Egyptian Authority Research Articles

Burnout syndrome, anxiety, and depression symptoms among workers in radiation field

BackgroundJob burnout is defined as physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion due to persistent work stress, and it includes emotional exhaustion (EE), cynicism (CY), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA) and usually leads to symptoms of depression, lack of motivation, and decreased enthusiasm. Previous studies from different countries have suggested that job burnout, depression, and anxiety are a common work-related problems. This study aims to assess for job burnout, depression, and anxiety among radiation workers in order to investigate the effects of radiation exposure during work on the mental health. This comparative cross-sectional study was performed on 208 workers in the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) and the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) at Cairo Governorate, Egypt. Study participants were divided into 2 groups: 1st group which included 104 workers among radiation field and 2nd group which included 104 workers and employees who do not often work among radiation field. Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale (MBI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) were used to assess for burnout, depression, and anxiety among study participants.ResultsThe prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, burnout, and among workers inside radiation field group were statistically significantly higher than those working outside radiation field group. Work type (WIRF) and number of working hours per week (> 40 h) were the significant risk factors for all the burnout, depression, and anxiety, while age (> 40–60 years old) was a significant predictor for depression, female gender was a significant predictor for anxiety, and both age (20–40 years old) and years of experience (≤ 10 years) were significant predictors for burnout among workers inside radiation field.ConclusionsBurnout, depression, and anxiety are common among workers inside radiation field with higher prevalence and severity than those working outside radiation field. Younger age, fewer years of experience, and more working hours per week are significantly associated risk factors for burnout among workers inside radiation field.

How Tourism Cultural Events Influence Multicultural Competence, Tourism Destination Image, and Visit Intentions: Evidence From the Pharaohs' Golden Parade

ABSTRACTThis study explores the impact of tourism cultural events on fostering multicultural competence and their effects on tourism destinations. Data were collected from viewers of the Pharaohs' Golden Parade broadcast on the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority's “Experience Egypt” YouTube channel. The data were analyzed using an inductive research approach, uncovering four distinctive themes: multicultural competence precursors, cultural tourism events' unique cultural and social elements, multicultural competence, and destination outcomes. Based on the study findings, a framework was proposed to depict the envisaged relationships between the four main themes. Practically, the study provides insights for destination marketing organizations on how viewers' impressions of cultural events on social media and official homepages could shape a destination's image and influence travel and word‐of‐mouth intentions.

Influence of a plasma focus device on the structural and optical properties of highly conductive AZO thin films

In the present work, we deposited Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films on microscope glass slides at different pressures (5, 10, 20, and 30 mTorr) using an EAEA-PFD (Plasma Focus Device of the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority) without any extra heat treatment. Argon gas provided the radiant energy needed to form a crystalline AZO film. This study investigated the deposition and features of AZO thin films. The impact of changes in work pressure on the microstructure, morphology, and optical attributes of AZO films was reported. The results demonstrated that varying the work pressure significantly affects the microstructure, morphology, crystallinity, optical absorbance, and optical energy gap. The microstructure and morphology were evaluated through XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical properties were analyzed using a UVvis double-beam spectrophotometer within a wavelength range from 300 to 1100 nm. XRD patterns indicating a zinc-blende structure and the Williamson–Hall approach were used to estimate the structural parameters. The estimated trend in the particle size of the AZO film demonstrates a decrease from 82 ± 5 nm to 48 ± 5 nm as the pressure increases. The calculated energy gap, Egopt, increases from 3.53 eV to 3.69 eV with increasing work pressure. The conductivities in terms of both optical and electrical decreased with increasing work pressure of the AZO films.

Technical records of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority :"study of its reality and vision for its development

Technical records of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority :"study of its reality and vision for its development

A Comparative Analysis of Radioactive Material Concentrations in Natural Sources Linked to Mining in Niger using two Measurement Methods

In the present work, we report the results of radioactivity measurements carried out in soils from the COMINAK and SOMAIR mining areas, using normal mode gamma-ray spectroscopy (NMGS) and thermal neutron activation analysis (TNAA). Radio activities were determined for two series radionuclides (U-238 and Th-232) and one non-series radionuclide (K-40) from measured gamma-ray spectra. The activity concentrations of U-238 and Th-232 were respectively determined from the average nuclide concentration [Pb-214 (295.2keV ; 19.20%), Pb-214(351.9keV ; 37.10%), Bi-214 (609.3keV ; 46.90%), Bi-214 (1120.2keV; 15.04%) and Bi-214 (1764.49 keV; 15.90%)] and [Pb-212 (238.6keV; 43.6%), Pb-212 (300.09 keV; 3.18%), and Ac-228 (911.2keV; 25.8%), Ac-228 (968.9keV; 15.8%), Ac-228 (338.32 keV; 11.27%)]. The activity concentrations of K-40 are determined directly by measuring gamma-ray transitions at 1460.8keV (100%) using a high-resolution pure germanium detector with good efficiency from the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority. We find that the result found in NMGS technique and TNAA technique for COMINAK soil sample for U-238 and Th-232 are 2.32mg/Kg, 2.36mg/Kg and 11.67mg/Kg, 11.72mg/Kg respectively the results are getting closer. In SOMAIR soil sample the result found for U-238 is getting closer 1.35mg/Kg and 1.34mg/Kg respectively for NMGS and TNAA and also for Th-232 the result is close 7.2mg/Kg and 7.87mg/Kg respectively for NMGS and TNAA. The results obtained confirm that one of the samples (COMINAK soil) is more radioactive than the SOMAIR soil samples, and the results are similar for both NMGS and TNAA techniques, with the exception of thorium in the SOMAIR soil sample. This study will help to assess the environmental impact around the mining areas.

Multi-Sensor Satellite Images for Detecting the Effects of Land-Use Changes on the Archaeological Area of Giza Necropolis, Egypt

The World Heritage Committee has been meeting to discuss the arrangements of existing World Heritage Sites, and, on 22–26 October, the area from Giza to the Dahshur was included in the list of World Heritage Sites. According to the Egyptian Antiquities Authority (EAA), the groundwater levels at the Pyramids Plateau are too shallow, which threatens the ancient Sphinx and Pyramids in Giza, Egypt. In addition, many geophysical studies have been carried out in the archaeological area of Giza, which prove that the area is facing the risk of a high level of groundwater, specifically threatening the Sphinx. Recent developments in Earth observation have helped in the field of land monitoring such as land use changes, risk observation, and the creation of models for protecting cultural heritage sites. This study aimed to examine the impact of land use changes on on the archaeological sites of the Giza Necropolis area by integrating various data sources including optical satellite imagery and SRTM data during the period of 1965–2019. A historical database of Corona 1965 and Landsat 2009 data was investigated along with the new acquisitions of Sentinel-2 2016 and Sentinel-1 2016 and 2019. In addition, the radar Sentinel-1 SLC data were collected and analyzed for calculating the land subsidence value in the area of interest through two periods between 6–30 July 2016 and 30 July–15 December 2016. Various methods were implemented, including cluster outliers, the Moran index, and spatial autocorrelation to examine the changes in urban masses. Additionally, the relationship between groundwater leakage and land subsidence in the region was investigated. The analysis was carried out using Envi5.3, ArcMap10.6.1, and SNAP6.0 software to extract spatial data from the raw data. The results from our investigation highlighted rapid changes in urban areas between 1965 and 2019. The data obtained and analyzed from optical and radar satellite imagery showed that changes in land use can cause changes in the topographic situation by decreasing the level of groundwater, which adversely affects Egyptian monumental pyramids and the Sphinx. Land use analysis showed that the urban area represented 7.63% of the total area of the study area in 1965, however it reached 32.72% in 2009, approximately half of the total area in 2016, and in 2019, the urban mass area increased to nearly two-thirds of the total area. The annual growth rate between 1965 and 2019 was estimated by nearly 0.642 km2/year. These land-use changes possibly affected the land subsidence value (−0.0138 m), causing the rising groundwater level close to the Sphinx. Using the information obtained from our RS- and GIS-based analysis, mitigation strategies have also been identified to support archaeological area preservation.

A new technique for using gamma irradiation to enhance silver nanoparticles synthesized by chemical reduction and their effect on tomato early blight disease under field conditions

Early blight disease causes a significant loss in tomato production. This study focuses on the effective suppression of Alternaria solani, which causes huge losses in tomato yield. This research was conducted at the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority Nuclear Research Centre. Infected plants were treated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Two chemical materials, sodium borohydride and trisodium phosphate, were used for the synthesized silver nanoparticles. 1% polyvinylpyridine (PVP) was used as a stabilizer agent. AgNPs were exposed to several doses of gamma irradiation (0, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 24) kilo Gray (kGy) in order to enhance and maximize the effect of AgNPs on Alternaria solani. UV–Vis spectroscopy (UV), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize AgNPs; sodium borohydride and trisodium citrate were used for the chemical reduction. AgNPs and AgNPs + gamma irradiation led to increases in shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight; they also elevated the antioxidant enzymes, as well as peroxides and catalase, when compared with control (untreated) plants. AgNPs and AgNPs + gamma irradiation decreased the disease severity compared with the control untreated. Our study not only corroborates established trends in nano-agriculture but also introduces novel insights into the specific effects of gamma irradiation on AgNP that led to a decrease in this size in the quantum dot range (3–10) nm, as shown in Tem. By drawing parallels with the work of esteemed researchers in the field.

The microbiological quality, shelf-life, and multidrug-resistant Salmonella contamination rates assessment in chicken giblets purchased from live poultry shops

The objective of the current study was to assess the shelf-life durations and hygienic standards of chicken giblets purchased from Egyptian live poultry outlets compared to the Egyptian Standardization Organization criteria. Salmonella prevalence and antibiotic-resistance profiles were also described. On the first day, forty-five giblet samples were randomly collected and evaluated for aerobic plate count (APC), coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, and multidrug-resistant Salmonella contamination rates using culturing methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, and the VITEK® −2 system. Four- and five-day shelf-life durations were assessed. All chicken giblets had acceptable APC levels below the 6 log cfu/g on the collection day, but 27 % were contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, rendering them unfit. More than 2-log CFU/gm of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus contamination was identified in 64 % and 58 % of the giblets, respectively. All targeted indices surpassed maximum authorized requirements after four and five days of chilling at 4 °C, coupled with the detection of obvious greenish discoloration and off odor. All twelve Salmonella Enteritidis were vulnerable to carbapenems, cefepime, and piperacillin/tazobactam, but 83 % were multidrug-resistant (MDR), with four demonstrating extended-spectrum beta-lactam resistance. This could be the first Egyptian report identifying such a high prevalence rate of Salmonella and MDR to key antibiotics in chicken giblets. The current study encourages Egyptian authorities to reevaluate laws governing live poultry outlets to reduce the risk of disease exposure, including the National Egyptian Food Safety Authority's direct supervision over these outlets to establish a stringent safety program.

Studying the Effect of the Instantaneous and Continuous Pollutants Sources on the Advection-diffusion Equation and Its Applications

This study investigates instantaneous and continuous sources as point, line, and area sources. Gaussian concentration in the case of the puff model with an instantaneous point source inhomogeneous longitudinal diffusion is investigated. The concentration is calculated using different dispersion parameters to get the proposed normalized concentration of the puff model at ground level around the centerline, which is compared with observed data by the Copenhagen experiment and previous work [1]. Also, the continuous point source is used to get the Gaussian plume model in three dimensions using dispersion parameters to compare with the observed concentration data measured by the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority for Iodine-135 (I135) in an unstable condition.

A configurable mining approach for enhancing the business processes' performance

AbstractBusiness is a war to get the attention you deserve from your enemies, and many competitors strive to gain a prominent position. Organizations are constantly seeking innovative ways to work to stay in a competitive business environment. Business process reengineering (BPR) is one of the most management approaches that are adopted by many organizations in order to achieve a dramatic increase in performance and cost reduction. Since the risks enfolded and failure rates related to BPR projects are very high, it is necessary to find ways to support success of BPR in a systematic approach. The major target of this article is to find the implementation of the proposed model to reengineer business processes (BPs) successfully via integrating critical success factors (CSFs) of BPR and BPs' performance. It is created to detect the inefficiencies and bottlenecks in the business process, decrease costs, time and increase quality of business processes, enhance financial environment and make an effective and efficient performance of the business process. It also applies a mining technique of association rule to examine the link between CSFs and several BPs and measures business processes' performance (intended BPR success) by process time, cycle time, quality and cost pre and post reengineering BPs. Thus, it uses a way to select the appropriate model for each business process. The proposed model will be implemented using a real world the Egyptian tax authority case study in order to prove its usefulness and efficiency. Then, inferred CSFs were applied according to each process, which proved the validity and success of the proposed model.

Can Digital Transformation Enhance Quality of Digital Services & Internal Operations: Evidence from the Egyptian Tax Authority

Can Digital Transformation Enhance Quality of Digital Services & Internal Operations: Evidence from the Egyptian Tax Authority

Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Risk Based Lot Release Policy for Biological Products in Egypt

For public health and lifesaving, timely access to high-quality biological products is essential. However, barriers including resource scarcity, limited human capacity, and complex supply chains impede this goal. National regulatory authorities should enhance their frameworks and move forward for regulatory convergence and harmonization & enhancing reliance practice in order to address these concerns. A risk-based lot release policy is one of the enablers that ensure implementation of smart regulations and best practices was employed by Egyptian drug authority (EDA) to boost the effectiveness of the lot release framework while upholding safety, efficacy and quality criteria. The legal framework for lot release in Egypt was examined using a regulatory impact analysis method. With a considerable impact on time and cost savings, as well as a better net benefit value, the new risk-based lot release policy has the potential to greatly increase the efficiency of Egypt's LR regulatory system for biological products. Nevertheless, significant challenges and unexpected consequences were also noted, including the need for ongoing capacity building and growing regulatory requirements based on best practices. The findings have major reflections for drug policy makers and regulators looking to enhance their biological product regulatory systems; since the policy's benefits outweigh these possible challenges. This paper offers a full examination of the risk-based lot release policy used by the EDA, Egypt for biological products, assisting in understanding both the benefits and challenges of this approach.

The Role of Digital Transformation in Reducing Tax Avoidance in Light of Political Matters “A Field Study”

The main objective of this research is to study the role of digital transformation in reducing tax avoidance, in light of political links and ensuring a more transparent tax environment, ultimately leading to an increase in tax revenue to achieve Egypt’s Vision 2030. The research was based on a field study, and data was collected through survey questionnaires. The research sample consisted of (100) individuals employed by the Egyptian Tax Authority. The researchers concluded that digital transformation provides the necessary electronic models and documents in all electronic tax accounting procedures, and also provides an intelligent electronic system that matches taxpayers’ declarations with e-invoices, thereby facilitating the detection of the largest possible number of tax avoidance cases, especially abusive tax avoidance, which is similar to tax avoidance. The results indicate a significant relationship between digital transformation and tax avoidance in the context of political links. The researchers also explained that it is necessary to take advantage of digital transformation through electronic tax accounting procedures to reform and improve the Egyptian tax system, reduce tax avoidance, and benefit from the positive aspects of political links, increase tax revenue for the state, and build an integrated and effective tax system. Keywords: Digital transformation, Political connections, Tax avoidance

An African “Constantine” in the Twelfth Century: The Architecture of the Early Zagwe Dynasty and Egyptian Episcopal Authority

An African “Constantine” in the Twelfth Century: The Architecture of the Early Zagwe Dynasty and Egyptian Episcopal Authority

The impact of ontology-based knowledge management on improving tax accounting procedures and reducing tax risks

This paper aims to investigate the impact of ontology-based knowledge management on improving tax accounting procedures and reducing tax risks, specifically focusing on the income tax system in a developing country. To achieve this objective, a mixed methodology approach was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. The data were gathered through document analysis, interviews, and questionnaires administered to stakeholders in the Egyptian Income Tax Authority. The findings of this study hold significance for both academic researchers and accounting practitioners. The results demonstrate numerous advantages associated with the utilization of ontology in tax management. It has the potential to reduce costs in tax advisory services, minimize errors in tax calculations, and enhance tax revenue generation by promoting transparency and accountability. The empirical analysis further confirms a positive correlation between ontology-based knowledge management and improved accountability procedures, as well as a positive correlation with the reduction of tax risks. These statistically significant relationships (r = 0.85, p < 0.01 and r = 0.79, p < 0.01, respectively) provide empirical evidence of the actual effects of implementing ontology-based knowledge management in improving tax accounting procedures and mitigating tax risks.

Study Gaussian plume model and the Gradient Transport (K) of the advection-diffusion equation and its applications

In this paper, one dimension time dependent and the steady state three dimensions of advection-diffusion equation (ADE) have been solved analytically to estimate the concentration in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) taking into account the assumption that the ABL height (h) is divided into sub-layers and the downwind distance is also divided into intervals within each rectangular area the ADE is estimated by using the Laplace transform method assuming that the mean values of wind speed and eddy diffusivity. The proposed model, Gaussian plume model and previous work (Essa et al.2019) was compared with the observed concentration of Iodine-135 which was measured at Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Nuclear Research Reactor, Inshas, Cairo Egypt. The statistical analysis shows that there is a good agreement between the proposed and experimental values of concentration.

Method of Development of a New Regional Ionosphere Model (RIM) to Improve Static Single-Frequency Precise Point Positioning (SF-PPP) for Egypt Using Bernese GNSS Software

Due to the lack of coverage of IGS in Africa, especially over North Africa, and the construction revolution of infrastructure in Egypt, a geodetic CORS stations network was established in 2012. These CORS stations are operated by the Egyptian Surveying Authority (Egy. SA) and cover the whole of Egypt. The paper presents a fully developed regional ionosphere model (RIM) depending on the Egyptian CORS stations. The new model and the PPP solution were obtained using Bernese GNSS V. 5.2 software. An observation data series of eight days (DOY 201–208)/2019 was used in this study. Eighteen stations were used to develop the RIM model for each day; fifteen stations were used to validate the new RIM model. A static SF-PPP solution was obtained using the CODE-GIM and RIM models. Comparing the outcomes to the reference network solution, based on the recently developed RIM model, the solution showed a mean error of 0.06 m in the East direction, 0.13 m in the North direction, and 0.21 m in the height direction. In the East, North, and height directions, this solution improves the SF-PPP result achieved by the Global Ionosphere Maps (CODE-GIM) model by 60%, 68%, and 77%, respectively.

Commemorative Gold Medal for the Ninth International Tourism Conference in 1933 at the Egyptian mint authority Museum in Cairo

Commemorative Gold Medal for the Ninth International Tourism Conference in 1933 at the Egyptian mint authority Museum in Cairo

Study the effect of different shapes of plume rise on Gaussian plume models and its maximum in unstable conditions

Exposure to radioactive pollutants such as Iodine-135 I135 seriously threatens public health and environmental balance. Monitoring and managing these pollutants require expensive economic equipment that is not suitable for low-income countries such as Egypt. Therefore, trying to derive a mathematical model that estimates the concentrations of these radioactive pollutants with high accuracy and a low relative error coefficient compared to the actually measured values ​​is very important. Therefore a mathematical Gaussian model was received to estimate the concentrations of I135 emitted from the research nuclear reactor in the Inshas region in Egypt using different shapes of plume rise in unstable conditions. A comparison between the derived model and its maximum values with observed concentrations data measuring on Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority for I135 in unstable conditions has been found. The derived model may be applied to estimate and predict the emissions of any radioactive pollutant for any similar area and similar type of used reactor, which provides high-precision technology with zero economic cost. The statistical technique shows that the entire Gaussian model and its maximum inside a factor of two with observed concentration data achieved 98%. In addition, the statistics show that all the Gaussian plume models and their maximum have a correlation coefficient of about 0.95%. Also, the normalized mean square error. And the fraction bias. are near-zero values in all Gaussian models and their maximum.

Studying the Effect of Two Analytical Solutions of Advection-Diffusion Equation on Experimental Data

In this article, two proposed analytical model solutions of the steady-state advection-diffusion equation were carried out using the technique of advection diffusion multilayer method (ADMM), variable separation technique, Fourier transform, square complement method, general integrated transport technique (GITT) and Laplace transform. This work considers the wind speed u, crosswind eddy diffusivity {k}_{y} and vertical eddy diffusivity {k}_{z} as functions of power law in vertical distance "z". This consideration was applied to the two analytical models. The predicted concentrations were calculated for neutral, stable and unstable conditions. The calculated concentrations for unstable conditions were compared with already existing experimental data measured for radioactive iodine-135 (I135) at an Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority test at Inshas. Also, the calculated concentrations for stable and neutral conditions were compared with already existing experimental data on iodine I-131 (I131) released from the research reactor. A comparison of the values of the proposed concentrations and the previous works is included in this article. It was found that the second predicted model was in good agreement with observed data in unstable, stable and neutral conditions compared with the first predicted model.