Egyptian Production Research Articles

Knowledge visualisation and strategic decision-making outcomes in small and medium-sized enterprises

This article examines the direct and indirect (through strategic decision-making processes) impacts of knowledge visualisation on strategic decision quality and strategic decision commitment in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Structural equation modelling (SEM) methodology was used to test the research model based on data collected from 209 senior managers of manufacturing SMEs that operate in food production in Egypt. The results suggest that knowledge visualisation has a significant positive effect on strategic decision-making processes, strategic decision quality and strategic decision commitment. In addition, strategic decision quality is dependent on strategic decision-making processes, but decision-making processes do not significantly impact strategic decision commitment. Knowledge visualisation through strategic decision-making processes could help organisations in making high-quality decisions. The research adds to the theories of knowledge-based view (KBV) and rational decision-making by demonstrating that knowledge visualisation could be a catalyst for effective strategic decision-making.

Techno-Economic Study of the Potential for Green Hydrogen Production in Egypt

Green hydrogen (GH) is considered one of the best environmental alternatives fuel in the coming decades. GH is produced from natural solar energy and water resources. Although water is available in most countries, but sun is restricted in some regions along the year. Electrolysis process has a potential technology for clean and sustainable source of energy. It is also the best alternative to produce valuable hydrogen fuel (HF) from solar energy. The current study presents a theoretical analysis of designing a small-scale hydrogen generation unit containing two electrolyzers with 100 cells and 40 cm plate diameter to produce 75 kgH2/day with consumed electric energy of 3360 kWh and 675 liter water/day, respectively. For designing a large-scale hydrogen generation plant with 280 ton/day (102,200 ton/year), the required electric power can be estimated as 618,333 kW (618.3 MW). Consequently; the electric energy consumption in MWh required can be estimated as 14,840 MWh and the required daily water consumed in m3/day can be estimated as 2,520 m3/day. Considering the price of 1.0 kg of GH equals 3 USD, the cash flow diagram, showed that the project can recover the invested budget (2,259,390,903 USD) within 8 years and earn a remarkable profit of 5,115,728,534 USD after 25 years. This means that the investment in green hydrogen production projects is highly profitable as hydrogen can be sold as direct fuel, energy carrier or to be reacted with nitrogen to produce green ammonia where can be utilized as fertilizers and other useful industrial applications

Efficacy of Insecticides against the Tortoise Beetle, Cassida vittata Vill (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the side effects on Predators in Sugar Beet Fields

Sugar beet crop has recently become the first source of sugar production in Egypt, followed by sugar cane. The tortoise beetle,

Potential of wind energy and economic assessment in Egypt considering optimal hub height by equilibrium optimizer

In Egypt, the wind market increases quickly to make it one of the top countries in the Middle East. This study discusses the viability of wind resources and the economic assessment for four locations in Egypt: Ras El-Hekma, Farafra, Nuweiba, and Aswan through two stages. In the first stage, the optimal hub height for some wind turbines has been calculated by using Equilibrium Optimizer (EO) algorithm to achieve maximum wind energy with overall minimum cost. The second stage, the economic assessment has been evaluated by using such turbines to calculate the cost of energy (COE) compared to the global and Egyptian production costs of wind energy. Developed MATLAB programs are applied for statistical analysis of wind data. The results have shown that Ras El-Hekma’s average wind speed is higher than other sites and its wind energy potential is the best. Moreover, the economic assessment for selected locations turns out that Ras El-Hekma by using EWT-DW61/22 turbine has the lowest COE.

Primena uređaja za određivanje mehaničkih osobina zrna

Physical and mechanical properties of food crops gain importance during design of threshing and shilling machine. In Egypt, Corn is emerging as the third most important crop after rice and wheat, and it has significance as a source of a large number of industrial products besides its use as human food and animal feed. Corn is the Third largest cereal produced in the world with a trend of rising production in Egypt. The normal area for Corn in Egypt was hectares with production about tones in the year 2016. Four method of Corn shelling namely shelling cob grain by hand, octagonal Corn Sheller, hand operated Corn Sheller and beating by stick method were carried for removing Corn kernel from the cob. As well as, the determination of mechanical properties go to improve and optimize of separation and cleaning machine. The current study, some physical and mechanical properties of corn seeds were determined such as the average length, width, thickness and arithmetic diameter. In the moisture 8.5 and 16.7 % d.b., the results showed that, the thousand seed mass increased from. The rupture force value ranged from 141.2 to 431.6 N for corn type TWC370 dent and SC white flint at 8.5 % moisture content respectively. The rupture force value ranged from 182.3 to 529.8 N for corn type TWC370 dent and SC white flint at 16.7 % moisture content respectively. Also, the rupture energy value ranged from 279.5 to 1093.8 J for corn type TWC370 dent and SC white flint at 8.5 % moisture content respectively. The rupture energy value ranged from 369.3 to 1189.8 J for corn type TWC370 dent and SC white flint at 16.7 % moisture content respectively. But there was no regular trend for rupture force on the grains width section with increasing the moisture content.

Characterization of multidrug-resistant potential pathogens isolated from milk and some dairy products in Egypt.

This study aimed to explore the incidence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus in raw milk and some Egyptian dairy products, namely Kariesh cheese and rice with milk. 112 samples (70 raw milk, 30 Kariesh cheese, and 12 rice with milk) were randomly collected from different districts in Cairo and Giza, Egypt. The samples were examined for E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus presence. The susceptibility of the obtained isolates was tested against 11 antimicrobials using the disk diffusion method, and further, the presence of AMR genes was examined. The incidences of E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus were 69.64%, 12.5%, and 16.7% in the examined samples, respectively. The antibiogram indicated that E. coli isolates (n = 60) were resistant to gentamycin (73.33%), ampicillin (AM, 53.3%), and cefotaxime (CTX, 16.66%). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli strains (n = 5) were tested for β-lactams resistance genes. blaTEM was detected in all isolates, and two of them additionally carried blaCTX-M. Staphylococcus aureus isolates (n = 10) were resistant to AM (100%), followed by tetracycline (TE), CTX, and gentamycin (60% each). All MDR S. aureus strains (n = 4) carried blaZ and tetK, and three of them additionally carried aac(6')-aph (2''). Bacillus cereus isolates (n = 30) showed resistance to AM (100%), amoxicillin (20%), and TE (6.66%). bla and tetA genes were detected in all MDR B. cereus isolates (n = 6). Our findings denote the high incidence of potential health hazards in raw milk and some of its products and the existence of AMR bacteria, including MDR strains, which can cause human illnesses that are difficult to treat.

Colibacillosis in lambs and kids in Egypt: Prevalence, serogroups, antibiogram profile, virulence genes distribution and antimicrobial resistance genes.

Small ruminants have a socioeconomic impact on Egypt's production of meat, milk, and wool. Hence, every effort should be taken to prevent infections. To elucidate the prevalence and serogrouping of Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains from diarrheic lambs and kids, determine their antibiotic susceptibility and associated risk factors affecting the occurrence of the disease, and establish the most common virulence genes marker and major antimicrobial resistance genes. A total of 150 diarrheic animals (95 lambs and 55 kids) at different ages and seasons were subjected to clinical examination. Rectal swabs were collected from 150 diarrheic animals for isolation and biochemical identification of E. coli. The bacteriological examination revealed that 62/95 lambs and 26/55 kids with percentages of 65% and 47%, respectively, showed infection with E. coli. Serotyping of 88 isolates of E. coli revealed the strains belonging to O2(8), O55(17), O84(5), O17(4), O6(8), O91(17), O26(9), O103(5), O126(5), O124(6), and O159(4). A total of 21 isolates were examined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of virulence and resistance genes. All examined isolates possessed a combination between intimin gene and heat-stable toxin (100%), the serine protease (pic) gene on 8/21 isolates of O55, O2, O6 (38%), and α-hemolysin gene on 8/21 isolates of O26, O91(38%) while adherent invasive gene (invA) gene on 3/21 isolates of O124, O159 (14%) which divided diarrheagenic E. coli into four types assigned to be atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (48%), atypical enterohemorrhagic E. coli 35%), atypical enterotoxigenic E. coli (6%), and atypical enteroinvasive E. coli (11%). On the other hand, the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance to ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline (100%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (92%) but were highly sensitive to gentamicin, imipenem, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and amikacin (100%). Concerning to ß lactams antibiotic resistance genes of examined isolates had blaSHV (100%) and blaCTX-M (43%). For tetracycline, we detected the tetA in all examined isolates. The wide spread of atypical E. coli strains among diarrheic lambs and kids with marked resistance to several antibiotics of interest and the detection of major resistance genes assess the potential risk of this pathogen to animal and public health.

The Impact of using Technology Packages on the Economics of Sugar beet Production in Egypt): A Case Study in Fayoum Governorate

The data indicates a decrease in the self-sufficiency rate of sugar year after year. It is clear that there is a great difficulty in increasing the area of sugar cane, in exchange for an opportunity to increase the area of sugar beet in the lands. Modern reclamation and producers face difficulty in using and applying the technological packages used in the production of sugar beet. The Fayoum governorate is considered one of the most important sugar beet producing governorates. Therefore, an intentional random sample was taken from the sugar beet producers in it from the users of the technology package (laser, cultivation using the Printer machine, and fertilization inside the irrigation hoses). It became clear from the results of the productivity function that the most important factors affecting the production function are evident. The element of the number of automatic working hours in laser leveling has a direct effect, while the two elements of seed and nitrogen fertilization have an opposite effect, that is, rationalizing them and not being wasteful in both leads to an increase in beet production. Automatic and reverse increase by rationalizing seed cultivation and fertilization inside the irrigation hoses, and the preference of the producers who used the bundles was confirmed, as the production reached 24.6 tons of beets per feddan, compared to 20.5 tons for non-users of the bundles, and the net yield per feddan amounted to about 10165 pounds, compared to 4130 pounds for non-users of the bundle. Therefore, the research recommends paying attention to the cultivation of sugar beet using the technological package, expanding its cultivation in new lands, and working to contract with producers in the supply of the crop, and for the factory to receive the production at the date agreed upon with the producer.

Tetracycline Resistance Genes Prevalence in Enterococcus spp. from Dairy Products in Egypt

Tetracycline Resistance Genes Prevalence in Enterococcus spp. from Dairy Products in Egypt

Trends and Prospects of Change in Wheat Self-Sufficiency in Egypt

Egypt is the largest wheat importer in the world; however, it produces only half of the 20 million tons of wheat that it consumes annually. The population of Egypt is currently growing by 1.94% per year, and projections predict that the demand for wheat will be nearly doubled by 2050. Russia and Ukraine are major wheat exporters to Egypt and globally, shipping grains from ports in the Black Sea. The ongoing conflict aggravates the already precarious food security situation in Egypt and many other import-dependent countries in Africa and Asia by disrupting supplies and accelerating food price hikes. Wheat is a strategic commodity in Egypt. Its production is a question of political stability. Against this backdrop, the Egyptian government declared gaining wheat self-sufficiency as a strategic aim. This study provides an overview of the degree and trends of cultivated wheat area, yield, production, and wheat self-sufficiency in Egypt between 2000 and 2020, followed by a qualitative analysis determining external pressures and system-immanent drivers that had an impact on wheat self-sufficiency in the past two decades in view of predicting future pathways to achieve wheat self-sufficiency in a sustainable way. The study underlines some critical external pressures such as agricultural policies, (subsidized) production inputs, climate conditions, global wheat supply chains, and system-immanent drivers such as domestic wheat supply prices and yields influencing the area of wheat cultivation and its productivity. There is a significant need to implement more effective and long-term sustainable agricultural policies in order to make wheat production in Egypt (more) attractive and feasible for smallholders again.

The impact of climate change-related factors on food production in Egypt

The impact of climate change-related factors on food production in Egypt

Future trends for the production and consumption of white meat in Egypt

Egypt has recently been seeking to adopt a food policy that would raise the level of protein nutrition as one of the important measures of the level of progress and people's well-being. The state's plans aim to achieve self-sufficiency in food commodities as much as possible. The problem of the study is represented in the insufficient local production of white meat to meet the consumption needs, which leads to an increase in imports of the commodity, and consequently, the burden of the cost of importing it from abroad, and consequently increasing the deficit in the trade balance, and thus negatively affecting the balance of payments. The study aims to analyze the indicators of white meat production in Egypt by identifying the most important economic factors affecting both production and consumption and trying to predict the future values of these factors.

An annotated bibliography of lactic acid bacteria in dairy products in Egypt

An annotated bibliography of lactic acid bacteria in dairy products in Egypt

Risk Management for Some Important Agricultural Products in Egypt

Risk Management for Some Important Agricultural Products in Egypt

Trends of Milk Production in Egypt

Trends of Milk Production in Egypt

Consumer consciousness of organic products and demographics characteristics: Are they related?

Purpose of the research: Determining the relationship between consumer’s consciousness of organic products (environmental and health concern, organic knowledge, and consumer’s attitude) based on their demographics (age, gender, education, and income). Design/methodology: The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 18 was used to analyze the data. The following statistical procedures were used: Cronbach’s Alpha and correlation coefficients to assure the reliability and validity of the scales. Descriptive analyses, Multiple linear regression analysis, T-test, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and finally, Post–Hoc test to conduct comparisons to test the significance between Age, Education, and Income, and independent variables. Results/Findings: the main objective and hypothesis were accepted except environmental and health concern and organic food knowledge based on gender, organic food knowledge among on age, organic food knowledge, consumer's attitude based on education, environmental and health concern, and consumer's attitude based on income. Conclusions: this thesis had contributed to the previous research in the field of organic products, initially, the current study sought to study the relationship between consumer’s consciousness toward organic products and demographics, accordingly, questions were derived and hypothesis were also drawn from overall objectives by answering the research question and confirming the hypothesis ,the results of this study could be served as foundation for further research about organic products in Egypt.

From SWOT Analysis to Strategic Options: Potential Development of Qaroun Lake in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt

Lake Qaroun is one of the important sources of fish production in Egypt. The lake also considered as important source for minerals. It has a very important economic role. The high levels of pollution in the lake require strategic interventions which might not of significant impact unless deeply investigated. This research aims at determining the most important strategic options for the development of Lake Qaroun using the SWOT Analysis Matrix. Secondary data is used in addition to primary data that obtained through one-on-one interviews using pre-designed structured-questionnaire. Interviews included fishermen, experts and government officials. Results of the SWOT analysis matrix refer to high negative impacts on the development of the lake by both internal and external environment. The implementation of the strategic development of the lake will lead to wasting the resources and capabilities, and reduce the opportunities available at the present time and, thus, the inability of the lake to face the threats it faces at the present time and in the future. It’s essential, before starting the development process, to clarify the most important negative results and provide the necessary instructions and directions. It’s highly recommended to have a powerful integrated entity to be responsible for the management of fisheries in Fayoum Governorate. The entity should include representatives from the following organizations; Fayoum University and other related research institutes, the General Authority for Fish Resources Development, Egyptian Environment Affairs Agency of the Ministry of Environment, water resources police, the cooperative union for water wealth and fishermen's cooperative societies.

Cartographic knowledge, colonialized-colonizer spaces: Egyptian maps of Harar, 1875–1885

This paper introduces a break with the traditional monolithic view of colonial cartography in Africa, in which cartography as a colonial instrument belonged only to the European powers. These took credit for cartographical projects, without acknowledging the work of non-European powers. It historically contextualizes the Egyptian cartography of Harar (today in Ethiopia) during 1875–1885, and throws light on various aspects such as European and Egyptian production and reproduction of cartographic knowledge, cartography's role in the establishment of an Egyptian colonial core in Harar, and its representations of a non-European urban colonial hub, as well as a symbols of territoriality and sovereignty. The paper also reveals the later British and Ethiopian reproduction of Egyptian cartographic knowledge, which practically served their own imperial interests in Harar's region since mid 1880s, and illuminates the significance of the Egyptian cartographic knowledge to shaping of twentieth century's Egyptian historical narratives and collective memories.

The Predynastic Egyptian Fibrous Ware (Second Half of the Fourth Millennium BC): A Reassessment Based on New Analysis

This paper presents the results of a reassessment of the Predynastic Egyptian Fibrous Ware (Naqada IIA–B–Naqada IIIA2–B) diffused in Egypt and beyond. Fibrous Ware is characterised by a particular temper made of long fibres and has been defined as a typical Lower Egyptian ceramic production. The present study is based on the technological analysis of pottery samples from Tell el-Iswid, Tell el-Samara and Tell el-Fara’in/Buto, as well as on bibliographical research into the chronological and geographical diffusion of this ware. The results have shown that Fibrous Ware is characterised by its own unique technological tradition, which differs from the tradition identified for the Lower Egyptian production and is therefore not part of the latter. Finally, as a working hypothesis to be developed in the future, we propose to view this ceramic as the representation of mobile or semi-mobile groups who were located at the fringes of the western Nile Delta.

Effect of Feldspar, Compost and Biochar on Cultivating Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata) Plant and Soil Sandy Clay Loam Properties

The crop production in Egypt relies completely on imports to meets its annual requirement of potash fertilizers besides; the high cost of conventional, water soluble K fertilizers constrains their use by most of the farmers in the country. This work was conducted cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata) plants cv. Dokki 126 at Ismailia Research Station, Agricultural Research Center (A.R.C), Egypt, during the two summer seasons of 2020 and 2021 to study the effect of some treatments as potassium feldspar, biochar and compost on soil sandy clay loam properties and the physical and chemical contents of cowpea. A randomized complete block design was used. The results show that the potassium feldspar + biochar + Compost significantly increased the vegetative growth expressed as plant length, number of leaves, number of branches, pod length, Pod diameter, Pod fresh weight, Pod dry weight, Plant fresh weight, Plant dry weight. Also the results indicated that soil pH and EC was not significantly affected in the soil treated with potassium feldspar + biochar + compost. There are positive significant effects on nutrient availability (NPK) in both seasons by using potassium feldspar + biochar + compost in soil. The application of OMW can improve soil quality indices (nutrients (N, P, and K), organic matter, pH, total porosity, bulk density.