K-Shell Photoabsorption Studies of the Carbon Isonuclear Sequence

K-shell photoabsorption cross sections for the isonuclear C I - C IV ions have been computed using the R-matrix method. Above the K-shell threshold, the present results are in good agreement with the independent-particle results of Reilman & Manson (1979). Below threshold, we also compute the strong 1s -> np absorption resonances with the inclusion of important spectator Auger broadening effects. For the lowest 1s -> 2p, 3p resonances, comparisons to available C II, C III, and C IV experimental results show good agreement in general for the resonance strengths and positions, but unexplained discrepancies exist. Our results also provide detailed information on the C I K-shell photoabsorption cross section including the strong resonance features, since very limited laboratory experimental data exist. The resultant R-matrix cross sections are then used to model the Chandra X-ray absorption spectrum of the blazar Mkn 421

Sensitive Determination of Moxifloxacin HCl in Pharmaceuticals or Human Plasma Using Luminescence or Eye Vision

A new probe based on the complex of 1,2 dihydro-2-oxoquinoloine-4-carboxylic acid (DOCA) as a ligand with Europium (III) ion was developed for the quantitation of Moxifloxacin HCl (Moxi.HCl) in pharmaceuticals and human plasma using a luminescence method. The metal to ligand ratio of the complex is 1:2 as determined by a Job plot. The determination of Moxi.HCl is based on static quenching of the luminescence of the probe upon coordination of Moxi.HCl. The negative value for ΔG proves that this reaction is spontaneous. The calibration curve was constructed based on a Stern–Volmer equation and the quantitation range was 0.05–80 µg mL−1. This is low enough to determine the drug in blood plasma, even hours after administration, which is not feasible with the methods published so far. The LOD was 15 ng mL−1. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated by good recoveries of spiking experiments in tablets, ophthalmic eyedrops and human blood plasma, where the mean recovery was 99% with RSDs below 5%. The method was validated by closely matching concentrations of the drug found in all these real samples by HPLC. Additionally, Moxi.HCl can be assessed semi-quantitatively by eye vision upon excitation with a UV lamp at 365 nm by a gradual color shift from red to blue with increasing concentrations of Moxi.HCl

IMPROVING FRUIT SET, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF KHADRAWI DATE PALM CULTIVAR

This experiment was carried out during 2015 and 2016 experimental seasons to investigate the effect of spraying with moringa extract at 3%, garlic extract at 3% or ascorbic acid at 300 ppm on fruit set, yield and fruit quality of Khadrawi date palm cultivar. Anyhow, bunches were sprayed at three times (3 hours before pollination then 4 and 8 weeks after pollination). The present results indicated that spraying date palm bunches with moringa extract or garlic extract recorded the highest initial fruit set in the first and second seasons, respectively. As well as, moringa extract gave the highest fruit retention and yield in both seasons. In addition, all treatments improved some fruit physical characteristics i.e. fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit volume and fruit length compared to the control treatment in the two studied seasons. Also, results showed that moringa extract or ascorbic acid increased TSS%, total sugars % and reducing sugars % in both seasons compared to the control. Meanwhile, the lowest fibers % was obtained by garlic extract in the two seasons. Also, all treatments had no significant effect on total acidity % and tannins content in both seasons

The atypical anxiolytic drug, tofisopam, selectively blocks phosphodiesterase isoenzymes and is active in the mouse model of negative symptoms of psychosis

Tofisopam is a member of the 2,3-benzodiazepine compound family which is marketed for the treatment of anxiety in some European countries. In contrast to classical 1,4-benzodiazepines, the compound does not bind to the benzodiazepine binding site of the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor and its psychopharmacological profile differs from such compounds. In addition to anxiolytic properties, antipsychotic effects are reported. We now show that tofisopam, 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.), administered in parallel to repeated doses of dizocilpine 0.2 mg/kg i.p. can ameliorate dizocilpine-induced prolongation of immobility, which is considered to be a model of negative symptoms of psychosis. We further show that tofisopam acts as an isoenzyme-selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) with highest affinity to PDE-4A1 (0.42 μM) followed by PDE-10A1 (0.92 μM), PDE-3 (1.98 μM) and PDE-2A3 (2.11 μM). The data indicate that tofisopam is an interesting candidate for the adjuvant treatment of psychosis with focus on negative symptoms. Combined partial inhibition of PDE-4 and PDE-10 as well as PDE-2 may be the underlying mechanism to this activity. Due to the good safety profile of tofisopam as evident from long-term use of this agent in patients, it may be concluded that dual or triple inhibition of PDE isoenzymes with additive or synergistic effects may be an interesting approach to pharmacological activity, resulting in active compounds with beneficial safety profile. Dose-limiting side effects such as emesis induced by selective inhibition of PDE-4 may be prevented by such strategies

K-variant BCHE and pesticide exposure: Gene-environment interactions in a case-control study of Parkinson's disease in Egypt

Pesticide exposure is associated with increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated in Egypt whether common variants in genes involved in pesticide detoxification or transport might modify the risk of PD evoked by pesticide exposure. We recruited 416 PD patients and 445 controls. Information on environmental factors was collected by questionnaire-based structured interviews. Candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 15 pesticide-related genes were genotyped. We analyzed the influence of environmental factors and SNPs as well as the interaction of pesticide exposure and SNPs on the risk of PD. The risk of PD was reduced by coffee consumption [OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43-0.90, P = 0.013] and increased by pesticide exposure [OR = 7.09, 95% CI: 1.12-44.01, P = 0.036]. The SNP rs1126680 in the butyrylcholinesterase gene BCHE reduced the risk of PD irrespective of pesticide exposure [OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.20-0.70, P = 0.002]. The SNP rs1803274, defining K-variant BCHE, interacted significantly with pesticide exposure (P = 0.007) and increased the risk of PD only in pesticide-exposed individuals [OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.50-4.19, P = 0.0005]. The K-variant BCHE reduces serum activity of butyrylcholinesterase, a known bioscavenger for pesticides. Individuals with K-variant BCHE appear to have an increased risk for PD when exposed to pesticides

ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF AGRICULTURAL LABOR WITHIN THE DETERMINATES USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY FOR WHEAT IN EGYPTIAN

The Egyptian agriculture relies on technology to develop the productivity of most of the main crops, including cereal crops, especially wheat, which is reflected in increasing of the cultivated area. According to the Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS): Egypt Vision 2030, The cultivated area with wheat had reached about 1326 thousand feddan in 1980, then it continued to increase until it reached about 1955, and2716 thousand feddan in 1990, and 2007 respectively, and reached its maximum in 2016 by about 3351 thousand feddan. Also, the productivity duplicated from about 1.36 tons/fed. in 1980, and reached about 4..2 tones/fed. in 2016. Egypt plans to reach the area cultivated with wheat to approximately 4.2 million feddan and about 3.6 tons/fed of its productivity in 2030, in order to increase Autarky to about 81% from the locally production. To achieve this target, the absorption of technology must be further increased by increasing the different technology methods, which is reflected in productivity increasing. Wheat crop was selected for the field study through the availability of field data to estimate some economic and statistical indicators that are difficult and it may be impossible to use the secondary data in its estimation. Also, The governorate of El-Behaira was selected According to the relative importance of wheat-cultivated area,where as total area is about 378 thousand feddan representing about 11.27% of total Egyptian cultivated area, it also selected according to the availability of different  types of machines which existing in that region. The study aims at estimate the economic efficiency of agricultural labor use in the light of specific modern technology which is used in Egyptian agriculture, represented by agricultural mechanization technology from the production farms of wheat crop in El-Behaira governorate during the agricultural season (2015-2016) in the short and long run of wheat farmers, where a simple random sample was selected from three villages in El-Behaira governorate (Berijat, Damshli, Alqam), The sample units divided three categories: the first category (less than 0.5 feddan), the second category (0.5 feddan - feddan), the third category (feddan and more) Short and long run for each category, in order to estimate some indicators of production and economic efficiency, and economics of scale. The estimation of short-run production function shows that total elasticity is about 1.3, 1.3, and 1.06 for the first, second and third categories of the sample respectively, while total elasticity is about 1.1 in the long-run, which reflecting the increasing returns to scale and farmers are producing in the first phase of the law of diminishing returns. The estimate of the cost functions in the short-run shows that the optimal production is about 14.1, 36.4 and 88.3 ardabb respectively for the three categories in the study sample, and the optimal production is about 47.7 ardabb in the long-run

Utility of ultrasound elastography in a cohort of patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of ultrasound elastography as a recent imaging technique in diagnosis of CTS and evaluation of its severity in patients suffering clinically compared to the results of the gold standard electrophysiological tests. Materials and methods: This was a prospective cross sectional study included 100 patients clinically diagnosed as having unilateral idiopathic CTS (90% of the dominant hand), referred to radiology department from physical medicine department at Alexandria main university hospital from June 2015 till May 2016 after being evaluated electrophysiologically for correlation with the data of the ultrasound and ultrasound elastography of the median nerve. A control group of 100 patients with no wrist or hand complain were included in the study. Results: As diagnosed electrophysiologically, there were 44 (44%), 35 (35%) and 21 (21%) patients with mild, moderate and severe degree of CTS respectively. The mean cross sectional area of the median nerve among the studied cases was 12.19 ± 1.59 mm2 while the mean strain ratio of the median nerve by ultrasound elastography was 2.20 (1.0–5.0). Conclusion: In addition to electrophysiological study, ultrasound and ultrasound elastography are valuable tools for the diagnosis and classification of CTS