Zagazig University

About: Zagazig University is a education organization based out in Zagazig, Egypt. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Nonlinear system. The organization has 11329 authors who have published 17331 publications receiving 196399 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Zagazig & ZU.

The Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm

Abstract: This work proposes a new meta-heuristic method called Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA) that utilizes the distribution behavior of the main arithmetic operators in mathematics including (Multiplication ( M ), Division ( D ), Subtraction ( S ), and Addition ( A )). AOA is mathematically modeled and implemented to perform the optimization processes in a wide range of search spaces. The performance of AOA is checked on twenty-nine benchmark functions and several real-world engineering design problems to showcase its applicability. The analysis of performance, convergence behaviors, and the computational complexity of the proposed AOA have been evaluated by different scenarios. Experimental results show that the AOA provides very promising results in solving challenging optimization problems compared with eleven other well-known optimization algorithms. Source codes of AOA are publicly available at and .

Aquila Optimizer: A novel meta-heuristic optimization algorithm

Abstract: This paper proposes a novel population-based optimization method, called Aquila Optimizer (AO), which is inspired by the Aquila’s behaviors in nature during the process of catching the prey. Hence, the optimization procedures of the proposed AO algorithm are represented in four methods; selecting the search space by high soar with the vertical stoop, exploring within a diverge search space by contour flight with short glide attack, exploiting within a converge search space by low flight with slow descent attack, and swooping by walk and grab prey. To validate the new optimizer’s ability to find the optimal solution for different optimization problems, a set of experimental series is conducted. For example, during the first experiment, AO is applied to find the solution of well-known 23 functions. The second and third experimental series aims to evaluate the AO’s performance to find solutions for more complex problems such as thirty CEC2017 test functions and ten CEC2019 test functions, respectively. Finally, a set of seven real-world engineering problems are used. From the experimental results of AO that compared with well-known meta-heuristic methods, the superiority of the developed AO algorithm is observed. Matlab codes of AO are available at https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/89381-aquila-optimizer-a-meta-heuristic-optimization-algorithm and Java codes are available at https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/89386-aquila-optimizer-a-meta-heuristic-optimization-algorithm .

Physiological traits as affected by heat stress in sheep—A review

Abstract: The exposure of sheep to elevated ambient temperatures induces an increase in the dissipation of excess body heat, in order to negate the excessive heat load. Dissipation of excess body heat is excluded by evaporation of water from the respiratory tract and skin surface via panting and sweating, respectively. Sweating in woolled sheep is much less effective due to the presence of the wool cover. With the elevation in environmental temperature to 36 °C, a high proportion of heat is dissipated via the ears and legs. When the physiological mechanisms of the animal fail to negate the excessive heat load, the rectal temperature increases. At the same time, such exposure of sheep to heat stress evokes a series of drastic changes in the biological functions, which include a decrease in feed intake efficiency and utilization, disturbances in water, protein, energy and mineral balances, enzymatic reactions, hormonal secretions and blood metabolites. Recent studies indicate that the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) regulates the circadian and seasonal rhythms of most biological functions, particularly the reproductive functions and behaviour in mammals. The regulation includes the phasic and tonic release of hormones, oestrus and in some cases, gonadal size. This is due to the fact that there is evidence suggesting that the SCN is sensitive to changes in ambient temperature—with some cells being more responsive to cold and others more responsive to heat, although photoperiodic changes may also have a strong influence. In conclusion, it can be said that exposure of sheep to elevated ambient temperature negatively affects the biological functions which are reflected in the impairment of their production and reproduction traits.

Calculation of radiation attenuation coefficients for shielding concretes

Abstract: Theoretical calculations have been performed in order to obtain the mass attenuation coefficients and the linear attenuation coefficients at photon energies from 10 keV to 1 GeV for ordinary, hematite-serpentine, ilmenite-limonite, basalt-magnetite, ilmenite, steel-scrap and steel-magnetite concretes. The concrete densities ranged from 2.3 to 5.11 g cm−3. The calculated values of linear attenuation coefficients have been compared with those measured at gamma ray energies from 1.5 to 6 MeV for the concretes under investigation. Agreement between measured and calculated values has been obtained. Also, the fast neutron effective macroscopic removal cross-sections for the seven types of concrete have been calculated using the elemental composition of the mixes. Comparison between the measured and calculated effective removal cross-section values show a reasonable agreement for all types of concrete. Steel-magnetite concrete of high density (5.11 g cm−3), and with constituents of relatively high atomic number, is an effective shield for both photons and neutrons.

Studies on Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus, as potential probiotics, on the immune response and resistance of Tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus) to challenge infections.

Abstract: The probiotic activity of two bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus) was evaluated by its effect on the immune response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), beside its protective effect against challenge infections. Furthermore, their in-vitro inhibitory activity was evaluated. The in-vitro antimicrobial assay showed that Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus inhibited the growth of A. hydrophila. The B. subtilis inhibited the development of P. fluorescens while L. acidophilus inhibited the growth of Strept. iniae. The B. subtilis and L. acidophilus proved harmless when injected in the O. niloticus. The feed, containing a mixture of B. subtilis and L. acidophilus or B. subtilis alone, showed significantly greater numbers of viable cells than feed containing L. acidophilus only after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of storage at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C. The survival rate and the body-weight gain were significantly increased in the fish given B. subtilis and L. acidophilus for one and two months after application. The hematocrit values showed a significant increase in the group that received the mixture of B. subtilis and L. acidophilus compared with the control group. The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay, neutrophil adherence and lysozyme activity, showed a significant increase in all the probiotic-treated groups after 1 and 2 months of feeding, when compared with the untreated control group. The serum bactericidal activity was high in the group that was given a mixture of the two bacteria. The relative level of protection (RLP) was significantly higher against A. hydrophila, in the bacterial mixture treated group and against P. fluorescens in the L. acidophilus treated group, after one month of the feeding trial. A significantly higher RLP, against A. hydrophila or P. fluorescens, was noticed after 2 months of the feeding trial in the group given a mixture of the two bacteria, and against Strept. iniae in the group fed a diet containing L. acidophilus.