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Sugarcane is one of the most important crops in the world. It is also considered the most popular fresh juice in Egypt. The sugar content of the sugarcane stem represents the main source of fungal growth. This study aimed to investigate the natural co-occurrence of fungi in sugarcane plants and juice, test of aflatoxins production by aflatoxigenic fungi, and improve the quality of sugarcane juice. The obtained results indicated a notable decrease in all physical parameters of the naturally infected sugarcane plants. Isolation of fungi from sugarcane plant and juice from three localities revealed that the highest mean fungal count was recorded in sugarcane rootlets (173.55 cfu/cm), followed by sugarcane stem (94.88 cfu/cm), while sugarcane juice had the least mean fungal count (24.33 cfu/mL). The frequency of the isolated fungi associated with sugarcane plant yielded 781 fungal isolates for rootlets, 427 fungal isolates for stems, and 219 fungal isolates for juice. Four isolates of Aspergillus parasiticus were aflatoxins producers. Higher aflatoxin quantity (1434.92 ng/mL) was produced by A. parasiticus (isolate No. 21) from sugarcane stem, while A. parasiticus (isolate No. 5) from sugarcane juice was less aflatoxins producer (276.95 ng/mL). On the other hand, lemon juice showed a significant reduction effect on the fungal count of peeled and non-peeled sugarcane juice. In which the highest reduction percent of the fungal count was recorded with 20% conc. of lemon on peeled sugarcane juice (36.04%).The obtained results concluded that lemon juice was found to decrease the fungal contaminants and improve the quality of sugarcane juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a significant workplace problem leading to loss of productivity and disability. Administrative workers perform computer-based tasks for long periods. Consequently, they are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study was to explore the frequency and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal complaints and their impact on work productivity among administrative employees of Suez Canal University, Egypt. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 administrative employees through simple random sampling. Data were collected by an interview questionnaire including sociodemographic, work-related data, ergonomic and psychological risk factors, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). Results: The frequency of work-related musculoskeletal complaints in at least one anatomical region over the past year was 74.7%. Neck (47.1%), lower back (40.7%), and shoulder (36.3%) were the most reported sites of complaints. Risk factors significantly associated with work-related musculoskeletal complaints were gender, age, physical activity, work experience, workplace stress, sustained body position, awkward posture, and inadequate rest breaks. Logistic regression revealed that older age (OR = 1.039, p = 0.023), being female (OR = 2.175, p = 0.011), and not having adequate rest breaks (OR = 1.979, p = 0.019) were significant predictors for the occurrence of WMSDs. The risk factors of absenteeism include gender, age, marital status, educational level, physical activity, BMI, work experience, and musculoskeletal complaints. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal problems were highly prevalent among administrative employees. Being female and not having adequate rest breaks were significant predictors for the occurrence of WMSDs. Ergonomic interventions and improvement of working conditions are recommended to reduce WMSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid baffled flocculator (HBF) is employed in this study in an effort to lower the footprint area and enhance the quality of drinking water. The process known as hydraulic mixing with media is less expensive than expanding a water treatment facility. To evaluate this technology, we use a pilot plant equipped with baffles loaded with packing material. Plastic, foam, and gravel have all been tested as turbidity-removing media. The experimental facility was designed to be similar to a traditional water treatment plant located in Benha City, Egypt. Hydraulic mixing is used in place of rapid flash mixing and gentle mechanical mixing. To assess the removal and hydraulic efficiency, this study compares the hydraulic model with and without media. Many effective parameters have been studied like media type, alum dose, and detention time. Results show that the hydraulic efficiency of the reg test is increased by packing material. Gravel has the highest average of 50% elimination efficiency for T = 18 min and alum dose = 26 P.P.m. Plastic has the second-highest turbidity removal efficiency, with an average of 45%. Finally, employing foam reduces turbidity in the Nile River by an average of 33%. Conversely, the average percentage removal while employing vertical baffles alone without media is 28%, the percentage of turbidity that was removed at varying alum doses varies from 14 to 33%, and the highest percentage of removal is achieved with a 30 P.P.m alum dosage. In addition, the average percent removal of foam, plastic, and media is 30%, 36%, and 43%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes the development of a novel nano gel of Carboxymethyl Cellulose Starch and Alumina (CMC-St/Al2O3) to purify the leach liquor of rare earth elements (REEs) minerals from Fe(III), which is considered the most contaminating metal in the REE liquor. CMC-St/Al2O3 nano gel was recognized by different analytical techniques such as FT-IR, SEM, TEM, X-ray diffraction, particle size, and thermal analysis. In a batch study, the best conditions for purifying REE from Fe(III) contaminants using CMC-St/Al2O3 nano gel were determined. For an initial concentration of 100 mg L−1, 97.6% of Fe(III) was efficiently adsorbed onto CMC-St/Al2O3 after 15.0 min, pH = 2, and 25 °C. Due to the competition effect, the sorption efficiencies of the binary systems decreased to 68.4%, 72.97%, and 84.71% for the systems Fe(III)/La(III), Fe(III)/Sr(II), and Fe(III)/Cs(I), respectively. 99.9% of Fe(III) is eluted by 0.50 mol L−1 H2SO4. The sorption process was fitted with pseudo-second-order and the Langmuir model based on the error functions: Coefficient of determination (R2), Reduced Chi-square (χ2), The sum of square errors (SSE), and Corrected Akaike Information Criterion (AICc) as well as Residual error plots. The sorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. Finally, a CMC-St/Al2O3 nano gel was used to separate Fe(III) from the monazite liquor minerals and Sela leachate, mineralized from the Rosetta area and Gabal El Sela at Halaib environs, Egypt, with efficiencies of 89.03 and 92.7%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: TORCH infections during pregnancy significantly impact neonatal and maternal mortality rates worldwide. This study aimed to gather baseline serological data for pregnant women's immunological status to infection and determine if definite TORCH pathogens (cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and Herpes simplex virus) were associated with Toxoplasma infection, to improve prenatal care and provide appropriate infection control strategies. Methodology: Blood samples were gathered from 210 pregnant women attending Al Zagazig University hospitals from February to May 2023. Samples were examined for specific IgM and IgG antibodies against TORCH pathogens by electrochemiluminescence technique. Results: Regarding TORCH infection, 60 (28.6%) cases were seronegative, while 77 (36.7%), 63 (30.0%), 56 (26.7%), and 15 (7.1%) were positive IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and Herpes simplex virus, respectively. There was no estimate for IgM for cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, or Herpes simplex virus, indicating that no primary infection had been detected during the pregnancy. There was a statistically significant association between seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis infections (IgM and IgG) and age group ≤ 25 years, which is the most common childbearing age group. Cytomegalovirus seropositivity was found in those beyond 25 years (P-value 0.001). Antibodies to mono-infections were found in 97/210 (46.2%) subjects. It is substantially higher under-25 years age group, 71/97 (73.2%), P-value of 0.001. 45/210 (21.4%) participants had antibodies to two agents, with no significant difference in the age group over 25 years, 26/45 (57.8%). Antibodies to three agents were assessed in eight instances, all under 25 years. Conclusions: According to our findings, serological evaluation for the TORCH complex in all pregnant women is recommended to determine infection immunity, current immunization regimens, and infection reactivation. Low TORCH antibodies rates amongst pregnant women in Egypt's Sharqia governorate might be an appropriate starting point for prenatal screening initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western Desert of Egypt is an area of the Sahara which lies west of the River Nile, up to the Libyan border, and south from the Mediterranean Sea to the border with Sudan. It is mostly rocky desert; the desert covers 2/3 of the land of Egypt. Its highest elevation is 1000 m in the Gilf Kebir plateau to the far south‒west of Egypt, on the borders of Egypt, Sudan and Libya. We used to collect available data of the earthquakes, which occurred in or near the western part of Egypt during the period from 1900 to 2018, to investigate the seismic activity and its relationship to the geology and tectonics of Egypt. The frequency statistical analysis is used to calculate the frequency-magnitude relation for the data in this period. The results indicate that about 28 earthquakes are equal or exceed Richter magnitude M ≥ 4 every 100 years. The whole Western Desert is characterized by low to moderate levels of seismic activity. The southern part of Western Desert is considered to be seismically active. The source mechanism for some earthquakes was estimated using the waveform data recorded from the records of the Egyptian national seismograph stations and our results show the normal faulting mechanism with minor strike-slip component. The NNW trend has been chosen as a preferred rupture plane in consistence with surface and subsurface faults and microearthquake seismicity in the epicentral area as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Previous studies have suggested variable levels of associations between work–family conflict (W_F_C) and its antecedents in different populations. We aimed to assess the antecedents of this conflict and its two types; work-to-family (WFC) and family-to-work (FWC) among Egyptian civil workers. Subjects and methods: In a convenience sample of 3134 Egyptian civil workers, we assessed the W_F_C using the National Study of Midlife Development in the US and attributed it, by logistic and linear regression analyses, to several sociodemographic, work/family situational, behavioral, and health-related variables which were collected by a questionnaire survey between October 2019 and January 2020. Results: W_F_C was prevalent in 56% of the sample (51% for WFC and 62% for FWC). The work and family situational factors were the most significant antecedents of the W_F_C and its two types; partial R2 was 0.71. Both the health-related and behavioral clusters of antecedents were also predictors of W_F_C, while the sociodemographic antecedents contributed minimally to the FWC. The multivariable odds ratios (95% CIs) for high W_F_C in those with high vs low work demands, job control, social support at work, and family were 4.11 (2.89–7.03), 0.0 (0.66–0.90), 0.86 (0.62–0.98), and 0.74 (0.59–0.94), respectively. Conclusions: Work and family situational factors were the most significant antecedents of the levels of W_F_C in Egyptian civil workers. The Egyptian authorities could reduce the civil workers' W_F_C by improving the work environment, finding ways to relieve the workload demands, and helping the civil workers to have more job control and social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous investigations have found that cognitive deficits in COVID-19 survivors may be reversible; hence, early detection is essential. These cognitive deficiencies should be targeted with scaled cognitive therapies that can be widely used even in patients' homes, supporting the best possible cognitive and functional outcomes. In the meanwhile, it has been observed that COVID-19 patients may experience worry, fear, depression, and other mental health problems. Therefore, subjective cognitive difficulties may be due to emotional discomfort. As a result, these data highlight the significance of early diagnosis of anxiety symptoms and depression symptoms in COVID-19 patients in order to prevent subsequent cognitive problems. All patients were selected in accordance with the case definition and used the following tools after 1, 3, and 6 months after being cleared of COVID-19 infection: developed questionnaire for both clinical and demographic data, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV disorders. Results: Fifty patients were participated in this study from both gender, different levels of education, and the major group was nonsmokers (82%). A total of 88% of participants had confirmed COVID-19, and 12% had contact with them. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for preservative parameters revealed that the 2nd follow-up showed nonsignificant comparison to the 1st follow-up, while the 3rd showed highly significant comparison to the 1st follow-up. While for non-preservative errors, the 2nd follow-up showed significant comparison to the 1st, while the 3rd showed highly significant comparison to the 1st follow-up. Conceptual level response parameters showed that both the 2nd and the 3rd follow-ups showed nonsignificant comparison to the 1st follow-up. There was no significant correlation between Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) and any parameter of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test or any parameter of Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised. Conclusions: While there was negative impact of COVID-19 infection on cognitive functions in Egyptian recovered COVID-19 patients which improves gradually by time, there was nonsignificant correlations between anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test as well as Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised parameters in tested individuals through three consecutive follow-ups of COVID-19 in Egypt. Further testing using other scales or larger sample is mandatory to elucidate further potential impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions of recovered patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty soil samples were collected from different locations in Siwa Oasis, Egypt. The activity was measured with a γ-ray spectrometer using a scintillation detector with a NaI(Tl) crystal, 3 × 3 inch. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the soil are 22 ± 2, 12 ± 0.6, and 158 ± 8 Bq kg–1, respectively. In addition, the radiological hazards were calculated for the investigated samples. The average values of radiological hazards affecting the population were 60 Bq kg–1, 27.5 nGy h–1, 33.7 mSv year–1, 0.16, 0.22, 0.44, and 1.18 × 10–4 for the radium equivalent activity, absorbed γ-dose, effective dose, external and internal hazard indices, gamma index, and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), respectively. According to the results obtained, all samples would not present significant radiological hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Egypt, pharmaceuticals consumption increased dramatically owing to the population growth and the unrestricted sale manner. Accordingly, the occurrence and fate of nine common pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) were scrutinized at a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Giza, Egypt. The levels of these PhACs were assessed in different the wastewater treatment stages and dewatered sludge phase using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode arrays detector. The average concentrations of the total PhACs detected in influent, primary sedimentation effluent (PSE) and final effluent (FE) were 227, 155 and 89 µg L−1, respectively. The overall removal efficiency of the individual PhACs ranged from 18 to 72% removal. The occurrence trend revealed that biodegradation and adsorption are the concurrently removal mechanisms of the studied PhACs. The overall consumption per day in West of Greater Cairo was estimated based on influent concentration of STP. Sulfamethoxazole, paracetamol and diclofenac were detected with the highest levels in the influent of STP, PSE and FE as well as in the dewatered sludge. Furthermore, the high concentrations of these compounds in the sludge confirm the adsorption pathway removal of theses PhACs. The risk quotient (RQ) assessment for the detected PhACs in FE is greatly higher than the predicted non-effect concentration (PNEC). Conclusively, the FE of STP is considered a risky source for PhACs in adjacent surface water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Closure of the pharyngeal defect after total laryngectomy had been traditionally performed with manual suturing techniques that invert the mucosal edge this technique though effective, yet it is time-consuming. Recently the use of stapling devices to successfully close the pharyngeal defect after total laryngectomy has been advocated to shorten the operative time, especially in the high-risk cancer patients where a prolonged operative time is not preferred. The present study aimed at comparing stapler assisted total laryngectomy to suture closure total laryngectomy in a prospective randomized manner. This is a prospective clinical study conducted on 60 patients undergoing total laryngectomy at Alexandria Main University Hospital, Egypt. Patients with tumor extension to the hypopharynx or base of the tongue were excluded from the study. The surgical time is reduced with shorter hospital stays and no increase in postoperative complications rate. The use of the stapler is technically easy to perform and as equally as effective as the traditional neopharyngeal suturing techniques in patients undergoing total laryngectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the distribution of natural radionuclides and the determination of radioelement favorability in the Nugrus mylonite rock. The radionuclide contents were measured with a NaI(Tl) detector. The concentrations of U, Th, Ra (in terms of eU), and K in the mylonite studied range from 27 to 247 ppm, from 96 to 377 ppm, from 11 to 166 ppm, and from 1.14 to 3.12%, with the averages of 100 ppm, 201 ppm, 55 ppm, and 2.1%, respectively. The interelement relationships indicate that the radioelement distribution is not only magmatic but also hydrothermal. Variations of migration parameters for uranium indicate fluctuations in physicochemical conditions that lead to U accumulation and leaching processes, which are confirmed by increments and decrements in uranium concentrations. The examined samples demonstrate disequilibrium, with eU/Ra (eU) ranging from 1.32 to 3.26, with an average of 1.95, which suggests uranium addition. Uranium, thorium, and potassium favorability indices of the investigated mylonite rocks indicate moderate favorability of these rocks for uranium and thorium and high favorability for potassium. The F-parameter illustrates the presence of different stages of alterations. Mineralogical investigation indicates the presence of such radioactive minerals as thorite and Uranothorite, of Nb–Ta minerals (columbite and ishikawite), and of zircon and xenotime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrugination, sericitization, desulfitization, chloritization, and kaolinitization of hydrothermal origin are the main wall rock alterations occurring within the NNW shear zones at Abu Rusheid area. The secondary uranium minerals occur as hair-like radiated spots and thin micaceous flakes with canary and yellow color, which are deposited along the small cracks and microfractures of altered gneiss and lamprophyre dyke and coat surfaces of hematitized rock. The radiometric measurements proved that the uranium content increases from sericitized gneiss (average 317.9 ppm) to ferruginated gneiss (average 863.1 ppm) and then to altered lamprophyre dyke (average 1352.7 ppm). The latter is the most radioactive zone along the NNW shear zones and is considered as a good trap for the uranium leached from the host rock due to the high ability of iron oxides and clays to adsorb radioactive elements from their solutions. Therefore, the present work focuses on the uranium leaching from Abu Rusheid area using sulfuric acid. The effect of sulfuric acid concentration, liquid/solid ratio, contact time, and leaching temperature on the leaching efficiency has been investigated. The data obtained show that about 74.0% of uranium can be leached successfully under the following conditions: sulfuric acid concentration 4 M, liquid/solid ratio 10 mL/g, room temperature, 6.0 h. The leaching kinetics is well interpreted with shrinking core model with control by diffusion through a porous product layer. The diffusion-controlled process is characterized by the activation energy of 6.3 kJ mol–1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Introducing new crops to reduce the nutritional gap in Egypt is an important target. One of these crops is Quinoa which is characterized by high nutritional value with multiple food uses. However, it will compete with other winter crops, so it is candidate to grow in marginal lands like calcareous soils. Meanwhile, planting density and N requirements are not known under such conditions; therefore, this work was undertaken in calcareous soil Caco3 > 50%. Methods: The experiments included three nitrogen fertilization treatments (0, 50 and 100 kg/fed.) and two plant densities (20,000 plants/fed. and 36,000 plants/fed.) on Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cv. Shibaya Field over two consecutive winter seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 in calcareous soil. Quinoa seed yield, biological yield, straw yield, weight of 1000-seed, harvest index, total nitrogen percentage in seeds, crude protein content in seeds, phosphorus content in seeds and potassium percentage in seeds were determined. The experimental design was a split plot design with three replications. Results: The results showed that applying nitrogen fertilization at a rate of 100 kg/fed. had significantly greater seed yield, biological yield, seed yield, straw yield and weight of 1000-seed. All seed chemical contents except K percentage were significantly affected due to nitrogen fertilization. Increasing plant density from 20,000 to 36,000 plants per feddan significantly increased the biological yield, seed yield, straw yield, weight of 1000-seed and harvest index. The interaction between the two studied factors was significant on all characters of this investigation except, K percentage in seeds. Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that the quinoa crop responds to the increase in nitrogen fertilization and increases productivity and quality when fertilized with a rate of 100 kg nitrogen per fed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egypt is an important geographical location for wintering puddle ducks. In order to investigate their relationships, 30 ducks from genus Anas were sampled from different aquatic regions of New Damietta, Damietta Governorate, Egypt. Many phylogenetic studies used mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) as an effective molecular marker. The COI barcodes of six ducks species were analyzed in this work from one genus Anas belonging to family Anatidae. The studied species of ducks were identified correctly from their DNA barcodes. The distances were calculated between barcodes by utilizing of utilizing Kimura two parameter (K2P). Maximum Likelihood was used to construct a phylogenetic tree, which grouped the entire genus into three divergent clades. Within family Anatidae, COI analysis supported a basal position of Anas clypeata and Anas querquedula. It also supported the sister group relationship between Anas carolinensis and Anas platyrhynchos and the cluster comprising Anas acuta and Anas strepera. It was concluded that most Anatidae species have distinct COI sequences. DNA barcoding is a powerful molecular tool for species identification and phylogenetic inference of Anatidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]