Sustainable Conservation of The Submerged Historic City of Heracleion, Alexandria, Egypt

The seabed is considered as the biggest museum in the world that is rich with unique shapes of underwater cultural heritage. Over years, entire cities have been swallowed by the waves in Alexandria. Heracleion was the main Egyptian trading centre, which was completely submerged 2700 years ago in the western part of Abo Qir bay. Recently, the quick urban and coastal development in abo Qir raises numerous critical urban issues, which need tending to secure the urban development while ensuring sustainable conservation of the submerged city of Heracleion. The main objective of the research is to provide long term of the conservation measures for this unique city and its waterfront for future generation. This study suggests a framework for applying sustainable conservation, by respecting the economic, social, environmental, and urban dimensions of the submerged city and its waterfront. Furthermore, this study investigates the community perception for the proposed conservation projects in achieving the sustainable development through a questionnaire

CONSERVATION OF THE MURAL PAINTINGS OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH DOM E OF SAINT GEORGE, OLD CAIRO-EGYPT

The church of Mary Girgis (Saint George) was built by Athanasius "who also founded the Church of Saints Cyrus and John". The Church was destroyed, and all the rest of the original edifice is a room which covered by huge dome known as the Wedding Hall, dating to the 14th century. The huge dome of the wedding Hall contains several mural paintings represented Coptic arts. The dome mural paintings was darkened and severely damaged as significant detachments of the painted layer and the underneath support lost their cohesion and separated into many pieces, delamination and flaking of the ceiling painting. The most important causes for the monument state of degradation were the environmental condition such as the effects of the groundwater, the presence of salts, the humidity (active in all its forms as infiltration, capillarity and condensation) and the improper previous interventions at the structural level (fillings in the cracks with gypsum mortars). The aim of this study is to characterize the components of the pictorial surface which consists of pigments, the binding media, the plaster layer and its support and introduce the conservation project of the mural painting which was carried out at the dome "between" 2004-20013. Prior to the conservation intervention, the materials were characterized by optical microscopy, polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence. The chemical analyses have determined the nature and composition of the materials used in the painting process (mortars, pigments, binders), have identified the causes of physical and chemical altering processes of pigment layers and provided knowledge on the execution technique. The interior painting was executed according to the Byzantine technique, on a fresco plaster (intonaco) consisting of lime mortar, pigments were obtained by mixing pigments with water. After the material characterization, the conservation and restoration of the mural painting, which including cleaning, injection grouting, fixation of the paint layer, filling of the support gaps with mortar, consolidation, restoration and completion of lost parts, were carried out

Restoration and Preservation of Engraved Limestone Blocks Discovered in Abu Mousa Excavation, Suez - Egypt

A lot of engraved limestone blocks were discovered at Awlad Abu Musa (east of Suez, Egypt) in 1995/2007 by Supreme Council of Antiquities. The stone blocks were seriously affected by archaeological environments during burial environment in agriculture land. They were covered with thick clay layer with soil particles that disfigured them and hid their inscriptions. Prior to the conservation intervention, the materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Chemical analyses of ground water and microbiological study. After the material characterization, the conservation and restoration of the stone blocks were carried out including cleaning, consolidation, reduction of salts, Re-jointing, restoration and completion of lost parts. After that the blocks were exhibited in Suez museum

Oxidative damage and nephrotoxicity induced by prallethrin in rat and the protective effect of Origanum majorana essential oil

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the effects of prallethrin on renal dysfunction biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in rats and the protective effect of Origanum majorana essential oil.MethodsRats were divided into four groups of seven rats in each group: (I) received only olive oil, (II) treated with 64.0 mg/kg body weight prallethrin (1/10 LD50) in olive oil via oral route daily for 28 d, (III) treated with 64.0 mg/kg body weight prallethrin (1/10 LD50) and essential oil (160 μL/kg body weight) in olive oil and (IV) received essential oil (160 μL/kg body weight) in olive oil via oral route twice daily for 28 d.ResultsPrallethrin caused significant increase in LPO and decrease in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reduced. Consistent histological changes were found in the kidney of prallethrin treatment. Co-administration of essential oil attenuated the prallethrin induced renal toxicity and oxidative stress by decreasing LPO in kidney, creatinine, urea and uric acid levels in serum. In addition, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione reduced level were increased in kidney in prallethrin-essential oil groups.ConclusionsWe can conclude that prallethrin induced oxidative damage and renal toxicity in male rat. The administration of essential oil provided significant protection against prallethrin-induced oxidative stress, biochemical changes and histopathological damage

A Preliminary Study on the Helminth Fauna in Necropsied Stray Cats (Felis catus) in Beni-Suef, Egypt

Stray cats play a crucial role in the epidemiology of endoparasites, particularly helminths, due to predating a wide range of both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, often of veterinary and zoonotic importance. Therefore, a total of 62 stray cats were necropsied in Beni-Suef province, Egypt and examined for helminth parasites. The overall prevalence of infection was 87.0%. The recovered helminths consisted of 10 species of trematodes (Heterophyes heterophyes, Pygidiopsis summa, H. nocens, Echinochasmus liliputanus, Alaria sp., Procerovum varium, Ascocotyle sp., Haplorchis sp., Prohemistomum vivax, Euparadistomum herpestesi), five cestodes (Dipylidium caninum, Diplopylidium acanthoterta, D. nolleri, Joyeuxiella sp. and Taenia taeniaeformis), and two nematodes (Toxascaris leonina and larvae of Anisakis simplex). The most prevalent helminths were Dipylidium caninum (62.9%), Toxascaris leonina (33.8%), Diplopylidium nolleri (22.5%) and Echinochasmus liliputanus (6.45%). Thirty (48.39%) cats were co-infected by one species, 22 (35.48%) by two and three (4.84%) by more than two species. It has been found that cats aged more than 3 years were the most infected. Both male and female cats were parasitized. The infection was the most prevalent in both summer and autumn. In conclusion, veterinarians must highlight more attention towards both stray and domestic cats, as they are considered reservoir hosts for a wide host range of parasites, particularly helminths, and the zoonotic importance of such parasites should be taken on consideration

تحقيق الأصالة في مشروعات إعادة الاعمار لمواقع التراث العالمي الثقافي المتضررة من الحروب والنزاعات Achieving originality in the reconstruction projects of the cultural world heritage sites affected by wars and conflicts

تستند الأمم عبر الزمن على تاريخها الأصيل، فمن ليس له ماضي ليس له حاضر. ويعتبر التراث الثقافي من أوضح الصور المادية للتراث والتي تصنع تاريخاً للإنسان وتصنع له الهوية الحضرية التي ستتکلم عنه في المستقبل. وعلى النقيض يعتبر محو التاريخ المادي أحد مداخل محو الأمم، وهذا ما يتعرض له التراث العالمي الثقافي أحياناً في هذه الأيام، فاستهدافه وتدميره يؤدي الى محو تاريخ الأمم. حيث تتعرض مواقع التراث العالمي الثقافي الى تدمير کبير ومستمر بسبب الحروب والنزاعات المسلحة؛ التي أصبحت تؤثر على مختلف جوانب الحياة وتتسبب في آثار کارثية کبيرة کإرهاق الأرواح وتشريد السکان الذين هم بمثابة الذاکرة الاجتماعية، فضلاً عن إتلاف الممتلکات، وتخريبها، ونهبها واستخدامها لما يطوعها لظروف الحروب، وبالتالي تغير ملامحها وترک مظاهر التلف والضرر بآثار حضارات عريقة. ومع تقدم آلة الحرب التي أدت الى نسف مواقع أو مدن تاريخية بأکملها في وقت وجيز على نحو جعل من إعادة الإعمار واسترجاع تلک المواقع دون فقد لقيمتها التاريخية وأصالتها التي من خلالهما اکتسبت أنها تراث عالمي حلماً. وحتى عندما لجأت بعض الدول لاسترجاع ما تم تدميره فقد فقد کثيراً من أصالته، مع أن القليل من التجارب هي التي قد نجحت في إعادة الإعمار. فتحقيق الأصالة للتراث بعد تدميره من خلال مشروعات إعادة الاعمارتعتبرعملية معقدة وتحتاج الى استراتيجية محکمة وإطار عمل ممنهج للاستفادة من التجارب السابقة الناجحة في إعادة الإعمار. وبذلک فقد استهدفت تلک الدراسة بشقيها النظري والتحليلي الخروج بإطار عمل يحقق التوازن بين مفهوم الاصالة المعتمد من خلال المواثيق الدولية وبين إعادة اعمار مواقع التراث العالمي المتضررة من الحروب حتى لا تفقد قيمتها العالمية الاستثنائية

Characterization of Enterococci- and ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Milk of Bovides with Mastitis in Egypt

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of enterococci- and ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from milk of bovine mastitis cases in Egypt. Fifty milk samples of dairy animals were collected from localities in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the broth microdilution method. PCR amplifications were carried out, targeting resistance-associated genes. Seventeen Enterococcus isolates and eight coliform isolates could be cultivated. Vancomycin resistance rate was high in Ent. faecalis. The VITEK 2 system confirmed all E. coli isolates as ESBL-producing. All Ent. faecalis isolates harbored erm(B), tetL and aac-aphD genes. The vanA gene was detected in Ent. faecalis isolate, vanB was found in other Enterococcus, while one isolate of E. casseliflavus exhibited the vanA gene. E. coli isolates exhibited high prevalence of erm(B) and tetL. E. coli isolates were analyzed by DNA microarray analysis. Four isolates were determined by O-serotyping as O8 (n = 1), O86 (n = 2) and O157 (n = 1). H-serotyping resulted in H11, H12, H21 (two isolates each) and one was of H16 type. Different virulence-associated genes were detected in E. coli isolates including lpfA, astA, celB, cmahemL, intI1 and intI2, and the iroN gene was identified by DNA microarray analysis

Uticaj dodatka Saccharomyces cerevisiae u ishrani na zdravlje i proizvodnju krava tokom perioda tranzicije i početka laktacije

Data concerning the effect of probiotics supplementation on many parameters concurrently at the same cows are lacking. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae feeding on rumen, blood and milk parameters together in high- producing dairy cattle during the transition and early lactation period. Sixteen clinically healthy Holstein cows were divided into 2 groups: a control group of 6 cows and a probiotics-fed group of 10 cows. Rumen fluid and blood samples were collected 21 days before the expected calving as well as 7, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days- in-milk (DIM). Milk yield for each animal was recorded every 2 weeks. Individual milk samples were collected 15, 30, 45 and 60 DIM. Ruminal pH and rumen ammonia nitrogen were significantly lower, whereas total volatile fatty acids were significantly higher in yeast-fed animals compared with controls throughout the study. Serum concentrations of total proteins and globulins were higher, while albumins were lower in the yeast-treated group. Serum glucose levels were significantly higher in yeast-supplemented animals. Serum triglycerides, high density lipoproteins, and low density lipoproteins concentrations were lower, with cholesterol being significantly lower in the treated group. Milk production and milk fat percentage were higher, whereas milk protein percentage and somatic cell count were decreased in yeast-supplemented cows throughout the study. These results suggest that supplementation of S. cerevisiae to dairy cows rations during transition and early lactation period improve their health and milk production parameters.Podaci koji bi se odnosili na uticaj suplementacije probiotika na više parametara istovremeno na istim grlima nedostaju u literaturi. Stoga je cilj ovog eksperimenta bio da se ispita uticaj Saccharomices cerevisiae u obroku/hrani na parametre rumena, krvi i mleka zajedno u visoko-proizvodnim mlečnim govedima tokom tranzicije i početkom laktacije. Šesnaest klinički zdravih holštajn krava je podeljeno u 2 grupe: kontrolna grupa od 6 krava i grupa od 10 krava hranjenih probiotikom u obroku. Buražna tečnost i uzorci krvi su sakupljeni 21 dan pre očekivanog teljenja, kao i 7, 15, 30, 45 i 60 dana tokom laktacije (days in milk - DIM). Prinos mleka za svaku životinju zabeležen je svake 2 nedelje. Pojedinačni uzorci mleka su prikupljeni 15, 30, 45 i 60 DIM. pH buraga i buražni amonijačni azot su bili značajno niži, dok su ukupne isparljive masne kiseline bile značajno veće kod životinja hranjenih kvascem u poređenju sa kontrolama kroz celu studiju. Serumske koncentracije ukupnih proteina i globulina bile su više, dok su koncentracije albumina bile niže u grupi sa kvascem. Serumski nivoi glukoze bili su značajno viši kod životinja sa dodatkom kvasca. Trigliceridi u serumu, koncentracije lipoproteina visoke i niske gustine bile su niže, sa holesterolom koji je bio znatno niži u tretiranoj grupi. Proizvodnja mleka i procent mlečne masti bili su viši, dok je sadržaj proteina mleka i somatskih ćelija bio niži u krava hranjenih sa dodatkom kvasca kroz celu studiju. Ovi rezultati ukazuju na to da dodatak S. cerevisiae u obrocima muznih krava tokom tranzicije i rane laktacije poboljšava njihovo zdravlje i parametre proizvodnje mleka

Uticaj dodatka Saccharomyces cerevisiae u ishrani na zdravlje i proizvodnju krava tokom perioda tranzicije i početka laktacije

Data concerning the effect of probiotics supplementation on many parameters concurrently at the same cows are lacking. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae feeding on rumen, blood and milk parameters together in high- producing dairy cattle during the transition and early lactation period. Sixteen clinically healthy Holstein cows were divided into 2 groups: a control group of 6 cows and a probiotics-fed group of 10 cows. Rumen fluid and blood samples were collected 21 days before the expected calving as well as 7, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days- in-milk (DIM). Milk yield for each animal was recorded every 2 weeks. Individual milk samples were collected 15, 30, 45 and 60 DIM. Ruminal pH and rumen ammonia nitrogen were significantly lower, whereas total volatile fatty acids were significantly higher in yeast-fed animals compared with controls throughout the study. Serum concentrations of total proteins and globulins were higher, while albumins were lower in the yeast-treated group. Serum glucose levels were significantly higher in yeast-supplemented animals. Serum triglycerides, high density lipoproteins, and low density lipoproteins concentrations were lower, with cholesterol being significantly lower in the treated group. Milk production and milk fat percentage were higher, whereas milk protein percentage and somatic cell count were decreased in yeast-supplemented cows throughout the study. These results suggest that supplementation of S. cerevisiae to dairy cows rations during transition and early lactation period improve their health and milk production parameters.Podaci koji bi se odnosili na uticaj suplementacije probiotika na više parametara istovremeno na istim grlima nedostaju u literaturi. Stoga je cilj ovog eksperimenta bio da se ispita uticaj Saccharomices cerevisiae u obroku/hrani na parametre rumena, krvi i mleka zajedno u visoko-proizvodnim mlečnim govedima tokom tranzicije i početkom laktacije. Šesnaest klinički zdravih holštajn krava je podeljeno u 2 grupe: kontrolna grupa od 6 krava i grupa od 10 krava hranjenih probiotikom u obroku. Buražna tečnost i uzorci krvi su sakupljeni 21 dan pre očekivanog teljenja, kao i 7, 15, 30, 45 i 60 dana tokom laktacije (days in milk - DIM). Prinos mleka za svaku životinju zabeležen je svake 2 nedelje. Pojedinačni uzorci mleka su prikupljeni 15, 30, 45 i 60 DIM. pH buraga i buražni amonijačni azot su bili značajno niži, dok su ukupne isparljive masne kiseline bile značajno veće kod životinja hranjenih kvascem u poređenju sa kontrolama kroz celu studiju. Serumske koncentracije ukupnih proteina i globulina bile su više, dok su koncentracije albumina bile niže u grupi sa kvascem. Serumski nivoi glukoze bili su značajno viši kod životinja sa dodatkom kvasca. Trigliceridi u serumu, koncentracije lipoproteina visoke i niske gustine bile su niže, sa holesterolom koji je bio znatno niži u tretiranoj grupi. Proizvodnja mleka i procent mlečne masti bili su viši, dok je sadržaj proteina mleka i somatskih ćelija bio niži u krava hranjenih sa dodatkom kvasca kroz celu studiju. Ovi rezultati ukazuju na to da dodatak S. cerevisiae u obrocima muznih krava tokom tranzicije i rane laktacije poboljšava njihovo zdravlje i parametre proizvodnje mleka

LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENESIN RAW MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS;OCCURRENCE AND TRIALS FOR THEREDUCTION OF THEIR RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS.

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen responsible for severe infection in animals and humans. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of Listeriamonocytogenes in 200 samples of raw milk and dairy products marketed in Egypt, with detection the antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolates for different antimicrobial agents. The synergistic effects of three plant extracts in combination with the used antimicrobials to control resistant L. monocytogenes isolates were assessed, with evaluation of relationship between the antibacterial activity and composition of plant extracts. A total of 5 (2.5%) L. monocytogenes isolates were identified (3 isolates from raw milk and two isolates from kariesh cheese and ice cream, one each). The isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and sulphadimidine, while for amoxicillin and oxytetracycline, were resistant. The higher antimicrobial effects of basil and cinnamon extracts were detected, in addition, low concentrations of them were enough to show synergistic effect with the amoxicillin and oxytetracycline to control resistant isolates, these might be attributable to their chemical compositions. In conclusion, there is need for effectively pasteurized raw milk consumption or usage in the production of dairy products. In addition, the chemical composition of these plant extracts might help in its use to control resistant isolates with appropriate antibiotics without the need for increasing the used dosage doses