In an attempt for utilization of some common spices, cinnamon bark, clove bud and ginger rhi-zom are popular implementations because of their flavoring and antioxidative activity, which mainly comes from polyphenols. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of spices or their essential oils compared with Diamicron30MR (60mg /100g diet) on the occurrence of oxidative stress in serum of induced diabetic rats by measuring the extent of oxidative damage as well as the status of the anti-oxidant defense system. Albino rats weighing 150 ± 5 g were injected with STZ (50 mg/kg) intraperi-toneally for induction of diabetes mellitus. Rats were divided into 17groups (each of 8 rats) of non-diabetic ,diabetic non-treated and diabetic treated rats with spice powders or their essential oils and mixtures. After 8 weeks, the diabetic rats fed on spices or their essential oils significantly decreased levels of blood glucose and significantly increased insulin level. The treatment also resulted in a sig-nificant improvement in lipid profile, liver functions and kidney functions. However, a significantly in-crement in the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPH-Px) and concentration of glutathione (GSH) were observed in blood of diabetic rats treated with all of the essential oils. The treated groups showed a significant decrement in thiobarbituric acid reac-tive substances (TBARS) in serum. Since the study of induction of the redox enzymes is considered to be a reliable marker for evaluating the antiperoxi-dative efficacy of the spices, these findings sug-gest a possible antiperoxidative role derived from such essential oils. Treatment with spices or their essential oils reduces the hepatic, renal, pancreat-ic and cardiac histopathological abnormalities as-sociated with STZ – induced diabetes mellitus

A laboratory study was performed to evaluate the role of Molass using four levels (C=0, 10, 20 and 40 g kg-1) on the water transport function [namely, penetrability (l), sorptivity (S) and infiltration rate (i)] during transient flow in horizontal infiltration in Sandy loam soil incubated with Molass at 25 ± 2°C and 80% relative moisture content at 33 Kpa. For 60 days. Boltzmann transformation  was used to esitmate penetrability by fitting the wet front distance X vs. square root of time (t). Equation of Philip (1957)  was used to estimate sorptivity (S) by fitting cumulative   depth of water observed (I) vs. . Infiltration rate (i) was calculated using equation. The contact angle (a), soil surface free energy  were measured and calculated for all soil treatments. We also studied the effect of Molass on aggregate stability from the values of Mean Wight Diameter (MWD) and Geometric Mean Diameter (GMD). Results showed significant response and decrease in all study water transport functions [(l), (S) and (i)] with distance 30 cm of wetting front advance in end time with increasing the  levels of Molass from 0.0 to 40 g kg-1. Value of contact angle increased from 49.54 to 76.17, while the value of soil surface free energy decreased from 135.9 to 76.8 (m N m-1). The addition of Molass played very important role in aggregate stability according to the value of MWD and GMD

Gum Arabic (GA), a natural plant extract, is frequently used for the preparation and stabilization of flavor emulsions that is commonly used in soft drink and flavored beverage industry. This study aimed to reduce the amount of GA in some flavor model emulsions for cost effectiveness and studying the effect of that on the stability of these emulsions against gravitational separation during storage. Five flavor model emulsions were formulated using pure citral and cinnamic aldehyde and their mixtures at different weight ratios. Results indicated that a flavor/gum ratio 1:1 or 1:0.5 was not able to stabilize the particle size of all emulsions which is manifested by increase in size by many folds during storage. Similarly, four of the flavor model emulsions showed instability behavior (creaming or sedimentation) toward gravitational separation at the same flavor/gum ratios. However, only one flavor model emulsion out of the five models showed a high stability against gravitational separation at flavor/gum ratio 1:1 or even 1:0.5. That emulsion model was characterized by having a density matching (similarity) between its dispersed flavor phase and its continuous water phase. This indicates the possibility of formulating some flavor emulsions with reduced amounts of gum Arabic only by matching the density between the flavor phase and the continuous phase of the emulsion.

Four stages of maturity acerola fruits (Malpigh-ia glabra L.) namely green, mature green/yellow, pale red and ripe mature were analyzed in fresh and dried at 50˚C under vacuum. Also, fresh fruits were used to prepare jam and mixed with different ratios of fig fruit. Results showed that protein con-tent was gradually decreased from 1.12 for green to 0.82% for ripe mature stage of acerola, while, the titratable acidity was decreased gradually with increasing the maturity stage while, the pH and soluble solids were gradually increased. The high-est percentages of reducing and total sugars were observed for pale red stage and the lowest were showed in green stage. Also, ascorbic acid was higher in green/yellow mature while in pale red and ripe stages were lower. Phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC in acerola fruit. The detected phenolic compounds were gallic, protocatechuic, catchein, catechol, chlorogenic, caffeic, syringic, ellagic, ferrulic, coumarine and cinnamic in both fresh and dried acerola. The green/yellow maturity of acerola extract recorded the highest percent of total antioxidant activity (74.46 %) while the lowest total antioxidant activity was observed in the ripe mature acerola (20.75%). Sensory evaluation of jam prepared from acerola and mixed with fig 1:1 recorded the highest scores compared to other prepared jams. Meanwhile, the content of ascorbic acid and total antioxidant activity were increased by increasing the percent of acerola fruit

A computer program based on windows application was developed using a Micro soft visual dot net software to determine the water requirements for vegetable crops in arid land. Through three simple steps, the user can easily calculate the water requirements for more than 35 vegetables. The first step is to locate the area of growing crops and compute the reference Evapotranspiration (ETref) using the Penman Monteith mathematical model. The second step is select the crop factor values and growing period lengths. Accordingly, the crop ET is calculated. The third step is to compute the total irrigation water requirements for the selected vegetable crop. It is intended in the paper to show all mathematical background used in the calculations. In addition, snap shot screens will be used to illustrate the use of the developed computer program.

The aim of this study was to use spreadsheet software (Excel) to solve linear programming models in formulating least cost rations of egg layers. The ingredients used are corn, wheat, soybean meal, barley, wheat bran, protein concentrate, limestone, salt, dicalcuim phosphate, vitamin and mineral premix, vegetable oil. Results showed that the starter optimum ration for layers from (0 – 6) weeks, consist of these ingredients (9.40, 26.91, 16.38, 38.71, 4.51, 0.95, 1.09, 0.25, 1.18, 0.25, 0.33)% respectively and from (6-12) week of (0, 73.43, 8.72, 0, 14.37, 0, 0.99, 0.25, 1.39, 0.25, 0.57) % respectively, from (12-18) week (0, 78.36, 6.17, 0, 12.02, 0, 1.44, 0.25, 0.87, 0.25, 0.61)% respectively, from (18 week - start of production) (0, 75.55, 13.85, 0, 3.81, 0, 4.25, 0.25, 1.16, 0.25, 0.86 )% respectively , and during productive period  from (0, 66.93, 10.62, 0,0, 9.09,9.01, 0.25, 3.82)% respectively, and the cost of these ration was 160.6, 130.70, 123.60, 145.22, 195.95) Iraqi Dinar/kg respectively. Results also show sensitivity report of allowable increase and decrease in ingredient cost and in constraint values and the shadow price.

ABSTRACT   Iron deficiency anemia is considered one of prevalent patients in developing countries, whereas it is well known that wheat flour is deficient in iron, hence, in this study wheat flour (72%) extraction fortified with celery seeds and cinnamon bark meal individually as a natural sources of iron at levels 5, 7.5 and 10 g/100 g wheat flour and preparation of biscuit samples. Iron content in wheat flour, celery seeds and cinnamon were determined. Biscuit samples were sensory evaluated and baking quality tested. Total iron and available iron were determined in biscuit samples. Biological evaluation for experimental rats designed and histopathological examination was tested for heart organ of rats. The results showed that wheat flour, celery seeds and cinnamon contained from iron 1.98, 57 and 50 mg/100 g respectively. Total iron and available iron increased in biscuits samples by increasing celery seeds and cinnamon additives compared with unfortified biscuits (control). Sensory evaluation of biscuit samples showed slight decrease in color, crunchiness and appearance while odor and taste significantly improved by increasing celery seeds and cinnamon additives compared with control. Baking quality of biscuit samples indicated increasing in weight, while volume, diameter and thickness slightly decreased by increasing celery seeds and cinnamon additives compared with control. Biological evaluation revealed that mean values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, serum iron and serum ferritin significantly improved after 8 weeks in groups rats fed on biscuits fortified with celery seeds and cinnamon compared with control. Histopathological overhaul declared amelioration in organ heart for groups rats fed on biscuits fortified with celery seeds and cinnamon compared with anemic control.

Two Field experiments were conducted during the two summer seasons of 2007 and 2008 at EL-Serw Agricultural Research Station, Damietta Governorate, Egypt to study the effect of the time removal of weeds on associated weeds, growth, yield and its components in direct seeded rice in salinity land. Echinochilon crus – galli, Echinochilon colunum, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus longus and Dicanthium annulatum  were the major weed species. Competition beyond 8 and 10 weeks from sowing and weed competition for the whole season caused drastic reduction in the panicle length, number of panicles / m2 weight of 1000grain and grain yield. Grain yield of rice increased significantly with the increase of the duration of weed-free period. Weed free for the whole season and weed free for 10,8,6 and 4 weeks from sowing and weed removal at 4 and 6 weeks from sowing gave good results in this respect in both seasons. The period during 4 and 6 weeks after sowing was found to be an important factor in crop/weed competition. Weed cause 20 to 95% yield loss. Direct seeded rice ecosystems are most vulnerable to weed competition. Weed free is the most common and predominant method of control and is cost-effective. In direct seeded rice emergence of weeds begins with the germinating rice seedlings. This leads to competition between weeds and crop right from the very early stages. The degree of yield losses would depend on the type of weeds and the stage and duration of their competition with the crop. It could be concluded that the critical period of weed competition in direct seeded rice among 4- 6 weeks from rice sowing, thus it's important to remove the weeds at this time.

Studies were accomplished to identify the important factors affecting successful virgin queens production in Sohag during 2007 and 2008 years. In order to find out the best teaching for rearing virgin queens by grafting method. Markedly differences in the mean number of virgin queens between single and double grafting methods, specially in spring and autumn seasons; in spring mean number of accepted cells of 43.77 with 37.66 emerged queens and 49.85 with 47.07 emerged queens were obtained when single and double grafting were used methods respectively. Spring season was favorable for queens rearing, followed by autumn and summer, while winter season came the latest. There was a clear relationship between larval age at grafting and the larval acceptance, one day old worker larvae gave the highest number of virgin queens emerged. On the other hand, the queen must be removed outside the hive 48 hrs before starting larval grafting to obtain the highest numbers of accepted queen cells. In general, double grafting, situating the cell cups frame in the hive center of the hive and fitting the cell cups on the top and bottom bar, gave the best method for queens acceptance and queens production. However, cell cups fitted on the edges of the bars were successfully reared when ambient temperatures were high in spring season, but queen cells in the center of the hive's brood nest were correlated with higher temperature and had a greater chance for emergence.

Experiments were carried out on honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera) during the winter of 2008 and spring of 2009 using colonies wintered with five levels of varroa infestation (0.0, 3.8, 9.0, 13.1 and 22.9%) in the Central Region of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The goal of the present work is to determine varroa treatment thresholds and colony collapse level. Response variables examined included varroa mite infestation level (%), cm2 of brood number of frames of brood, number of frames covered with adult honey bees and mites recovered on sticky boards. The data obtained reveled that no significant differences were noticed in cm2 of brood, number of frames of brood, and number of frames of bees in colonies (range of 0.0 to 9.0% varroa infestation or 0.0 – 0.9 mites/bee). Colonies with 13.1% infestation (0.13 mites/bee) exhibited a significant reduction in all measures of performance. The present results suggested that honey bee colonies can tolerate a level of 9.0% varroa infestation (0.9 mites/bee) during the winter without evidence of colony injury. It also suggested that 13.1% infestation (0.13 mites/bee) is the colony collapse or economic injury threshold in the Central Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also colonies with 12.3 or more mites falling on sticky boards after 48-hour period were likely to have lower populations of bees and brood the following spring.