Estimation of supply and demand functions of the major food security crops in the Sudan (1974- 2004)

This study aimed at estimating the supply and demand functions and measuring the food consumption gaps of the main food crops, namely sorghum, wheat and millet. Descriptive statistics and backward regret-ssion analysis were used as tools of analysis. Results showed that the quantity of food crops produced was far below the real needs for local consumption. Moreover, self-sufficiency ratio has declined from 100 % in 1981/1982 to 72.6% in 2000 /2001, indicating positive trend in the food consumption gap. Regarding sorghum crop, results showed that the most important factor affecting the supply of sorghum was the lagged producer price whereas the most important factors affecting demand for sorghum were consumer price of sorghum and per capita income. Results showed that the most important factors affecting the supply of wheat were the producer price of sorghum and the producer price of cotton whereas the most important factor affecting demand for wheat was the consumer price of sorghum. The millet crop was affected by the lagged producer price and consumer price of millet supply and demand functions, respectively. The results of this study indicated that, in a national sense, Sudan is food insecure during the period 1980/81-2004/2005. The shift in consumption habits towards wheat is highly responsible for the food insecurity. &nbsp

The effect of solar cells distribution on the Performance of solar panel

Three different distribution modules of silicon solar cells in a panel are used in this study . Each module consists of five identical circular silicon solar cells of radius (5cm) and then the total panel areas are identical. The five solar cells are arranged in the panel in different shapes: circular, triangular and rectangular .The efficiency for these three panel distribution are measured indoor and outdoor. The results show that the efficiency is a function of the cells distribution

Availability and Feasibility of Water Desalination as Non-conventional Resource for Agricultural Irrigation in the MENA Region: A review

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordMany countries in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) are facing water scarcity, which poses a great challenge to agricultural production. Furthermore, water scarcity is projected to increase due to climate change, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The integration of solar power and water desalination systems in greenhouses to overcome water shortages is one of the preferred technologies in crop-growing areas. Crop growth control is done through sufficient management of environmental climatic variables as well as the quantity and quality of water and applied fertilisers with irrigation. Numerous crops such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, strawberries, flowers, and herbs can be grown under greenhouse conditions using desalinated water. This paper displays the state of the art in (i) solar-driven saltwater desalination to irrigate crops, (ii) the feasibility of water desalination for agriculture in the MENA region, (iii) the economics and environmental impacts of the desalination process, (iv) the quality of desalinated water compared with other non-conventional water resources and (v) recommendations for the future in the MENA region.Science, Technology, and Innovation Funding Authority (STIFA) of EgyptBritish Counci

The diagnostic and monitoring value of serum anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Background: JRA is currently diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 revised criteria that are primarily based on clinical parameters. The criteria may be insufficient for the diagnosis of early RA as they are based upon measurements of disease classification predominately featuring manifestations typical of later-stage disease. Measurement of serum anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (MCV) has been shown to be a better marker for early adult RA, and it correlates well with the disease activity score (DAS). Objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate the role of antimutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in the diagnosis, and in monitoring disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The study included 40 children with JRA fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of JRA: 4 children with oligoarticular JRA, 12 with polyarticular JRA and 24 children with systemic onset JRA. Fifty healthy children, matching the patients in age and sex served as a control group. The studied children with JRA were subjected to laboratory tests including CBC, ESR, CRP, ANA and rheumatoid factor (RF). Serum samples from both patients and controls were assayed for anti-MCV levels using an ELISA technique. Results: The study showed high mean serum anti-MCV antibodies level in JRA patients when compared to controls (P= 0.00). In addition, there were no significant correlations between anti-MCV antibody levels and parameters of disease activity, namely, number of swollen joints, number of tender joints, ESR and CRP. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and it showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was (0.896). At a cutoff level > 17 u/mL, anti-MCV antibodies had diagnostic specificity of 88%, diagnostic sensitivity of 87.5%, negative and positive predictive values of 89.8% and 85.4%, respectively and diagnostic efficacy of 87.8%. We also reported 3/40 of JRA patients to be positive for RF and 2/40 of JRA patients to be positive for ANA. Conclusion: Measurement of serum anti MCV antibody level holds promise as a diagnostic tool in JRA. However, they failed to show a significant efficacy in determining disease activity.Keywords: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, MCVEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012;10(2):75-8

Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy of Unverricht-Lundborg Type

Purpose : A 34-year-old woman with progressive myoclonus epilepsy of Unverricht-Lundborg type was considered for vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy. Methods : After demonstration of intractability to multiple antiepileptic regimens and progressive deterioration in cerebellar function, the patient was implanted with a vagus nerve stimulator and followed for 1 year. Neurological status, seizure frequency, and parameter changes were analyzed. Results : VNS therapy resulted in reduction of seizures (more than 90%) and a significant improvement in cerebellar function demonstrated on neurological examination. The patient reported improved quality of life based in part on her ability to perform activities of daily living. Conclusions : VNS therapy may be considered a treatment option for progressive myoclonus epilepsy. The effects of VNS on seizure control and cerebellar dysfunction may provide clues to the underlying mechanism(s) of action.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65549/1/j.1528-1157.2000.tb00293.x.pd

ESTIMATES OF GENETIC COMPONENTS, PREDICTION AND GENETIC CORRELATION IN WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM,L.) USING NORTH CAROLINA DESIGN III

North Carolina Design III was used to estimate gene effects in bread wheat crosses. Twelve Egyptian bread wheat genotypes i.e. Sakha 69, Sakha 8, Gemmeiza 1, Gemmeiza 3, Gemmeiza 7, Giza 160, , Giza 162, Giza 164, Giza 165, Sids 1, Sids 3 and Sids  4, each was crossed back to testers, high performing (Gemmeiza 9) and low performing parent (Sakha 92) during three winter successive seasons i.e. 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, to study; heading date (days) plant height (cm), flag leaf length (cm) flag leaf width (cm), flag leaf area (cm)2, extrusion length (cm), number of spikelets/spike, spike grain weight (g.), number of spikes/plant, number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight (g.) and grain yield/plant (g.) characters. Results indicated that epistasis played great role in the inheritance of all studied characters except number of spikes/plant. Additive(D)and dominance(H) genetic variances were significant in all studied characters except number of spikes/plant and number of grains/spike. The additive genetic variance was more than dominance for heading date, plant height, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, extrusion length, spike length and 1000- grain weight. The ratio of (H./D) 0.5 was less than one for these characters but for the remaining characters the dominance genetic variance was more than additive. The values of(F) indicated that dominance was unidirectional for flag leaf length and flag leaf area, whereas it was ambidirectional for the remaining characters Prediction results revealed that it could be possible to derive reasonable proportion of new recombinants which are falling out side parental range for heading date, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, spike length, number of spikelets/spike, number of spikes/plant, 1000- grain weight and grain yield/plant. Genetic correlation indicated that additive, dominance and epistasis gene effects controlling grain yield/plant and spike grain weight, number of spikes/plant, number of grains/spike, 1000- grain weight, were signifant, suggesting common genetic pool or pleiotropy. Thus, selection based on additive genetic correlation indicated that indirect selection via, spike grain weight, number of spikes/plant, number of grains/spike and 1000- grain weight would be effective and enhance its importance as selection criteria

Anti-ulcerogenic and anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) activities of seven amines derivatives

The Novel target compounds (CP-1-7) were synthesized and tested at doses up to 1000mg/kg for their entitled activities. They exerted promising results without any behavioral changes and mortality in mice. Therefore, according to the results obtained in our study, it could be categorized as highly safe agents for treating UC since substances possessing LD50 higher than 50mg/kg are considered nontoxic. They also possessed a potent anti-ulcerogenic activity with different potentials. The most effective compound was CP-4, it produced 97.7% ulcer protection of control followed by CP-3, which produced 90.3% protection, while the standard drug ranitidine (100mg/kg) produced 49.2% protection. Compound CP-1 showed lowest activity among the current series, it produced 55.5% protection. The target compounds were significantly more effective than the standard in reducing ulcer index. The anti-ulcerative colitis activity was tested using acetic acid induced colitis model. The curative effect of the tested compounds at a dose of 50mg/kg oral administration on rats showed a potent anti-ulcerative colitis activity with different potentials. They induced a significant decrease in ulcer score, ulcer area, ulcer index and weight/length of the colon specimens.The percent protection of control colitis ranged from 66.8% for CP-7 to 22.3% for CP-5; however the percent protection for dexamesathone (0.1. mg/kg) was 59.3%. The effect of the tested compounds CP-7 and CP-3 at dose 50. mg/kg were significantly more effective than dexamesathone (0.1. mg/kg) in reducing all parameters.Liver functions were not affected as there is no effect on the activity of both AST and ALT in animals that received the compounds, so the compounds didn't reveal hepatotoxic manifestation. Although, the results on kidney functions showed that, CP-1 slightly elevated blood urea concentration and CP-3 & CP-4 slightly elevated serum creatinine; no apparent nephrotoxic manifestations were recorded

Novel quinazoline and acetamide derivatives as safe anti-ulcerogenic agent and anti-ulcerative colitis activity

Two novel quinazoline derivatives named as; 3-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-amino]-2-p-tolyl3H-quinazolin-4-one (5) and 2-p-Tolyl-3-[3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzylidene-amino]-3H-quinazolin-4-one (6) in addition to one acetamide derivative named as 2-(2-Hydroxycarbonylphenylamino)-N-(4- aminosulphonylphenyl) 11 were synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-ulcerogenic & AntiUlcerative colitis activities. All of the three compounds showed curative activity against acetic acid induced ulcer model at a dose of 50 mg/kg, they produced 65%, 85% & 57.74% curative ratio for compounds 5, 6 & 11 respectively. The effect of the tested compounds 5, 6 & 11 at dose 50 mg/kg were significantly (P < 0.01) more effective than dexamesathone (0.1 mg/kg) in reducing all parameters. Compounds showed curative activity of for peptic ulcer (induced by absolute alcohol (at a dose of 50 mg/kg, it produced Curative of control ulcer 56.00%, 61.70% & 87.1% for compounds 5, 6 & 11 respectively at dose 50 mg/kg, while the standard drug (Omeprazole 20 mg/kg) produced 33.3%. In both tests, the activity of our target compounds were higher than the standard drugs used for treatment of peptic ulcer and ulcerative colitis. No side effects were reported on liver and kidney functions upon prolonged oral administration of this compounds