Infection of cultured and freshwater fishes with monogeneans in Syria

During a survey made in 2004 and 2005 in Syrian fish farms of the Orontes valley and on natural water fishes harvested in the Orontes River and in Lake Assad (a water reservoir of the Euphrates River), 145 specimens of fish belonging to 15 fish species were examined for monogenean infections. Eleven monogenean species (8 Dactylogyrus spp., 1 Silurodiscoides sp. and 2 Cychlidogyrus spp.) were found in the gills. Monogeneans infecting farm-cultured fishes were the same as those commonly occurring in cyprinids (Dactylogyrus anchoratus, D. extensus, D. lamellatus) and filapia (Cychlidogyrus tilapiae, C. arthracan thus) cultured in Europe and in tropical countries. Among monogeneans found in fishes of natural waters, typical representatives of the Tigris-Euphrates Basin (Dactylogyrus carassobarbi, D. holciki) and species common in the Holoarctic zoogeographical zone (D. alatus, D. carpathicus, D. distinguendus and Silurodiscoides vistulensis) were equally found

First description of myxozoans from Syria: novel records of hexactinomyxon, triactinomyxon and endocapsa actinospore types

Oligochaete worms collected in late March and early April 2005 from 3 freshwater biotopes in Syria were surveyed over an 11 wk period for myxosporean parasites (Myxozoa). Three types of novel actinospore stages were identified from 1 host species, Psammoryctides albicola. A hexactinomyxon was found in 6 P. albicola (7.5%) collected from a branch of the River Orontes, north of the city of Hama. A triactinomyxon and an endocapsa were found in single P. albicola specimens from the Al-Thaurah region of the Euphrates River (Lake Assad). No oligochaetes collected from Al-Ghab fish farm (Orontes region) released actinospores during the observation period. The present study is the first description of myxosporeans, including actinospore stages, from Syria. The 3 types described herein differ morphologically and molecularly (18S rDNA) from published records

Evaluation of Kharma scale as a predictor of lower third molar extraction difficulty

The Evaluation of the degree of lower third molar (L3M) extraction difficulty is extremely important for both clinicians and patients. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of a new index (Kharma scale) as a preoperative predictor index of the difficulty of surgical removal of impacted L3M. Extraction difficulty of a series of 49-impacted L3M was predicted preoperatively by Kharma scale, and postoperative difficulty was assessed with a modified Parant scale. The sensitivity of Kharma scale, as a predictor of difficulty, was 18.2% and the specificity was 68.4%. Likelihood ratios for the Kharma categories also indicated that the scale is of little value for predicting a difficult extraction. There was no significant association between the Kharma score and duration of operation, but high-modified Parant scores were significantly associated with longer operations. The proposed Kharma scale was unreliable as preoperative predictor of the L3M extraction difficulty, and both radiological and clinical information must be taken into account

Construction Industry and HR Audit: Could it Support the Organizational Objectives and Strategies? A Case Study from the Egyptian Market

It is a usual thing for construction companies to have multiple projects progressing in synchronization with each other and covering multiple geographical locations. With such nature of work, the burden on the HR department gets heavier than usual in assuring that the department, with its diversified activities and locations, is linked to the top strategies and objectives of the business. This is a case study of a construction company human resource function in an endeavor to link such function with the overall business objectives and strategies. To achieve this, there would be an analysis and evaluation of the dominant organizational culture, and a use of the Human Resource Audit tool to make a detailed assessment of the current human resource function situation. By doing so, results obtained by both analyses are used as a guideline in developing a model of human resource department’s strategies and plans oriented with the overall business’ objectives and strategies. The design chosen for this research is the Case Study that would point out the issues of concern within the company, and hence, use the findings in achieving the objectives. Keywords: HR Audit, Strategic HR Management, Organizational Culture, Construction Industry, HR Practices

Ya Quds Academic Cultural News Letter, Issue No. 1

In this issue, we introduce CJS and its programmes. The newsletter also contains short articles and essays in English and Arabic written by academics, researchers, students, and others interested in the city and society of Jerusalem. We do not focus on a specific theme but have rather left it up to individual contributors to decide upon topics of interest to them under the general rubric of Jerusalem. We would like to thank the President of the University, Prof. Dr. Imad Abu Kishek, for his support and introductory words presenting the various institutions of Al- Quds University in Jerusalem. We would also like to thank Dr. Safa Nassereldin, Vice President for Jerusalem Affairs for her constant support, as well as the staff of CJS for their assistance in making this issue possible. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have contributed to this first issue of Ya Quds!. Despite the tense situation reigning today in the Old City of Jerusalem, we at CJS are committed to maintaining our presence there as an academic and cultural institution in Suq Al-Qattanin (the Cotton Market) in the Old City of Jerusalem, on the hope that Ya Quds! will become a forum for the many voices of the city. We hereby send out a call for articles for the second issue of Ya Quds!. Articles may be in Arabic or English, should not exceed 1200 words, and should be dedicated to a topic on Jerusalem. The deadline for submission is May 20, 2016. We look forward to your contributions. The newsletter is available online at: www.jerusalem-studies.alquds.ed

On the role of selective nucleation and growth to recrystallization texture development in a Mg-Gd-Zn alloy

One of the main material properties altered by rare earth additions in magnesium alloys is texture, which can be specifically adjusted to enhance ductility and formability. The current study aims at illuminating the texture selection process in a Mg-0.073at%Gd-0.165at%Zn alloy by investigating recrystallization nucleation and early nucleus growth during static recrystallization. An as-cast sample of the investigated alloy was deformed in uniaxial compression at 200{\deg}C till 40% strain and was then cut into two halves for subsequent microstructure characterization via ex-situ and quasi in-situ EBSD investigations. In order to gain insights into the evolution of texture during recrystallization, the contributions from dynamic and static recrystallization were initially separated and the origin of the non-basal orientation of recrystallization nuclei was traced back to several potential nucleation sites within the deformed matrix. Considering the significant role of double-twin band recrystallization in determining the recrystallization texture, this type of recrystallization nucleation was further investigated via quasi-in-situ EBSD on a deformed sample, annealed at 400{\deg} for different annealing times. With progressive annealing a noticeable trend was observed, in which the basal nuclei gradually diminished and eventually vanished from the annealed microstructure. In contrast, the off-basal nuclei exhibited continuous growth, ultimately becoming the dominant contributors to the recrystallization texture. The study therefore emphasizes the importance of particular nucleation sites that generate favorably oriented off-basal nuclei, which over the course of recrystallization outcompete the neighboring basal-oriented nuclei in terms of growth, and thereby dominate the recrystallization texture