Whereas human deprivation has become a major policy issue in both developing and developed nations, the operational concept of ‘deprivation’ that is usually deployed within the literature of social studies is still problematic. The present study scrutinizes the appropriate insight to conceptualize deprivation operationally in the context of Egypt. It employs a multiple deprivation index (MDI) composed of five-dimensional constituent with eight indicators that (in combination) arguably represent acute deprivation. Suggested dimensions have special importance to the Egyptian society and are an appropriate focus for public policy. In addition, all indicators that are used here can be updated regularly, and so re-formed as the basis for a dynamic index. Moreover, such indicators are related to three of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The justification for these indicators is adequately presented in the MDGs literature. The study does also shed light on the relationship between MDI headcount and average intensity of deprivation. This is very important because it suggests that localities can follow different pathways to reduce multidimensional deprivation. However, MDIs were decomposed by villages to capture the deprivation differences between geographic settings in Luxor. The average MDI of Luxor governorate is 0.026, which is approximately equal to MDI of Egypt 2006. Nevertheless, deprivation in knowledge is the biggest contributor to overall deprivation (33.7%). While moderate level is the dominant feature of the MDI picture, the most multidimensionally deprived areas are all in the northern part of Luxor. Therefore, the greatest intensity of MDI in those regions may be attributed to knowledge deprivation.

Genetic control of stem diameter and other stem attributes of wheat in relation to yield components were analyzed in a 7- parent F1 diallel cross in favorable, drought and drought combined heat environments, as well as in 12 F2 populations under heat stress. Polygenes with mainly additive effects were involved in the control of stem diameter which segregated in normal distributions in the F2. The narrow-sense heritability was of comparable magnitude under favorable (0.73), drought (0.62) and drought + heat stress (0.76); whereas heritability of stem dry weight was reduced under stress. Stem diameter was positively correlated under both drought and drought + heat stresses with stem weight and stem density. Stem diameter was significantly associated with 1000 kernel weight and grain yield per spike in three environments. Such strong associations of stem diameter with single grain mass and grain yield per spike under stress indicated the important role this character play in sustaining grain filling through provision of greater capacity for assimilation in the stem before mobilizing it to grains.

Genetic control of stem diameter and other stem attributes of wheat in relation to yield components were analyzed in a 7- parent F1 diallel cross in favorable, drought and drought combined heat environments, as well as in 12 F2 populations under heat stress. Polygenes with mainly additive effects were involved in the control of stem diameter which segregated in normal distributions in the F2. The narrow-sense heritability was of comparable magnitude under favorable (0.73), drought (0.62) and drought + heat stress (0.76); whereas heritability of stem dry weight was reduced under stress. Stem diameter was positively correlated under both drought and drought + heat stresses with stem weight and stem density. Stem diameter was significantly associated with 1000 kernel weight and grain yield per spike in three environments. Such strong associations of stem diameter with single grain mass and grain yield per spike under stress indicated the important role this character play in sustaining grain filling through provision of greater capacity for assimilation in the stem before mobilizing it to grains.

Genetic control of stem diameter and other stem attributes of wheat in relation to yield components were analyzed in a 7- parent F1 diallel cross in favorable, drought and drought combined heat environments, as well as in 12 F2 populations under heat stress. Polygenes with mainly additive effects were involved in the control of stem diameter which segregated in normal distributions in the F2. The narrow-sense heritability was of comparable magnitude under favorable (0.73), drought (0.62) and drought + heat stress (0.76); whereas heritability of stem dry weight was reduced under stress. Stem diameter was positively correlated under both drought and drought + heat stresses with stem weight and stem density. Stem diameter was significantly associated with 1000 kernel weight and grain yield per spike in three environments. Such strong associations of stem diameter with single grain mass and grain yield per spike under stress indicated the important role this character play in sustaining grain filling through provision of greater capacity for assimilation in the stem before mobilizing it to grains.

Genetic control of stem diameter and other stem attributes of wheat in relation to yield components were analyzed in a 7- parent F1 diallel cross in favorable, drought and drought combined heat environments, as well as in 12 F2 populations under heat stress. Polygenes with mainly additive effects were involved in the control of stem diameter which segregated in normal distributions in the F2. The narrow-sense heritability was of comparable magnitude under favorable (0.73), drought (0.62) and drought + heat stress (0.76); whereas heritability of stem dry weight was reduced under stress. Stem diameter was positively correlated under both drought and drought + heat stresses with stem weight and stem density. Stem diameter was significantly associated with 1000 kernel weight and grain yield per spike in three environments. Such strong associations of stem diameter with single grain mass and grain yield per spike under stress indicated the important role this character play in sustaining grain filling through provision of greater capacity for assimilation in the stem before mobilizing it to grains.

The activity of phytases from raw, soaked, and germinated Faba bean, lentil, kidney bean and pea were assayed followed by characterization of partial purified phytases from these legumes. The optimal pH value was 5.0 for lentil and pea and 5.2 for Faba bean and kidney bean. The optimal temperature of Faba bean, lentil and kidney bean was 50°C, while of pea it was 45°C. Both optimal pH and temperature of phytases of different legume seeds did not affected by soaking or germination processes. The maximal activity of phytase was found to be at 2.0 mM sodium phytate concentration from Faba bean, lentil and pea, and at 1.5 mM from kidney bean. The calculated Michael's constant (Km) were 0.14, 0.18, 0.07 and 0.71 mM, and their corresponding Vmax values were 1.7, 1.7, 1.6 and 1.04 .M Pi of Faba bean, lentil, kidney bean and pea; respectively. The enzyme activity was decreased with extending the incubation time more than 1 hr for Faba bean, lentil and kidney bean, and more than 2 hrs for pea phytase. Calcium ions addition at concentration of 10-2 M caused increases in the phytase activity of kidney bean by 12 and pea 13%. The phytase activity of all studied legumes was diminished by addition of Fe-3, Fe-2 and Zn++ ions; however, these metal ions had variable effects on decreasing activity which was found to be depending on the added metal ion concentration. Faba bean and pea showed high increases in their phytase activity by 10.3 and 8.5- folds after 144-hrs germination, whereas lentil and kidney bean by 7.5 and 7.7-folds after 120-hrs germination, after that the enzyme activity decreased with prolonging time of germination.

The activity of phytases from raw, soaked, and germinated Faba bean, lentil, kidney bean and pea were assayed followed by characterization of partial purified phytases from these legumes. The optimal pH value was 5.0 for lentil and pea and 5.2 for Faba bean and kidney bean. The optimal temperature of Faba bean, lentil and kidney bean was 50°C, while of pea it was 45°C. Both optimal pH and temperature of phytases of different legume seeds did not affected by soaking or germination processes. The maximal activity of phytase was found to be at 2.0 mM sodium phytate concentration from Faba bean, lentil and pea, and at 1.5 mM from kidney bean. The calculated Michael's constant (Km) were 0.14, 0.18, 0.07 and 0.71 mM, and their corresponding Vmax values were 1.7, 1.7, 1.6 and 1.04 .M Pi of Faba bean, lentil, kidney bean and pea; respectively. The enzyme activity was decreased with extending the incubation time more than 1 hr for Faba bean, lentil and kidney bean, and more than 2 hrs for pea phytase. Calcium ions addition at concentration of 10-2 M caused increases in the phytase activity of kidney bean by 12 and pea 13%. The phytase activity of all studied legumes was diminished by addition of Fe-3, Fe-2 and Zn++ ions; however, these metal ions had variable effects on decreasing activity which was found to be depending on the added metal ion concentration. Faba bean and pea showed high increases in their phytase activity by 10.3 and 8.5- folds after 144-hrs germination, whereas lentil and kidney bean by 7.5 and 7.7-folds after 120-hrs germination, after that the enzyme activity decreased with prolonging time of germination.

The population of peach fruit fly during 2011 season increased gradually starting from the fourth week of July to reach its first major peak throughout the second week of September with 1340 flies/trap/day for traps suspended at 1 m height and during the third week of September with 909 flies/trap/day for traps hung at 2 m heights. Afterwards, the population trend showed a slight but gradual declining trend from the third week of September up to the third week of October. The population was then increased to reach its second major peak during the fourth week of October with 696 and 595 flies/trap/day for traps hung at 1 and 2 m heights, respectively. The greatest drop in the trapped population at both trap heights was observed from the second week of November until the end of the season (second week of December). A total of 105270 flies/trap at both 1 and 2 m trap heights during the entire seasons of 2011 were recorded. In 2012 season, the population followed nearly the same trend as that observed during 2011 season with minor variations. One major peak of abundance was recorded during the first week of October with 1344 and 955 flies/trap/day for traps hung at 1 and 2 m, respectively. The second major peak (1104 and 894 flies/trap/day) was observed during the fourth week of October for traps suspended at 1 and 2 m, respectively. A remarkable decrease in the population could be seen from the first week of December until the end of the season (fourth week of December). Statistical analysis of the data showed highly significant differences between fruit fly population captured at 1 m trap height (Mean = 446.9 ± 97 flies/trap/day) and that captured at 2 m trap heights (Mean = 321 ± 72 flies/trap/day) with paired t of 4.7** and p-value of 0.0001**.