ABIOTIC STRESS EFFECT ON GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS IN EMIRATI DATE PALM VARIETIES

Plants are naturally exposed to various environmental stresses that affect their growth and development. As a desert plant, date palm has developed strategies to protect itself from most abiotic stresses. However, projected climate changes and the interaction between the various abiotic stressors will have profound effects on date palm adaptation and production. In the present study, five date palm cultivars, namely Chichi, Kalas, Nabt Saif, Sultana and Zamli, were initially evaluated for salinity tolerance by measuring the growth parameters such as plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of shoots and roots. Based on the obtained results, Sultana and Zamli cultivars were identified as salinity tolerant and selected to study the response to future climate scenarios such as eCO2, enhanced UVB radiation and the combined effect of UVB and eCO2 in open chambers. The response of the date palm cultivars studied was determined by analysing photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll \u27a\u27, \u27b\u27 and total chlorophyll, carotenoids), biochemical contents (proline, protein, amino acid), proline metabolising enzymes (γ-glutamyl kinase activity, proline oxidase activity, non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenols, α-tocopherol, reduced glutathione content) and antioxidant enzyme activities (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase) were analysed. The results also showed that the Sultana cultivar is tolerant to future climate scenarios. However, more biotic stress and yield parameters are needed for the identification of biotic stress tolerant date palm cultivars

Heat Misconceptions among 11th Grade students

This study explores the misconception of the female students at 11thgrade about the heat concepts (e.g., latency, conduction, equilibrium, boiling point, etc.) the study targets to i – classifying the misconception nature, and ii- distinguishing the heat misconception from point of the lack of knowledge and lucky guess. A sample of 230 female students at 11th grade randomly selected from five secondary schools in the Emirates of Fujairah; northern UAE. The heat misconception test (HMT), a three –tier diagnostic instrument comprising of ten question is used as data collection tool. The study raises the three research questions. i- what is the misconception are the 11th grade students demonstrating about the heat concepts?, ii- what would be the percentage of the 11th grade students who demonstrate lack of knowledge about the heat conception, and iii- What would be the percentage of the 11th grade students who demonstrate lucky guess about heat concept? The participants classified into four categories according to their understanding about the heat concepts i- misconceptions. ii- lack of knowledge. iii- lucky guess and iv- scientific Knowledge. The data analysis reveal s that most of participants from the 11th grade students expressing misconceptions about the heat as a physical phenomenon, whereas more than 50% of the participants expressing misconceptions about heat equilibrium . The concept ion of latent heat boiling point. Specific heat capacity. and heat latent expressed by 62% of the participants. 1 3% expressing heat misconceptions from the lack of knowledge. However, 3% of the students expressing heat misconceptions that related to lucky guess by a ii questions in H MT. On the other hand, 21 % of the students having a proper scientific knowledge about the heat physics. As the misconception about teaching a physical phenomenon is a learning challenge. The study recommends improving the delivery of the scientific subject to be more practical than theoretical . Moreover, the test should consider conceptions of the students regarding the natural phenomena. The implications of the study are for the science teachers to encourage the students to engage intensively in the classroom interaction. The implications as well for the science curriculum specialists to introduce easy-to-understand scientific knowledge and problem solutions

Field Evaluation to the attraction efficiency for the different sources of the red palm weevil aggregation pheromone

Field experiments were conducted during the periods from June, 2014 to March, 2015, in three date palm orchards located in Al Ain city, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in order to evaluate the attraction efficacy for five different sources from the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorous ferrugineus Oliver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), aggregation pheromone by using the standard four window black bucket trap.  The three orchards are characterized by having different levels of infestation incidence by red palm weevil. The Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatment and three replicates was used in each of the three orchards. The aggregation pheromone sources used in this experiment were: Rhyfer 700, Pherocon RDPW Lure, Ferrugitom 700, Weevil lure, and Ferrulure +. Collectively in the three farms as well as per each farm, Weevillure aggregation pheromone trap capture significantly lower average numbers of RPW adults than Rhyfer, Pherocon, Ferrulure, and Ferrugitom pheromone sources. Rhyfer pheromone is about 1.12, 1.18, 1.56 & 1.16 % more efficient than Pherocon, Ferrugitom, Weevillure & Ferrulure, respectively

Response of two different Phoenix dactylifera cultivars to future climate conditions

Plants are naturally exposed to various environmental stresses that affect their growth and development. As a desert plant, Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) has developed strategies to protect itself from most abiotic stresses. However, projected climate changes and the interaction between the various abiotic stressors will have profound effects on date palm adaptation and production In the present study, the two date palm cultivars, Sultana and Zamli cultivars were exposed to elevated levels of CO2 and enhanced UVB radiation and non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenols, α-tocopherol, reduced glutathione content) and antioxidant enzyme activities (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase) activities were analysed. The results showed that the Sultana cultivar is tolerant to future climate conditions. However, more biotic stress and yield parameters are needed for the identification of biotic stress tolerant date palm cultivars

The influence of elevated CO2 concentrations and UVB radiation in antioxidant activity of selected Chenopodium quinoa varieties

Ecosystems have been affected by climate change. Both agriculture and environmental changes are correlated with various features since climate change is the main cause of abiotic and biotic stress, which affects crop plants. Climate change and its severe impact on plant productivity showed great intensity due to the effects of abiotic stress. In the present investigation, we selected two quinoa varieties to study the response to future climatic factors such as eCO2, enhanced UVB radiation, and UVB+eCO2 combined effects in open-top chambers in the hot climate of the UAE. The treatments were administered for 90 days in the hot UAE weather conditions and the experiment was carried out in a transparent OTC facility. The response of the studied quinoa varieties was measured by analyzing their non-enzymatic antioxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities. Our findings showed that quinoa varieties are suitable as industrial crops for their levels of antioxidants under stimulating climatic conditions because the quantity and quality of their yield have not been affected. Based on the results obtained in the present investigation, further study is warranted for screening more varieties with the addition of climate change factors such as temperature and humidity to find more tolerant varieties of quinoa suitable for future climatic conditions

Bilateral Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy in a Child on Continuous Peritoneal Dialysis : Case report and literature review

Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a serious complication of continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) which can lead to poor vision and blindness. We report a five-year-old girl who had undergone a bilateral nephrectomy at the age of one year and was on home CPD. She was referred to the Paediatric Ophthalmology Unit of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, in 2013 with acute bilateral vision loss, preceded by a three-day history of poor oral intake. At presentation, the patient had severe systemic hypotension. An ophthalmological examination revealed severe bilateral visual impairment and NAION. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and normal saline boluses. At a five-month follow-up, the visual acuity of the right eye had improved but vision in the left eye remained the same. Acute bilateral blindness due to NAION while on CPD is a rare condition in childhood. Paediatricians should be aware of this complication in order to ensure prompt management.Keywords:

Global prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in 2015 : A modelling study

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier LtdBackground The 69th World Health Assembly approved the Global Health Sector Strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, which can become a reality with the recent launch of direct acting antiviral therapies. Reliable disease burden estimates are required for national strategies. This analysis estimates the global prevalence of viraemic HCV at the end of 2015, an update of—and expansion on—the 2014 analysis, which reported 80 million (95% CI 64–103) viraemic infections in 2013. Methods We developed country-level disease burden models following a systematic review of HCV prevalence (number of studies, n=6754) and genotype (n=11 342) studies published after 2013. A Delphi process was used to gain country expert consensus and validate inputs. Published estimates alone were used for countries where expert panel meetings could not be scheduled. Global prevalence was estimated using regional averages for countries without data. Findings Models were built for 100 countries, 59 of which were approved by country experts, with the remaining 41 estimated using published data alone. The remaining countries had insufficient data to create a model. The global prevalence of viraemic HCV is estimated to be 1·0% (95% uncertainty interval 0·8–1·1) in 2015, corresponding to 71·1 million (62·5–79·4) viraemic infections. Genotypes 1 and 3 were the most common cause of infections (44% and 25%, respectively). Interpretation The global estimate of viraemic infections is lower than previous estimates, largely due to more recent (lower) prevalence estimates in Africa. Additionally, increased mortality due to liver-related causes and an ageing population may have contributed to a reduction in infections. Funding John C Martin Foundation.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Occurrence, characterization and management of fruit rot of immature cucumber fruits under arid greenhouse conditions

A study was undertaken to characterize and manage pathogens associated with fruit rot of immature cucumber fruits in greenhouses in Oman. A survey over 5 growing seasons from 2008 to 2010 in 99 different greenhouses in Oman showed that the disease is prevalent in 91 (92%) greenhouses and results in losses of 10 to 60% (avg. 33%) of immature fruits per plant. Incidence of the disease was not found to be affected by growing seasons, which could be attributed to the limited fluctuations in ambient temperatures in greenhouses. Isolations from diseased cucumber fruits yielded Alternaria alternata (isolation frequency = 52%), Fusarium equiseti (40%), Cladosporium tenuissium (27%), Botrytis cinerea (6%), Fusarium solani (6%), Corynespora cassiicola (3%), Aspergillus spp. (2%), Curvularia sp. (1%) and Bipolaris sp. (1%). With the exception of Curvularia and Bipolaris species, all other fungi were pathogenic on cucumber fruits, with Fusarium equiseti being the most aggressive, followed by Corynespora cassiicola, Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata. Cladosporium and Aspergillus spp. were found to be weakly pathogenic. Comparing the efficacy of foliar and soil applications of carbendazim fungicide on fruit rot of cucumber showed that foliar applications significantly reduced fruit rot and increased cucumber yield when compared to soil application or to control (P < 0.01). This appears to be the first report of the association of Corynespora cassiicola and Fusarium equiseti with fruit rot of immature greenhouse cucumbers. This is also the first report in Oman for the association of Cladosporium tenuissimum with fruit rot of immature cucumbers. Findings are discussed in terms of factors affecting disease control in greenhouses using carbendazim

Pulp stones in unerupted teeth: a retrospective analysis using cone-beam computed tomography

Abstract Background A pulp stone is a calcified mass that develops in the dental pulp of any tooth. Despite many studies examining the relationship between pulp stone formation and non-oral factors, the methods used in these studies have been unable to explain the exact role of these factors alone as distinct from probable effects within the oral cavity environment. Considering that totally unerupted (impacted or developing) teeth are unexposed to the oral cavity’s environmental and functional conditions, they provide a more suitable material for studying the effects of these non-oral factors on pulp stone formation. This research study aimed to investigate pulp stones in unerupted teeth and the associated factors in a Saudi subpopulation. Methods The study included 644 cone-beam computed tomography images, with 496 (50.9%) maxillary and 479 (49.1%) mandibular teeth. Of the investigated patients, 293 (45.5%) were men, and 351 (54.5%) were women. The age range was 15–76 years. A chi-square test was used to investigate the associations between pulp stones and age, gender, and history of systemic disease and chronic medication use. Results Pulp stones in unerupted teeth were present in 24.2% of the examined dental jaws and 18.6% of the examined teeth. There was no statistically significant relationship between pulp stones and gender (p > 0.05). A significantly greater percentage of pulp stones were found with increasing age (p = 0.000). Additionally, a significantly increased number of pulp stones was observed in patients with systemic diseases and chronic medications (p < 0.05). Conclusions The results support the idea that pulp stones can be present in any type of unerupted tooth. This study provides additional evidence of the increased incidence of pulp stones with age, systemic disease, and chronic medications

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Diabetic Patients in the United Arab Emirates

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes self-management education is a cornerstone of diabetes care. However, many diabetics in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) lack sufficient knowledge about their disease due to illiteracy. Thus, before considering any possible intervention it was imperative to assess present knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients towards the management of diabetes. METHODS: A random sample of 575 DM patients was selected from diabetes outpatient's clinics of Tawam and Al-Ain hospitals in Al-Ain city (UAE) during 2006–2007, and their knowledge attitude and practice assessed using a questionnaire modified from the Michigan Diabetes Research Training Center instrument. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of patients had poor knowledge of diabetes. Seventy-two had negative attitudes towards having the disease and 57% had HbA(1c) levels reflecting poor glycemic control. Only seventeen percent reported having adequate blood sugar control, while 10% admitted non-compliance with their medications. Knowledge, practice and attitude scores were all statistically significantly positively, but rather weakly, associated, but none of these scores was significantly correlated with HbA(1c). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed low levels of diabetes awareness but positive attitudes towards the importance of DM care and satisfactory diabetes practices in the UAE. Programs to increase patients' awareness about DM are essential for all diabetics in the UAE in order to improve their understanding, compliance and management and, thereby, their ability to cope with the disease