A STUDY ON THE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN ORANGE TREES DIRECTIONS ON THE CITRUS LEAFMINER, PHYLLOCNISTIS CITRELLA STAINTON (LEPIDOPTERA: GRACILLARIIDAE) AND THE COMMON PREDATORY SPECIES, IN QALUOBIYA GOVERNORATE

Field studies were carried out to study the effect of the different four directions (East, West, North and South) and the middle of the orange trees on the occurrence of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Staint. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), attacking orange orchards during the period extended from the beginning of July, 2015 until the end of June 2016. Also, to determine the common predatory species occurred in navel orange orchards in Qaluobiya Governorate. The warmer months that have the highest temperature degrees and that months having the newly orange leaves, had the highest percentages of infestation by the pest. The obtained results revealed that, the South direction of the orange trees had the highest percentages of leaves damage by the citrus leafminer, P. citrella. Where, there were significant differences between the South direction (68.75%), in comparing with those of the West direction (64.42%), the North direction (60.58%), the East direction (54.58%) and the middle of the orange trees (45.38%). So, it is recommended to firstly begin the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs against the pest in this direction and at the suitable time. Moreover, the importance of the natural role of the common predatory species recorded in the orange orchard is obviously shown and must be encouraged and developed. The highest total numbers of all recorded predatory species were during July, 2015 (47 individuals) and April, 2016 (35 individuals). The recorded predatory species were the highest in the South direction (70 individuals), in comparing with those of the North direction (54), the East direction (50), the West direction (37) and the middle of the orange trees (20). True spiders were recorded as the most predators (114 individuals), in orange orchard and also in the same time of pest occurrence. The animal predatory species (true spiders and predatory mites) were the highest in their numbers (167 individuals), in comparing to the insect predatory species: Chrysoperla carnea, Scymnus sp., Coccinella undecimpunctata, Orius sp. and Metasyrphus sp., of lower individuals numbers (64 individuals). In general, from this study, it is also recommended to use the different predatory species such as: Chrysoperla carnea, Scymnus sp., Coccinella undecimpunctata and Orius sp., for P. citrella control firstlyfrom the South direction. Where, this pest controlcan be applied by mass rearing of these predators in the laboratory and releasing them in orange orchards against P. citrella or other related pests (such as the citrus aphids species and mealybugs). This approach is believed to be highly practical for use as one of the means of biological control with the frame work of suitable and safe IPM programs in citrus orchards in Egypt

NATURAL ENEMIES ASSOCIATED WITH MEALY PLUM APHID HYALOPTERUS PRUNI (Geoff.), (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) INFESTED APRICOT TREES, AT QALUBIA GOVERNORATE

The present work was carried out to study the population dynamics of the mealy plum aphid Hyalopterus pruni (Geoff.) and related parasitoids and predators on apricot trees, during the two successive seasons, 2003 and 2004, at Qalubia Gover-norate. The obtained data revealed that, the occurrence of H. pruni on apricot trees covered 5 months (from February to June). The mean total numbers of this aphid species per season were 1.78 (0.01-6.37) and 2.83 (0.00-10.01) individuals./leaf. The maximum numbers of H. pruni were recorded during the 2nd weeks of April, 2003 and 2004. No aphid individuals were observed during the period extended from July to September, in the two studied seasons. Four species of parasitoids; namely Aphidius matricariae Hal., Lysiphylbus sp. (1ry parasitoids) and 2 species of Alloxysta spp. (2ry parasitoids) were recorded during this study, attacking H. pruni. These parasitoid species were found during nearly three months of each season, in connection with the population density of the previous aphid species. The first para-sitoid was the highest in its numbers. The total numbers of predatory species per season were 407 and 1082 individuals, in the two studied seasons, 2003 and 2004, respectively. The maximum monthly occurrence of these predatory species was dur-ing April, 2003 (146 individuals) and April, 2004 (581 individuals), respectively. The predator Chrysoperla septempunctata L. had the highest percentages of occur-rence among other recorded predatory species (52.83 and 73.01%, respectively). In general, the parasitoid A. matricariae and the predator C. septempunctata, could be mass reared and released for controlling H. pruni on apricot trees with other availa-ble safe control methods developed in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs against this pest

Expanding the parameters of academia

This paper draws on qualitative data gathered from two studies funded by the UK Leadership Foundation for Higher Education to examine the expansion of academic identities in higher education. It builds on Whitchurch’s earlier work, which focused primarily on professional staff, to suggest that the emergence of broadly based projects such as widening participation, learning support and community partnership is also impacting on academic identities. Thus, academic as well as professional staff are increasingly likely to work in multi-professional teams across a variety of constituencies, as well as with external partners, and the binary distinction between ‘academic’ and ‘non-academic’ roles and activities is no longer clear-cut. Moreover, there is evidence from the studies of an intentionality about deviations from mainstream academic career routes among respondents who could have gone either way. Consideration is therefore given to factors that influence individuals to work in more project-oriented areas, as well as to variables that affect ways in which these roles and identities develop. Finally, three models of academically oriented project activity are identified, and the implications of an expansion of academic identities are reviewed

In Quest of Educational Quality in the UAE

Quality assurance started as a corporate-related process in the 1960s but later became a highly sought-after objective in educational and academic contexts. The growing interest in quality assurance has been the result of government and business expectations, as well as competition in the higher education marketplace. One such growing market for quality assurance is the United Arab Emirates, where public formal education has only existed since the 1970s. This chapter focuses on the quest for what can be considered as the Holy Grail within the context of each of the previous chapters in this edited book, namely, quality education. The chapter offers a synopsis of the fast-paced developments and ongoing activities in quality assurance in education in the United Arab Emirates. Federal and emirate-based initiatives will be presented and discussed while reflecting on lessons learned and offering recommendations whenever possible

Evaluation of sesamum gum as an excipient in matrix tablets

In developing countries modern medicines are often beyond the affordability of the majority of the population. This is due to the reliance on expensive imported raw materials despite the abundance of natural resources which could provide an equivalent or even an improved function. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of sesamum gum (SG) extracted from the leaves of Sesamum radiatum (readily cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa) as a matrix former. Directly compressed matrix tablets were prepared from the extract and compared with similar matrices of HPMC (K4M) using theophylline as a model water soluble drug. The compaction, swelling, erosion and drug release from the matrices were studied in deionized water, 0.1 N HCl (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) using USP apparatus II. The data from the swelling, erosion and drug release studies were also fitted into the respective mathematical models. Results showed that the matrices underwent a combination of swelling and erosion, with the swelling action being controlled by the rate of hydration in the medium. SG also controlled the release of theophylline similar to the HPMC and therefore may have use as an alternative excipient in regions where Sesamum radiatum can be easily cultivated

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION, POLITICS AND RELIGION: INSIGHTS FROM TUNISIA'S NEW DEMOCRACY

This paper analyzes the relationship between access to infrastructure services and support for religious parties based on the evidence produced by a recent democratic experience in Tunisia in which a religious political party, Ennahdha, governed from 2011 to 2014. The experience points to a complex relationship. In the 2011 election, areas with higher access are associated with higher support for Ennahdha than areas with lower access. In the 2014 election, however, infrastructure access is positively correlated with support for the party in areas where access had improved but negatively correlated with support for the party in areas that already had high access. A possible pragmatic general implication is that, to be politically competitive, religious parties, cannot bet solely on their religious commitment to provide basic services, including infrastructure, to the poor. They need to recognize the multiplicity of voter's concerns and their evolving agenda.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe