Effects of leaf powder and ethanol extracts of selected plants on growth and incidence of onion pink root rot disease fungus (Phoma terrestris)

Onion is one of the most important vegetable crops grown throughout the world and  it suffers from several diseases. Pink root rot disease caused by Phoma terrestris is a limiting factor for onion production. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of basil, neem, lantana and argel extracts at 0.5,1.0 and 2.0 mg/l on fungal growth and disease incidence compared to the fungicide Premis FS (25%). All plant leaf extracts showed significant reductions in the growth of Phoma terrestris. Basil showed a complete inhibition zone of mycelial growth at 2.0 mg/l, followed by neem, lantana and the least inhibition was showed by argel. The fungicide Premis FS (25%), as a control, also caused a reduction of mycelial growth. All treatments of   plant extracts and the fungicide Premis FS (25%) significantly reduced pink root rot disease compared to the control under greenhouse conditions. The highest reduction of the disease incidence was achieved by the fungicide Premis FS (25%), followed by the extracts of  basil, neem, lantana and the least effect was shown by argel. In conclusion, it is recommended to control onion pink root rot disease using basil leaf extract at 2.0 mg/l.            يعتبر محصول البصل من أهم المحاصيل المزروعة حول العالم ولكنه يعانى من عدد من الأمراض. يعتبر مرض عفن جذور البصل الوردي الذى يسببه الفطر  Phoma terrestris من العوامل المحددة لإنتاج البصل. هدفت الدراسة لمعرفة تأثير مستخلصات الريحان و الحرجل و اللانتانا والنيم بتركيزات صفر و1و2 مليجرام/لتر على نمو الفطر ونسبة الإصابة بالمرض في وجود المبيد الفطري Premis FS (25%)  كشاهد. أظهرت الدراسة نقصاً معنوياً في نمو الفطر Phoma terrestris. ثبط الريحان في التركيز العالي (2 مليجرام/لتر) نمو الفطر تثبيطاً كاملاً تلاه النيم و اللانتانا وأخيراً الحرجل. كذلك نتج عن معاملة النباتات المصابة  في المشتل بالمستخلصات النباتية نقصاً في نسبة الإصابة وكان المبيد الفطري Premis FS (25%) الأعلى في التأثير على معدل الإصابة ثم تلاه الريحان ثم النيم و اللانتانا واخرها الحرجل. خلصت الدراسة للتوصية بمعاملة البصل المصاب بمرض تعفن جذور البصل الوردي بمستخلص أوراق الريحان بالتركيز العالي 2 مليجرام/لتر &nbsp

The impact of virtual tools on EFL learners’ performance in Grammar at the times of COVID 19 Pandemic

The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of virtual tools on EFL learners’ performance in grammar courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This experimental study compared a group of students who took a grammar course remotely via the Blackboard platform during the COVID-19 pandemic to a control group who took the same course in person prior to the pandemic. Each group of participants (n = 30) was given the same test. The grades of the two groups were then analysed using the SPSS programme. The results demonstrate that the experimental group test grades were higher than those of the control group grades. suggesting that teaching grammar remotely has a positive influence on EFL learners\u27 performance, as compared to face-to-face instruction, which has been proven to have a lesser impact. As a result, the researchers would promote a hybrid of virtual and face-to-face teaching. As a result, the researchers would promote a hybrid of virtual and face-to-face teaching. More studies on the causes of lower grades in face-to-face classes, as well as suggestions for strategies to improve learners\u27 performance in all aspects of the English language, not just grammar, are requested. Furthermore, each country has its own educational policy, so different results may arise in different contexts. Educators and policymakers may use this study as a reference for the effectiveness of virtual vs. face-to-face instruction, opening the doors for future research on similar topics within the same them

Causes of end stage renal failure among haemodialysis patients in Khartoum State/Sudan

BACKGROUND: End stage renal failure (ESRF) has become a major health problem in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). There were limited data about causes of ESRF in the Sudan. METHODS: This is a cross sectional hospital based descriptive study. The subjects of the study are ESRF adults’ patients on regular haemodialysis treatment in 15 haemdoialysis centres in Khartoum State—Sudan. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from 1583 patients. The medical files of each patient were reviewed to identify the cause of ESRF. Concerning the causes of ESRF, diabetes was diagnosed based on the past medical history and result of the glucose tolerance test, hypertension was diagnosed based on past history of hypertension based on blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg, glomerulonephritis was diagnosed based on results of previous kidney biopsies and on clinical grounds, polycystic kidney disease and obstructive uropathy were diagnosed based on abdominal ultrasound and other imaging modalities, sickle cell anaemia was diagnosed based on the result of haemoglobin electrophoresis, systemic lupus erythematosus was diagnosed based on the clinical criteria in addition to lab results of auto antibodies, and analgesic nephropathy was diagnosed based on past medical history of chronic analgesic drugs usage with no other identifiable risk factors. We included all ESRF patients on regular haemodialysis treatment. We excluded ESRF patients less than 18 years old. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean age of ESRF Patients was 49 ± 15.8 (years) and 63.4 % were male and 76.3 % were unemployed. The mean duration of haemodialysis is 4.38 ± 4.24 (years). The most common cause of ESRF in our patients was hypertension (34.6 %) followed by chronic glomerulonephritis (17.6 %), diabetes mellitus (12.8 %), obstructive uropathy (9.6 %), autosomal dominant poly cystic kidney disease (ADPKD) (4.7 %), chronic pyelonephritis (4.6 %), analgesic nephropathy (3.5 %). However in (10.7 %) no cause was found. In patient aged less than 40 years old the leading cause of ESRF was glomerulonephritis (29.3 %) followed by hypertension (25 %). In patient aged between 40 to 60 years old the leading cause of ESRF was hypertension (38.5 %) followed by diabetes mellitus (14 %). In patient aged older than 60 years the leading cause of ESRF was hypertension (38.4 %) followed by diabetes mellitus (23.3 %). CONCLUSIONS: ESRF in Sudan affects the economically productive age group; unemployment rate among ESRF patients is high. The study showed that hypertension is a leading cause of ESRF in Sudan followed by chronic glomerulonephritis. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the leading causes of ESRF among patients over 40 years old

Efficacy of Massage on Pain Intensity in Post-Cesarean Women: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Cesarean section is a common surgical procedure that may be considered a safe alternative to natural birth and helps to resolve numerous obstetric conditions. Still, the Cesarean section is painful; relieving pain after a Cesarean section is crucial, therefore analgesia is necessary for the postoperative period. However, analgesia is not free of complications and contraindications, so massage may be a cost-effective method for decreasing pain post-Cesarean. Our study aims to determine the massage role in pain intensity after Cesarean sections. Methods: We searched five electronic databases for relevant studies. Data were extracted from the included studies after screening procedures. We calculated the pooled mean difference (MD) and standardized mean difference (SMD) for our continuous outcomes, using random or fixed-effect meta-analysis according to heterogenicity status. Interventional studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool, while observational studies were assessed using the National Institutes of Health’s tools. Results: Our study included 10 RCTs and five observational studies conducted with over 1,595 post-Cesarean women. The pooled MDs for pain intensity considering baseline values either immediately or post 60-90 minutes were favoring the massage group over the control group as follows:(stand. MD = -2.64, 95% CI [-3.80, -1.48], p > .00001; MD = -2.64, 95% CI [-3.80, -1.48], p > .00001, respectively). While pooled MDs regarding post-intervention only either immediately or post 60-90 minutes were:(stand. MD = -2.04, 95% CI [-3.26, -0.82], p = .001; stand. MD = -2.62, 95% CI [-3.52, -1.72], p > .00001, respectively). Conclusion: Our study found that using massage was superior to the control groups in decreasing pain intensity either when the pain was assessed immediately after or 60-90 minutes post-massage application