New proposed method for traceability dissemination of capacitance measurements

Capacitance measurements at the National Institute of Standards (NIS), Egypt, are traceable to the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). It calibrates the main NIS standard capacitors, AH11A. In this paper, traceability of the BIPM capacitance measurements could be used to evaluate a new accurate measurement method through an Ultra-Precision Capacitance Bridge. The new method is carefully described by introducing some necessary equations and a demonstrating chart. Verification of this new method has been realized by comparing its results for the 10 pF and 100 pF capacitance standards with the results obtained by the conventional substitution method at 1 kHz and 1.592 kHz. The relative differences between the two methods are about 0.3 µF/F, which reflect the accuracy of the new measurement method. For higher capacitance ranges, the new measurement method has been applied for the capacitance measurements up to 1 μF at 1 kHz. The relative differences between the two methods are in the range of 5.5 µF/F on the average which proves the acceptable accuracy and the reliability of the new method to be used

One-stage lingual augmented urethroplasty in repair of distal penile hypospadias

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the outcome of augmentation of shallow urethral plate by lingual graft in repair of distal penile hypospadias.Patients and methodsBetween June 2008 and May 2011, the procedure was performed on 23 patients with mean age 2.3 years (range 1–3). All patients had distal penile hypospadias; 11 sub coronal and 12 coronal. The urethral plate was less than 8mm in all patients and 3 of them had history of previous hypospadias surgery. All procedures were carried out under general anesthesia using 4× magnifying loupe. After penile degloving and dorsal incision of the urethral plate, the lingual graft was harvested and sutured to the edges of the incised urethral plate from the hypospadias opening to the tip of the penis. The neourethra was closed and an intervening flap was fixed over the neourethra as a barrier against fistula formation.ResultsSuccess rate was 87% as 20/23 patients were cured without any permanent complication throughout the follow up period. None of patients suffered meatal stenosis or required regular urethral dilatation. Three patients developed urethrocutaneous fistula, of which two closed spontaneously and one required surgical repair 6 months later. Two patients had failed procedures and delayed re-intervention was performed due to complete loss of the graft in one of them and repair disruption following infection in the other. Two patients had post-operative pain in the graft harvesting site which disappeared within days.ConclusionThe one-stage lingual augmented urethral plate urethroplasty offers promising outcomes for repair of distal penile hypospadias with narrow urethral plate

Cancer Risk Assessment and Geochemical Features of Granitoids at Nikeiba, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

Different rock types (syenogranite, alkali feldspar granite and quartz syenite intruded by microgranite dikes and quartz veins) were investigated in the Nikeiba region in Egypt. The main components of the studied intrusive rocks, comprised of granites and quartz syenite, are plagioclase, amphibole, biotite, quartz and K-feldspar in different proportions. Ground gamma ray measurements show that syenogranite, quartz syenite and microgranite dikes have the highest radioactivity (K, eU, eTh and their ratios) in comparison with alkali feldspar granite. Geochemically, syenogranite, alkali feldspar granite and quartz syenite are enriched with large-ion lithophile elements (LILE; Ba, Rb, Sr) and high field-strength elements (HFSE; Y, Zr and Nb), but have decreased Ce, reflecting their alkaline affinity. These rocks reveal calc–alkaline affinity, metaluminous characteristics, A-type granites and post-collision geochemical signatures, which indicates emplacement in within-plate environments under an extensional regime. U and Th are increased in syenogranite and quartz syenite, whereas alkali feldspar granite shows a marked decrease in U and Th. The highest average values of AU (131 ± 49 Bq·kg−1), ATh (164 ± 35) and AK (1402 ± 239) in the syenogranite samples are higher than the recommended worldwide average. The radioactivity levels found in the samples are the result of the alteration of radioactive carrying minerals found inside granite faults. The public’s radioactive risk from the radionuclides found in the investigated granitoid samples is estimated by calculating radiological risks. The excess lifetime cancer (ELCR) values exceed the permissible limit. Therefore, the granitoids are unsuitable for use as infrastructure materials. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Radiological Investigation on Sediments: A Case Study of Wadi Rod Elsayalla the Southeastern Desert of Egypt

The presence of heavy radioactive minerals in the studied granitoids from which the Wadi sediments leads to the study of the exposure to emitted gamma rays from the terrestrial radionuclides, such as238 U,232 Th, and40 K. The geological study revealed that the Wadi sediments derived from the surrounding granitoids, such as syenogranite, alkali feldspar granite, and quartz syenite. The mineral analysis confirmed that the granitoids were enriched with radioactive minerals, such as uranothorite as well as monazite, zircon, yttrocolumbite, and allanite. The mean activity of the238 U,232 Th, and40 K concentrations are 62.2 ± 20.8, 84.2 ± 23.3, and 949.4 ± 172.5 Bq kg−1, respectively, for the investigated Wadi sediments, exceeding the reported limit of 33, 45 and 412 Bq kg−1, respectively. Public exposure to emitted gamma radiation is detected by estimating many radiological hazard indices, such as the radium equivalent content (Raeq), external and internal hazard indices (Hex and Hin), annual effective dose (AED), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), and excess lifetime cancer (ELCR). The obtained results of the radiological hazards parameters showed that public exposure to emitted gamma radiation can induce various dangerous health effects. Thus, the application of the investigated sediments in different building materials and infrastructures fields is not safe. A multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) was applied to detect radionuclide correlations with the radiological hazard parameters estimated in the granite samples. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The authors acknowledge the support of Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/127), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Control of root rot disease of sugar beet using certain antioxidants and fungicides

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of five chemical inducers i.e. salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, catechol, citric acid and potassium silicate and six fungicides i.e. Actamyl70%, Chlorothalonil 50%, Evito 48%, Shenzy 34%, Pyrus 40% and Fentobein 32.5% in order to control Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina which infect sugar beet roots. The antioxidants, catechol and salicylic acid achieved the best disease control at all rates of application followed by citric acid and potassium silicate, respectively. Concerning fungicides, Shenzy 34% gave noticeable control in disease reduction followed by Evito 48% and Fentobein 32.5%, respectively. Usage of antioxidants as chemical inducers for enhancing plant resistance and capability of defying diseases is well recommended as fungicide alternatives due to their safe influence on human health. But, fungicides are still the most widespread used compounds in disease management strategies, based on their compliant application, reliable and efficient results than any other safer chemical or natural compound which controls the disease by reducing the losses, not by eradicating the disease in which fungicides can do successfully

Efficacy of certain fungicide alternatives for controlling sugar beet powdery mildew

In order to study the importance of selection of suitable sugar beet cultivars for growing in Upper Egypt, ten sugar beet cultivars were tested for their susceptibility to Erysiphe betae, the causal fungus of powdery mildew Among them, Sirona (453 AUPMPC; the Area Under Powdery Mildew Progress Curve) was significantly the most resistant cultivar to powdery mildew disease while, FD.0807 (1484 AUPMPC) was the most susceptible one. Field experiment was conducted to evaluate five plant extracts, three chemical antioxidants and four microelement compounds for their efficacy in controlling E. betae. Results confirmed that all tested treatments caused significant reduction in AUPMPC values when sugar beet plants were sprayed with these tested compounds and the increasing of the concentration increased resistance of sugar beet plants against powdery mildew disease. Among the tested plant extracts, the highest protection (69.9% & 66.9%) on both cultivars Sirona and FD.0807 respectively was achieved by 30% of basil extract followed by 30% of garlic extract (53% & 60.4%) while, the least protection (33.9% & 52.8%) was obtained by 10% of black cumin seed extract. Concerning the tested inducers, the highest protection (56.7% & 70.6%) was achieved by 300 ppm of salicylic acid followed by 200 ppm of salicylic acid (51% & 63.7%), while, 100 ppm of ascorbic acid gave the least protection (2.2% & 34.1%). On the other hand, 40 ppm of cupric sulfate achieved the best percentage of protection (72% &78.7%) whereas, the least protection (8%) was obtained by 10 ppm of zinc sulfate on Sirona cultivar and the least protection (43.6%) was obtained by 10 ppm of magnesium sulfate on FD.0807 cultivar. The best comparative treatment was the tested fungicide Bellis® 38% WG (89.5% &90% protection). Usage of plant extracts, antioxidants and micro elements are well recommended as fungicide alternatives for controlling the disease in parallel with their safe influence on human health due to reduction of the accumulated chemical hazards in the plant tissues

Evaluation of different chemicals to control Erysiphe betae the causal pathogen of sugar beet powdery mildew

Survey on sugar beet plantations at Minia and Assiut governorates, Egypt revealed that powdery mildew disease was the most epidemic threat on sugar beet plantations.  It was noticed that the highest Area Under Powdery Mildew Progress Curve (AUPMPC) value was detected in Abnob locality, Assiut governorate while the lowest one was found in Maghagha locality, Minia governorate. Data revealed that five months’ post collection conidia of Erysiphe betae failed to infect sugar beet leaves cultivar FD.0807. Results of conidial germination showed that the percent germination in darkness was lower than in light. Also a high percentage of germinating conidia formed appressorium on dry glass slides. The examination of powdery mildew infected sugar beet leaves using scanning electron microscopy showed that the fungus penetrates the epidermis of the leaves by the haustoria which are folded in many patches forming a complex web almost completely covers the leaf. Field experiment was conducted to evaluate three chemical compounds containing plant macronutrients, along with five fungicides against powdery mildew disease. Results showed that sodium bicarbonate achieved the best disease control among the macronutrient-containing compounds followed by calcium chloride and potassium silicate, respectively. Sodium bicarbonate achieved the highest total soluble solids (TSS) percentage and root weight at all rates of application followed by calcium chloride, while potassium silicate achieved the least TSS % and root weight. Concerning fungicides, Bellis 38%WG gave noticeable result in disease reduction followed by Collis 30% SC and Tilt 25% EC, respectively. The results showed that the highest TSS % and root weight were detected in the roots of sugar beet plants treated with Bellis 38% fungicide followed by Collis 30%. Meanwhile, the lowest significant of TSS % and root weight was detected after treatment with Permatrol 99%

Univariate and Multivariate Double Slash Distribution: Properties and Application

In this paper, we introduce an extension for the slash distribution, called double slash distribution which, is a heavy tailed compared to slash distribution. The univariate and multivariate forms for the proposed model are proposed. Moreover, moments and the invariant property under linear transformations are discussed. A simulation study is performed to investigate asymptotically the bias properties of the estimators. Finally, a real data application is analyzed to obtain the flexibility of the new model