Generation of Longitudinal Flux Tube Waves in Theoretical Main-Sequence Stars: Effects of Model Parameters

Context. Continued investigation of the linkage between magneto-acoustic energy generation in stellar convective zones and the energy dissipation and radiative emission in outer stellar atmospheres in stars of different activity levels. Aims. We compute the wave energy fluxes carried by longitudinal tube waves along vertically oriented thin magnetic fluxes tubes embedded in the atmospheres of theoretical main-sequence stars based on stellar parameters deduced by R. L. Kurucz and D. F. Gray. Additionally, we present a fitting formula for the wave energy flux based on the governing stellar and magnetic parameters. Methods. A modified theory of turbulence generation based on the mixing-length concept is combined with the magneto-hydrodynamic equations to numerically account for the wave energies generated at the base of magnetic flux tubes. Results. The results indicate a stiff dependence of the generated wave energy on the stellar and magnetic parameters in principal agreement with previous studies. The wave energy flux F_LTW decreases by about a factor of 1.7 between G0V and K0V stars, but drops by almost two orders of magnitude between K0V and M0V stars. In addition, the values for F_LTW are significantly higher for lower in-tube magnetic field strengths. Both results are consistent with the findings from previous studies. Conclusions. Our study will add to the description of magnetic energy generation in late-type main-sequence stars. Our results will be helpful for calculating theoretical atmospheric models for stars of different levels of magnetic activity.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 6 tables; submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysic

Development of Building Damage Functions for Big Earthquakes in Turkey

AbstractThe current work is an attempt to predict building reactions to big earthquakes using real data collected from surveys carried out after the occurrence of earthquakes. With the development of building damage functions for big earthquakes in Turkey one can predict the damage levels as a function of earthquakes’ intensity and the building parameters. Our model is based on neural networks techniques which allow for the non-linear correlations to be taken into account. We analyse data collected for damaged buildings after the following three big earthquakes: Afyon (2002; Mw = 6.0), Bingöl (2003; Mw = 6.4) and Düzce (1999; Mw = 7.2). The current model includes some of the main important factors affecting the health of any structure, namely, age, number of stories, floor areas, and the column areas. Our method of damage prediction is based on several earthquakes and buildings with different damage levels. The obtained results show that there is a strong correlation between the strength of the earthquake, the basic building parameters and the damage level. The obtained building damage function is essential for future plans and regulations for new constructions and can be considered as an essential module for hazards mitigation systems

Forensic dissection of lip print as an investigative tool in a mixed Egyptian population

Background: Identification is a major problem facing forensic practitioners, DNA and finger prints are highly useful but sometimes aren’t easily collected from the crime scene. Lip print could be useful in this field being unique to each individual.Aim: The current study aimed at detecting the frequency and gender relation of lip print pattern in an Egyptian sample.Methodology: Samples were collected on white copy paper, divided into four quadrants then examined with magnifying lens for pattern distribution.Results: The study showed that pattern IV was the most frequently represented pattern in the study sample, pattern I & II were more prevalent in males and females respectively. Prevalent pattern in Cairo and Lower Egypt was I while it was IV in Upper Egypt.Conclusion: The lip print pattern can differ due to gender and geographical origin in Egyptian subjects.Keywords: Lip print, Egypt, Gender, Geographical distribution, Identification, Anthropology. Gender differenc

Toll-Like Receptors: The Key of Immunotherapy in MSCs

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are potential candidates for various applications in the fields of immunotherapy. Their multilineage differentiation capability and immune modulatory features allow their prospective application for the management of different immunological circumstances. However, the local microenvironment, in addition to the source of the MSCs can control diverse biological features of the cells. Indeed, throughout their therapeutic application, MSCs may interact with their microenvironment through their expressed toll-like-receptors (TLRs), producing immune modulating reactions. Stimulation of MSCs before or within the potential treatment procedures with distinct TLR ligands may assist as an effective step controlling the biological function of the MSCs as needed in different therapeutic stages of the disease

Radioprotective and anti-diabetic effects of Costus speciosus and carnosine

Purpose: To evaluate the possible radioprotective effect of Costus speciosus and carnosine as natural antioxidants in order to control the  hyperglycemia developed in male albino rats exposed to acute oxidative stress induced by gamma radiation. Methods: Twenty-eight adult male albino rats were divided into four groups. The first group was taken as a control group, while the three other groups were exposed to Ɣ irradiation at a single 7.5 Gy dose. Furthermore, the rats in the second and third groups were i.p. injected with Costus speciosus root powder and carnosine, respectively. On the 3rd day, after irradiation, the serum levels of glucose, insulin, C peptide, copper, iron, calcium, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measureded. Results: The results revealed that exposure to Ɣ irradiation induced significant increases in serum glucose, iron, and malondialdehyde. However, the levels of serum calcium, copper, total antioxidant capacity and insulin significantly decreased (p < 0.05). A significant decrease was observed in Cpeptide in the exposed group, compared to control group. All the test parameters indicate improvement after treatment with Costus speciosus and carnosine (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Costus speciosus and carnosine ameliorate the effect of gamma radiation, indicating their role as antidiabetic agents and  radioprotectors; however, Costus speciosus was critically more efficient than carnosine. Keywords: Costus speciosus, Carnosine, Diabetes, Insulin, Gamma radiation protectio

Solar Magnetic Flux Tube Simulations with Time-Dependent Ionization

In the present work we expand the study of time-dependent ionization previously identified to be of pivotal importance for acoustic waves in solar magnetic flux tube simulations. We focus on longitudinal tube waves (LTW) known to be an important heating agent of solar magnetic regions. Our models also consider new results of wave energy generation as well as an updated determination of the mixing length of convection now identified as 1.8 scale heights in the upper solar convective layers. We present 1-D wave simulations for the solar chromosphere by studying tubes of different spreading as function of height aimed at representing tubes in environments of different magnetic filling factors. Multi-level radiative transfer has been applied to correctly represent the total chromospheric emission function. The effects of time-dependent ionization are significant in all models studied. They are most pronounced behind strong shocks and in low density regions, i.e., the middle and high chromosphere. Concerning our models of different tube spreading, we attained pronounced differences between the various types of models, which were largely initiated by different degrees of dilution of the wave energy flux as well as the density structure partially shaped by strong shocks, if existing. Models showing a quasi-steady rise of temperature with height are obtained via monochromatic waves akin to previous acoustic simulations. However, longitudinal flux tube waves are identified as insufficient to heat the solar transition region and corona in agreement with previous studies.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables; Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.; in pres

التركيب المحصولى المصرى فى ظل المخاطرة والمتغيرات المحلية والدولية

Cropping pattern refers to the percentage of acreage occupied by various crops within the crop rotation. It is determined through cultivated' area assigned to each crop according to the sequence system necessitated by crop rotation considerations. The optimum crop pattern is the one, which achieves the highest possible net return depending on input and output prices together with crop yields. It is a dynamic process as it changes from time to another based on farmers' needs and crops profitability in the previous year. It also may differ based on whether we are looking from the point of view individual farmer, trader, middleman, and exporter or from the point of view the society as a whole. Various crops are competing on the limited land within the agricultural season. So expanding the acreage of any crop would automatically entail contraction of another competitive crop, as total supply of land is almost fixed and limited. The major objective behind designing an indicative cropping pattern is the issue of food security. This issue is important both from strategic perspective, as well as in the context of poverty. While there is emerging consensus on the definition of food security as aiming to assure the country adequate access to food, both internally and externally generated, there is still reference to the need to grow certain strategic crops. Moreover, there is a desire to achieve a measure of stabilization in producer and consumer prices through the development of buffer stocks. There are various options available, each of which has costs and benefits related to them. One option would be a high level of risk aversion, which would entail a cropping pattern that centers on subsistence crops. Another option may pursue efficiency pricing and therefore would result in crops being growing in which the country has a comparative advantage. For example, self-sufficiency for wheat could be enhanced to 75% in an efficient manner. Meanwhile the domestic production of rice and sugar cane may expand to a frontier that misallocates resources of water and land. The agricultural production is very susceptible to risks originated from natural, economic or social fosters that are difficult to predict or control. In Egypt, cropping pattern, is influenced by local economic variables to up prices, i.e., cropped area is determined by farmer response to changes in absolute or relative prices of the preceding season, in addition to profitability of crops of the last season, where farmer can not change supply of labor, the elapse of period of time curding to the nature of the crops being produced. Egypt's cropping pattern is also affected by international variables related to transactions with international markets for food products and to transactions with international markets for food products and to problem related to world production of biological fuel, world financial crisis, world food crisis, and rules imposed by the international trade system. As a result, there is a deficit in the Egyptian balance of trade for food commodities amounting to L.E. 8 milliards on average for the last few years. The upsurge in demand for agricultural crops like wheat, maize, soybeans, vegetable, oils, and sugar crops for the use in producing biological fuel has resulted in a drastic increase in prices of food, during 2005-2007 the average rate of price increase of food commodities has been estimated at 83% which led to a high increase in import bill in developing -and poor countries among them Egypt which is a not food importer. For many reasons developing an increase in domestic agricultural production of strategic food crops, i.e., cereals legumes. Vegetable, oils, and sugar crops, is the best way to confront international variables, Either through vertical or horizontal expansion of those crops in addition to reducing the acreage of high water consuming scraps, which is the objective behind suggesting the cropping pattern in the short and long terms. Each of these objectives is direct by associated with the master end of ensuring food serenity. Indicative cropping pattern during last years varies considerably as compared to the actual cropping pattern experienced by farmers' decisions irrespective of the agricultural policy of the government Egypt. However, indicative or proposed cropping pattern could be put into action by introducing economic, institution and organization instruments. Those various instruments should be streamlined and harmonized together. Economic instruments advisable for execution of cropping pattern could include subsidizing production and inputs for strategic export and import crops that minimize consumption of irrigation water, introducing contractual agricultural production system, especially, in regard to cotton, sugar cane and sugar beet in addition to other industrial crops. It is advisable to establish agricultural stabilization funds to insure' farmers against various types of risks notably price risks. More over incentives either negative like taxes or positive like interest rate reduction, and rescheduling of debts could also be provided and operated. One major organizational instrument that has been successful recently introduced at a probation scale in three governorates is the national project for development of the field irrigation system in wade and delta. It is estimated that application of that project would save 15% of water consumed for irrigation. The saved water could be used for ameliorating and reclaiming an estimated acreage of 3 million feddans. In addition it is suggested that elimination of camels and messages on the fields would save and area of 0.5 million feddans to be put under cultivation. The study has estimated risk associated with Egyptian cropping pattern by application of linear and non-linear mathematical programming. Three models of minimization risk have been proposed and manipulated including: (1) Minimization Of Total Absolute Deviations: (MOTAD). (2) Risk Input-Output MOTAD. (3) Two Stage Stochastic Programming – (TSSP-RIO-MOTAD). In addition to the various scenarios cited above with their respective major objective functions, the models do comprise acreage, means of production in terms of cost of production, monthly year round irrigation water, and annual agricultural labor on monthly basis. Sensitivity analysis has been estimated for depicting the effect of changing prices of wheat and rice on cropping pattern disposition, by the application of TSSP-RIO-MOTAD model. Among the major results of these analyses are: 1- An increment of gross margin to farmers at L.E 3.8 milliard which deeps that suggested cropping has achieved the profit maximization goal which producers would aim at. 2- A huge amount of irrigation water has been saved estimated at 2.6 milliard cubic meters. A magnitude of water saved of this amount could be assigned for reclaiming new lands at about 0.7 million feddans. 3- Capital resources saved estimated at L.E. 985 million. 4- Augmenting acreage under wheat to reach as much as 3 million feddans, which help contributing positives to the nation's food security goal. 5- Reduction in rice acreage so as not to exceed one million feddan. Adding to the nations objectives of saving irrigation water to be used for reclamation of additional new lands. 6- Augmenting acreage cultivated to Soya beans, sunflower, maize, and summer sorghum at 84.9%, 69.5%, 41%, and 12.3% respectively, which, once again, contributes to the nation's objective related to enhancing food security. 7- Augmenting areas under lentil, lupine, chickpeas, broad bean, and fenugreek by 111%, 62.2%, 39.5%, 19.8%, and 8.6% respectively, which positively adds to food security objective. The proposed cropping pattern derived through sensitivity analysis and based on varying farm- prices for wheat and rice is heavily dependent on the effectiveness and synergy of mechanisms and instruments suggested for addressing and implementing of the indicative cropping pattern. Securing the accomplishment of maximization of farmer's profit margin are very major and essential objectives of the proposed cropping pattern