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Due to scarcity of precipitation in Egypt, the groundwater is the basic source of fresh water in the regions located far from the River Nile. This contribution represents an integration between geophysical and hydrogeochemical studies to determine the distribution of groundwater and assess the water quality of the fractured limestone aquifer in the western end of Al Kurimat-Al Zafrana Road, (The east of Al Kurimat area), Eastern Desert, Egypt. To determine the thickness and depth of the water-saturated zone and infer the quality of the groundwater, vertical electrical probing or sounding (VES) and electromagnetic probing in time domain (TDEM) measurements were performed in sites selected based on prepared digital elevation map. The results of the geophysical measurements were confirmed by calibrating the calculated electrical resistance values with design reports and log records of 18 wells have been drilled beside the geophysical sounding sites. VES and TEM data revealed the occurrence of one groundwater layers divides into two parts, which differ in thickness and water quality. The upper part of the aquifer has variable thickness (89–250 m) and resistivity values ranging from 27 to 76 Ωm, reflecting saturation with fresh water, whereas the lower part is thinner (6–20 m) and contain brackish water as indicated by lower resistivity values (8 and 23 Ωm). The geochemical results of eighteen samples of groundwater taken from wells dug in the aquifer of fractured limestone are used to verify the groundwater’s hydrogeochemical characteristics and its suitability for different uses, and to assess the processes controlled its chemistry. The domination of common ions was following the order of Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ for cations and Cl− > HCO3− > SO42− > NO3− for anions. Na–Cl is the most prevalent water type, whereas Ca-HCO3 type is subordinate. Saturation indices of anhydrite, halite and gypsum are observed as undersaturated, while 61% of samples reveal oversaturated respecting to calcite and dolomite minerals. According to the understanding of groundwater geochemical characteristics, ion exchange, silicate and carbonate mineral dissolution, and the evaporation process each have a great influence on aquifer chemistry. The total dissolved solids (TDS) and total hardness (TH) values signify that the most of groundwater samples (88%) are very hard brackish. Various hydrogeochemical indices (PI, RSC, SAR and Na%) indicate that the groundwater of the fractured limestone aquifer is permissible to excellent for poultry farming and irrigational purposes; nevertheless, the high salinity needs cultivation of crops and plants that support such high salinity and arid nature of the region. Additional studies are needed to assess the extent of groundwater pollution using other methods such as Induce Polarization measurements, contaminant transport modelling and isotopic analysis, as well as to successfully manage groundwater in this aquifer.

Subsurface structural trends and tectonics affecting the offshore Nile Delta area, Egypt, have been studied through the interpretations of gravity and magnetic data. Reduced to the pole, regional–residual separation, Tilt derivative and Euler deconvolution techniques are applied for the processing and interpretations of the magnetic and gravity data. The average depth of the sedimentary cover, estimated from the two-dimensional power spectrum technique ranges between 8 km and 13 km. The interpretation of the gravity and magnetic data indicates that the study area is affected by many subsurface structural trends. The NW–SE is the major trend related to El-Temsah and Misfaq-Bardwil trend. The NE–SW direction is the second dominant trend, related to the Rosetta trend. Other trends defined through the interpretation of gravity and magnetic data include: the N–S direction, related to the Baltim fault trend, the E–W direction, related to the Neogene hinge line and the NNE–SSW related to the Gulf of Aqaba. Accessory trends include the ENE–WSW, WNW–ESE and finally the NNW–SSW.

Root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) have been reported to be responsible for large economic losses of agricultural crops due to their wide host range and variety of suitable climates. The control measures of these parasitic nematodes depend upon synthetic nematicides and a small number bio-based products. Chemical nematicides are eliciting adverse effects on the environment and human health. In the present study, an alternative tool, nano-chitosan was tested for the control the root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita , and Tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV) in greenhouse-cultivated tomato. The effect of nano-chitosan on morphological (weight and length of shoot and root systems) and biochemical responses (Polyphenol oxidase, Peroxides, Total soluble phenol and Total protein) was assessed. The obtained results indicated that densities of Meloidogyne incognita alone or in the presence of TMV were decreased by nano-chitosan at a range of 45.89 to 66.61%, while root gall desntiy was reduced between 10.63 and 67.87%. Moreover, the density of TMV on tomato leaves singly or in the presence of M. incognita was suppressed at range of 10.26 to 65.00% after 20 days of infection, and reached up to 58.00% after 40 days of infection. However, soil application of nano-chitosan pre infection reduced TMV density only by 5.48%. Morphogenesis of tomato plants such as shoot and root systems were significantly improved. The impacts of nano-Chitosan applications on total soluble phenol, total protein, polyphenol oxidase and peroxides after 20 and 40 days of infections varied.

Background Appetite regulation involves a complex interplay between peripheral signals and central hypothalamic neuropeptides. Two key hormones in this mechanism are leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone that suppresses food intake, and Agouti-Related Protein (AgRP), a potent orexigenic neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Methamphetamine (METH), a widely abused psychostimulant, is known to alter metabolic rate and suppress appetite, often resulting in weight loss. However, the impact of methamphetamine use on leptin and AgRP levels remains underexplored. Investigating these hormonal changes may provide insights into the neuroendocrine basis of disordered eating behaviors associated with substance use. Objective This study aimed to assess the relationship between plasma leptin and AgRP concentrations in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder compared to healthy controls, and to evaluate their association with body mass index (BMI), addiction severity, and disordered eating attitudes. Methods A comparative cross-sectional observational study was conducted, including 20 adult males (Case group) who met the DSM-5 criteria for methamphetamine use disorder and 20 healthy drug- free males (Control group), matched with the patients for the socio-demographic data. Inclusion criteria limited participants to those with normal BMI to eliminate confounding from body weight. The patient`s recruitment was from the Psychiatry and Addiction Management Hospital of Cairo University, Faculty of Medicine (Kasr Al Ainy), while the healthy controls were recruited from the workers in Cairo University Hospitals. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), Addiction Severity Index (ASI), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) were applied. A sample of blood was taken from both groups to measure the leptin and AgRP levels. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v22. Results Plasma leptin levels were significantly higher in the case group (14.11 ± 0.85 ng/ml) compared to control group (6.43 ± 1.38 ng/ml), ( p  ≤ 0.001). Plasma AgRP levels were significantly lower in case group (19.3 ± 1.56 pg/ml) compared to control group (24.95 ± 1.91 pg/ml), ( p  ≤ 0.001).BMI did not differ significantly between groups (22.08 ± 1.11 vs. 21.64 ± 0.97 kg/m 2 , p  = 0.18), as per study design. Eating disorder symptoms (EAT-26) were significantly more prevalent among methamphetamine users (mean score 22.95 ± 6.29, 75% had scores > 20) versus controls (13.6 ± 5.21, 20% affected), ( p  ≤ 0.001).AgRP levels had statistically significant negative correlation with leptin ( r  = –0.757, p  < 0.001) and positive correlation with BMI ( r  = 0.587, p  = 0.007) in the case group. Leptin levels were negatively correlated with BMI in methamphetamine users ( r  = –0.822, p  < 0.001).No significant correlations between eating Attitudes test scores and hormonal levels in both groups. Conclusion Methamphetamine use is associated with a significant dysregulation in appetite-related hormones, characterized by elevated leptin and reduced AgRP concentrations, even in individuals with normal BMI. Moreover, Methamphetamine use disorder is associated with abnormal eating behaviors. This reflects the neurobehavioral impact of methamphetamine use on appetite, food control, and body image perception.

Purpose Assessment of individual VTE risk in cancer patients prior to chemotherapy is critical for determining necessity of interventions. Risk assessment models (RAM) are available but have not been validated for haematological malignancy. We aimed to assess the validity of the Vienna Cancer and Thrombosis Study (V-CATS) score in prediction of VTE in a variety of haematological malignancies. Methods This is a prospective cohort study conducted on 81 newly diagnosed cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Demographic, clinical and cancer related data were collected, patients were followed up for 6 months, and VTE events were recorded. Khorana score (KS) was calculated. Plasma D-dimer and sP-selectin were measured, and then, V-CATS score was calculated. Receiver operator curve (ROC) was used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of RAMs. A modified V-CATS was generated and subsequently assessed by using new cut-off levels of d-dimer and sP-selectin based on ROC curve of the patients’ results and compared the probability of VTE occurrence using all three RAMs. Results Among the 81 patients included in this study, a total of 2.7% were diagnosed with advanced metastatic cancer. The most frequent cancer was non-Hodgkin lymphoma (39.5%), and 8 patients (9.8%) developed VTE events. The calculated probability of VTE occurrence using KS, V-CATS and modified V-CATS scores at cut-off levels ≥ 3 was 87.5%, 87.5% and 100%, respectively. The AUC in ROC curve of modified Vienna CATS score showed significant difference when compared to that of V-CATS and KS ( P  = 0.047 and 0.029, respectively). Conclusion The findings of our study highlight the value of three VTE risk assessment models in haematological malignancies. The modified V-CATS score demonstrated higher specificity compared to both V-CATS and KS, while all three scores exhibited similar sensitivity. We encourage the implementation of RAMs in haematological cancers for an appropriate use of thromboprophylaxis.

This research project aims to conduct a comprehensive geophysical evaluation of the oil potential within the pre-rift Matulla Formation in the Rabeh and Edfu-Saqara fields, situated in the Gulf of Suez Basin. The investigation relies on the analysis of wireline logs from twelve wells, with eight drilled in Rabeh field (Nageh-1, South Malak-1, Tawoos-1, RE-8, RE-22, RE-25, RE-2 & RE-4) in the onshore south-western Gulf of Suez Basin, and four wells (GS323-1 A, GS323-4 A, Edfu A-3 & Edfu A-5 A) drilled in Edfu-Saqara field in the offshore central Gulf of Suez Basin. Additionally, the interpretation of twenty seismic sections covering the Rabeh field reveals the prevalence of NW–SE normal faults, supplemented by minor E–W faults. These faults play a crucial role in creating structural traps conducive to retaining oil and gas. The analysis of well logging data indicates encouraging petrophysical indicators for the Matulla sandstones, suggesting their potential as reservoirs in the studied fields. These reservoirs exhibit a moderate net pay thickness ranging from 25 to 400 feet, a fair to good net/gross ratio between 0.07 and 0.68, low shale content ranging from 0.03 to 0.20, excellent effective porosity ranging from 0.10 to 0.20, minimal water saturation ranging from 0.10 to 0.35, and high hydrocarbon saturation ranging from 0.65 to 0.90. The obtained results revealed that the Matulla Formation is being considered as a prospective hydrocarbon reservoir in addition to the widely recognized Nubia sandstones and Miocene reservoirs in both Rabeh field and Edfu-Saqara field. Moreover, the constructed iso-parametric maps for the calculated petrophysical parameters in the Rabeh field recommend a strategic focus on the eastern side of the Rabeh field for potential drilling locations, given the presence of high-quality Matulla sandstone reservoirs in that area.

This paper appraises the carbonate of the Abu Roash “D” Member as a case study for being a potentially fractured oil reservoir inside the Abu Gharadig Field, Western Desert, Egypt. The seismic interpretation revealed an asymmetrical east northeast (ENE)–west southwest (WSW) anticline dissected by several northwest (NW)–southeast (SE) normal faults. This reflects the well-known dextral wrench tectonics that affected the northern portions of the Western Desert through the Late Cretaceous time. The occurrence of fractures inside the carbonate of Abu Roash “D” Member is attributed to the abundance of the interpreted normal faults (extensional regime) in the study area. The qualitative well log assessment for the limestone of Abu Roash “D” in Abu Gharadig-5 Well (AG-5), which has been chosen as a case study in this research, shows that the most promising zone interval (zone I) is located between depths of 9855 and 9887 ft. The quantitative investigation displays that the examined zone has good petrophysical parameters with 0% shale volume, 9% effective porosity, 32% water saturation, and 0.03 bulk volume of water. These low water saturation (Sw) and bulk volume of water (BVW) values were obtained after applying the corrected value of the “ m ” of the Archie equation, which in the case of fractured porosity, should be less than 2 ( m  = 1.5 in the present study). Accordingly, using the exact “ m ” value to assess the oil potentiality of Abu Roash “D” Member in Abu Gharadig Field is vital for obtaining more accurate and reliable values of Sw and BVW.

The Abu Roash Formation (late Cenomanian–Coniacian) signifies one of the potential hydrocarbon reservoirs in Abu Gharadig Basin, northern Western Desert. This paper aims to carry out sequence stratigraphic analyses (based on seismic and well logs data) as well as petrophysical appraisal for Abu Roash Formation within Abu Gharadig field, eastern Abu Gharadig Basin. The sequence stratigraphic analysis exposed that Abu Roash Formation is classified into six (third) order depositional sequences: SQ-1 (Abu Roash G Member), SQ-2 (Abu Roash F and Abu Roash E Members), SQ-3 (Abu Roash D Member), SQ-4 (Abu Roash C Member), SQ-5 (Abu Roash B Member) and SQ-6 (Abu Roash A Member). The seismic interpretation step revealed that the study area is affected by ENE–WSW anticline plunges toward the NE direction and that this anticline segmented by NW–SE normal faults reflected the impact of the Late Cretaceous dextral wrench tectonic on the sedimentary basins located in the northern Western Desert, including the Abu Gharadig Basin. The petrophysical appraisal has exposed the presence of three oil-rich intervals in the study area. The first interval is located within the sandstones of the highstand systems tract of SQ-2, the second oil-rich zone occurred in the limestone of the transgressive systems tract of SQ-3, and the third favourable oil zone is associated with the sandstones of the transgressive systems tract of SQ-4. Taking into consideration the lack of the structural closures in the mapped horizons of the sequence boundary-3, sequence boundary-4 and sequence boundary-5, it is expected that the interpreted oil zones represent potential stratigraphic traps rather than structural traps. The outcomes of this study will improve the development of the Late Cretaceous stratigraphic plays in Abu Gharadig Basin in addition to the neighbour sedimentary basins in the northern Western Desert.

The study area is located in the southern part of Sinai Peninsula. This study was done to delineate the subsurface structure of the basement rocks affecting the groundwater potentiality in the study area and to perform the lateral and vertical variations in the subsurface lithologic properties. To achieve these, a high-resolution total intensity magnetic map and geo-electrical survey were acquired. Two-dimensional power spectrum, analytical signal, and Euler deconvolution techniques are applied on magnetic data. The geo-electric data interpretations concluded that, the study area can be classified into five units of sediments arranged as: (1) the top surficial layer of dry sand and gravels; (2) the second layer of silty sand layer with thickness ranging from 5 to 35 m; (3) the third layer of dry sand with thickness ranging from 5 to 130 m; (4) the fourth layer composed of saturated sand which was considered as the water-bearing zone of the investigated interval, its thickness ranges between 50m and more than 200 m; (5) the fifth layer is interpreted as basement rocks. The depth to the basement surface has an average value of 156 m at the eastern side and 758 m at the western side of the study area. This area is characterized by a graben structure bounded by major faults striking in the NW–SE direction and is considered one of the most promising regions for water resources in Sinai.

This paper reviews the main correlates for the failure of the Arab-Israeli peace process since its formal inception after the October 1973 War with special emphasis on the breakdown of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations at the Camp David II Summit held in July 2000. The paper disproves the widely held notion that the Palestinian side was mainly behind such failure by comparing various narratives of the deliberations of the summit. It also looks at the main factors which have been influencing Arab-Israeli relations since September 11, 2001. These are the advent of a neo-conservative administration into power in the USA, the September 11 events in the USA, the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq by the USA, and the change of Palestinian leadership. This paper shows the impact of these developments for the future of peace in the Middle East and attempts finally to outline the main lessons to be learnt from the failure of the Arab-Israeli peace process for the future of the Middle east.