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Purpose: In early 2018, the corporate non-performing loan ratio began to climb steadily, showing some threats to the financial health of the Egyptian banking system. Therefore, the determinants of corporate and retail credit risks in the banking sector of Egypt during 2013-2020 were studied in the present work to provide better insight into how the macroeconomic and microeconomic determinants affect the level of credit risks. Methodology: the present research utilized the Dickey-Fuller test to assess the stationarity of the panel data and then employed the generalized method of moments (GMM) for data analysis. Findings: it was found that asset size, loans-to-deposits, inflation, gross domestic product (GDP), and lending interest rate were negatively associated with the corporate credit risk, while the capital adequacy ratio, foreign direct investment (FDI), and public debt were positively related. Moreover, the loans-to-deposits ratio was negatively associated with retail credit risk, while the capital adequacy ratio was positively related. Originality/Value: In this context, classifying the credit risk into corporate and retail credit risk was very crucial as it illustrated that the corporate credit risk was more sensitive to the determinants than the retail ones. Purpose: In early 2018, the corporate non-performing loan ratio began to climb steadily, showing some threats to the financial health of the Egyptian banking system. Therefore, the determinants of corporate and retail credit risks in the banking sector of Egypt during 2013-2020 were studied in the present work to provide better insight into how the macroeconomic and microeconomic determinants affect the level of credit risks. Methodology: the present research utilized the Dickey-Fuller test to assess the stationarity of the panel data and then employed the generalized method of moments (GMM) for data analysis. Findings: it was found that asset size, loans-to-deposits, inflation, gross domestic product (GDP), and lending interest rate were negatively associated with the corporate credit risk, while the capital adequacy ratio, foreign direct investment (FDI), and public debt were positively related. Moreover, the loans-to-deposits ratio was negatively associated with retail credit risk, while the capital adequacy ratio was positively related. Originality/Value: In this context, classifying the credit risk into corporate and retail credit risk was very crucial as it illustrated that the corporate credit risk was more sensitive to the determinants than the retail ones.

A pot experiment was performed in the green house of Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt during the winter seasons of 2019 and 2020 to investigate the effect of exogenous application of ascorbic acid (AsA) and putrescine (Put) in ameliorating the growth parameters of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plant under saline conditions (9.3 and 14 dS m-1). Two concentrations of either AsA (100 and 300 ppm) or Put (100 and 200 ppm) were foliar-sprayed individually or in combination with both salt concentrations. Vegetative, yield, and anatomical characters, leaf photosynthetic pigments, and grain crude protein declined in response to stress, while electrolyte leakage (EL), proline, glycine betaine (GB), total carbohydrates and antioxidant enzymes increased under same conditions. The maximum increments in vegetative characters were notable at concentrations of either AsA at 300 ppm or Put at 100 ppm. Yield characters were enhanced at 300 ppm AsA and both concentrations of Put. Improvement in anatomical features of leaf and stem was achieved with the combination of either AsA at 300 ppm or Put at 100 ppm with salinity at 14 dS m-1. AsA was more effective in enhancing photosynthetic pigments and crude protein individually or in combination with salinity. Combinations of either AsA or Put with salinity induced decrements in EL, GB and antioxidant enzymes and increments in proline and total carbohydrates. In conclusion, foliar application of AsA and Put could be considered an eco-friendly approach to alleviate the adverse effects of salinity on morphological and physiological characters of barley.

The Egyptian higher education system has become increasingly emphasized on quality, illustrated in quality initiatives emanated by the establishment of the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE) to ensure quality education in Egypt. This paper aims to establish and test dimensions for measuring service quality in higher education, through conducting a comparative study between accredited colleges by NAQAAE represented in College of Management and Technology - AASTMT and non-accredited colleges represented in Faculty of Commerce - Alexandria University. A positivist research philosophy and mixed research methods were used. Data were collected by conducting questionnaire surveys and semistructured interviews: 550 questionnaire surveys were distributed, 500 students completed their respective surveys that were distributed evenly between the two university and 14 staff members participated in the qualitative data collection by interviewing seven staff members from each university. The findings of the study revealed the existence of a wide gap in quality dimensions and implementation between the two studied universities.

This research identifies the correlation between the political-economic variables and FDI flows in Egypt after the of January 25 Revolution. It argues that political instability as a political variable and as economic variables, in addition to other relevant political and economic variables, during, this period, had negatively affected FDI environment and dragged Egypt to become a potentially expelling country for FDI. This research has a structure which consists of an introduction, methodology, literature, discussion and analysis and finally conclusion. This research is an analytical not a descriptive work. Besides, it uses a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches in addition to data collection techniques. Viewed from an academic perspective, this research gives a theoretical context of the nature of the correlation between the political and economic variables in a certain environment and foreign direct investment, in this research the case of Egypt after the January 25 revolution.

The current study aimed to investigate the influence of dietary zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs), curcumin nanoparticles (CurNPs), and Bacillus licheniformis (Bl) on the growth, carcass, blood metabolites, and the count of some cecal microorganisms of Indian River (IR) broilers. Chicks were allotted into seven experimental groups: control group, 1st, 2nd and 3rd groups were given diets enriched with ZnNPs, CurNPs and Bl (3.0, 5.0 and 2.0 cm3/kg diet, respectively). The 4th, 5th and 6th groups were given diets supplemented with ZnNPs (3.0) + Bl (2.0) (ZP); ZnNPs (3.0) + CurNPs (5.0) (ZC) and ZnNPs (3.0) + CurNPs (5.0) + Bl (2.0) (ZCP) cm3/kg diet, respectively. The results revealed that ZnNPs and CurNPs exhibited a considerable antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. They also inhibited the growth of microbes in a range of 50–95 µg/mL. The diet supplemented with ZnNPs, CurNPs, and Bl increased the body weight compared to the control after five weeks of age. Additionally, values of daily feed intake increased in these groups; however, the feed conversion ratio decreased. All values of carcass traits were better than that of the control. The treatments led to decreased abdominal lipids compared to the control. The activity of liver enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity decreased in the treated groups. In a converse trend, the levels of oxidative enzymes, amylase, protease, lipase and immunoglobulin were higher than that of the control. Meat quality properties were improved and cecal microbial counts were decreased. In conclusion, the ZnNPs, CurNPs, and Bl improved the broiler’s weights, carcass traits, meat quality traits, as well as some blood indices and cecal microbial load. Therefore, the inclusion of ZnNPs, CurNPs, or Bl is recommended for broiler feeding regimens to improve the performance and health status.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most important global public health problems. The imprudent use of antibiotics in humans and animals has resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The dissemination of these strains and their resistant determinants could endanger antibiotic efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify and develop novel strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. This review provides insights into the evolution and the mechanisms of AMR. Additionally, it discusses alternative approaches that might be used to control AMR, including probiotics, prebiotics, antimicrobial peptides, small molecules, organic acids, essential oils, bacteriophage, fecal transplants, and nanoparticles.

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of feed restriction systems, herbal mixture and their interactions on growth performance, carcass traits, and microbial aspects of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit kept from 5 to 13 weeks of age. A 3 × 4 factorial arrangement was performed, including three feed restriction systems (ad-libitum, 90%, and 80% of ad-libitum) and four dietary supplementation levels of herbal mix (0, 0.30%, 0.50% and 0.70%). A total number of 120 rabbits (male and female ratio 1:1) at five weeks of age were randomly allotted into twelve experimental groups (n = 10 each). Results showed a significant decrease in body weight, body weight gain and feed intake in restricted-fed rabbits compared to the control group (ad-libitum). HERBS levels significantly influenced the growth performance and carcass traits of rabbits. The herbal blend had a positive effect on reducing the population of pathogenic microorganisms and increasing the population of lactic acid bacteria. Conclusively, it could be concluded that the feed restriction system has beneficial effects in the improvement of feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight gain, and carcass traits. In addition, HERBS supplementation to the growing rabbits resulted in significant improvements in growth performance, carcass characteristics, and microbial aspects of rabbits kept from 5 to 13 weeks of age. Highlights: This work investigated the effect of feed restriction systems (FRS), herbal mix (HERBS), and their interactions with rabbits. Restricted feed decreased live body weight during all ages studied. Feed conversion ratio, weight gain and carcass traits were improved due to FRS. The HERBS improved the growth, carcass traits, and microbial aspects of rabbits.

Background Radiotherapy and cyclophosphamide (CYP) treatment can adversely affect various organs, including the liver and pancreas. In addition to hepatic toxicity, CYP and/or ionizing gamma radiation (R) may impact the exocrine and endocrine functions of the pancreas. This study aims to determine whether sodium thiosulfate (STS) can protect male rats against CYP and/or R-induced damage to the pancreas and liver. Materials and methods Sixty-four rats were divided into eight groups, with STS administered for 14 days prior to CYP and/or R treatment. Enzymatic activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as insulin and glucose levels, were assessed. Amylase and lipase concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined to evaluate lipid peroxidation. Glutathione content (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified. Gene expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk-1) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining with anti-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (anti-Nrf2) antibodies were performed. Results STS treatment increased GSH, GST, and insulin levels while reducing ROS, MDA, glucose, amylase, and lipase levels. Furthermore, the STS treatment significantly downregulated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as ERK and JNK Additionally, STS administration increased Nrf2 levels in both pancreatic and hepatic tissues while minimizing pathological changes. These findings suggest that STS may hold promise as a protective agent against CYP and/or R-induced liver and pancreatic damage. Conclusion The ability of STS to enhance antioxidant defenses, reduce oxidative stress, modulate signaling pathways, and preserve tissue integrity suggests its therapeutic potential in mitigating the detrimental effects of these damaging conditions by inhibiting the MAPK, ERK, and JNK signaling pathways.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the most common hematological malignancies globally, and it is projected to increase in the coming years. It occurs more frequently in males and affects older individuals. Presenting symptoms can range from being asymptomatic to severely debilitating. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology, clinical features, and prognostic outcomes of patients with MM in the only tertiary cancer hospital in Qatar. Patients with symptomatic myeloma diagnosed at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research in Qatar between 2007 and 2021 were included. Data on demographics, laboratory work, bone marrow analysis, radiology, and given treatment were collected. Descriptive statistics, survival curves, and multivariable cox regression were used to identify independent mortality risk factors. During the study period of 15 years, a total of 192 patients were diagnosed with MM. The incident rate of myeloma cases in 2021 was 8 patients per million. The median age of patients was 57 years [range 22-88], with 68% being above the age of 50 years at diagnosis. The majority of patients were male (71%) and (85%) were expats. At the time of diagnosis, most patients [  = 169 (88%)] had bone lesions, and 27% had extramedullary plasmacytoma. Anemia, hypercalcemia, and spinal cord compression were reported in 53%, 28%, and 7% of patients, respectively, at presentation. The monoclonal immunoglobulin subtypes were IgG, IgA, and free light chain in 52%, 16%, and 26% of patients, respectively. The overall median survival was 103 months (95% CI 71-135 months). In a multivariate cox-regression analysis for risk factors, only high serum calcium (≥ 2.7 mmol/L) was associated with increased mortality (HR: 2.54, 95% C.I.: 1.40-4.63,  = 0.002). Patients who received an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) had significantly better overall survival. In this comprehensive study of patients with MM treated in a country with a small and young general population, centralized hematology care, and free cancer care, we found a low but increasing incidence of MM and a good overall survival. Hypercalcemia was confirmed as a negative risk factor. ASCT had a significant positive impact on survival and should be provided to all patients eligible for this treatment, even in the era of novel agents.

A total number of 360 laying Japanese quail (8 weeks of age) were randomly divided into 12 groups. Birds in all groups had nearly the same average initial body weight. A factorial arrangement (4 × 3) was performed including four levels of dietary cadmium (Cd) as cadmium chloride (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg diet) and three levels of feed additives (without, 300 mg/kg ascorbic acid and 1.50% natural clay). Results revealed that Cd contaminated feed caused significant (p < 0.01) retardation in body weight, lower egg number and egg mass and worse feed conversion. On the other hand, the addition of ascorbic acid or natural clay to quail diets caused a significant (p < 0.01) improvement in all studied traits. With respect to the interaction among Cd and the experimental additives, results showed that within each Cd level, ascorbic acid or clay supplementation recorded the highest body weight, egg number, egg weight and mass in addition to improved feed conversion. Cadmium levels decreased (p < 0.05) blood total protein, albumen and A/G ratio. Both 300 mg ascorbic acid and 1.50% clay increased (p < 0.05) blood total protein and albumen compared to non-supplemented groups. It could be concluded that the consumption of polluted diets Cd causes deleterious effects on the productive performance of laying Japanese quail. The addition of ascorbic acid or natural clay to the diets causes beneficial effects on productive performance traits, improves egg quality criteria and diminishes the toxic effects of Cd.