Sinai Peninsula is one of the most promising areas for future development. The major factor that limit the agriculture development in Sinai is the water scarcity and the sustainability of the projects. The study is aiming to assess the local water resources options in Sinai and determining its sustainability for agricultural projects. The surface water resources were evaluated by proposing flood water harvesting systems. The benefits from each system is estimated and unit cost of water is calculated. On the other hand, groundwater data are collected. The data is analyzed to estimate the unit cost of extraction and the agricultural benefits are estimated. As a result of this study, a map with the promising areas for the agricultural development from water resources prospective is developed.

Cognitive dysfunction is a common complication of diabetes mellitus however, less addressed and recognized. This study aimed to investigate the effect of type 1 and 2 diabetes on cognitive functions and related markers of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and the possible impact of blocking N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by memantine. Seven rat groups were included in this study: non-diabetic, non-diabetic-memantine, type 1 diabetic groups: Untreated, treated with insulin alone and treated with insulin and memantine and type 2 diabetic groups: untreated and memantine treated. Cognitive functions were assessed by Morris Water Maze and passive avoidance test and immunohistochemistry was used for detection of hippocampus pre and post-synaptic markers: synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95) respectively, learning and memory plasticity marker: activity regulated cytoskeletal associated protein (Arc) and the astrocytes reactivity marker: glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Both type 1 and 2 untreated diabetic groups showed significantly impaired cognitive performance with concomitant decrease in synaptophysin and PSD-95 compared to the non-diabetic group. In addition type 2 group showed a significant decrease in hippocampus GFAP and Arc compared to the non-diabetic group. Treating type 1 diabetic group with insulin alone significantly improved cognitive performance and PSD-95 and significantly decreased GFAP and Arc compared to untreated type 1 group. Blocking NMDA receptors by memantine (30 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks significantly increased cognitive performance, synaptophysin, GFAP and Arc in type 1 insulin-memantine group compared to type 1-insulin
group and significantly increased synaptophysin, PSD-95 and Arc in type 2-memantine group compared to untreated type 2 diabetic group. In conclusion, cognitive functions are impaired in both types of diabetes mellitus and can be improved by blockage of NMDA receptors which may spark future therapeutic role of these receptors in diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction.

Cognitive dysfunction is a common complication of diabetes mellitus
however, less addressed and recognized. This study aimed to investigate the
effect of type 1 and 2 diabetes on cognitive functions and related markers of
hippocampal synaptic plasticity and the possible impact of blocking Nmethyl-
d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by memantine. Seven rat groups
were included in this study: non-diabetic, non-diabetic-memantine, type 1
diabetic groups: Untreated, treated with insulin alone and treated with
insulin and memantine and type 2 diabetic groups: untreated and
memantine treated. Cognitive functions were assessed by Morris Water
Maze and passive avoidance test and immunohistochemistry was used for
detection of hippocampus pre and post-synaptic markers: synaptophysin
and postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95) respectively, learning and
memory plasticity marker: activity regulated cytoskeletal associated protein
(Arc) and the astrocytes reactivity marker: glial fibrillary acidic protein
(GFAP). Both type 1 and 2 untreated diabetic groups showed significantly
impaired cognitive performance with concomitant decrease in
synaptophysin and PSD-95 compared to the non-diabetic group. In addition
type 2 group showed a significant decrease in hippocampus GFAP and Arc
compared to the non-diabetic group. Treating type 1 diabetic group with
insulin alone significantly improved cognitive performance and PSD-95
and significantly decreased GFAP and Arc compared to untreated type 1
group. Blocking NMDA receptors by memantine (30 mg/kg/day) for 3
weeks significantly increased cognitive performance, synaptophysin, GFAP
and Arc in type 1 insulin-memantine group compared to type 1-insulin
Best Theses Awards, Cairo University (BTACU)
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group and significantly increased synaptophysin, PSD-95 and Arc in type 2-
memantine group compared to untreated type 2 diabetic group. In conclusion,
cognitive functions are impaired in both types of diabetes mellitus and can be
improved by blockage of NMDA receptors which may spark future therapeutic
role of these receptors in diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction.