ABSTRACT Understanding of N mineralization dynamics of frequently available organic amendments in the tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) ecosystem has greater importance in land restoration. Hence, this study focused on assessing the effects of organic amendments on N mineralization and soil quality improvement in tea growing soil. Garden compost (CMP), Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.)) leaves (GLI), charged tea waste biochar (CBC), tea waste (TW), and tea waste biochar without charging (RBC) were incubated with soil at a rate of 186 mg N kg-1. Incubated soils were analyzed periodically for soil pH, available NO3 --N, NH4 +-N, soil P, and S for 120-d. Microbial biomass C (MBC), protease, urease, phosphatase, and dehydrogenase activities were determined at the end of the incubation. All amendments showed different N mineralization patterns. Gliricidia, CMP, and TW released N by 94%, 43%, and 24%, respectively. Gliricidia showed the highest peak of NH4 +-N after 21-d incubation, depicting rapid ammonification. Charged BC and RBC showed N immobilization throughout the incubation period, which finally amounted to 12% and 17%, respectively. Gliricidia showed 0.79 mg d-1 maximum N mineralization rate and 150 mg kg-1 total mineralizable N. The N mineralization was sequenced as GLI > CMP > TW > CBC > RBC. All amendments showed more than 45% increase in MBC, where Gliricidia gave the highest (146%) compared to the control. Application of CBC promotes all enzyme activities by > 90% over control. In conclusion, GLI meets the immediate plant N requirement, and CBC significantly improves the degraded soil quality.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of adding two different chlorohexidine derivatives; chlorhexidine hexametaphosphate and chlorhexidine digluconate to glass ionomer at three different concentrations (0.25%, 0.75%and 1.5%) regarding the antibacterial effect, chlorhexidine release and fluoride release. Methods: A total of 405 specimens were prepared and tested after 7 days, 3 months and 6 months of storage in distilled water (n=5).For testing antibacterial effect, chlorhexidine release and fluoride release, the mix was packed in a ready-made Split Teflon molds to obtain disc-shaped specimen with dimensions 10 mm in diameter and 2 mm thickness according to ISO standardizations. One-way ANOVA and One-way repeated measure ANOVA test were used for statistical analysis of data. Results: The incorporation of chlorhexidine into ChemFil Superior glass ionomer cement in both derivatives has high significance ability to provide a long-term antimicrobial effect on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillius acidophilus. The chlorhexidine release was increased by adding chlorhexidine in both derivatives to GIC than the unmodified Glass-ionomer cement for study duration. However, the fluoride release was decreased in the modified specimens than the original one. Conclusion: Addition of chlorhexidine enhanced the antibacterial effect of the glass ionomer and chlorhexidine release. However, fluoride release was reduced than original

Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), a protein derived from the MC4R gene, is involved in feed intake, metabolism control, and body weight regulation in humans. The purpose of this research was to explore MC4R polymorphisms alongside metabolic marker changes and their relationship with growth and carcass measurements in rabbits. Using synthetic line V (V-line) and Baladi Black rabbit breeds (60 rabbits per breed), blood samples were collected for DNA extraction and biochemical analysis. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of MC4R (493 bp) revealed five nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; submitted to GenBank with accession numbers gb|MT832144|, gb|MT832145|, and gb|MT832146|). Four SNPs were characteristic of the V-line breed, and one was characteristic of the Baladi Black. For classification of the defined SNP-dependent groups within and between breeds, a discriminant analysis model correctly classified a percentage of cases with the following predictor variables: 90.8% for body weight at 5-14 weeks of age; 85% for feed consumption, daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio; and 93.3% for carcass measurements (for which hind part weight, liver weight, and liver percentage were the best predictors in both breeds). There were significant differences between and within V-line and Baladi Black breeds in agreement with metabolic biochemical marker profiles and the defined SNPs. The identified SNPs in the MC4R gene and profile of the investigated metabolic biomarkers could be used as candidates and reference for the effective characterization of the two rabbit breeds. This study could therefore facilitate the introduction of marker-assisted selection for growth performance characteristics in rabbits.

Abstract Two carbon paste electrodes for oxymetazoline hydrochloride were constructed based on ion pair complexes of this drug, with sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) or ammonium reineckate, using dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate as solvent mediators, respectively. The developed electrodes displayed a fast, stable response over the concentration range from 3.98x10-5 to 1x10-2 M oxymetazoline hydrochloride, with a near-nernstian slope of 59.0, 58.2 mV of concentration decade-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.31x10-5 and 3.72x10-5 M, in the oxymetazoline-tetraphenylborate and oxymetazoline-reineckate cases, respectively. The developed electrodes have been successfully applied for oxymetazoline hydrochloride determination in the Afrin nasal drop pharmaceutical formulation.

Abstract The current project deals with designing and synthesizing of colorimetric chemosensors to detect the cations in the aqueous medium and biological sample. To achieve this goal a new series of quinazolinone derivatives were synthesized via reaction of the novel 6-nitro-2-propyl-4H- benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (3) with selected nitrogen nucleophiles, namely, formamide, hydrazine hydrate, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, O-phenylendiamine, O-aminophenol and O-aminothiophenol, urea and/or thiourea. Structures of the new compounds have been investigated depending on their spectral data (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS) and elemental analyses. Some of the newly synthesized products exhibited a significant response as chemosensors for some cations detection. The synthesized chemosensors 11a and 11b showed high-selectivity and specificity towards cooper (CuII) and mercury (HgII) cations detection through exhibiting colormetric responses. Chemosensors 7 and 10 b showed high selectivity toward cadmium (CdII) cation, whilst other examined compounds (9b, c, 10a, 12, 13, and 14) did not exhibit colorimetric response in all cation's samples.

Resumen En el presente proyecto se diseñan y sintetizan quimiosensores colorimétricos para detectar los cationes en el medio acuoso y en la muestra biológica. Para lograr este objetivo se sintetizó una nueva serie de derivados de quinazolinona mediante la reacción de la 6-nitro-2-propil-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-ona (3) con nucleófilos nitrogenados seleccionados, a saber, formamida, hidrato de hidracina, clorhidrato de hidroxilamina, O- fenilendiamina, O -aminofenol y O-aminotiofenol, urea y/o tiourea. Las estructuras de los nuevos compuestos se han comprobado en función de sus datos espectrales (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR y MS) y de los análisis elementales. Algunos de los nuevos productos sintetizados mostraron una respuesta significativa como quimiosensores para la detección de algunos cationes. Los quimiosensores sintetizados 11a y 11b mostraron una alta selectividad y especificidad hacia la detección de los cationes cobre (Cu II) y mercurio (Hg II) al mostrar respuestas colormétricas. Los quimiosensores 7 y 10b mostraron una alta selectividad hacia el catión cadmio (Cd II), mientras que otros compuestos examinados (9b, c, 10a, 12, 13 y 14) no mostraron respuesta colorimétrica con los cationes investigados.

Abstract This work is meant to investigate and control the nonlinear dynamical behaviours of a nonlinear asymmetric rotating shaft system. The studied system is modeled as a nonlinear dynamical system having both quadratic and cubic nonlinearities and excited at the primary resonance. A linear proportional-derivative controller is introduced to eliminate the nonlinear behaviours and to suppress the lateral vibrations of the rotating shaft. The influences of different control parameters on the oscillatory behaviours of the considered system are explored. The main obtained analytical results showed that the uncontrolled shaft may respond with forward and backward whirling motion. However, the proposed controller illustrated its feasibility in eliminating the nonlinear behaviours of the studied system and forcing it to behave like the linear systems. Moreover, the obtained results confirmed that the proportional control gain plays a dominant role in destabilizing the studied rotor system. Finally, the safe operation of the studied system with avoiding the rub-impact force occurrence is discussed.

An experimental field trial was conducted at El-Ayat, El-Giza Governorate, Egypt (latitude 30°11"I3"N, longitude 31°41'38"E, and mean altitude 74 m above sea level) during the growing season of 2017 and 2018. The study aimed to assess the suitable irrigation interval and applied water volume for drip-irrigated green beans, based on water production functions and water use-yield relationships. The field trial was arranged in a split-plot design with 3 irrigation intervals (F1, F2 and F3 irrigation events, once every 1, 2 and 3 days, respectively) and 3 irrigation regimes (I1: 1.00, I2: 0.80, and I3: 0.60 of the crop evapotranspiration, ETc). The results showed that the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) increased with increasing irrigation interval. Maximum and minimum yield of 12 030 and 4 879 kg-ha-1 were obtained in F1I2 and F3I3 treatment, respectively, in the winter season of 2017, and were 12 364 and 4 678 kg-ha-1 for the corresponding treatments in the winter season of 2018. WUE ranged from 56.55 kg-ha-1-mm-1 in F1I2 to 23.80 kg-ha-1-mm-1 in F3I3. Plant growth parameters were significantly affected by the irrigation schedule. The highest plant growth parameters were obtained under F1 and F2. The seasonal yield response factors (k y) were 0.845 and 0.856 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The relationship between yield and seasonal crop ET was best explained by a power function for all irrigation schedules for both growing seasons. It is recommended that the F1I2 irrigation treatment is the suitable one for green beans grown under field conditions, in order to achieve the highest yield and WUE.

Resumo Diospyros kaki L. ou Costata é a principal variedade de caqui progressivamente consumida no mercado e exportação egípcia. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos bioprotetores do extrato alcoólico de frutos e folhas de D. kaki utilizando modelos de ratos “in vivo”. Extratos de éter de petróleo provenientes de frutos e folhas foram caracterizados analiticamente para compostos saponificáveis e insaponificáveis por GC/MS. Os principais flavonoides foram isolados cromatograficamente, a partir de 80% de extrato aquoso de folhas de metanol. Foi realizada avaliação química de frutos e folhas, ou seja, de teor de umidade, cinzas, proteínas, ácidos graxos, aminoácidos, vitaminas lipossolúveis e solúveis em água, minerais, carotenoides. Foi caracterizada a atividade antioxidante, utilizando ensaio (DPPH). O efeito nos parâmetros bioquímicos e sua atividade biológica também foram analisados. Os resultados revelaram a identificação dos principais compostos saponificáveis e insaponificáveis de frutos e folhas. Escopoletina, bem como kaempferol, luteolina, rutina e apigenina 7-O-glicosídeo foram isolados e identificados. Também demonstraram que esta planta pode proporcionar um bom valor nutricional e é segura em relação às funções renais e hepáticas, boa fonte que ajuda a melhorar a defesa antioxidante contra os radicais livres. Não foram encontrados efeitos anormais no perfil lipídico em testes em animais, e houve um efeito satisfatório na relação de colesterol HDL e LDL. Além disso, esta planta pode ajudar na otimização do açúcar no sangue, aumentando o nível de hemoglobina. Conclui-se que o D. kaki apresenta uma boa fonte de nutrientes e de compostos bioativos que contribuem para seus benefícios terapêuticos e contra o risco de complicações de doenças.

Abstract Diospyros kaki L. or Costata cultivar is the main persimmon variety progressively consumed in the Egyptian market and exportation. The objective of this study was to investigate the bioprotective effects of the alcoholic extract of fruits as well as leaves of D. kaki using in-vivo rat models. Petroleum ether extracts of fruits and leaves were analytically characterized for saponifiable and unsaponifiable compounds by GC/MS. Main flavonoids were chromatographically isolated from 80% aqueous methanol extract of leaves. Chemical evaluation for fruits and leaves namely, content of moisture, ash, proteins, fatty acids, amino acids, fat and water soluble vitamins, minerals, carotenoids was carried out. Total antioxidant activity was determined by radical scavenging effects using DPPH assay. The effect on biochemical parameters and its biological activity were also performed. Results revealed the identification of the major compounds of saponifiable and unsaponifiable matters of fruits and leaves. Scopoletin, as well as, kaempferol, luteolin, rutin and apigenin 7-O-glucoside were isolated and identified. It showed that this plant can provide a good nutritional value and it is safe regarding the kidney and liver functions, good source that help in enhancing the antioxidant defense against free radicals. No abnormal effects were found in lipids profile on experimental animals and there were good results in the ratio of HDL and LDL cholesterol. Also, this plant can help in optimizing blood sugar, enhancing the level of blood haemoglobin. It is concluded that D. kaki displays a good source of nutrients and bioactive compounds that may contribute to its therapeutic benefits against the risk of disease complications.

Abstract: In this paper, the estimation of the stress-strength model R = P(Y < X), based on lower record values is derived when both X and Y are independent and identical random variables with geometric distribution. Estimating R with maximum likelihood estimator and Bayes estimator with non-informative prior information based on mean square errors and LINIX loss functions for geometric distribution are obtained. The confidence intervals of R are constructed by using exact, bootstrap and Bayesian methods. Finally, different methods have been used for illustrative purpose by using simulation. The main results are obtained and introduced through a set of tables and figures with discussions.

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the consequences of dietary levels of crude protein (CP) and total sulfur amino acids (TSAA, Met+Cys) on productive performance, egg quality and egg components for Lohmann Brown laying hens through 18-34 weeks of age. A 2×3 factorial design experiment was conducted using two levels of CP (16 and 18 %) and three levels of Met+ Cys (0.67, 0.72 and 0.77 %). A total of 144 Lohmann Brown laying hens at 18 weeks of age were randomly divided into 6 treatment groups. The best values of final body weight and body weight change were recorded by the hens fed 18 % CP diet. Increasing dietary CP up to 18 % accompanied with the best (P> 0.01) feed conversion, egg weight and egg mass. The combination between low-CP diet (16 %) and 0.72 % Met+ Cys gave the best percentage of egg production. The majority of egg quality traits were not significantly altered by dietary treatments. The interaction between CP and Met+Cys levels had a statistical (P>0.01) impact on egg content of moisture and total solids only. It could be concluded that the best production criteria could be obtained by using 0.72% Met+Cys. Moreover, dietary level of 16 or 18 % CP with 0.72% Met+Cys is recommended for feeding Lohmann hens.

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in various cellular and pathological processes. Two lncRNAs, myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), may be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, we aimed to determine the relative circulating levels of MIAT and MALAT1 in 110 stable CAD patients and 117 controls and to correlate their levels with the clinical and laboratory data. Peripheral blood expression levels were quantified by Real-Time qPCR. The median MIAT expression level in CAD patients was significantly 12-fold higher than controls (p<0.001). Otherwise, the median MALAT1 expression level was comparable in patient and control groups. Both lncRNAs showed significantly higher relative expression levels in patients with positive history of previous cardiac ischemic events, and MIAT showed significantly higher expression in diabetic CAD patients. The area under the curve of MIAT (0.888 ± 0.02 with sensitivity 95.5% and specificity 72.7%), was significantly larger than that of MALAT1 (0.601 ± 0.04 with sensitivity 50% and specificity 63.6%) for detecting the presence of significant CAD. The current findings suggest that lncRNA MIAT could have a diagnostic significance in CAD patients. MALAT1 levels, however, are not sufficiently reliable to have much clinical use in our cases.

BACKGROUND: The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak exposed the poor laboratory systems in Sierra Leone. Immense needs were recognised across all areas, from facilities, diagnostic capacity, supplies, trained personnel to quality assurance mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the first year of a comprehensive intervention, which started in 2015, in a public hospital's general laboratory serving a population of over 500 000 in a rural district METHODS: The intervention focused on (1) supporting local authorities and healthcare workers in policy implementation and developing procedures to enhance access to services, (2) addressing gaps by investing in infrastructure, supplies, and equipment, (3) development of quality assurance mechanisms via mentorship, bench-side training, and the introduction of quality control and information systems. All work was performed alongside counterparts from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. RESULTS: We observed a strong increase in patient visits and inpatient and outpatient testing volumes. Novel techniques and procedures were taken up well by staff, leading to improved and expanded service and safety, laying foundations for further improvements. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive approach was successful and the results suggest an increase in trust from patients and healthcare workers.

Understanding the knowledge and perceptions of veterinary students of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as potential future prescribers of antimicrobials may serve as an opportunity to improve stewardship of AMR. Pre-final (n = 42) and final (n = 29) year veterinary students of the University of Pretoria completed questionnaires to determine their knowledge and perceptions of AMR. Of the 71 respondents, mixed practice (48%) and small animal practice (45%) were the most preferred career choices post-graduation, with the field of gross pathology being the least preferred. Over 80% of the respondents believed that veterinary practitioners' misuse of antimicrobials contributes to AMR and a higher percentage (98.6%) believed that farmers' misuse of antimicrobials encourages the development of AMR, in particular, in food animals (60.6%) compared to companion animals (50.7%). Agreement in the ranking of abuse of antimicrobials between pre-final and final year students was fair (36.4%; kappa 0.3), and the most abused antimicrobials in descending order listed by the students were tetracyclines, penicillins, sulphonamides and aminoglycosides. There was wide disparity between training and potential field application, as well as variations in the correct matching of antimicrobials to their respective antibiotic classes. Responses to the clinical application of antimicrobials also varied widely. Despite the apparent teaching of AMR to veterinary students, gaps may exist in the translation of theoretical concepts to clinical applications, hence the need for focused and targeted antimicrobial prescription and stewardship training to bridge these potential identified gaps.

The purpose of the current investigation was to describe the gill morphology of two bottom feeders Mediterranean Sea fishes: Striped red mullet fish (M. surmuletus) and grey gurnard fish (E. gurnardus) that showed the same feeding habits. The gill system of the grey gurnard consisted of four pairs of gill arches while consisted of three pairs of gill arches in the striped red mullet. Our study focused on the scanning electron microscopical (SEM) features of the gills, where some differences in the gill arches and gill rakers surface in both species were observed. Our results marked that there was an interbranchial septum carrying a four transverse elevated crest in grey gurnard while in striped red mullet carrying a median longitudinal elevated crest. There are some similar structure on the gill arch of two fishes as; no angle between a ceratobranchial part and epibranchial part and also the gill arch has a region of many longitudinal microridges demarcated the region between gill rakers and gill filaments. By SEM, in striped red mullet, the smooth surface of gill arch and gill rakers was characterized by the presence of high number of taste buds. By SEM in grey gurnard, gill raker appeared as a round short projected body with high number of curved apex spines. Furthermore, in striped red mullet, gill raker appeared as short projected body with high number of rod-like spines. Gill filaments were long at middle and short at extremities of gill arch in both species.

El propósito de este trabajo fue describir la morfología de las branquias de dos peces que se alimentan en el fondo del mar Mediterráneo: Gurnard grises (E. gurnardus) y salmonete rojo rayado (M. surmuletus) los cuales mostraron los mismos hábitos alimenticios. El sistema de branquias del E. gurnardus gris consiste en cuatro pares de arcos branquiales, mientras que en el salmonete rayado son tres pares. El estudio se centró en la observación de las características de las branquias por microscopía electrónica de barrido (MEB), donde se visualizaron algunas diferencias en ambas especies tanto en los arcos branquiales, como en la superficie de las ramas branquiales. Nuestros resultados marcaron la presencia de un septum interbranchial que presentaba cuatro crestas elevadas a nivel transversal en el E. gurnardus gris, mientras que el salmonete rayado presentaba una cresta elevada mediana longitudinal. Hay una estructura similar en el arco branquial de los dos tipos de peces, pero no hay ángulo entre una parte ceratobranquial y la parte epibranquial. Además, el arco branquial tiene una región de muchas microrredes longitudinales que delimitan la región entre las ramas branquiales y los filamentos branquiales. Por MEB, en el salmonete rayado, la superficie lisa del arco branquial y el de las ramas branquiales se caracterizaron por la presencia de un alto número de papilas gustativas. Por MEB en E. gurnardus gris, las branquias aparecieron como un cuerpo corto proyectado con un alto número de espinas de vértice curvo. Además, en el salmonete rojo rayado, el rastrillo de las branquias apareció como un cuerpo corto proyectado con un alto número de espinas tipo bastón. En ambas especies los filamentos branquiales eran largos en el centro y cortos en los extremos del arco branquial.

This study was performed to investigate the histomorphological characters of the Egyptian fruit bat stomach using the light and scanning electron microscope. The stomachs of fourteen adult normal healthy Egyptian fruit bats of both sexes were used. Stomach was tubular with an elongated fundic part and a long narrow pyloric part. Internally, the superficial epithelium was disposed in filiform form, the longitudinal rugaes extended throughout the length of the stomach, their numbers were high but they were thin and branched in the fundic region, while in the cardiac and pyloric region reached to 3 or 4 thick longitudinal and not branched rugaes. Under the scanning electron microscopy, we found differences in the appearance of middle part with the peripherical part of the fundic region, like the appearance of honeycomb buildings in the middle part different to round elevated formations at the periphery of fundic region. At high magnification of cardiac region, there was an aggregation of epithelial cells without regular shape, while there were elevated mountains areas in the pyloric region. We concluded that the stomachs of Egyptian fruit bat had special characters different to other mammals.

En este trabajo se estudiaron las características histomorfológicas del estómago del murciélago egipcio de la fruta, a través de microscopía electrónica de barrido. Para el estudio se utilizaron 14 estómagos de murciélagos egipcios de la fruta, adultos sanos y de ambos sexos. El estómago era tubular con una región fúndica alargada y una región pilórica larga y estrecha. Internamente, el epitelio era filiforme y las rugas longitudinales se extendían a lo largo del estómago, su número era alto, delgado y ramificado en la región fúndica, mientras que en las regiones del cardias y pilórica alcanzaban un número de 3 o 4, gruesos, longitudinales y no ramificados. Al microscopio electrónico de barrido se encontraron diferencias en la apariencia de la parte media respecto a la parte periférica de la región fúndica, al igual que la aparición de estructuras en nido de abeja en la parte media, diferente a las formaciones redondas elevadas observadas en la periferia de la región fúndica. A mayor ampliación de la región del cardias, se observó una agregación de células epiteliales sin forma regular, mientras que en la región pilórica, se encontraron áreas elevadas. Concluimos que los estómagos del murciélago egipcio de la fruta presentan caracteres especiales diferentes a la de otros mamíferos.