Vegetation associates of the endangered Randonia africana Coss. and its soil characteristics in an arid desert ecosystem of western Egypt

Randonia africana Coss. (Resedaceae) is a perennial endangered vascular plant species in Egypt. It inhabits the sandy plains along the Mersa Matruh-Siwa Oasis road crossing the Western Desert of Egypt, where it represents the easternmost limit of distribution in North Africa. The vegetation associates within each of the five known population sites of R. africana were studied, and their edaphic correlates were analysed. Eight soil variables were included: electric conductivity, pH, calcium carbonate, soil moisture, organicmatter, sand, silt and clay. Classification and ordination techniques were employed to the importance values (IV) of the recorded 29 species in 25 stands. Application of TWINSPAN classified the floristic data into five vegetation groups: (A) Randonia africana-Capparis spinosa var. aegyptia, (B) R. africana, (C) R. africana-Pulicaria undulata, (D) R. africana-Zilla spinosa subsp. biparmata and (E) R. africana-Zygophyllum coccineum. These groups were separated along Detrended Correpondence Analysis (DCA) axes 1 and 2. Group E was the most diversified (10.0 ± 5.6 species stands-1) among the vegetation groups, while monotypic stands of R. africana (group B) were the least (5.1 ± 2.3). Stands of R. africana group (group B) were characterised by the highest levels of soil salinity and fine sediments, and the lowest levels of moisture content and sand. Detrended Canonical Correspondence Analysis (DCCA) indicated that the distribution of R. africana and its associates was mainly controlled by soil salinity, percentages of surface sediments of different size classes, calcareous deposits, and organic matter. The resulted gradients were related closely to the first three canonical axes, and accounted for 68.5% of the species-environment relationship among stands

Floristic analysis and biogeography of Tubiflorae in Egypt

The species distribution and biogeography of the Egyptian Tubiflorae were exam-ined in detail. We found 284 species of vascular plants belonging to 96 genera and 12 families, making the Egyptian Tubiflorae richer in species than that of other arid region floras: Libya and Saudi Arabia. The most species rich families were Scrophulariaceae, Boraginaceae, Labiatae, Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae, constituting more than 85% of the totál species in the order. The generic spectrum dominated by a suite of species-rich genera (Convolvulus, Heliotropium, Veronica, Solanum, Salvia, Cuscuta, Echium, Ipomoea and Orobanche). Therophytes were the most dominant life forms among the families, followed by chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes. Boraginaceae and Scrophulariaceae had the highest share of annuals. Remarkable distribution patterns of the life forms in the seven studied biogeographic zones were noticed. Trees were dominant in the Mediterranean zone, while shrubs, perennial herbs and therophytes were dominant in the Sinai. Altogether 8 endemic species and 14 near-endemics were included in the Tubiflorae of Egypt; mostly from Southern Sinai. We found that Labiatae and Scrophulariaceae were the families with higher concentration of endemics. Notably, Teucrium was among the genera of the Mediterranean Africa with highest endemism. Gamma diversity varied from 171 in the Sinai Peninsula to 43 and 39 in the Oases of the western Desert and along the Red Sea, respectively. Interestingly, highest significant values of similarity and species turnover (béta diversity) were observed between the Oases and the Nile lands. It is worthy noting the com-bined effect of both temperature and precipitation on gamma diversity of Tubiflorae in the 7 biogeographic zones. Our results indicated that almost one-half of the species showed a certain degree of consistency, i.e., with narrow geographic expansion. On the basis of UPGMA clustering and PCoA analysis, 4 floristic groups were recognized, each include one or more biogeographic zone. The occurrence of the species of Tubiflorae in the adjacent régiónál arid floras and their phytochorological afflnities, were discussed

Somatosensory evoked potentials in children with autism

Introduction: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder in the category of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), which is characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions, communication, and  severely restricted interests and highly repetitive behavior. Children with autism show sensory and perceptual abnormalities. They have either  hyposensitivity or hypersensitivity to sensory, auditory, and visual stimuli.Objectives: The aimof thisworkwas to study somatosensory evoked potential (SSEPs) changesamong children with autism, and their relation to somatosensory manifestations and severity of autism.Subjects: Thirty children with autism aged 2–12 years were included in the study, all of them fulfilling criteria of the Diagnostic and StatisticalManual ofMental Disorders (DSM–IV–TR).Methods: All cases were subjected to thorough history taking including autistic symptoms and sensory abnormalities, comprehensivemedical examination, psychiatric assessment according to DSM–IV–TR criteria for diagnosing autism, assessment of severity of autism using Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and measurement of somatosensory evoked potentials elicited by median nerve stimulation at wrist.Results: Themajorityof the casesweremales (86.7%), according toCARS 53.3%were classified as mild to moderate autism, while 46.7% were severe. Sensory abnormalities were present in 56.7% of cases.Somatosensory abnormalities were present in 36.76% of the cases. There was a statistically significant relationship between sensory symptoms with SSEP abnormalities (P=0.040). The presence of abnormal SSEPs was not statistically associated with higher score in CARS.Conclusions: Children with autism have abnormal SSEP changes and were significantly related to the presence of sensory abnormalities, indicating central cortical dysfunction of somatosensory area. On the other hand, these abnormal SSEP changes were not related to the severity of autism

Postgraduate students’ perspective on supporting “learning from home” to solve the COVID-19 pandemic

The objective of this present research was to reveal how the postgraduate student perceive of or respond to the online learning process. Quantitative method was adopted in this present research. The results showed that most students who had experienced of the online learning activities encountered some obstacles because they had never conducted Learning From Home (LFH) activities before. The respondents were 428 postgraduate students who actively joined in the LFH activities. There were 316 students used the platform Zoom as the supporting application in the LFH activities. Respondents filled in Google Form, then the collected data could be quickly and accurately processed. Other respondents preferred Google Classroom, WhatsApp and other applications in following the learning activities according to the agreement and features provided in each platform. There were 408 respondents experienced Two-ways communication between the lecturers and the students during the LFH activities. They stated that the limited internet network hindered the online lecturing. There were 31 respondents declared that technology limitations hampered the online lecturing and 105 students revealed that it is the limitations in using the application that caused the online lecturing to become obstacles.

Implementation of the 2013 Curriculum

The 2013 curriculum still faces various hurdles in its implementation in Indonesian schools. The current study evaluates the strategy used by an elementary school in Tangerang City, Indonesia for implementing the 2013 curriculum program. The study used a qualitative descriptive method and an evaluation approach by Sugiono Throry. The evaluation model was the CIPP model and the data collection technique was technical triangulation. Data sources were retrieved using source triangulation. Data analysis was carried out following Milles and Huberman’s theory and SWOT analysis. The results indicated that a few obstacles still exist in the implementation of the 2013 curriculum program, and the authors recommend schools to rectify them through continuous improvements. Keywords: evaluation, implementation, CIPP, 2013 curriculu

Consideraciones taxonómicas sobre algunos taxones egipcios de Capparis y géneros relacionados (Capparaceae) a partir de RAPDs

Taxonomic considerations among and within some Egyptian taxa of Capparis and related genera (Capparaceae) as revealed by RAPD fingerprinting.- This investigation was carried out to assess the taxonomic relationships among eight taxa of the Egyptian members of Capparaceae based on random amplified polymorphic DNA markers, and to compare the results with those obtained from morphological studies. A total of 46 bands were scored for three RAPD primers corresponding to an average of 15.3 bands per primer. The three primers (A03, A07 and A09) revealed eight polymorphic RAPD markers among the studied taxa ranging in size from 200 bp to 1000 bp. Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity varied from 0.28 to 0.84, indicative of high level of genetic variation among the genotypes studied. UPGMA cluster analysis indicated three distinct clusters, one comprised Cleome amblyocarpa and Gynandropsis gynandra, while another included two clusters at 0.74 phenon line; one for Capparis decidua, and the other for Capparis sinaica and all varieties of Capparis spinosa. The four varieties of Capparis spinosa were segregated at 0.84 phenon line. However, one of these varieties was more closely related to Capparis sinaica than to the other three varieties of C. spinosa. The RAPD analysis reported here confirms previous studies based on morphological markers.Consideraciones taxonómicas sobre algunos taxones egipcios de Capparis y géneros relacionados (Capparaceae) a partir de RAPDs.- El objetivo de este trabajo es investigar las relaciones taxonómicas entre ocho taxones pertenecientes a las Capparaceae en base a marcadores de tipo RAPD, y comparar los resultados con los obtenidos previamente en estudios morfológicos. Se han contabilizado un total de 46 bandas para tres pares de cebadores, con una media de 15,3 bandas por cebador. Los tres pares de cebadores (A03, A07 y A09) revelan ocho marcadores polimórficos entre los taxones estudiados, de entre 200 y 1000 pares de bases. El coeficiente de similaridad de Jaccard varía entre 0,28 y 0,84, indicativo de un alto nivel de variación genética entre los genotipos estudiados. El análisis UPGMA muestra tres grupos distintos, el primero comprende Cleome amblyocarpa y Gynandropsis gynandra, mientras que el segundo incluye dos grupos a la altura del valor 0,74 del dendrograma: uno se corresponde con Capparis decidua, y el otro comprende Capparis sinaica y todas las variedades de Capparis spinosa. Las cuatro variedades de C. spinosa se segregan a la altura del valor 0,84 del dendrograma. Sin embargo, una de estas variedades está más relacionada con C. sinaica que con las otras variedades de C. spinosa. El análisis de RAPD confirma los resultados de estudios anteriores basados en caracteres morfológicos

Role of serum glypican-3 in the diagnosis and differentiation of small hepatocellular carcinoma from hepatitis-C virus cirrhosis

Background: Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has insufficient sensitivity and specificityfor detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, glypican-3 (GLP-3) was suggested as a new biomarker for the detection HCC.Objectives: To determine the role of serum GLP-3 levels in the early diagnosis and differentiation of small (3 cm or less in diameter) HCC from liver cirrhosis. Also, to correlate GLP-3 levels to clinico- laboratory data.Methods: The study included sixty patients; 30 of them with hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis, and 30 patients with proved HCC. In addition, 20 healthy subjects were included as a control group. Clinical and radiological features (abdominal ultrasonography and/or abdominal triphasic computed tomography) were recorded. Liver function tests, complete blood cell count, and serum AFP were measured. Serum GLP-3 values were determined by an ELISA technique.Results: Serum levels of GLP-3 were significantly elevated in patients with HCC compared with HCV cirrhosis group (p< 0.001). Also, these levels were significantly elevated in these two patients’ groups versus controls (p<0.001). Also, serum GLP-3 levels with cut-off value of P240 ug/L, had a higher sensitivity (100%) and same specificity (93.3%), than AFP with cut-off value of P200 ng/ ml, for detection of HCC. Moreover, GLP-3 levels showed a higher sensitivity than AFP (50% vs.41.7%), for detection of small HCC. The combined use of both markers (i.e. when either one of the two markers positive) improved the specificity to 88.9%. Regarding unicentric HCC, GLP-3 at cut-off value of 6580 ug/L had better specificity than AFP at cut-off value of 6765 ng/ml (57.1% vs. 42.9%). The combined use of both markers improved the sensitivity and specificity to 82.6% and 71.4%, respectively. Conclusion: Serum GLP-3 levels are higher in HCC versus HCV cirrhosis, which can differentiate HCC from liver cirrhosis. Also, serum GLP-3 is highly sensitive and specific for detecting HCC. Moreover, GLP-3 is more sensitive than AFP for the detection of small HCC. Furthermore, a combination of both serum markers yielded an improved specificity and both sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of small and unicentric HCC, respectively.Keywords: Serum tumor marker Alpha-fetoprotein Early hepatocellular carcinoma Diagnosis

Clinical and electrophysiological study of peripheral and central neuromuscular changes in connective tissue diseases in children

AbstractIntroductionChildren with juvenile connective tissue diseases (JCTDs) may have a wide variety of clinical features ranging from fever or a simple arthritis to complex multisystem autoimmune diseases.Aim of the workTo study clinical and electrophysiological peripheral and central neuromuscular changes in children with connective tissue diseases.Patients and methodsThirty children with different JCTDs were enrolled. Clinical and neurological examination and laboratory investigations were done. Electrophysiological evaluation was performed and included: peripheral nerve conduction studies, late responses, somatosensory evoked potential and electromyography.ResultsTwenty patients had juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) (66.7%), 8 patients had juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) (26.7%), one patient had juvenile systemic sclerosis (JSScl), and one patient had juvenile overlap syndrome (JSScl and polymyositis). Clinical neurologic abnormalities were present in 3 patients (ulnar neuropathy, median neuropathy and polymyositis). Electrophysiological abnormalities were detected in 18 patients (clinical in 3 and subclinical in 15 patients) and included ulnar entrapment neuropathy, median axonal neuropathy, demyelinating sensory motor polyneuropathy, deep peroneal nerve entrapment at the ankle (anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome), prolonged posterior tibial somatosensory evoked potential latency and prolonged H reflex latency not explained by peripheral neuropathy, increased H/M ratio and myopathic motor units. The most common electrophysiological abnormalities were present in patients with JSLE.ConclusionClinical neurological abnormalities are not common in JCTDs whereas subclinical neurological abnormalities are common findings. Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus had the most common abnormalities among JCTDs. Polyneuropathy in JIA is commonly of demyelinating type. Entrapment neuropathy is less frequent than in adults