Reconstructing Development: Women at the Muqattam Zabbalin Settlement

Two studies of the informal garbage collectors\u27 community at the base of the Muqattam Hills in Cairo explore and comment on the impact of an institution-building program on leadership and participation and the impact of development programs on the women of the settlement.https://fount.aucegypt.edu/faculty_book_chapters/1959/thumbnail.jp

Spatiotemporal Variability: Process-Independent Analysis of Printing Uniformity

This work explores printing uniformity from a quality standpoint. The study proposes a conceptual framework, quantitative models and a testing method for the measurement and analysis of printing uniformity independent from the printing process and press design. The proposed framework encompasses construct and indicators concerning the printing accuracy and printing precision dimensions of uniformity. The proposed models are derived for each of the indicators in the framework comprising a cohesive set of device- and process-independent image quality metrics (IQMs) for benchmarking and evaluating the spatial-temporal uniformity of printing systems relative to standard industry tolerances. The proposed test method builds on prior efforts on the same topic and borrows from and improves upon related studies by various authors. Printing uniformity in this work is defined as the theoretical attribute that reflects the extent of variability for a given press. It has significant implications on a range of standards and specifications dealing with process control. This addresses a fundamental challenge in understanding variability in printing rather than focus on cause-effect relationships. The literature revealed that some aspects of the topic are underexplored with the majority of the works addressing either the spatial or temporal domains independently. Additionally, parallel publications were found with disparate terminologies, which made it hard to find clear definitions of concepts central to the topic. Five press tests were conducted following the proposed method to help refine the concepts and metrics. They included three presses, including offset lithography and electrophotography. The findings were inline with findings from related studies, showing similarities and differences between printing units, presses, and processes This work could serve as a template for exploring phenomena using the triple‑tiered approach for devising the concepts, models and methods. Future research on numerous printing systems across processes may provide great value in our understanding printing uniformity. Comprehensive testing across systems and processes creates opportunities for validating or refuting assumptions, which would ensure continuous improvement of quality control practices and ultimately better color consistency in printing

Diffusion of myosin V on microtubules

Organelle transport in eukaryotes employs both microtubule and actin tracks to deliver cargo effectively to their destinations, but the question of how the two systems cooperate is still largely unanswered. Recently, in vitro studies revealed that the actin-based processive motor myosin V also binds to, and diffuses along microtubules. This biophysical trick enables cells to exploit both tracks for the same transport process without switching motors. The detailed mechanisms underlying this behavior remain to be solved. By means of single molecule Total Internal Reflection Microscopy (TIRFM), we show here that electrostatic tethering between the positively charged loop 2 and the negatively charged C-terminal E-hooks of microtubules is dispensable. Furthermore, our data indicate that in addition to charge-charge interactions, other interaction forces such as non-ionic attraction might account for myosin V diffusion. These findings provide evidence for a novel way of myosin tethering to microtubules that does not interfere with other E-hook-dependent processes

Perceptions of The Culinary Art Community On Their Higher Education Programs in Egypt: The Way Forward

Culinary art education used to have a narrow focus that forgoes its richness and ignores its infiltration into economic, political, and cultural aspects within society. Recently the world witnessed an evolution in this field of study as it reached tertiary education institutions. However, in Egypt, culinary art studies are integrated into hospitality education and are still confined to a shallow concept. This study aimed to explore the perception of the culinary art community in Egypt on their higher education programs from a sociocultural perspective. It also explored the possible new frameworks, and core competencies to improve culinary arts higher education curricula in Egypt. The study used a qualitative research methodology based on a case study strategy for inquiry. Data were collected via focus group discussions, and individual interviews. Data analysis relied on a combination of deductive, and inductive approaches to classify the results under five main themes. The findings confirmed the literature review on many points like the social connotation of food, and the divided perception of the culinary arts’ higher education in Egypt between the traditional mindset that considers it a vocational field, and the emerging experts who see the potential of this field as an academic discipline based on scientific knowledge. Also, the gap in Egyptian higher education in culinary art was confirmed, the participants called for an education that promotes creativity, and innovation. The study proposed a multidisciplinary curriculum framework for culinary art higher education, to serve as guiding reference for the future development of this discipline

Improved strain measuring using fast strain-encoded cardiac MR

The strain encoding (SENC) technique encodes regional strain of the heart into the acquired MR images and produces two images with two different tunings so that longitudinal strain, on the short-axis view, or circumferential strain on the long-axis view, are measured. Interleaving acquisition is used to shorten the acquisition time of the two tuned images by 50%, but it suffers from errors in the strain calculations due to inter-tunings motion of the heart, which is the motion between two successive acquisitions. In this work, a method is proposed to correct for the inter-tunings motion by estimating the motion induced shift in the spatial frequency of the encoding pattern, which depends on the strain rate. Numerical data is generated to test the proposed method and real images of human subjects are used for validation The results show an improvement in strain calculations so as to relax the imaging constraints on spatial and temporal resolutions and improve image quality

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of some 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine, pyrimidine sulfonamides and sulfinyl derivatives

Several new substituted sulfonamides and sulfinyl compound derivatives were obtained by the reaction of 2-thioxo-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine and pyrimidine thiol derivatives with (2-chloromethyl)benzimidazole and/or (2-chloromethyl)benzooxazole. Structures of the newly synthesized products have been deduced on the basis of spectral and analytical data. The synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activity

Adenylatcyclasen Rv2435c und Rv2212c aus Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome has 15 open reading frames for class III adenylyl cyclases. Here I report on two structurally different ACs belonging to two different subclasses; the mammalian-like Rv2435c classified as class IIIa, and Rv2212c belonging to class IIIc. Rv2435c is unique in possessing an extracellular domain, two transmembrane helices as a membrane anchor and a C-terminal catalytic domain. Having four deviations from the canonical hexad in the catalytic centre raised theoretical questions concerning AC activity. Three different holoenzyme constructs were expressed and were mostly degraded. Both the catalytic domain and these unstable holoenzymes did not display enzymatic activity. Rv2212c is composed of two distinct protein modules; a C-terminal CHD and an N-terminal regulatory domain, the occurrence of which is restricted to several adenylyl cyclases present in Gram-positive bacteria including the mycobacterial Rv1264. All six amino acids annotated to be participating in catalysis are conserved. The expressed CHD was shown to function as a homodimer. Its specific activity (3.1µmol cAMP mg-1 min-1) and Vmax were high compared to other mycobacterial ACs, whereas substrate affinity was quite low. GC activity was absent. The holoenzyme had a specific activity 4.5-fold lower than the CHD, arguing against the idea of an autoinhibitory N-terminal domain. Also the function of a pH-sensing N-terminal domain was excluded as both CHD and holoenzyme demonstrated a pH-optimum at pH 6.5. Nevertheless the N-terminal domain had a role in dimerization and enzyme stabilization. Unsaturated FAs (arachidonic, oleic and linoleic) caused a significant stimulation of the enzyme by increasing its substrate affinity but without altering Vmax and conferring an increased pH-sensitivity to the protein. The effect of the FAs did not only involve the N-terminal domain because the CHD was similarly affected but to a much lesser extent. In particular, a pH-regulation in presence of FAs was not shown for the CHD, which makes the regulatory role played by the N-terminal domain in presence of FAs more relevant. Deciphering the molecular structure of this protein is required to be able to figure out how the FAs exert these effects and how exactly they interact with the enzyme.Das Genom von M. tuberculosis enthält 15 Klasse III Adenylatcyclasen. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden zwei Adenylatcyclasen mit unterschiedlichen strukturellen Eigenschaften untersucht: die Mammalia-ähnliche Rv2435c aus Klasse IIIa und Rv2212c aus Klasse IIIc. Rv2435c ist die einzige mycobakterielle AC, die aus einer extrazellulären Domäne, zwei transmembranären Helices als Membrananker und einer C-terminalen katalytischen Domäne (CHD) besteht. Sie besitzt vier Abweichungen von den sechs kanonischen Aminosäuren im katalytischen Zentrum, was theoretische Fragen über die AC Aktivität aufgeworfen hat. Drei verschiedene Holoenzym-Konstrukte wurden exprimiert. Allerdings wurden größtenteils Abbruchprodukte gebildet. Sowohl die katalytische Domäne, als auch diese instabilen Holoenzyme zeigten keine enzymatische Aktivität. Rv2212c besteht aus zwei unterschiedlichen Domänen, einer C-terminalen CHD und einer N-terminalen regulatorischen Domäne, die auch in anderen Adenylatcyclasen aus Gram-positiven Bakterien (Rv1264 inbegriffen) gefunden wurde. Alle sechs kanonischen Aminosäuren sind konserviert. Die exprimierte CHD funktioniert als Homodimer. Ihre spezifische Aktivität (3.1µmol cAMP mg-1 min-1) und Vmax waren hoch im Vergleich zu anderen mycobakteriellen Adenylatcyclasen, die Substrataffinität war allerdings gering. GC Aktivität wurde nicht gefunden. Die spezifische Aktiviät des Holoenzyms war 4,5-fach niedriger als die der CHD, was gegen eine mögliche autoinhibitorische Funktion der N-terminalen Domäne spricht. Auch eine Funktion als pH-Sensor kann ausgeschlossen werden, da CHD und Holoenzym ihr pH-Optimum bei pH 6,5 haben. Dennoch spielt die N-terminale Domäne eine Rolle bei der Dimerisierung und der Enzymstabilität. Ungesättigte Fettsäuren (Arachidonsäure, Ölsäure und Linolsäure) stimulierten das Enzym signifikant durch eine Erhöhung der Substrataffinität aber ohne eine Änderung von Vmax und verliehen dem Protein eine hohe pH-Empfindlichkeit. Diese Effekte betreffen allerdings nicht nur die N-terminale Domäne, denn auch die CHD wurde durch die Fettsäuren stimuliert in geringerem Ausmaß. Die Tatsache, dass eine pH-Regulation durch die CHD in Anwesenheit der Fettsäuren nicht beobachtet werden konnten, spricht für die Bedeutung der N-terminalen Domäne bei der Regulation in Gegenwart von Fettsäuren. Durch die Aufklärung der molekularen Struktur des Proteins könnten der Einfluss der Fettsäuren und die Interaktionen mit dem Protein genauer untersucht werden

Effect of Low Mixing Speed on the Properties of Prolonged Mixed Concrete

The mixing process of concrete consists of dispersing the constituent ingredients (i.e. cement, admixtures, sand, and gravel) in water to homogeneous and solid product. The properties of the final product depend on mixing parameters such as mixing time and mixing speed. Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC) should be mixed for a long time with limited speed until delivered to the working site. This long time depends on long transport distances and traffic conditions. The present study investigated the effects of long mixing time on the properties of concrete without any change in its proportions during the mixing process and the effects of using the chemical admixtures: super plasticizers and retarders on its effectiveness, using a drum batch mixer. It has two directions of rotation: one for mixing concrete and the other for discharging it. This research identified concrete mixtures with local available materials i.e. cement, sand as fine aggregates, dolomite as coarse aggregates, water and chemical admixtures. Mixtures were prepared with the same cement and water content with constant sand to dolomite ratio with different dosages of chemical admixtures. Chemical admixtures were used to keep concrete flow during mixing. Mixtures were prepared with low mixing speed 1rpm for identified long mixing times more than 90 minutes from adding water to other components Slump and compressive tests were used as measurement tools of fresh and hardened concrete Retempering with extra water or chemical admixtures was prevented through mixing, so mixtures were extracted without target slump value. Findings showed that low mixing speeds made mixtures more effective for long times, the exceeding mixing time led to minimize water to cement ratio due to reduction of water content, and there was an inverse relationship between slump flow and compressive strength in case of no re-tempering. Therefore, slump flow of mixtures decreased by time, but on the other hand, compressive strength enhanced i.e. stiffening took place. The present study proved that the properties of the final product depends on mixing parameters such as mixing time and mixing speed, and that Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC) would be more effective if mixed for a long time with limited speed until transported to the work site. In addition, chemical admixtures with prolonged mixed concrete should be used to improve workability rather than compressive strength