Egypt’s dispersed heritage: Multi-directional storytelling through comic art

This paper responds to a need to address the colonial history of collections of Egyptian archaeology and to find new ways in which Egyptian audiences can assume greater agency in such a process. The ‘Egypt’s Dispersed Heritage’ project presents a model of engagement whereby foreign museum collections become the inspiration for Egyptians to express their own feelings about the removal of their heritage abroad using idioms and traditional storytelling of cultural relevance to them. A series of online comics confronting contentious heritage issues, including the display of mummified human remains, eugenics, looting and destruction, is discussed. It is argued that this approach is not only more relatable for Egyptian communities, but moreover provides space for the development of grass-roots critique of heritage practices, both in the UK and in Egypt. Museums have a responsibility to take on board these critiques, curating not just objects but relationships forged amongst them in historical and contemporary society

Empathy toward Patients with Mental Illness among Baccalaureate Nursing Students: Impact of a Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health Educational Experience

Empathy is an ability and skill that can be learned and developed through appropriate education and practice. While the importance of nurses' empathy is widely acknowledged, little is known about the impact of passing through the psychiatric nursing and mental health educational experience at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University on students' level of empathy. This study aimed to assess the change in level of empathy toward patients with mental illness among baccalaureate nursing students before and after completing a psychiatric nursing and mental health educational experience. The study followed a cross-sectional exploratory research design. It was conducted on 204 students in the eighth semester of the academic year 2012-2013, who were enrolled in the course of psychiatric nursing and mental health. A Student's Socio-demographic Characteristics and Previous Experience with Mental Illness Questionnaire and Empathy toward the Mentally Ill Scale were used to collect data. The results indicated that all students significantly achieved high levels of empathy after the psychiatric nursing experience. It was concluded that passing through a psychiatric nursing and mental health educational experience can improve baccalaureate nursing students' empathy toward patients with mental illness. Recommendations included the need for further studies compare between students’ levels empathy toward people with mental illness before and after completing various psychiatric nursing educational experiences at different faculties of nursing.   Keywords: Empathy; Mental illness; Nursing students; Psychiatric nursing educational experience

Evaluation of Allelopathic Potential of Rumex dentatus Root Extract and Allelochemicals on Cicer arietinum

The present study aimed to evaluate the allelopathic potential of root extract of Rumex dentatus L. and various allelochemicals on some physiological parameters in roots of Cicer arietinum L. The tested allelochemicals were benzoic, caffeic, cinnamic, ferulic, gallic, sinapic and vanillic acids. Seed germination of Cicer was inhibited by Rumex extract. Lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide production increased gradually in response to extract concentration as well as allelochemicals treatment. The total soluble protein decreased whereas the total phenol increased under the various treatments. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD: 1.15.1.1) and catalase (CAT: 1.11.1.6) increased continuously with increasing extract concentration. However, peroxidase (POD: 1.11.1.7) increased sharply at 2% (w/v) followed by reduction at the higher concentrations and reached 1.1 U g-1 fresh weight at 10% (w/v) which was still higher than that of the control value. Ferulic acid was the most effective inducer for SOD activity followed by cinnamic acid. The POD activity increased remarkably particularly with cinnamic, benzoic and gallic acids. Sinapic, ferulic and coumaric acids enhanced CAT activity by 150.4%, 139.5% and 124.4%, respectively. The results reveal the possible use of R. dentatus as bioherbicide

Investigating the efficacy of e-learning for Egyptian higher education

Using e-learning has become a credited learning delivery method in developed countries. The importance of this research arises from a widespread acknowledgement that implementing and evaluating quality in the learning process, whether it is face-to-face or e-learning, is important to guarantee the success of developing learners‘ understanding and knowledge.The research uses an instrumental case study to investigate the efficacy of e-learning in the Egyptian higher education context and to produce a model of implementing and evaluating quality in e-learning systems. Several methods are adopted including interviews, questionnaire, focus groups, VLE feedback, and a pre-post achievement test to collect the data.The study describes the participants‘ attitudes toward e-learning, what they perceive as quality e-learning systems and as critical success factors for implementing such systems inside the Egyptian higher education, and how they view the effectiveness and quality of e-learning systems. In addition, the study indicates that the majority of the participants are satisfied with using e-learning systems in their learning as long as the critical success factors are applied. This research also suggests that e-learning has a positive impact on learners‘ achievement levels

Emotional Intelligence among Baccalaureate Students at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt: A Cross-sectional Study

Emotional intelligence (EI) is seen as a necessity in health care practices, especially the nursing practice. Assessing levels of EI and ascertaining its progression among nursing students is essential for ensuring effective nursing education and competent professional nursing skills before graduation. This study aimed at assessing the level of emotional intelligence among baccalaureate students at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, and determining its development over the academic semesters. The study followed a cross-sectional descriptive design. It was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, on 450 randomly selected students who registered in four semesters. A Socio-demographic and Academic Data Questionnaire, and Emotional Intelligence Scale, were used to collect data. The results indicated that the majority of the studied students in the four semesters had moderate levels of EI. The mean score of EI of the eighth semester's students was slightly increased by the end of the same semester. It was recommended that the student’s level of EI should be considered prior to entrance into the Faculty of Nursing, and EI concept should be incorporated into the nursing curriculum. Keywords: Emotional intelligence, Nursing students, Nursing education

Avaliação da sorção de lindano sobre carvão ativado derivado de palha de arroz e biomassa fúngica de Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Rice straw was used for preparation of activated carbon using chemical activation by impregnation with concentrated H3 PO4 followed by pyrolysis at 500 º C for 2h. Physicochemical properties were investigated by several procedures; elemental analysis, scan electron microscope and porosity characteristics. Batch experimental mode was applied for adsorption and biosorption studies. A matrix effect analysis is applied to correlate the lindane adsorption or biosorption capacity to the agitation time, initial levels of lindane and carbon dose or biosorbent concentration. The Scanning Electron Microscope images equipped with Energy-dispersive X-ray reflect the enhancement of thermo-chemical activation by H3 PO4 in increasing the porosity of AC. Sorption behavior of Lindane by Activated Carbon (AC) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium, respectively have been studied to compare the obtained results in order to consider cost effective method for agriculture wastewater treatment. The adsorption capacity and distribution coefficients were determined for the adsorption system as a function of sorbate concentration. Under the studied concentrations, the adsorption of lindane by AC and its biosorption by Phanerochaete chrysosporium match to Langmuir as well as Freundlich isotherms. Afterword, adsorption and biosorption behavior was assessed by calculation of constants for each isothermal model. Finally, Biosorption of Lindane by Phanerochaete chrysosporium showed higher and faster removal compared with AC derived from rice straw.Utilizou-se palha de arroz para a preparação de carvão ativado por ativação química por impregnação com H3PO4 concentrado seguido de pirólise a 500 ºC por 2h. As propriedades físico-químicas foram investigadas por vários procedimentos; Análise elementar, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e características de porosidade. O modo experimental em lote foi aplicado para estudos de adsorção e biossorção. Uma análise de efeito de matriz é aplicada para correlacionar a capacidade de adsorção ou de biossorção de lindano com o tempo de agitação, os níveis iniciais de lindano e dose de carbono ou concentração de biossorvente. As imagens do microscópio eletrônico de varredura, equipadas com raios X de dispersão de energia, refletem o aumento da ativação termoquímica por H3PO4 no aumento da porosidade de AC. O comportamento de sorção do Lindano por Carvão Ativado (AC) e Phanerochaete chrysosporium, respectivamente, tem sido estudado para comparar os resultados obtidos, a fim de considerar o método de custo efetivo para o tratamento de águas residuais da agricultura. A capacidade de adsorção e os coeficientes de distribuição foram determinados para o sistema de adsorção em função da concentração de sorbato. Sob as concentrações estudadas, a adsorção de lindano por AC e sua biossorção por Phanerochaete chrysosporium combinam-se a Langmuir assim como isotermas de Freundlich. O comportamento de adsorção e biossorção foi avaliado por cálculo de constantes para cada modelo isotérmico. Finalmente, a Biossorção de Lindano por Phanerochaete chrysosporium mostrou maior e mais rápida remoção comparada com AC derivada de palha de arroz

Basin Analysis of the Late Cretaceous Sediments in United Arab Emirates

Abstract: The Late Cretaceous Simsima Formation has been proved to be one of the most prolific reservoirs in the Arabian Basin, but still needs more investigations to be ultimately exploited.This promising formation has been subjected to a comprehensive study by various geologic disciplines to build up an adequate basin model for such formation. The study revealed that the Late Cretaceous Simsima Formation could be classified into two facies. These are Planktonic Foraminiferal Biomicrite (open marine source rock facies outcropped at Jabal Qarn El-Barr); and Rudistids Algal Foraminiferal Biomicrite (shallow marine reservoir rock facies exposed at Jabal Buhays and Jabal Malaqet) facies. This facies distribution indicates that the Late Cretaceous sea deepened towards the NNW of UAE ( Jabal Qarn El-Barr section). X-Ray diffraction analysis ensured the occurrence of open marine minerals (kaolinite and montmorillonite) within the Late Cretaceous Simsima Formation that outcropped at Jabal Qarn El-Barr. So, the Late Cretaceous Simsima Formation could act as an effective source rock (newly approved) in the northern part of UAE and a prolific reservoir rock in the other parts of UAE. The geochemical analyses also supported the occurrence of source rock facies (high TOC varies from 0.4 to 1.3 wt% and low Pr/Ph ratio) within the Late Cretaceous Simsima Formation. The petrophysical and petrographical investigations proved intercrystalline, vuggy and fracture porosity (varies from 0 to 31%) and permeability ranges from 0 to 850 md for the reservoir facies of Late Cretaceous Simsima Formation. Moreover, the occurrence of anticlinal and thrusted structures (almost acting as sealing faults) within the fractured limestones of the Late Cretaceous Simsima Formation would enhance the probability for hydrocarbon entrapment within these rocks

Can constant light exposure affect the thyroid gland in prepubertal male albino rats? Histological and ultrastructural study

Background: Through scientific literature, there is evidence that light affects thyroid function in human, mice and rabbits. Constant light and sleep deprivation is also used as a form of human torture, as it has impact on cognitive performances. The present work was conducted to study the effect of constant light for short and long periods on the thyroid gland in the prepubertal male albino rats.  Materials and methods: A total of 30 prepubertal male albino rats were used. The rats separated into three groups: group I (control); group II were those rats put under steady encompassing light (24 h/day, light intensity of 600 lux) for 4 weeks; and group III were the rats maintained in constant light for 3 months. The rat thyroid gland was subjected to histological and ultrastructural examination.  Results: The rats exposed to light for long durations showed disturbed architecture; the follicles exhibited back to back arrangement (signs of hypertrophy with hyperplasia), lined by multiple layers of follicular cells or were lined by vacuolated cells. Few thyroid follicles exhibited cystic hyperplasia. Congested blood capillaries were demonstrated between the follicles.  Conclusions: It can be concluded that the short-term exposure to constant light for 1 month had no apparent effect on thyroid gland tissues while longer exposure to light for 3 months had detrimental effects on the thyroid gland structure of male albino rats.

Plant communities along the international coastal highway of Nile delta, Egypt

The construction of highways promotes several changes in the roadside habitat, vegetation, and plant invasion. The present study aimed to describe the plant communities-environment interactions of the international coastal highway from Port-Said to Abu-Qir, northern Nile delta coast of Egypt. A total of 146 species (83 annuals, 4 biennials, and 59 perennials), belonging to 116 genera and 33 families were recorded in 80 stands. The Mediterranean chorotype is the most represented. The cluster analysis of stands yielded four communities. The community I was dominated by Silybum mariannum, community II was dominated by Mesembryanthemum crystalinum, Community III is the largest one and was co-dominated by Hordeum murinum and Senecio glaucus and community IV was co-dominated by Cakile maritima and S. glaucus. Diversity indices showed more richness of communities II and more evenness of community IV. Electric conductivity, porosity, soil texture, Na+, Cl- and bicarbonate showed significant variation among communities. The soil of C. maritima and S. glaucus community was more saline (1.78 ms cm-1). The application of CCA showed that communities II and III were mainly correlated with salinity and organic matter. The present study revealed that roadside habitat of the international coastal highway dominated by different plant communities which correlated with the habitat structure, salinity, and anthropogenic activities. Furthermore, nine invasive species were recorded in this study which could be attributed to the increment of human activities after the construction of the highway

Medical system based on thermal optical system and neural network

Military personnel in the training or operational phases always need constant medical examination, but the presence of efficient medical care is difficult to implement in real-time for such cases. A wireless system for thermal tracking of soldiers was proposed, as well as tracking their vital signs in real time. Thermal cameras are used with an optical system designed to increase the accuracy of the thermal images captured as the change in the electro-cardiogram, heart rate, and temperature measurements are measured using a specially designed circuit. The results from both the thermal system and the biometric system are combined and sent to a computer for analysis using a model prepared with neural network technology. The proposed system was tested, and a database was created for 127 males and 110 females during training and rest times. The neural network model achieved a response time of 85 seconds until the release of the final analysis, and the accuracy of the proposed tracking system is 96%. The main contribution of this paper is the design of an integrated portable system for rapid, in-field, real-time military medical diagnostics