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Acacia seyal is an important source of gum Arabic. The availability, traditional, medicinal, pharmaceutical, nutritional, and cosmetic applications of gum acacia have pronounced its high economic value and attracted global attention. In addition to summarizing the inventions/patents applications related to gum A. seyal, the present review highlights recent updates regarding its phytoconstituents. Traditional, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and medicinal uses with the possible mechanism of actions have been also reviewed. The patent search revealed the identification of 30 patents/patent applications of A. seyal. The first patent related to A. seyal was published in 1892, which was related to its use in the prophylaxis/treatment of kidney and bladder affections. The use of A. seyal to treat cancer and osteoporosis has also been patented. Some inventions provided compositions and formulations containing A. seyal or its ingredients for pharmaceutical and medical applications. The inventions related to agricultural applications, food industry, cosmetics, quality control of gum Arabic, and isolation of some chemical constituents (L-rhamnose and arabinose) from A. seyal have also been summarized. The identification of only 30 patents/patent applications from 1892 to 15 November 2021 indicates a steadily growing interest and encourages developing more inventions related to A. seyal. The authors recommend exploring these opportunities for the benefit of society.

As spillways are hydraulic structures constructed for the safe release of floodwater from the upstream (US) side of a dam to the downstream side, or from the end of canals and drains to a lower stream, the upstream water flow of such structures gains significant amounts of potential energy. As this water flows over a spillway or escapes, the gained potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, resulting in the water gaining an increasing velocity, thereby enhancing the flow’s destructive potential. This can have a harmful impact on the hydraulic performance and the structural stability of the spillway itself. To avoid such harmful effects, engineers and designers of such structures usually provide the spillways and water escapes with some tools for dissipating that kinetic energy and decreasing the flowing water’s velocity. The present study aims to enhance the performance efficiency of such dissipating tools, as well as to improve the quality of the flowing water by leveraging the significant turbulence generated by the existing energy dissipators on the back of the spillway body. The aeration process enabled by this turbulence increases the dissolved oxygen contents, thereby enhancing the water quality, which is one of the main objectives of this work. On the back surface of the spillway, various dissipater shapes with different geometrical configurations, dimensions, and combinations were tested, in order to determine the most suitable engineering treatments for maximizing the dissolved oxygen content and improving the water quality for various uses, as the study’s main goal. By testing 21 different model configurations with the available laboratory discharges, the study successfully identified the most effective shape and properties of the desired dissipator, which increased the dissolved oxygen content by an average of 21.70% and dissipated water energy by about 69%.

This study assesses the agronomic and economic advantages of replacing traditional flood irrigation with drip irrigation for sugarcane cultivation in water-scarce Upper Egypt. Confronting severe water shortages and inefficient conventional practices, we conducted a three-year comparative field study assessing crop yields and water use efficiency. The results reveal that drip irrigation improves water-use efficiency by 44% and increases sugarcane yields by 22% relative to flood irrigation, while also elevating net profits by 50%. Drip irrigation demonstrated an average efficiency of 85–90%, compared to 50–60% for flood irrigation. These findings underscore the dual benefits of drip irrigation in addressing water scarcity and enhancing agricultural productivity. The study provides compelling empirical evidence supporting drip irrigation as a sustainable solution for arid regions. To ensure long-term water resource sustainability and food security, we urge policymakers and agricultural stakeholders to prioritize large-scale adoption of drip irrigation systems through targeted investments and policy interventions.

This study investigates the impact of transitioning from flood to drip irrigation on sugarcane cultivation in Upper Egypt. It evaluates how planting methods—cane stalks and plantlets—affect sugar quality under both systems. A selected set of crop samples was analyzed for sucrose content in the official laboratory of the Ministry of Irrigation. The results offer insights into the economic benefits of drip irrigation, highlighting its role in enhancing sugar quality and returns. Drip irrigation, particularly with plantlets, achieves a maximum sucrose content of 14.3%, a 21.2% improvement over the 11.8% under flood irrigation. This sugar quality enhancement is accompanied by a substantial yield increase: up to 9,895.6 kg/acre with drip irrigation vs. 5,351.9 kg/acre with flood irrigation—an 84.9% increase. Drip systems also show higher water-use efficiency, generating 1.45 kg of sugar per cubic meter of water, compared to 0.46 kg/m³ for flood. Application efficiencies range from 85% to 90% for drip, versus 45%–50% for flood. The study highlights the potential of drip irrigation in arid regions like Upper Egypt, where water scarcity is a major concern. Integrating modern irrigation with local conditions enhances both production and sustainability. These findings emphasize the dual benefits of higher yield and water savings, maximizing returns and reinforcing agricultural resilience under climate and water stress.

The design of open irrigation channels typically includes a bed slope to achieve the desired hydraulic performance, governing key parameters such as velocity, water depth, and discharge. Diversion head structures, often constructed across these channels, raise upstream water levels, generating potential energy that converts into high-velocity kinetic energy downstream Previous research has studied the type and configuration of water energy dissipaters, considering most hydraulic parameters affecting their performance, except for canal bed slope. The current work aims to explore the extent to which canal bed slope affects the performance efficiency of water energy dissipaters behind head structures, ensuring their safety. The experiments utilized a tilting flume under controlled conditions at six different bed slopes (0.05% to 0.30%) in addition to a zero bed slope, with five discharge values ranging from 9.76 to 17.14 L/s. Through 150 experimental runs, all hydraulic parameters affecting the performance efficiency of the water energy dissipater (relative energy loss, hydraulic jump, sequent depth ratio, and jump length) are measured and recorded. The results clearly show that increasing the canal bed slope to 0.20% enhances the water energy dissipater’s performance efficiency by 31.9%, reduces the jump length by 20% and lowers the sequent depth ratio ( y 2 y 1 ) by 20%. The recommended relative dissipater location ( L b b ) of 5.83 is accurate for canals with slopes up to 0.20% but for steeper slopes, this ratio must be checked.

Improving the operational effectiveness of water structures requires effective hydraulic design. Significant changes in water levels, velocity distribution, heading up, and energy loss occur at the entrance zone of these structures because of the interaction between the canal inside slope and upstream wing walls geometry. However, prior research has not adequately assessed the integrated hydraulic effects of these characteristics. This study experimentally examines the interplay between wing wall type and canal inside slope on the hydraulic performance of water structures. A total of 360 laboratory experiments were conducted using four upstream wing wall configurations (box, broken, curved, and splayed) and three canal inside slopes (Z = H:V = 1:1, 3:2, and 2:1), representing common conditions in Egyptian irrigation canals. The findings show that hydraulic behavior is strongly influenced by both parameters. When compared to the box type, the splayed configuration exhibited the lowest energy losses and afflux, with reductions of up to 84.12% and 30.01%, respectively. Furthermore, steeper slopes were linked to higher afflux and energy losses, while the 1:1 canal inside slope continuously exhibited maximum hydraulic efficiency. New empirical relationships were developed to enable the prediction and optimization of irrigation structure performance. The outcomes support sustainable water management by increasing operational dependability, lowering maintenance requirements, and increasing hydraulic efficiency. For both new construction and rehabilitation projects, the study suggests giving priority to splayed wing walls in conjunction with a 1:1 canal inside slope, considering the soil conditions.

Railway infrastructure plays a critical role in transportation networks, and ensuring its integrity and resilience is of utmost importance. Culverts are vital components of railway tracks, providing drainage and water management to prevent structural damage and disruptions. Identifying suitable locations for culverts requires careful evaluation and consideration of various factors. A study using GIS techniques was conducted on an existing commercial railway track in the Eastern Desert of Upper Egypt to assess the effectiveness of existing culverts in preventing flash floods. The culvert suitability index map revealed that areas with high slopes and large drainage areas were more susceptible to water accumulation, indicating the need for culverts. The study also highlighted areas where culverts could be installed without significantly impacting existing infrastructure. It was recommended to install culverts in 27 locations along the track where they intersect with watercourses. Existing culverts covered just 93 watercourses, while 5 specialized culverts needed to be relocated. The findings have significant implications for railway engineering, as using GIS techniques streamlines the process of culvert location evaluation, saving time and resources. The systematic approach ensures culverts are installed in the most appropriate locations, minimizing flooding risks and ensuring the safety and efficiency of railway operations.

Over the past two decades, rapid climate change has severely impacted people’s lives globally, affecting their safety and sustainability. Water, a vital human resource, has been severely affected, with drought and high temperatures leading to desertification, the drying up of rivers and lakes, spontaneous fires in forests, and massive floods and torrents due to melting ice and rising sea and ocean surface water levels. The expected impacts of climate change on the Nile, Egypt’s primary water source, are significant. These impacts can vary across regions, depending on factors like local climate, socio-economic dynamics, topography, and environmental nature. Upper Egypt, characterized by arid and semi-arid regions, faces water scarcity and socio-economic development challenges. Climate change exacerbates these issues, posing significant threats to the region’s ecological sustainability and socio-economic development. Therefore, it is crucial to address these impacts to ensure the Nile’s continued vitality and sustainability. The study aims to analyze the climate change data over the past few decades, analyze its characteristics, and model its effects on Upper Egypt’s water sources. The study expected a big decrease in the water resources of the Nile. While what is currently occurring in terms of fluctuating rainfall rates between scarcity and severity contradicts the results of those studies, that is the best evidence of the need for further research and studies to obtain more reliable and consistent results with the reality that it may help decision-makers to develop scenarios to manage climate change effectively, preventing or reducing negative effects, and finding suitable alternatives. Studies predict a 10% decrease in Nile revenue at Aswan High Dam Lake by 2095, with some predicting a 30% increase. This lack of credibility underscores the need for more comprehensive studies.

The design of water structures is crucial for efficient hydraulic performance. Open irrigation canals are designed with specific inside slopes to ensure maximum stability, while the wing walls of water structures constructed across the canal are designed to maximize hydraulic performance. Therefore, ensuring compatibility between the canal inside slopes and the wing wall types used on both the upstream and downstream sides is of great importance for achieving optimum hydraulic performance. However, our literature review indicates that this necessary compatibility between the canal inside slope and the wing wall type has not been adequately researched and studied. This present study aims to numerically investigate the relationship between open canals inside slopes and wing wall types, as well as examine the impact of using different wing wall types with varying canals inside slopes on hydraulic performance efficiency. Four canal inside slope ratios (Z) (H: V = 2:1, 1.5:1, 1:1, and 0.75:1) are simulated using the HEC-RAS program, along with two types of water structure wing walls (box and broken). The HEC-RAS numerical model provides accurate and reliable estimations of the hydraulic characteristics of flowing water through the structure, and the results are verified using previous experimental measurements available in the literature. The variation (ε%) between the measured and computed results is consistent for estimating specific energy, velocity, heading (afflux), and water depths. The simulation results demonstrate that changing the canal inside slope (Z) from 0.75:1 to 2:1 results in a relative increase of approximately 27.84% in heading up and 15.06% in velocity. Additionally, the broken wing wall proves to be more effective than the box type. The study confirms that the optimal configuration for the most efficient performance of water structures involves utilizing broken-type wing walls on the upstream side, along with a 1H:1V canal inside slope. This configuration reduces the relative velocity and relative heading by approximately 12% and 20%, respectively, which is considered highly favorable.

Not so long ago, due to the great shortage of irrigation water, Egypt on the national level, began to mix (in a certain percentage) raw agricultural drainage water with fresh irrigation water. This mix was for enhancing its quality to be compatible with the proper specifications and standards of irrigation water, for using it safely in the irrigation process, to compensate for the severe shortage of available quantities of irrigation water. In some regions, and local farms, to save their crops farmers were forced to use the drainage water available in the nearby area drains for irrigation due to the problem of insufficient water in the distributary canals. Such use of raw drainage water can cause great harm and has a negative impact on the environment generally, especially on aquatic and agricultural life. Therefore, in this study we aim to introduce an efficient, simple, cheap mobile treatment unit. This new introduced treatment unit can be used locally on farms to solve the problem of insufficient quantities of irrigation water, and also in some cases where the irrigation water, for various reasons, does not reach the ends of some irrigation canals thus causing a serious problem for farmers. The new introduced treatment unit, using some environmentally friendly cheap materials in certain tested quantities and doses, through three designed cylindrical filtration containers connected with each other respectively, succeeded in converting raw contaminated drainage agricultural water into safe water that can be safely and directly used in the irrigation process.