BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF COWPEA BRUCHID, CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS (FAB.) (COLEOPTERA: BRUCHIDAE) TO COUMARIN EXTRACTS

Cowpea beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), is the most important storage pest of cowpea. The effect of ethanol and chloroform extracts of murraya, kumquat and celery plants on the various biological aspects of Cowpea beetles was studied. Kumquat, ethanol extract was most efficient extract which affected significantly the fecundity of the females followed by murraya. Celery may have an attractant effect on adults; however, it induced the higher mortality. Longest longevity was recorded in the treatment with 1% murraya chloroform extract. On the other hand, the shortest longevity was obtained with the higher concentration of kumquat and celery alcohol and chloroform extracts. Kumquat was the potent one to deter the insect from laying eggs as confirmed by the higher calculated oviposition Deterrence index. The minimum values were gained from chloroform and ethanol extracts at concentration of 4.0% of celery. On the other hand, highest percentage of egg hatchability was recorded for chloroform and ethanol extracts of murraya at 1% concentration, respectively. The data revealed insignificant extension of the duration of immature individuals on using different extracts in comparison with the control. Also, no significant difference existed between different extracts. Maximum percentage of adult emergence (survival) was obtained on using 1% chloroform extract of Kumquat. The least survival was obtained on using 4% ethanol extract of murraya and celery

Molecular epidemiology and genotype distribution of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) among Arab women in the state of Qatar

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the major cause of cervical cancer worldwide. With limited data available on HPV prevalence in the Arab countries, this study aimed to identify the prevalence and genotypic distribution of HPV in the State of Qatar. Methods: 3008 cervical samples, exclusively of women with Arabic origin residing in Qatar were collected from the Women’s Hospital and Primary Health Care Corporation in Doha, State of Qatar. HPV DNA detection was done using GP5+/6+ primers based real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay followed by the usage of HPV type specific primers based RT- PCR reactions and Sanger sequencing for genotype identification. Results: Similar prevalence rates of HPV infection was identified in both Qatari and non-Qatari women at 6.2% and 5.9% respectively. HPV prevalence rate of 5.8% and 18.4% was identified in women with normal cytology and in women with abnormal cytology respectively. HPV 81, 11 and 16, in decreasing order were the most commonly identified genotypes. HPV 81 was the most frequent low-risk genotype among women with both normal (74.0%) and abnormal (33.3%) cytology. HPV 16 (4.6%) was identified as the predominant high-risk HPV genotype among women with normal cytology and HPV 16, HPV 18, and HPV 56 (22.2% each) were the most common identified high-risk genotypes in women with abnormal cytology Conclusions: The overall HPV prevalence in Arab women in Qatar was identified as 6.1% with an increased HPV prevalence seen in women with abnormal cytology results and no significant trends seen with age. In contrast to Western countries, we report a varied genotypic profile of HPV with a high prevalence of low-risk HPV genotype 81 among the Arab women residing in Qatar.Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar; and by a grant from the Qatar National Research Fund (NPRP- 09-344-3-082)

Elastic properties of TeO2-B2O3-Ag2O glasses.

A series of glasses [(TeO2) x (B2O3)1−x ]1−y [Ag2O] y with x = 70 and y = 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mol% were synthesised by rapid quenching. Longitudinal and shear ultrasonic velocity were measured at room temperature and at 5 MHz frequency. Elastic properties, Poisson's ratio, microhardness, softening temperature and Debye temperature have been calculated from the measured density and ultrasonic velocity at room temperature. The experimental results indicate that the elastic constants depend upon the composition of the glasses and the role of the Ag2O inside the glass network is discussed. Estimated parameters based on Makishima–Mackenzie theory and bond compression model were calculated in order to analyse the experimental elastic moduli. Comparison between the experimental elastic moduli data obtained in the study and the calculated theoretically by the mentioned above models has been discussed

The Semiosis of “Side Effects” in Genetic Interventions

Genetic interventions, which include transgenic engineering, gene editing, and other forms of genome modification aimed at altering the information “in” the genetic code, are rapidly increasing in power and scale. Biosemiotics offers unique tools for understanding the nature, risks, scope, and prospects of such technologies, though few in the community have turned their attention specifically in this direction. Bruni (2003, 2008) is an important exception. In this paper, I examine how we frame the concept of “side effects” that result from genetic interventions and how the concept stands up to current perspectives of the role of organism activity in development. I propose that once the role of living systems in constructing and modifying the informational value of their various developmental resources is taken into account, the concept of a “side effect” will need to be significantly revised. Far from merely a disturbance brought about in a senseless albeit complex system, a biosemiotic view would take “side effects” as at least sometimes the organism’s active re-organization in order to accommodate or make use of novelty. This insight is nascent in the work of developmental plasticity and niche construction theory (West-Eberhard 2003; Odling-Smee et al. 2003), but it is brought into sharper focus by the explicitly interpretive perspective offered by biosemiotics. Understanding the “side effects” of genetic interventions depends in part on being able to articulate when and where unexpected consequences are a result of semiotic activity at various levels within the system. While a semiotic interpretation of “side effects” puts into question the naive attitude that would see all unintended side effects as indications of disturbance in system functionality, it certainly does not imply that such side effects are of no concern for the viability of the organisms in the system. As we shall see, the fact that such interventions do not respect the translation of information that occurs in multi-level biological systems ensures that disruption is still likely. But it does unprivilege the human agent as the sole generator of meaning and information in the products of biotechnology, with important consequences on how we understand our relationship with other species

The twenty-nine pages : an introduction to Ibn Arabi s metaphysics of unity/ Edit. : A. E. Affifi

80 hal.; 21 cm

Cystic Duct Cholangiography

A series of 837 cystic duct cholangiograms has been reviewed. The technique is simple and safe to carry out. It is not time consuming and does not require any unusual equipment. It has reduced the incidence of common duct exploration and has decreased the incidence of retained common duct stones. It is stressed that, unless the operative cholangiogram fulfills the criteria of a normal cholangiogram, especially in relation to size and tapering of the tower end of the duct, then common duct exploration should be earned out. Its almost routine use can only increase the general quality and accuracy of biliary tract surgery