna samples were obtained from different regions of Oman as leaves and seeds,100 g fresh and dry leaves and SO g of fresh and dry seeds were separately soaked in 500 mL of ethanol for three days,respectively,with frequent agitation.The mixture was filtered,and the crude extract was collected.The crude extract was then heated,at 48 ℃ in a water bath to evaporate its liquid content.The dry crude henna extract was then tested for its antibacterial activity using well-diffusion antibiotic susceptibility technique.Henna extracts were investigated for their antibacterial activity at different concentrations against a wide array of different micro-organisms including a laboratory standard bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa(NCTC 10662)(A aeruginosa) and eleven fresh clinical isolates of P.aeruginosa obtained from patients attending the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital(SQUH).2-Hydroxy-p-Nathoqinone-Tech(2-HPNT, MW=174.16,C_(10)H_40_3) was included as control(at 50%concentration) along with the henna samples tested.Results:Henna samples demonstrated antibacterial activity against all isolates but the highest susceptibility was against P.aeruginosa with henna samples obtained from Al-sharqyia region.Conclusions:Omani henna from Al-sharqyia region demonstrates high in vitro anti-P. aeruginosa activity compared with many henna samples from different regions of Oman.

Propulsive matrix of a helical flagellum

We study the propulsion matrix of bacterial flagella numerically using slender body theory and the regularized Stokeslet method in a biologically relevant parameter regime. All three independent elements of the matrix are measured by computing propulsive force and torque generated by a rotating flagellum, and the drag force on a translating flagellum. Nu- merical results are compared with the predictions of resistive force theory, which is often used to interpret micro-organism propulsion. Neglecting hydrodynamic interactions between different parts of a flagellum in resistive force theory leads to both qualitative and quantitative discrepancies between the theoretical prediction of resistive force theory and the numerical results. We improve the original theory by empirically incorporating the effects of hydrodynamic interactions and propose new expressions for propulsive matrix elements that are accurate over the parameter regime explored.

Impact of Domestic Solid Waste Management on Wet Land Water Quality: Case of Abomey-Calavi Municipality in Benin Republic

The waste management is a major environmental challenge in all the countries. In the Republic of Benin, in absence of controlled landfill, the wetlands are filling in by solid household waste to set up housing environments. This study aimed at identifying the various forms of wetlands water pollutions originated by this practice. Physico-chemical parameters of sampling water were determined by using Ionic chromatography and spectrometry of atomic absorption. The microorganisms indicating fecal peril were identified by the conventional techniques of microbiology. Water quality of a witness well was also used to assess the general water quality of the backfilled wetland. The results revealed the water samples collected from backefilled wetlands were mineralized (898.32 ± 6.13 μs/cm), rich in chlorinate (237.80 ± 4.23 mg/L) and nitrates ions (224.10 ± 3.42 mg/L). They are more colored (399.23 ± 3.01 Pt/Co) and more turbid (62.5 ± 2.48 NTU) than those of the unfilled wetlands. The results of microbiological analysis shown the presence of the cysts of Giardia lamblia (590/100 L) and cysts of Entamoeba histolytica (13/100 L) in all water, except those of witness well. The frequency of water contamination by bacteria indicating general degradation is 86.4%. The embankment of the wetlands by the solid household waste leads to the water pollution.