Improved methods of analysis and quantification of heavy mineral assemblages
in Cambrian to Early Cretaceous sandstones of southwest Sinai have revealed
successive changes in provenance that reflect both rejuvenation of the Arabian
Shield and changes in the topographic configuration of the source area. Three
mineral units have been identified in the Cambrian succession, at least three in
the Carboniferous and three in the Cretaceous. It is predicted that the genetic
units defined by these successive changes in mineralogy will be of regional
extent and thus assist in elucidating the history of uplift of the Arabian-Nubian
Shield and provide a better means of correlating sandstone units into adjacent
areas. Variation in the abundance of apatite in the Cambrian succession is
independent of provenance signature and is interpreted as reflecting alternating
dry and humid climatic conditions.

Improved methods of analysis and quantification of heavy mineral assemblages
in Cambrian to Early Cretaceous sandstones of southwest Sinai have revealed
successive changes in provenance that reflect both rejuvenation of the Arabian
Shield and changes in the topographic configuration of the source area. Three
mineral units have been identified in the Cambrian succession, at least three in
the Carboniferous and three in the Cretaceous. It is predicted that the genetic
units defined by these successive changes in mineralogy will be of regional
extent and thus assist in elucidating the history of uplift of the Arabian-Nubian
Shield and provide a better means of correlating sandstone units into adjacent
areas. Variation in the abundance of apatite in the Cambrian succession is
independent of provenance signature and is interpreted as reflecting alternating
dry and humid climatic conditions.

In present work, some biochemical characteristics of the catfish, Clarias gariepinus were studied under
the effect of different sublethal doses of 4-nonylphenol (0, 0.05, 0.08 and 0.1 mgl-1). Liver enzymes ALT
and AST increased insignificantly at P<0.05 whereas the ALP decreased insignificantly. The activities of
G6PDH showed significant increase with the increased sublethel doses of 4-nonylphenol while the
activities of LDH decreased insignificantly with increase of such doses. The concentrations of serum
glucose and total cholesterol significantly increased after exposure to 4-nonylphenol, although
Hyperglycemia is evident. The kidney function parameters such as total serum protein and uric acid
increased insignificantly after exposure to 4-nonylphenol in comparison with the control fish whereas
creatinine exhibited significant increase (P<0.05). Some serum ions decreased significantly (HCO3
- and
Na+) or insignificantly (Cu+2, Cl- and Ca+2) and others increased significantly (Fe+2) or insignificantly (K+)
under 4-nonylphenol stress on C. gariepinus. Increased serum anion gap was associated with
increased hyperglycemia and insignificant hypocalcemia. Such increased gap referred to nonylphenolinduced
metabolic acidosis. The adverse impact of the sublethal doses of 4-nonylphenol on the
molecular structure of the protein was evident by electrophoresis. In conclusion, in addition to its
tissue-specific estrogenic effects, 4-nonylphenol has non-estrogenic adverse effects on liver and
kidney functions through activation of other metabolism-related genes distinct from estrogenresponsive
genes.

In present work, some biochemical characteristics of the catfish, Clarias gariepinus were studied under
the effect of different sublethal doses of 4-nonylphenol (0, 0.05, 0.08 and 0.1 mgl-1). Liver enzymes ALT
and AST increased insignificantly at P<0.05 whereas the ALP decreased insignificantly. The activities of
G6PDH showed significant increase with the increased sublethel doses of 4-nonylphenol while the
activities of LDH decreased insignificantly with increase of such doses. The concentrations of serum
glucose and total cholesterol significantly increased after exposure to 4-nonylphenol, although
Hyperglycemia is evident. The kidney function parameters such as total serum protein and uric acid
increased insignificantly after exposure to 4-nonylphenol in comparison with the control fish whereas
creatinine exhibited significant increase (P<0.05). Some serum ions decreased significantly (HCO3
- and
Na+) or insignificantly (Cu+2, Cl- and Ca+2) and others increased significantly (Fe+2) or insignificantly (K+)
under 4-nonylphenol stress on C. gariepinus. Increased serum anion gap was associated with
increased hyperglycemia and insignificant hypocalcemia. Such increased gap referred to nonylphenolinduced
metabolic acidosis. The adverse impact of the sublethal doses of 4-nonylphenol on the
molecular structure of the protein was evident by electrophoresis. In conclusion, in addition to its
tissue-specific estrogenic effects, 4-nonylphenol has non-estrogenic adverse effects on liver and
kidney functions through activation of other metabolism-related genes distinct from estrogenresponsive
genes.

In present work, some biochemical characteristics of the catfish, Clarias gariepinus were studied under
the effect of different sublethal doses of 4-nonylphenol (0, 0.05, 0.08 and 0.1 mgl-1). Liver enzymes ALT
and AST increased insignificantly at P<0.05 whereas the ALP decreased insignificantly. The activities of
G6PDH showed significant increase with the increased sublethel doses of 4-nonylphenol while the
activities of LDH decreased insignificantly with increase of such doses. The concentrations of serum
glucose and total cholesterol significantly increased after exposure to 4-nonylphenol, although
Hyperglycemia is evident. The kidney function parameters such as total serum protein and uric acid
increased insignificantly after exposure to 4-nonylphenol in comparison with the control fish whereas
creatinine exhibited significant increase (P<0.05). Some serum ions decreased significantly (HCO3
- and
Na+) or insignificantly (Cu+2, Cl- and Ca+2) and others increased significantly (Fe+2) or insignificantly (K+)
under 4-nonylphenol stress on C. gariepinus. Increased serum anion gap was associated with
increased hyperglycemia and insignificant hypocalcemia. Such increased gap referred to nonylphenolinduced
metabolic acidosis. The adverse impact of the sublethal doses of 4-nonylphenol on the
molecular structure of the protein was evident by electrophoresis. In conclusion, in addition to its
tissue-specific estrogenic effects, 4-nonylphenol has non-estrogenic adverse effects on liver and
kidney functions through activation of other metabolism-related genes distinct from estrogenresponsive
genes.

Death of entanglement between light and the vibrational motion of a single trapped ion in the
dispersive regime with a reservoir is investigated. It is found that with phase-damped cavity, the
purity of the light-motional states is lost forever, unlike the purity of the ion's internal states
which have regular patterns and they do not decay. The asymptotic behavior of the states of the
light, the ion-motional and the total system fall into a mixed state. The entanglement and purity
have strong sensitivity to the phase damping and the ionic distribution angle. The entanglement
sudden death has been treated as it arises from the e®ect of phase damping on mixed as well as
pure states.

The exact solution of the master equation for the case of a high-Q cavity with atomic decay is found. We use
the negativity of the Wigner function (WF) as an indicator of non-classicality. It is found that the negative values of
the field WF are very sensitive to any change in the damping parameter. The atomic spontaneous decay leads to the
simultaneous disappearance of both entanglement and nonclassicality of quantum states. Moreover, the purity of the
field states is lost completely.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have shown that the offspring of mothers who experience diabetes mellitus during pregnancy are seven times more likely to develop health complications than the offspring of mothers who do not suffer from diabetes during pregnancy. The present study was designed to investigate whether supplementation of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic pregnant mice with thymoquinone (TQ) during pregnancy and lactation improves the risk of developing diabetic complications acquired by their offspring.

METHODS: Three groups of pregnant female mice were used: non-diabetic control dams (CD), diabetic dams (DD), and diabetic dams supplemented with TQ (DD + TQ) during pregnancy and lactation (n = 10 female mice in each group).

RESULTS: Our data demonstrated a marked decrease in the number of neonates born to DD, and these neonates showed a marked increase in their mean body weight (macrosomic pups) compared to those born to CD and DD + TQ. The induction of diabetes during pregnancy and lactation resulted in macrosomic pups with several postpartum complications, such as a marked increase in their levels of blood glucose, free radicals, plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha), and lipids, and a tendency toward abnormal obesity compared to the offspring of CD. By contrast, macrosomic offspring born to DD exhibited a marked reduction in plasma cytokine levels (IL-2, -4 and -7), an obvious reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, decreased proliferation of superantigen (SEB)-stimulated lymphocytes and aberrant AKT phosphorylation. Interestingly, the supplementation of DD with TQ during pregnancy and lactation had an obvious and significant effect on the number and mean body weight of neonates. Furthermore, TQ significantly restored the levels of blood glucose, insulin, free radicals, plasma cytokines, and lipids as well as lymphocyte proliferation in the offspring.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the nutritional supplementation of DD with the natural antioxidant TQ during pregnancy and lactation protects their offspring from developing diabetic complications and preserves an efficient lymphocyte immune response later in life.

Angular distributions of differential cross sections for the 12C(π ±, π ±)12C and 12C(π ±, π ±)12C* reactions at pion kinetic energy ranging from 50 to 260 MeV have been analyzed with the 3α-particle model of 12C. The model provides good fits to a wide range of data. Differential cross sections for inelastic transitions to the (2 + ; 4.44 MeV) and (3 − ; 9.64 MeV) states in 12C are computed and the deformation lengths δ2 and δ3 are extracted. It is found that the extracted deformation lengths are sensitive to the nuclear model used and similar to the corresponding values found with other probes and nuclear models.

Antagonistic activity of five yeast strains (Pichia anomala Moh 93, P. anomala Moh 104, Pichia guilliermondii Moh 10, Lipomyces tetrasporus Y-115 and Metschnikowia lunata Y-1209) was evaluated against dipoldia rot of guava caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae. Results revealed that both strains of P. anomala were the most effective antagonists against the pathogen in vitro. Examination of the direct interaction of yeast–pathogen by SEM showed a tenacious adherence between hyphae of B. theobromae and P. anomala Moh 93. There was accumulation of extracellular matrices around the hyphae of the pathogen. Eventually the hyphae of B. theobromae were totally penetrated and destroyed by the cells of the antagonistic yeast. In vivo P. anomala Moh 93 and P. anomala Moh 104 were responsible for the reduction of the disease by 39.1 and 50.0%, respectively. The production of cellulase and pectinase enzymes was significantly inhibited in guava fruit infected with B. theobromae when yeast strains were applied. This study represents a first report dealing with the biocontrol of diopldia rot in guava fruit by the application of yeasts. It strongly recommends the use of specific strains of P. anomala as a safe and effective biocontrol agent against the diplodia postharvest rot of guava fruit.