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

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

Burden of cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2005–2015: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study

Objectives: To estimate incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) between 2005 and 2015. Methods: Vital registration system and cancer registry data from the EMR region were analyzed for 29 cancer groups in 22 EMR countries using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 methodology. Results: In 2015, cancer was responsible for 9.4% of all deaths and 5.1% of all DALYs. It accounted for 722,646 new cases, 379,093 deaths, and 11.7 million DALYs. Between 2005 and 2015, incident cases increased by 46%, deaths by 33%, and DALYs by 31%. The increase in cancer incidence was largely driven by population growth and population aging. Breast cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia were the most common cancers, while lung, breast, and stomach cancers caused most cancer deaths. Conclusions: Cancer is responsible for a substantial disease burden in the EMR, which is increasing. There is an urgent need to expand cancer prevention, screening, and awareness programs in EMR countries as well as to improve diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care services.The funding source played no role in the design of thestudy, the analysis and interpretation of data, and the writing of thepaper. GBD 2015 is funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Trends in HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality in Eastern 3 Mediterranean countries, 1990–2015: findings from the Global 4 Burden of Disease 2015 study

Objectives We used the results of the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study to estimate trends of HIV/AIDS burden in Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries between 1990 and 2015. Methods Tailored estimation methods were used to produce final estimates of mortality. Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated by multiplying the mortality rate by population by age-specific life expectancy. Years lived with disability (YLDs) were computed as the prevalence of a sequela multiplied by its disability weight. Results In 2015, the rate of HIV/AIDS deaths in the EMR was 1.8 (1.4–2.5) per 100,000 population, a 43% increase from 1990 (0.3; 0.2–0.8). Consequently, the rate of YLLs due to HIV/AIDS increased from 15.3 (7.6–36.2) per 100,000 in 1990 to 81.9 (65.3–114.4) in 2015. The rate of YLDs increased from 1.3 (0.6–3.1) in 1990 to 4.4 (2.7–6.6) in 2015. Conclusions HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality increased in the EMR since 1990. To reverse this trend and achieve epidemic control, EMR countries should strengthen HIV surveillance,and scale up HIV antiretroviral therapy and comprehensive prevention services