Garag sheep phenotype and husbandry in Um Hani area in the White Nile State, Sudan

Garag sheep phenotype and husbandry were studied in a survey of 295 animals at <1 - >4 years old in Um Hani area in the White Nile State, Sudan. Body weight (BW) and measurements generally increased with age from <1 to 4 years old. The tail was below the hock joint in most animals. The hair was short and rough and the coat colour varied and was mainly white (73.89% in females and 64.44% in males),  black and white (9.49% in females and 17.78% in males) and white and red (5.08% in females and 6.67% in males). The face profile was convex and the animals were polled. There were strong correlations between BW and measurements and different linear regression equations were used to predict BW from heart girth (HG), height at withers (HW) and body length (BL) with no significant differences between measured and predicted BW. Flock size was 80.78 and females formed most of the flocks (88.37%). Lambs were weaned at 4.24 months old. Age at puberty was 6.82 months in males and 7.2 months in females. Age at first service was 8.12 months in males and 7.96 months in females. Gestation period was 154.2 days. Lambing interval was 356.4 days and lambing was from August to September. Lactation period was 124.8 days and average milk yield was 0.37 kg/day. Longevity was higher in females (6.48 years) than males (3.8 years)

Mathematical analysis of HIV/HTLV-I co-infection model with saturated incidence rate

Direct contact with specific contaminated body fluids is how both the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) are transmitted from one person to another. Therefore, the two viruses can co-infect same person. In the literature all the HIV/HTLV-I co-infection models assume that the infection rate is given by bilinear incidence. However, for high concentration of pathogens, the bilinear incidence is not suitable. Therefore, this study will focus on the dynamical behavior of an HIV/HTLV-I co-infection model with saturated incidence. The model includes the effect of Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) immune response. Through the non-negativity and boundedness of the solutions, we demonstrated that our proposed model is biologically acceptable. We calculate the threshold parameters which determine when the equibrium point exists and when it is globally asymptotically stable. Utilizing the Lyapunov function and Lyapunov-LaSalle asymptotic stability, we demonstrate the global asymptotic stability of all equilibrium. We performed numerical simulations to confirm the analytical solutions. The effect of saturation on The dynamics of HIV/HTLV-I co-infection are discussed

Effects of added phosphorus and zinc on yield and its components of corn

   Experiments were conducted for two seasons (2000/01 and 2001/02) to study the effects of added phosphorus and zinc fertilizers on yield and its components of corn(Zea mays L.) grown on Remaitab soil series, (fine, smectitic, isohyperthermic, Typic Haplusterts) at the Gezira Research Station Farm, Wad Medani, Sudan. Phosphorus was banded in the soil as triple superphosphate at three rates (0, 43 and 86 kg P2O5 ha-1). Zinc, as zinc sulphate, was also banded at three rates (0, 5 and 10 kg Zn ha-1). Nitrogen was broadcast as a basal dose in the form of urea at a recommended dose of 86 kg N ha-1. Experiments were arranged in a split-plot design with four replicates. The results indicated that applica-tion of both nutrients significantly (P<0.05) increased the number of cobs ha-1, the number and weight of grains/cob, 100 grain weight and grain yield. However, doubling the rate of P to 86 kg P2O5 ha-1 did not result in a significant difference over that of 43 kg P2O5 ha-1 for most parameters studied.  Application of both P rates (43 and 86 kg P2 O5 ha-1) each in combination with Zn rates (5 and 10 kg Zn ha-1) increased weight of grains per cob, 100 grain weight and grain yield as compared to other treatments. For attaining maximum yield, application of 43 kg P2O5 ha-1+ 10 kg Zn ha-1 banded in the soil at sowing is recommended, in addition to the recommended rate of nitrogen on the Remaitab soil series

Effects of phosphorus and zinc fertilizers on their contents in soil, plant and grains of corn

Experiments were conducted for two seasons 2000/01 and 2001/02 to study the effects of phosphorus and zinc fertilizers and their interactions on their soil extractable forms, their contents in corn (Zea mays L.) leaf tissue, and their grain uptake. The study was conducted on Remaitab soil series (fine, smectitic, isohyperthermic, typic Haplusterts) at the Gezira Research Station Farm, Agricultural Research Corporation, Wad Medani, Sudan. Phosphorus was applied as triple superphosphate at three rates (0, 43 and 86 kg P2O5 ha-1). Zinc was added to the soil as zinc sulphate (Zn SO4.7H2O) at three rates (0, 5 and 10 kg Zn ha-1).  The experiments were arranged in a split-plot design with four replicates. The main plots were assigned to phosphorus rates and .the sub plots were assigned to those of zinc. The treatments were completely randomized within each replicate. The results indicated that application of both nutrients significantly (P < 0.05) increased most of the parameters studied. Extractable soil Zn measured at 14 and at 70 days after sowing (DAS) and available soil P measured at 70 DAS were significantly reduced by the interaction of soil application of phosphorus and zinc fertilizers and both nutrients tended to reduce the concentration of each other in leaves especially when one of them was not added, and this was more pronounced in the cases of added P treatments on leaf tissue content of Zn. The results indicated that the major P-Zn interaction did not take place in the plant but in the soil where the availability of Zn was reduced by P and this was readily corrected by application of Zn. Application of both phosphorus rates in combination with zinc improved grain uptake of both nutrients, compare-ed to treatments receiving the same amounts of phosphorus but without zinc or treatments receiving no phosphorus with or without zinc applic-ation

Climate change model as a decision support tool for water resources management in northern Iraq: a case study of Greater Zab River

The northern region of Iraq heavily depends on rivers, such as the Greater Zab, for water supply and irrigation. Thus, river water management in light of future climate change is of paramount importance in the region. In this study, daily rainfall and temperature obtained from the Greater Zab catchment, for 1961–2008, were used in building rainfall and evapotranspiration models using LARS-WG and multiple linear regressions, respectively. A rainfall–runoff model, in the form of autoregressive model with exogenous factors, has been developed using observed flow, rainfall and evapotranspiration data. The calibrated rainfall–runoff model was subsequently used to investigate the impacts of climate change on the Greater Zab flows for the near (2011–2030), medium (2046–2065), and far (2080–2099) futures. Results from the impacts model showed that the catchment is projected to suffer a significant reduction in total annual flow in the far future; with more severe drop during the winter and spring seasons in the range of 25 to 65%. This would have serious ramifications for the current agricultural activities in the catchment. The results could be of significant benefits for water management planners in the catchment as they can be used in allocating water for different users in the catchment

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Compression-Molded pMDI-Reinforced PCL/Gluten Composites

Many biopolymers and synthetic polymers composites were developed by different researchers for environmental protection and for cost reduction. One of these composites is polycaprolactone (PCL) and vital wheat gluten or wheat flour composites were prepared and compatibilized with polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) by blending and compression-molding. PCL/pMDI blend exhibited glass transition (Tg) at -67 °C (0.20 J/g/ °C) and vital gluten at 63 °C (0.45 J/g/ °C), whereas no Tg was recorded for wheat flour. Although Tg was unmistakable for either PCL or gluten, all composite exhibited one Tg, which is strong indication of interaction between PCL and the fillers. Several samples amongst the blended or compression-molded composites exhibited no Tg signifying another confirmation of interaction. The ΔH of the endothermic (melting) and the exothermic (crystallization) for PCL was decreased as the percentage of gluten or flour increased, whereas the overall ΔH was higher for all composites compared to the theoretical value. The presence of pMDI appeared to strengthen the mechanical properties of the composites by mostly interacting with the filler (gluten or flour) and not as much with PCL. The FTIR analysis ruled out covalent interaction between PCL, pMDI, or the fillers but suggested the occurrence of physical interactions. Based on the data presented here and the data published earlier, the presence of pMDI did not change the nature of interaction between PCL and gluten, but it improved the mechanical properties of the composite

The Spinning Particles as a Nonlinear Realizations of the Superworldline Reparametrization Invariance

The superdiffeomorphisms invariant description of $N$ - extended spinning particle is constructed in the framework of nonlinear realizations approach. The action is universal for all values of $N$ and describes the time evolution of $D+2$ different group elements of the superdiffeomorphisms group of the $(1,N)$ superspace. The form of this action coincides with the one-dimensional version of the gravity action, analogous to Trautman's one.Comment: 4 pages, RevTe

Rapid and sensitive methods for detection of Allorhizobium vitis, causal agent of grapevine crown gall

A rapid method and sensitive methods for extraction of bacterial DNA from pure culture and directly from plant materiel were compared in polymerase chain reaction with specific primers VCF3/VCR3 to see the reliable method that can used in the detection of tumorigenic strain of Allorhizobium vitis causal agent of grapevine crown gall. From the three tested methods of DNA extraction from pure culture, the alkaline method is the most effective technique for the extraction presenting a high sensitivity with a detection threshold equal to 5.104 CFU/ml. Five different protocols for extracting bacterial DNA from plant tissues of infected tomato, based on the use of an extraction buffer, were tested to see its usefulness in detecting pathogenic strain of A. vitisS4. Two protocols based on the use of Triton X-100 and Tween 20 were efficient for detecting A. vitis S4 directly from tomato tumors with a sensitivity of 103 CFU/ml for the both protocols. Consequently, these protocols were proposed as specific protocols for the detection of tumorigenic strain of A. vitis from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants

Fighting the Progress of COVID-19 by Enhancing Immunity: A Review of Traditional Sudanese Natural Products Containing Immune-Boosting Elements

The World Health Organization has classified the coronavirus disease outbreak as a worldwide pandemic as a result of the COVID-19 expansion. According to medical professionals, individuals with strong immunity often outlive infections more frequently than those with poor immunity. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the need for novel approaches to treating the illness and its symptoms. Natural products from plants are increasingly being seen favorably in comparison to synthetic ones in the fight against diseases. As a result, in order to avoid contracting any unanticipated illnesses, individuals must increase their immunity by eating more dietary supplements and by taking drugs that have immune-boosting properties. This review aimed to give a general overview of some traditional Sudanese foods and drinks that are rich in immune-boosting elements, and accordingly, they could be safely recommended as an adjuvant dietary supplement to improve the immune system\u27s ability to fight such infections as COVID-19. Also, this review aims to bring attention to the fact that immune boosters may be found in natural sources, which will help pharmaceutical companies by taking some of the load off of them. Electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Web of Science, were searched for relevant material. The selected articles underwent independent eligibility and information extraction reviews. The review focused on certain traditional Sudanese herbs and their derivatives that are rich in immune-stimulating vitamins and minerals and therefore could possibly be recommended as immune-boosting dietary supplements to help fight COVID-19. This review highlights the fact that the pharmaceutical sector, especially community and hospital pharmacists, could play a vital role in supporting the healthcare system by encouraging their communities to add plants and their products that are rich in immune-boosting vitamins and minerals to their diet

Morphological and molecular characterization of somaclonal variations in tissue culture-derived banana plants

AbstractIn this study, 40000 tissue culture-derived banana plants (vitroplants) at different growth stages, i.e. acclimatization, nursery and open field of banana (Musa spp.) cultivar ‘Grand Naine’ were screened for somaclonal variations using morphological investigations and molecular characterization. The total detected variants were grouped into 25 off-types (two of them died) in addition to the normal plant. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was carried out to study the differences among the normal cultivar ‘Grand Naine’ and its 23 variants using 17 arbitrary primers. Cluster analysis results revealed that ‘winged petiole’ and ‘deformed lamina’ were more related to the normal plant. However, ‘Giant plant’ and ‘weak plant’ related to each other and clustered with normal plant. According to principal coordinate analysis, most of the variants were aggregated nearly, whereas ‘variegated plant’ was separated apart from the other variants. This may reflect the genetic difference between ‘variegated plant’ and the other variants. The results obtained from both molecular and morphological analyses were in contiguous with better resolution when using the PCOORDA analysis than cluster analysis. Thus, it can be said that molecular markers can be used to eliminate the undesirable somaclonal variants from the lab without additional culture of the vitroplants in the field in order to save time and efforts