Evaluation of Different Atmospheric Correction ‎Methods Prior to the Estimation of Total Dissolved ‎Solids Concentrations from Satellite Imagery

Surface water quality is degraded by the presence of numerous types of pollution produced by anthropogenic activities. Hence, surface water quality monitoring and assessment is essential. Conventional approaches of surface water quality monitoring are costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. On the other hand, remote sensing is an effective tool for monitoring surface water quality. Satellite images should be atmospherically corrected prior to using them in the estimation of surface water quality parameters (SWQPs). Therefore, The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outputs from several atmospheric correction methods, such as Dark Object Subtraction (DOS), Quick Atmospheric Correction (QUAC), Fast Line of sight Atmospheric Analysis of Hypercubes (FLAASH), and Atmospheric Correction for OLI lite (ACOLITE) in order to estimate total dissolved solids concentrations (TDS) over the study area of the whole province of New Brunswick, Canada. A TDS acquisition model was calibrated and validated in order to obtain TDS concentrations from atmospherically corrected Operational Land Imager (OLI) data. The results obtained from the TDS retrieval model demonstrated that the DOS method provided the most suitable remote sensing reflectance values for coastal blue, red, and shortwave infrared-2 spectral bands with a coefficient of determination (����=0.76), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE=0.76 mg/l), and significant value (P-valu

Visceral adiposity index correlation with Rotterdam criteria in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: The present research explores the correlation of visceral obesity index with Rotterdam criteria (hyperandrogenism and/or hyperandrogenemia, oligomenorrhea and Ultrasound polycystic ovarian morphology) among Egyptian polycystic ovary syndrome patients.Methods: We enrolled one hundred female patients with polycystic ovary syndrome with age ranged 18-44 years (mean age   26.83±6.092 years).Results: VAI very strongly correlated with waist circumference, TG and HDL-c, also moderately correlated with systolic B.P, BMI, HOMA-IR and insulin levels, also we found only insulin, menstrual cycles per year number and FGS were significant predictors of hyperandrogenemia in PCOS patients. Only Ultrasound polycystic ovarian morphology was a significant risk factor for oligomenorrhea in PCOS patients in logistic regression analysis. VAI, TT and Farman gallawy score can significantly predict number of the menstrual cycles per year number (p <0.05). In logistic regression analysis, only oligomenorrhea was a significant independent risk factor for PCOM (p <0.05). In addition, only VAI was a significant independent (p <0.05) risk factor for metabolic syndrome.Conclusions: VAI was an independent significant predictor for metabolic syndrome in patients with PCOS and a good marker of cardiometabolic risk in PCOS patients. In addition, VAI was significant predictors of annual menusteral cycle but not testosterone levels or polycystic ovarian morphology in PCOS. This study confirms the value of VAI in identification of patient with risk for metabolic syndrome and cardiometabolic risk in PCOS patients, but not found a role for VAI in diagnosis of PCOS

MIN-MAX SOLUTIONS FOR PARAMETRIC CONTINUOUS STATIC GAME UNDER ROUGHNESS (PARAMETERS IN THE COST FUNCTION AND FEASIBLE REGION IS A ROUGH SET)

Any simple perturbation in a part of the game whether in the cost function and/or conditions is a big problem because it will require a game re-solution to obtain the perturbed optimal solution. This is a waste of time because there are methods required several steps to obtain the optimal solution, then at the end we may find that there is no solution. Therefore, it was necessary to find a method to ensure that the game optimal solution exists in the case of a change in the game data. This is the aim of this paper. We first provided a continuous static game rough treatment with Min-Max solutions, then a parametric study for the processing game and called a parametric rough continuous static game (PRCSG). In a Parametric study, a solution approach is provided based on the parameter existence in the cost function that reflects the perturbation that may occur to it to determine the parameter range in which the optimal solution point keeps in the surely region that is called the stability set of the $1^{st}$ kind. Also the sets of possible upper and lower stability to which the optimal solution belongs are characterized. Finally, numerical examples are given to clarify the solution algorithm

Prevalence and predictors for low total testosterone levels among male type 2 diabetic patients: an Egyptian experience

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects an estimated 285 million people worldwide. This number is expected to reach 438 million by the year 2030. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of male hypogonadism among Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes and to identify the risk factors may be associated with low serum testosterone concentrations in men with type 2 diabetes.Methods: 140 male patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited in this cross-sectional study.  This study WAS conducted from January 2012 to January 2016 in the endocrinology and metabolism unit, Mansoura University, Egypt.Results: We found 48 (34.2%)  patients with hypogonadism  (defined as  TT ≤300 ng/dl) among 140 male patients with type 2 diabetes. 7 out of   48 (14.5%) patients with TT ≤300 ng/dl had high abnormal gondotrophins hormones levels while 41  patients out of   48 (85.5%) had normal gondotrophins hormones levels. We found BMI, WC, Hba1c,  UACR, retinopathy ratio, nephropathy ratio, smoker ratio and patient on insulin therapy ratio were increased in the low TT group with statistically significance, but non statistically significant difference in  age, diabetic duration, FSH, LH, Prolactin and  lipid profile. In this study by using Pearson correlation, we found a statistically significant correlation between TT levels with   BMI, WC, FSH, LH, Hba1c, and UACR (P value<0.05). Also by using stepwise multiple regression analysis, we found BMI, WC, LH, Hba1c, and UACR were statistically significant predictors of TT levels. In logistic regression analysis, we found Hba1c, UACR, and WC were statistically significant risk factors for MHG.  Conclusions: Visceral obesity, higher Hba1c, and degree of albuminuria are independent risk factors for hypogonadism in Egyptian male patients with type 2 diabetes.

Min-Max Solutions for Parametric Continuous Static Game under Roughness (Parameters in the Cost Function and Feasible Region Is a Rough Set)

Any simple perturbation in a part of the game whether in the cost function and/or conditions is a big problem because it will require a game re-solution to obtain the perturbed optimal solution. This is a waste of time because there are methods required several steps to obtain the optimal solution, then at the end we may find that there is no solution. Therefore, it was necessary to find a method to ensure that the game optimal solution exists in the case of a change in the game data. This is the aim of this paper. We first provided a continuous static game rough treatment with Min-Max solutions, then a parametric study for the processing game and called a parametric rough continuous static game (PRCSG). In a Parametric study, a solution approach is provided based on the parameter existence in the cost function that reflects the perturbation that may occur to it to determine the parameter range in which the optimal solution point keeps in the surely region that is called the stability set of the 1st kind. Also the sets of possible upper and lower stability to which the optimal solution belongs are characterized. Finally, numerical examples are given to clarify the solution algorithm

Multinomial Logit Utility Model for Tanta City Transportation System considering Ridesharing Mode

Recently, ridesharing has been noticed as an effective and sustainable mode of transport. In which, each passenger carries out a journey that benefits travelers and society greatly, such as reducing travel costs, reducing journey times, relieving road traffic congestions, preserving fuel and reducing air pollution. While the importance and efficiency of ridesharing, ridesharing among travelers has not been commonly utilized. This paper introduces an upgraded disaggregated utility model for a mode choice step in the four-step traffic demand model for transport of passengers in Tanta city - Gharbiya governorate. For the first time, the analysis in this paper includes ridesharing mode in addition to other three common modes; private vehicle, bus, and taxi . The aim of this research is to involve the ridesharing mode and new parameters in the mode choice analysis of the case study. This is done by including additional parameters such as travel cost and comfortable in addition to travel time. Based on surveys, the developed Multinomial logit utility models have been assessed using the McFadden pseudo R2 values. The values demonstrated high compatibility of results with real data as pseudo R2 values ranges between 0.2 and 0.4. In addition, all utility models developed for modes are found to have P-values less than 0.05 indicating the significance of the considered utility characteristics

Public participation in planning in the Egyptian context

Public participation is a critical aspect in the planning, also spatial planning. Its role is changing dramatically as it is present not only in social development but also tackles issues connected with cultural, educational. The most important element in participation is the will to do it – to engage in the process of planning the of life, of new urban communities, and how it is taking place in the planning process at different levels/ scales. There is a need to strengthen the public participation in the Egyptian context. Consequently, there are many cases in public participation related to the different levels (metropolitan, city, action area), connected to urban issues, besides, the sectoral issues related to economic development and societal needs. Thus, there is still a gap between existing national policies and their implementation at local level. The important question is how to achieve the local needs with strategies prepared on upper-level agencies. The main problem, in addition to the environmental issues is the regional disparities, poverty illustrated by low human development index. The research aim is to determine general framework and rules of citizen participation in Egypt by illustrating many cases from Egyptian context, and to examine the process and assess their effectiveness and the paper will end with the policy changes