Influence of Vegetation Manipulation and Selected Cultural Practices on Predation in Louisiana Sugarcane Ecosystems (Saccharum, Sorghum, Solenopsis, Spiders, Araneae).

A 3-yr study on southeastern Louisiana sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L. \u27CP 65-357\u27) revealed abundance and diversity of both ground- and foliage-associated predators and prey to be higher in weedy than in weed-free habitats. The imported fire ant (IFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, major predator of the key insect pest, the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) , was more abundant in weedy (17 mounds/ha) than in weed-free (5 mounds/ha) habitats. Azinphosmethyl, commonly used for D. saccharalis control, decreased system stability through food web route disruption by decreasing coleopterans, phytophagous insects collectively, and spiders 51, 35, and 67%, respectively. Cane and sugar yields in broadleaf habitats and returns in dollars per hectare averaged 19% higher than in the weed-free. Studies on IFA diet composition and foraging activity showed the most frequent foraging occurring in grass weed habitats which had the greatest vegetation density. Broadleaf weeds, however, appeared to provide more prey per dry biomass (g/m(\u272)) than grasses or sugarcane alone. A trend for higher IFA populations was observed in clayey sugar- cane fields in South Louisiana over a 2-yr period. Additionally, early harvested fields contained the highest number of IFA mounds/ha (94.2), with the lowest in the early planted fields (21.8). Significantly (P \u3c 0.05) higher amounts of P, Ca, Mg, Na, and percent organic matter were found in clayey than in sandy fields. An updated list of spiders in sugarcane is presented and includes Geo heptagon (Hentz) and Neoantistea agilis (Keyserling), new Louisiana records. Lycosidae and Linyphiidae comprised the majority of sugarcane ground-associated spider fauna (55 and 26%, respectively). Araneidae and Theridiidae comprised the majority of the foliage-associated fauna (41 and 37%, respectively). Weed control practices seemed to have little impact on the araneid faunal composition and abundance in sugarcane. In a 2-yr study, Johnsongrass (JG), Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. , interference reduced cane and sugar yields (36 and 31%, respectively) in plots heavily infested with JG than in weed-free plots. Sugarcane yields were inversely influenced by JG equivalents according to the prediction equation: (\u27)Y = 68,994 - 51 x (r = -0.826, P \u3c 0.01). Significant relationships were not observed between damage by D. saccharalis and JG infestations

An investigation into solid waste problem in the Egyptian construction industry: A mini-review

Solid waste management (SWM) is one of the most critical global challenges nowadays. It has a severe negative effect on the triple bottom line of sustainability. Construction and demolition waste (CDW) contributes about 50% of the total global annual generated SW. In the particular case of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region including Egypt, the SW problem has become a major challenge, and the need to find sustainable solutions is overwhelming. However, the region faces several challenges that hinder the development of an effective and efficient SWM system. This has resulted in the predominance of unsustainable SWM practices such as indiscriminate disposals. The aim of this paper is to investigate the escalating problem of SW in the MENA region, while focusing on CDW in Egypt as a part of the total generated SW, by reviewing the most recent research papers, and technical and governmental reports on the SW problem. The main challenges towards effective and efficient SWM systems and recommendations for improvement are gathered in this study based on the explored literature. Findings from this study are expected to be beneficial to local and central governments, academics, construction industry practitioners, and policymakers contending with the problems of SW in the MENA region and especially CDW in Egypt

Optimization of Residential Load Consumption during Energy Peaks using Smart Metering

Abstract. Recently smart demand side management (DSM) is a very important tool that permits customers to take right decisions for their energy consumption and helps the energy utilities to decrease the over load demand and reshape the load curve. This paper proposes an optimized DSM technique based on smart metering uses different techniques such as load shifting and peak clipping to minimize domestic power consumption especially during load peaks. A new optimization technique (Bat Algorithm) is applied on proposed system and then compares results with other optimization techniques (Genetic Algorithm and Interior point Algorithm) to optimize the minimum consumption during peak hours according to load type. A control algorithm is applied to the proposed system to achieve the load shifting and load clipping according to the optimization results

Survival rate in acute kidney injury superimposed COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155406/1/Yessayan_Survival_Rate.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155406/4/COVID YESSAYAN DeepBluepermissions_agreement-CCBYandCCBY-NC_ORCID.docxDescription of Yessayan_Survival_Rate.pdf : ArticleDescription of COVID YESSAYAN DeepBluepermissions_agreement-CCBYandCCBY-NC_ORCID.docx : Deep Blue Sharing Agreemen

Medication Sector in Qatar: Hand in Hand Facing the Blockade

Conference agend

Molecular evolution of interferon-epsilon (IFNϵ) pseudogene modulates innate and specific antiviral immunity in Manis javanica

Interferon-Epsilon (IFNε) is a type of interferon, a protein that plays a role in the immune response to viral infections. This study is aimed at examining the molecular evolution of the IFNε pseudogene in Manis javanica, and it has been found to modulate the innate and specific antiviral immunity in this species. In this study, we identified that IFNε gene has undergone rapid evolution in Manis javanica, with the human and primate IFNε genes showing evidence of positive selection. This suggests that IFNε has played an important role in the evolution of the immune system, possibly in response to coevolution with viral pathogens. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the IFNε pseudogene in pangolins originated from a gene duplication event approximately 48 million years ago. It subsequently lost its protein-coding function due to multiple deleterious mutations. However, the IFNε pseudogene exhibits a high degree of conservation in its promoter region, suggesting it may still play a regulatory role in antiviral immunity. This suggests that the pseudogene may have evolved to serve an important function in the pangolin’s immune system, potentially helping to protect it from viral infections. The molecular evolution of IFNε provides insights into the coevolutionary dynamics between host immune systems and viral pathogens and may have implications for developing new antiviral therapies.This work was funded by the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R165), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Peer reviewe

Comparative evolutionary and structural analyses of the TYRP1 gene reveal molecular mechanisms of biological functions in mammals

Molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to the environments are still challenging in evolutionary biology. This study conducted a comparative analysis of tyrosine protein across different mammalian species to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution in response to oxidative stress. By examining tyrosine protein's structural and evolutionary patterns, the study identified specific amino acid residues that may have played a role in adaptive evolution in response to oxidative stress. We examined this protein's structural and evolutionary patterns and identified specific amino acid residues that may have played a role in adaptive evolution. Our results suggest that changes in the tyrosine protein may have contributed to the evolution of antioxidant defense mechanisms in mammals. We also reconstructed the evolutionary history of tyrosine protein in mammals and identified key events and lineages that may have contributed to the observed patterns of adaptation. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie adaptive evolution in response to environmental stressors and highlight the importance of the tyrosine protein in the evolution of antioxidant defense systems in mammals. The results suggest that changes in the tyrosine protein may have contributed to the evolution of antioxidant defense mechanisms in mammals. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie adaptive evolution in response to environmental stressors.The authors extend their appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R165), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Peer reviewe

A scalable corneal xenograft platform: simultaneous opportunities for tissue engineering and circular economic sustainability by repurposing slaughterhouse waste

Introduction: Corneal disease is a leading cause of blindness globally that stems from various etiologies. High-throughput platforms that can generate substantial quantities of corneal grafts will be invaluable in addressing the existing global demand for keratoplasty. Slaughterhouses generate substantial quantities of underutilized biological waste that can be repurposed to reduce current environmentally unfriendly practices. Such efforts to support sustainability can simultaneously drive the development of bioartificial keratoprostheses.Methods: Scores of discarded eyes from the prominent Arabian sheep breeds in our surrounding region of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were repurposed to generate native and acellular corneal keratoprostheses. Acellular corneal scaffolds were created using a whole-eye immersion/agitation-based decellularization technique with a widely available, eco-friendly, and inexpensive 4% zwitterionic biosurfactant solution (Ecover, Malle, Belgium). Conventional approaches like DNA quantification, ECM fibril organization, scaffold dimensions, ocular transparency and transmittance, surface tension measurements, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to examine corneal scaffold composition.Results: Using this high-throughput system, we effectively removed over 95% of the native DNA from native corneas while retaining the innate microarchitecture that supported substantial light transmission (over 70%) after reversing opacity, a well-established hallmark of decellularization and long-term native corneal storage, with glycerol. FTIR data revealed the absence of spectral peaks in the frequency range 2849 cm−1 to 3075 cm−1, indicating the effective removal of the residual biosurfactant post-decellularization. Surface tension studies confirmed the FTIR data by capturing the surfactant’s progressive and effectual removal through tension measurements ranging from approximately 35 mN/m for the 4% decellularizing agent to 70 mN/m for elutes highlighting the effective removal of the detergent.Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first dataset to be generated outlining a platform that can produce dozens of ovine acellular corneal scaffolds that effectively preserve ocular transparency, transmittance, and ECM components using an eco-friendly surfactant. Analogously, decellularization technologies can support corneal regeneration with attributes comparable to native xenografts. Thus, this study presents a simplified, inexpensive, and scalable high-throughput corneal xenograft platform to support tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and circular economic sustainability

Burden of obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study

Mokdad AH, El Bcheraoui C, Afshin A, et al. Burden of obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2018;63(Suppl. 1):165-176.We used the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2015 study results to explore the burden of high body mass index (BMI) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). We estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children (2-19 years) and adults (20 years) in 1980 and 2015. The burden of disease related to high BMI was calculated using the GBD comparative risk assessment approach. The prevalence of obesity increased for adults from 15.1% (95% UI 13.4-16.9) in 1980 to 20.7% (95% UI 18.8-22.8) in 2015. It increased from 4.1% (95% UI 2.9-5.5) to 4.9% (95% UI 3.6-6.4) for the same period among children. In 2015, there were 417,115 deaths and 14,448,548 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to high BMI in EMR, which constitute about 10 and 6.3% of total deaths and DALYs, respectively, for all ages. This is the first study to estimate trends in obesity burden for the EMR from 1980 to 2015. We call for EMR countries to invest more resources in prevention and health promotion efforts to reduce this burden