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Elsevier Editorial System(tm) for Computers and Electronics in Agriculture Manuscript Draft
No full textThis paper had been presented for promotion at the university of Khartoum. To get the full text please contact the other at [email protected] is an increasing demand for fresh vegetables such as Swiss chard in cognisance of their
nutritive value. Early prediction of Swiss chard yield provides a valuable knowledge base for product
management decisions like pre-harvest planning, post-harvest handing, food policy, and marketing.
Consequently, the objective of the present study was to investigate the use of hyperspectral data in
predicting yield of Swiss chard grown under different irrigation water sources. Swiss chard groundbased
hyperspectral data were collected at canopy level using a handheld spectroradiometer at 2 and
2.5 months after planting. Reflectance spectra were transformed to their first-order derivative and
partial least squares (PLS) and sparse PLS (SPLS) regressions (R) were used for data analysis. Results
showed that 95% and 97% of Swiss chard fresh and dry yields variation, respectively could be
explained. SPLSR outperformed PLSR models for predicting Swiss chard fresh and dry yields. Results
further showed that models developed using data collected when the crop was 2.5 months old
performed more accurately than models derived using a 2-month old crop data, except when the dry
yield predicted using SPLSR. Fresh yield estimates could be accurately modeled (root mean square
error: RMSE = 23.97% of the mean, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency: NSE = 0.93. However, Swiss chard dry
yield could not be reliably predicted (at minimum RMSE = 35.00% of the mean and a maximum NSE of
0.60 were obtained). This study demonstrates the potential of hyperspectral data in predicting Swiss
chard fresh yield using combined irrigation treatments data sets. The study offers insight to the
potential of large-scale prediction and estimation of Swiss chard yield using space borne and/or
airborne hyperspectral data
DETECTION OF LAND COVER CHANGES USING MULTI-TEMPORAL SATELLITE IMAGERY
No full textIn this study, two different change detection techniques were applied in order to assess land cover changes in El Rawashda forest, Sudan: comparison of classification and multivariate alteration detection. Firstly, two satellite imagery, acquired in 2003 by Landsat ETM+ and by ASTER in 2006, were classified into four main land cover classes namely grass land, close forest, open forest and bare land. A change matrix was created in order to map the land cover changes from 2003 to 2006. Generally, the results show a noticeable increase in area on both close forest and open forest areas with decrease in grass lands within the period 2003-2006. More than one third of grassland (36%) was converted to close forest, one fourth (24%) to open forest areas. In the three-year period, 9079 hectares of open forest, (8% of the investigation area), were transformed to close forest. Secondly, we perform linear transformation by applying the multivariate alteration detection (MAD), the MAD components were then examined to identify the quality of changes
Effect of Swelling-shrinkage clay soils on roads, crossing agricultural lands
No full textThis rescarch take effect of swelling and shrinkage in clayey soil on road crossing agricultural lands.
Took the road between Khartoum and Damazine as one example for road has all factors of swelling and shrinkage, that we can know how phenomenon of swelling and shrinkage lead to deterioration of roads.
The road length is 501 km, and it is divided to seven sections, the lingths of each section is 70 km except the first section is 81 km.
A visual survery is held to evaluate the road state in each section according to the following standard.
Excellent, V. good, Good, Fair, Poor, V. poor, Failed.
The samples take from three locations in each suction from three depths :
(0 – 30) cm, (30 – 60) cm, (60 – 100) cm, total number of samples, 7 sections × 3 locations × 3 depths = 63 sample.
The following tests were held for each sample :
- Particle – size analysis
- Atterberg limits (L.L, P.L, P.I)
- Free swelling
- Linear shrinkage
As well as classification the samples according to AASHTO system and UNIFIED system.
All the results has been analysed and presented in tables and discussed according to the recent state evaluation of the road.
The study lead to swelling and srinkage are one of
the reasons of the road deterioration, that from the direct proportion between the deterioration and swelling and shrinkage on the road.
The third section recorded the lowest ration of swelling and it is the best section in the road, the fourth section is the worst section of the road and recorded the highest ration of the swelling, the more section sufferring dense wide and deep cracks is the sixth sectin and recorded the highest ratio of shrinkage.
According to these factors some solutions suggested that can limit the danger of swelling and shrinkage as recommendation to be applied to maintain road with no or little continous maintenance.
The treatments application on tow sides of road about 25m from each side (road zone)
Determination of the Toxicity of Molasses in Nubian Goats
No full textMolasses at
10.
)0 or SOK of
the
dI•1
fo r
12 . was
not
toxic to poets and could be used as an inea.
pensive substitute for sorghum grain.
No animals showed
Otin s
or
lesions of
illness attributable to feeding
......
there were no differences among treatment
groups
in any of
the following parameters: VOL
E. PC V.
-S, AC11, NENC, C01,
u r i c
acid, wren, cholesterol, sot slot.
Sarum trettinine.
tot al
Pro tei n.
Iran. cattotr.
.agnetium eod calcium varied between groups but remained Within the ranges for normal goats.
fee4lot perform-
ance loOrAtted that utilltatiort of molasses energy for body weight geln mos e function of
intake; feeding SOt
Jetery molasses did
not
produce *commit weight ge
Effect of agro-industrial by -products / urea /molasses on the fattening of Sudanese
No full textThis paper had been presented for promotion at the university of Khartoum to get the full text please contact the other at ahmed [email protected] with less reliance on crop -residues which are only obtained occasionally. Fattening is
practiced around Khartoum the capital of the Sudan and the capitals of other states where
there are abundant agro-industrial by- products and the growing demand for beef. Feed
costs are the largest item in any livestock production system. Such situation initiated the
search for non conventional energy and protein sources. The aim of this study is to find a
way of utilizing non -conventional energy (molasses), protein and non- conventional protein
sources (urea) for fattening zebu calves.
In this study molasses and urea were used at the levels of 50 % and 3 %, respectively, in all
the experimental rations with the exception of the control ration. Different combinations of
different cakes were used. Animals in group (1) were fed 5% cotton seed cake (CSC) and
40% ground nut hulls (GNH), animals in group (2) were fed 4% sesame cake (SC) and 41%
GNH, animals in group (3) were fed 3% ground nut cake (GNC) and 42% GNU, animals in
group (4) were fed 9% GNC and 36% GNH, animals in group (5) were fed 17% GNC and
28% GNH and animals in group (6) the control group were fed 35% sorghum, 35% wheat
bran and 28% GNH. To all rations 1% sodium chloride and 1% calcium/ phosphorus were
added. Feeding was performed once a day for 9 consecutive weeks. Calves were weighed at
weekly intervals.
Table I. Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of fattening zebu calve
The Feasibility of Using Wind-Pumps in Zimbabwe
No full textThe cost of using a wind-pump is estimated and compared to the costs of using diesel and grid-powered pumps for Zimbabwe conditions. The results are illustrated in a feasibility chart indicating the most cost effective pumping option, of the three options investigated, for a given duty and wind condition. The results emphasise the importance of the wind rotor size to attain the required duty. In Zimbabwe’s conditions the 6 and 7m sizes are dominantly important. The 3m machine was shown to be feasible only where the wind speed is relatively high and the duty is relatively low
Effect of Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) Supplementation on Rabbits Performance and Some Blood Parameters
No full textThis study was conducted to determine the response of local
rabbits to dietary black seed (Nigella sativa). Thirty two male local
rabbit age 35 – 45 days with approximately similar initial weight.
The Rabbits were distributed randomly to four treatment groups
[8 rabbits/treatment with 4 replicates (2 animals/replicate)]. Four
rations were formulated with different black seed (Nigella sativa)
level (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75%). Feed and water were provided
adlibitum. Parameters measured were weekly feed intake, weight gain
and body weight. At the end of experimental period blood samples
were taken through the jugular vain to determine cholesterol, blood
glucose triglyceride, total protein and urea. Results showed the
treatment had no significant (P<0.05) effect in feed intake, body
weight gain and feed conversion ratio. However, there was a
consistent numerical decrease in feed intake and body weight gain
with increasing the level of seeds. Rabbits fed on diet containing 0.25
and 0.5% black seed (Nigella sativa) has shown numerical decrease in
serum cholesterol level, however, rabbits fed on 0.75% black seed
(Nigella sativa) have shown significant (P≥0.05) increase in serum
cholesterol level. Increasing the level of black seed (Nigella sativa) in
ration numerically decreased blood glucose level and numerically
increase blood urea and total proteins level. Rabbits fed on diet
containing 0.75% black seed (Nigella sativa) had 43% increase in
triglyceride level compared to rabbits fed on control diets. The highest
weight gain and the best feed conversion ratio was observed in rabbits
supplemented with 0.25% black seed (Nigella sativa)
An animal free mycetoma grain model to study the therapeutic efficacy of various antifungal agents against the clinical entity of this infection
No full textEumycetoma is a mutilating, chronic, granulomatous, progressive disease of mainly the
foot which is most commonly caused by Madurella mycetomatis. Treatment of this
infection is difficult and success rates are poor, even although the fungus itself is
extremely susceptible towards the azole class of antifungal agents, in vitro. These in
vitro results were generated against fungal hyphae, but in vivo, mycetoma causative
agents organize themselves in granules called grains. These grains are composed of the
causative agent and a protective cement-material. Therefore, in developing a new
therapy for mycetoma, the efficacy of the antimicrobial agents needs to be determined
against grains. Until now, grains could only be generated in animal models. It is not
possible to generate grains in vitro. Several animal models have been developed for
mycetoma over the years. These models have been established in different hosts,
ranging from mice and guinea pigs to goats and monkeys. But there is a large drawback
to these animal models. From our own experience we noted that, already minutes after
infection, mice become discomforted. They stay in this miserable state till 3 days after
inoculation when they either tend to recover or die. The mortality rate for this infection
model is relatively high (20-90% for the high load infections). Therefore there is a need
for a model in which grains can be formed without having to use animals. At the
moment, the most studied alternative for mammal infection models is the wax moth
larvae Galleria mellonella. These larvae have a cellular and humoral immune system
and can be maintained at 370C, conditions beneficial for mimicking the attacks
mycetoma causative agents will encounter when entering the human host. Furthermore,
these larvae have been used as alternative model systems to study the fungal infections
candidiasis, aspergillosis and cryptococcosis. For some of these infections, therapeutic
efficacy studies have been performed in these models, resembling the therapeutic
response found in animal models and in the clinical situation, indicating that Galleria
mellonella would indeed be a good model system for the fungal mycetoma infection. In
this presentation, I will highlight the development of a M. mycetomatis grain model in
larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella, the infection itself but also the responses
towards commonly used antifungal agents will be shown
Diagnosis of Immunodeficiencies
No full textInnate and chronic immunodeficiencies represent a group of heterogeneous
dysfunctions of the immune system resulting in impaired defense on infections and
tumors. Genetically determined disorders of the protective immune function, commonly
referred as Primary Immuno Deficiency diseases (PID), and it have been recognised
clinically already 60 years ago with the identification of X-linked agammaglobulinemia.
Today, the group of PID involves over 280 distinct entities which are scattered to present
as phagocytic disorders, complement deficiencies, T-cell deficiencies and –
predominantly - antibody disorders. PID are not rare diseases; with a summarised
prevalence ranging from 1 in 250 to 1 in 500. However, they are misdiagnosed in many
cases because of their subtle clinical image and their prolonged course of disease,
which often worsens the outcome. Although increasingly becoming appreciated as a
major health problem, there is a lack of diagnostic procedures and sophisticated
therapeutic perspectives that would allows upon earliest possible diagnosis and a
satisfactory treatment of patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases
Globalization and Medical Education
No full textGlobalization has become an inevitable fact that touched all aspects of life. The
phenomenon has affected education at large including medical education. With
knowledge, technology, quality and cost effectiveness becoming trademarks of the 21st
century social transformation has escalated. The impact of that transformation has
resulted in a change of patient relationship with patients changing into customers and
treating doctors into health care providers. Those customers are no longer interested in
just treatment but in a high quality cost effective treatment. The consequence of that
mandates a change in the process of medical education and training process to cope
with the use of high tech being currently in use.
Looking at the above facts and the prevailing situation of economic hardships and the
state of medical service in developing countries the magnitude of the problem could be
appreciated. The problem is escalated by the fact that the chances of training in
advanced countries are becoming extremely scarce depriving overseas candidates from
getting advanced training to disseminate when they return back home.
To solve that problem developing countries have to find a solution by first improving
health service system, improve undergraduate curricula and the quality of local training
programs to a level internationally credible if they intend to survive the impact of
globalization. That will not be possible without improving health systems and
infrastructures, acquiring a culture and environment for education and professional
development, and investing in research and technology