Latest news with #MansouraUniversity
CairoScene
21-05-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Mansoura Engineering Student Wins Global Tech Award in Silicon Valley
Mustafa Nasser created devices that improve access to high-quality diagnostic tools, particularly in under-resourced settings. May 21, 2025 Mustafa Nasser, a student at the Faculty of Engineering in Mansoura University, has won first place at the inaugural startup competition during the Startup Grind Global Conference 2025 in Silicon Valley, USA. Nasser's startup, Dignotix, was selected from over 2,200 international teams after nine rounds of competition. Co-founded by a group of students and engineers, the company is developing AI-powered diagnostic devices designed to deliver faster, more affordable medical testing- particularly for hospitals in low-resource settings. The startup combines biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, and advanced industrial design. His participation was supported by Dr Mohamed Attia El-Bayoumi, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, and Dr Sherif El-Badawy, Dean of Engineering, with academic supervision from Dr Abeer Tawakkol and Dr Mohamed Sabry Saraya. The team is currently developing a prototype for a smart diagnostic device and conducting feasibility studies to establish a local manufacturing facility in Egypt.
Zawya
02-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's Eid El-Fitr and Tourism: A Celebration Amid Economic Turbulence
Beyond Eid El-Fitr cultural significance, this festive season greatly impacts the Egyptian economy, particularly tourism. The extended public holiday triggers a surge in travel to popular local destinations. However, economic challenges and the devaluation of the Egyptian pound are reshaping domestic travel in Egypt. Yet, Egypt's tourism sector is adapting to these dynamics through targeted campaigns and the country's appeal to regional and international tourists. This evolving landscape underscores the interplay between economic conditions and tourism trends, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for Egypt during this festive season. Impact on Domestic Tourism The Eid El-Fitr holiday has traditionally been a peak season for domestic travel in Egypt, with families traveling for leisure and reunions. However, economic headwinds have noticeably impacted Egyptian families' engagement in domestic tourism in recent years. Ibrahim Hamdy Sheta, holder of PhD in Applied Economics from Western Michigan University, USA and Assistant Professor of Economics at Faculty of Commerce, Mansoura University, and College of Business Administration, Taibah University in Saudi Arabia, explains: "The continuous devaluation of the Egyptian pound against the US dollar since November 2016 has resulted in a persistent inflation and high unemployment (stagflation), leading tohigher poverty rate and eroding the middle class.' 'Rising costs of essentials such as food, healthcare, education, transportation, housing, etc. have left little room for leisure spending. As a result, domestic tourism, especially to middle-class destinations like Ras El Bar, Damietta, Port Said, and Alexandria, has declined during national and religious holidays such as Eid El-Fitr, Eid El-Adha, and Sham El-Nessim,' Sheta notes. This highlights a crucial link between macroeconomic factors and household spending patterns. Inflationary pressures and currency fluctuations have prioritized essential expenditures, leaving less disposable income for discretionary activities like domestic travel during Eid. Sheta further points out that in previous years, remittances by Egyptians working abroad used to partially compensate for this decrease in spending on domestic tourism. However, now, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) is actually applying the managed floating exchange rate policy, which sets the dollar at around EGP 50, while the inflation rate continues to rise. 'Therefore, Egyptians working abroad have been struggling with inflation, just like those at home. Given all of these analytical facts and results, this has led to a significant decrease in spending on domestic tourism, not just during holidays, but throughout the year,' he says. "As remittances lose their ability to cushion economic hardship, the tourism sector faces further strain, especially in key holiday seasons like Eid El-Fitr. Consequently, while some segments of the population may still partake in Eid travel, the overall volume and spending on domestic tourism during this time are likely to be considerably lower than in pre-economic turbulence eras,' Sheta adds. In contrast to this analysis of economic constraints, Abdel Haris Abu Zaid, a tour operator, shares a different perspective with Arab Finance: "Domestic tourism during Eid in 2024 increased by 50%. Travel destinations depend on the season, so if Eid falls in winter, Egyptians prefer Luxor and Aswan, where Nile cruises are fully booked. Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, and Dahab are also popular." The reported increase suggests a potential dichotomy within the domestic tourism market, where some segments are still able and willing to travel during Eid, particularly to popular destinations. Impact on Arab/Regional Tourism Egypt stands out as an attractive tourism destination for regional tourists, not only during Eid vacations but throughout the year. In the first half of 2024, Egypt welcomed a record-breaking 7.1 million visitors, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. "Regarding Arab tourism, most Arab tourists prefer nightlife, shopping malls, and similar activities over historical sites. To this demand, Egypt has expanded its modern attractions, building malls and developing new cities like New Alamein. These efforts have helped boost Arab tourism by 70% in 2024," Abu Zaid highlights. Meanwhile, Marwa Omar, Assistant Professor of Economics at Helwan University, tells Arab Finance: 'Egypt has gained a competitive advantage over other MENA countries grappling with economic and political instability.' 'This relative stability makes Egypt a more attractive destination for regional travelers. Additionally, the currency devaluation has encouraged foreign and Arab investment in Egypt's tourism sector,' she clarifies. To further attract regional tourists, the country is launching strong promotional campaigns. On March 1st, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the Egyptian Tourism Authority, launched a promotional campaign as a key tourist destination. The campaign targets both the Egyptian and Arab markets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain. This month-and-a-half-long campaign promotes Egypt's tourism experiences, encouraging Arab travelers to visit Egypt during Ramadan and Eid El-Fitr. It also promotes domestic tourism, inviting Egyptians to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the holy month in their homeland. Eid El-Fitr remains a cherished cultural and social celebration in Egypt, bringing families and communities together. However, economic challenges like inflation, currency devaluation, and rising costs of living have reshaped the way Egyptians experience this festive season. Despite these hurdles, Egypt's tourism sector has shown resilience by leveraging its appeal to regional tourists and implementing targeted promotional campaigns to attract visitors. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CBC
21-02-2025
- Science
- CBC
Newly discovered ancient apex predator had knife-sharp teeth and bone-crushing jaws
What had the body of a dog, the face of a cat, and jaws powerful enough to potentially crush the bones of an elephant? Meet the Bastetodon, a newly discovered species of apex predator, roughly the size of a leopard or a hyena, that roamed the lush forests of ancient Egypt some 30 million years ago. "It is really the king of the ancient forests," Shorouq Al-Ashqar, a palaeontologist at Mansoura University and the American University in Cairo, told As It Happens guest host Helen Mann. Al-Ashqar is the lead author of a new study identifying the species based on an analysis of a remarkably intact skull discovered in the Egyptian desert. The findings were published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 'Like it died yesterday' Researchers unearthed the skull in 2020 during an expedition to the Fayum Depression, an archeologically rich site in Egypt's western deserts. For days, the scientists meticulously excavated layers of rock, when suddenly, team member Belal Salem, who is now with Ohio University, noticed a large set of teeth sticking out of the ground. Salem "shouted excitedly" to the rest of the team to come look, says Al-Ashqar. "That was a moment," she said. When she first laid eyes on the fossil, Al-Ashqar says she was blown away. It was almost perfectly intact, save for a few cracks, "like it died yesterday." "For any paleontologist to find a three-dimensional skull … or fossil, it's very rare because it's buried under the rocks for millions of millions of years," she said. After analyzing the skull, and comparing it with other fossils on record, the team determined it belonged to an extinct order of mammals called hyaenodonta — fearsome carnivores who evolved before modern-day cats, dogs and hyenas. Because of its cat-like teeth structure, the team decided to call it Bastetodon, after the cat-headed ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet, who symbolizes protection, pleasure, and good health. The researchers also compared the fossil to that of another lion-sized species of hyaenodonta discovered in Fayum more than 120 years ago, which they have dubbed Sekhmetops, after Sekhmet, the lion-headed Egyptian goddess of wrath and war. "We are super proud of our ancient Egyptian history," Al-Ashqar said. While Sekhmetops was originally believed to have originated in Europe, the team concluded both it and Bastetodon came from Africa before spreading to Asia, Europe, India, and North America. What did it eat? Hans Larsson, a Canadian paleontologist who was not involved in the study, called it "pretty cool." "It's a remarkably complete specimen from a time and place where such complete fossils are incredibly rare," Larsson, curator of vertebrate paleontology at McGill University in Montreal, said in an email. Larsson says he wonders what kind of impact the Bastetodon would have had on the food chain. "The presence of Bastetodon must have had implications for the complexity of the ecosystem to be able to support such a large carnivore," he said. "This 'top dog' in the food chain must have had an equally impressive diet." Al-Ashqar suspects it preyed on primates, early hippos and early elephants, all of which have been found on the fossil record for that time. While it only weighed roughly 27 kilograms, its knife-like teeth, powerful jaws and sheer strength meant it could take down large animals, and would not have had any predators of its own. "They were really, really fearsome animals," she said. But if hyaenodonta were so tough, why did they die out? That's a matter of debate among scientists, Al-Ashqar said. Some theorize a changing climate and dying vegetation reduced the availability of prey and caused them to perish. The desert where the skull was found, for example, was once a lush rainforest. Others, she says, believe they were wiped out when they were forced to compete with the ancestors of modern cats, dogs and hyenas, which arrived in Africa when tectonic shifts changed the shape of Earth's continents. Whatever happened to them, she says studying fossils in places like Fayum helps scientists understand how animals adapted — or, in this case, failed to adapt — to huge global changes. "When we study the impact of climate change and the ecological pressures on the past animals, we can know or have a scenario about what would happen for our ecosystem, or for us as humans in the ecosystem," she said.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Rescued the 15-Million-Year-Old Skull of a Hypercarnivore From Obscurity
Scientists have discovered a nearly complete skull of a Hyaenodonta, a hypercarnivore that that lived during the Oligocene Epoch some 20 million years ago. Scientifically known as Bastetodon syrtos, this impressive apex predator likely hunted elephants, early hippos, and even humanity's monkey-like ancestors. This discovery should help scientists further investigate the ecosystems of ancient Africa and the evolution of many modern mammals. Some 30 million years ago, during what's known as the Oligocene Epoch, a leopard-like hypercarnivore—that is, an animal whose diet is at least 70 percent meat—stalked the lush forest of Fayum, Egypt. Its impressive set of razor-sharp teeth ensured its position as the region's apex predator, and its evolutionary progeny eventually became some of the largest mammalian meat eaters to ever roam the planet. But despite its place at the top of the food chain, paleontologists knew nothing about this ancient mammal—until, that is, a nearly complete skull of one of these impressive predators was discovered. Back in its heyday, this animal likely stalked hyraxes, elephants, early hippopotamuses, and even humanity's own monkey-like ancestors. A member of the extinct order of Hyaenodonta (which means 'hyena teeth'), this fearsome meat-eater received the name Bastetodon syrtos—an allusion to the Ancient Egyptian lion-headed goddess Bastet. Details about B. syrtos and its impact on understanding ancient African ecology were published earlier this week in the Journal of Invertebrate Paleontology. Paleontologists located B. syrtos' football-sized skull in the Fayum Depression—an area with a century-long paleontological history that, crucially, straddles a 15-million-year window including both the Eocene's global warming to the Oligocene's global cooling. Experts from the Mansoura University and the American University in Cairo actually almost missed the skull entirely, until an eagle-eyed team member glimpsed something surprising. 'For days, the team meticulously excavated layers of rock dating back around 30 million years,' Shorouq Al-Ashqar, lead author of the study from Mansoura University, said in a press statement. 'Just as we were about to conclude our work, a team member spotted something remarkable—a set of large teeth sticking out of the ground. His excited shout brought the team together, marking the beginning of an extraordinary discovery: a nearly complete skull of an ancient apex carnivore, a dream for any vertebrate paleontologist.' Thanks to this discovery, the team was also able to re-analzye another member of the Hyaenodont genus, Sekhmetops (named for Sekhmet, another lion-headed goddess), which was originally discovered 120 years ago. Although it was originally thought to have a European origin, this study shows how both B. syrtos and Sekhmetops would have actually spread from Africa in multiple waves to nearly every continent on the globe. Sadly, the good times didn't last, and specialized Hyaenodonts eventually declined in genetic diversity. They finally went extinct in the late Miocene and gave way to new top predators, including the ancient ancestors of modern cats. 'The discovery of Bastetodon is a significant achievement in understanding the diversity and evolution of hyaenodonts and their global distribution,' Shorouq said in a press statement. 'We are eager to continue our research to unravel the intricate relationships between these ancient predators and their environments over time and across continents.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Al-Ahram Weekly
18-02-2025
- Science
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Bastetodon, a new 30-million-year-old species of predatory mammal unearthed in Egypt - Society
Mansoura University announced on Monday that a research team from the university's Vertebrate Paleontology Centre has discovered a new species of predatory mammals that lived in Egypt 30 million years ago. The team, led by renowned Egyptian paleontologist Dr Hesham Sallam, has also reclassified a group of predatory mammals that was first identified 120 years ago. The study, conducted by lead researcher Shorouq Al-Ashqar, was recently published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Dr Sallam emphasized that this discovery highlights the critical role of climate change in shaping ancient ecosystems. The fossil was unearthed during a 2020 expedition by the Sallam Lab team in the Fayoum Depression. The excavation yielded an exceptionally well-preserved, three-dimensional skull, allowing for detailed anatomical and morphological studies. The team identified the newly discovered species as Bastetodon, named after the ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet. Additionally, a previously recognized group of lion-sized mammals, classified initially as Pterodon, has been renamed Sekhmetops in honour of the goddess Sekhmet. More about Bastetodon According to lead researcher Dr Al-Ashqar, Bastetodon was a formidable predator, weighing approximately 27 kilograms — comparable to a modern hyena or leopard. It possessed razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles, enabling it to prey on a diverse range of animals that roamed the region at the time, including early primates, ancestral hippos, elephants, and hyraxes. Al-Ashqar emphasized the significance of this discovery in providing new evidence for the evolution of predatory mammals in Africa. The findings challenge the long-held assumption that these creatures evolved elsewhere before migrating to the continent. Instead, the study supports the idea that Africa was the original homeland of these apex predators before they spread globally. More about Sekhmetops The study also reassessed the classification of Pterodon, which was previously thought to have existed in Europe and Africa. However, new analyses confirmed that its true origin was solely in Europe. As a result, the research team assigned the name Sekhmetops to another species discovered in the ancient forests of Fayoum from the same era. The suffix '-ops' derives from the Greek word for 'face,' further linking the name to the revered Egyptian warrior goddess Sekhmet. Dr Al-Ashqar noted that this change is not merely a renaming but a precise reclassification that reflects the accuracy of modern paleontological research in correcting historical errors. She added that such revisions contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolutionary relationships among species that lived millions of years ago. Morphological and statistical analyses utilizing phylogenetic techniques confirmed that Bastetodon and Sekhmetops belong to the family Hyainailourinae, a subgroup of hyaenodonts. Hyaenodonts were dominant mammalian predators in Africa following the extinction of the dinosaurs. The study further established that this family originated in the Afro-Arabian landmass and spread through multiple migration waves to Asia, Europe, India, and North America. Dr. Sallam stressed the immense scientific value of the Fayoum Depression in advancing the human understanding of mammalian evolution. He described the site as a "scientific treasure trove" that offers a window into Earth's biological history across different geological epochs. 'This discovery would not have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of our research team, who meticulously analyzed the fossil samples and conducted comprehensive classification studies,' Sallam stated. He added that the research focused on identifying new species and explored how environmental and climatic factors influenced their evolutionary pathways. Short link:
