The accumulative effect of Finnsheep breeding in crossbreeding schemes

Finnsheep (F) was used in a crossbreeding project to improve overall productivity of the DLS breed. Productive and reproductive traits of seven crossbred combinations ranging from 1/8F to 7/8F breeding were compared to those of the two parental breeds. Suffolk rams were used to mate all ewes (361) for five parturitions (1312 records). Ovulation rate (OR) and litter size (LS) at birth for all the groups increased progressively as F breeding increased. The 4/8F ewes weaned the heaviest litters. Percentage of ova lost per ewe mated ranged from 18 % to 29 %. Preweaning mortality rate was highest in F ewes. Total kg of lambs weaned per ewe exposed was highest in 4/8F followed by F whereas that of DLS was lowest. The 4/8F exhibited 25 % heterosis (H) in kg of lambs weaned per ewe exposed. The linear regressions of OR (b = .24), of LS at birth (b = .14) and at weaning (b = .08) on proportion of F breeding in crosses were significant. The regressions were quadratic for percent ova lost and lamb mortality at weaning. The crosses showed positive H in grease fleece weight (GFW), the highest being expressed by the 4/8F and 5/8F crosses. Significant linear relationships were observed between F breeding and GFW (2nd shearing), fiber thickness and variability in both fiber length and fiber thickness, whereas the relationships of F breeding with GFW (3rd and later shearings), clean wool percentage and fiber length were quadratic. Most of the crosses exhibited positive H particularly in clean wool percentage and in staple and fiber length. H was often highest in the 4/8F cross. Genetic group of dam had a significant effect on age at slaughter, leg, loin and kidney fat as a percent of the carcass, lean, fat and bone percent of the 12th rib and fat thickness over loin-eye muscle. A significant linear relationship existed between most of these carcass measurements and the proportion of F breeding in the lambs’ dam

Will cool roofs improve the thermal performance of our built environment? A study assessing roof systems in Bahrain

A number of international campaigns have recently proposed the use of cool roofs worldwide in order to cope with the summer urban heat island (UHI) effect. This work investigates cool roof strategy and examines the potential of such a strategy for Bahrain. Full-scale measurement, meteorological modelling and thermal simulation of five standard roofs were performed during particular summer days due to the high intensity levels of solar irradiation. This work shows that the light tile roof and metal decking are relatively cooler and more comfortable than others and that the maximum reduction in heat gain occurs for a light tile roof with thermal insulation materials. Nevertheless, without insulation the cooling load is increased by only 1.3%. This percentage seems not to be cost-effective where economics and building construction are concerned. In contrast, the reduction percentage due to the use of thermal insulation in the case of dark tile roof, felt bitumen roof and screed roof increases to 5–7%, which is more cost effective. This work concludes that the cool roof strategy is the most cost-effective for the hot climate of Bahrain, which has a long cooling season. With the current levels of urban development in Bahrain, cool roofs can reduce UHI intensity and building cooling loads, lowering demand for electricity and greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. To avoid any negative consequences from using this strategy, however, trade-offs between urban mitigation and adoptation strategies and complementary technologies should be accounted for in future urban development plans

Role of certain bioagents against Guava decline disease and in enhancement of the growth of guava trees

Biocontrol agents, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma harzianum were evaluated against fungi causing guava (Psidium guajava) decline disease caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani. Generally, our results showed high antagonistic effects of tested biocontrol agents against previous pathogens. T. harzianum isolates showed an average of 58% inhibition against all pathogens. T. harzianum T4 was the most prominent isolate in inhibiting the growth of guava pathogenic fungi. Based on the secretion of volatile substances, T4 had the most significant inhibition ability as compared to other Trichoderma isolates. By using B. subtilis, the radial growth of R. solani and F. oxysporum was significantly decreased as compared to B. theobromae. In case of P. fluorescens, the radial growth of R. solani was decreased more than B. theobromae followed by F. oxysporum. Different densities of T4 significantly decreased the disease severity and increased plant height, dry weight of shoots and roots and total pigments (chlorophyll a and b, and carotenoids) in guava trees in comparison with infected trees only. We concluded that the application of biocontrol agents decreased guava decline disease and improved the growth of guava trees

The impact of varying the apex angle on static cone penetration measurements in simulated Champlain clays

Studies on material penetration and its governing parameters -- Identation of ductile materials -- Penetration into an ideal soil -- Cavity expansions in a saturated clay medium -- Theoretical analysis of cone identation in cohesive soils -- Development of strength-controlled simulated Champlain clays -- Development of the simulated Champlain clay -- Establishment of the modified simulated Champlain clay -- Laboratory test -- Experimental set up of penetration tests -- Preparation of the simulated Champlain clay -- Laboratory quasi-static cone penetration tests -- Auxiliary laboratory tests -- Analysis of apex angle variation and its impact on penetration resistance -- Cone factor determination -- Cone factor variation with apex angle -- Comparison with previous theoretical work -- Comparison with field measurements -- The effect of confinement and experimental

The impact of contaminant migration on the structure of compacted kaolinite

Overview of previous studies -- Theory of compaction -- Conduction phenomena -- Soil-chemical interactions -- Contaminant transport -- Materials and methods -- Leaching tests -- Soaking tests -- Scanning electron microscopy -- Contaminant transport modeling -- Compaction characteristics -- Leaching test results -- Soaking test results -- Contaminant transport simulation

Fahmy's four quadrant sutures: a new technique for control of blood loss during cesarean delivery for placenta previa

Background: The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of Fahmy's four quadrant suture technique (FFQS) in controlling blood loss during cesarean delivery for placenta previa (PP).Methods: The study was carried out in a tertiary University Hospital between January 2017 to December 2017 involved 12 women with heavy bleeding occurred after removal of the placenta from the lower section during cesarean delivery for PP. The FFQS technique consisted of two sutures to ligate the uterine branches on both sides and two sutures on the anterior and posterior wall of the lower uterine segment. Details regarding the management and maternal outcomes were recorded.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 29.58±5.29 years and the mean parity was 2.25±1.14. The mean gestational age at termination of pregnancy was 36.91±1.38 weeks.  The mean duration of the whole surgery was 78.75±43.28 minutes, while the mean duration of FFQS technique was only 10±2.09 minutes. The technique was exclusively effective in 8 out of 12 cases (66.67%) while 2 cases needed bilateral internal iliac artery ligation and 2 cases needed hysterectomy. The mean amount of blood loss in all cases was 2433.33±833.76 ml. the mean amount of transfused packed RBCs was 3.92±1.68 units and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was 3.42±1.44 units. All cases had uneventful postoperative course and no mortality cases in present series.Conclusions: The new technique; FFQS represents a rapid, effective, and inexpensive opportunity for women with bleeding from the lower segment of uterus due to PP. This simple procedure should be attempted before other complex measures to achieve good hemostasis

A New Control and Design of PEM Fuel Cell Powered Air Diffused Aeration System

Aeration of water by using PEM fuel cell power is not only a new application of the renewable energy, but also, it provides an affordable method to promote biodiversity in stagnant ponds and lakes. This paper presents a new design and control of PEM fuel cell powered by diffused air aeration system for a shrimp farm in Mersa Matruh in Egypt. Also Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques control is used to control the fuel cell output power by controlling input gases flow rate. Moreover the mathematical modeling and simulation of PEM fuel cell is introduced. A comparison study is applied between the performance of fuzzy logic control (FLC) and neural network control (NNC). The results show the effectiveness of NNC over FLC

Congenital coronary artery anomalies in adult population detected using dual source ECG-gated CTA in a single institution

Background: Congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries (CAs) are rare and are often diagnosed incidentally during a conventional coronary angiography. Recently, the incidence of these congenital defects is on the rise particularly after the introduction of the electrocardiography (ECG) gated coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). This innovative radiological screening modality has led to the most precise mapping of the course of the CAs on computed tomographic scan. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and describe the CAs congenital anomalies and their variations in Kuwaiti population at a single institution experience. Materials and methods: We analysed the CCTA data obtained consecutively from 842 patients (2013–2014), retrospectively. The inclusion criteria for patients’ selection were: atypical chest pain, equivocal ECG, assessment of patency of coronary stents or grafts and pre-operative screening. Information was acquiesced using a dual-source CT scanner with ECG gating. Results: Data analysis revealed that 22 (2.61%) patients were found to have CA anomalies out of the 842 patients who underwent CCTA. Out of these CA anomalies, 13 cases showed more than two ostia, 7 cases showed the ectopic origin of a CA from opposite sinus or non-aortic sinus, 2 cases showed single coronary ostium and 1 case showed coronary artery with pulmonary fistula. Also, myocardial bridging was identified in 78 (9.26%) patients whereas ramus intermedius branch was identified in 160 (19%) patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of CA anomalies in Kuwait was 2.6%, which is relatively higher than previously reported studies from different countries

Modeling and Control PV-Wind Hybrid System Based On Fuzzy Logic Control Technique

As energy demands around the world increase, the need for a renewable energy sources that will not harm the environment is increased. The overall objective of renewable energy systems is to obtain electricity with competitive cost and even benefit with respect to other energy sources. The optimal design of renewable energy system can significantly improve the economical and technical performance of power supply. This paper presents the power management control using fuzzy logic control technique. Also, a complete mathematical modeling and MATLAB/Simulink model for the proposed the electrical part of an aquaculture system is implemented to track the system performance. The simulation results show the feasibility of control technique