Background: Reducing the potential for large scale loss of life, large numbers of casualties, and widespread displacement of populations that can result from natural disasters is a difficult challenge for the individuals, communities and governments that need to respond to such events.

This research investigates the challenges facing drainage water reuse (DWR) strategy in Egypt using empirical modelling and sensitivity analysis. An empirical model, that can describe the relationship between the amount of DWR in the Nile Delta and its major challenges as predictor variables, was developed. A correlation was carried out followed by multiple regression analyses. In addition, sensitivity analysis was performed to detect the most effective challenge.It was found that some of these predictors are useful for predicting DWR using a significant regression model at 0.1% level. The results revealed that fresh water released to irrigation (FWRI) is the best predictor of DWR, followed by the irrigation improvement project areas (IIP-A) and rice cultivation area (RCA).However, it was clear that the effect of the RCA on the DWR is much stronger than the effect of IIP-As. Meanwhile drainage water quality (DWQ) varied within a narrow range without a clear tendency where DWR showed a positive trend (continuous increase). On the other hand, the sensitivity analysis revealed that reducing fresh water released to the irrigation system by 30% will lead to a reduction in drainage water reuse up to 50%, while reducing RCAs by 30% will result in a reduction of drainage water reuse by 14.8%. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. RÉSUMÉCette étude examine les défis auxquels est confrontée la stratégie de réutilisation de l'eau de drainage en Egypte, en utilisant la modélisation empirique et l'analyse de sensibilité. Un modèle empirique été développé, qui permet de décrire la relation entre la quantité d'eau de drainage réutilisée (DWR) dans le delta du Nil et les défis majeurs, utilisés comme variables prédicatrices. Une corrélation a été réalisée, suivie par des analyses de régressions multiples. En outre, l'analyse de sensibilité a été effectuée pour détecter le défi le plus efficace.Il a été constaté que certains de ces prédicateurs sont utiles pour prédire DWR l'aide du modèle de régression au niveau significatif de 0.1%. Les résultats ont révélé que l'eau douce rejetée dans l'irrigation (FWRI) est le meilleur prédicteur de la réutilisation des eaux de drainage (DWR), viennent ensuite les zones d'irrigation du projet d'amélioration globale (PII-A), et la région de culture du riz (RCA).Cependant, il était clair que l'effet de la RCA sur le DWR est beaucoup plus fort que l'effet de PII-A. En outre, la qualité des eaux de drainage (DWQ) varie dans une plage étroite et sans tendance claire, alors que DWR montre une tendance positive (augmentation continue). D'autre part, l'analyse de sensibilité a révélé que réduire de 30% la quantité d'eau douce injectée dans le système d'irrigation de se traduira par une réduction de 50% du volume d'eau de drainage réutilisable. Réduire les zones de culture de riz de 30% se traduira par une réduction des eaux de drainage à réutiliser de 14.8%.

Two drying systems, natural sun and solar energy systems (active and passive) were used in this research to determine the effect of drying systems on drying characteristics of marigold medical plant. The natural sun drying system gave the worst average drying rate of 0.29 % (db/min) due to long drying period of 39 h and low levels of drying temperature of 23.1 °C. The solar energy systems consist of two drying systems, passive and active solar drying systems. In the passive solar drying system (tunnels), the highest average drying properties were in tunnel 4 which had average tunnel temperature of 41.2 °C, the average drying rate was 0.64 % (db/min) and the total accumulated drying time was 16 h. In the active solar drying system, the time required for drying the marigold petals and its drying rate ranged from 29 to 31 h and 0.33 to 0.39 % (db/min) respectively. The active solar drying system increased the drying rate comparing with the natural sun drying system.

This research was carried out to investigate the feasibility of using an evaporative cooling system to improve the productivity of broilers. Two different treatments cool and control rooms were used in the experiments. Mathematical computer program was first developed and the output results were used for designing the evaporative cooler. The system was manufactured and installed in the cool room for field tests. A comparison was carried out, afterwards, between birds grown in the two rooms for the bird performance, feed conversion ratio, and mortality rates. A cost analysis proved that the profits were 2723 and 1820 EG.P./life cycle for the cool and control rooms, respectively. The profit of birds produced in the cool room was almost 1.45 times that of birds produced in the control room. Therefore, the evaporative cooler was successfully increased the profit and appeared economically feasible to use.

Marigold plant is considered one of the most important medicinal plants. It is used in pharmacological industrials, beauty tools and its pigment is utilized as a natural alternative of chemical pigment. So, the objectives of this paper are to determine the drying characteristic coefficients and investigate the chemical and sensory characteristics of dried marigold petals by utilizing electrical drying equipment at different drying air temperatures and airflow rates. In electrical laboratory drying system (ELDS), the experiments were conducted at two controlled factors to study the drying characteristics for marigold petals, airflow rate (Qe), cu-m/min. at three levels of (0.65, 0.81 and 1.05 cu-m/min.) and drying air temperature (T), °C at four levels of (43, 48, 53 and 63° C). At high drying air temperature levels of 63°C and air flow rates ranged at 0.65-1.05 had the best average drying rates of (9.28-11.63% db/min) and the best constant drying rate of (18.61-21.35% db/min). The highest drying factors were in the range of (3.462-4.56 1/h). It had the low critical moisture content time of (20-40 min.). Also it had the best sensory characteristics for color, appearance and quality. It had the best carotene concentration (Con) value range of 310.35-312.29 mg/g with an excellent unchanging control treatment which had value of 332.39 mg/g. Drying air temperature (T), °C had a high significant increasing effect on all drying, sensory and chemical characteristics. Meanwhile, the air flow rate had no significant effect on the previous drying characteristics.