Milliliter Of Water Research Articles

Arduino performance in control systems for converting air-to-water

Humans are unable to function without water. Water is therefore necessary for living. This study will address the advantages of converting air into drinkable water based on this premise. Regarding the condensation process itself, it is not the best option to use it in remote locations because it needs a lot of energy and equipment. Consequently, thermoelectric technology was used in this study to replace the condensation process. This tool's easier thermoelectric operation makes it suitable for usage in remote locations. The design of an effective Arduino program control system should take into account the effects of temperature and humidity condition parameters on the environment to maximize water production. This will allow the performance between supporting sensors and the main components to be automatically optimized under a variety of environmental conditions and produce water without wasting excessive energy. As a result, the trial where the average temperature was 30°C and the average humidity was 81% produced the highest results for the researchers when they calculated the environmental condition factors that were already known. Within the hour-long study session, 6 milliliters of water were created. In addition to the efficiency with which the Arduino program is commanded, from all sensors to the primary thermoelectric components, it can execute commands automatically and optimally. It can also resolve issues that affect the air-to-water converter controller's performance in a way that ensures proper operation of all controllers by taking into account the relevant factors. to the fullest without squandering too much energy

Studying Production of Protein Hydrolysates from Fish By-Products using Bacillus sp.

Fish by-products contain a large amount of nutritious proteins. However, nowadays in the fish processing industry, they are often seen as a source of waste to be disposed of. In this study, Bacillus sp. was used to convert fish by-products into protein hydrolysates intended for serving as a liquid organic fertilizer for crops. The fermentation medium was mixed to include one gram of ground fish by-products and four grams of cane molasses per three milliliters of water; the bacteria inoculum was approximately 1.1 × 109 CFU/ml at pH 7.0; the bacterial culture was shaken at 130 rpm at room temperature. After 36 hours of fermentation, analysis of the final hydrolysate showed that: (i) the degree of protein hydrolysis was 71.6%; (ii) NPK was about 0.38:0.15:0.06; (iii) pH was 6.41;(iv) total amino acids was 0.52 g/100 g solution; (v) phytotoxicity was low and (vi) at a 600-fold dilution, the hydrolysates showed an improvement in leaf width and length on 40-day-old mustard greens [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern].

Isolation, Identification, and Morphometric Characterization of Native Isolates of Beauveria spp. from Banana Crops

A survey of entomopathogenic fungi was carried out from specimens of Cosmopolites sordidus infected with mycosis in commercial plantations and from banana crop soil samples. From a total of 72 samples, 15 native isolates of Beauveria spp. were obtained, of which three came from adult Cosmopolites sordidus and twelve from soil samples, where their main macroscopic physiological and microscopic morphometric characteristics were recorded. Colonies on PDA, SDA and EMA culture media are initially white to felted and eventually become creamy powdery with concentric rings. Reverse light yellow, Conidia hyaline, globose to subglobose1.0-2.5 (1.9 µm) x 1.0-2.0 (1.7 µm) Conidiogenous cells, with globose bases. 2.0-3.0 (2.3 µm) x 2.0-2.5(2.1 µm) and conidiophores 25 to 50 µm long with tubular septate mycelium. Radial growth rate was measured in three different media, the results obtained show that all the isolates present a similar radial growth in the Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and malt extract culture media, the highest radial growth was obtained by isolate BBT324 with a radial growth of 12.75 mm in 10 days and the lowest radial growth with 6.05 mm was obtained in the Papa Detroxa Agar medium with isolate BBT23, the concentration of the Beauveria spp. conidia, isolate BBT34 was the highest in the Papa Detroxa Agar medium with isolate BBT23, BBT34 isolate was the one that presented the highest percentage of concentration 5.7 million spores per milliliter of water, followed by BBT41 with 3.95

Utilization of rotifers as natural feed in the rearing of saline nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) larvae

After the yolk sac of fish larvae is absorbed, they will utilize external food sources such as natural phytoplankton and zooplankton. Specifically, one of the zooplankton species used is the small-sized rotifer Brachionus sp., which matches the mouth opening of the larvae. The purpose of the experiment was to examine the effects of providing live rotifer in combination with artificial feed on the survival rate and growth of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) larvae in high salinity conditions. The Nile tilapia larvae used in the experiment were the offspring of Red Nifi strain breeders raised in freshwater and still containing yolk sacs. Feeding commenced after the yolk sacs were absorbed, and the salinity was gradually increased to 25-30 ppt. The larvae were fed with rotifers for seven days (P-1), 14 days (P-2), and then continued with another type of artificial feed. There was also a control group that only received artificial feed without rotifers. The stocking density of the fish larvae was 25 individuals per liter, and the total water volume used was 15 liters. The rotifer dose was maintained at 10-20 individuals per milliliter of water per day during the 4-week rearing period. The results showed that providing rotifers in water salinity between 10-15 ppt during the first seven days resulted in a survival rate of > 80%, whereas the control group achieved > 90% survival. However, the survival rate of the larvae started to decline from the second seven-day period with the increase in salinity between 15-25 ppt, and it continued to decrease to < 60% until the fourth week for all treatments.

In Vitro Effect of Aqueous Extract of Fresh Cassava Leaves (Manihot Esculenta, Crantz) on The Larvae of Haemonchus Contortus as an Intestinal Parasite of Sheep

Cassava is frequently fed to animals. In the case of sheep, the producer relates consumption to a reduction in the parasite load. The literature has proven the effect of phenolic compounds as an anthelmintic in vivo, but no evidence for cyanogenic compounds, also present in all parts of the cassava plant, was found. A controlled in vitro bioassay was used to evaluate the aqueous extract of fresh cassava leaves. The efficiency parameter was the immobility of Haemonchus contortus larvae at the L3 stage, also used to evaluate commercial anthelmintics. Cell culture plates with 100 active L3-stage larvae per well were used, being each replicate constituted by three wells. Aqueous extract of fresh cassava leaves (FCL), Ivomec® 0.01% (PCI) as the positive control, and distilled water as negative control (NCW), were placed in the culture plate wells. Considering the immobility of the larvae as a positive anthelmintic effect, the results showed that in NCW treatments all larvae were mobile, while in PCI all 300 larvae were immobile. FCL produced a gradient of larval inactivation correlation (R2 0.996). The best-fit equation was y = -33.39ln(x) + 40.517, a logarithmic equation, which allowed the calculation of the Lethal Concentration (CL) of 3.44 µg CN- ml, or 80.0 mg of fresh cassava leaves per milliliter of water, with a performance equivalent to ivermectin. This concentration of free cyanide is compatible with the safe consumption of fresh leaves by live weight of sheep. The exact amount of cassava roots, leaves, or shoots, consumed to provide an effective dose for controlling H. contort should be established in vivo. Although phenolic compounds must also be present in the extract, the immobility was attributed to cyanogenic compounds since the correlation was proportional to the increase in the cyanide concentration. It can be concluded that the consumption of fresh cassava leaves has the potential as an anthelmintic agent to be evaluated in vivo by feeding sheep and goats. Local use could also add value to the production of fresh cassava leaves, with an average potential production of 2.5 tonnes ha-1, available throughout the year, with greater production at the beginning of cultivation and in the summer months. These leaves could be used after the roots harvesting or even after pruning for this purpose. Currently, this amount of good quality protein material remains without use in the field.

Increasing Water Efficiency by Using Fuzzy Logic Control in Tomatoes Seedling Cultivation

The biggest problem in agriculture is the insufficient amount of water. Sowing cannot be done in the fields due to water scarcity. Some fields become barren land due to excessive irrigation. For these reasons, it is important to use water wisely. In the study, irrigation of tomatoes seed is controlled with fuzzy logic. The use of water is made automatically according to the humidity, temperature and soil moisture of the air. The study was carried out in two stages. First stage; The irrigation system is designed in the MATLAB program. For this, temperature, humidity and soil moisture were used as three inputs. Irrigation time was calculated as output. All inputs and outputs are set to low, medium and high. In the second stage; equal amounts of tomatoes seeds were planted in two separate containers. Normal irrigation was done in the first pot. The control of irrigation in the second bowl was made with fuzzy logic. All data are shown on the screen and recorded for 1 minute. As a result of the study, 22500 milliliters of water were used in normal irrigation, and 10410 milliliters of water were used in a fuzzy logic-controlled circuit. As a result, a water saving of 53.77% was achieved. Arduino microcontroller is used for control. The code was written for the fuzzy logic control circuit simulated in the Arduino microcontroller MATLAB program to work. At the same time, temperature and humidity sensors are connected to the Arduino microcontroller. Incoming data is remotely monitored and controlled by a modem connected to the microcontroller. When the records in the database are examined, 83% energy was saved with lighting algorithm and energy flow control algorithms.

An Inexpensive In Vitro Blood-Feeding System for Wild Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

An Inexpensive <i>In Vitro</i> Blood-Feeding System for Wild <i>Aedes albopictus</i> (Diptera: Culicidae)

Differentiating Sources of Fecal Contamination to Wilderness Waters Using Droplet Digital PCR and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Methods.

Human activity in wilderness areas has the potential to affect aquatic ecosystems, including through the introduction of microorganisms associated with fecal contamination. We examined fecal microorganism contamination in water sources (lake outlets, snowmelt streams) in the popular Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness in the United States. Although the region is remote, increasing human visitation has the potential to negatively affect water quality, with particular concern about human-derived microorganism fecal contaminants. We used standard fecal indicator bacterial assays that quantified total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli concentrations, together with more specific polymerase chain reaction-based microbial assays that identified possible human sources of fecal microorganisms in these waters. Total coliforms were detected at all lake outlets (21 of 21 sites), and E coli was detected at 11 of 21 sites. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assays revealed the presence of human feces-derived microorganisms, albeit at abundances below the limit of detection (<10 gene copies per milliliter of water) at all but 1 of the sampling sites. Our results suggest low prevalence of water-borne pathogens (specifically E coli and human-derived Bacteroides) in this popular wilderness area. However, widespread detection of total coliforms, Bacteroides, and E coli highlight the importance of purifying water sources in wilderness areas before consumption. Specific sources of total coliforms and E coli in these waters remain unknown but could derive from wild or domesticated animals that inhabit or visit the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness. Hence, although contamination by human fecal microorganisms appears minimal, human visitation could indirectly influence fecal contamination through domesticated animals.

Biofilms in Dental Unit Water Lines.

Biofilm formation has become a significant problem in dental unit water lines (DUWLs). The formation of biofilms and microbial growth in DUWLs leads to an unacceptably high number of microorganisms in the water used for spraying, cooling, and ultrasonication procedures. These procedures form aerosols which can be inhaled by the patients, and consequently dentistry constitutes an area of specific concern for patient safety. In particular, older and immunocompromised patients are at risk of serious respiratory tract infections if the water contains pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila and Pseudomonas spp. In the EU it is recommended that the water in DUWLs should not exceed 200 colony-forming units (CFU) of heterotrophic bacteria (bacteria living on organic material) per milliliter of water to be acceptable in dental work. A number of efficient products are available on the market that can be applied onto dental units. New dental units are nowadays equipped with "inbuilt" systems. Such measures have resulted in an acceptable standard of water in 95% of the 1,200 dental units in the Public Dental Health Service of the Västra Götalands region of Sweden that were followed yearly for 4 years. For the majority of the remaining DUWLs with an unacceptable standard this is due to neglect or inappropriate routines for water-cleaning procedures. It is the ability to follow instructions rather than the cleaning procedure itself that is decisive if clinics and dental units are to have an appropriate standard of water in their systems.

The use of hydrophobic pads to recover ignitable liquids from water

Significant amounts of water are used to extinguish fires, and finding evidence of ignitable liquid residue can be challenging for investigators. Hydrophobic pads have been designed to collect oil-based products from the surface of water and preferentially absorb non-polar compounds while repelling water. In this study hydrophobic pads are used to collect various classifications of ignitable liquids from the surface of water for analysis using passive headspace concentration and GC/MS analysis. Hydrophobic pads were found to be effective in collecting ignitable liquids containing hydrocarbons greater than C8, classifications medium and heavy petroleum distillates, from 10 microliters of ignitable liquids added to the surface of 100 milliliters of water. Gasoline and 50% evaporated gasoline were also recovered using the hydrophobic pads with 25 microliters of sample.

Phyllachora maydis Ascospore Release and Germination from Overwintered Corn Residue

Tar spot of corn, caused by Phyllachora maydis, has been reported in several upper Midwest states in the United States. This has led to expanded efforts to more thoroughly understand the biology of P. maydis and the epidemiology of tar spot. This study determined the potential for P. maydis ascospore release and germination from overwintered P. maydis-infected corn residues from various locations in the upper Midwest. Corn residue samples collected in the spring of 2019 from 12 fields in four states were examined. Ascospore release and germination were observed in all residue samples collected. The mean total number of ascospores released per milliliter of water ranged from 3.6 × 103 to 4.8 × 106 after 4-h incubation and 3.7 × 103 to 4.4 × 106 after 24-h incubation. The mean percent spore germination ranged from 0.7 to 24.1% after 4-h incubation and 2.4 to 24.9% after 24-h incubation. There was a significant inverse relationship between total numbers of ascospores released and the percent germination of the ascospores. Samples from Illinois consistently yielded the greatest total ascospore release but were also consistently among the samples with the lowest percent ascospore germination. Samples from Wisconsin and Indiana were among the lowest for total ascospore numbers but were among the highest for total ascospore germination. These findings provide evidence that P. maydis can overwinter in multiple areas of the upper Midwest. Future research should focus on reducing infested corn residue to reduce initial infection by P. maydis.

Caracterización del agente causante de la deformación de los frutos de la uva (Vitis vinifera L.) var. Red Globe en La Unión, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

En años recientes una enfermedad caracterizada por la necrosis y el hundimiento de la epidermis de las bayas de la vid (Vitis viinifera L.) se ha venido presentando en la variedad Red Globe, cultivada en predios vitícolas del municipio de La Unión, Valle del Cauca, lo que ha resultado en pérdidas de rendimiento y calidad. Para determinar la etiología de la enfermedad, se recolectaron y procesaron frutos que mostraban los signos típicos de decoloración y posterior necrosis. Con mayor prevalencia se encontró un hongo, que fue sometido a pruebas de patogenicidad y caracterización morfológica mediante microscopía de luz y electrónica (Environmental scanning electron microscopy, ESEM), complementadas con pruebas moleculares. Los postulados de Koch se cumplieron mediante la inoculación de una suspensión conidial de 1x106 conidios por mL-1 de agua en bayas sanas de la misma variedad. Al cabo una semana se empezaron a observar signos similares a los observados en campo. Las búsquedas de similitud con la herramienta BLAST mostraron una identidad del 100 % entre las secuencias del espaciador transcribible interno (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) y Colletotrichum aenigma y C. siamense, pertenecientes al complejo de especies Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, lo que proporciona información útil para entender la enfermedad de las bayas de la vid y poder diseñar estrategias de manejo. © 2019. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Ex. Fis. Nat.

Kemampuan Sabun Antiseptik Cair yang Mengandung Triclosan yang Terdaftar di BPOM dalam Menghambat Pertumbuhan Bakteri Escherichia coli

&lt;p&gt;In the community, there is still circulating hand washing soap containing triclosan and registered with BPOM/Ministry of Health, but the packaging is not printed how many milliliters of water should be added so that the concentration is not effective in killing bacteria on the hand. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of liquid antiseptic soap containing triclosan registered at BPOM/Ministry of Health in inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria and bacteria on the hands. The research was carried out at the Bacteriology Laboratory of the Department of Health Analyst at Tanjungkarang Health Polytechnic and Lampung Veterinary Center in July-November 2017. This type of research was a completely randomized design. Pre-experiment of one group pre-post-test, the test method of Total Plate Numbers (ALT). Test uses concentrations of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% with 5 repetitions. The results showed the strength of liquid antiseptic soap containing triclosan with a concentration of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% including the criteria of being moderate and effective in killing bacteria on the hand with a decrease in germ number 96.18%. The Anova test obtained p-value 0,000, meaning that there was an effect of the concentration of liquid antiseptic soap on the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria. The LSD test results showed a significant difference between each liquid antiseptic soap concentration (p-value 0,000-0,024) in inhibiting bacterial growth. The results of the T-test showed that there were differences in the number of germs (ALT) in the hands before and after hand washing with liquid antiseptic soap.&lt;/p&gt;

A SEM-based method to determine the mineralogical composition and the particle size distribution of suspended sediment

A robust method for characterizing the mineralogy of suspended sediment in continental rivers is introduced. It encompasses 3 steps: the filtration of a few milliliters of water, measurements of X-ray energy dispersive spectra using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and robust machine learning tools of classification. The method is applied to suspended particles collected from various Amazonian rivers. A total of more than 204,000 particles were analyzed by SEM-EDXS (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), i.e. about 15,700 particles per sampling station, which lead to the identification of 15 distinct groups of mineralogical phases. The size distribution of particles collected on the filters was derived from the SEM micrographs taken in the backscattered electron imaging mode and analyzed with ImageJ freeware. The determination of the main mineralogical groups composing the bulk sediment associated with physical parameters such as particle size distribution or aspect ratio allows a precise characterization of the load of the terrigenous particles in rivers or lakes. In the case of the Amazonian rivers investigated, the results show that the identified mineralogies are consistent with previous studies as well as between the different samples collected. The method enabled the evolution of grain size distribution from fine to coarse material to be described in the water column. Implications about hydrodynamic sorting of mineral particles in the water column are also briefly discussed. The proposed method appears well suited for intensive routine monitoring of suspended sediment in river systems.

Study on the Performance of the Micro Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (Micro-DEFC) for Applying with the Portable Electronic Devices

The objective of this research is focus on a micro fuel cell for using ethanol as a fuel for applying with the portable electronic devices. The direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) is selected for this research. DEFC uses ethanol in the fuel cell instead of the more toxic methanol. Ethanol is more attractive than methanol by many reasons. Ethanol is a hydrogen-rich liquid and it has a higher specific energy (8.0 kWh/kg) compared to methanol (6.1 kWh/kg). Ethanol can be obtained in great quantity from biomass through a fermentation process from renewable resources like from sugar cane, wheat, corn, or even straw. The use of ethanol would also overcome both the storage and infrastructure challenge of hydrogen for fuel cell applications. The experimental apparatus on the micro direct ethanol fuel cell for measuring the cell performance has been set for this research. The objective is to study the micro direct ethanol fuel cell performance for applying with the portable electronic devices. The cell performance is specified in the terms of cell voltage, cell current and power of the cell at room operating temperature (around 30 to 32 °C) and 1 atm for the pressure. The steady state time for collecting each data is about 5 to 10 minutes. With the increase of concentrations of ethanol by volume, the reactant concentration at the reaction sites increases so the electrochemical rate also increase but when it reaches the saturated point the performances are gradually drop. From the average experimental data collections that the maximum current production, maximum cell voltage and maximum power of fuel cell are 17.1953 mA, 0.7574 mV and 13.0473 mW, respectively. They are occurred at the ratio of ethanol equal to 7 milliliters in 60 milliliters of water. The effect of operating temperature change on the electrical production performance is also study too. The cell operating temperatures are vary from 30 to 55 °C at the operating pressure of 1 atm. From the average experimental data collections that the maximum current production, maximum cell voltage and maximum power of fuel cell are 18.8 mA, 0.96 mV and 18.2 mW, respectively. They are occurred at the ratio of ethanol equal to 13 milliliters in 60 milliliters of water and at the cell operating temperature of 49 to 50 °C and 1 atm of pressure. For getting more power that we can operate by extending the number of the cells in the fuel cell stack.

Size and mineral composition of airborne particles generated by an ultrasonic humidifier.

This study describes the size distribution and concentration of particles expelled by a portable, 3-L ultrasonic humidifier. The ultrasonic humidifier was filled with waters of varying mineral content and hardness. Aerosol size distributions were measured during 8hours of humidifier operation in a typical bedroom. Humidifiers produced approximately 1.22×1010 -2.50×1010 airborne particles per milliliter of water consumed, resulting in airborne particle concentrations of 3.01-5.91×104 #/cm3 , with modes ranging between 109 and 322nm in diameter. The emission rate of particles varied by water type from 1.02×109 to 2.27×109 #/s. Lower mineral waters produced fewer, smaller particles when compared to higher mineral waters. Chemical analyses of particles collected with a cascade impactor indicated that the minerals in emitted particles had the same relative mineral concentrations as the fill water. Our results demonstrate that ultrasonic humidifiers should be considered a source of inhalation exposure to minerals dissolved in water, and that the magnitude of exposure to inhalable particles will vary with water quality.

Hydration Status: Influence of Exercise and Diet Quality.

Physical activity, adherence to a healthy diet, and healthy beverage pattern are considered essential components of a healthy lifestyle. We aimed to evaluate the associations between physical exercise, diet quality, and total fluid intake, along with fluid recommendations compliance in a sample of adults. Data on fluid intake from different types of beverages were collected in a cross-sectional study, in 1161 men and women between 18 and 65 years of age, using a fluid-specific diary. Exercise was evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire, and quality of diet was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI). Mean volume of water consumed was 1497.5 mL for men, 1309.5 mL for women. A total of 37.4% did not follow the recommendations of the European Food Safety Agency for total water intake. There was a statistically significant difference (P = .002) between total water intake and follow-up of recommendations, as well as for sex (P < .001). Mean HEI-2010 score was 65.21. There were no statistically significant differences (P = .301) in HEI index among better or worse hydration. Sport variables had influence on milliliters of water consumed (P < .001). Participants who engaged in more physical exercise exhibit a healthier pattern of fluid intake. Healthy individuals with the highest scores for HEI-2010 did not present the healthiest beverage patterns.

Microbial and Isotopic Evidence for Methane Cycling in Hydrocarbon-Containing Groundwater from the Pennsylvania Region.

The Pennsylvania region hosts numerous oil and gas reservoirs and the presence of hydrocarbons in groundwater has been locally observed. However, these methane-containing freshwater ecosystems remain poorly explored despite their potential importance in the carbon cycle. Methane isotope analysis and analysis of low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases from 18 water wells indicated that active methane cycling may be occurring in methane-containing groundwater from the Pennsylvania region. Consistent with this observation, multigenic qPCR and gene sequencing (16S rRNA genes, mcrA, and pmoA genes) indicated abundant populations of methanogens, ANME-2d (average of 1.54 × 104 mcrA gene per milliliter of water) and bacteria associated with methane oxidation (NC10, aerobic methanotrophs, methylotrophs; average of 2.52 × 103 pmoA gene per milliliter of water). Methane cycling therefore likely represents an important process in these hydrocarbon-containing aquifers. The microbial taxa and functional genes identified and geochemical data suggested that (i) methane present is at least in part due to methanogens identified in situ; (ii) Potential for aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation is important in groundwater with the presence of lineages associated with both anaerobic an aerobic methanotrophy; (iii) the dominant methane oxidation process (aerobic or anaerobic) can vary according to prevailing conditions (oxic or anoxic) in the aquifers; (iv) the methane cycle is closely associated with the nitrogen cycle in groundwater methane seeps with methane and/or methanol oxidation coupled to denitrification or nitrate and nitrite reduction.

Pentazocine Alone Versus Pentazocine Plus Diclofenac for Pain Relief in the First 24 Hours after Caesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Postoperative pain is one of the main postoperative adverse outcomes following caesarean section. Its management still remains a challenge especially in a low resource setting. To compare the efficacy of intramuscular pentazocine alone and combined intramuscular pentazocine with diclofenac for pain relief within 24 hours after caesarean section. This was a double blind randomized control study of post caesarean section pain management of 140 participants between April and December, 2015 at the Federal Teaching hospital, Abakaliki. Inclusion criteria involved consenting and low risk parturients who had caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. The participants were randomly grouped into Pentazocine-Placebo (PP) group and Pentazocine-Diclofenac (PD) group. The PP group received pentazocine 30 mg every 4 hours for 24 hours and 3 milliliters of water for injection as placebo 12 hourly for 24 hours while the PD group received pentazocine 30 mg every 4 hours and diclofenac 75 mg every 12 hours for 24 hours. The level of pain control was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The data was analysed with IBM SPSS version 20.0. The level of significance was set at < 0.05. The use of PD for 24 hour post caesarean section analgesia achieved better pain relief, faster onset of postoperative ambulation, bowel sound auscultation and oral feeding than the use of PP (p-value ≤0.002). However, the use of PD is more expensive than PP (p-value =0.0001). There was no difference between the two groups of participants on the passage of flatus and duration of hospital stay (p-value≥0.05). The use of PP was associated with more maternal side effects (p-value=0.009). There was no difference on the level of satisfaction between the two groups of participants (p-value≥0.05). The use of PD for post caesarean section analgesia is more effective in achieving a satisfactory pain relief and has less side effects.

Direct Determination of Glyphosate, Glufosinate, and AMPA in milk by Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple high-throughput liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and glufosinate in milk using a reversed-phase liquid chromatography column with weak anion/cation exchange stationary phase. One milliliter of milk was shaken with three milliliters of water containing Na2EDTA and acetic acid for 10 minutes, to precipitate the protein content in the sample. After centrifugation, the supernatant was passed through an Oasis HLB SPE to retain suspended particulates and phospholipids. The sample was directly injected and analyzed in 6 min, with no sample concentration or derivatization steps. Two multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) channels were monitored in the method for each target compound to achieve true positive identification. Three internal standards corresponding to each analyte were used to counter matrix suppression effects. The linearity of the detector response was demonstrated in the range of 4 to 1000 ng/mL for each analyte, with a minimum coefficient of determination (R2) value of more than 0.995. Through the use of this internal standard calibration method, the average recovery for all analytes at 0.025, 0.1, 0.5, and 2 µg/g (n = 7) are between 84-111% with a relative standard deviation of less than 8%.https://doi.org/10.21423/jrs-v03n02p020 (DOI assigned 8/7/2019)