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The objective of this study is to measure and evaluate the suitability of two types of reed, namely giant reed (Arundo donax) and common reed (Phragmites australis) as non-woody raw materials using soda-anthraquinone (AQ) pulping process for pulp and paper industry. Two fractions of reed were used to produce experimental papersheets. The two fractions are woody stem and whole plant including woody stem, leaves, and sheathes. The biometric characteristics, such as extractive solvents, chemical, morphological properties, and physical properties in addition to some strength properties of the papersheets made from these resources were measured. The results indicated that P. australis had the highest contents of cellulose, hemicellulose and ash were 53.5%, 33.9% and 3.9%, respectively while the lowest lignin content value was 13.6%. Fiber length of both types of fiber length were also determined as 1800μm and 1400μm. The derived Runkel ratio and flexibility coefficient for P. australis were also determined as 1.25, 61.4, respectively. Overall strength properties of pulp and papersheets made from the two reed types were significantly different from each other. Based on the results of this study, it appears that both types of reed, giant reed and common reed could have a potential to be used as an alternative raw material for pulp and paper production with accepted properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to identify the risks of using three brands of the most Egyptian consumers' preferred black tea. Epichlorohydrin (ECH), its metabolite3-monochloropropane-1,2 dial (3-MCPD), and some, were analyzed in the infusions. Methods: Tea infusion was prepared by adding 100 ml of boiling deionized water in fine bone china cups to one bag of the three studied brands, and steeped for 2, 6, and 10 minutes. The effect of adding table sugar (3 or 6 g per cup), as well as the effect of rinsing the bag prior to preparing the teadrink on ECH and 3-MCPD content were estimated. ECH and 3-MCPD were determined using HPGC, while the heavy metals were detected by ICP-MS. The data were statistically analyzed. Results: The results revealed that, the levels of ECH in all of the teabag infusions of tested brands after the three studied steeping times ranged between 1.68 to 11.40 μg/L. Adding sugar decreased the concentration of ECH in the infusions by 13-20%. Because ECH is easily dissolved in water at room temperature, rinsing the teabag perior preparing the drink removed more than 93% of its ECH content, also empting the tea particles from the bag significantly reduced the ECH concentration in the infusion. Assuming an adult person consumes one litter of tea drink a day, therefore its ECH intake is in the safe levels according to the WHO (2017) when the steeping time 2 min for all studied brands. We recommended to rinse the tea bags or empting the tea particles from the bag before preparing the infusions. The 3-MCPD was not detected in tea infusions of brand A, while of brand C contained the highest levels of 3-MCPD and these levels increased by increasing steeping time. Fortunately, the concentrations of toxic heavy metals Al, Pb, and Cd were too low in infused samples compared to established guidelines of drinking water (WHO, 2007). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a supplementary study of a research article (under publication) entitled: “Great Expectations of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum L.) Seed Powder in Sericulture Industry”- I. With a Brief View on the Positive Effects of Mulberry Leaf Enrichment with the Various Phytochemicals in L. sativum Seed Powder on Bombyx mori L. Economic Parameters. Analysis of correlation relationships between Bombyx mori different economic parameters revealed that of the studied 39 analyses, eight, six, and twenty-five correlation relationships proved to have a significant correlation, a marginally non-significant correlation, and a non-significant correlation, respectively. The cocoon shell weight or the cocoon shell ratio (%) showed to be a function of the pupal weight or the cocoon weight, respectively. Hence, B. mori pupal weight or cocoon weight is the best reliable predictor of cocoon shell weight or cocoon shell ratio (%), respectively (r=0.936- 0.982 or r=0.545-0.901, in respect). The obtained negative correlation relationships could give evidence for possible trade-offs between B. mori female fecundity and each of the following: pupal weight, female longevity, female body size, spermatophore counts per female moth, or egg size. Also, the ANOVA and the significant negative correlation relationships in the controls indicate that Lepidium sativum seed powder is an influential factor in improving the B. mori economic parameters. Application of correlation-regression analyses in B. mori rearing might be advisable either to predict B. mori economically important parameters or to encourage for trade-off studies between life-history parameters which are important in B. mori rearing and selection or breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to identify rural knowledge of harms of the unsafe use of plastics as a dependent variable and its correlation relationship with some rural women respondents distinguished characteristics as independent variables, also to identify their information sources about unsafe use of plastics . - Data were collected through personal interview questionnaire from a simple random sample amounted to 130 rural housewives in Merza village in In AL Mamora area, Alexandria Governorate - Frequencies, percentages, person and simple correlation coefficients and Chi square were used to analyse data and show the results. The results revealed that: - 6.2% of respondents were found in the low level category of knowledge of harms of the unsafe use of plastics. - 36.2% of respondents were found in the moderate (middle) level category of knowledge of harms of the unsafe use of plastics,while 57.6% of the respondents were found in the high level category. - There was a positive significant relationship between the respondent's knowledge of harms of the unsafe use of plastics as a dependent variable and both of respondent's job, respondent's educational status, family type, plastic purchase source, knowledge of illustrated guide and doing handcrafts as independent variables at level of significance 0.01%. - There was a positive significant relationship between the respondent's knowledge of harms of the unsafe use of plastics as a dependent variable and the respondent's age as an independent variable at level of significance 0.05. - There was a negative significant relationship between the respondent's knowledge of harms of the unsafe use of plastics as a dependent variable and both of monthly family income and participation in environmental activities as independent variables at level of significance 0.01%. - According to the respondent's information sources about the results revealed that : Television was come in the first rank (57.4 % ), then the internet come in the second rank ( 60 %), relatives come in the third rank ( 52.3 % ), then radio in the fourth rank ( 33.1 %) then health visitor, rural development an engineer, extention posts and papers and magazines with ratios ( 18.5%), ( 10%), (9.2%) (7.7 %) and ( 6.9%) respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of food and nutrition for family health and wellbeing in the Nigerian society cannot be overemphasized; it is the live wire of human existence. Nigeria over the years has depended on massive importation of food stuff to meet up with food demands of her thickening population. This paper discussed the role of food and nutrition in achieving sustainable developmental goal 2030 through food security in Nigeria. This has become necessary because no meaningful development can take place in a country where her citizenry are unhealthy due to food shortage. Adequacy in food production in Nigeria can lead to unprecedented economic growth, which would assist in the actualization of the MDG target of eradicating extreme hunger in Nigeria. It was noted that the loss of agricultural sector to the oil boom of the 1970s and insecurity that permeates and envelopes farming communities across the nation is a major setback to food security. The agricultural sector is now being crowded by only peasant farmers whom are also been hindered by insecurity. This is unlike when farming was highly commercialized and cash-crops were being exported for foreign exchange; thereby making food to be available for the Nigerian populace. The study therefore recommends that the Nigerian government should bounce back to reposition the agricultural sector and also tackle the problem of insecurity hindering farmers from their agricultural activities so as to foster sustainable developmental goal through food security in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) approach to investigate demand for the most important sources of animal protein in Egypt throughout the period (1997-2019) considering individual incomes and their associated expenditure level. However, animal protein in this study is composed of red meat (Candoz), poultry meat (farm chicken), fish meat (tilapia), eggs and buffalo milk. In addition, it aims to explore their price seasonality. The results suggest that demand price elasticity for red meat, poultry, fish, eggs and milk is inelastic, whereas for income elasticity, it shows that the above mentioned protein sources are necessary goods. Meanwhile, complementary and supplementary relationships haven been revealed among the five sources for cross elasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alexandria is one of the largest cities in Egypt in terms of population and urban density, second only to Cairo. Since its origination in the 300s BC, it has been one of the biggest metropolises in the ancient world, culturally, intellectually, politically and economically. Alexandria’s classy urban environment over the different eras was always reflected in the creation of gardens and public spaces for its inhabitants since the Ptolemaic era. The loss of area in Shallalat garden is substantially large, rising up to 56%. This trend represents a serious threat to the other gardens that might be facing the same aggressive urban erosion. On the other hand, the loss of area in the remaining Alexandria’s gardens is existent but not threatening. The major losses in areas were in Shallalat garden. However, it is worth mentioning that this loss in area to urbanism didn’t affect the quality of the remaining area of the gardens. This paper aims to present a descriptive profile of the historical gardens in Alexandria, from their initial design to their current state today. The garden profiles are gathered in the form of two sets. The first one consists of the archaeological installations including historical background, and a snapshot of the important elements that define this park. The second set consists of the plant surveying cultivated in the garden. The garden contains many plant groups such as trees, shrubs, climbers, palms and succulent. These groups belong to 33 families, 59 genera and 79 species. The plant groups planted in the Shallalat garden are of high value due to the high age and the few numbers in the Alexandria city. The garden contains some plant groups, but it lacks a lot of plants to complete the groups in the garden and to restore the beauty and splendor of the historic garden. In addition to as the garden is located in the center of Alexandria, which means that it is located in a high-density traffic area, and therefore the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) was calculated for different plants cultivated in the garden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]