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This study aims to assess the performance of three different radiation schemes in Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model against ECMWF fifth generation (ERA5) Reanalysis data over Egypt. Dudhia, rrtmg, and Goddard schemes were used to simulate Global Horizontal Irradiance (SR) during 2017. Sixteen stations were selected to represent the different climate conditions in Egypt. The observed SR data is only available at five stations and used to evaluate the accuracy of ERA5 and WRF output. SR data at the other eleven stations were extracted from ERA5 to evaluate the corresponding values from WRF simulation. Coefficient of determination (R2), mean bias error (MBE), root mean square error (RMSE), monthly standard deviation (STDV) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE%) are the implemented evaluation statistical parameters in the study. The results showed that ERA5 and WRF Dudhia scheme have reliable results as compared to the observations at the five stations. Also, the WRF Dudhia scheme simulates the SR at the other eleven stations better than rrtmg, and Goddard schemes as compared to ERA5 dataset. Where, the three WRF radiation schemes overestimate the SR along the eleven stations and underestimate at Alexandria station by −0.15 KWh/m2, which may due to the weather conditions over these sites. But the Dudhia scheme over the eleven stations has the lowest MBE (<0.34 KWh/m2), RMSE (<0.58 KWh/m2), and MAPE (<−2%), with R2 more than 0.985 at most stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, the mathematical formulation of wind turbines (WTs) has been handled using different methodologies to model the probabilistic nature via different distribution functions. Many recently published articles have applied either the wind speed or the obtained active power from the WT on various probabilistic curves, such as Weibull, log-normal, and Gamma. In this work, the wind speed was modeled at five different locations in Egypt via a novel mixture probability distribution function (MPDF) that included four well-known distribution functions used to imitate the probabilistic nature of wind speed. Moreover, a decision-making multiple objective formulation was developed to optimally fit the MPDF with a minimum root mean square error (RMSE) and ensure reliable fitting by two other effective indices. Two methodologies, namely, equal and variable class widths, were investigated to model the density of wind speed and obtain a more realistic model for the tested wind speed profiles. The results showed the effectiveness of the proposed MPDF model as the RMSE was effectively minimized using multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO), showing nearly 10% improvement compared to the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an extremely contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals. In Egypt, FMD has been enzootic since the 1950s and caused great economic losses in cattle and buffalos over the past few years. This study aimed to detect FMD virus (FMDV) in serum and raw milk samples collected from infected and adjacent cattle and buffalos from different localities in El Menofia Governorate, Egypt. Materials and Methods: Blood and milk samples were collected from apparently diseased and adjacent 100 cows and 100 buffalos. Serum samples were prepared and used for the detection of FMDV using a non-structural protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was used for the detection of FMDV in milk samples. Reproductive hormones were estimated using radioimmunoassay kits. Milk constituents were determined by Lactoscan. Results: Of the 200 examined serum samples (100 cows and 100 buffalos), 56% and 44% were seropositive for FMDV non-structural protein antibodies in cattle and buffalo, respectively. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results confirmed that all examined milk samples collected from seropositive animals were positive for FMDV. Estrogen and progesterone levels in the serum of seropositive and seronegative animals were measured, and FMDV was proven to significantly elevate estrogen and reduce progesterone levels in both non-pregnant and pregnant animals during different stages of pregnancy. The effect of the virus on milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC) was also studied, revealing that FMDV infection significantly decreased the level of milk fat, protein, and lactose but did not significantly affected minerals, pH, and conductivity. Moreover, it significantly increased the SCC. Conclusion: Data recorded in this study indicates a widespread occurrence of FMDV in cattle and buffalo all over Menofia Governorate, Egypt. Infected raw milk is of poor quality and, if put for commercial sale, may have health risks for consumers and play a significant role in spreading the virus. Moreover, FMDV may disturb some reproductive hormones, which could adversely affect cattle and buffalo productivity. Therefore, preventive programs and accurate diagnosis are essential for successful disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to develop two indices capable to identify areas where rain showers are possible over Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EEMR). This is done by adding a coefficient to each K index variable. The coefficients are obtained from a multiple linear regression that is constructed between rainfall as predictant and K index variables as predictors. This is the case of the first Egypt and Eastern Mediterranean Index (EEM1). The other developed index (EEM2) differs from EEM1 by adding dew point at 500 hPa as other predictor. Six hourly dataset from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) for three wet events with heavy rainfall during January, March and November are used to construct the new regression equations. On the other hand, the validation of this technique is applied to different six wet events with heavy rain showers (two events for each of winter, spring and autumn season). The category scale of the two developed indices is adjusted to be compatible with the K index. The results show that rainfall occurs only over EEMR when K and EEM indices are ≥ 20, respectively. The result of estimating spatial and temporal distribution of rain showers shows that EEM2 is more accurate than EEM1 and K index due to including dew point temperature at 500 hPa. The average EEM2 (EEM1) Rain Area Relative Error (RARE) in November, January and March reaches 31.84% (47.61%), 43.82% (50.43%) and 49.72% (55.22%), respectively. On the other hand, the corresponding average K index RARE is 164.97%, 74.43% and 163.09%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the factors influencing the attitudes of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students toward climate change and environmental sustainability and the inclusion of these concepts in the nursing curricula of four Arab countries. Method: A convenience sample of 1,059 students from four Arab countries was surveyed using the Environmental Sustainability Attitudes in Nursing Survey‐2 (SANS‐2) questionnaire in this descriptive‐comparative study. Results: The majority of the respondents exhibited positive attitudes toward the five items of SANS‐2, with "Environmental sustainability is an important issue for nursing" receiving the lowest mean score and "Issues about climate change should be included in the nursing curriculum" receiving the highest mean score. Saudi students had more positive attitudes toward environmental sustainability in health care compared with students from Iraq, Egypt, and the Palestinian Territories. Country of residence, type of community, and knowledge about environmental issues and their impact on health in any nursing course were significant factors that influenced attitudes toward environmental sustainability. Conclusion: The inclusion of climate change and environmental sustainability in nursing curricula in the Arab region was emphasized by the findings. Including environmental sustainability practices in nursing education will help student nurses develop critical thinking and skills in the adaptive delivery of health care, especially when resources are scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The El Sibai area of the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt consists of an ophiolitic association of arc metavolcanics, ophiolitic rocks, mélange, metasediments and minor mafic intrusions; and a gneissic association of amphibolite, gneissic diorite, tonalite, granodiorite and granite. Previous studies of the El Sibai area have identified the gneissic association as a lower crustal infrastructure in sheared contact with upper crustal ophiolitic association suprastructure, and have presented it as an example of a metamorphic or magmatic core complex. Detailed structural remapping of the El Sibai area reveals that the gneissic association rocks are not infrastructural but form a unit within the ophiolitic association nappes. Furthermore, the El Sibai structure is not domal in shape, and is not antiformal. The main gneissic association rocks are tabular intrusions roughly concordant with the shears dividing the ophiolitic association into nappes, and are syn-kinematic with the nappe stacking event (∼700–650Ma). The gneissic granite tabular intrusions and their ophiolitic host were later folded about upright NW–SE trending mainly open folds during a NE–SW directed shortening event (∼625–590Ma). Subsequently, NW–SE regional extension effects became evident including low angle normal ductile shear zones and mylonites. The latest gneissic red granites are syn-kinematic with respect to these shear zones. Probably continuing from the low-angle shearing event were steep normal faults, and sinistral WNW and N–S trending transcurrent faults (∼590–570Ma). The normal faults mark the southeastern and maybe also the northwestern limits of the El Sibai gneissic association rocks. The El Sibai complex is not a core complex, but exemplifies the overlap of NW–SE folding and NW–SE extensional which is a significant theme of CED regional structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Submarine tholeiitic and calc-alkaline basalt and andesite with subordinate dacite, metamorphosed to greenschist facies, are exposed at Wadi Kareim and Wadi El Dabbah, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. These metavolcanic sequences are representative of early stages of Neoproterozoic crust formation in the northern part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield. The magmas were primitive to moderately fractionated, as indicated by average Mg# (54), Cr (191ppm) and Ni (69ppm). Their REE patterns are slightly fractionated [(La/Yb)N =1.3–3.9], and multi-element diagrams show Ba, Sr, K and Rb enrichments and Nb and Ta depletions, typical of modern convergent margin igneous rocks. Tectonic discrimination diagrams also show affinities with modern convergent margin magmas, suggesting that Wadi El Dabbah lavas formed in a volcanic arc that experienced cryptic crustal contamination, whereas Wadi Kareim lavas formed in a back-arc basin. Positive initial ɛNd (+5.1 to +8.9) and Nd model ages (0.64–0.79Ga) indicate that the crust is juvenile and was extracted from a depleted mantle source. Wadis Kareim and El Dabbah metavolcanic rocks are dated at ∼750Ma (U–Pb SHRIMP) but contain abundant pre-Neoproterozoic zircons which might be derived from underlying sediments or perhaps older continental crust. These results indicate that a major ∼750Ma crust-forming event involving ophiolite generation and eruption of juvenile melts was important for the formation of the crust. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]