Characterisation of an antimicrobial producer isolated from the surface of seaweed

During a screening of seaweed associated marine micro organisms, for their ability to produce antimicrobial compounds, an organism was isolated, producing antibacterial metabolite(s) and was found to be active against gram positive pathogens, multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria, and food borne spoilage fungi. The strain was identified as a gram-negative, short rod, which produced red-pigmented colonies and proved to be both catalase and oxidase positive. Ribotyping, indicated that this strain demonstrated a high sequence identity (99%) to Serratia plymuthica. Tests with a type strain of Serratia plymuthica, revealed that the strain did not produce a similar spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Preliminary characterisation of the inhibitory molecule(s) produced by this marine isolate, demonstrated that it was heat stable, low molecular weight, with pH resistant compound(s). Moreover, the activity was unaffected by prolonged incubation with enzymes such as Proteinase K. Transposon, mutagenesis was utilised, in an attempt to identify the genes involved, in antimicrobial production, to hopefully gain an insight into the nature of the antimicrobial compound. Fourteen mutants, unable to produce antimicrobial compound(s) were isolated, and the preliminary sequence analysis of three of the mutants, highlighted that they had transposon insertions within gene(s) homologous to polyketide synthase. Size exclusion chromatography (Gel filtration) was utilised in an attempt to purify and characterise the antimicrobial compound(s)

New development in cheese-making practices

Call number: LD2668 .R4 1952 A46

Balanced load sharing protocol for wireless sensor networks

An important factor that controls energy consumption to good extents in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is the routing protocol used to relay messages between the deployed sensor nodes.The way in which data is routed in the network has a significant effect on the energy consumption, and consequently, on the life-time of the network.In this paper we propose the Balanced Load Sharing Protocol (BLSP), a new routing protocol that optimizes and controls the consumption of the energy to extend the life time of all nodes in Wireless Sensor Networks

Effects of high food prices on consumption pattern of Saudi consumers: A case study of Al Riyadh city

AbstractThis paper investigates how urban households in Riyadh city, capital of Saudi Arabia, coped with higher food prices depending on a survey for selected group of households. The primary data were obtained in a survey from a sample of 286 household heads. Before analysis, the collected data were first grouped and classified according to the income level of respondents and then descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were applied. The results showed that the consumption quantities of major food commodities decrease due to high prices and at the same time expenditure increases, which lead to erosion of some of the consumers’ savings. High food expenditure makes lower income group more fragile and sensitive for any future increase in food prices. The perception of consumers for price increase in the future is also registered which reflects the lower consumer confidence in the food markets. The respondents iterate the absence of the role of the government to control the food market that may reduce the impact of higher food prices. Therefore, the paper recommends that government should intervene through food policy to mitigate the effects of food price volatility

The Will of Sheikh Qasim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the Founder of the State of Qatar (1827-1913) (A Descriptive and Analytical Study)

أهداف البحث: يهدف البحث إلى تحقيق الآتي: -المساهمة في التعريف بجانب مهم من شخصية الشيخ قاسم بن محمد رحمه الله. -إبراز المضامين المتعددة في وصية الشيخ قاسم بن محمد آل ثاني رحمه الله تعالى. -إظهار تدين الشيخ قاسم بن محمد آل ثاني، وحرصه على اتباع منهج الدعوة الإصلاحية في نجد. -إبراز دور الشيخ قاسم في تأسيس العمل الخيري من خلال وصيته وسير أحفاده على طريقه. منهج الدراسة تعتمد دراستي على المنهج التاريخي والمنهج الوصفي التحليلي، وسأقوم بوصف الوصية ومفرداتها، ووضع مضامين عامة تندرج فيها مفردات الوصية، مع تحليل تلك المضامين وربطها بالقيم الأخلاقية المنبثقة من المنظومة الإسلامية. النتائج: أظهرت الدراسة الجوانب المهمة من وصية الشيخ قاسم ومنها: تعتبر وصية الشيخ قاسم -رحمه الله- الوثيقة الأولى في تأسيس العمل الخيري والإنساني في دولة قطر. وبينت الوصية الجانب الخيري والإنساني في شخصية الشيخ قاسم رحمه الله تعالى، وأوضحت اهتمام الشيخ قاسم -رحمه الله- في وصيته بأهل قطر من أعيان ونساء ومحتاجين وخدم، وشرحت العلاقة الوثيقة بين الشيخ قاسم -رحمه الله- وأحفاد الشيخ محمد بن عبد الوهاب -رحمه الله- خاصة وأهل نجد عموماً. أصالة البحث: تظهر أصالة البحث في أنها الدراسة الأولى العلمية عن وصية الشيخ قاسم بن محمد آل ثاني رحمه الله.Purpose: The study aims to achieve the following: Contributing to revealing an important aspect of the personality of Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed, may Allah have mercy on him. Highlighting the multiple contents in Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al Thani’s will. Demonstrating Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al Thani’s religiosity, and his keenness to follow the method of the reformist advocacy in Najd. Highlighting the role of Sheikh Qassim in the establishment of charitable work through his will and the course of his grandsons on his way. Methodology: The study is based on the historical and descriptive analytical methods. The will and its vocabulary are explained. General contents are developed in which the vocabulary of the will is included. Those contents are analysed and linked to the moral values emanating from the Islamic system. Findings: The study reveals the important aspects of Sheikh Qassim's will. This includes that it is considered as the first document directed at the establishment of charitable and humanitarian work in Qatar. The will reveals the charitable and humanitarian aspect in the personality of Sheikh Qassim – may Allah have mercy on him. It explains the feelings of care held by Sheikh Qassim in his will towards the people of Qatar, regarding the elite, women, needy and servants. The will also explains the close relationship between Sheikh Qassim - may Allah have mercy on him - and the descendants of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab in particular and people of Najd in general. Originality: This is the first scientific study of the will of Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al Thani may Allah have mercy on him

Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, and his Charitable and Endowment Efforts. (Historical and Descriptive Study)

يعتبر الشيخ قاسم بن محمد آل ثاني مؤسس دولة قطر من الحكام القلائل الذي اجتمعت فيه مجموعة من الصفات المميزة والتي توجها بجهوده الخيرية والوقفية والتي لا زالت حتى اليوم ينتفع بها على شرط واقفها الشيخ قاسم بن محمد آل ثاني. ولقد توصلت الدراسة الى عدة نتائج منها: عناية الشيخ قاسم الكبيرة بالعلماء وطباعة الكتب وتوزيعها ليستفيد منها الطالب والمعلم في قطر ونجد والعالم الإسلامي، كما أوضحت الدراسة حرص الشيخ قاسم على أن يتولى النظارة على أوقافه الكثيرة كبار العلماء في البلاد الموقوف عليها. وبينت هذه الدراسة بر الشيخ قاسم بأهله الأقربين وعشيرته، وأهل بلده والعالم العربي والإسلامي.Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, the founder of the State of Qatar, was a ruler who possessed several virtuous qualities. One of these qualities was his charitable and endowment efforts in the Arabian Peninsula. These charities and endowments are persistent to this day and continue to proceed according to the conditions arranged by the sheikh before his death. This study reached a number of conclusions. First, Sheikh Qassim showed great courtesy towards the scholars and had a considerable interest in publishing and distributing books that were of benefit to students and teachers in Najd, Qatar, and the Islamic world and to foreign students in particular. Second, Sheikh Qassim appointed scholars as safeguarders of his trusts in the countries where he send his endowments. Finally, it revealed Sheikh Qassim’s sense of duty and compassion towards his family, his relatives, the Arabs, and the entire Muslim world alike

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) associations with diseases in ethnic groups of the Arabian Peninsula

© 2021, The Author(s). Since the discovery of human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), the function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene families in a wide range of diseases have been the subject of research for decades. In particular, the associations of autoimmune disorders to allelic variants and candidate genes encoding the MHC are well documented. However, despite decades of research, the knowledge of MHC associations with human disease susceptibility have been predominantly studied in European origin, with limited understanding in different populations and ethnic groups. This is particularly evident in countries and ethnic populations of the Arabian Peninsula. Human MHC haplotypes, and its association with diseases, of the variable ethnic groups of this region are poorly studied. This review compiled published manuscripts that have reported a list of autoimmune diseases (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis vulgaris, and multiple sclerosis) associated with MHC class I and class II in the populations of the Arabian Peninsula, specifically Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Data available was compared with other three ethnic groups, namely Caucasians, Asians, and Africans. The limited data available in the public domain on the association between MHC gene and autoimmune diseases highlight the challenges in the Middle Eastern region

Osteosarcoma of the femur in early adult: a case report

Osteosarcomas are primary malignant tumors of bone that are characterized by the production of osteoid or immature bone by the malignant cells. Osteosarcomas are uncommon tumors. Most articles reveal difficulty in diagnosing osteosarcoma in early stage due to its resemblance to benign lesion. That’s why we prefer to do case report for documentation. Diagnosis of the tumor is important especially in early stages for improving prognosis. This case report is of a 21 years old female who presented at Primary Health Care Centre with swelling above right knee post trauma a month ago. Previously she was diagnosed as Non ossifying fibroma (which is a benign lesion and uncommon to change to malignant lesion) at the same site in 2017.

Pancreatic cancer in obstructive jaundice in unexpected age

Cancer of the pancreas is a highly lethal malignancy. It is considered as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and second only to colorectal cancer as a cause of digestive cancer-related death.It is hoped that detection of asymptomatic and early stage of disease is potentially curable pancreatic cancer and it will improve outcomes. Our case report is 45 years old female who presented at our primary health care centre with obstructive jaundice for only 2 weeks and no weight loss, vague abdominal pain. She had intermittent epigastric pain for past few months and diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflex. Also, she had chronic anemia and need blood transfusion in the past 3 years. No family history of pancreatic cancer and no other risk factor. Most articles reveal difficulty in diagnosing pancreatic cancer in early stage and young age group due to its resemblance to benign lesion. That’s why we prefer to do case report for documentation. Diagnosis of the tumor is important especially in early stages for improving prognosis

Frequency of rs731236 (Taql), rs2228570 (Fok1) of Vitamin-D Receptor (VDR) gene in Emirati healthy population

© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.. Vitamin D is getting more attention everyday due to its importance in maintaining bone and calcium homeostasis, cellular proliferation, differentiation and immune response. Vitamin D is derived from diet or elicited in the skin by the activation of 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is an inert molecule that must be activated by ultraviolet light to form pre-vitamin D3. Recent studies connected the gene encoding for vitamin D (VDR) to the genetic control of bone mass and other diseases. As VDR SNPs have been associated with several disorders and diseases, it\u27s important to investigate the allelic and genotypic distribution among populations. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of rs731236 (Taq1) and rs2228570 (Fok1) variants in healthy Emirati individuals and compare their genotype and allele distribution with other populations. In this study 282 (female, 187; male, 95) unrelated healthy UAE nationals were involved. Two hundreds and eight two DNA samples been collected to genotype rs731236 (Taq1) and rs2228570 (Fok1) VDR SNPs. Our results indicate that the distribution of the alleles and genotypes of rs731236 (Taq1) and rs2228570 (Fok1) vary considerably in different populations. In the Emirati population the distribution of rs731236 (Taq1) and rs2228570 (Fok1) were AA 38%, AG 42%, GG 20% and AA 27%, AG 42%, GG 31% respectively. The Emirati population genotype and allele distribution of rs731236 (Taq1) and rs2228570 (Fok1) had no difference with Caucasians from USA and France. However, there was significant difference with Asian populations