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A simple, rapid and one-pot quadruple Mannich reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2,5,7,9,11-pentaazaphenalenes via a three-component reaction of 6-amino-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one, formaldehyde and primary amines in ethanol at room temperature. The reaction products were obtained in very good to excellent yields using a simple work-up procedure. The regioselectivity of the reaction was studied using the electronic energy calculations which indicated that the corresponding products 2,5,7,9,11-pentaazaphenalenes are more favorable than the other isomeric products 3,5,8,10,11-pentaazaanthracenes and 2,5,7,8,10-pentazaphenanthrenes. The reaction mechanism was investigated and the structures of all the new compounds were confirmed using spectra and elemental analysis. In addition, all the synthesized compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity and showed a significant activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Geotrichum candidum and Trichophyton rubrum.

A simple, rapid and one-pot quadruple Mannich reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2,5,7,9,11-pentaazaphenalenes via a three-component reaction of 6-amino-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one, formaldehyde and primary amines in ethanol at room temperature. The reaction products were obtained in very good to excellent yields using a simple work-up procedure. The regioselectivity of the reaction was studied using the electronic energy calculations which indicated that the corresponding products 2,5,7,9,11-pentaazaphenalenes are more favorable than the other isomeric products 3,5,8,10,11-pentaazaanthracenes and 2,5,7,8,10-pentazaphenanthrenes. The reaction mechanism was investigated and the structures of all the new compounds were confirmed using spectra and elemental analysis. In addition, all the synthesized compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity and showed a significant activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Geotrichum candidum and Trichophyton rubrum.

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Development, survival and reproductive potential of the cabbage aphid were studied at ýconstant temperatures (20,24 and 28°C). At given temperatures, the time needed for the development of nymphal instars decreased significantly with the increase in temperature. the longest period was recorded at 20°C while the shortest one was found at 28 °C. The calculated developmental threshold of the whole nymphal stage was estimated as 7.17°C. the thermal units needed for the development of the whole nymphal stage of the cabbage aphid were 97.78 day degrees. Generation time (GT), reproductive potential (RO), population-doubling time (DT), intrinsic (rm) and finite rate (גּ.) of increase of the pest were also computed and discussed. Based on the obtained data, temperatures of 20°C and 24°C were the most suitable temperatures for the development and multiplication of the cabbage Aphid

This investigation was carried out under laboratory conditions, in Assiut Insect Research laboratory, Plant Protection Research Institute, during the active season of 2012. The role of the queen in relation to comb construction in honeybees, was analyzed with respect to certain queen statuses [one-year old mated and egg-laying queens (M), three-days old virgin queens (V), supersedure queens (S), queen cells at the beginning of sealed (Q), without queens (W) and without queens / without bee bread (W/W)]. The comb construction, consisting of the numbers and including the measurements of both worker-sized and drone-sized cells, were recorded. The means of total wax cells that were constructed are, 167.00 (92.78%), 126.50 (70.28%), 138.75 (77.11%), 123.25 (68.50%), 107.25 (59.61%) and 82.75 (45.97%), for the workers under (M), (V), (S), (Q), (W) and (W/W) statuses, respectively. The constructed supernumerary of the drone-sized wax cells are 2.25 (1.78%) and 1.5 (1.22%) for the workers under (V), and (Q) statuses, respectively. In conclusion, the results showed that the comb construction (number of cells) significantly increased in queen right statuses (M); (V); (S) and (Q), compared to queenless statuses (W) and (W/W). No royal cells construction was observed in our experimental set-up with all queen statuses; so one could conclude that, the different queen statuses affecting comb construction in Apis mellifera L. workers.

Abstract The weed flora of common crops of the desert reclaimed arable lands in southern Egypt was studied. Field data were collected from three major crops: wheat as a winter crop, millet as summer crop and alfa-alfa as a perennial crop. 146 stands (fields) from 8 sites in Qena Governorate were permanently visited during 2013 and 2014. A total of 169 species (105 annuals, 64 perennials) of the vascular plants belonged to 121 genera in 39 families constituted the flora of the study area. The most species-rich families were Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. Annual herbs were the best represented life form, followed by annual grasses, trees and perennial shrubs. Ballochore and pogonochore were the most represented dispersal types of seeds, while cyclochore and auxochore were the least represented. 26 species were categorized as dominants (highest Q-values), where they have a wide ecological range of distribution. Classification of the associated vegetation in 146 stands by cluster analysis yielded 5 vegetation groups (A-E); the vegetation groups A and E were mainly represented by weeds in wheat and alfa-alfa (winter season), while most the stands of groups B, C and D were represented by species in millet and alfa-alfa (summer season). These groups were separated along the first two axes of Bray-Curtis ordination.

Abstract The weed flora of common crops of the desert reclaimed arable lands in southern Egypt was studied. Field data were collected from three major crops: wheat as a winter crop, millet as summer crop and alfa-alfa as a perennial crop. 146 stands (fields) from 8 sites in Qena Governorate were permanently visited during 2013 and 2014. A total of 169 species (105 annuals, 64 perennials) of the vascular plants belonged to 121 genera in 39 families constituted the flora of the study area. The most species-rich families were Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. Annual herbs were the best represented life form, followed by annual grasses, trees and perennial shrubs. Ballochore and pogonochore were the most represented dispersal types of seeds, while cyclochore and auxochore were the least represented. 26 species were categorized as dominants (highest Q-values), where they have a wide ecological range of distribution. Classification of the associated vegetation in 146 stands by cluster analysis yielded 5 vegetation groups (A-E); the vegetation groups A and E were mainly represented by weeds in wheat and alfa-alfa (winter season), while most the stands of groups B, C and D were represented by species in millet and alfa-alfa (summer season). These groups were separated along the first two axes of Bray-Curtis ordination.

Objective: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is one of the most common clinical problems in reproduction. The aims of the current study were to evaluate the expression of ERK and Akt pro- teins in human trophoblastic tissue and to assess the significance of MAPK and PI3K-Akt signal pathways in the progression of unexplained recurrent miscarriage. Study design: A case-control study. Setting: Women Health Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. Materials and methods: All pregnant women presented with first-trimester inevitable miscarriage with a history of RM, defined as three or more spontaneous consecutive first-trimester miscarriages before 12 weeks’ gestation, were included in the study (RM group). Age-matched healthy women who had at least one normal pregnancy with no history of miscarriage were included as a control group at the time of delivery. A sample of trophoblastic tissue was taken for Western blot test to evaluate the level of phospho-ERK and Akt (active forms) proteins in trophoblastic tissue. Results: The study included 20 women in each group. There were non-significant differences between both groups as regards maternal age, BMI, passive smoking and family residence. There were significantly lower levels of p-ERK and p-Akt in the RM group as compared to the control group ( p = 0.001). Conclusion: The activation of ERK and Akt pathway plays a significant role in RM. The data suggest that decreased expression of p-ERK and p-Akt occurs less frequently during RM may play a role in this process. This suggests that p-ERK and p-Akt may be markers of RM Expression of ERK and Akt proteins in women with unexplained first-trimester recurrent miscarriage. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308780788_Expression_of_ERK_and_Akt_proteins_in_women_with_unexplained_first-trimester_recurrent_miscarriage [accessed Oct 2, 2016].

The prevalence of health problems in the offspring of pregnant diabetic mothers has recently been verified. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the influence of dietary camel whey protein (CWP), administered as a supplement to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic pregnant mice, on the efficiency of the immune system of the offspring. Three groups of female mice (n = 10) were used: non-diabetic control mice, diabetic mice, and diabetic mice orally administered CWP during the pregnancy and lactation periods. We then tested the immune response of B and T cells in adult male offspring (n = 15 in each group) by using flow cytometry, western blotting, and ELISAs. Our data demonstrated that the offspring of diabetic dams exhibited several postpartum complications, such as significant aberrant overexpression of activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3), significant elevation of the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), marked decreases in the plasma levels of IL-2 and IL-7, significant inhibition of CCL21- and CXCL12-mediated chemotaxis of B- and T-lymphocytes, and a marked decrease in the proliferative capacity of antigen-stimulated B- and T-lymphocytes. Interestingly, administration of CWP to diabetic dams substantially restored the expression of ATF-3 and the levels of ROS, pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-2, and IL-7 in the offspring. Furthermore, the chemotaxis of B- and T-lymphocytes toward CCL21 and CXCL12 and the proliferative capacities of these lymphocytes were restored in the male offspring of diabetic mice administered CWP. Our data provide evidence of a protective role of CWP in decreasing the tendency of the offspring of diabetic mothers to develop diabetes and related complications.