Lack Of Segregation Research Articles

Effects of Micro- and Nanosilica on the Mechanical and Microstructural Characteristics of Some Special Mortars Made with Recycled Concrete Aggregates.

In this paper, we study the influence of densified microsilica and colloidal nanosilica admixtures on the mechanical strength and the microstructural characteristics of special mortars used for immobilizing radioactive concrete waste. The experimental program focused on the replacement of cement with micro- and/or nanosilica, in different proportions, in the basic composition of a mortar made with recycled aggregates. The technical criteria imposed for such cementitious systems, used for the encapsulation of low-level radioactive waste, imply high fluidity, increased mechanical strength and lack of segregation and of bleeding. We aimed to increase the structural compactness of the mortars by adding micro- and nanosilica, all the while maintaining the technical criteria imposed, to obtain a cement matrix with high durability and increased capacity for immobilizing radionuclides. The samples from all the compositions obtained were analyzed from the point of view of mechanical strength. Also, micro- and nanosilica as well as samples of the optimal mortar compositions were analyzed physically and microstructurally. Experimental data showed that the mortar samples present maximum compressive strength for a content between 6 and 7.5% wt. of microsilica, respectively, for a content of 2.25% wt. nanosilica. The obtained results suggest a synergistic effect of micro- and nanosilica when they are used simultaneously in cementitious compositions. Thus, among the analyzed compositional variants, the mortar composition with 3% wt. microsilica and 2.25% wt. nanosilica showed the best performance, with an increase in compressive strength of 23.5% compared to the control sample (without micro- and nanosilica). Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images highlighted the decrease in pore diameter and the increase in structural compactness, especially for mortar samples with nanosilica content or a mixture of micro- and nanosilica. This study is useful in the field of recycling radioactive concrete resulting from the decommissioning of nuclear research or nuclear power reactors.

Management of healthcare waste collection and segregation for developing countries.

Healthcare waste (HCW) consists of hazardous material that may be radioactive, toxic or infectious. Inappropriate treatment and disposal of HCW may pose health risks to humans indirectly through the release of pathogens and toxic pollutants into the environment. The biggest problem in HCW management is its handling, which causes anxiety over sorting and categorizing the waste. Hence, the current study identifies and addresses the challenges towards sustainable environmental development by managing infectious HCW in developing countries. Fuzzy Delphi method is used in the present study to carefully examine the barrier drawn from the literature and experts' opinions. The number of barriers taken into consideration for study are 30, which are then grouped into four main categories, that is, social, environmental, technological and economic barriers. Additionally, a hybrid strategy based on the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory is developed in this work to examine the significance and interrelationships of the identified barrier. The research outcome is a hierarchy and classification model based on the relative importance of the barriers. The results of this study indicate that: 'Lack of segregation', 'Inconsistency in waste collection', 'Unregulated disposal site' and 'Inadequate programme for training and awareness' require quick action. The conclusions obtained through the study would facilitate the preparation of check sheets for documenting HCW management procedures by the healthcare administration and Pollution Control Boards. Understanding the priority cause-group barrier would improve the long-term protection of the hospital environment from the spread of infection caused by the HCW.

Impact of BMW Segregation Training Program on Hospital Infection Control in a South Indian Hospital

Introduction: Biomedical waste (BMW) generated is a matter of great concern as it consists of high levels of hazardous waste. The lack of segregation and disposal policy in India leads to use of such infectious waste in day-to-day life [1]. Lack of awareness about segregation of Biomedical Waste (BMW) at source is a major cause for Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) and increased risk of contamination of hospital and external environment.
 Materials & Methods: To address the problem, we decided to train interns and health care workers to increase their awareness about BMW segregation and thereby reduce HAI.
 The program was run in 3 phases. In the 1st phase need assessment was done as to how important and effective this program would be in controlling HAI. The 2nd phase comprised of identifying the stake holders in the program who will play the key role in implementing the program effectively. The 3rd phase of Biomedical Segregation Program BMWSP focused on the outcomes as enumerated in the Kirkpatrick model [2], viz., participants’ reaction, learning, change in behavior and results. Measuring the impact of the program on the learners at these four levels revealed the effectiveness of the program.
 Results: To overcome the shortfalls in the Kirkpatrick model we used Logic model which took care of the instructional design. Logic model is better suitable for evaluating BMWSP as it considers inter-relation between constituents in a sequence and their effect on the process as well as product providing the necessary roadmap from the planned work (inputs and activities) to the intended results (outputs, outcomes and impact). It is a sequence of events connecting each other starting with Resources / Inputs, Activities, Outputs, Outcomes and Impact. The model helped medical interns and dental students to understand the importance for BMWSP and also made a significant difference in its implementation.
 Conclusion: The program helped in making the health care staff more aware about BMWSP. It also increased their knowledge, and helped in implementation of the program. This will significantly reduce HAI and overall benefit the society.

REVIEWING CLINICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK IN PAKISTAN: PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES

The waste generated at healthcare facilities has two distinct categories: hazardous and non-hazardous waste. 10- 15% of the total waste generated at hospitals is hazardous which is termed as clinical waste. This review article has reported and reviewed the practices of clinical waste management in Pakistan’s major cities. Researches demonstrated that about 1.35 Kg / bed waste has been produced by the tertiary health care facilities in Pakistan. Studies for review process are selected through an iterative process. More than 100 research articles, National legislations, international protocols and newspaper reports are consulted and reviewed to extract the data of interest. Clinical waste management in Pakistan is the responsibility of the individual health care facility producing it under Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005. Due to lack of proper checks and weak implementation of legislations many gaps have been identified in this review article like lack of segregation, inappropriate vehicles for transportation, poor storage and no advanced pollution control treatment strategies. Most of the hospitals lack documented waste management plan. Staff was mostly untrained and under educated. International standards for safe hazardous waste disposal are not being followed resulting in spread of diseases like hepatitis and AIDS. Cases of poor recycling and reuse of used clinical instruments is also documented. However, the condition is much satisfactory in big cities. There is an understanding to focus on the proper implementation of clinical waste management rules with strict checks. Establishment of incineration facility at major hospitals with proper maintenance, safe transportation to secure landfills and utilization of proper SOPs are suggested improvements towards safe management of clinical waste.

Desegregating Language: The New Afrikaans Crime Novel

Encountering postapartheid Afrikaans fiction for the first time, particularly the fast-paced crime novels of Deon Meyer, the author finds that the most unexpected element is the new lack of segregation between Afrikaans and English.

Pleiotropic Phenotypes Associated With PKP2 Variants.

Plakophilin-2 (PKP2) is a component of the desmosome complex and known for its role in cell-cell adhesion. Recently, alterations in the Pkp2 gene have been associated with different inherited cardiac conditions including Arrythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ACM or ARVC), Brugada syndrome (BrS), and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation to name the most relevant. However, the assessment of pathogenicity regarding the genetic variations associated with Pkp2 is still a challenging task: the gene has a positive Residual Variation Intolerance Score and the potential deleterious role of several of its variants has been disputed. Limitations in facilitating interpretation and annotations of these variants are seen in the lack of segregation and clinical data in the control population of reference. In this review, we will provide a summary of all the currently available genetic information related to the Pkp2 gene, including different phenotypes, ClinVar annotations and data from large control database. Our goal is to provide a literature review that could help clinicians and geneticists in interpreting the role of Pkp2 variants in the context of heritable sudden death syndromes. Limitations of current algorithms and data repositories will be discussed.

Diphenylphenoxy-Thiophene-PDI Dimers as Acceptors for OPV Applications with Open Circuit Voltage Approaching 1 Volt.

Two new perylenediimides (PDIs) have been developed for use as electron acceptors in solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells. The compounds were designed to exhibit maximal solubility in organic solvents, and reduced aggregation in the solid state. In order to achieve this, diphenylphenoxy groups were used to functionalize a monomeric PDI core, and two PDI dimers were bridged with either one or two thiophene units. In photovoltaic devices prepared using PDI dimers and a monomer in conjunction with PTB7, it was found that the formation of crystalline domains in either the acceptor or donor was completely suppressed. Atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, charge carrier mobility measurements and recombination kinetics studies all suggest that the lack of crystallinity in the active layer induces a significant drop in electron mobility. Significant surface recombination losses associated with a lack of segregation in the material were also identified as a significant loss mechanism. Finally, the monomeric PDI was found to have sub-optimum LUMO energy matching the cathode contact, thus limiting charge carrier extraction. Despite these setbacks, all PDIs produced high open circuit voltages, reaching almost 1 V in one particular case.

Frequency Distribution Analysis of a Maize Population as a Tool in Maize Breeding

The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of progressive selection generations in order to define the maximum efficiency of increasing yield in relation to the stage of selection procedure. Experimental procedure lasted five years on open-pollinated lines selected in two contrasting environments under low plant population. Mean grain yield of individual maize plants increased by 79% from C0 to C4 generation in environment A and 32% in environment B. Yield of individual plants was increased by 58% from C0 to C2 when selection was fully practiced in environment B. The progressive reduction of CV values through the selection generations revealed gene fixation and lack of segregation in selected lines which tended to be more uniform and homozygous. Low to medium negative kurtosis and low to medium positive skewness, accompanied by a more “squared” shape of distribution curve may indicate more homozygous genetic material that was categorized in clusters of similar C4 lines as was observed in environment A, depicting the end of selection procedure. In C4, a breeder may choose from the upper part of distribution curve (higher yielding plants) in order to avoid possible selection of deleterious genes at the kurtosis-biased lower part of the distribution curve. Our findings suggested the selection of cultivars of narrow adaptation, because at the initial stages of the selection program the effect of environment lead to different genetic materials, favouring certain genotypes. In our study environment B favoured selection procedure for developing high yielding open-pollinated lines for breeding and farming purposes.

Sovereignty in the Age of Cyber

International law is a foundational pillar of the modern international order, and its applicability to both state and nonstate cyber activities is, by now, beyond question. However, owing to the unique and rapidly evolving nature of cyberspace, its ubiquitous interconnectivity, its lack of segregation between the private and public sectors, and its incompatibility with traditional concepts of geography, there are difficult and unresolved questions about exactly how international law applies to this domain. Chief among these is the question of the exact role that the principle of sovereignty plays in regulating states’ cyber activities.

Influence of Anneal Time on Σ3 Boundary Segregation in Commercially Pure Nickel

Commercially pure nickel (Ni200) samples were thermo-mechanically processed to drive segregation into Σ3, special grain boundaries. The special grain boundaries were characterized using electron backscatter diffraction, and their segregation behavior at the atomic level was studied using atom probe tomography. Local electrode atom probe analyses showed a lack of segregation at the Σ3 special grain boundary for a specimen annealed at 1000 °C for 30 h except for a slight increase in Si. This specimen was utilized in a previous study by the authors to compare the effects of segregation of type-specific grain boundaries. Local electrode atom probe results showed no segregation at the special grain boundary for a specimen annealed at 1000 °C for 100 h providing preliminary evidence that there is a correlation between increased anneal time and the effectiveness of Σ3 special grain boundaries to inhibit grain boundary segregation.

Perancangan Sistem Akuntansi Persediaan Dan Kartu Gudang Berbasis Komputer Pada Konveksi Tas

Bag is one of commodities produced by local industries in Indonesia in general, and in particular western Sumatra. However, the company, has several weaknesses related to the management and recording of inventory such as the lack of segregation of duties and responsibilities by each section, management procedures and record-keeping supplies inadequate and the lack of documents and records that support the transactions related to inventory , This research aims to design a card inventory accounting system and computer-based warehouse that will be applied to the sales system, purchasing system and system of material usage to fit the elements contained in the internal control system. Based on research that has been done, then the inventory accounting system designed in accordance with the elements contained in the internal control systems and computer-based warehouse cards are useful for recording the transfer of inventory stored in warehouse. Besides being able to produce information that is far more accurate than manual recording, computer-based warehouse card is also used in the savings and effectiveness of the use of the document processing time.

Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Composition at Administrative Building Café in Universiti Putra Malaysia: A Case Study

Increasing solid waste is one of the most crucial environmental problems in Malaysia. Improper management of solid waste will cause many problems. Increasing solid waste, lack of segregation from the source, and lack of knowledge and awareness about recycling have only worsened the problem. Knowledge of solid waste generation and composition is necessary for accurate decision making in the management strategy of municipal solid waste. The objectives of this study were to measure solid waste generation and analyse and compare the composition of solid waste in two different cafes at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Solid waste samples were collected every day except for Saturdays and Sundays over a three-week period and were sorted and classified into several weighed compositions such as food waste, plastic, paper, aluminium cans, glass, metal, textiles, wood, and more. Results showed that total municipal solid waste generated during three weeks of sampling at Forestry cafe and Park View cafe were 325.75 kg, or an average of 21.72 kg/day, and 2979.70 kg, or 198.65 kg/day, respectively. There is significant difference in data collection between the two locations. From the result, it shows that organic waste was the main component in municipal solid waste composition for both cafes, where it is 81% for Forestry Cafe and 96% for Park View Cafe, followed by the other compositions. The high organic waste indicates the necessity for frequent collection and removal, as well as having a good prospect for organic waste recycling through composting. Based on this information, a proper waste management system can be introduced to treat the solid waste more efficiently.

A Study of the Functionality of Hydrated Lime as an Admixture

It is known that hydrated lime improves the workability and water retention of Portland cement (PC) mortars. PC-lime mixes can be reworked without increasing entrained air thus not undermining durability. In addition, lime lowers strength and stiffness making PC mortars more deformable. However, the use of hydrated lime in PC composites has largely decreased due to the use of plasticisers. These enhance workability and lower cement content reducing heat of hydration. As they are water reducers, they are expected to decrease permeability, minimise shrinkage, enhance ultimate strength and accelerate early-strength gain; leading to stronger, durable composites. Despite these advantages, plasticisers have drawbacks related to wastage and environmental protection. This paper studies the properties of PC-lime mortars and their plasticised equivalents. It concludes that lime raises mortar water demand however, this does not reduce strength but on the contrary, mortars of low lime content (lime amounting 1/4 th the cement), have superior flexural and compressive strengths than their plasticised equivalents. The use of lime delivered PC mortars with excellent workability and surface finish and lack of segregation and bleeding. It is concluded that, when lime amounts 1/4 th the cement, the mortars are stronger (in tension and compression, at both early and mature age) and gain strength at a faster rate than plasticised mixes. However, when lime equals the cement content, strengths are lower than those of plasticised mixes. It was also noted that lime enhanced bond strength at all ages; and that the ultimate bond strength is greater for the low lime than for the high lime content mortars.

Lack of segregation between two species of Chagas disease vectors.

Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus are relevant Chagas disease vectors. An apparent segregation among these triatomine species inside human households was suggested to rely on mutual repellence between them. However, P. megistus and T. infestans show aggregation responses to chemical signals emitted by the other species. These findings do not rule out the possibility that stimuli other than chemical signals could mediate repellence when these species exploit shelters simultaneously. In the present study, we investigated how P. megistus and T. infestans exploit shelters in controlled laboratory conditions and how insect density and environmental illumination modulate this behavior. We evaluated whether these species aggregate inside shelters or mutually repel each other. Panstrongylus megistus and T. infestans show specific patterns of shelter exploitation, which are differentially affected by insect density and environment illumination. In particular, P. megistus is more sensitive to insect density than T. infestans, whereas T. infestans shows higher sensitivity to illumination than P. megistus. Nevertheless, these species exploit shelters randomly without any apparent repellence.

Acetolactate Synthase (ALS) Target-Site Mutations in ALS Inhibitor-Resistant Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus)

ALS inhibitor-resistant biotypes are the fastest growing class of herbicide-resistant (HR) weeds. A Canadian ALS inhibitor-resistant biotype of Russian thistle was first reported in 1989. The molecular basis for ALS-inhibitor resistance is unknown for Canadian populations of this polyploid weed species, and was determined in this study for one Alberta and two Saskatchewan HR Russian thistle populations. HR plants survived spray application of the ALS-inhibitor mixture thifensulfuron : tribenuron in the greenhouse. All three HR Russian thistle populations were heterogeneous and contained both HR and herbicide-susceptible (HS) individuals. The molecular basis for resistance was determined by sequencing theALSgene and/or conducting a TaqMan genotyping assay for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) for the Trp574Leu mutation. Two target-site mutations were observed: Trp574Leu in all three biotypes (554 individuals) and Pro197Gln in one biotype (one individual), suggesting multiple-founding events for Russian thistle HR populations in western Canada. Segregation patterns among F1 and F2 progeny arrays of HR lines sprayed under greenhouse conditions varied; some segregated (i.e., had HR and HS progeny), whereas other lines were exclusively HR. In contrast, no segregation of molecular types, i.e., Trp574, Trp/Leu574and Leu574, as would be expected with heterozygosity at a single locus Trp/Leu574, was observed. Such lack of segregation is consistent with the polyploid genome structure of Russian thistle and the presence of two copies of theALSgene. The presence of more than oneALSgene confounded the ability of the molecular techniques to accurately identify “true” heterozygotes in this study.

Functional impairment of p16 INK4A due to CDKN2A p.Gly23Asp missense mutation

The CDKN2A locus encodes for two distinct tumor suppressor proteins, p16 INK4A and p14 ARF, involved in cell cycle regulation. CDKN2A germline mutations have been associated with familial predisposition to melanoma and other tumor types. Besides bona-fide pathogenic mutations, many sequence variants have been identified, but their effect is not well known. We detected the p.Gly23Asp missense mutation in one of the two tested melanoma patients of a family with three melanoma cases. Even though the mutated amino acid is located in a conserved domain that specifically binds to and blocks the function of CDK4/6, its lack of segregation with disease suggested a series of functional assays to discriminate between a pathogenic variant and a neutral polymorphism. The effect of this mutation has been investigated exploiting four p16 INK4A properties: its ability (i) to bind CDK4, (ii) to inhibit pRb phosphorylation, (iii) to evenly localize in the cell, and (iv) to cause cell cycle arrest. The mutant protein properties were evaluated transfecting three different cell lines (U2-OS and NM-39, both p16-null, and SaOS 2, p53 and pRb-null) with plasmids expressing either p16 wt, p16 23Asp, or the p16 32Pro pathogenic variant. We found that p16 23Asp was less efficient than p16 wt in CDK4 binding, in inhibiting pRb phosphorylation, in inducing G1 cell cycle arrest; moreover, its pattern of distribution throughout the cell was suggestive of protein aggregation, thus assessing a pathogenic role for p16 23Asp in familial melanoma.

Copepods and branchiopods of temporary ponds in the Doñana Natural Area (SW Spain): a four-decade record (1964–2007)

The Donana Natural Area includes a large array of wetlands with the highest degree of environmental protection in Spain, and so it has long attracted many studies. We present a cumulative list of zooplankton taxa (Copepods and Branchiopods) based on a collection of 18 publications (1964–2007) and 4 unpublished studies. Seventy-eight taxa have been recorded in a set of 55 ponds, and 72 taxa at 38 sites spread over the Donana marshland. In total, 96 taxa have been recorded, including 50% of all branchiopod species reported for the whole Iberian Peninsula. Taxa composition was significantly segregated between ponds and marshland during floods (ANOSIM test, R = 0.929, P < 0.01), but this segregation disappeared at a larger spatio-temporal scale when a non-metric MDS ordination produced a gradient from ponds to marshland (ANOSIM test, R = 0.272, P < 0.01). The lack of segregation between ponds and marshland sites, and among ponds with different hydroperiods, was not due to a large number of cosmopolitan species, but to a random distribution of a large number of low-occurrence species (67% of total taxa occurred with a frequency <15%). Long-hydroperiod ponds occupy a key position among the Donana wetlands in terms of biodiversity as these ponds accumulated a high crustacean richness over time. They also supported a significantly higher cumulative number of cladoceran and harpacticoid taxa, while short-hydroperiod ponds accumulated the lowest number of diaptomid taxa. Our data indicate the need for recording biodiversity in the long term as richness on a short-temporal scale is not a good indicator of the number of crustacean species that would be encountered with a longer sampling period in Mediterranean temporary wetlands.

Genetic analysis of seedling resistance to Stagonospora nodorum blotch in selected tetraploid and hexaploid wheat genotypes

Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB), caused by Phaeosphaeria nodorum, is a major component of the leaf-spotting disease complex of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the northern Great Plains of North America. This study was conducted, under controlled environmental conditions, to determine the inheritance of resistance to SNB in a diverse set ofhexaploid and tetraploid wheat genotypes and to decipher the genic/allelic relationship among the resistance gene(s). Plants were inoculated at the two to three-leaf stages with a spore suspension of P. nodorum isolate Kelvington-SK and disease reaction was assessed 8 days after inoculation based on a lesion-type scale. Tests of the F 1 and F 2 generations and of F 2 : 3 or F 2 : 5 families indicated that a single recessive gene controlled resistance to SNB in both hexaploid and tetraploid resistance sources. Lack of segregation in intra-specific and inter-specific crosses between the hexaploid and the tetraploid resistant genotypes, indicated that these genetically diverse sources of resistance possess the same gene for resistance to SNB. Results of this study suggest that the wheat-P. nodorum interaction may follow the toxin model of the gene-for-gene hypothesis.

Genetic Analysis of Resistance to Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Races 1 and 5 in Tetraploid and Hexaploid Wheat

Tan spot of wheat, caused by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is a destructive disease worldwide that can lead to serious losses in quality and quantity of wheat grain production. Resistance to multiple races of P. tritici-repentis was identified in a wide range of genetically diverse genotypes, including three different species Triticum aestivum (AABBDD), T. spelta (AABBDD), and T. turgidum (AABB). The major objectives of this study were to determine the genetic control of resistance to P. tritici-repentis races 1 and 5 in 12 newly identified sources of resistance. The parents, F(1), F(2), and F(2:3) or F(2:5) families of each cross were analyzed for the allelism tests and/or inheritance studies. Plants were inoculated at the two-leaf stage under controlled environmental conditions and disease reaction was assessed based on lesion-type rating scale. A single recessive gene controlled resistance to necrosis caused by P. tritici-repentis race 1 in both tetraploid and hexaploid resistant genotypes. The lack of segregation in the inter- and intra-specific crosses between the resistant tetraploid and hexaploid genotypes indicated that they possess the same genes for resistance to tan necrosis and chlorosis induced by P. tritici-repentis race 1. A single dominant gene for chlorosis in hexaploid wheat and a single recessive gene for necrosis in tetraploid wheat, controlled resistance to P. tritici-repentis race 5.

An improvement of a cellular manufacturing system design using simulation analysis

Cell Formation (CF) problem involves grouping the parts into part families and machines into manufacturing cells, so that parts with similar processing requirements are manufactured within the same cell. Many researches have suggested methods for CF. Few of these methods; have addressed the possible existence of exceptional elements (EE) in the solution and the effect of correspondent intercellular movement, which cause lack of segregation among the cells. This paper presents a simulation-based methodology, which takes into consideration the stochastic aspect in the cellular manufacturing (CM) system, to create better cell configurations. An initial solution is developed using any of the numerous CF procedures. The objective of the proposed method which provides performances ratings and cost-effective consist in determine how best to deal with the remaining EE. It considers and compares two strategies (1) permitting intercellular transfer and (2) exceptional machine duplication. The process is demonstrated with a numerical example.