Sorption of lead from aqueous solution by chemically modified carbon adsorbents.

An indigenously prepared, steam activated and chemically modified carbon from husk and pods of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera), an agricultural waste, was comparatively examined as an adsorbent for the removal of lead from aqueous solutions. Studies were conducted as a function of contact time, initial metal concentration, dose of adsorbent, agitation speed, particle size and pH. Maximum uptake capacities were found to be, 98.89, 96.58, 91.8, 88.63, 79.43% for cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), phosphoric, sulfuric, hydrochloric acid treated and untreated carbon adsorbents, respectively. Bangham, pseudo-first- and second-order, intra-particle diffusion equations were implemented to express the sorption mechanism by utilized adsorbents. Adsorption rate of lead ions was found to be considerably faster for chemically modified adsorbents than unmodified. The results of adsorption were fitted to both the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Satisfactory agreement between the metal uptake capacities by the adsorbents at different time intervals was expressed by the correlation coefficient (R(2)). The Langmuir model represented the sorption process better than the Freundlich one, with R(2) values ranging from 0.994 to 0.998.

Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) established in the vicinity of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.

The hairy maggot blow fly, Chrsomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was collected in large numbers as both adults and immatures in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area during 1998 and is likely established there. The distribution of this species in the Old World, isothermal data, and its collection from mid-Michigan during 1998 suggest that it will eventually occupy most of the U.S. The forensic importance of C. rufifacies makes it probable that it will factor into an increasing number of medicolegal cases, but the expanding distribution of this species decreases its utility as a geographic indicator when postmortem movement of decedents is suspected.

Frequency of Campylobacter jejuni in diarrhoea/dysentery in children in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of Campylobacter jejuni infection in children suffering from diarrhoea/dysentery in the Department of Microbiology, Army Medical College and Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from 29 August 2002 to 29 November 2002. METHODS: The study was carried out on one hundred stool samples of children up to the age of twelve years admitted with diarrhoea/dysentery in Military hospital, Rawalpindi. The samples were collected in clean polypropylene containers containing Cary Blair medium. These were transported to the Microbiology Department, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi within 1-2 hours. The samples were inoculated on Modified Preston (Oxoid) and Karmali media (Oxoid) beside other routine stool culture media. The cultures were incubated at 42 degrees C under microaerophilic conditions. The growth after 48 hours was provisionally identified by colonial morphology, oxidase test, Gram staining and motility. The organisms were identified to species level by hippurate hydrolysis, urease test, nitrate reduction, catalase test, H2S production and resistance to cephalothin. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of samples yielded the growth of Campylobacter jejuni. Mean age of children with Campylobacter jejuni infection was 18 months with peak incidence from 12 to 21 months. Male female ratio was 1.7:1. All the children had loose motions. Seven out 18 (39%) had a combination of symptoms of loose motions, vomiting and pain abdomen. Those having fever with or without other complaints constituted 11 out of 18 (61.11%) i.e. more than 50% of all the children yielding C. jejuni had fever. About 90% of diarrhoeal stools had blood and fifty percent also had mucous. There was either history of chicken meat consumption or contact with cattle and pets in most of the cases and both in some of them. CONCLUSION: Campylobacter jejuni is a frequent cause of diarrhoea/dysentery in children in our set up. In children it is often related to pets keeping and chicken meat consumption. In the remaining, untreated drinking water may be the source. Campylobacter jejuni frequently presents with blood and mucous in stools with sporadic cases presenting with watery diarrhoea.

The relationships among mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 and 3 expression, mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid single nucleotide polymorphisms, and residual feed intake in Angus steers.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationships of uncoupling protein 2 and 3 expression, SNP of mitochondrial DNA, and residual feed intake (RFI) in Angus steers selected to have high or low RFI. Individual feed intake was measured via the GrowSafe feed intake system over a 3-mo period and used to calculate RFI, a measure of efficiency. Based on these calculations, 6 low- (average RFI = -1.57 kg) and 6 high- (average RFI = 1.66 kg) RFI steers were selected for further study. Blood was collected via jugular venipuncture 1 wk before slaughter for the isolation of mitochondrial DNA. The steers were then killed to collect LM for the measurement of uncoupling protein 2 and 3 mRNA and protein expression. Protein and mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 2 and 3 were determined by Western blotting and quantitative PCR, respectively. To determine SNP of mitochondrial DNA, total DNA was isolated from blood via standard phenol/chloroform extraction; fragments were amplified with PCR and sequenced with an automated nucleotide sequencer. Average daily gain and carcass composition were not different (P > 0.13) between the high- and low-RFI steers; however, ADFI by the high-RFI animals was 3.77 kg greater (P < 0.001) than the low-RFI animals. No difference (P > 0.55) was observed between the high- and low-RFI animals in their expression of uncoupling protein 2 or 3 mRNA or protein. On average 9.8 and 8.9 polymorphisms were found per mitochondrial genome for the low- and high-RFI steers, respectively. None of these polymorphisms were related to RFI. It seems that the expression of uncoupling protein 2 and 3 and mitochondrial DNA sequence are not related to RFI status.