Structural-Adaptation Features of Assimilation Organs of the Species Salsola incanescens Cam. in Conditions of Kyzylkum

The article presents the results of the morpho-anatomical structure of the assimilation organs of the species Salsola leptoclada Gand, which is widespread in the Kyzylkum desert region of Uzbekistan, and reveals the structural, diagnostic and adaptive features. In the assimilation organs, Kranz type of mesophyll was found: in the cotyledons of the Kranz-spherical (Atriplicoid) type, and in the leaf—mesophylls of the Kranz-centric (Salsoloid) and Kranz-ventrodorsal type. These revealed diagnostic features of the assimilating organs of this species in arid conditions noted C4-type photosynthesis. Based on the comparative biometric analysis of quantitative indices of the anatomical features of the assimilating organs, xero-halomorphic features predominate. Halomorphic features are in the cotyledons—thin outer walls of the epidermal cells;few stomata of the anomocytic and paracytic type;few rows of spongy cells (3 - 4 rows);few vascular bundles of the collateral type and xylem, in the leaf—large and thin outer walls of the epidermal cells;succulence of the leaf mesophyll, the presence of aquiferous cells;large palisade, keratin and aquiferous cells. Xeromorphic features in the cotyledons—small and numerous epidermal cells and hemiparacytic type stomata also deep immersion;small palisade cells and a high palisade index, small spongy, hypodermal and keratin cells;small diameter of the xylem in vascular bundles;in the leaf numerous epidermal cells and stomata also deeply immersed;presence and numerous multicellular nodular, dentate trichomes;multi-row water-bearing cells;high palisade index;small and numerous xylem;numerous peripheral vascular bundles of the collateral type. These identified specific diagnostic features showing adaptation to arid conditions can also serve in the identification of plant materials.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis C and its risk factors in Khuzestan Province, South-West of Iran:A case-control study

AIM：To evaluate possible risk factors for the spread of hepatitis C infection and to analyze the characteristics of the epidemiological and clinical patterns among the patients with hepatitis C infection. METHODS： During a five-year period a cross-sectional study was conducted among HCV positive individuals referred to the Ahwaz JundiShapour University Hospitals （AJSUH） and Hepatitis Clinic from 1 Sept 1999 to 1 Sept 2003. The control group consisted of first time blood donors referred to the Regional Blood Transfusion organization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and recombinant immunoblot assay anti-hepatitis C virus （HCV） tests were performed for two groups. Positive serum specimens were retested using polymerase chain reaction （PCR） for HCV RNA. Risk factors were evaluated using a questionnaire. Reported risk factors among infected subjects （＂HCV-positive＂） were compared to those of subjects never exposed （＂HCV-negative＂） to HCV. RESULTS： A total of 514 subjects were studied for HCV, of which 254 were HCV-positive and 260 HCV- negative donors comprised the control group. Mean age of the patients was 28.4 （Std 15.22） years. HCV-positive subjects were more likely to be of male gender （63% versus 37%）. Transfusion 132 （52%）, non-intravenous （n-iv） drug abuse and iv drug abuse 37 （14.5%）, haemodialysis 25 （10%）, receiving wounds at war and extramarital sexual activities （2.4%）, tattooing （3.6%） were found to be independent risk factors of being HCV-positive. No apparent risk factors could be demonstrated in 29 （11.2%） of the positive cases. CONCLUSION： Our data indicate that a history of transfusion and iv drug abuse and haemodialysis are important risk factors for HCV infection in our area and that more careful pretransfusion screening of blood for anti- HCV must be introduced in our blood banks. Improvements in certain lifestyle patterns, and customs in this area may be essential to prevent transmission of the infection.

Resolution pattern of jaundice among children presenting with severe malaria in rural South-West Nigeria

Objective:To compare the pattern of jaundice resolution among children with severe malaria treated with quinine and artemether.Methods:Thirty two children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study from two hospitals with intensive care facilities.They were divided into two groups:'Q' and 'A',receiving quinine and artemether.respectively.Jaundice was assessed by clinical examination.Results:Sixteen out of 32 children recruited(representing50%) presented with jaundice on the dav of recruitment.The mean age was(7.00±2.56) years.On day 3,tour patients in 'A' and six patients in 'O' had jaundice.By day 7.no child had jaundice.Conclusion:The study has shown that hoth drugs resolve jaundice although artemether relatively resolves it faster by the third day.

Evaluation of forest disturbance in south-west Zabaikalia (East Siberia)

The forest estate in south-west Zabaikalia, a territory included in the Lake Baikal catchment area, has been investigated. For this purpose we have used both data of our own studies and monitoring data of environmental protection bodies. It shows that in our study area, fires, fellings, entomo-parasites and air pollution are the major negative factors affecting the state of the forest. In the period from 2003 to 2008 fires were registered in the area of over 500 thousand ha, pest foci in the forests covering an area of over 330 thousand ha, where almost 5 million m3wood was cut in an area of about 43 thousand ha. The total area of forests in our study affected by air pollution amounts to about 700 thousand ha. According to the results, forest pollution in the territory is concentrated in the vicinity of large-scale industrial complexes, for distances up to about 40 km. The total area of forests weakened by air pollution amounts to about 2 million ha.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated risk factors among adult females infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Ogun State,Nigeria

Background:Hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa,including Nigeria,and is frequently observed in individuals co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV).Objective:This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B virus and identify the associated risk factors among women with HIV undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART)in Ogun State,Nigeria.Methods:Ethical approval was obtained from the Babcock University Health Research Ethics Committee(BUHREC)to recruit a total of 110 adult women infected with HIV,receiving treatment at the HIV clinics of Babcock University Teaching Hospital(BUTH)in Ilishan-Remo and General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode,both located in Ogun State,Nigeria.The participants’HIV status were confirmed using three rapid diagnostic kits:Determine(Abbott Laboratories,Tokyo,Japan),Unigold HIV(Trinity Biotech Plc Bray,Co.Wicklow,Ireland),and 1/2 Stat Pak(Abbott Laboratories,Tokyo,Japan)(Chembio Diagnostic Systems,New York,USA).Additionally,an HBV 5 in 1 Panel manufactured by Innovation Biotechnology Co.,Ltd in Beijing,China,was employed to detect HBV markers qualitatively in serum samples.Results:Out of the 110 subjects that voluntarily participated in the study,4(3.6%)tested positive for HBsAg,2(1.8%)tested positive for HBsAb,81(73.6%)tested positive for HBeAg,3(2.7%)tested positive for HBeAb,and 65(59.1%)tested positive for HBcAb.There was no significant correlation between the occurrence of HBsAg and the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants(P>0.05).Various risk factors were identified,including lack of knowledge about HBV,absence of HBV vaccination history,history of blood transfusion,organ transplant,and engaging in unprotected sex,among others.Conclusion:The findings highlight the presence of HBV infection among HIV-positive women undergoing HAART in Ogun State,Nigeria,particularly within the age groups of 18–25 years and 26–30 years.These results emphasize the necessity for continuous and targeted public health interventions among this specific population.

Hepatitis C virus transmission and its risk factors within families of patients infected with hepatitis C virus in southern Iran:Khuzestan

AIM: To determine whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of index cases increases intrafamilial transmission (sexual and nonsexual contacts) of HCV. METHODS: In a case-control descriptive study we enrolled 300-household contacts of 60 index cases (40 males and 20 females) of HCV infection and 360 pair- matched controls in Ahwaz JundiShapour University Hospitals from August 1, 1998 to September 1, 2003. The control group consisted of first time blood donors referred to the Regional Blood Transfusion Organization. Serum samples and demographic data and a medical history including the existence of risk factors for HCV (after a questionnaire on the risk factors for parenteral exposure) were obtained from each subject. Antibodies to HCV were detected employing a commercially available second-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA, Abbott Ⅱ). Positive serum specimens were retested using a second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-2) and a polymerase chain reaction for HCV RNA. Data analysis was carried out for intra-household clustering. RESULTS: Only 4 of 300 (1.33%) cases of household contacts without percutaneous risk factors were positive for HCV Ab while the remaining 296 family contacts were negative for anti-HCV. The mean age of the index cases was 28.4 (Std 15.22) years. The anti-HCV prevalences in parents, spouses, children of the index cases were 0.87% (1/115), 3.39% (2/59)) and 0.79% (1/126), respectively. Among couple partners negative for anti-HCV antibodies, the mean duration of the sexual relationship was 6 years.The two-couple partners positive for anti-HCV antibodies married the index cases for longer than 15 years. The prevalence of positive HCV Ab among household contacts (1.33%) was not significantly higher than that in the controls (1%) (P > 0.06). CONCLUSION: Intrafamilial transmission of HCV is not the significant transmission route and sexual transmission does not seem to play a role in the intrafamilial spread of HCV infection. Intrafamilial transmission of HCV is possible but occurs at a low rate.

Petrography and Geochemical Characterization of Dolerites from Figuil (Northern Cameroon) and Léré(Southwestern Chad)

This work presents the petrographic and geochemical data of the dolerite dykes crosscutting the Pan-African basement of Figuil (North-Cameroon) and Léré (South-West Chad) in order to approach their petrogenesis and their emplacement context. Two groups of dolerites have been highlighted by petrographic and geochemical studies. These groups were discriminated by their TiO2, Fe2O3, REE, Ba, Nb, Zr, La and Hf contents which are relatively higher in group I;group II, on the other hand, has higher MgO, Mg#, Sc, Ni and Cr contents. The mineralogical assemblage of these dolerites is made up by plagioclases, pyroxenes, olivine, oxides, amphibole, biotite and sometimes pyrite, calcite, apatite, epidote and chlorite. The behaviour of the major and trace elements suggest that studied dolerites have an evolution dominated by fractional crystallization. Most dolerite samples show higher REE concentrations and (La/Yb)N > 8.7, (Tb/Yb)N > 1.9 and Dy/Yb > 2 ratios characterizing a garnet-bearing mantle. The difference in incompatible elements between the two groups is explained by the degree of partial melting of the same source which becomes more important over time. Low (Ce/Yb)N values (3.3 - 11.58) also suggest relatively low partial melting degree of the source. Fractional crystallization process was possibly combined with minor crustal contamination as shown by enrichment of Th/Yb from group II to Group I that might be due to turbulent magma emplacement. The chemical compositions of these dolerites are similar to that of continental tholeiites with slightly moderate negative Nb-Ta anomalies which are attributed to crustal contamination of magmas. As other dolerites of Cameroon, continental tholeiitic signature of the studied dolerites is evidenced in geotectonic discrimination diagrams with Group II dolerite compositions falling within the field of tholeiitic basalts and group I within the field of alkali basalts.

An investigation into the feasibility of a hybrid generator-photovoltaic-wind farm with variable load profile:case of headland south-west of Morocco

A hybrid system proposed by three different specifications for the equipment of a tourist lodge in the headland of south-west Morocco was sized by analysing the limits of load profile constraints,such as hour-to-hour variability(HHR),day-to-day variability(DDR)and the operating reserve rate(ROR).Based on the three-factor Doehlert matrix recommendations,the simulations employed an energy-sizing tool for hybrid renewable-energy systems.Testing was conducted with DDR at 5-30%,HHR at 10-30%and ROR at 0-20%.Under these conditions,a second-order polynomial relationship with a correlation rate of~90%was found between the net present cost(NPC)of the system,the levelized cost of electricity and the various constraint factors.The first specification,SPC(1),composed of generators and batteries,was introduced to control and validate the simulation independently of renewable energy,which showed a positive manifestation with the imposed constraints.The analysis expanded by introducing solar and wind energy resources.The SPC(2)configuration added PV modules to the SPC(1)and the SPC(3)configuration added wind turbines to SPC(2).The effect of DDR,HHR and ROR in the trials was significant by linear regression.At the same time,only DDR had a significant quadratic regression.The others,with their pairwise interactions,were insignificant.The desirability procedure made it possible to calculate the maximum limits of load profile constraint variables leading to targets of LCOE=0.41 US$/kWh and NPC=US$320080.1 of the load profile constraints:the DDR=15.47%and the HHR=26.55%at an ROR rate of 17.77%.

Distribution of soils and solifluction layers in landslide area of South-West Germany

As part of the MABIS research project (Mass movements in South and West-Germany)which was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) detailed causal, age and riskanalyses were carried out on several landslides. Investigations were carried out on the SwabianJurassic escarpment (South-West Germany). The mass movements were examined by means ofgeomorphological and pedological field mapping, through the differentiation of the solifluctionlayers and through mineralogical analyses. These investigations aimed at distinguishing betweenHolocene and Pleistocene landslides, classifying different climatic cycles of slope evolution andgathering information about potential risk areas. It could be confirmed that large rotationallandslides (earth-slump flows according to Vames 1978) occurred during the Pleistocene period,whereas during the Holocene period these fossil mass movements were only reworked anddisplaced.

西南少数民族咂酒及其开发前景

Za wine is a kind. of health drink existing. in the South-West-ern minorities. The author in this article believes that the history of Za wine should be tracked back to at least 7000 years ago The author analyses the unique feature of Za wine from its raw materi-als, procedures in production to its nutritious compositions, and points out that to develop Za wine has a bright fu ture.

Assessment of sediment yield using RS and GIS at two sub-basins of Dez Watershed,Iran

Soil erosion is a serious threat to soil and water resources in semi-arid regions.Modified Pacific Southwest Inter Agency Committee(MPSIAC)and Erosion Potential Method(EPM),as two well-known models,have shown their performance in many case studies.The goal of present study is to assess the efficiency of these methods for estimating the sediments yield and erosion intensity within short-term and longterm timeframes over two sub-basins of Dez watershed,west of Iran.The results showed that the study area can be categorized into slight,moderate,high and very high erosion zones.Almost half of the study area is highly susceptible to erosion due to the geological formations and land cover.Moreover,the longterm(i.e.30 years)sediment yield of 387 and 615(kton)y^(-1) estimated by MPSIAC and EPM models demonstrated the superiority of EPM.Compared to the measured value of 612(kton)y^(-1),the performance of EPM was astonishing.By splitting the dataset into six periods of five years,the sediment yield was predicted in short-term periods by both aforementioned methods.Such segmentation provides the opportunity to evaluate the impact of extreme flooding events on the models performances.The results showed that both models failed in estimation of sediment load during flood conditions.Nevertheless,the correlation coefficients for estimating the sediment yield were found to be R=0.93 and R=0.85 for EPM and MPSIAC models respectively,for short-term simulations.