SUMMARY: Sex estimation is an essential step in personal identification and a cornerstone for developing biological profile from skeletal remains. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of maxillary arch widths and lengths as unique parameters in the estimation of sex in Egyptian populations. Maxillary arch measurements were collected from 1410 subjects where palatal impressions were obtained from each participant. Fourteen maxillary inter-teeth widths and lengths that excluded teeth dimensions were included The current study revealed that among the studied population, Egyptian men showed significant differences (p<0.05) in all measurements, except widths related to the second molar, inter-second premolar length, and mesial inter-second molar length. Most of the significant sex predictors were related to the first molar. The distal inter-first molar length is the best sex predictor with the highest Area Under Curve =0.771, at the cut-off value >34.57 mm, it could predict the sex with sensitivity of 69.8 %, specificity of 58.8 % and p<0.05. The first molar could be considered as one of the most valid and reliable teeth in estimating sex in Egyptian populations. These measurements may be used as a reference in different populations in cases of mass disaster or relevant events.

RESUMEN: La estimación del sexo es un aspecto esencial en la identificación personal para desarrollar el perfil biológico a partir de restos óseos. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el papel del ancho y longitud del arco maxilar como parámetros únicos en la estimación del sexo en poblaciones egipcias. Se obtuvieron medidas del arco maxilar de 1410 sujetos, además de las impresiones palatinas de cada participante. El estudio actual reveló que entre la población estudiada, los hombres egipcios mostraron diferencias significativas (p <0.05) en todas las medidas, excepto en el ancho relacionado con el segundo molar, longitud entre el segundo premolar y longitud entre segundo molar mesial. La mayoría de los predicciones significativas de sexo se relacionaron con el primer molar. La longitud interprimer molar distal es el mejor predictor de sexo con el Área Bajo Curva más alta = 0,771, en el valor de corte > 34,57 mm, podría predecir el sexo con sensibilidad de 69,8 %, especificidad de 58,8 % y p <0,05. El primer molar podría considerarse como uno de los dientes más confiables para estimar el sexo en las poblaciones egipcias. Estas mediciones se pueden utilizar como referencia en diferentes poblaciones en casos de desastres masivos o eventos relevantes.

ABSTRACT The study aimed to explore the effect of dietary supplementation of synbiotics on growth performance, carcass characteristics and nutrient digestibility in broiler chicken. For this purpose, three hundred 1-day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were purchased from the hatchery and randomly distributed into five dietary treatment groups. Each treatment had six replicates, each containing 10 chicks. The experimental diets were supplemented with 0, 700, 1200, 1700 or 2200 g/ton of feed synbiotics and respectively designated as A, B, C, D and E, with A being the control diet. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio data were recorded on a weekly basis. At the research trial’s end, two birds from each pen were randomly selected and slaughtered to get data on carcass characteristics. Results showed that group C’s feed intake was reduced (p<0.05) when compared to control. Body weight was similar (p>0.05) among all treatments. However, feed conversion ratio was significantly improved (p<0.05) in group C as compared to other dietary treatments. Nutrient digestibility was improved (p<0.05) in group B and C, as compared to control. Carcass characteristics were not significantly affected and remained the same across all treatments. However, liver weight decreased in birds fed diet C. Meat quality and antibody titer were not affected in any of the dietary treatments. It is concluded that synbiotics can be safely used up to 1200 g/ton of feed, improving bird performance without harmful effects on bird health.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of dietary selenium (Se) supplementation on egg morphometric and quality traits in Aseel chicken. In total, 84 adult molted Aseel hens, comprising 4 varieties (Lakha, Mushki, Peshawari, and Mianwali), were divided into 3 dietary treatments (organic at 0.30 ppm, inorganic at 0.30 ppm, and without selenium) with 7 replicates (1 bird in each) under randomized complete block design. Data were analyzed using factorial ANOVA and means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results indicated greater egg length in Mushki and Mianwali, lower egg breadth in Lakha, the highest (p≤0.05) egg volume and surface area in Mianwali, and higher shape index in Lakha and Peshawari. Lakha had the highest Haugh unit and lower eggshell thickness with and without membrane than the other three varieties. Interaction of Se sources and Aseel varieties exhibited the highest (p≤0.05) egg volume and surface area in Mianwali variety when fed on organic Se supplemented diet. Similarly, the interaction showed the highest eggshell thickness with membrane in Peshawari and without membrane in Mianwali when fed on inorganic Se supplemented diet. From the findings, it can be concluded that egg physical characteristics of Mianwali variety hens can be improved by the supplementation of Se-enriched yeast, as an organic Se source, in the diet.

ABSTRACT The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of supplementation of an exogenous emulsifier (lyso-phospholipid) in the diet of growing broilers on growth performance and digestibility. A total of 1224 Ross-308 ten day old broiler chicks were distributed into two experimental treatments in such a way that each treatment had twelve replicates with fifty-one birds per replicate. Two experimental diets were formulated with and without emulsifier supplementation according to the nutrition standards of Ross 308. Feed intake and body weight gain of the broilers were measured on a daily basis and feed conversion ratio was also calculated. Nutrient digestibility was determined on the 25th day of age. Analysis of variance under completely randomized design technique was used to analyze the data. Feed intake was increased (p<0.05) by supplementation of emulsifier in the broiler diet on theat 12th, 13th, 21th, 22th, 23th, 24th, and 25th days. Bodyweight gain was not affected (p>0.05) with or without emulsifier supplementation in the broiler diet during 11-25 days of life. However, feed conversion ratio was effected (p<0.05) by emulsifier supplementation and increased from days 21-25th. Nutrient digestibility (dry matter, fat, and crude protein) in the grower phase was decreased (p<0.05) by supplementation of emulsifier in the diet. It can be concluded that supplementation of an exogenous emulsifier in the diet did not show positive effect on the growth performance during the grower phase of broilers, while nutrient digestibility showed adverse effect. Emulsifier supplementation should be tested after 25 days of the life of broilers.

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to check the effect of emulsifier supplementation on growth performance of broiler birds on starter phase, from days 1 to 10. In the current study, a total of twelve hundred twenty-four Ross 308 broiler one day old chicks were used. Ross 308 broiler chicks were divided into two groups in such a way that each group had12 replicates, and each replicate had 51 birds. The duration of the current trial was of 10 days. Chicks were fed experimental diets with or without emulsifier supplementation. Daily feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio and nutrient digestibility were recorded. Mortality was recorded on a daily basis, and feed intake was also corrected for mortality. Data collected from the experiment was interpreted by using analysis of variance method using SPSSTM under Completely Randomized Design. Results showed that emulsifier supplementation improved (p<0.05) feed intake in broiler birds on the 2nd, 6th, 7th and 9th days of the starter phase. Furthermore, emulsifier supplementation (p<0.05) affected the body weight on the 3rd and 10th day of the trial. Emulsifier supplementation also affected (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio on the 10th day of the trial. However, nutrient digestibility was not affected by the supplementation of emulsifier in the diet of broiler chicks. Results showed that emulsifier supplementation should be started on day 10.

Abstract Background: Falls in elderly people can lead to serious health problems. There is limited knowledge about the prevalence of falls, risk factors and causes of falls in the United Arab Emirates. Objective: To assess the prevalence of falls among older adults aged 60 years and above and to determine the risk factors associated with falls. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous, 20-item questionnaire which was developed in English and Arabic to be delivered as a semi-structured interview. The pre-piloted questionnaire was distributed to 510 families with at least one elderly person. The study was conducted in Sharjah and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from September to November 2017. Results: Participants were Arabs (368; 99.5%), living with family (339; 91.6%), females (256; 69.2%), married (240; 64.9%), holders of a university Bachelor’s degree (110; 29.7%), and unemployed (154; 41.6%). Almost half of the participants (188; 50.8%) had a fall in the past two years, and three quarters (141; 75%) of those claimed that their illness was the reason for their fall. The results indicate that female and 70 years and above old participants are more likely to experience falls than males and younger counterparts respectively. A larger proportion of elderly participants not taking medications did not experience falls, while those on 1-4 medications fallers were less than non-fallers. However as the number of medications increased to 5-8 and more than 8 the number of those experiencing falls was significantly higher than non-fallers. Conclusions: Falls are prevalent among the elderly population studied and efforts should be made to decrease the incidence of falls, identify those at risk and increase awareness about falls and their health consequences among the elderly and the general public.

In the present study conditions were optimized for the development and validation of a simple, sensitive and isocratic reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of ezetimibe and lovastatin in human plasma using gemfibrozil as internal standard. After a single step extraction with acetonitrile, satisfactory elution of both the analytes along with internal standard was achieved on a Merck C-18 column using a mixture of 0.1 M ammonium acetate pH 5.0 and acetonitrile in the ratio of (28:72, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min. The detection was carried out at a wavelength of 240 nm using a photodiode array detector. The method was linear in the concentration range of 0.2-25 |xg/ml for ezetimibe and 0.4-50 |xg/ml for lovastatin. The extraction recovery of analytes was greater than 85 % and within day and between day precision was also satisfactory. The method was validated by performing its linearity, recovery, precision, LOD/LOQ values and stability of solutions. The total eluting time for the analysis is less than twelve minutes. As the plasma peaks did not interfere with the peaks of analytes so the method can be used for the determination of ezetimibe and lovastatin in human plasma and may possibly be for the pharmacokinetic study.