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Ocean color data are essential for developing our understanding of biological and ecological phenomena and processes, and also important sources of input for physical and biogeochemical ocean models. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) is a critical variable of ocean color in the marine environment. Quantitative retrieval from satellite remote sensing is a main way to obtain large-scale oceanic Chl-a. However, data missing is a major limitation in satellite remote sensing-based Chl-a products, due mostly to the influence of cloud, sun glint contamination, and high satellite viewing angles. The common methods to reconstruct (gap filling) missing data often consider spatiotemporal information of initial images alone, such as data interpolation empirical orthogonal function, optimal interpolation, Kriging interpolation, and extended Kalman filter. However, these methods do not perform well in the presence of large-scale missing values in the image and ignore the potential of other information on missing pixels in the data reconstruction. Here we developed a convolutional neural network (CNN) named OCNET for Chl-a concentration data reconstruction in open ocean areas, considering environmental variables that are associated with ocean phytoplankton growth and distribution. Sea surface temperature (SST), salinity (SAL), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and sea surface pressure (SSP) from reanalysis data and satellite observations were selected as the input of OCNET to correlate with the environment and phytoplankton mass. The developed OCNET model achieves good performance in the reconstruction of global ocean Chl-a concentration data, and captures temporal variations of these features. This study also shows the potential of machine learning in large-scale ocean color data reconstruction and offers the possibility to predict Chl-a concentration trends under a changing environment.

The collapsible soils with severe collapsing problems cover many areas of new urbanized cities in Egypt. They are considered as one of the most challenge problems in geotechnical engineering, where they create major damages in most of engineering structures and infrastructures due to many bad human activities that cause infiltration of water through the foundation collapsible sand layers associated with abrupt decreasing of their volume. In this study the collapsible soil was stabilized using various dosages of cement kiln dust (CKD) as an economical alternative to the other expensive stabilizing agents as lime and cement, whereas it could consume considerable amounts of this harmful material with good economical feedback and positive environmental impact as well as enhance the undesirable geotechnical characteristics of collapsing soils under engineering structures and infrastructures. This study reveals that by adding CKD, the workability of the treated sand soils is increased by increasing the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) up to 4310 kPa after 56 curing days, and the shear strength parameters (up to 85.54 kPa for cohesion, C, and from 34.6 to 38.15° for internal friction angle, ф), as well as by decreasing the collapse index (Ie) from 15.35 to 0.495% and the permeability coefficient (k) from 1.38 × 10–3 to 3.02 × 10–6 cm/sec. The CKD dosages between 25 and 45% mixed to total soil dry weight may be suitable for the most engineering purposes and sufficient to upgrade the collapsible sand soils and may raise the CKD content to about 50%.

The sliding incidences along the mountainous roads in the northern part of Algeria are considered a major hazard, often with huge impacts on infrastructures, causing terrible damages and significant economic losses. The present study reveals that the sliding incidences along N27 highway mountainous road in northeastern Algeria occur mainly in the clay layer that is found immediately below the water table. Slope deformation usually happens after several drying–wetting cycles which result in many vertical cracks at the slope crest. These vertical cracks are considered as the locations of slope sliding and control the characteristics of the sliding surface. During rainy seasons, the increasing weight of saturated upper slope soils creates enough pore water pressure to reduce the matric suction of slope geomaterials, tending to weaken and soften the slope soils and rocks. The results reveal that the cohesion of slope geomaterials is considered as the main shear strength factor, while the internal friction angle is non-significant in the instability of the N27 international mountainous road slopes. The seismic activity is a crucial trigger factor in slope instability, and the results prove the fact that the reduction percentage in the static factor of safety is ranging from 14.64 to 47.39% with an average of about 24.95%. The numerical finite element analysis results show that the sheet pile treatment method is an ineffective stability method at Oum Tourba and Chigara areas, while it could be a successful stability method at Grarem area. In this present study and based on the results of 2D limit equilibrium analysis and 2D numerical finite element analysis, it could be concluded that a combination of two or more possible suggested stabilizing methods, as per requirements, can be utilized to stabilize the N27 international mountainous road slopes. The selected definitive stability methods should be implemented simultaneously. If these stability methods are done jointly, huge damages and irremediable losses could occur along the N27 international road slopes.

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting lint yield and fibre quality in cotton. With increase in population, degrading natural resources and frequent drought occurrences, development of high yielding, drought tolerant cotton cultivars is critical for sustainable cotton production across countries. Six Gossypium hirsutum genotypes identified for drought tolerance, wider adaptability and better fibre quality traits were characterized for various morpho-physiological and biochemical characters and their molecular basis was investigated under drought stress. Under drought conditions, genotypes revealed statistically significant differences for all the morpho-physiological and biochemical traits. The interaction (genotype × treatment) effects were highly significant for root length, excised leaf water loss and cell membrane thermostability indicating differential interaction of genotypes under control and stress conditions. Correlation studies revealed that under drought stress, relative water content had significant positive correlation with root length and root-to-shoot ratio while it had significant negative correlation with excised leaf water loss, epicuticular wax, proline, potassium and total soluble sugar content. Analysis of expression of fourteen drought stress related genes under water stress indicated that both ABA dependent and ABA independent mechanisms of drought tolerance might be operating differentially in the studied genotypes. IC325280 and LRA5166 exhibited ABA mediated expression of stress responsive genes and traits. Molecular basis of drought tolerance in IC357406, Suraj, IC259637 and CNH 28I genotypes could be attributed to ABA independent pathway. Based on physiological phenotyping, the genotypes IC325280 and IC357406 were identified to possess better root traits and LRA5166 was found to have enhanced cellular level tolerance. Variety Suraj exhibited good osmotic adjustment and better root traits to withstand water stress. The identified drought component trait(s) in specific genotypes would pave way for their pyramiding through marker assisted cotton breeding.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the serum levels of vitamin D in an Egyptian cohort of children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and to evaluate any correlation of vitamin D status with the disease severity. Patient and methods: One hundred twenty children with AR and 100 healthy children were included in our study. We studied the serum levels of vitamin D 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D in all participants. The associations between vitamin D levels and clinical characteristics of AR were examined. Results: In AR group, the serum levels of calcium, (25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D levels were significantly lower ( p < .0001, p < .001, and p < .0001, respectively) in AR children than in controls. Furthermore, the mean 25-OHD3 levels in patients with moderate/severe AR were significantly lower than those with mild AR ( p < .001). We found significant negative correlations between mean 25(OH)D levels and total nasal symptom score ( r = −.62, p = .002) and total immunoglobulin E levels ( r = −.27, p = .013) in AR group. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is a frequent finding among Egyptian children with AR when compared to the healthy group. A significant inverse association was observed between vitamin D levels and AR disease severity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between specific combining ability, genetic diversity of parents and heterosis over better parent effects. This research, having eighteen F1 crosses derived from crossing between six lines and three testers, was conducted in order to estimate combining ability, to determine the nature of gene action and heterosis for yield and fiber quality traits and to detect the appropriate crosses for cotton breeding program. The experiment was conducted on randomized complete block design with three replications. The analyses of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes, parents (lines and testers) and crosses for all the studied traits. Estimates of both general and specific combining ability effects were significant for most traits, indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene effects for these traits. While, specific was higher than general combining ability variances, for all traits, showing non-additive gene action controlling and therefore, heterosis breeding may be rewarding. The heterosis value varied from cross to cross and from trait to trait. This dissimilarity coefficient was ranged from 3.234 between Giza 85 and Giza 80 to 71.002 between Giza 96 and 10229. Association between heterosis over better parent and specific combining ability was positive and significant for all the studied traits except lint yield / plant. No correlations were found between SCA and GD for all the studied traits. Similarly, heterosis effects was negatively significantly correlated with GD only in the case of boll weight, lint yield / plant and uniformity ratio %, while showed positive and significant correlation for fiber strength and micronaire value. Four crosses showed both positive and significant heterosis and specific combining ability for most yield traits. The parents of these crosses belong to different clusters. Crossing diverse parents could produce high heterotic performance in hybri

Several new settlements have been constructed in the desert areas of Egypt. These new settlements are composed of many new types of problematic formations that creating many geological and engineering challenges. One of the most problematic formations is weak sandstones that are characterized by low mechanical strength and bearing capacity as well as high deformability and fracturing. The physico-mechanical characteristics of these sandstones are the most crucial parameters in design and stability evaluation of any surface and underground engineering structures. The determination of these parameters is complicated, difficult and time consuming as well as is required a great accuracy in sample preparation and testing procedure, and is considered as expensive testing. The objective of this study is analyzing the shallow marine weak sandstones to determine the best and significant correlations of petrographic characteristics and physical engineering index properties that may be useful for estimating unconfined compressive strength (UCS), uniaxial pore volume compressibility (mv), compressional P-wave velocity (Vp) and dynamic constrained modulus (Es). As well as predicting the UCS and mv from compressional P-wave velocity test and estimating the petrographic parameters from the physical engineering index parameters. The present study revealed that the studied samples are high to very high porous sandstones with very low to moderate density, and classified as extremely weak to weak rocks with very high deformability and very low wave velocity. In this study, the physical properties form non-significant linear relations with UCS, Vp, and Es as well as there are moderately strong to strong correlations between P-wave velocity, constrained modulus, unconfined compressive strength and compressibility characteristics. Based on the regression analysis, the dolomite cement and matrix contents, quartz and rock fragments contents, packing density and proximity, sorting, roundness, mean grain size, and grain to cement contact exhibited weak to strong statistical correlations with mechanical properties of the studied sandstones. These relationships revealed that due to the mineralogical, textural, and microstructure variations of the studied recycle origin sandstones, the non-significant to significant relations are resulted. In this study, the backward multiple regression was applied to predict the UCS, mv, Vp and Es of the studied sandstones by selecting some physical and petrographic characteristics which exhibit statistically significant correlations with them. The results of this study were presented in the form of predictive models and equations.

THE SUCCESS of cotton breeding programme depends upon the available information about genetic potential of various genotypes, genetic variability, and heritability. While, selection reduce variability in the next generation by increasing phenotypic mean performance. The maximum and minimum range in F2 was observed to be wider than in F3 generation. While, the phenotypic mean performance of F3 was higher than F2 for all traits. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant (P≤ 0.01) differences between F3families which revealed greater genetic variation between these families. The excepted genetic variance of F3 families was larger than environmental variance and average variance within F3 families. Also, the intra-class correlation was more than 0.95%. These results indicated that the variability between families was larger than within families and selection between families could be more efficient than within families. The additive genetic variance plays a major role in controlling all the studied traits among two cotton crosses and had partial degree of dominance. Selection differential and response to selection were found to be positive for all traits, except micronaire value among two cotton crosses. Cross II has higher prediction of new recombinant falling outside parental range and exceeding F1 hybrid than cross I for most studied traits. The study reveals that judicious selection leads to improve mean performance in next generation. The most promising families should evaluate in multilocations yield trials.

Background: The target of this study is to investigate the relationship between genetic components, combining ability and genetic diversity among twenty six cotton crosses derived from a cross between thirteen contrasting inbred lines with two testers in three replications using modified triple test cross model.Results: All the genotypes showed highly significant differences for twelve yield and fiber quality traits reflecting genetic variability between lines, testers and crosses. Giza 86 is considered as a good combiner for yield and its components traits, while Giza 45 is the best combiner for fiber fineness and fiber strength, which classified in unique cluster. Most of the combinations having significant SCA effects were belonging to genetically diverse parents. The mean squares for the deviations revealed the presence of significant epistasis for all the studied traits except, seed index and fiber reflectance. While, significant mean squares were shown for sums and differences except lint index for additive and uniformity ratio and fiber reflectance for dominance. The fixable type (i) of epistasis was larger than non-fixable (i + l) type for the inheritance of the studied traits. The traits had significant mean squares for both fixable and non-fixable gene action, also showed significant GCA and SCA among 15 parents and 26 cotton crosses, respectively. Additive genetic component was larger than dominance for all the studied traits. So, most of the studied traits had significant GCA and degree of dominance was less than unity for all the studied traits, indicating partial or incomplete dominance. The correlation coefficient between the sums and difference were found to be insignificant indicating the genes with positive and negative effects were equally distributed among the genotypes.Conclusions: Genetic correlation between three genetic components revealed that both additive and epistasis play a great role among some studied traits suggesting common genetic pool. Thus, selection based on additive gene action based on indirect selection could improve cotton yield. The genotypes which have large genetic diversity could produce significant general or specific combining ability which may be reflecting its genetic behavior.

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting lint yield and fibre quality in cotton. With increase in population, degrading natural resources and frequent drought occurrences, development of high yielding, drought tolerant cotton cultivars is critical for sustainable cotton production across countries. Six Gossypium hirsutum genotypes identified for drought tolerance, wider adaptability and better fibre quality traits were characterized for various morpho-physiological and biochemical characters and their molecular basis was investigated under drought stress. Under drought conditions, genotypes revealed statistically significant differences for all the morpho-physiological and biochemical traits. The interaction (genotype × treatment) effects were highly significant for root length, excised leaf water loss and cell membrane thermostability indicating differential interaction of genotypes under control and stress conditions. Correlation studies revealed that under drought stress, relative water content had significant positive correlation with root length and root-to-shoot ratio while it had significant negative correlation with excised leaf water loss, epicuticular wax, proline, potassium and total soluble sugar content. Analysis of expression of fourteen drought stress related genes under water stress indicated that both ABA dependent and ABA independent mechanisms of drought tolerance might be operating differentially in the studied genotypes. IC325280 and LRA5166 exhibited ABA mediated expression of stress responsive genes and traits. Molecular basis of drought tolerance in IC357406, Suraj, IC259637 and CNH 28I genotypes could be attributed to ABA independent pathway. Based on physiological phenotyping, the genotypes IC325280 and IC357406 were identified to possess better root traits and LRA5166 was found to have enhanced cellular level tolerance. Variety Suraj exhibited good osmotic adjustment and better root traits to withstand water stress. The identified drought component trait(s) in specific genotypes would pave way for their pyramiding through marker assisted cotton breeding. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s12298-020-00890-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the level of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and the expression of costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 on monocytes and their ligands (CD28) on T-lymphocytes in children with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: The study included 60 children with AR and 50 controls. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze MDSCs and the expression of costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 on monocytes and their ligands (CD28) on T-lymphocytes. Results: The percentages of total and monocytic MDSCs and the expression of costimulatory molecule CD86 on monocytes were significantly higher in children with AR than in healthy controls. In addition, the expressions of CD28 on CD4+ and CD8+ were significantly elevated in AR patients. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the percentages of MDSCs were significantly elevated in AR children. Moreover, the expressions of CD28 on CD4+ and CD8+ were significantly higher in children with AR.

The studies of T-regulatory (Treg) cells in the pediatric allergic disorders, especially allergic rhinitis (AR), are very few and still far from being elucidated. The aim of this study is to assess the frequencies of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ (CD4+Tregs) and CD8+CD25+highFoxp3+ (CD8+Tregs) regulatory T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of children with AR. In fresh whole blood of 60 children with AR and 40 healthy controls, the frequencies of CD4+Tregs and CD8+Tregs were examined by flow cytometry. The total IgE concentration in the serum was measured. In AR children, the frequencies of CD4+Tregs and CD8+Tregs were significantly reduced when compared to control group (p = 0.041, p = 0.011, respectively). Moreover, the expressions of Foxp3+ in CD4+CD25+high and CD8+CD25+high cells were significantly lower in patient group than controls. We found a significant negative correlation between the frequencies of CD4+Tregs and the total IgE concentration (p

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate parasitic infections in children with allergic rhinitis (AR) referring to a tertiary center in Egypt. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 139 children (78 males) with allergic rhinitis aged from 6 to 14 years attending Assiut University Hospitals, as well as 70 healthy children as controls. All participants underwent stool analysis, serology for IgG antibodies to Toxocara canis, IgE antibodies to Ascaris lumbricoides, serum IL-5 levels, and urinary leukotriene E4. Results: AR patients showed significantly higher values of absolute eosinophilic count (AEC), IL-5, urinary leukotriene E4, and total IgE than controls. Anti-Ascaris IgE and IgG anti- Toxocara canis were positive in 18.7% and 18% of patients respectively. Giardia infection was detected in stools of 20.1% of patients. Patients with parasitic infections showed significantly higher AEC, serum IL-5, and urinary leukotriene E4 values than those with negative infection and controls. Conclusions: Our study revealed that infections with Ascaris, Toxocara, and Giardia were more common among AR children compared to healthy children and they were significantly associated with disease severity so the infection with these parasites may be a risk factor for AR among Upper Egyptian children.

GGE biplot technique is one of the most appropriate methods for investigating the genotype x environment interaction. A total of twenty one Egyptian cotton genotypes were tested to evaluate stability and adaptability during two agricultural years at four environments using randomized complete block design with six replications. The analysis of variance showed that the effect of environments, years, environment x years, genotypes, and genotype x environment was highly significant for lint cotton yield / plot. Also, the interaction effect due to G x Y x E was also significant. The variation of sum of squares was divided for genotypes, years, environments, and GEI to 25.261 %, 0.574 %, 36.660 % and 3.396 % respectively of total variance for lint cotton yield / plot. The analysis of environments revealed that the cotton genotypes showed maximum mean values for lint cotton yield in El-Gharbiya then Kafr El-Sheikh. Comparative performance of genotypes through genotype by environment interaction (GEI) revealed that genotypes produced maximum lint cotton yield during 2019 at El-Gharbiya followed by Kafr El-Sheikh. The results of biplot analysis showed that the first and second principle components accounted 87.96 % and 5.86 %, respectively, and in total of 93.82 % lint cotton yield variance. The polygon view led to the identification of top six genotypes. G6, G7 and G15 were the ideal genotypes which has the highest mean performance coupled with maximum stability. The ideal genotype could be used as a benchmark for selection. While, the desirable genotypes was (G2, G4 and G5) characterized by high mean yield but less ideal genotypes. E2 was the ideal environment across four environments which have the highest ability to discriminate the genotypes. Four environments had long vectors with small angles (acute) are highly correlated and clustered as one mega-environment. The cotton breeder should evaluate the genotypes under new environments to reduce the costs.