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This work aimed to study the influences of different extender types on the quality and fertilizing capacity of stallion semen to determine the best extender which may enhance the fertilization capacity of stallion semen. Three healthy stallions aged 4-10 years and sixty mares aged 3-12 years were selected after the breeding soundness examination to accomplish this study. All the animals were with a good general health condition without any history of reproductive failures or disturbances. The external and internal genitalia were examined using the rectal palpation and ultrasonography to avoid any disturbances in the reproductive tract that might affect mare’s fertility. Semen samples were collected using artificial vagina and was evaluated, then diluted by four types of extenders (botusemen, botusemen special, botusemen gold and botusemen turbo ) and used for mares insemination to determine the influence of extender on quality of semen and conception rate.This study concluded that, the extenders types can influence the fertilizing capacity in mares through its effect on active forward motility of the sperm, dead and live sperm % and the conception rate. The extenders that contain skimmed milk could increase the fertility and conception rates of stallion semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried-out to throw the light on the effect of some biostimulants as L-carnitine; 0.1mg/ml, Omega 3; 10 ng/ml and moringa olifera; 100 μg/ml on sperm progressive motility and livability percentages, abnormalities, acrosomal integrity of rams semen cooled in refrigerator (+5) during different periods (0,24,48,72,96 hrs) in different extender [Egg yolk citrate extender 10% egg yolk (EG) (1st dil), tris based extender 2.5% EG (2nd dil), tris based extender 10% EG (3rd dil) ]. The results indicated that, the best treatment group that improved the sperm abnormalities and acrosomal integrity % observed in L-carnitine treated group followed Omega3-treated group and the least treatment observed in Moringa olifera treated group. The best treatment improved the progressive sperm motility and livability percentage of sperm cells observed in the groups treated with Omega-3, followed moringa olifera and the least observed in L-carnitine treated group, also the best diluent is tris-based extender 10% egg yolk (3rd) the results also cleared that, by increasing the time of cooling there is a decrease of sperm quality and its ability to conception. It could be concluded that, the biostimulants used in this study specially Omega-3, and moringa olifera in tris-based extender 10% egg yolk (3rd) improved semen quality of rams preserved at refrigerator for 4 days specially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to evaluate different protocols for estrous synchronization on beef cattle to decrease the period of calving interval and to decrease the cost of breeding by using different way of estrous synchronization to determine the best protocol used in synchronization in Egypt. In this research, we used 102 beef (Angus, Herford and their crosses) cows and heifers 51 cows (21suckling cows,30 non lactating cows) all cows are cycling 60days after parturition and 51cycling heifers age above 1.5 years and 10 bull for mating divided into 5 groups. first group (GnRH-CIDR- PGF2α) second group (CIDR- PGF2α) third group(G-P-G) forth group (PG-PG) and the fifth one is a control group. The best result is the third group with a percent of 61.1% then the second and forth group with 50% then the first group with40% and the last one is the control one with 27.8%. From this work we concluded that the simple protocol of estrous synchronization in Egypt which is Receptal–Lutalase–Receptal (G-P-G) is the best protocol to use in this experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is a new noninvasive brain stimulation technique where ultrasound is applied with low frequency and intensity to focus at a target region within the brain in order to exhibit or inhibit neuronal activity. In applying LIFU to the human brain, the skull is the main barrier due to its well-known high anisotropic mechanical properties which will affect the ultrasound focusing thereby affecting the neuromodulation or brain stimulation. This study aims at investigating the influence of the anisotropic mechanical properties of the skull on ultrasound propagation and focusing in LIFU. In this study, we used 2D finite element (FE) head models incorporating the isotropic and anisotropic properties of the skull. Three kinds of stresses were examined and shown within the skull: namely the normal stress in the direction of wave propagation (-stress), normal stress in the transverse direction to the wave propagation (-stress), and shear stress. Our analysis show that although most of the pressure that reaches to the brain is due to the longitudinal wave propagation through the skull, the stress in the transverse direction to the wave propagation direction (-stress) has the main influence on the pressure profile inside the brain. The results also show that the anisotropic properties of the skull broaden the focal size about 19% and 13% in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively more than the case of considering the isotropic properties in the realistic 2D FE head model. The results indicate the importance of considering the anisotropic properties of the skull in practicing LIFU to achieve accurate targeting within the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the hormonal treatment during early postpartum period on the days open, serum progesterone hormone levels at 28 and 42 days post injection and pregnancy percentage following different hormone protocols in multiparous and primiparous buffaloe- cows. The experiment was carried out on 65 (40 multiparous -25 primiparous) clinically healthy animals, randomly allotted into five groups: each (n=8) multiparous and (n=5) of primiparous. The first group; received saline 0.9% intramuscular at day 14 postpartum (control). The second group; injected by 5 ml Receptal (20 µg Buserelin ) at day 14 post-partum. The third group; injected by 5 ml Receptal at day 14 post-partum and day 21 then 3ml Estrumate (750 µg cloprostenol) at day 28. The fourth group received 2 vials of Gonaser (1000 IU eCG) at day 14 post-partum. The fifth group injected by 1000 IU eCG at day 14 post-partum, and at day 21 receive 5 ml Receptal then 7 days later at day 28 receive 3ml Estrumate. Fertile bulls were ensured for all buffaloes. Blood samples collection were performed at the days 28 and 42 day from treatment for serum progesterone levels determination. Ultrasound pregnancy check was done at day 40-45 days later. The present study demonstrated that group 4 has significant (P>0.05) decrease of the current days open than other groups of multiparous buffalo and have lower significant (P < 0.01) difference from previous days open and Primiparous buffaloes. Meanwhile, control group showed the highest current days open (113.3 ± 4.4) compared to other groups of multiparous buffalo cows and have significant (P < 0.05) difference from primiparous buffalo cows. Highly significant (P < 0.05) differences in serum progesterone concentration at 28 and 42 day among groups of multiparous buffalo cows where, group 4 at 28 day had greater (0.56±0.11 ng/mL) concentration than both group 2 (0.31±0.07 ng/mL) and group 3 (0.29±0.06 ng/mL). No significant differences in percentages of pregnancy rates within multiparous and primiparous buffaloes but group 1 and group 3 of primiparous buffaloes had the lowest pregnancy rate percentage compared to other groups. In conclusion, the application of hormonal treatment during early postpartum period at day 14 postpartum especially group 4 resulted in decreased days open and could be used for improvement of the reproduction in postpartum buffaloe-cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In general, the image quality of high and low energy images of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) suffers from noise due to the use of a small amount of X-rays. Denoising of DXA images could be a key process to improve a bone mineral density map, which is derived from a pair of high and low energy images. This could further improve the accuracy of diagnosis of bone fractures and osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop and test a new technology to improve the quality, remove the noise, and preserve the edges and fine details of real DXA images. METHODS: In this study, a denoising technique for high and low energy DXA images using a non-local mean filter (NLM) was presented. The source and detector noises of a DXA system were modeled for both high and low DXA images. Then, the optimized parameters of the NLM filter were derived utilizing the experimental data from CIRS-BFP phantoms. After that, the optimized NLM was tested and verified using the DXA images of the phantoms and real human spine and femur. RESULTS: Quantitative evaluation of the results showed average 24.22% and 34.43% improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio for real high and low spine images, respectively, while the improvements were about 15.26% and 13.55% for the high and low images of the femur. The qualitative visual observations of both phantom and real structures also showed significantly improved quality and reduced noise while preserving the edges in both high and low energy images. Our results demonstrate that the proposed NLM outperforms the conventional method using an anisotropic diffusion filter (ADF) and median techniques for all phantom and real human DXA images. CONCLUSIONS: Our work suggests that denoising via NLM could be a key preprocessing method for clinical DXA imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obelisks presented an important element in the architecture of ancient Egypt. This research is concerned with the re-erection of an obelisk that belongs to the famous Pharoah Ramses II. It was found broken and was transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum for restoration and display. An observation of Ramses II Cartouche at the bottom side of the obelisk base inspired the authorities to provide an innovative architectural design to display the obelisk elevated. The supporting structure was designed to allow the visitors to walk underneath the obelisk and observe Ramses II's signature. The idea of elevating the obelisk presented several challenges including evaluating the obelisk's current condition, restoration and fixation methodology, structural stability, and uncertainties of material characteristics, amongst others. To control the obelisk deformations under lateral loading, state-of-the-art base isolators were introduced. For the task to be achieved, a multidisciplinary team including historians, conservators, archaeologists, architects, and engineers with different specialties was appointed. The team performed the task successfully and currently, the obelisk stands at the entrance piazza of the Grand Egyptian Museum representing the world's first elevated obelisk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four different rice straw substrate volumes (0.5, 1, 2 and 5 kgs) were assessed for cultivation of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The mushroom grown in 2 kgs substrate volume exhibited the highest biological efficiency and produced the highest fruiting bodies yield. This treatment gave the greatest average weight for the whole fruiting body and for the fruiting body cap. However, mushroom grown in 1 kg substrate volume was earlier than 2 kgs volume to colonize. Both treatments were statistically alike concerning days lapsed to harvest the fruiting bodies, the diameter of the fruiting bodies and the weight and the length of the stem. Further, the mushroom in these treatments degraded the least amount of substrate as shown by both the colonized substrate and spent weight while producing high fruiting bodies yield. Thus a more efficient bioconversion is suggested for the mushroom grown in 1 or 2 kgs substrate. The overall data, however, propose the production of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) in substrate media of 2 kgs volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is considered to be a promising technique for noninvasive brain stimulation and brain disease therapy. Recent studies have investigated the distribution of the electric field (EF) magnitude over gyri and sulci and the effect of tissue homogeneity with isotropic electrical conductivities. However, it is well known that the skull and white matter (WM) are highly anisotropic electrically, requiring investigations of their anisotropic effects on the magnitude and the directional components of the induced EF due to the high dependency between neuromodulation and the EF direction. In this study, we investigated the effects of the skull and WM anisotropy on the radial and tangential components of the EF via gyri-specific high-resolution finite element head models. For tDCS, three configurations were investigated: the conventional rectangular pad electrode, a 4(cathodes) +1(anode) ring configuration, and a bilateral configuration. The results showed that the skull anisotropy has a crucial influence on the distribution of the radial EF component. The affected cortical regions by the radial EF were reduced about 22 % when considering the skull anisotropy in comparison with the regions with the skull isotropy. On the other hand, the WM anisotropy strongly alters the EF directionality, especially within the sulci. The electric current tends to flow radially to the cortical surface with the WM anisotropy. This effect increases the affected cortical areas by the radial EF component within the sulcal regions. Our results suggest that one must examine the distribution of the EF components in tDCS, not just the magnitude of the EF alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

أجريت هذه الدراسة بمزرعة الخضر البحثية ومعامل قسم البساتين - كلية الزراعة - جامعة أسيوط - خلال موسمي 2011/2012 ، 2012/2013 وذلك لدراسة تأثير التركيب الوراثي والكثافة النباتية علي محصول الفول الرومي وبالإضافة إلي ذلك أجريت دراسة مبدئية لتقييم القدرة التخزينية للتراكيب الوراثية الجديدة تحت ظروف حرارة الغرفة. وقد اشتملت هذه الدراسة علي ستة تراكيب وراثية جديدة من الفول (رومي3، رومي 5، رومي 12، رومي 13، رومي 80، رومي 101) وثلاثة نظم من الكثافة النباتية (بذرة، بذرتين، ثلاثة بذور في الجورة) ومن الجدير بالذكر أن التراكيب الوراثية الجديدة قد تم استنباطها بواسطة أ.د/ عصمت عبد العظيم والي (رحمه الله) وأ.د/ سيد عباس عبد العال أستاذ الخضر بقسم البساتين ويمكن تلخيص نتائج هذه الدراسة في الآتي: 1-تميز التركيب الوراثي رومي 12 بطول نباتاته ولكنه كان اقل تفريعاً- بينما اتصف التركيب الوراثى رومي 3 بقصر نباتاته وكثرة فروعه. 2-أعطي التركيب الوراثى رومي 5 اعلي إنتاجية لكل من عدد القرون الخضراء/ النبات، ووزن البذور الخضراء/ النبات، والمحصول الكلي من القرون الخضراء للفدان. 3-اختلفت التراكيب الوراثية للفول الرومي فيما بينها من حيث الفقد في الوزن خلال فترات التخزين المختلفة. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]