Genetic behavior of earliness and yield traits of some rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a critical staple food crop that provides more than half of the world's population with its primary nutritional source. Breeders and growers of rice would profit from robust genotypes with improved morphological and yield-related characteristics. The aim of this work is to determine the nature and magnitude of gene action on yield quantity and quality, to define the best combinations of earliness and yield characters, develop hybrids that perform better on yield quantity and quality. Three replications were used in the experiment's randomized complete block design (RCBD). During the 2016 season, seven different parents, namely Sakha 101, Sakha 104, Sakha 105, Giza 177, Black rice 1, Black rice 2, and Black rice 3, were crossed using A 7 × 7 half-diallel set analysis without reciprocals to generate 21 F1 crosses. The results indicated that genotype-dependent mean squares were very significant for main characteristics. Significant combining ability SCA variance estimates were more considerable than general combining ability (GCA) variance for all characters except days to 50% flowering. It demonstrated that both additive and non-additive genetic variance played a role in expressing the attributes investigated. The Parents, Black rice, Sakha 105, and Sakha 101, were recognized as the best general combiner for most growth and yield attributes. Sakha105 × Black Rice 1, Sakha105 × Black Rice 2, Sakha101 × Sakha104, Sakha105 × Giza 177, and Sakha101 × Giza 177 all demonstrated non-additive gene activity for the majority of maturity and yield traits. Heterosis breeding would be most efficient for qualities where high performance was determined by dominance and dominance gene effects. The increased yield of crosses results from parents with a diverse genetic background and genetic diversity.

Development of an Arabic version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire as a tool to study eye diseases patients in Egypt

AIM

To develop and test an Arabic version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25).

METHODS

NEI-VFQ-25 was translated into Arabic according to WHO translation guidelines. We enrolled adult consenting patients with bilateral chronic eye diseases who presented to 14 hospitals across Egypt from October to December 2012, and documented their clinical findings. Psychometric properties were then tested using STATA.

RESULTS

We recruited 379 patients, whose mean age was (54.5±15)y. Of 46.2% were males, 227 had cataract, 31 had glaucoma, 23 had retinal detachment, 37 had diabetic retinopathy, and 61 had miscellaneous visual defects. Non-response rate and the floor and ceiling numbers of the Arabic version (ARB-VFQ-25) were calculated. Internal consistency was high in all subscales (except general health), with Cronbach-α ranging from 0.702-0.911. Test-retest reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.79).

CONCLUSION

ARB-VFQ-25 is a reliable and valid tool for assessing visual functions of Arabic speaking patients. However, some questions had high non-response rates and should be substituted by available alternatives. Our results support the importance of including self-reported visual functions as part of routine ophthalmologic examination.

Laparscopic cholecytectoy: a local experience in Sudan

OBJECTIVE

Poverty, pressing priorities and tropical diseases prevailed added to the factors that delay the implementation of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC). The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of LC in this country (Sudan).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

From June 1995-May 1999, we enrolled 288 patients presented with symptomatic gallstone disease without pre-selection criteria. 242 were females and 46 were males, mean age 48.1 years.

RESULTS

LC was successful in 201 (94.81%) patients including 49 patients with acute cholecystitis. The operation was done the same day of admission and 60 (29.35%) were able to leave as a day case. There was no mortality and no common bile duct injury.

CONCLUSION

LC is feasible, safe and cost effective in Sudan.

Multiple personality disorder

This paper presents a description of Multiple Personality Disorder--its development, etiology, and presentation. The paper stresses the criteria for diagnosis that can help professionals to identify individuals at an early stage. An overview of treatment approaches and indications for hospitalization, length of treatment, and goals are also explained.

Lipids and fatty acids composition in Bolti (Tilapia nilotica) fish flesh as affected by environment

Bolti (Tilapia nilotica) fish and water samples were taken from three different locations in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. Water quality and oil characteristics in fish flesh were studied. The obtained results showed that crude lipid and phospholipid contents of fish fillet were increased by increasing total solids and total hardness of fish environment. Peroxide, iodine and acid values of fish oil influenced by water quality. Fatty acids composition in fish oil showed a wide variation due to differences in water-head. Total unsaturated fatty acids in drainage fish oil were higher than that found in farm's fish oil, while the lowest percentage of unsaturated fatty acids was recorded by Nile's fish oil. Generally, palmitic was the main saturated fatty acid in fish oil, whereas it constituted about 66-68% of the total saturated fatty acids. Nile's fish oil contained higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids than those of drainage and farm's fish oils. In contrast, odd and branched fatty acids content in drainage and farm's fish oils were higher than those found in Nile's fish oil. Concentrations of arachidonic and erucic acids in oil extracted from drainage fish were higher than oil extracted from farm's fish, while the lowest concentration for these fatty acids were found in oil extracted from Nile's fish. Although the acid value and peroxide value of drainage and farm's fish oils were slightly high, it is still accepted for human consumption according to The Association of Fish Meal Manufacturers.

A case study: schizophrenia and tactile hallucinations, treated with electroconvulsive therapy

The authors review the literature on tactile hallucinations. They examine its occurrence in a schizophrenic patient who had poor response to neuroleptic medication, after several admissions to a psychiatric hospital. The patient responded well to electroconvulsive therapy when it was combined with a small dose of a neuroleptic. Due to prolonged use of neuroleptics he developed tardive dyskinesia that responded only to a large dose of lecithin. They discuss the use of electroconvulsive therapy in schizophrenic patients who have shown little or no response to neuroleptics after prolonged use. The case presented showed better clinical response with smaller doses of antipsychotic medication, when combined with electroconvulsive therapy.

Depression and suicide in schizophrenic patients

This study supports the idea that schizophrenic patients represent a distinctive subgroup of patients who can suffer from a major depressive illness and also can commit suicide. The study showed that 22.4% of the schizophrenic population in a medium-sized psychiatric facility showed severe depressive symptoms that met the criteria for the diagnosis of a major depressive episode according to the DSM-III classification. Seven patients committed suicide during the acute phase of the illness--five during hospitalization, and two within a year of discharge. Nine patients attempted suicide during the hospitalization period, and 10 attempted suicide within a year of discharge. Nearly one-third (215) of the patients were readmitted during that year because of a recurrence of acute schizophrenic symptoms; of these, 84 were having severe depressive symptoms. The study also provides indications of the causes of suicide in these patients.

Two sisters folie à deux: a case of attempted suicide

A case of Folie à Deux in two sisters is presented, in which the distortion of reality did not arise from one sister influencing the other, but from the fact that both already possessed repressed psychotic mental contents which erupted earlier in one and later in the other, and ended in a conjoint determined suicidal attempt.

The autoscopic phenomenon: case report and review of literature

This paper presents the case report of a 28-year-old man with a rare form of autoscopy. His appearance when he was admitted suggested the possibility of "flash back," due to his long history of abuse of psychotomimetic amphetamines and LSD. The complete psychiatric history and evaluation made it clear that the diagnosis should be that of schizophrenia. He was described as a solitary, withdrawn person, who had lost drive and was emotionally blunted. He often experienced feelings of unreality and appeared to be almost continually deluded and hallucinated. His main delusions were centered on the phenomenon of "autoscopy." The uniqueness of this case is the patient's delusion of watching himself on a television screen acting as one of the "stars."

Multiple personality. A case study

This paper presents a single case study of multiple personality that developed from traumatic experiences in early childhood and adolescence. The paper discusses how the therapist's attention can reinforce the development of new personalities. Hypnosis, psychotherapy and advancing age all have an effect on the resolution of multiple personality. In this case, there was only partial success in resolving all the personalities, because of earlier reinforcement.