Coxsackie B2 Virus Infection Causing Multiorgan Failure and Cardiogenic Shock in a 42-Year-Old Man

Infections from coxsackie B2 viruses often cause viral myocarditis and, only rarely, multisystem organ impairment. We present the unusual case of a 42-year-old man in whom coxsackie B2 virus infection caused multiorgan infection, necessitating distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, renal dialysis, and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with mechanical ventilation. In addition, the patient had a rapid-eye-movement sleep-related conduction abnormality that caused frequent sinus pauses of longer than 10 s, presumably due to myocarditis from the coxsackievirus infection. He recovered after permanent pacemaker placement and was discharged from the hospital. We discuss our aggressive supportive care and the few other reports of multiorgan impairment from coxsackieviruses

JUVENILE HORMONE BIOSYNTHESIS AND SIGNALING PATHWAY IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Insect development and metamorphosis are controlled by two major hormones; 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH). 20E signaling pathway is well recognized while JH signaling is still ambiguous. For a better understanding of JH biosynthesis and signaling we worked on two parallel projects; reverse genetic and forward genetic studies. In the reverse genetic study, we have tested the potential functional redundancy between Methoprene-tolerant (Met) and germ cell-expressed (gce), two paralog bHLH-PAS transcription factors in Drosophila that were suggested to be JH receptors. Met null mutants are viable, resistant to JH and low fecundity. No gce mutant was available at the begening of this project. We generated a gce null allele and found that it phenocopies Met mutants. Met-gce double mutants are lethal at prepupal stage, which is similar to the JH-deficient flies. Krüppel homolog1 (Kr-h1) and broad (br) are two known JH signaling componets. Further investigations revealed that Met-gce double mutant diminishes Kr-h1 expression, induces precocious br expression, and causes premature and enhanced caspase-dependent programmed cell death. Therefore, we conclude that Met and Gce are functionally redundant in transducing JH signals. Expression of br is induced by 20E, but its induction can be suppressed by JH. In the forward genetic study, we designed and conducted a novel genetic screen to isolate mutations that can de-repress br expression at early larval stages. From 4,400 lethal lines, 55 mutations were isolated based on the precocious br expression in 2nd instar larvae. Genes associated with these 55 mutations include apterous, InR, NMAR1, Fpps and Kr-h1, which are known to be involved in JH biosynthesis or signaling. Other genes encode proteins with various molecular functions, including enzymes, signal transduction molecules, and transcriptional factors. Among them, there are three Wnt signaling components, Axin (Axn), supernumerary limbs (slmb), and naked cuticle (nkd) and two TGF-β signaling components, thick vein (tkv) and mothers against Dpp (mad). We further demonstrated that Wnt signaling mediates JH signaling by regulating Met and gce expression, and that TGF-β signaling controls JH biosynthesis by upregulating transcription of JH acid methyltransferase (jhamt), a key regulatory enzyme of JH biosynthesis

Modernization and the fertility transition, Egypt, 1975

This study investigates regional marital fertility differentials in Egypt and their relationship to the level of modernization of the region: defined as economic development and social and cultural change. The intermediate variables (Davis and Blake, 1965) underlying these regional levels and patterns of marital fertility are determined and their relation to the level of modernization of the region is also evaluated. In order to assess the nature of the recent decline in the crude birth rate in Egypt, the long term fertility and mortality levels are discussed. The prospects of a fertility transition in Egypt are assessed in terms of the current fertility level and pattern, the extent of deliberate fertility regulation, the urban-rural fertility differential and differentials by socioeconomic status. The study draws from Easterlin\u27s model of social and economic determinants of marital fertility as a frame of reference. The model\u27s basic social and economic intermediate variables (denoted Cn, Cd, and CR)are evaluated, and the model\u27s interpretations of cross-sectional marital fertility differentials by socioeconomic status and the long term fertility trend are empirically verified

Teachers\u27 views about the effectiveness of short visits on their instructional performances

Supervisors from the Central science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Unit conduct unannounced classroom observations to ameliorate the quality of teaching and learning inside public STEM schools. After conducting several classroom visits, supervisors posited that teachers integrate instructional methodologies that reinforce low-order thinking skills and rote memorization of facts (World Bank, 2017). Thus, the aim of this quantitative study is to describe teachers’ views about the effectiveness of short visits on their instructional performances. Sixty-four teachers were conveniently selected from three public Egyptian STEM schools, located in Giza, Cairo, and Qalyubia governorates and were requested to complete a 5-point Likert survey, involving twenty statements, adapted from Kubicek’s Classroom Walkthrough Observation Process Model (2015). As a result, the data obtained from the research participants suggested that the short visits’ model has a positive effect on teachers’ instructional performances at one of the three schools. However, the short visits’ model has been perceived by STEM teachers at two schools to have a minimal impact on their instructional performances, since it lacks improvement plans, follow-ups, and resources. Last, recommendations for future research and implications for teachers were developed based on the study’s results

The Middle East Peace Process and U.S. Special Interest Groups

This thesis is meant as a contribution to resolving the puzzle regarding the actual clout of pro-Israel U.S. special interest groups by studying their influence in relation to the Middle East Peace Process. This author builds on his first hand experiences of living in Palestine and the U.S., and analytical tools he has acquired by studying the role of United Nations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as U.S. history, politics and society. This study combines a qualitative analysis of U.S. official policies toward the Peace Process from 1991-2011, with a quantitative investigation of the Peace Process-related activities of pro-Israel U.S. special interest. The quantitative data is collected from public opinion polls, the Congressional Record, government documents, the reports of the Federal Election Commission, and the monthly publications of the non-partisan Washington Report on Middle East Affairs from 1989-2011. The qualitative data is based on experts’ and scholarly reflections about the Peace Process and the influence of special interest groups on the making of U.S. foreign policy

Improvement of nutritional quality and antioxidant activities of yeast fermented soybean curd residue

This study evaluated the potential use and improves the health beneficial properties of the waste of soybean manufacturing products by solid-state fermentation of six GRAS different yeast strains, including extractable antioxidant activities and bioavailable nutritional compositions. In comparison with non-fermented okara (control), some levels of value addition occurred as a result of the fermentation. The protein contents increased by 20.10- 54.40%, while the crude fibre decreased by 7.38- 45.50% with different strains. With all the organisms used, the ash content increased while the carbohydrate and lipid contents were reduced. Total phenolic content and all parameters of antioxidative activities were increased in fermented substrate. The highest significant levels of antioxidant activities were achieved with Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-8281. Results showed that the nutritional quality and antioxidant activities of the substrate were enhanced by solid yeast treatment fermentation. Thus, scope exists for microbial upgrading of this low-quality waste and development of healthy animal feed supplements.Key words: Solid state fermentation, yeast, waste soybean manufacturing  products, antioxidant, protein, fiber

EFFECT OF MINERAL AND BIOFERTILIZATION TREATMENTS ON: 2- CORMS PRODUCTIVITY AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF GLADIOLUS CV. WHITE PROSPERITY

A field experiment was conducted at Nursery of Ornamental Plants, Fac. Agric., Minia Univ. during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 to investigate the effect of NPK (0, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended dose) and biofertilizers (phosphorein and/or E.M.) on corm and cormels productivity, as well as, chemical constituents of gladiolus cv. White Prosperity. The obtained results indicated that, corm diameter, corm dry weight, number of cormels/plant, cormels dry weight/plant, as well as, chemical constituents (N, P, K and total sugars % in corms and total chlorophyll in leaves) were significantly increased with all levels of NPK in comparison with control. The highest values were obtained with NPK 100%. All biofertilizer treatments significantly increased corm and cormels productivity, as well as, either chemical constituents in comparison with the control. Phosphorein + E.M. was more effective in this concern. The interaction treatments were significant with the highest values being obtained due to NPK 75% in combination with phosphorein + effective microorganisms (E.M.)