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Leachate collected at the bottom of dead bird’s disposal pits may leak and migrate to pollute groundwater when soils and rocks present are porous. This study assessed the coefficient of permeability (K) and porosity (Ф) of soils and rocks in poultry farmland using 2 Dimensional (2D) electrical resistivity method and soil analysis. Geo-electrical data collection was achieved by using the dipole-dipole array. The field resistivity measurement was carried out along three traverse lines (three Profiles) of 100 m long which were oriented along with East-West directions. These measurements were taken in the order of increasing in offset distance interval of 5 m. The acquired apparent resistivity data were inverted using DIPPROWIN modeling software to perform 2D data inversion. Five soil samples from different locations at depths of 0 – 15 cm and 15 – 30 cm, on the poultry farmland, were collected, transported, and tested in the laboratory. K and Ф were determined using falling head and density methods respectively. The results obtained from the processed field resistivity data from the three profiles were presented as field data pseudo-sections, theoretical pseudo-section, and 2D resistivity structures. The 2D resistivity structure revealed three structures viz; highly conductive, slightly conductive, and resistive. The resistivity values of these structures ranged from 14.1-99.0 Ω m, 100-848 Ω m, and 1350-90330 Ω m respectively. The highly conductive structures were found in profiles 1 and 3 due to the downward migration of the contaminants from the dead bird disposal pit 1 and the feces disposal site through clayey sand soil. This occurs at the depth range of few meters from the surface to greater than 20 m. The presence of the slightly conductive structure is a result of filtration of the contaminants by the soil materials which increased the resistivity of the soil. The movement of the contaminant through the soil is an indication of the porous and permeable nature of the farmland. The resistive structure is only noticeable in profiles 1 and 2 but very prominent at the depth range of 5 m to more than 20 m and 5 m to 35 m along the profile length. The results of the analysis of the five soil samples from the poultry farmland showed a high value of 0.552 and 3.554 x 10−2cm/s of porosity (Ф) and coefficient of permeability (K) respectively. A strong correlation of R 2 = 0.9878 existed between Ф and K. With these results geo-electrical method had successfully assessed Ф and K of the soil of the poultry farmland.

White-cement kiln dust (WCKD) is a waste material produced in a huge amount after production of white cement. It causes many environmental problems; thus its disposal is considered as an interesting issue and urged the researchers to deal with. In the present work, an attempt for utilization of WCKD to produce some alkali activated products was studied. Different batches were designed from WCKD/silica fume, WCKD/metakaolin and WCKD/grog to produce various alkali-activated products. WCKD was used as is or as calcined one. The alkali activated products were prepared without and with autoclaving process. The results revealed that the maximum amount of WCKD to produce alkali activated products with suitable mechanical properties was 50% after which the properties were deteriorated. The developed properties depended on the reactivity of added materials; the results of alkali activated products fabricated from silica fume and grog were better than that fabricated from metakaolin. Moreover, the results of alkali activated products prepared from calcined WCKD were better than that prepared from none calcined WCKD. Furthermore, the autoclaving of alkali activated products led to improving their properties as compared to those without autoclaving. The best results for the autoclaved products were for the samples B5 (50% calcined WCKD + 50% silica fume) and F5 (50% calcined WCKD + 50% grog) while for none autoclaved products were B4 (60% calcined WCKD + 40% silica fume), B5, E4 (60% none calcined WCKD + 40% grog) and F5 sample.

This paper presents the importance of load management methodology (LM) and helps in clarifying the difference between load management versus demand-side management (DSM), as LM is a crucial method of controlling the loads especially in peak periods, to prevent tripping. It was found that the previous researches focused on the dual tariff meters to force and motivate the consumer to change the demand time which was a gleam in overcoming the phenomena. However, the dilemma of the DSM was relying mainly on the consumer, who has to change the time of his needs. Therefore, it is difficult to be controlled. Consequently, they cannot find effective feedback as well. On the other hand, LM relies only on the designer or service provider in re-distributing loads according to the load behavior studies (time, location, and type of user) without depending on the consumer in solving the phenomena of extreme fluctuations of loads on the electrical equipment. In this paper, the second methodology is by the service provider, it is going to be handled and discussed by Selecting medium voltage (MV) feeders, re-distribute loads equally, and variously on transformer preventing unifying load which causes overloaded transformer on one period rather than the other. Consequently, it will lead to protect electrical equipment from no-load or overload effects, selecting the exact size. That will improve the economic status and will lead to a stable, balanced system, besides reduce heat island effects and prevent load shedding caused by sudden overloading. The model was created by using DIgSILENT power factory software.

Background The aquatic Acari are known as water mites and occupy a wide range of habitats. The freshwater mites, Unionicola aegyptiaca, were collected from the freshwater mussel, Caelatura aegyptiaca, River Nile, Sohag, Egypt. The present paper focuses on the structure of the cuticle and musculature of freshwater mite, U. aegyptiaca. Results Histologically, the cuticle consists of two main layers: epicuticle and procuticle. The latter divided into two sublayers, exocuticle (exo) and endocuticle (en). The musculature of the present species, U. aegyptiaca, is divided into three regions: gnathosoma, idiosoma, and legs. The muscles of the body are classified according to their position and function. Conclusion Details of muscles of gnathosoma, coxal epimerae, genital field, and legs were all described and discussed. The cuticle and musculature of U. aegyptiaca were studied by using the light microscope, and the drawings were down with the help of a camera Lucida. It is likely to note that the cuticle and musculature of freshwater mite, U. aegyptiaca, were described and discussed for the first time in Egypt.

The article considers the issue of digital transformation, which can become the basis for the further development of the principle of management by results of the state, since it allows you to overcome its previously identified limitations. The purpose of this article is a detailed study of new busi-ness models, including the so-called proactive service based on data, as well as the integration of mod-ern fragmented information systems and communication channels. It is shown that despite the results achieved, problems associated with an insufficient level of openness, customer orientation and activity remain relevant. For example, government agencies are reluctant to disclose information that can be used to create added value in the form of relevant and relevant open data. The e-government develop-ment index (EGDI) in the Republic of Kazakhstan is analyzed. The results of the analysis revealed a high level of development of e-government. However, according to the authors, it is necessary to study in more detail new business models, including the so-called proactive service based on data, as well as the integration of modern fragmented information systems and communication channels to implement a multi-channel service model by creating a single “front office” aimed at providing the availability of information and services at anytime, anywhere and on any device (contact center, web portal, smart messengers, mobile applications, SMS messages).

Smoking is a severe health problem. Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of systemic inflammation. Neutophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is used as a marker of systemic inflammation and monitors prognosis, morbidity, and mortality in many diseases. This study aimed to analyze NLR in smokers. This is an observational analytic study conducted at Tadulako University, Palu. A total of 48 subjects consisted of 24 active smokers and 24 non-smokers. Subjects were given a questionnaire containing a history of the disease, smoking status, and the number of cigarettes consumed per day. Blood samples were also taken for hematological examination. NLR of the subjects was then compared with the appropriate statistical test. The NLR in the smoker’s group was 1.54 ± 0.81 and in the non-smoker’s group 1.87 ± 1.76. This NLR was not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers, with a p-value of 0.578. Most of the smoking subjects are light and moderate smokers, and it is possible that this condition has not been able to cause a significant increase in systemic inflammation.

BackgroundIsopods shape features are sensitive and respond to several selective pressures which may result in variations of these features. These pressures might reflect the heterogeneity of the environment where an animal lives. Land isopodsPorcellionides pruinosuswere collected from an agricultural field. Landmarks geometric morphometrics was applied to evaluate its shape changes during two different seasons. The present work aims to (i) assess and characterize morphological changes in body shape ofP. pruinosusas a response to seasonal variations, (ii) determine differences in the body shape during ontogeny, (iii) examine the effect of intraspecific allometry to interpret the observed variations in the species, and (iv) clarify whether the body shape ofP. pruinosuscan be used as a sexual differentiating trait.ResultsJuveniles showed no seasonal variations in the body shape, which were detected among adults, females and males as shown by PCA, DFA, and MANOVA.The adult winter forms have large bodies, small heads, broad pereons, and short but wide telsons. The adult summer forms have small slender bodies, slightly stretched heads, and relatively long telsons. Juveniles’ growth to adulthood showed body shape changes in the head and pereon, that include shrank of the head in the anteroposterior direction and its level became slightly lower than the body. The pereon becomes broader and the two anterolateral projections of the first pereonite extend anteriorly, reaching a little beyond the posterior margin of the eyes. Present species showed a shape sexual dimorphism which includes the broader body and more convex pereon in females and a small waist between the second and third pleonites in males. Shape sexual dimorphism was attributed to reproductive activity. Both allometric trajectories of juveniles and adults (ontogenetic allometry) and of sexes (static allometry) were parallel.ConclusionsThe landmark geometric morphometric technique was able to reveal the seasonal shape variations in terrestrial isopodP. pruinosus. Also, this method provides information about shape variations between juveniles and adults, as well as about shape sexual dimorphism.

Two oribatid mite species belonging to the genus Malaconothrus, namely Malaconothrus ramadani sp. n.and Malaconothrus transversus sp. n.,were described as two new species. They were collected from the roots of the floating aquatic plant, Eichhornia crassipes in River Nile, Girga city, Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The first species, Malaconothrus ramadani sp. n., is clearly characterized by zigzag-like lateral margins of the notogaster, nine thick dorsal folds (2 longitudinal and 7 protruded transverse), eight ventral thick oblique folds (7 longitudinal and 1 transverse) and the genital plates carry four pairs of simple setae. Also, it has five and six distinct dorsal and ventral processes, respectively. The second species, Malaconothrus transversus sp. n., is characterized by the presence of six flattened dorsal transverse folds and five ventral oblique folds (4 longitudinal and 1 transverse).

The hermit crab Clibanarius signatus Heller, 1861 inhabits varied intertidal habitats of the Red Sea coast, such as rocky shores and mangrove littoral salt marshes. Shield-shape variation among three populations of C. signatus was analyzed with geometric morphometric methods. Shape variation was studied through multivariate analyses using configurations aligned by the generalized Procrustes analysis. Shape variation was explored through principal component analysis. The ordination of the populations and the sexes was investigated using discriminant analysis of canonical variables. Centroid size, as a measure of overall size, was used to estimate size variation among the three populations and the sexes. The results revealed the presence of shield-size variation among the three populations and confirmed the size sexual dimorphism in two populations. Moreover, the analysis revealed the occurrence of two morphotypes based on a covariation between shield shape and shape of occupied shells. The geographic distance was not a good predictor of shield shape. Cross-validation analyses correctly reclassified more than 70% of individuals and 66% of sexes to their correct group. It was suggested that association in shield-shell shape could be the result of the phenotypic plasticity of this species.

The male genital system of the water mite, Unionicola aegyptiaca consists of an accessory gland, two spherical testes, two vasa deferentia, common vas deferens, an ejaculatory complex and spermatopositor (penis) and is supported with the male genital skeleton. It is evident that each testis is enclosed in a very thin amorphous layer (basal lamina) and consists of a germinal part, in which spermatogenesis take place for sperms development, and a glandular part which consists of a massive complex of glandular cells. The glandular cells of the accessory gland and glandular part of each testis secret testicular secretions which delivered into the lumen of the testis and contribute to sperm cell aggregation and sperm movement. The sperm development of Unionicola aegyptiaca includes spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and sperms. Fine structures of these stages show mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes and cytoplasmic vacuoles in their cytoplasm. Transmission electron micrographs show that the mature sperm consists of three parts; head, middle piece and a short tail.

Lightning activity is one of the global natural hazards that poses significant risks on human life and numerous aspects of the society's technological infrastructure. Understanding the linkage between aerosols present in the atmosphere and lightning activity is important to further advance our knowledge of the global lightning activity cycle. The southwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula (AP) is home to one of the 500 hottest lightning spots in the world, and is not far from the largest contiguous sand desert in the world, the Empty Quarter (al-Rubea Al-Khali). Using data of individual lightning strokes from the the Global Lightning Detection Network (GLD360), in conjunction with remote sensing measurements of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) obtained at 500 nm from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument onboard the Terra and Aqua satellites during active lightning days, we examine the evolution of lightning activity in two geographically and topologically different regions over the AP. One region extends inland to the desert (R1) and the other is in the southwest mountainous region that is close to the Red Sea (R2). In both regions, results from thunderdays-only indicate that lightning is strongly and positively correlated with the AOD loading, up to AOD ~ 0.8, after which the trend flattens or reverses direction. Results suggest the two opposite effects that aerosols could indirectly have on lightning activity are at play. Mountainous region exhibits much stronger linear relation compared to the inland region. Furthermore, both regions exhibit seasonal and asynchronous lightning activity and AOD loading. Year 2018 in R1 shows very high lightning activity, likely linked to the 2018 intense dust storms in the region.

Roman Sculpture , with artists from across a huge empire and changing public tastes over centuries, is above all else, remarkable for its sheer variety and eclectic mix. The art form blended the idealized perfection of earlier Classical Greek sculpture with a greater aspiration for realism and absorbed artistic preferences and styles from the East to create images in stone and bronze which rank among the finest works from antiquity. Aside from their own unique contribution, Roman sculptors have also, with their popular copies of earlier Greek masterpieces, preserved for posterity invaluable works which would have otherwise been completely lost to world art. The aim of this paper is to discuss a distinguished type of Roman sculpture which is the portrait and the differences between the schools, periods, functions and characteristics in the eastern Roman Empire. Although the political circumstances around the empire was almost the same yet Egypt had always succeeded to keep its own style and special artistic features. Egyptian artists were always affected by their predecessors and tried to keep their culture and characteristics throughput the ages. The paper will try to move smoothly through these periods focusing on Roman Egypt and the art of portraits till the early period of Christianity.

The present study dealt with the description of the reproductive and gametogenic cycles and the embryonic development of the freshwater mussel Nitia teretiuscula from the River Nile. Macro and micro-anatomy showed that the present species is dioceous and gonadosomatic indices showed that the species is semiannual and had two gonadal growth periods, a short period of gonadal growth from January to March and a long period from April to August. Visceral indices revealed a reciprocal relationship with the gonadosomatic indices of both the two sexes. The recorded sex ratio of females to males was (1.5: 1). The oogenesis displayed five developmental stages; oogonia, previtellogenic oocytes, vitellogenic oocytes, late vitellogenic oocytes and mature ova. Also, spermatogenesis illustrated five developmental stages: spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids; which clustered to form sperm morula and finally metamorphosed to spermatozoa. Within the gills of females (marsupia), brooding of embryos was occurred till the formation of glochidia larvae. The unfertilized eggs were released from the gonads with distinct germinal vesicle. The fertilized eggs had two polar bodies and a fertilization cone. Successive cleavages were observed. Spiral cleavage, non-ciliated blastula and D-shaped larvae were recorded.

Background Urological complications such as ureteral strictures and ureteral leakage can affect the outcome of kidney transplantation by increasing morbidity and mortality, including graft loss. Controversy still exists regarding the role of stents in renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ureteral stenting in kidney transplantation. Methods We performed a retrospective study on a series of 798 consecutive renal transplants performed in our center between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2011. Ureteral stents were used in 152 cases (19.1%) of the total (stent group) and were removed 2 weeks postoperatively. Donor and recipient age, sex, type of ureteroneocystostomy, stent and non-stent patients, cold and warm ischemia time, and urological complications were analyzed. Results The overall incidence of urological complications was 7.8% (62 cases). Ureteral stenosis (3.1%) and ureteral leakage (2.4%) were the most common complications; 39.7% (25 cases) of complications were recorded in the first month after transplantation. Major urological complication rate was 3.3% in the stent group compared with 8.8% in the non-stent group (P = .04). However, stent use was associated with the increase of urinary tract infections rate in the stent group (51.3%) compared with the non-stent group (17.9%) (P = .03). Conclusions In our study, the use of ureteral stents significantly decreased urological complications in kidney transplant recipients but increased the risk for development of urinary tract infections.

Image fusion is a technique of combining complementary information from multiple images originated from single or different sources to form single fused image. This fused image has better quality compared to the original input images. In this paper a new fusion technique based on independent component analysis (ICA) and IHS transformation is proposed. A comparison of this new technique with PCA, IHS, and ICA-based fusion techniques is given. Ikonos-2 data are used to test the new and other three techniques. Four evaluation criteria are used for quantitative assessment the quality of the obtained fused images. To assess the spectral quality the spectral discrepancy ( Dk) and correlation coefficients (cc ) are used. For spatial quality assessment high pass correlation coefficients (HPCC ) and information entropy ( EN) are used. The results of the new technique show higher performance compared to the other techniques.

Directional orientation of Clibanarius signatus toward different targets of gastropod shells was studied in a circular arena upon exposure to background seawater, calcium concentrations and predatory odor. Directional orientation was absent when crabs were presented with the white background alone. Each shell was tested in different positions (e.g., anterior, posterior, upside-down, lateral). Adult crabs were tested without their gastropod shells, and orientation varied with concentration and chemical cue. With calcium, orientation increased as concentration increased up to a maximum attraction percentage and then attraction became stable. In the case of predator cues, some individuals swim away from the target toward the opposite direction representing a predator avoidance response. Whenever, the blind hermit crab C. signatus was exposed to a shell target combined with calcium or predator cues, the majority of them stop moving or move in circles around the arena center. The others exhibited uniform orientation distribution. The responsiveness was higher with calcium cues than predator cues. Thus in the absence of vision, individual hermit crabs were able to detect both calcium and predator cues and have different response regarding them.

Background: Mainstreaming cancer genetics may be an option to improve access to genetic testing in most parts of Asia, including Malaysia. The MaGiC study is conducted to study the feasibility of mainstreaming and the psychosocial impact of BRCA testing in ovarian cancer patients in Malaysia. The study participants are recruited via the traditional genetics pathway where patients are counselled by the clinical geneticists or genetic counsellors or via the mainstreaming pathway where the patients are counselled by non-genetics clinicians. Methods: This is a prospective observational study of 800 patients with non-mucinous ovarian cancer irrespective of family history. Questionnaires were conducted via telephone interviews after pre-test counselling and after result disclosure. Psychosocial impact was measured using the Genetic Counselling Satisfaction Scales (GCSS), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), Psychosocial Aspect of Hereditary Cancer (PAHC) and Cancer Worry Scale (CWS). Results: Our preliminary analysis suggests that GCSS, DCS, PAHC and CWS were reliable. For GCSS, most of the participants were satisfied with their cancer genetic counselling experience at both pre- and post-test. Majority of participants were not conflicted in making decision and felt informed of their choices and related benefits and risks after pre-test counselling and after result disclosure. PAHC showed that 79% of participants revealed a problem in at least one domain at pre-test and about 69% at post-test mainly in the domain “‘living with cancer”’. Distress thermometer (DT) showed that about 26% of participants may need psychosocial support at pre‑test. However, this has reduced to 17% after the result disclosure. As for CWS, about 41% of participants are frequently worried about the possibility of getting cancer again at both pre- and post-test. Conclusion: Interim results from this study will demonstrate the psychosocial challenges and the feasibility of introducing mainstreaming cancer genetics in Malaysia. NMRR-16-1322-31114, UMMC 20163-2255 and RSDH 201612.2.

Background: Germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variants in ovarian cancer patients may be predictive of sensitivity to platinum derivatives and PARP enzyme inhibitors. Population studies have indicated a >10% prevalence of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants with wide variance amongst ethnically different populations. We aim to establish the first population-based cohort to assess the prevalence of BRCA1/2 in ovarian cancer patients throughout Malaysia. Methods: From August 2016, women with non-mucinous epithelial ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer are continually being recruited to the MaGiC Observational Study. DNA were tested using a Hi-Plex next generation sequencing method and multiplex ligation‑dependent probe amplification to detect BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Results: Interim results from 208 patients tested until September 2017 have identified BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants in 10.1% (21/208) and 2.9% (6/208) patients, respectively. Variants of uncertain significance were detected in 15.9% (33/208) patients and no pathogenic variants were detected in 71.2% (148/208) patients. Taken together, the prevalence of BRCA1/2 in ovarian cancer patients is approximately 13.0% (27/208). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this will be the first population-based cohort of Malaysian women with ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal carcinoma. Given the clinical significance of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants in patient management and cancer risk assessment, the data arising from this study may be beneficial to healthcare professionals in medical practice and genetic service centres in Malaysia. NMRR-16-1322-31114, UMMC 20163-2255 and RSDH 201612.2.

The present work aims to assess the spatial distribution, analyze shell utilization, shell fitness and determine the effect of coexistence of two hermit crabs Calcinus latens and Clibanarius signatus on used shell resources in various habitats on the Red Sea Coast. Also, to determine the choice of shells and investigate the shell species preference of C. latens and C. signatus in the laboratory. The hermit crabs C. latens and C. signatus were found to occupy shells of 39 gastropod species. The most commonly occupied gastropod shells are those belonging to genera Strombus, Nerita, Cerithium and Planaxis. The results showed that crab individuals utilized mainly the shell with elongate aperture. Laboratory experiments showed that two crab species preferred shells of Strombus followed by Cerithium and Nerita when offered shells of nearly similar size (optimal). Crab individuals showed a significant preference for optimal sized shells when given suboptimal shells as an alternative choice. Also, the hermit crabs avoid damaged shells when given a choice of optimal sized damaged shell and optimal sized intact one. In addition, two hermit crab species chose shells of smaller than optimal size when given a choice of damaged optimal sized shells and smaller intact ones. On the other hand, field observations showed that most crab individuals lived in adequate sized shells. The present data conclude that shell selection by hermit crabs C. latens and C. signatus depends mostly on shell internal volume, shell quality and shell aperture size than other factors, because they provide a maximum protection for hermit crabs.

This study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2007 and 2008 at the Experimental Farm of El-Kassasin Horticultural Research Station, Ismailia Governorate, to detect the effect of difference media culture and nitrogen sources and ratios and their interaction on growth and alkaloid content of Catharanthus roseus. Periwinkle plants were grown in nine different media types with nutrient solution during drip irrigation. Nitrogen was applied as constant concentration of 200 ppm using three different ratios between ammonical nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen as 100% NH4 + 0% No3, 50% NH4 + 50% No3 or 0% NH4 + 100% No3. Whereas , different media types used were peatmoss , sand , clay , vermiculite, peatmoss: sand (1:1, v:v), peatmoss: clay (1:1, v:v), peatmoss: vermiculite (1:1, v:v), sand: clay (1:1, v:v) or sand: vermiculite (1:1, v:v). Generally , the combination peatmoss, peatmoss + sand or peatmoss + vermiculite medium and 0% NH4+100% No3 treatments were more effective in plant height, number of branches /plant fresh and dry weight of leaves/ plant, fresh and dry weight of plant , alkaloids content in leaves and chemical constituents in leaves0(N, T, K and nitrate).

The experiment was carried out in the Experimental Farm of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Station, Horticultural Research Institute, in El-Kanater El-Khayria, Kalyobia Governorate, Egypt, during the two successive seasons of 2007 and 2008, to study the effect of nitrogen fixed bacteria (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Rhizobium) and different levels (zero of NPK, half and full recommended doses) on growth, herb yield and volatile oil yield of Ocimim bacilicum plants. The tallest plants obtained from plants that treated with Azospirillum + Rhizobium + full recommended dose of NPK followed by Azotobacter + Azospirillum alone. While number of branches recorded the highest value from the treatment of Rhizobium + half recommended dose of NPK in the first cut and Rhizobium + full recommended dose of NPK in the second cut. The highest values of fresh and dry weights of herb/plant and total production of fresh and dry weights of herb/plant/season were obtained from Azotobacter + Rhizobium + half recommended dose of NPK in the two cuts of both seasons. The volatile oil percentages based on fresh and dry weights of herb and volatile oil yield of plant per cut and per season recorded the highest values when plants treated with Azospirillum alone. The high concentration from the main component of linalool in the volatile oil obtained from the treatment of Azospirillum alone.