Agricultural Credit Under Economic Liberalization And Islamization In Sudan

This study uses survey data to examine the operations of the agrarian credit market,formal and informal, in Sudan under conditions of recent economic liberalization and Islamization; the latter does not allow interest rate fixing. In addition to descriptive analysis, the study specifies and estimates a model of farm household participation in the credit market. The survey results show a substantial increase in formal borrowing in agriculture, but relatively low informal credit. Implicit interest rates are found to be high in the formal segment compared with their previous levels, and the levels of formal and informal agrarian rates of interest are comparable. The research concludes that there is a need for enhanced institutional financial intermediation in the agrarian credit market as well as scope for the promotion of savings and credit associations among farmers.

Novel 3D Ultrasound Elastography Techniques for In Vivo Breast Tumor Imaging and Nonlinear Characterization

Breast cancer comprises about 29% of all types of cancer in women worldwide. This type of cancer caused what is equivalent to 14% of all female deaths due to cancer. Nowadays, tissue biopsy is routinely performed, although about 80% of the performed biopsies yield a benign result. Biopsy is considered the most costly part of breast cancer examination and invasive in nature. To reduce unnecessary biopsy procedures and achieve early diagnosis, ultrasound elastography was proposed.;In this research, tissue displacement fields were estimated using ultrasound waves, and used to infer the elastic properties of tissues. Ultrasound radiofrequency data acquired at consecutive increments of tissue compression were used to compute local tissue strains using a cross correlation method. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted on different tissue types to demonstrate the ability to construct 2D and 3D elastography that helps distinguish stiff from soft tissues. Based on the constructed strain volumes, a novel nonlinear classification method for human breast tumors is introduced. Multi-compression elastography imaging is elucidated in this study to differentiate malignant from benign tumors, based on their nonlinear mechanical behavior under compression. A pilot study on ten patients was performed in vivo, and classification results were compared with biopsy diagnosis - the gold standard. Various nonlinear parameters based on different models, were evaluated and compared with two commonly used parameters; relative stiffness and relative tumor size. Moreover, different types of strain components were constructed in 3D for strain imaging, including normal axial, first principal, maximum shear and Von Mises strains. Interactive segmentation algorithms were also evaluated and applied on the constructed volumes, to delineate the stiff tissue by showing its isolated 3D shape.;Elastography 3D imaging results were in good agreement with the biopsy outcomes, where the new classification method showed a degree of discrepancy between benign and malignant tumors better than the commonly used parameters. The results show that the nonlinear parameters were found to be statistically significant with p-value \u3c0.05. Moreover, one parameter; power-law exponent, was highly statistically significant having p-value \u3c 0.001. Additionally, volumetric strain images reconstructed using the maximum shear strains provided an enhanced tumor\u27s boundary from the surrounding soft tissues. This edge enhancement improved the overall segmentation performance, and diminished the boundary leakage effect. 3D segmentation provided an additional reliable means to determine the tumor\u27s size by estimating its volume.;In summary, the proposed elastographic techniques can help predetermine the tumor\u27s type, shape and size that are considered key features helping the physician to decide the sort and extent of the treatment. The methods can also be extended to diagnose other types of tumors, such as prostate and cervical tumors. This research is aimed toward the development of a novel \u27virtual biopsy\u27 method that may reduce the number of unnecessary painful biopsies, and diminish the increasingly risk of cancer

A comparison of four rodent control methods in Philippine experimental rice fields

Four rodent control techniques-sustained baiting (SB) with coumachlor. pulsed baiting (PB) with brodifacoum. a lethal electrified barrier (LEB), and a nonlethal electrified barrier (NLEB)-were evaluated on the experimental farm of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines. A fifth treatment (no experimental rodent control) was established for reference. Mean tiller damage and rodent activity, respectively. near harvest were 1.00%1 and 1.5% in the LEB plots, 1.6% and 18.0% in the SB plots, 2.1% and 16.0 % in the PB plots, and 4.1% and 32.5% in the NLEB plots. Highest mean tiller damage (9.3%) and rodent activity (56.0%) occurred in plots with no experimental rodent control. Both baiting methods (SB and PB) were less expensive than barrier methods (LEB and NLEB). During an 80-day crop protection period prevalent on the IRRl experimental farm, the total cost per hectare (US$) for protecting experimental plots from rodent damage was$26 for SB. $27 for PB,$268 for NLEB, and S1285 for LEB. Baiting methods were more cost-effective and are recommended for general rodent control on research farms that can tolerate ≤ 2% rodent damage without losing experimental data. For small research plots demanding a greater degree of protection, an effective barrier system such as the LEB or a combination of the NLEB and LEB should be used

Experimental research into the effect of some operation factors and rock properties on the rate of penetration

Purpose. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of weight on bit (WOB), rotary speed (RPM), and some rock properties on the rate of penetration (ROP). Methods. Four types of rock were collected from different sites in the south of Egypt (Aswan sandstone, Isawya limestone, Assiut limestone, and Minya marble). These tested samples were drilled by diamond core bit using a fixed laboratory diamond drilling machine under conditions (400 and 1200 rpm), and loads from 12 to 220 kg. WOB, ROP, torque (T) and specific energy (SE) were continuously observed during the drilling trials. The effect of these factors on ROP were examined. Water is used as a flushing and cooling medium. Findings. The effect of some operation factors on the penetration rate regarding mineral composition and different rock type was evaluated and the general equation was carried out to predict the suitable operation factor which gives the best penetration Rate. Originality. The effect of some operation factors on the penetration rate regarding mineral composition and different rock type was evaluated and the general equation was carried out to predict the suitable operation factor which gives the best penetration Rate. Practical implications. The Results demonstrated that ROP was inversely proportional to compressive strength (CS), tensile strength (TS), and density. It was also found that Aswan sandstone, Isawya limestone, Assiut limestone, and Minya marble have CS 111.94 MPa, 131.22 MPa, 125.0 MPa, and 502.5 MPa respectively. Was established that ROP was directly proportional to porosity. Increasing ROP in case of Aswan sandstone is associated with increase in porosity – 23.158%, and in case of Assiut limestone and Isawya limestone ROP is also associated with an increase in porosity – 19.9% and 17.93% respectively. Decreasing ROP in case of Minya marble is associated with decrease in porosity – 2.314%. So, we concluded that marble has lower ROP due to its higher CS, TS, and density and lower porosity than other tested rocks.Мета. Вивчення впливу комплексу основних експлуатаційних параметрів і ряду фізико-механічних властивостей порід на швидкість буріння в умовах різних родовищ Південного Єгипту. Методика. Були відібрані 4 типи порід з різних районів на півдні Єгипту (Асуанської піщаник, вапняк Ісав, Ассіутскій вапняк і мармур Міньї). Експериментальні зразки отримано на стаціонарній лабораторній буровій установці з алмазним долотом при швидкостях обертання 400 і 1200 об/хв та при навантаженнях від 12 до 220 кг. Під час експериментів постійно вимірювалися навантаження на долото, частота обертання, крутний момент на долоті й питома енергія, а також досліджувався вплив цих факторів на швидкість буріння. Як розчин для промивання і охолоджуючий агент використовувалася вода. Результати. Встановлено залежності швидкості буріння від навантаження на долото, питомої енергії та частоти обертання і питомої енергії. Виявлено, що для всіх чотирьох типів породи швидкість буріння збільшується з ростом навантаження на долото, в той час як питома енергія зменшується з ростом швидкості буріння. Розроблено ефективний спосіб прогнозування продуктивності бурової установки. Встановлено, що швидкість буріння обернено пропорційна міцності на стиск, міцності на розтягнення й щільності, а також змінюється прямо пропорційно пористості. Визначено, що менша швидкість буріння мармуру пов’язана з великими значеннями міцності на стиск, розтяг і щільність, а також з меншою пористістю у порівнянні з іншими досліджуваними породами. Наукова новизна. Встановлено нові закономірності взаємозв’язку експлуатаційних параметрів буріння з урахуванням різного типу породи (пісковик, вапняк, мармур) та її мінерального складу, а також обґрунтовано головну умову експлуатаційного фактору, який забезпечує оптимальну швидкість буріння. Практична значимість. Отримані результати дозволяють вибирати оптимальні параметри і режими буріння в процесі розвідки умов залягання родовищ Південного Єгипту, їх мінерального вмісту та стратиграфічних особливостей. Результати будуть корисними для проектних організацій, наукових інститутів з геології й розвідки, а також гірничих підприємств.Цель. Изучение влияния комплекса основных эксплуатационных параметров и ряда физико-механических свойств пород на скорость бурения в условиях пород различных месторождений Южного Египта. Методика. Были отобраны 4 типа пород из различных районов на юге Египта (Асуанский песчаник, известняк Исавии, Ассиутский известняк и мрамор Миньи). Экспериментальные образцы получены на стационарной лабораторной буровой установке с алмазным долотом при скоростях вращения 400 и 1200 об/мин и при нагрузках от 12 до 220 кг. Во время экспериментов постоянно измерялись нагрузки на долото, частота вращения, крутящий момент на долоте и удельная энергия, а также и исследовалось влияние этих факторов на скорость бурения. В качестве промывочного раствора и охлаждающего агента использовалась вода. Результаты. Установлены зависимости скорости бурения от нагрузки на долото, удельной энергии и частоты вращения и удельной энергии. Выявлено, что для всех четырех типов породы скорость бурения увеличивается с ростом нагрузки на долото, в то время как удельная энергия уменьшается с ростом скорости бурения. Разработан эффективный способ прогнозирования производительности буровой установки. Установлено, что скорость бурения обратно пропорциональна прочности на сжатие, прочности на растяжение и плотности, а также изменяется прямо пропорционально пористости. Определено, что меньшая скорости бурения мрамора связана с большими значениями прочности на сжатие, растяжение и плотности, а также с меньшей пористостью по сравнению с другими исследуемыми породами. Научная новизна. Получены новые закономерности взаимосвязи эксплуатационных параметров бурения с учетом различного типа породы (песчаник, известняк, мрамор) и ее минерального состава, а также обосновано главное условие эксплуатационного фактора, который обеспечивает оптимальную скорость бурения. Практическая значимость. Полученные результаты позволяют выбирать оптимальные параметры и режимы бурения в процессе разведки условий залегания месторождений Южного Египта, их минерального содержание и стратиграфических особенностей. Результаты будут полезными для проектных организаций, научных институтов по геологии и разведке, а также горных предприятий.Our sincere gratitude for Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Dept. Faculty of Engineering, Assiut, Egypt for invaluable assistance to upgrade and guidance to completed this article

Encapsulated polycaprolactone with triazole derivatives and selenium nanoparticles as promising antiproliferative and anticancer agents

Background and purpose Polycaprolactone nanocapsules incorporated with triazole derivatives in the presence and absence of selenium nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated as antiproliferative and anticancer agents. Polycaprolactone nanoparticles were prepared using the emulsion technique. Experimental approach The prepared capsules were characterized using FT-IR, TEM and DLS measurements. The synthesized triazolopyrimidine derivative in the presence and absence of selenium nanoparticles encapsulated in polycaprolactone was tested for its in vitro antiproliferative efficiency towards human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and murine fibroblast normal cell line (BALB/3T3) in comparison to doxorubicin as a standard anticancer drug. Key results The results indicated that encapsulated polycaprolactone with selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and triazole-SeNPs were the most potent samples against the tested breast cancer cell line (MCF7). On the other hand, all compounds showed weak or moderate activities towards the tested murine fibroblast normal cell line (BALB/3T3). Conclusion As the safety index (SI) was higher than 1.0, it expanded the way for newly synthesized compounds to express antiproliferative efficacy against tumour cells. Hence, these compounds may be considered promising ones. However, they should be examined through further in-vivo and pharmacokinetic studies