Response of Banana "Williams Hybrid" to Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization

Field experiments were conducted at the National Institute for Promotion of Horticultural Exports (NIPHE) research farm during the period of 2001 to 2002 to determine the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels on growth parameters, earliness, nutrient uptake, yield and yield components of "William's hybrid" banana cultivar. Treatments included 5 N levels (0, 69, 138, 207 and 276g N/mat/year), 2 P levels (0 and 20 g P/mat/year) and 2 K levels (0 and 41 g K/mat/year) . The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Banana growth, yield and yield components were significantly increased by N and K application. The highest vegetative growth parameters, yield and yield components were obtained with the application of 207 g N/mat/year in combination with 41 g K/mat/year. Application of N in combination with K also resulted in a significant reduction in the period from plant-ing to shooting and from shooting to fruit maturation. The shortest number of days to shooting were obtained with the application of 276 g N/mat/year. Application of N, P and K also resulted in increased leaf N, P and K contents. Application of P alone or in combinations with N and K had no significant effects on growth or yield parameters

Use of Gel Permeation Chromatography in Studies of Acacia Polyacantha Gum

Fractionation of Acacia polyacantha gums(Kakamut) using a gel permeation column coupled to a multi – detector system comprising light scattering, refractive index and UV detector gave an insight in the molecular mass of the gum molecules. The resultant chromatograms showed a high molecular weight(Mw) fraction associated with much of the protein present in the polymer molecule, a low molecular mass fraction of much lesser amount of protein and low molecular mass proteinaceous fraction. The molar mass distribution pattern produced for A. polyacantha differed from that obtained for A. senegal gum. However the patterns of the two types of gums differed in the proportion of each fraction. Comparison of three A. polyacantha  gum samples revealed that the Layoon soil samples (Layoon forest) showed, a higher Mw fraction (32%) than the  samples of the clay soil (Abugarin and Gargadah) 30% and 20%, respectively. &nbsp

Effects of nitrogen source, rate and foliar application on some leaf mineral nutrient contents and yield of “Sinnari” sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis L.) in the River Nile State, Sudan

      Sweet orange production in the Sudan is characterized by low yield and poor fruit quality. This research was aimed at determining the effects of nitrogen source, rate and foliar application on some leaf mineral nutrient content and yield of “Sinnari” sweet oranges in  the River Nile State during 2010/11 and 2011/12. Nitrogen sources were urea (100%), sheep manure (SM) (100%), or a combination of them (50% each), beside Wuxal foliar fertilizer. Nitrogen rates were 0, 43 and 86 kg N/ha. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates and 2 trees/plot. Results showed that nitrogen sources and rates were effective in increasing leaf nitrogen content and the highest values were obtained by the application of 86 kg N/ha using urea (100%) or a combination of urea and sheep manure. Application of Wuxal foliar fertilizer resulted in a significant increase of Zn and Fe leaf contents and total yield. Nitrogen source had significant effects on yield components and total yield. The highest values were obtained by a combination of urea and sheep manure or 100% urea, and the lowest values were recorded for 100% sheep manure. Nitrogen rate of 86 kg N/ha resulted in the highest yield components and total yield. It is recommended to fertilize sweet orange trees in the River Nile State with a combination of urea and sheep manure at the rate of 86 kg N/ha (12.4 kg SM/tree and 0.5 kg urea/tree) in addition to Wuxal foliar fertilizer

Current status of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) orchards in the River Nile State, Sudan

ABSTRAC     Production of sweet oranges in the Sudan does not cover domestic needs and sweet oranges are currently imported from Egypt, Iran and South Africa to satisfy the increasing demand. Hence, there is a need to investigate factors involved in the decline of sweet orange trees in one of the most important States for orange production in the Sudan. This research aims to study and evaluate different agronomic practices contributing to the prevailing sweet orange performance in the River Nile State, Sudan. A questionnaire and interviews with 120 sweet orange growers from Ketiab, Zeidab and Gandato citrus projects indicated that 75.8% of the farmers have orchards less than 2.9 ha. Low yielding cultivars such as “Sinnari”, the local selection (Baladi), Hamlin and Nori 16 dominate in the areas, 96.7% of the trees were budded on sour orange rootstocks, 85.8% of the seedlings were budded in private nurseries using bud wood collected from non-certified mother trees from private orchards. All sweet oranges were grown with other fruit species in 100% of the orchards, 80.8% used flat surface irrigation. There is no fixed fertilizer program. The type and quantity of chemical and organic fertilizers varied with different growers. No foliar fertilizers were used and nutrient deficiencies of Zn, Fe and Mn were observed in most orchards. Extension services for citrus production are highly needed for improvement of yield and quality of sweet oranges in the River Nile Stat

The Impact of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Innovative Programme on its Graduates

Introduction: Programme evaluation is the collection and interpretation, through systemic and formal means, of relevant information which serves as a basis for rational judgment in decision situations. This study was conducted as part of the third programme development of the Faculty of Medicine, Gezira University 2010 – 2011. Objectives: The general objective is to study the impact of the Faculty of Medicine, Gezira University, innovative programme, on its graduates. The specific objectives include the evaluation of graduates' competences in the three main areas of domain of learning, i.e. Knowledge, skills and attitude. Materials and Methods: This is a Cross-sectional Study conducted in the period from13th. of January to 12th. of February 2011. The study population includes 146 consultants who have Gezira graduates training with them including house officers, medical officers and registrars. Excluded from the study all consultants who are academic staff members in the FMUG, who are Gezira graduates or who are involved in student training. A questionnaire was designed to answer the questions that address the objectives of the study covered in 32 questions, using a grading scales; 1 to 5: where 1= poor; 2= less than average, 3= average; 4= good; 5= excellent. Results: the response rate for the questionnaire was 73% (146/210), representing 146 consultants working in 23 hospitals in 12 cities. In the overall evaluation of graduates΄ knowledge and cognitive abilities, graduates were rated as good to excellent in (68.3%), average in (25.12%) and poor to below average in only a minority of the graduates. In the overall evaluation of graduates΄ skills and competences, graduates were rated as good to excellent in (72.33%), average in (20.81%) and poor to below average in only a minority of the graduates. In the overall evaluation of attitudes and ethical standards, graduates were rated as good to excellent in the majority (84.06%). In the overall classification, graduates were rated as good to excellent in the vast majority (82.6%), average in the minority (14.5%) and poor to below average in only a few cases. Conclusion The evaluation of graduates' competences is an important element in the educational programme evaluation. These results provide evidence in favour for the innovative educational programme and can encourage other medical schools to adopt it. Further studies are needed to cover other aspects of graduates' evaluations

Snake Bite in Gezira Revision of 63 Envenomed Child

   Sixty three patients admitted to the Gezira National Center of Pediatric Surgery with snake bite were analyzed. All patients were envenomed and the snake was positively identified. In 39 patients (61.9%) the offending snake was (washash) (Echis carinatus) and in 24 patients (38.1%) (Abdafan) (atractaspis microlepidata) was identified. All patients were from rural Gezira where children are actively involved in agriculture and harvesting. The median age group was 9.3 years. Females were equally involved as males. The mean time elapsed since the bite was 56 hours. Quicker arrival at hospital was seen in severe envenomation. Fifty patients had already received native remedies which was observed to increase the local wound complications. Most bites (79%) occurred in the leg .The majority of the bites occurs in the early rainy summer months. All patients presented initially with progressive painful swelling. Local necrosis was observed in seventeen patients (26.9%).  Fourteen patients (22.2%) developed compartment syndrome and three patients (4.76%) developed fingertip gangrene. one patient (1.6%) developed extensive bilateral common iliac vein thrombosis. DIC developed in 21 patients (33.3%). Two patients (3.2%) of theses developed intracranial haemorrhage. Four patients (6.3%) with local necrosis presented few month later with extensive chronic osteomyelitis.Treatment options included cardiovascular support, local wound debridement, fasciotomy and minor amputation. Patients with DIC were managed with fresh frozen plasma, blood transfusion and heparin. Antivenin was not administered to our patients. All patients eventually recovered except one child (1.6%) who succumbed of massive intracerebral haemorrhage. ملخص:  تم تحليل البيانات لثلاث وستين طفلا تم تنويمهم بمركز الجزيرة القومي لجراحة الأطفال في الفترة من مارس 2001م الي ابريل2010م  بعد أن شخصت حالتهم بلدغة ثعبان سام. في كل المرضى تم التعرف على الثعبان, في 39 مريض كان الثعبان اللادغ من نوع و شاش(echis carinatus)  وفي 24 أبو دفان (atractaspis   (micolepidata كل المرضي كانوا أطفالا من أرياف الجزيرة وجميعهم يعمل في الزراعة والحصاد. بلغ متوسط العمر لديهم 9.3 سنة. كانت الإصابة متساوية لدي الذكور والإناث, متوسط الوقت المنصرم منذ اللدغة بالثعبان وحتى ألمجي للمستشفي  كانت 56 ساعة ,لوحظ إن ألمجي الباكر للمستشفي يكون في حالات التسمم الوخيم . المعالجة لهؤلاء المرضي تضمنت مساعدة الجهاز الدوري وانضار الجرح الموضعي و بضع اللفافة وإجراء البتر البسيط ,المرضي اللذين عانوا من التخثر المنتشر داخل الأوعية الدموية تمت معالجتهم بحقن المصورة المتجمدة الطازجة ونقل الدم الطازج واعطا الهبارين. لم يتم استخدام الترياق في أي من المرضي. كل المرضي تماثلوا للشفاء إلا مريضا واحدا توفي بسبب نزف جسيم داخل القحف.   &nbsp

Association Between Lipid Profile and Glyceamic Control in Sudanese Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus at Gezira State, Sudan

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus describes a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Objectives This study aimed to assess the metabolic control of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Sudanese children. Methods: One hundred and seventy four children with type 1 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in this study; 56 healthy non-diabetic children served as a control group. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured, very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL), and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were calculated. Results: HbA1c,TC, LDL-C LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and TG were significantly higher among diabetic group compared to non-diabetic group (P<0.001 and P<0.05 for TG).In the diabetic group, there was a positive significant correlation of: HbA1c with TC, TG, HDL- C, LDL-C, VLDL and LDL/HDL ratio; TC with TG, HDL- C, LDL-C, VLDL and LDL/HDL; TG with LDL- C, VLDL and LDL/HDL ratio; HDL-C with LDL-C;LDL-C with VLDL and LDL/ HDL;VLDL-C with LDL/HDL ratio. A significant negative correlation was observed between HDL- C and LDL/HDL ratio. Diabetic group with poor metabolic control (HbA1c level >8).had significantly higher levels of TC and LDL-C (P<0.001),TG and VLDL (P<0.01), HDL-C and LDL-C/ HDL-C ratio (P<0.05) compared with diabetic group with good metabolic control (HbA1c <8%). Conclusion: 85.63% of diabetic patients were found to have poor metabolic control (HbA1c level >8). يوصف مرض السكري بأنه من المسببات المرضية المتعددة التي تتميز بفرط  سكر الدم المزمن واضطراب في التمثيل الغذائي ( اضطرابات من الكربوهيدرات والدهون واستقلاب البروتين) الناتج عن نقص في إفراز الأنسولين، عمل الانسولين أو كليهما.هدفت هذه الدراسة لاستخدام التقييم الكيموحيوي لمعرفة مدي التحكم لضبط السكر عند مرضي السكري النوع الاول. إشتملت هذه الدراسه علي 174طفل مصابين مرض السكري و56 أصحاء من نفس العمر.تضمنت هذه الدراسة  القياسات الكيموحيويه الأتيه: خضاب الدم المسكر، الكوليستيرول ، ثلاثي أسيل الجليسرول و الكوليستيرول المرتبط  بالبروتينات الشحميه منخفضة وعاليه الكثافة والبروتينات الشحميه المنخفضة جدا ونسبة البروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة الي البروتينات الشحميه عالية الكثافة. وجد أن تركيز كل من خضاب الدم المسكر، الكوليستيرول ، الكوليستيرول المرتبط  بالبروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة ونسبة البروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة الي البروتينات الشحميه عالية الكثافة وثلاثي أسيل الجليسرول يرتفع إرتفاعا ذا معني عند مجموعة مرضي السكري.مستوي خضاب الدم المسكر يرتبط إرتباطا موجبا ذا معني مع كل من الكوليستيرول ، ثلاثي أسيل الجليسرول والبروتينات الشحميه عالية ومنخفضة الكثافة والبروتينات الشحميه المنخفضة جدا ونسبة البروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة الي البروتينات الشحميه عالية الكثافة، الكوليستيرول مع كل من ثلاثي أسيل الجليسرول والبروتينات الشحميه عالية و منخفضة الكثافة والبروتينات الشحميه المنخفضة جدا ونسبة البروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة الي البروتينات الشحميه عالية الكثافة ، يرتبط ثلاثي أسيل الجليسرول مع كل من البروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة والبروتينات الشحميه المنخفضة جدا ونسبة البروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة الي البروتينات الشحميه عالية الكثافة . كما أن  مستوي البروتينات الشحميه عالية الكثافة يرتبط إرتباطا ذا معني مع نسبة البروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة الي البروتينات الشحميه عالية الكثافة.طبقا لتقسيم مجموعة الدارسين لمرض السكري العالميه الأمريكيه أظهرت هذه الدراسه أن نسبة (85.63)  من المرضي يبلغ معدل خضاب الدم المسكر عندهم أكثر من  8% (ضبط غير مقبول) بينما  (%14.37) يبلغ معدل خضاب الدم المسكر عندهم أقل من  8% (ضبط مقبول).  وجدت هذه الدراسة ان مرضي السكري والذين لديهم ضبط غير مقبول لخضاب الدم المسكر ترتفع عندهم مستويات الكوليستيرول ، ثلاثي أسيل الجليسرول و الكوليستيرول المرتبط  بالبروتينات الشحميه منخفضة وعاليه الكثافة والبروتينات الشحميه المنخفضة جدا ونسبة البروتينات الشحميه منخفضة الكثافة الي البروتينات الشحميه عالية الكثافة ارتفاعا ذا معني مقارنة مرضي السكري والذين لديهم ضبط مقبول لخضاب الدم المسكر

Status of greenhouses in Khartoum and Gezira States, Sudan

   Greenhouse technology facilitates the cultivation of most horticultural crops in any region of the world, provided that the greenhouse is properly designed and equipped to control environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of greenhouses in Khartoum and Gezira States, Sudan, and show their drawbacks and disadvantages.  A survey was carried out using a questionnaire and interviews with greenhouse owners in Khartoum and Gezira States. Khartoum and Gezira States have about 68 greenhouse projects, 33 of them were selected for the study. The data were collected during 2013 and were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer program. Results showed that 69.7% of greenhouses were privately owned and the vast majority of greenhouses were used to produce vegetable crops or seedlings. Results indicated that most of the greenhouses designs are not suited to the hot arid tropics of the Sudan. More than half of greenhouses had the arched system, most of them were covered by polyethylene, 69.7% of greenhouses were constructed in a single span, 72.7% had a single door, 76.3% of greenhouses had a height between 2.5 m to 3 m and 42.6% of them were 40 m long. Accordingly, an ideal greenhouse design is needed in which all the drawbacks and shortcomings are corrected to suit the arid conditions of central Sudan

Current status of tomato greenhouse production in Khartoum and Gezira States, Sudan.

Tomato production under protected cultivation has increased consistently in recent decades in the Sudan. The objective of this study was to investigate the current situation of tomato cultural practices in existing greenhouses in Khartoum and Gezira States. A survey was carried out using a questionnaire and interviews with greenhouse owners in Khartoum and Gezira States. Khartoum and Gezira States have about 68 greenhouse projects, 33 of them were selected for the study. Data were collected during 2013 and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Results indicated that a large number of introduced tomato cultivars were used for production and most of greenhouse farmers (48.5%) sow tomato seeds in mid-February. The majority of farmers (63.6%) grow tomato in high plant density (30cm). More than half of greenhouses (75.8 %) had no specific fertilizer programs. Most of the greenhouse farmers (90.9 %) prune weekly. All greenhouse farmers used pesticides for pest control. Our observations indicated that most of the growers failed to produce summer tomato. Accordingly, further research in tomato greenhouse production is needed

Expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Cytokeratin 18 and 19 in Placentas of Women with Severe Preeclampsia

BACKGROUND: Although the exact mechanism leading to preeclampsia is not fully understood, abnormal trophoblast invasion contributes to its pathogenesis. Keratins and cadherin are known to play roles in the regulation of trophoblast proliferation. However, studies describing the association between keratins, cadherin, and preeclampsia are limited. AIM: The current study was conducted to investigate the association of these proteins with severe preeclampsia in Sudanese women. METHODS: A case–control study was conducted at Madani Maternity Hospital, Sudan. The cases included women with severe preeclampsia (n = 56) and healthy pregnant women as controls (n = 56). The assessment of keratin and cadherin was performed using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in their mean age or parity. We found no significant differences in the expression of the markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, or cytokeratin 18 and 19 in the placentas from individuals with preeclampsia versus controls. The number of placentas with severe preeclampsia versus controls expressing the E-cadherin, N-cadherin, cytokeratin 18, and cytokeratin 19 markers was 46 (82.1%) versus 46 (82.1%) (p = 0.988), 54 (96.4%) versus 48 (85.7%) (p = 0.121), 4 (7.1%) versus 0 (0%) (p = 0.126), and 11 (19.6%) versus 11 (19.6%) (p = 0.532), respectively. There was also no significant difference in the intensity of staining of these four markers (Ecadherin, N-cadherin, and cytokeratin 18 and 19) between severe preeclampsia and control placentas. CONCLUSION: Together, these results indicate that in this setting, the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, CK18, and CK19 is not associated with severe preeclampsia