Relative Importance of Salt Marshes as Range Resources in The North Western Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

The present investigation was carried out to study the relative importance of range plants in Abu Lahu Bahary and Sidi Abd Al-Rahman salt marshes, on the Northwestern Coast of Egypt from spring 2005 to autumn 2006. Fifteen plant species belonging to 7 families were found (15 in the first salt marshes and 14 in the second one). Thirteen species were perennials and two species were annuals. According to palatability five plant species (33.3%) were palatable and ten plant species (66.7%) were unpalatable.Fresh and dry foliage yield, species density, frequency, coverage and the importance value (IV) as well as their relative values were determined in both sites.  The highest value of studied parameters was recorded in Abu Lahu Bahary (West Site) in spring seasons during both years (2005 and 2006). Meanwhile, the lowest values of all these traits were recorded in Sidi Abd Al-Rhman (East Site) during autumn seasons. No significant difference was found between both years. Significant interaction was noticed among the studied factors i.e. year, location and season in both salt marshes. The highest figure of importance value (IV) was contributed by Halocnemum strobilaceum (33.75) followed by Arthrocnemum glaucum (33.13) and Anabasis articulata (31.58) in the first sites.  In the second location (East Site salt marshes) the highest values were found in Halocnemum strobilaceum (39.77) followed by Anabasis articulate (36.68) and Salicornia  fruticosa (34.35).      ÂÂ

Economical analysis of combined fuel cell generators and absorption chillers

AbstractThis paper presents a co-generation system based on combined heat and power for commercial units. For installation of a co-generation system, certain estimates for this site should be performed through making assessments of electrical loads, domestic water, and thermal demand. This includes domestic hot water, selection of the type of power generator, fuel cell, and the type of air conditioning system, and absorption chillers. As a matter of fact, the co-generation system has demonstrated good results for both major aspects, economic and environmental. From the environmental point of view, this can be considered as an ideal solution for problems concerned with the usage of Chlorofluoro carbons. On the other hand, from the economic point of view, the cost analysis has revealed that the proposed system saves 4% of total cost through using the co-generation system

Upgrading of an Extended Aeration System to Improve Wastewater Treatment

According to this study, an extended aeration system can be upgraded by adding surface turbine aerators to the tanks and building new primary sedimentation tanks. Moreover, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS) were also observed to be 440, 682, and 212 mg/L after primary settling, respectively. These values represent the removal of about 35% of the organic load and about 68% of the suspended solids, which reduces the organic load and sediments entering the secondary treatment. Furthermore, effluent BOD5, COD, and TSS values were 30, 47, and 32 mg/L respectively, while those permitted values are 60 mg/L of BOD5, 80 mg/L of COD, and 50 mg/L of TSS reflecting the success of the upgrading work

Could grape seed extract modulate nephritic damage induced by methomex in male rats?

Methomex (Metho) is classified as a carbamate insecticide. The present study was designed to examine the influence of grape seed oil (GSO) on the histopathological changes in methomex-induced kidney damage in male rats. Rats were divided into 6 groups, the first of which was considered as the control. The 2nd group was treated with 4 ml/kg GSO. Rats from 3rd and 4th groups were treated with Metho at dose level of 2.4 and 4.8 mg/kg, respectively. Rats from 5th and 6th groups pre-administered with GSO were treated with 2.4 and 4.8 mg/kg Metho, respectively. Metho administration caused destruction of the normal pattern of the renal tissue. These damages were encountered by the presence of some glomeruli appeared atrophy with distension of Bowman’s space and degeneration of their parietal epithelial cells. The lumina of distal and proximal convoluted tubules contain hyaline casts of dead cells. The renal medulla showed dilated collecting tubules stuffed with red blood cells (RBCs). Preadministration of GSO to Metho-induced rats revealed apparent normal renal parenchyma. The proximal convoluted tubules and collecting tubules appeared near to normal with their narrow lumen. Preadministration with GSO exhibited that it had a protective effect against methomex-induced toxic effects in the kidney. The present study advocated using GSO in the daily diets.Key words: Grape seed oil, methomex, kidney, histopathology

Flexural and long-term behavior of CFRP-strengthened reinforced concrete beams

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Computer based selection and performance analysis of marine diesel engine

AbstractThe major steps in two-stroke diesel technology have been surprisingly few over the past century, now we have another major step – electronically controlled marine diesel engines. This paper will discuss how the use of computer helps to select diesel engines, compare between different types, increase the performance of the conventional diesel engines and generate the different performance curves for such engines

Ion Flotation of Copper(II) and Lead(II) from Environmental Water Samples

The present study aims to develop a simple, rapid and economic procedure for copper(II) and lead(II) removal under the optimum conditions investigated. It is based on the complex formation between Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions and diphenylcarbazone (HDPC) followed by flotation with oleic acid (HOL) surfactant. The different parameters (namely: solution pH, HDPC, HOL, copper and lead concentrations, ionic strength, temperature and the presence of foreign ions) influencing the flotation process were examined. Nearly, 100% of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions were removed from aqueous solutions at pHs 6 and 7, respectively at room temperature (~25oC). The procedure was successfully applied to recover almost copper(II) and lead(II) spiked to some natural water samples. Due to the rapid, simple and economic nature of the procedure, a flotation mechanism is suggestedfor metal removal in wastewater system

Women Self-Selection out of the Credit Market in Africa

Women are disproportionately disadvantaged in access to finance in Africa. While supply-side detriments, such as high interest rates and collateral requirements, are well documented in the literature, little is understood about how demand-side factors contribute to the observed gender gap in access to finance. This paper provides the first empirical evidence on how women managers’ perception about their creditworthiness contributes to the large gender gap in Africa, particularly in the Northern region. One of the innovations of the paper is introducing a theoretical model using the credit market framework with imperfect and asymmetric information to explain what may drive loan applicants to self-select. We use firm-level data for 47 African countries from the World Bank Enterprise Survey. We find that women entrepreneurs in Africa, in general, and in North Africa, in particular, are more likely to self-select themselves out of the credit market due to low perceived creditworthiness compared to their men counterparts. The results also suggest that the observed self-selection behavior is not a response mechanism to current discriminatory lending practices by the banks. The results are robust to different empirical specifications. The findings will inform policies towards greater financial inclusion of women in the region

Women Self-Selection out of the Credit Market in Africa

Women are disproportionately disadvantaged in access to finance in Africa. While supply-side detriments, such as high interest rates and collateral requirements, are well documented in the literature, little is understood about how demand-side factors contribute to the observed gender gap in access to finance. This paper provides the first empirical evidence on how women managers’ perception about their creditworthiness contributes to the large gender gap in Africa, particularly in the Northern region. One of the innovations of the paper is introducing a theoretical model using the credit market framework with imperfect and asymmetric information to explain what may drive loan applicants to self-select. We use firm-level data for 47 African countries from the World Bank Enterprise Survey. We find that women entrepreneurs in Africa, in general, and in North Africa, in particular, are more likely to self-select themselves out of the credit market due to low perceived creditworthiness compared to their men counterparts. The results also suggest that the observed self-selection behavior is not a response mechanism to current discriminatory lending practices by the banks. The results are robust to different empirical specifications. The findings will inform policies towards greater financial inclusion of women in the region