Opportunities for Producing Table Grapes in Egypt for the Export Market: A Decision Case Study

The Barakat Fruit Farm desires to increase their share of the exportable grape market in Egypt. Unfortunately, the grape cultivars currently cultivated by the farm bear fruit after the early market window to the European Union when prices are high. An analysis of the company, competition, consumer, market channel, and conditions, provides insight into possible solutions to the challenges faced by the farm management. Designed for undergraduate classroom use, this case encourages students to think outside of traditional production techniques to arrive at solutions that are viable from both crop culture and financial standpoints.Decision case, horticulture, agriculture economics, grape production, Production Economics, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, Q10, Q11,

Determinants of the adaption of organic agriculture in Egypt using a duration analysis technique

Postprint (published version

Coagulopathy in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia: A retrospective case-control study

Background Newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are at risk for coagulopathy due to systemic oxygen deprivation. Additionally, therapeutic hypothermia (TH) slows enzymatic activity of the coagulation cascade, leading to constitutive prolongation of routinely assessed coagulation studies. The level of laboratory abnormality that predicts bleeding is unclear, leading to varying transfusion therapy practices. Methods HIE infants treated with TH between 2008–2012 were included in this retrospective study. Initial, minimum (min) and maximum (max) values of International Normalized Ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen (Fib) and platelet (PLT) count (measured twice daily during TH) were collected. Bleeding was defined as clinically significant if associated with 1) decreased hemoglobin (Hb) by 2 g/dL in 24 hours, 2) transfusion of blood products for hemostasis, or 3) involvement of a critical organ system. Laboratory data between the bleeding group (BG) and non-bleeding group (NBG) were compared. Variables that differed significantly between groups were evaluated with Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) analyses to determine cut-points to predict bleeding. Results Laboratory and bleeding data were collected from a total of 76 HIE infants with a mean (±SD) birthweight of 3.34 ± 0.67 kg and gestational age of 38.6 ± 1.9 wks. BG included 41 infants. Bleeding sites were intracranial (n = 13), gastrointestinal (n = 19), pulmonary (n = 18), hematuria (n = 11) or other (n = 1). There were no differences between BG and NBG in baseline characteristics (p \u3e 0.05). Both groups demonstrated INR and aPTT values beyond the acceptable reference ranges utilized for full tem newborns. BG had higher initial and max INR, initial aPTT, and lower min PLT and min Fib compared to NBG. ROC analyses revealed that platelet count \u3c130 \u3e× 109/L, fib level2 discriminated BG from NBG. Conclusions Laboratory evidence of coagulopathy is universal in HIE babies undergoing TH. Transfusion strategies to maintain PLT counts \u3e130 × 109/L, fib level \u3e1.5 g/L, and INRpopulation

Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in ulcerative colitis patients in Jordan and its relationship to patient-reported disease activity

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to the general population. We aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients with ulcerative colitis and correlation to disease activity. In this cross-sectional study, we collected data from 70 consecutive ulcerative colitis patients over one year at our inflammatory bowel disease outpatient clinic through an interview and a questionnaire containing patient demographics and disease characteristics. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were characterized using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively, with ulcerative colitis disease severity assessed by the Partial Mayo scoring system. The majority of our patients were females (68.6%) and the mean age was 39.3 years. Rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms among ulcerative colitis patients were 65.7% and 58.6%, respectively. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with patient-reported disease activity (r = 0.361; p = 0.010). Significant percentages of ulcerative colitis patients were appreciated to have anxiety and depressive symptoms, and there was a correlation between patient-reported disease activity and depressive symptoms. At this high rate of prevalence, it is justified to screen patients for the presence of psychiatric comorbidities