Hossam Moustafa Darrag

Background: Productive, reproductive, hematological and plasma biochemical traits have been shown to be affected by an extensive management system. Methods: Omani and Sudani (Anafi) camel breeds and their Hybrid bred in Riyadh region under an extensive management system for monitoring the number of services per pregnancy, gestation period, lactation period and daily milk production in addition to analysis of hematological and plasma biochemical traits. Result: The study explored the lactation period, daily milk production (kg), services per pregnancy and gestation period in addition to the hematological and plasma biochemical traits of Omani, Sudani camel breeds and their Hybrid animals. The results revealed significant differences in several key blood cell indices, suggesting variations in the physiological characteristics of these groups. The number of services per pregnancy was significantly higher in Omani and Sudani camel breeds if compared to their Hybrid camel group. The Omani and Sudani groups generally showed higher values for RBC-related parameters (RBC, PCV, Hb), while the Hybrid group exhibited higher granulocyte counts. The results revealed significant differences in several key metabolic indicators, suggesting variations in their physiological and metabolic states. The findings indicate distinct biochemical profiles across the Omani, Sudani and their Hybrid camel groups. The Hybrid group consistently showed a higher total protein and GGT, while the Sudanese group had higher glucose and LDH. The Omani group, in contrast, had the highest urea levels but lower values for several other parameters, including glucose and liver enzymes. It could be concluded that physiological, hematological and plasma biochemical traits might differ due to physiological traits and camel breeds.

Evapotranspiration (ET) estimation is crucial for sustainable water resource management in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in the Arab world, where water scarcity remains a significant challenge. The objectives of this study were to map dominant ET estimation techniques and their geographic distribution, demonstrate fusion-based ET estimation under data-scarce conditions, and examine their alignment with climate change and food security priorities. The study reviewed 1279 ET-related articles indexed in the Web of Science, highlighting methodological trends, regional disparities, and the emergence of data-driven techniques. The results showed that traditional methods—primarily the Penman-Monteith model—dominate nearly 70% of the literature. In contrast, machine learning (ML), remote sensing (RS), and artificial intelligence (AI) collectively account for approximately 30%, with hybrid fusion frameworks appearing in only 2% of studies. ML applications are concentrated in Morocco, Egypt, and Iraq, while 50% of Arab countries lack any ML or AI-based research on energy transition (ET). Complementing the bibliometric analysis, this study demonstrates the practical potential of ML-based ET fusion using Landsat and the FAO Water Productivity (WaPOR) data within Saudi Arabia. A random forest model outperformed traditional averaging, reducing the mean absolute error (MAE) to 215.08 mm/year and the root mean square error (RMSE) to 531.34 mm/year, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.86. The findings advocate for greater support and regional collaboration to advance ET monitoring and integrate ML-based modelling into climate resilience frameworks.

Background: Saccharomyces cerevisiae and/or essential oils have become increasingly important in poultry production due to improved gut health, enhanced growth performance and boosted immune system. Methods: A total of 160 one-day old Ross-308 broiler chicks were randomly distributed into four groups, each consisting of four replicates with ten birds per replicate. The chicks were fed a basal diet containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae and essential oils at concentrations of 0 MBPRO, 200 MBPRO, 400 MBPRO and 800 MBPRO mg/kg feed respectively. Body weight gain (g), feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded. In addition, carcass traits were determined through dressing percentage and carcass parts. Furthermore, blood samples were collected for determination of serum metabolites and antioxidant profiles. Result: The results showed that dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae and essential oils incorporation improved (P less than 0.001) body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Carcass traits remained unaffected by the combination treatments if compared to control. Serum metabolites and antioxidant profiles were improved with the combination treatments. It could be concluded that Saccharomyces cerevisiae and essential oils incorporation at 400 mg/kg feed proved to be an effective growth promoter, enhancing growth performance, metabolites and antioxidant profiles in broiler chicks.

Background: Probiotics have become increasingly important in poultry industry due to their potential beneficial impacts on improved gut health, enhanced growth performance and boosted immune system. Methods: One hundred and sixty one day old Ross308 broiler chicks were allocated at random into four groups, with each group having four replicates of ten chicks. The groups were fed a basal diet containing Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) probiotic at concentrations of 0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg feed. Feed intake (g), feed conversion (g/g) and body weight gain (g) were recorded. Dressing percentage and goblets parts were recorded upon slaughtering of control and B. licheniformis groups. Blood samples were centrifuged for serum collection and further analyses of antioxidant and metabolites profiles. Additionally, the antibody titer of the humral immune response against the Newcastle virus vaccine was evaluated using the ELISA test. Result: The results of the current study showed that dietary probiotic B. licheniformis consumption improved (P less than 0.001) feed intake, feed conversion ratio and body weight gain. Dressing and goblets percentage remained unaffected by the dietary probiotic B. licheniformis incorporation if compared to control. Serum antioxidant and metabolites profiles were improved with the probiotic B. licheniformis incorporation. Additionally, significant differences between control, 250 B. licheniformis, 500 B. licheniformis groups compared to 1000 B. licheniformis group on antibody titer (p less than 0.05) against Newcastle. It could be concluded that adding 250 or 500 mg/kg of B. licheniformis probiotic to the feed significantly boosted broiler chick growth, improved their metabolic function and enhanced their antioxidant capabilities.

The objective of our work is to create a practical procedure to produce in vitro cell suspensions of O. basilicum and to ascertain the factors that encourage enhanced secondary metabolite production. We investigated the impact of these metabolites on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus’s adult and larval target enzymes. The explants were cultivated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media with 0.1 to 1 mg/L plant growth regulators (PGRs) to create calluses. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), kinetin, 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA), and indole-3-butryic acid (IBA) at 0.5, 0.5, 0.1, and 1 mg/L, respectively, with 3% sucrose led to the highest biomass accumulation. In cell suspensions, the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were 39.68 and 5.49 mg/g DW, respectively, with abiotic Verticillium dahliae as an activator. Rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, nepetoidin A and B, salvigenin, and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside as flavonoids and phenolics were analyzed using UPLC-I TQD MS, with the highest concentrations reached after 40 days. The extract demonstrates insecticidal activity against the fourth-instar larvae of R. ferrugineus, with adults at 1197 µg/mL and 12.5 µg/larvae as LC₅₀ and LD₅₀ values. The extract inhibited acetylcholine esterase (AChE), acid phosphatases (ACPs), alkaline phosphatases (ALPs), and gamma-aminobutyric acid-transaminase (GABA-T) in larval tissue in vitro, with IC₅₀ values of 124.2, 149.3, 157.8, and 204.8 µg/mL, and in vivo, with IC₅₀ values of 157.2, 179.4, 185.3, and 241.6 µg/mL, after 24 h. Pure compounds identified the activity of the extract, showing the inhibition of AChE, ACPs, ALPs, and GABA-T with IC₅₀ values ˂ 200 µg/mL (in vitro). The ABMET examination revealed good oral permeability, and docking tests showed that the compounds bind AChE, ACPs, ALPs, and GABA-T. These findings show that a green bioprocessing method such as an O. basilicum cell suspension is a quick and straightforward technique for producing phenolic compounds, and it may be used to develop sustainable bio-insecticides and new green procedures.