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Phenylketonuria (PKU) represents a common inborn error of metabolism. PKU management is complicated and bothersome; multiple challenges may represent strains on the Quality Of Life (QOL) of both children and their parents. We aimed to assess QOL among PKU children and to identify diversified factors affecting their parents' QOL. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted among a calculated random sample of 120 PKU children attending a primary health care center in Cairo. A structured interview questionnaire included the QOL assessment tool 'PedsQL questionnaire' while the impact of the dietary plan on the family's daily life was inquired upon utilizing the 'PKU-QOL questionnaire'. Our results revealed a positive history of similar cases (PKU) in the family reported by 35 cases (29.1%). QOL was very high in children under 5 years and tended to decrease afterward. Children aged five years or more had low scores in all QOL domains. Dietary management of PKU represented a financial burden on nearly two-thirds of families. Parents of PKU children face difficulties in the management of dietary protein restriction; this includes (feeling sad about dietary restriction, worrying that the child might secretly eat forbidden food, and calculating the allowed protein in their children's diet) and they also suffer from the daily expenses of PKU diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is conducted for developing separation of some elements of nuclear interest from zirconium-concentrate explored from Egyptian zircon mineral, using certain cationic exchangers. The main results revealed that Amberlite IR-120 is more efficient than Chelex-100 for separating La and Zr in 0.01 mol. L−1 (various acid, carbonate) from single or binary solution with separation factor (SF) of ∼2.1 × 103 (HCl) > 239 (HNO3) >56 (K2CO3) > 17.5 (HClO4). Separation of La and Zr was largely influenced by acid concentration, equilibration period, and temperature. Thermodynamically, values of Δ G o , Δ H o and Δ S o indicated that retention of the metal ions is disordered and endothermic nature. In a column application, Zr is separately eluted without La; with recoveries reached to 98% for Zr and 50% to 67% for La. The larger negativity of free energy of hydration of Zr (−6950 KJ/mol) that of La (−3418 KJ/mol) confirm that Zr exists as a non-sorptive species; meanwhile La forms adsorptive species onto the column bed resin. As a result, this study can be extended in the future to help exploration of the strategic elements (e.g., Zr, Hf, lanthanides) from their minerals in Egypt. Moreover, developed procedure by Amberlite IR-120 resin can be considered as highly efficient and promising for separation and purification of tri-valence lanthanides (e.g., La3+) and/or actinides (e.g., Am3+) from tetra-valence metal ions such as Zr4+ and Hf4+ or their homologous as Ce4+, Th4+ and Np4+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the genetic control of seed yield and yield-related traits by using Hayman's approach, and to estimate the proportion of dominant and recessive genes controlling traits in each parent, five genetically divergent genotypes of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were crossed using a half-diallel mating design (excluding reciprocal crosses). The parents along with their half-diallel crosses were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replicates at Kafr El-Hamam/Sharkia and Al-Arish/North Sinai Agricultural Research Stations, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt. Significant differences were observed among genotypes for all studied traits at individual locations and across locations. Magnitude of additive gene effects was larger than that for dominance effects for all studied traits (except for seed weight plant−1) when the ratio [(a/b) & (H1/D) 0.5] was greater than unity at both locations, as also confirmed by high narrow-sense heritability. Hence, selection in early generations would be effective at both locations for these traits. Parents L1031, L1033, and Miak were desirable for early flowering and maturity as well as for short stature and increased proportion of seed oil, whereas Giza 102 and L24 were promising parents for improving number of green leaves plant−1, head diameter, 100-seed weight, and hence seed weight plant−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]