Household-level Credit Constraints in Urban Ethiopia

Empirical evidence on determinants of credit constraints and the amount borrowed by urban household in Sub-Saharan Africa is almost non-existent. Using an extended direct approach by virtue of the unique data set we have (the Fourth Round Ethiopian Urban Household Survey), we analysed the determinants of credit constraints and the amount borrowed by urban households. We find a high percentage of credit-constrained households, the majority of which constitute discouraged borrowers. Discrete choice models that control for potential endogeneity and selectivity bias have been fitted to our data. Our analysis shows current household resources, number of dependants, and location as significant correlates.credit constrained households; credit rationing; endogeneity; instrumental variables; urban Ethiopia; Africa

Impact of the structural adjustment program on agricultural production and resource use in Egypt:

This paper uses an agricultural sector model to evaluate the effects of an ambitious and ongoing policy reform program on agricultural production and resource use in Egypt. The results show that Egypt has already gained from the policy reforms, but that much larger gains depend on increased exports of high value crops. Water is found to be emerging as an important constraint on agriculture, and it will be essential to establish more effective institutional and pricing mechanisms to encourage greater water use efficiency in the future. Because many of the new lands compete with the more productive lands of the Nile delta for water, the economic return to the development of new lands is also found to be low. The policy reforms are not likely to lead to substantial increases in agricultural employment, even if exports of high value crops could be increased. However, the model results also show that more employment intensive strategies could be designed that would involve little sacrifice in economic efficiency.Agricultural productivity Egypt., Exports Egypt., Water use Management., Agriculture Environmental aspects. ,

Hyperchaos in acetylcholinesterase enzyme systems

Burst generation via a complex bifurcation scenario is discussed using a two compartments model of an enzyme system with substrate inhibition kinetics affected by the production of hydrogen ions accompanying the reaction (e.g. acetylcholinesterase enzyme system). Evidences are given to support the existence of homoclinicity associated with this complex dynamics, including the generalised criterion developed by Rossler et al. [1] for the application of Sil'nikov's theorem in the case of four-dimensional systems. Complex bi-stabilities are observed in certain regions, and the structure of some attracting sets occurring near homoclinic orbits are discussed. The results support the use of such fundamental models for different dynamical modes generation and analysis. The results relate to the transition of small and large frequency oscillations to periodic bursting and vice versa in excitable cells and many biophysical systems

Controllability of Hilfer fractional noninstantaneous impulsive semilinear differential inclusions with nonlocal conditions

In this paper, we investigate the controllability of nonlocal Hilfer-type fractional differential inclusions with noninstantaneous impulsive conditions in Banach spaces

Global attracting solutions to Hilfer fractional differential inclusions of Sobolev type with noninstantaneous impulses and nonlocal conditions

In this paper, we establish the existence of decay mild solutions on an unbounded interval of nonlocal fractional semilinear differential inclusions with noninstantaneous impulses and involving the Hilfer derivative. Our argument uses fixed point theorems, semigroup theory, multi-functions and a measure of noncompactness on the space of piecewise weighted continuous functions defined on an unbounded interval. An example is provided to illustrate our results

Hilfer-type fractional differential switched inclusions with noninstantaneous impulsive and nonlocal conditions

In this paper, we study a new class of nonlocal problems for noninstantaneous impulsive Hilfer-type fractional differential switched inclusions in Banach spaces. First, we introduce a mild solution formula for this noninstantaneous impulsive inclusion problem. Second, we show the existence of mild solutions using the Hausdorff measure of noncompactness on the space of piecewise weighted continuous functions. Finally, an example is provided to illustrate the theory

A novel nonsense mutation in cathepsin C gene in an Egyptian patient presenting with Papillon–Lefe`vre syndrome

Background: Cathepsin C gene (CTSC) (MIM#602365) is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase coding gene which encodes for CTSC protein that plays a major role in the activation of granule serine proteases, particularly leukocyte elastase and granzymes A and B. This activity was proposed to play a role in epithelial differentiation and desquamation. Mutations that cause Disruption in the CTSC expression or function will result in loss of immunological response such as defects of phagocytic function and deregulation of localized polymorphonuclears response with subsequent clinical manifestation.Aim: The aim of this study is to detect the mutation in CTSC gene expected to be the cause of Papillon Lefe`vre syndrome (PLS) in an Egyptian patient clinically diagnosed as PLS and to characterize the clinical features.Patient and methods: A 5 year and 3 month old girl from the outpatient’s Oro-Dental Genetics clinic – National Research Center presented with the typical clinical findings of Papillon Lefevre syndrome. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the patient, her parents and 20 healthy Egyptian controls using standard procedures. All exons of the CTSC gene were amplified by PCR. Sequence analysis of the patient, her parents and controls was performed for mutation detection.Results: Mutation analysis of the CTSC gene in our patient revealed a novel homozygous nonsense mutation in exon 5 (W237X). Her parents revealed the presence of the same mutation in a heterozygous state. The 20 controls showed only the wild type sequence of all exons (no mutation).Conclusion: This study reported a novel nonsense mutation in the CTSC gene in an Egyptian patient. This novel nonsense mutation is predicted to produce truncated dipeptidyl-peptidase1 causing PLS phenotype in this patient

Risk factors for Autistic Spectrum Disorders at Assiut City

Autism is a neurological disorder characterized by qualitative impairments in social interaction, qualitative impairments in communication, and restricted repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Autistic Spectrum Disorders are relatively common without known etiology can be found in 80-90% of cases. The aim of this study is to recognize the risk factors for Autistic Spectrum Disorders at Assiut City. The study was descriptive research design; it was conducted in all autism centers at Assiut city which includes 7 centers and included 47 parents who agree to participate in this study selected by convenient sample. The study included a structured interview sheet; this sheet divided into two parts Socio demographic characteristics, and parent’s knowledge about risk factors of Autism. The main findings of the study are: male represent a higher prevalence (72.3%) rate of autism than females (27.7%), and autistic children were more prevalent among families living in urban areas (80.9%) than rural (19.1%). The present study clears that (63.8%) of the fathers and 61.7% of the mothers had university level, the majority (85.1%) of autistic parents’ children hadn’t consanguinity degree while only (14.9%) from them had consanguinity from first degree (cousin), the vast majorities (97.9%) of studied children haven’t family history of autism; the present study found that all mothers of studied children hadn't any history of rubella, diabetes, thyroid and infectious diseases while only (4.3%) were exposed to eclampsia. The study recommended that, increase of public awareness about the risk factors of autism and its prevention by community leaders, mass media, and others especially at rural area. The curriculum of medicine and nursing faculties should include the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (risk factors, diagnosis and different treatment methods). Further studies should be conducted and gained a lot of attention for Autistic children and their parents. Key wards: Autism - Autism Spectrum Disorders – Risk factor

Pattern of systemic lupus erythematosus in Egyptian patients: the impact of disease activity on the quality of life

INTRODUCTION: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) afflicts young people disproportionately, often at a crucial time in their lives when they are trying to establish relationships, start families and launch careers. As a result, persons with SLE may experience a wide range of physical and psychosocial problems that are not always fully captured by descriptions of the disease’s physiological consequences alone. METHODS: In order to characterize the spectrum of the effects of SLE with regards to disease activity and its impact on the quality of life (QoL), a case control study involving 59 SLE Egyptian patients (mean age 28.6 years , 94.9% females) and 20 healthy controls was undertaken. Disease activity was measured by SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and quality of life was measured by Short Form 36 health questionnaire (SF-36). RESULTS: Mucocutaneous and hematological manifestations were present in most of the patients and arthralgia in half of them. All domains of SF-36 including general health, physical functions, physical limitations, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, pain, social functions, and health changes were significantly lower in SLE patients compared to controls. Except for emotional limitations, all domains were correlated with disease activity and low in class IV-V lupus nephritis. CONCLUSION: Physicians should focus on QoL and how to improve it; health education regarding the negative impact of disease activity on the patients should be given attention. The results of QoL studies help physicians to understand and provide better support to SLE patients beside rapid meticulous control of disease activit

Heterosis for seed yield and its components in sesame under supplementary irrigation

Experiments were carried out during autumn in 2009 at two irrigated locations (Abu Naama and Sinnar) on clay plains of central Sudan. Fourteen sesame genotypes were crossed in line x tester mating scheme and heterosis over mid parent was estimated for the seed yield and its components in 49 F1top cross hybrids. The crosses and their parents were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The traits measured were days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, capsule length, 1000-seed weight and seed yield. Among the crosses evaluated across the two locations: T3 x L3 and T1 x L5 combined high heterosis for early maturity with high seed yield. This indicates that the crosses were earlier and high yielders than their parents and could be utilized to develop genotype (s) suitable for locations in central Sudan, that is, characterized by varying and low total rainfall. The top four ranking crosses for seed yield across locations were T6 x L3 (1108 kg/ha), T6 x L7 (1023 kg/ha), T1 x L5 (1022 kg/ha) and T5 x L5 (1014 kg/ha). The highest percentage of mid parent heterosis for seed yield across sites were given by T3 x L3 (52%) followed by T3 x L7 (44%), T5 x L7 (44%) and T1 x L5 (43%). These crosses can be used to develop high yielding sesame hybrids through hand emasculation and pollination for further testing in multilocations trials.    أجريت هذه التجارب في السودان أثناء الفصل الممطر عام 2009 في أبو نعامة و سنار باستخدام تصميم القطاعات العشوائية الكاملة بثلاث مكررات بإتباع تحليل سلالة x مختبرline x tester analysis)) والذي شمل أربعة عشر أباً، وسبعة آباء ذكورmale parents) ) وسبعة آباء إناث  (female parents) معطية 49 هجيناً. زرعت التجارب في يوم 7 يوليو 2009 في كلا الموقعين. الصفات التي تمت دراستها شملت عدد الأيام حتى 50% إزهار، عدد الأيام حتى النضج، طول النبات، عدد الفروع في النبات، عدد الكبسولات في النبات، طول الكبسولة، وزن 1000 بذرة و إنتاجية البذور. وجد أن الهجن مبكرة في الأزهار وفترة النضج مقارنة بالآباء. الهجنT3 x L3  و T1 x L5أظهرت قوة هجين عالية في إنتاج البذور والتبكير في الإزهار والنضج. هذه الهجن يمكن استخدامها في المناطق قليلة الأمطار. أعلى الهجن إنتاجية عبر الموقعين هي  T6 x L3(كجم/هكتار  (1108، T6 x L7 (كجم/هكتار (1023، T1 x L5(كجم/هكتار 022 (1،T5 x L5(كجم/هكتار1014 (و T6 x L6 (كجم/هكتار 965(). الهجن التي أظهرت أعلى قوة هجين عبر الموقعين هي(52%) T3 x L3, T3 x L7 (44%),T5 x L7 (%44) و T1 x L5 (%43). ومن خلال هذه الدراسة نوصي باستخدام هذه الهجن بعد إجراء بعض الاختبارات الخاصة بالإنتاجية في مواقع ومواسم مختلفة