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Accent recognition refers to the problem of inferring the native language of a speaker from his foreign-accented speech. Differences in accent are due to both articulation and prosodic characteristics. The automatic identification of foreign accents is valuable for different speech systems, such as speech recognition, speaker identification or voice conversion. This paper aims to identify the native languages of non-native English speakers from different countries in the Arabic region: the researchers choose Saudi Arabia to represent the eastern Arabic region in Asia, Egypt to represent the eastern Arabic region in Africa and Tunisia to represent the western Arabic region in Africa. In this research, reinforcement learning (RL), a sub-branch of machine learning, and artificial neural network will be used as an intelligent method to classify and predict the speech. The aim is to train a neural network to automatically detect speech accents. Then the researchers develop a hybrid multi-agent RL algorithm that takes advantage from the multi-agent communication and cooperative agents on the language detection process. Hence, the aim is to help sociolinguists and discourse analysts. As for the Saudi context, this study will be very useful on resolving e-learning issues such as linguistic problems of students.

The Neoproterozoic granitic rocks of Mount Abu Kibash and Tulayah in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt are of geodynamic interest and provide us with important information about the evolution and growth of the northern part of the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS) continental crust. They are primarily composed of granodiorites and syenogranites based on new field, mineralogical, and geochemical analyses. The granodiorites are marked by an enrichment of LILEs such as Sr, K, Rb, Ba compared to HFSEs like Nb, Ta, Ti and show a higher concentration of LREEs relative to HREEs. This composition suggests a subduction-related setting and aligns with the characteristics of subducted I-type granites in the ANS. Chemistry of the analyzed primary amphiboles in the investigated granodiorites support a calc-alkaline nature, mixed source and subduction-related setting. The granodiorites represent an early magmatic phase in this setting, likely formed from a mix of mantle-derived mafic magmas and lower crust material, with subsequent fractional crystallization. On the other hand, syenogranites exhibit high SiO2 (72.02–74.02 wt%), total alkali (7.82–8.01 wt%), and Al2O3 (13.79–14.25 wt%) levels, suggesting their derivation from peraluminous (A/CNK > 1) parental magmas. Their REE-normalized patterns are flat with a pronounced negative Eu anomaly, typical of post-collisional A2-type granites worldwide. These rocks originated from the partial melting of a juvenile lower crustal source (tonalite) in a post-collisional setting, driven by lithospheric delamination that facilitated mantle upwelling and underplating to the lower crust. Interaction between the upwelled mantle and lower crust led to fertilization (enrichment with HFSE and alkalis) of the lithosphere before partial melting. Fractional crystallization coupled with less considerable crustal assimilation are the main magmatic processes during the evolution of these rocks. The transition from subduction to post-collisional setting was accompanied by crustal uplifting, thickening and extensional collapse of ANS continental crust that caused emplacement of large masses of A-type granites in the northern ANS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most crucial steps in the practical conservation of endangered endemic mountain plants is to address their population size status and habitat requirements concurrently with understanding their response to future global warming. Three endangered Silene species--Silene leucophylla Boiss., S. schimperiana Boiss., and S. oreosinaica Chowdhuri--in Egypt were the focus of the current study. These species were examined for population status change, habitat quality variables (topography, soil features, and threats), and predictive current and future distributions. To find population size changes, recent field surveys and historical records were compared. Using Random Forest (RF) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), habitat preferences were assessed. To forecast present-day distribution and climate change response, an ensemble model was used. The results reported a continuous decline in the population size of the three species. Both RF and CCA addressed that elevation, soil texture (silt, sand, and clay fractions), soil moisture, habitat-type, chlorides, electric conductivity, and slope were among the important variables associated with habitat quality. The central northern sector of the Saint Catherine area is the hotspot location for the predictive current distribution of three species with suitable areas of 291.40, 293.10, and 58.29 km² for S. leucophylla, S. schimperiana, and S. oreosinaica, respectively. Precipitation-related variables and elevation were the key predictors for the current distribution of three Silene species. In response to climate change scenarios, the three Silene species exhibited a gradual contraction in the predictive suitable areas with upward shifts by 2050 and 2070. The protection of these species and reintroduction to the predicted current and future climatically suitable areas are urgent priorities. Ex-situ conservation and raised surveillance, as well as fenced enclosures may catapult as promising and effective approaches to conserving such threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding anthropogenic activities, globally and in Egypt, have increased concentrations of heavy metals in surface and ground waters. Contamination of drinking water may threaten public health. In the present study, the concentrations of 10 heavy metals were analyzed from natural springs (6) and drilled wells (10) in the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer of the El-Farafra Oasis and the White Desert National Park, Egypt. The average concentrations of heavy metals were in most cases below critical values of the WHO drinking water standard, except for Fe and Mn (average values were 495 and 107 µg·L−1, respectively). There is a surface circulation that develops within limestone (Post-Nubian Aquifer System—PNAS) and feeds the springs, while the water present in the wells (at least for the deeper ones) comes from the ferruginous sandstone (Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System—NSAS). This double circulation could account for the differences in the EC and TDS values (typical of a circulation in limestone-type aquifers for springs) and the Fe and Mn enrichment coming from the ferruginous sandstone of the NSAS. The average chronic daily intake (CDI) values for heavy metals in the study area are listed in decreasing order in the following: Fe > Mn > Zn > Co > Ni > Cr > As > Pb > Co > Cd. The total hazard quotient (HQtotal = HQoral + HQdermal) and Hazard Index (HI) values calculated for different heavy metals were well below the acceptable limit, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risks to the residents of both areas via oral and dermal absorption of drinking water. Furthermore, the results obtained for the total risk to human health showed that oral ingestion is the major pathway. Carcinogenic risk analysis indicated that the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) values for Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr were well below the acceptable limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinction between 'captive' and 'choice' user categories has long been a prevalent framework in transportation literature and planning circles. While 'captive' users rely on a sole mode, 'choice' users intentionally choose a particular mode based on perceived benefits. However, this binary classification is increasingly critiqued for its failure to capture the complexities of non-transit users. Not all individuals reliant on cars necessarily fit the traditional definition of "captive" users. This study delves into a nuanced perspective on car dependency, focusing on the degree of attachment to cars, and aims to categorize car-captive individuals beyond traditional definition. Examining the feasibility and implications of such categorization, this research adopts a tailored approach within the context of New Cairo, Egypt. An online geo-referenced survey was employed to measure car dependency potential clustering. The survey encompassed demographic information, travel behaviours, car dependency motives, and experimental travel mode change scenarios. Participants were deliberately selected from a comparable built environment to mitigate external factors' influence. The analysis encompassed both descriptive and inferential statistics, employing IBM SPSS Statistics 22 for a two-step clustering approach. This method, utilizing log-likelihood, revealing inherent groupings in the dataset, elucidating unique clusters related to car dependency. Iterative attempts were made to create a cohesive model, focusing on key variables such as dependency extent, time, and distance. In conclusion, the study findings proposed two other clusters, ‘car reluctant’ and ‘car inclined’ which differ in their level of attachment to car and level of intervention. By exploring potential categorizations beyond the conventional binary, this research contributes to urban planning and transportation design, fostering a more sustainable and user-centric mobility system. Also, it offers insights into the choice dynamics and the rigid concept of ‘car captivity’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel approach for assessing geothermal potential in arid regions, specifically Egypt's New Delta Agriculture Mega Project area. The challenge of limited sub-soil temperature profile data was addressed by integrating Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) weather data. Using the Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) model, the extracted air and sub-soil temperature profiles the potential for geothermal energy production was estimated. We modeled the annual sinusoidal soil surface periodic heating pattern by utilizing GLDAS ambient air temperature (AAT) and land surface temperature (LST). Using either AAT or LST yielded a Root-Mean-Square Error (RSME) of 0.2°C. The generated sub-soil profiles for the New Delta region showed a temperature variation of no more than 1.5°C at a 4-m depth, making it an optimal depth for EAHE installation. One-pipe EAHE demonstrated a cooling/heating capacity ranging from 400 W (cooling) to −300 W (heating). The study highlights the New Delta region's strong geothermal potential for greenhouse cooling and heating, underlining its suitability as a sustainable energy source in arid areas. It also offers a practical guide for the EAHE application and it emphasizes the global potential for geothermal energy exploration, using innovative GLDAS data to expand sub-soil temperature profile accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Middle Eastern and Arab countries have been experiencing significant advancements in scientific research and development over the past few decades. Understanding the trends, patterns, and impact of research within this region can provide valuable insights into its scientific landscape, identify areas of strength, and uncover potential areas for improvement. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research productivity in the Middle Eastern and Arab region over a 20-year period. The findings revealed a consistent increase in research productivity, yet mapped significant disparities between countries in scholarly output, excellence, and impact. Adjusting for population size and GDP, Iran displayed the highest publication activity, trailed by Egypt and Turkey. Delving into the distribution of research output across different journal quartiles, the results revealed that this region has a lower percentage of scholarly output published in high-impact journals (both the top 10% and the top 25% categories). Compared to North America and the European Union, the Middle Eastern and Arab region consistently exhibited lower performance in terms of top 10% citations, average citations per publication, and field-weighted citation impact. The field of physical sciences took the lead as the most prevalent subject area in the Middle Eastern and Arab region, comprising about 60.5% of the research emphasis. Conversely, social sciences garnered comparatively less research attention, making up approximately 8.9% of the focus. The region showed strong international collaboration levels (40.5%), yet relatively low national (24.4%) and academic–corporate collaborations (1.5%). The outcomes of this study can facilitate international comparisons and benchmarking, allowing Middle Eastern and Arab countries to position themselves within the global scientific community. There remains a need to prioritize quality over quantity by emphasizing rigorous research practices and collaboration. An ongoing evaluation of research performance using a combination of indicators can help track progress and adjust strategies as needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egypt, which has one of the highest rates of HCV in the world. The high prevalence is linked to several factors, including the use of injection drugs, poor sterilization practices in medical facilities, and low public awareness. This paper introduces a hyOPTGB model, which employs an optimized gradient boosting (GB) classifier to predict HCV disease in Egypt. The model's accuracy is enhanced by optimizing hyperparameters with the OPTUNA framework. Min-Max normalization is used as a preprocessing step for scaling the dataset values and using the forward selection (FS) wrapped method to identify essential features. The dataset used in the study contains 1385 instances and 29 features and is available at the UCI machine learning repository. The authors compare the performance of five machine learning models, including decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), dummy classifier (DC), ridge classifier (RC), and bagging classifier (BC), with the hyOPTGB model. The system's efficacy is assessed using various metrics, including accuracy, recall, precision, and F1-score. The hyOPTGB model outperformed the other machine learning models, achieving a 95.3% accuracy rate. The authors also compared the hyOPTGB model against other models proposed by authors who used the same dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ediacaran peralkaline granites, which were emplaced during the post-collisional tectonic extensional stage, have a limited occurrence in the northern tip of the Nubian Shield. In this contribution, we present new mineralogical and geochemical data of Mount El-Sibai granites from the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. The aim is to discuss their crystallization condition, tectonic setting, and petrogenesis as well as the magmatic evolution of their associated mineralization. Mount El-Sibai consists of alkali-feldspar granites (AFGs) as a main rock unit with scattered and small occurrences of alkali-amphibole granites (AAGs) at the periphery. The AAG contain columbite, nioboaeschynite, zircon and thorite as important rare metal-bearing minerals. Geochemically, both of AFG and AAG exhibit a highly evolved nature with a typical peralkaline composition (A/CNK = 0.82–0.97) and formed in within-plate anorogenic setting associated with crustal extension and/or rifting. They are enriched in some LILEs (Rb, K, and Th) and HFSEs (Ta, Pb, Zr, and Y), but strongly depleted in Ba, Sr, P and Ti with pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.07–0.34), consistent with an A-type granite geochemical signature. The calculated TZrn (774–878 °C) temperatures indicate that the magma was significantly hot, promoting the saturation of zircon. The texture and chemistry of minerals suggest that they were crystallized directly from a granitic magma and were later subject to late- to post-magmatic fluids. Both granitic types were most likely generated through partial melting of a juvenile crustal source followed by magmatic fractionation. The lithospheric delamination is the main mechanism which causes uplifting of the asthenospheric melts and hence provides enough heat for crustal melting. The produced parent magma was subjected to prolonged fractional crystallization to produce the different types of Mount El-Sibai granites at different shallow crustal levels. During magma fractionation, the post-magmatic fluids (especially fluorine) contribute significantly to the formation of rare metal mineralization within Mount El-Sibai granites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive use of mobile phones leading to development of symptoms suggestive of dependence syndrome with teenagers are far more likely to become dependent on mobile phones as compared to adults. COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of several groups in society, especially university students. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of mobile phone dependence among university students and its associated factors. Methods: Between September 2021 and January 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted at universities in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia utilizing an online and paper-based self-administered questionnaire. We employed a previously developed questionnaire by Aggarwal et al. Results: A total of 5,720 university students were involved in this study (Egypt = 2813, Saudi Arabia = 1509, Jordan = 766, Lebanon = 432, and Bahrain = 200). The mean estimated daily time spent on using mobile phone was 186.4 (94.4) minutes. The highest mobile dependence score was observed for the university students from Egypt and the lowest mobile dependence score was observed for the university students from Lebanon. The most common dependence criteria across the study sample was impaired control (55.6%) and the least common one was harmful use (25.1%). Females and those reported having anxiety problem or using a treatment for anxiety were at higher risk of developing mobile phone dependence by 15% and 75%, respectively. Conclusion: Mobile phone dependence is common among university students in Arab countries in the Middle East region. Future studies exploring useful interventions to decrease mobile phone dependence are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet its future challenges in financing higher education, Egypt has no option but to search for alternative funding arrangements. This article considers the question of how to do so, keeping in mind the need to ensure equitable access to good quality education for those who cannot afford it. To this end, the article begins by assessing public expenditure on higher education in Egypt, with respect to its adequacy, efficiency, and equity. Next, it analyzes the impacts that demographic changes, the demand for quality education, and the transition to private provision of education will have on the nature of financing higher education in the future. It concludes by suggesting alternative strategies to address the problem of financing higher education in Egypt.

Introduction: Thyroid nodules are highly prevalent in the general population; therefore, it is crucial to discriminate benign from malignant nodules. A practical thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) for thyroid nodules and ultrasound elastography are valuable tools not only for characterization of nodules but also for the selection of tumors for fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of US evaluation in the prediction of malignant thyroid nodules and evaluate the role of the elastography score, strain ratio (SR), and the TI-RADS scoring system as non-invasive tools in differentiation between malignant and benign thyroid nodules. Material and methods: A total of 1269 patients were evaluated between February 2017 and April 2020 by a single expert thyroid ultrasound operator. The final diagnosis was achieved from cytological and/or histological evaluation and follow-up for at least 1 year. Results: There were 1088 females and 181 males with a mean age of 44 ± 10 SD. The final diagnosis was 1197 benign nodules and 72 malignant nodules. Most malignant nodules were scored elastography score 4 (83.3%) and TI-RADS category 5 (86.11%). We found that nodules with antero-posterior to transverse (A-P/T) diameter > 1, have 21 times more risk to be malignant than those with A-P/T diameter < 1, patients with solitary thyroid nodules have 4.5 times to develop malignancy compared to those with multinodular goiter (MNG), nodules with absent halo have 4 times more risk of malignancy. Furthermore, microcalcifications in thyroid nodules increase the risk of malignancy 9 times compared to those without calcifications. SR was found to be an excellent discriminator to differentiate between benign and malignant nodules with P < 0.001. Also, we found that for every unit increase in SR, the risk of malignancy increased by 20%. We reported that the accuracy of ultrasonography in the detection of malignant thyroid nodules had a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 98%, 70% PPV, and 99.3% NPV, with an overall accuracy of 97.2%. Conclusion: The application of ultrasonographic non-invasive criteria for thyroid nodules in clinical practice might significantly reduce the number of unnecessary FNAC. Elastography, SR, and TI-RADS classification could be good predictors for malignant thyroid nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rare metals of Abu Dabbab area in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt have been investigated for their mineralogy and conditions of precipitation using combination of EMPA and fluid inclusions studies, in order to delineate the source, mechanism of formation and evolutionary model for these economic metals. The (Ta-Nb-Sn) -bearing minerals at the Abu Dabbab area include columbite group minerals (CGMs), wodginite and cassiterite. In both granitic intrusion and its enclosed quartz veins, most of zoned CGMs and cassiterite grains are commonly characterized by a well-developed two-stage texture. Hence, columbite-(Mn) (CGM-I) represents the early formed phase of CGMs that is characterized by high Mn# values (0.64–0.92) with quite low Ta# values (0.13–0.49). It was invaded by Ta-rich phases including tantalite-(Mn) (CGM-II; Ta# = 0.13–0.49) and wodginite, which contain high Ta2O5 and SnO2 (17.91 wt.%). In regard to cassiterite, there are distinct compositional differences between the early-phase cassiterite (Cst-I) and the late-phase one (Cst-II), where the latter is enriched in Ta2O5, Nb2O5 and FeO. The chemistry and textural criteria of the early stage CGM-I and Cst-I, all are indicative of magmatic origin. While, the latter CGM-II, wodginite and Cst-II were influenced by the late magmatic Ta-rich fluids. Fluid inclusions microthermometry shows criteria of phase separation represented by both boiling and fluid immiscibility. The initial fluid was supposed to be of magmatic origin (magmatic CH4), that was consequently influenced by fluid mixing/dilution with post-hydrothermal/meteoric water with respect to the decompression process during uplift. Isochore construction gave rise to an estimate P-T conditions (T = 330–370 °C, P = 22–50 MPa). The fluid inclusions' microthermometry supports a transition between magmatic and late to post-hydrothermal activities in addition to surface-derived fluid (meteoric fluid?) in a part as main source for the polymetallic deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gabal El-Ineigi fluorite-bearing rare-metal granite with A-type affinity, located in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt, is distinguished by its abundance of large fluorite-quartz veins and mafic enclaves. Plagioclase (labradorite to oligoclase), Mg-rich biotite, and Mg-rich hornblende are the main components of mafic enclaves, with significant amounts of fluorite as essential phases, and titanite and Fe-Ti oxides (Nb-free rutile and ilmenite-rutile solid solution) as the main accessories. These enclaves are monzodioritic in composition, Si-poor, and highly enriched in Ca, Fe, Mg, and F compared to the host alkali feldspar F-poor Si-rich granites. Given the conflicting evidence for a restitic, xenolithic, magma mixing/mingling, cumulate, or bimodal origin for these enclaves, we propose that the mafic enclaves and felsic host granites are two conjugate liquids, with contrasting compositions, of a single parental melt. This is inferred by the normalized REE patterns that are similar. As a result, liquid immiscibility is proposed as a probable explanation for this mafic–felsic rock association. These enclaves can be interpreted as transient melt phases between pure silicate and calcium-fluoride melts that are preserved from the early stages of separation before evolving into a pure fluoride (Ca-F) melt during magma evolution. Due to element partitioning related to melt unmixing, the enclaves are preferentially enriched in Ca, F, Li, Y, and REE and depleted in HFSE (such as Zr, U, Th, Ta, Nb, Hf, and Ga) in comparison to the host granites. Furthermore, mafic enclaves exhibit W-type tetrad effects, while host granites exhibit M-type tetrad effects, implying that the REE partitioning, caused by liquid immiscibility, is complementary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic variability and silicate weathering are remarkable features throughout the Late Cretaceous period. Late Campanian black shale is considered the most significant silicate source rock in the southern Tethys. Here, we used mineralogical and geochemical data to evaluate the continental weathering intensity and climatic changes as well as their impact on the deposition of the Late Campanian black shale in the Western Desert of Egypt. The studied black shale has a relatively high concentration of Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ga, Co, Cr, and V when compared to the average Post-Archean Australian Shales (PAAS). The studied samples have elevated values of Ga/Rb, and low values of Rb/Sr, Sr/Cu, and K2O/Al2O3, supporting the deposition of Late Campanian shale under warm/humid conditions. Furthermore, the average chemical index of alteration (CIA, 78.6%), chemical index of weathering (CIW; 83.8%), C-value (1.26), Fe/Mn (408), and Mg/Ca (1.54) reveal the predominance of warm/humid climate. The chemical weathering proxies (CIA, CIW, PIA, LnAl2O3/Na2O) and ACNK diagram imply that the Late Campanian samples were exposed to a moderate grade of chemical alteration. The deposition of black shale occurred under high seawater salinity conditions based on Sr/Ba (Avg = 3.6). Additionally, the weathering indices are well correlated with paleoclimatic proxies, suggesting that weathering intensity is strongly affected by paleoclimate. However, chemical weathering during the Late Campanian has a weak influence on oceanic nutrient fluxes. No substantial impact of the paleoclimate during the deposition of Late Campanian black shale on water salinity was reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late Neoproterozoic gabbroic intrusion of the Wadi El-Faliq area in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt (north Arabian–Nubian Shield; henceforth, ANS) is a fresh, undeformed elliptical body elongated in a NW–SE trend following the main sinistral strike-slip faults of the Najd fault system. Mineralogical and geochemical evidence suggest that they were derived from hydrous tholeiitic mafic magmas with arc-like geochemical fingerprints resembling the post-collisional gabbroic intrusions in Saudi Arabia. Despite the arc-like signatures, their fresh and undeformed nature, together with the field relationships, indicates that the studied gabbroic intrusion post-dates the main collisional phase, supporting its emplacement after subduction ceased and during the post-collisional stage. As a result, the arc-like signatures were possibly transmitted from the earlier ANS subduction episode. Indeed, the high (La/Sm)N, and negative-Nb and positive-Pb anomalies suggest contributions from subduction components. Lithospheric delamination was possibly facilitated by the Najd faults and shear zones formed during the post-orogenic crustal extension associated with the Pan-African orogenic collapse. The delamination process could have generated a rapid upwelling and melting of the asthenosphere mantle. The melt-rock reaction process likely played an important role in the genesis of the studied rocks through the interaction of the asthenosphere melts with lithosphere mantle rocks during ascent. The HREE fractionation suggests a probable mixing between melts from both spinel- and garnet-bearing peridotites. We suggest that the Wadi El-Faliq gabbroic intrusion was likely emplaced due to the stretching and thinning of the lithosphere during the extensional tectonism following the Pan-African orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the groundwater aquifer and defined the quality of water in the Gulf of Suez region. Hydrochemical and electrical resistivity techniques have been used for evaluating an aquifer, including its extension and quality, in the western Al Ain Sokhna area, Gulf of Suez. This study collected 16 groundwater samples from wells tapping the upper Miocene aquifer. Laboratory tests, including the estimation of electrical conductivity (E.C.), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and major ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO32-, HCO33-, SO42- and Cl-, were conducted. Most water samples belonged to the category of permissible water (TDS 500-1500 ppm) which represented 62.5% and brackish water which represented 37.5%. A total of 47 vertical electrical sounding stations were measured using the Schlumberger array of AB/2 up to 1500 m to detect the subsurface geologic section and delineate water-bearing layers. The results of geoelectrical interpretation illustrated that the subsurface section has five geoelectrical layers. The third layer represents the freshwater aquifer, and the fourth layer represents the brackish water aquifer. The upper Miocene aquifer represents the first aquifer with fresh groundwater of resistivities ranging from 14.7 to 100 X.m and thickness ranging between 28.4 and 86 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with chronic medical conditions are more susceptible to developing a serious negative outcome from corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than healthy children. This study investigated the extent of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (VH) and its predictors in parents of children with chronic liver disease (CLD) in Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Liver Institute from September to October 2022, using a random sampling method. Data were collected using the validated Arabic version of parents' attitudes about childhood vaccines (PACV) scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and discriminant analysis were used to identify direct and indirect determinants of VH. Results: Of the 173 participating parents, 81.5% hesitated to vaccinate their child. Relevant characteristics for hesitancy included being the mother of the child (88.2%), younger than 40 years (92.9%), illiterate (92%), unemployed (88.8%), without health insurance (87.8%), unvaccinated against COVID-19 (97.2%), refused to complete vaccinations (85.7%), and not having chronic disease (85.7%) (p < 0.05). Previous COVID-19 infection of children motivated vaccination (p < 0.0001). Median total PACV, attitude, and trust scores were significantly higher in the hesitant group than the vaccinated group (p = 0.023). SEM suggests that child age and family size have a direct effect, while education level, and income have indirect effects on parents' hesitancy. The model showed acceptable goodness of fit (GFI = 0.994, CFI = 1, RMSEA < 0.0001). A 92.9% corrected classification of the discriminator VH variables was determined using the discriminant analysis model (safety and efficacy, attitude and trust, child age, and family size). Conclusions: Many socioeconomic factors significantly affect parents' attitudes toward their child's vaccination. Thus, increasing parents' awareness of the importance of childhood vaccination, especially among this risky group, may enhance their decision-making ability regarding vaccinating their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil and water in Egypt have become contaminated with multiple pollutants. These contaminants arise from diverse sources, including misuse of fertilizers, industrial effluent discharged into irrigation water, discharge of wastewater in rural areas, and mining activities discharging wet and dry atmospheric deposits and heavy metal contamination. The pollutants can directly affect the quality of air, water, and food and have an adverse effect on human health. About 33% of the cultivated lands in Egypt are salinized due to extreme conditions like high temperatures and aridity. The presence of elevated salt levels in the soil leads to grave consequences for seed germination, plant biochemical processes, development, and reproduction, all of which result in the output of reactive oxygen species and eventually plant death. Despite the possibility of thermal, chemical, or a combination of the two to remediate contaminated soils, their applications are complicated and costly. Some plants, called hyperaccumulators, exhibit the potential to clean up pollutants safely from the soil and water at a low cost. All the technologies used in soil decontamination are called phytoremediation. Some physiological (e.g., phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytotransformation, rhizofiltration, phytostimulation, phytovolatilization, phytodegradation, and phytodesalination) and molecular parameters (e.g., genes, peptides, and proteins) are involved in heavy metals accumulation of these plants. Although trees are not classified as hyperaccumulators, they have recently proved higher phytoremediation potential than herbaceous plants due to their deeper root system and greater biomass growth. Indeed, this review sheds the light on the application of trees for the phytoremediation of salts and heavy metals in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study "The Destruction of 'Mankind'" by Sami Uljas examines the phonological changes of the word "rmT" (person) in Ancient Egypt. It is shown that the spelling of the word, which had been established by the end of the Old Kingdom, could only be adapted to phonological changes with difficulty. This led to two changes in the grammatical gender of the word over time, from masculine to feminine and finally back to masculine. It is argued that the alleged word "rmT-t" (humanity) never existed and that the supposed evidence for this word merely represents solutions to the discrepancy between the traditional spelling and the spoken form of the word "rmT". [Extracted from the article]

Womenʻs employment is not evenly distributed across sectors and firms and this variance in gender diversity can impact firmsʻ productivity and wages in both positive and negative ways according to theory. Using new economic census data from Egypt, this paper explores the relationship between gender diversity, productivity, and wages. Our first finding is that gender diversity is positively associated with productivity and wages in the knowledge-intensive service sector. Our second finding is that there is a negative or no association between gender diversity and productivity and wages among less knowledge-intensive service and both high- and low-tech manufacturing firms. These relationships are robust across different industry classifications and measures of diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed at providing a national prevalence of single and multiple developmental delays (DDs) among 41,640 Egyptian children aged 1 to 12 years and exploring DDs' associated risk and protective factors. Methods: A national household survey from eight governorates of Egypt representing the four major subdivisions of Egypt was conducted through systematic probability proportionate to size. All enrolled children were assessed according to Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, (VABS) as a reliable screening questionnaire for identifying categories of DDs that were verified by pediatrics' specialists. Results: The overall prevalence of children with DDs was 6.7%. The prevalence of a single DD was 3.9% versus 2.8% multiple DDs. Communication deficit was the most prevalent type (5.3%). Lower prevalence was identified for fine motor delay (1.0%), gross motor delay, and socialization deficit (1.5% each). Whereas deficits in daily life skills (self-help and adaptive behavior delay) amounted to 2.3%. Living without mothers and/or fathers in homes was associated with increased odds of having DDs by one and a half times (OR = 1.72 and OR = 1.34 respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the most predictors for DDs including children who suffer from convulsions after birth (OR = 3.10), low birth weight babies (OR = 1.94), male sex (OR = 1.75), mothers having health problems during pregnancy (OR = 1.70) and belonging to middle socioeconomic status (OR = 1.41). Children who suffered from cyanosis after birth was found to be at risk for any or multiple DDs. Difficult labor was significantly associated with increased odds for multiple DDs (OR = 1.55). Higher paternal and maternal education was associated with decreased odds to have any DDs by 40% (OR = 0.60 and OR = 0.58 respectively). Conclusions: The detected prevalence of DDs is within the estimated range of prevalence of DDs for the pediatric population. The majority of the detected risk factors are preventable. Developmental screening is recommended to be implemented in all primary care settings as a routine practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional dry sausages are one of the meat products that target globally by thousands of meat consumers. From a consumer perception point of view, the quality of this traditional meat product is of great concern. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the sensory and chemical quality of 100 samples of dry sausage marketed in Ismailia city, Egypt. Only 22 dry sausage samples were accepted in concern to their appearance and 56 samples were accepted in concern to their flavor. Out of 78 samples rejected for appearance, 43 (overfilling), 12 (fading) and 23 (discolored) rejected sausage samples. Out of 44 samples rejected for flavor, 28 (rancid), 10 (sour), and 6 (putrid) rejected sausage samples. The mean values of moisture, protein, fat, ash, CHO, and NaCl contents for dry sausage samples were 43.7, 15.3, 19.9, 4.3, 13.6, and 3.2 respectively. 90% of sausage samples corresponded with the standard limit of moisture content. Commercial fraud during the manufacture of the dry sausage was detected based on their protein content whereas 56% of the sausage samples were unfit with the requirement of Egyptian Standard for protein contents. The mean pH, TBA and TVB-N values for the examined dry sausage samples were 5.1, 0.9 (mg/Kg), and 14.9 (mg/100g) respectively. It could be concluded that a considerable number of dry sausage samples had deviation in their sensory and chemical quality and may have a negative effect on consumer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fayoum Journal of Agricultural Research & Development / Maǧallaẗ Al-Fayūm lil Buḥūṯ wa Al-Tanmiyyaẗ Al-Zirāʿiyyaẗ is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the Egyptian deserts, new land reclamation projects have been recently established to meet the increasing-population growth rate and food demand. These projects mainly depend on the different groundwater aquifers. El-Farafra Oasis is one of the "1.5-million-feddan reclamation project" areas recently established in the Western Desert of Egypt where the only available water source is the world's largest fossil freshwater reservoir "the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS)". Groundwater-dependent springs, and their artificial counterpart "drilled wells", are reliable water systems throughout the world. In the present study, hydrochemical parameters were collected in 2015 from 16 different springs and wells of the El-Farafra Oasis, and analyzed using the different water quality indices. The calculated water quality index (WQI), its correlations with the water quality parameters Gibbs, Piper, US Salinity-Lab Staff and Wilcox diagrams, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used to evaluate the groundwater suitability for human drinking and irrigation purposes. WQI values revealed good-to-excellent groundwater quality for human drinking. In addition, the spring and well water samples investigated showed good indices for irrigation activities. Gibbs and Piper's diagrams were presented, with most samples falling into the rock-dominance category, and belonging to hydrogeochemical facies determining the following water types: Mg(HCO3)2 type water (37.5% of the samples), no dominant ions (mixed water-type category; Ca/MgCl2) (50% of the samples), and, finally, NaCl water type (the remaining 12.5%). The groundwater chemistry in the study area is mainly controlled by rock-water interactions, particularly the dissolution of carbonate rocks and silicate weathering. The elevated nutrient concentrations, in particular nitrates, are most likely due to agricultural activities, indicating substantial anthropogenic activities in the area studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edible clams in the Timsah Lake are exposed to different industrial wastes which may be connected to the high accumulation of heavy metals in the studied species. Samples were collected from Timsah Lake in February 2019. The depuration experiments were commenced within 4 hours of the collection of shellfish. The lowest concentrations of Pb, Co, Ni and Zn after depuration were recorded at 15°C for R. decussatus while the lowest Pb, Co, Ni and Zn concentrations were recorded at 15°C, 25°C, 25°C and 20°C, respectively, for P. undulata. Significant differences were recorded in the reduction rate of heavy metals in the studied species with different temperatures except for Cu (P<0.05). The highest reduction rates of Cu, Fe, Pb, Co, Ni and Zn were recorded at 25°C, 25°C, 15°C, 15°C, 15°C and 15°C, respectively, for R. decussatus. The highest depuration and reduction rates for all concentrations of heavy metals were determined at starvation trials in R. decussatus (except for Cu and Zn). The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of temperature, feeding and starvation on the reduction of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Pb, Co, Ni and Zn) in some commercial bivalves; namely, Ruditapes decussatus, Venerupis pullastra and Paphia undulata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the most cases, C. perfringens has the ability to form biofilms in order to persist in the environment as, the predominant structural state of bacteria in nature is biofilms which increase the bacterial tolerance to disinfection that can lead to economic and health concerns. Two hundred eighteen samples (88 liver samples and 130 intestinal samples) were collected from clinically affected chickens with necrotic enteritis and revealed the presence of C. perfringens with percentage of 94.6 % and 78.4% respectively with total percentage 86.5 %. Twenty suspected C. perfringens isolates were examined by PCR and the results revealed that all of the examined samples were identified as C. perfringens and all samples revealed bands of AppB gene at 109 bp, 17 of 20 samples gave iolD gene bands at 98 bp and 13 of 20 samples gave ripH gene bands at 105 bp. These isolates were used for antiobiotic susceptibility testing and results showed that all isolates were highly susceptible to imipenem. Also, Most of isolates were highly susceptible to Ampicillin and Amoxicillin but, all isolates were resistant to Sulphamethoxazole trimethoprim, Colistin, Tylosine and Lincomycin and also, all isolates showed multidrug resistance. And these isolates were screened for biofilm producing ability and results showed that all the twenty isolates were strong biofilm producers except three isolates which were moderate biofilm producers, Nine types of disinfectants commonly used on poultry farms were used to test their efficacy on C. perfringens biofilms and Sodium hypochlorite 0.027% was the most efficient disinfectant on C. perfringens biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to contribute in the development of speech audiometry (speech reception threshold test) in Iraqi Arabic-speaking adults. Methods: The study population included seventy normal persons aged 40-65 years (40 males and 30 females), they randomly recruited from the department of otolaryngology/ENT-clinic in Al-Sader Medical City i n Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf government through a period which extends from December 2019 to May 2020 that divided into two equal groups. In both groups calculate pure tone average (PTA) and determine speech reception thresholds SRT monaurally by using bisyllable Ratcliff’s words in first group and Arabic spondee words used in Zagazig University Hospitals in Egypt for second group through monitored live voice (MLV) speech test. Results: revealed that there is a strong correlation between PTA and SRT in both groups within acceptable level (±12 dB), also there are no significant differences between SRT₁ of first group with SRT₂ of second group. Conclusion: this study suggests that these two spondee word lists can be used in Iraqi Arabic- speaking adults to determine SRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saint Katherine Protectorate (SKP) hosts 24% of Egyptian Silene species including the endemic ones. This study investigated five Silene species representing 17% of all Egyptian Silene; three of them are endemic to Egypt (S. oreosinaica, S. leucophylla, and S. schimperiana). S. schimperiana was widely distributed in different areas in SKP, whereas S. oreosinaica was very rare and was spotted as two or three populations restricted to one habitat. Moreover, S. oreosinaica has not been recorded before this study since 1983. Phylogenies based on pollen micromorphology as well as on molecular data were constructed in order to describe the evolutionary relationship among these species leading to their distribution. Although phylogeny based on the pollen grain characteristics was resulted in the separation of Silene species into two groups, the first one included S. odontopetala subsp. congesta Boiss and S. oreosinaica with sub-clade included S. schimperiana and the second group included S. linearis and S. leucophylla, there was no obvious relationship among these species in the light of their distribution. Neighbor-joining (NJ) and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) phylogenies showed that Silene species were divided into three clades; the first one included S. oreosinaica and S. odontopetala, which were closely related; the second one included S. schimperiana and S. linearis; and the last clade had S. leucophylla. According to NJ phylogeny and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), S. schimperiana has recent, evolutionary characters that could make it distantly related to the other species, suggesting that its wide distribution could be attributed to the adaptation of its genetic constitute to different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: e-learning was underutilized in the past especially in developing countries. However, the current crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the entire world to rely on it for education. Objectives: To estimate the university medical staff perceptions, evaluate their experiences, recognize their barriers, challenges of e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigate factors influencing the acceptance and use of e-learning as a tool teaching within higher education. Methods: Data was collected using an electronic questionnaire with a validated Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) for exploring factors that affect the acceptance and use of e-learning as a teaching tool among medical staff members, Zagazig University, Egypt. Results: The majority (88%) of the staff members agreed that the technological skills of giving the online courses increase the educational value of the experience of the college staff. The rate of participant agreement on perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and acceptance of e-learning was (77.1%, 76.5%, and 80.9% respectively). The highest barriers to e-learning were insufficient/ unstable internet connectivity (40%), inadequate computer labs (36%), lack of computers/ laptops (32%), and technical problems (32%). Younger age, teaching experience less than 10 years, and being a male are the most important indicators affecting e-learning acceptance. Conclusion: This study highlights the challenges and factors influencing the acceptance, and use of e-learning as a tool for teaching within higher education. Thus, it will help to develop a strategic plan for the successful implementation of e-learning and view technology as a positive step towards evolution and change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gonadal maturation and artificial spawning were investigated for the grooved carpet shell clam (Ruditapes decussatus) under experimental conditioning. In the current study, gonad stages, gonad index as well as induced spawning were carried out in a private fish farm in Abu-Sultan, Ismailia. Samples were exposed to different spawning induction methods, namely; thermal shock, chemical, microalgae and stripping methods. In both sexes of the clam, gonad stages (active, ripe, partially spawning and completely spawning) appeared throughout the conditioning periods. Findings showed that the highest values of male and female gonad index were 28.4 and 29.4, respectively in November 2015, while in December and September of the same year the lowest marked values were 18.4 and 19.3 for males and females, respectively. Notedly, among the four previously mentioned methods, the thermal shock and stripping methods proved their successful impact to induce spawning in the clam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline ring complexes are widely distributed in the south Eastern Desert (SED) of Egypt, but their petrogenesis and geodynamic settings are a matter of many discussions. In this contribution, mineral chemistry, and whole-rock geochemical data of the Maladob intrusive rocks were used to investigate their petrogenesis. The Maladob ring complex is a small alkaline intrusion in the SED of Egypt, composed of oversaturated syenite, quartz syenites and peralkaline granite. The rocks consist of K-feldspar (Or94–97) and albite (An0-1), alkali amphiboles (arfvedsonite and ferro-katophorite), sodic pyroxene (aegirine), with accessory aenigmatite, zircon, apatite, ilmenite, magnetite and titanite. Geochemically, the rocks are peralkaline, show distinctive geochemical characteristics such as low contents of CaO, MgO, Sr and high contents of alkalis, Rb, Nb, Y, and REE, typical of A-type granites. The rocks are weakly to moderately fractionated with a general enrichment in LREE [(La/Sm)N = 2.96–3.64]. Typically, the Maladob rocks are classified as within plate granites and exhibit A1 subtype characteristics. We suggest that the Maladob rocks were formed from a similar OIB-like mafic magma by fractional crystallization. The fractionation of feldspars and mafic minerals play a significant role during magma evolution. During the Mesozoic intraplate magmatism, the upwelling of asthenosphere causes underplating of lithospheric OIB-like magma which was subjected to prolonged fractional crystallization to produce the Maladob syenites and peralkaline granite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al-Khumasiya was a highly influential industrial complex that operated in Syria from 1946 until its nationalization in 1961. During the 1950s, it was the pride and joy of Syrian government officials, who took dignitaries on tours of its premises, boasting of the quality of its products. President Nasser of Egypt praised its achievements, before seizing the company in 1961 and transferring its ownership to the state, where it remains as of 2020. Many consider the nationalization of al-Khumasiya as the beginning of the end of the Syrian economy. And yet, nothing has been written about it, either in English or Arabic. Its records were destroyed, and its five founders died without leaving behind a written account of their experience. This article looks at the company, how it was founded, and what was so important for Syria throughout the 1940s and 1950s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cardiovascular disorders, the myocardium may be subjected to the breakdown and remodeling of collagen by metalloproteinase‑9 (MMP‑9). We hypothesized that the serum MMP‑9 concentration may be elevated in pediatric patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and heart failure (HF), and its level can be correlated with the HF severity. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of MMP‑9 to predict HF in children with RHD and to determine its effectiveness as an indicator of the degree of HF. This study included 98 consecutive children admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Zagazig University Hospital, Al Sharqia Governorate, Egypt with newly diagnosed RHD. Their ages ranged from 8.5 to 16 years. Fifty‑eight children had RHD without HF while 40 children were complicated with HF which was diagnosed clinically and by echocardiography. A total of 44 healthy children were enrolled as a control group. MMP‑9 serum levels were estimated by enzyme‑linked immunosor‑ bent assay. The serum MMP‑9 concentration was higher in the RHD without HF and RHD with HF groups than this level noted in the control (P<0.001). MMP‑9 was a significant predictor of HF; area under the curve (AUC)=0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.76‑0.94]. At the level of 386.9 ng/ml, MMP‑9 detected HF with a sensitivity 95% (95% CI, 83.08‑99.39), specificity 74.14% (95% CI, 60.96‑84.74), positive predictive value 71.70% (95% CI, 61.96‑79.75), negative predictive value 95.56% (95% CI, 84.67‑98.82) and accuracy 82.65% (95% CI, 73.69‑89.56). In addition, MMP‑9 showed a significant nega‑ tive correlation with ejection fraction and fractional shortening (P=0.01 and P=0.02, respectively). In conclusion; MMP‑9 may be an independent sensitive marker with which to detect HF in children with RHD and it can predict the prognoses of these patients as it correlates with the severity of HF. Further studies considering MMP‑9 in the detection of ‘silent’ RHD in school aged children and asymptomatic HF in children with known RHD especially in rural areas, are highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Taenia multiceps resides in the small intestine of carnivores such as dogs, foxes, woles, jackals, while Coenurus cerebralis which is the larval form usually settle in the central nervous system and spinal cord of intermediate hosts like sheep, cattle and goats. The aim of this study was to analyze the haplotype diversity, genetic variation and population structure of the mt-CO1 gene sequences of sheep isolates of T. multiceps had been submitted to GenBank from different countries. Methods: A total of 102 sequences from the mt-CO1 gene fragment belong to T. multiceps sheep isolates were used for bioinformatic analyses. Haplotype analysis, phylogenetic analysis and diversity, neutrality, fixation and gene flow analyses were applied to the sequences. Results: As a result, 20 haplotypes together with different multiple nucleotide changes were determined after the sequence analysis. Trimmed fragment length was 337 bp hereby 19 polymorphic areas, 12 of which were parsimony informative, were identified, and any insertion–deletion was found. The number of mutations between major haplotypes and the others range from one to nine. The highest (0.72) genetic differentiation (Fst value) was observed between Turkey and Egypt populations while the lowest (− 0.22) was reported from Greece. These findings are important in terms of showing the diversity of nucleotide variation in T. multiceps sheep isolates. Conclusions: This study serves as the basis for future large-scale studies on T. multiceps worldwide epidemiology, bioecology, geographic distribution and population structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplotaxis harra (Harra, family Brassicaceae) is a common annual species in the desert of Egypt with a 20-30 cm height. The present study aimed to screen the phytochemical compounds and evaluate the antioxidant activity of D. harra collected from North Eastern Desert, Egypt, as well as to characterize its allelopathic potential against Chenopodium murale L. Standard methods were used for the qualitative and quantitative of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloid, phenolics, steroids, terpenoids, and glycosides. Antioxidant activity was analyzed by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate assay. D. harra attained the highest values of alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics compared. In the DPPH test system, the IC50 value of the antioxidant inhibition for D. harra was 2.11 mg ml-1. The data obtained indicated that, the root system of C. murale was more affected than shoot system to the inhibitory allelopathic activity induced by D. harra. At higher concentration (20 g l-1) the germination of the tested seed was highly inhibited by 96.25 g l-1, while the shoot and root were reduced by 82.14% and 93.50%, respectively. However, the different response was observed at the lower concentration (2.5 g l-1). In conclusion, the incorporation of allelopathic substances into agricultural management might scale back the development of pesticides and reduce environmental deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several empirical studies have analysed the determinants of being in the informal sector. Most of these studies have focused on the effect of demographic and socio-economic factors such as level of education, regions of residence, skills acquired and gender and household characteristics such as parents' education level. Other authors have found that institutional factors, such as corruption, regulations, legislation and tax burden can influence the decisions to undertake activities in the informal sector. More recent studies have also highlighted the effect of institutional trust (considered as informal institution) on the emergence of informality. This article attempts to explain the behaviour that motivates individuals to engage in the informal sector. It presents an empirical analysis of the determinants of being in informality for youth in the selected MENA countries (Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia) focusing on the effect of institutional trust. Our results confirm that the general level of young people's trust in the different institutions is low. Furthermore, we note that youth's trusts in institutions have a significant effect on the likelihood of being in informality. However, it seems to differ according to which institutions are considered and by which countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly‐fractionated garnet‐bearing muscovite granite represents the marginal granitic facies of the Abu‐Diab multiphase pluton in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. New electron microprobe analyses (EMPA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) data from garnets are reported, in order to constrain their origin and genesis. Garnet in the Abu‐Diab host granite is euhedral to subhedral, generally homogeneous and, in rare cases, it shows weak zonation. The garnet contains appreciable amounts of MnO and FeO, with lesser amounts of MgO and CaO, yielding an end‐member formula of Sps61–72Alm25–35Prp1–4Adr0–1. Moreover, it is depleted in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) with lower values of Ba, Nb and Sr relative to the primitive mantle. Additionally, it contains high concentrations of HREE and Y and their REE pattern shows strong negative Eu anomalies. The garnet was crystallized under relatively low temperature (646°C–591°C) and pressure (< 3 kbar) conditions. The textural and chemical features indicate that the garnet is magmatic in origin and is chemically similar to that from highly‐fractionated A‐type granite. It was probably formed at the expense of biotite in a highly‐evolved MnO‐rich magma and/or by hydroxyl complexing of Mn during the ascending fluid phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of knowledge management (KM) on the total factor productivity (TFP) at the organizational level in Egypt. Design/methodology/approach: Using the novel available EC 2013 data set, which includes approximately 60,000 private organizations in Egypt, the paper explores the relationship between KM and TFP. For the purpose of dealing with endogeneity, the two-stage least squares econometric model has been implemented. Findings: The study reveals that KM impacts positively the TFP of the Egyptian organizations. Conspicuously, each 10 percent increase in KM is associated with 9.3 percent increase in TFP. Originality/value: The role of KM in the organizations has been under-researched globally, especially in Africa. This study contributes to the current literature by assessing the impact of KM on TFP, which represents the most comprehensive measure of the firm productivity; by implementing a novel instrumental variable in order to deal with endogeneity between KM and TFP; and by generating a more nuanced measure for the knowledge intensity that is not based on any financial indicator as in the most of the previous studies. Original findings can be highlighted from the paper as it demonstrates that the impact of KM is more important than proposed by the current literature. Conspicuously, the KM does not merely impact the customer satisfaction, the quality improvement and the profit margin, but it also impacts the TFP of the organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Botany is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The literature on Political Islam has not devoted ample space to the intellectual contributions of contemporary moderate Islamists. This article attempts to rectify this by examining the international relations discourse of a twentieth-century Egyptian religious scholar: Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zahra. Despite Abu Zahra's prominence in the Islamic world, his writings have received scant attention from academics. The article provides a close reading of his three principal works on international relations: al-ʿAlaqat al-Duwaliyya fi al-Islam, Nazhariyat al-Harb fi al-Islam and al-Wihda al-Islamiyya; as well as a fourth work with a significant bearing on the subject: al-Mujtamaʿ al-Insani fi Dhil al-Islam. It contends that Abu Zahra's international relations discourse is part of a more than a century-old tradition of theorizing on international relations that dates back to the religious reformers Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and Muhammad Abdu. Accordingly, Abu Zahra is treated here as an exemplar of what I refer to as the moderate and reformist school in contemporary Islam, in contradistinction to the radical school that is associated with salafi-jihadist figures and movements. A close analysis of Abu Zahra's international relations discourse thus provides penetrating insights on one pivotal, albeit understudied, dimension of this reformist/moderate current in contemporary Islam: its perspectives on international relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate early and long term anamnestic response to a booster dose of HBV vaccine among non-seroprotected children. Subjects and method A national community based project was carried out on 3600 children aged 9 months to 16 years, fully vaccinated during infancy. They were recruited from 6 governorates representing Egypt. It revealed that 1535 children (42.8%) had non sero-protective anti-HBs (<10 IU/L) and were HBsAg or anti-HBc negative. A challenging dose of 10 μg of mono-valent Euvax HBV vaccine was given to 1121/1535 children. Quantitative assessment of anti-HBs was performed to detect early (2–4 weeks) and long term (one year) anamnestic responses. Results Early anamnestic response developed among 967/1070 children (90.3%).Children having detectable anti-HBs (1–9 IU/L) significantly developed early anamnestic response (90%) compared to 85% with undetectable anti-HBs (<1 IU/L), P < 0.001. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that undetectable anti-HBs, living in rural residence and children aged 15–16 years were the most significant predicting risk factors for the absence of early anamnestic response (<10 IU/L), with AOR 2.7, 2.7 & 4.7 respectively. After one year, long term anamnestic response was absent among 15% of children who previously showed early response. Poor early anamnestic response and undetectable pre-booster anti-HBs were the significant predicting risk factors for absent long term anamnestic response, with AOR 18.7 & 2.7 respectively. Conclusion Immunological memory for HBV vaccine outlasts the presence of anti- HBs and HBV vaccination program provides effective long term protection even in children showing waning or undetectable concentrations of anti-HBs. This signifies no need for a booster dose especially to healthy children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer diseases and microbial resistance are serious health disorders associated with oxidative stress and infectious diseases. Their risks can be reducing via using polyphenols-rich plants. Methodology: Different solvent extracts from two Cestrum species (Cestrum nocturnum and Cestrum elegans) were evaluated for their biological and chemical activities. Also, the chemical profiles of the most promising extracts were investigated via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fingerprint analyses. Results: The tested extracts showed weak to moderate cytotoxicity against Vero cell line with IC50values ranged from 133.67 μg/ml to 57.634 μg/ml. The only noncytotoxic extractive fraction was the dichloromethane extract of C. elegans leaves with an IC50value of 204.732 μg/ml, while the most toxic extract was the ethyl acetate extract of C. elegans flowers with an IC50value of 19.22 μg/ml. The antimicrobial activity results revealed that the n-BuOH extract of C. nocturnum was the most active against four tested microbial strains with inhibition zones (10–13 mm). Also, the water and n-BuOH extracts of C. elegans leave exhibited moderate activities with inhibition zones (7–9 mm), while for C. elegans flowers both of water and methanol extracts showed strong activities (9–14 mm). In the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, the most active fraction was EtOAc with IC50values of 100.52 μg/ml and 64.40 μg/ml for C. elegans leaves and flowers respectively, while for C. nocturnum the most active fraction was methanol with an IC50value of 161.16 μg/ml, all relative to 7.60 μg/ml of ascorbic acid. HPLC-fingerprint analyses revealed that the major identified compounds in the ethyl acetate extract of C. elegans flowers are caffeic acid, coumaric acid, vanillin, and rutin, while for the n-butanol extract of C. nocturnum leaves are coumaric acid and vanillin. Conclusion: The obtained results revealed that the two species can be used as natural sources of antioxidant compounds with low cytotoxic effect on the mammalian cell line. Abbreviations Used: HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography; IC50: Median inhibitory concentration; DPPH: 2,2'-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; ATCC: American Type Culture Collection; ECACC: European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures; HEPES: 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid; GM: Growth medium; EDTA: Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid; MM: Maintenance media; ELISA: Enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay; G+ve: Gram-positive; G−ve: Gram-negative; IP: Inhibition percentage; RP-HPLC: Reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography; DAD: Diode array detection; NCI: National Cancer Institute; DCM: Dichloro methane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt, a part of Neoproterozoic Arabian Nubian Shield (ANS), embraces a multiplicity of rare metal bearing granitoids. Gabal El-Ineigi represents one of these granitic plutons and is a good example of the fluorite-bearing rare metal granites in the ANS. It is a composite pluton consisting of a porphyritic syenogranite (SG; normal granite) and coarse- to medium-grained highly evolved alkali-feldspar granite (AFG; fluorite and rare metal bearing granite) intruded into older granodiorite and metagabbro-diorite rocks. The rock-forming minerals are quartz, K-feldspar (Or 94-99 ), plagioclase (An 0-6 ) and biotite (protolithonite-siderophyllite) in both granitic types, with subordinate muscovite (Li-phengite) and fluorite in the AFG. Columbite-(Fe), fergusonite-(Y), rutile, zircon and thorite are the main accessory phases in the AFG while allanite-(Ce) and epidote are exclusively encountered in the SG. Texture and chemistry of minerals, especially fluorite, columbite and fergusonite, support their magmatic origin. Both granitic types are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous (A/CNK = 0.95–1.01) and belong to the post-collisional A2-type granites, indicating melting of underplated mafic lower crust. The late phase AFG has distinctive geochemical features typical of rare metal bearing granites; it is highly fractionated calc-alkaline characterized by high Rb, Nb, Y, U and many other HFSE and HREE contents, and by extremely low Sr and Ba. Moreover, the REE patterns show pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu ∗ = 0.03 and 0.06) and tetrad effect (TE 1,3 = 1.13 and 1.27), implying extensive open system fractionation via fluid–rock interactions that characterize the late magmatic stage differentiation. The SG is remarkably enriched in Sr, Ba and invariably shows a relative enrichment in light rare-earth elements (LREEs). The SG rocks (569 ± 15 Ma) are characterized by relatively low initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios (0.7034–0.7035) that suggest their derivation from the mantle, with little contamination from the older continental crust. By contrast, the AFG has very high 87 Rb/ 86 Sr and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios that reflect the disturbance of the Rb-Sr isotopic system and may give an indication for the high temperature magma-fluid interaction. The positive εNd(t) values of AFG (+7.40) and SG (+5.17), corresponding to young Nd-T DM2 ages ranging from 707 to 893 Ma, clearly reflect the juvenile crustal nature of Gabal El-Ineigi granitoids and preclude the occurrence of pre-Neoproterozoic continental crust in the ANS. The field relationships, chemical, petrological and isotopic characteristics of El-Ineigi SG and AFG prove that they are genetically not associated to each other and indicate a complex origin involving two compositionally distinct parental magmas that were both modified during magmatic fractionation processes. We argue that the SG was formed by partial melting of a mid-crustal source with subsequent fractional crystallization. In contrast, the AFG was generated by partial melting and fractionation of Nb- and Ta-rich amphibole (or biotite) of the lower crust. The appreciable amounts of fluorine in the magma appears to be responsible for the formation of rare metal element complexes (e.g., Nb, Ta, Sn and REEs), and could account for the rare metal mineralization in the El-Ineigi AFG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Vaccination is the main tool implemented in Egypt since 2007 to control H5N1 avian influenza. The present study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of three avian influenza vaccination regimes in commercial broiler chickens carrying high levels of maternally derived antibodies (MDAs). Day-old chicks were divided into four experimental groups. Group I received only the rHVT-H5 vaccine (recombinant turkey herpesvirus (HVT) which carries a H5 clade 2.2 insert) administered at D1. Group II received only the KV-H5 (an oil emulsion killed vaccine prepared from reassortant HPAI virus (A/duck/Anhui/1/06)) vaccine (inactivated reverse genetic H5N1 clade 2.3.4 virus) administered at D8. Group III received rHVT-H5 and KV-H5 as prime/boost. Group IV served as unvaccinated control. Weekly serological monitoring was conducted using the haemagglutination inhibition test. Two challenge experiments were conducted at D28 and D35 using HPAI H5N1 clade 2.2.1 virus. Birds were monitored daily 14 days post-challenge for morbidity and mortality, and oropharyngeal swabs were collected for virological monitoring. Initially, day-old chicks had high mean MDA titres (9 + 0.9 log2). The MDA half-life was >7 and <7 days, respectively, for unvaccinated and vaccinated birds. Group III showed the highest post-vaccination humoral immune response and seroconversion rate. The highest protection rate against morbidity (80–90%) and mortality (90–90%) was obtained in Group III after challenge at D28 and D35, respectively, as compared to Group I (70–70%) and (80–90%) and Group II (0–0%) and (30–30%). Groups I and III had lower number of shedder birds. The vaccination regime with prime/boost conferred the highest and earliest protection, and can hence be recommended for the broiler production sector in endemic and high HPAI H5N1 challenge areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geostatistical modeling has recently been developed for spatial prediction of environmental variables. The current research aims to utilize geographic information capabilities, remote sensing imagery and soil data, for decision-making in natural resources management of El-Omayed area, N-W coast of Egypt. El-Omayed geographically limited by latitudes 30°45′N south and the Mediterranean Sea at the north. The selected region represents an extended territory having an area of 102,35 ha, and considers a promising location for future development, keeping the ecological protectorate site as a reference. It was possible to investigate the distribution of selected soil variables and their relation with the actual properties to carry out a detailed suitability evaluation for specific agricultural uses. Spatial patterns of some chemical and physical soil properties were analysed. Data were investigated both statistically and geostatistically based on the semivariogram analysis. Among the considered soil parameters, the spatial distribution model varied and showed moderate to strong spatial dependence. EC, gypsum and sand soil texture were strongly spatially dependent. Using a suitability model built in ALESarid software, the obtained results indicate that the area currently lacks high suitability classes. Following an improving soil properties program may enhance the soil capability status. An area of 70,109 ha (68.5 %) would become marginally suitable, then suitability for different common crops land use (wheat, sunflower, maize, olive, fig, onion, tomato, potato and watermelon) can elaborated. The usage of geospatial data, distribution analysis and GIS proved to be suitable tools to fulfill the needed large computational requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renowned Egyptian journalist and commentator Mohamed Hassanein Heikal (b. 1923) is arguably the doyen of Arab writers critical of the United States. Heikal's career as an author spans more than half a century and his access to regional and international audiences has been greatly enhanced in recent years by his regular appearances on the al-Jazeera television station. Drawing on Heikal's extensive published work, this paper offers a detailed treatment of his views on US politics, society and especially foreign policy in order to highlight the elements constituting the image of the United States that he projects. The article argues that Heikal’'s critical representation of the United States has been central to the discourse of Arab nationalists since the late 1950s and their reconstruction of Arab nationalist ideology along anti-American lines. It further argues that Arab nationalists and Islamists subscribe to essentially the same critical reading of the United States and its foreign policy, especially towards the Middle East. Because intellectuals help shape public opinion, this convergence of views between nationalists and Islamists represents a principal source of the negative image of the United States among Arab publics. Understanding the discourse of Arab intellectuals is thus instrumental for comprehending Arab views of the United States. The Arab Spring, with its tribulations and promises of change, brings an urgent need to properly understand and contextualize the discourse of Arab intellectuals, both nationalists and Islamists. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recently, several urban and service development projects were carried out at the "City of Al-Galala Mountain", along the Egyptian Gulf of Suez, between Al Ain Al-Sukhuna and Al-Galala Al-Bahariya Plateau. This region is adjacent to the Gulf of Suez rift, which is an active geothermal area, as indicated by the geothermal surface manifestations, such as thermal hot springs. It is a zone between two tectonic plates, which is expected to have several geothermal reservoirs; consequently, it represents a potential area for geothermal prospecting. Aeromagnetic data interpretation was performed to define the deep and shallow structures in the study area and their distribution to select a suitable site and perform more detailed prospection. Consequently, two sites were chosen to conduct a detailed study, with land magnetic and (1D MT) to discover variations in conductivity (resistivity) and fix the depth of predicted geothermal reservoir as well as the distribution of deep and shallow faults which can facilitate geothermal solutions flow and injection to exploit the geothermal source energy. The obtained results showed that the study area is intensely faulted with major NW-SE trend and minor E-W trend. Meanwhile, the (MT) results show several conductive and resistive zones at different depths, which could be correlated with faulting zones, suitable to predict geothermal sources and aquifers. • The combined use of magnetic and magnetotelluric methods is proved as a reliable techniques in geothermal exploration. • Resistivities that range from 10 to 100 Ohm.m. indicate fresh to brackish water aquifers at these depths. • Low resistivities near tectonically active zones indicate geothermal reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]