Exploring the Funds of Knowledge and Islamic Practices in Muslim Immigrant Families

Teachers and scholars have long discussed the advantages of conducting home visits to discover funds of knowledge present in households as way to better understand and better communicate with their students in order to strengthen academic progress and learning. In Saudi Arabia, there exists a large gap between the societal needs and what and how curriculum is being taught in schools. The system lacks an effective way to integrate students’ funds of knowledge with what is taught in the classroom. The purpose of this study is to understand how home visits can be beneficial to the instructor and to the learner in the classroom based on the studies conducted in Moll, Amanti, and Gonzalez in Funds of Knowledge and in my study, Exploring The Funds of Knowledge in Muslim Immigrant Families. In addition, the study aims to show how Saudi Arabia can implement and benefit from the use of home visits. This study took place in Tucson, Arizona in the homes of three Muslim immigrant families whose children attend Al fajir Islamic School. I worked with 3 families from Egypt, Pakistan, and Somalia, all who had first/second graders attending Al Fajir Islamic School. The general approach in this research design is qualitative and includes observations, ethnographic data collection strategies, and interviews. Each family participated in three or four home visits. Each home visit lasted up to three hours. The data collected from the home visits included my field notes, the audiotapes of the interview questions and responses, and transcriptions from taping. Analysis indicated that the value of education, the significance of family relationships, maintenance of maternal tongue, deference to other cultures, and the continuation of religious practices were all fundamental components of the Muslim immigrants’ funds of knowledge. I learned that they were all rooted in the religion of Islam. In conclusion, the use of the home visit proves highly effective in the discovery of funds of knowledge of students. It is recommended, in order to bridge the gap in education between societal expectations and actuality in the classroom, that the technique of home visits be implemented

Assessment of Surgeons' Attitudes Toward Intraoperative Coaching at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Assessment of Surgeons' Attitudes Toward Intraoperative Coaching at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Abstract Purpose: Studying the feasibility of improving surgeon performance using an intraoperative coaching model at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Methods: This is an observational study where barriers to acceptance and participation have been evaluated through an electronic questionnaire offered to senior faculty surgeons operating at UNC. Results: A total of 83 senior faculty surgeons responded. The highest number for a question response was 83 and the lowest number for a question response was 73. There was a statistically significantly level of enthusiasm for the use of intraoperative coaching, 44 surgeons (53%) found it to be worthwhile and 23 (28%) found it to be very worthwhile. The highest preference for a coaching modality was live with a total of 41 surgeons (56%). Conclusions: Faculty members at UNC are generally in favor of the concept of intraopertaive coaching. An effective intraoperative coaching methodology will therefore be developed where selected surgeons will be observed in the operating room by experts to evaluate their surgical technique, teaching effectiveness, and team leadership and management leading to quality improvement. This will lead to a pilot program for selected surgeons to produce reliable metrics of improved outcomes.Master of Public Healt

Genetic diversity of Hajar1 and Hajar2 local Saudi chicken lines using mitochondrial DNA D-loop markers

This study was conducted to assess genetic diversity of Hajar1 and Hajar2 local Saudi chicken lines using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop partial sequences. One hundred blood samples were obtained equally from Hajar1 and Hajar2 Saudi chicken lines as 50 samples from each line. The D-loop region was partially amplified from genomic DNA with a conserved primer set, and the fragments were sequenced. Eight published reference mtDNA sequence data from the GenBank were used for comparisons, and multiple alignments were performed. The most common haplotype was assigned as a basic sequence for comparing within each line. Entropy plot and conserved region analysis were performed. Genetic distances and neighbour-joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were estimated. The results indicated haplotype variations within and between local Saudi chicken lines, which could explain the phenotypic variation reported earlier. A close genetic relationship was shown between the Saudi local chicken lines. Unique conserved regions and nucleotide substitutions were observed between the two lines. Both lines have a close relationship with the reference Asian local chicken population, especially local Chinese and Indian chicken breeds. The current results are considered the first report of mtDNA sequence diversity for Hajar1 and Hajar2 lines. Further detailed molecular genetic studies of both lines are indispensable to genetic conservation and development.Keywords: chicken population, diversity, D-loop, Hajar1, Hajar2, mtDN

Pest categorisation of Witches' broom disease of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) phytoplasma

The EFSA Panelon Plant Health performed a pest categorisation for the Witches' broom disease of lime (Citrusaurantifolia) phytoplasma for the EU territory. The pest has been reported in a few countries in the Middle East and is not known to occur in the EU. The disease is caused by a well-defined phytoplasma strain in the Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia' species, for which efficient molecular detection assays are available. The most important known natural host is Citrusaurantifolia, which is only grown for ornamental purposes in the EU. Sweet limes, rough lemon and trifoliate orange are also naturally infected by that phytoplasma. The latter can be transmitted by grafting also to some citrus species. Other citrus species were reported to be resistant; however, their susceptibility has been assessed only by symptom observations, and the possible presence of phytoplasmas in symptomless plants cannot be ruled out. The phytoplasma is transmitted by the leafhopper Hishimonusphycitis, which is not known to occur in the EU. There is no information on the vector status of other phloem feeding insects of citrus present in the EU. The pest is listed in Annex IIAI of Directive 2000/29/EC. The main pathways for entry, plants for planting and the vector insect, are closed by existing legislation on import of citrus plants. Nevertheless, should the pest enter, it could establish and spread. In countries where Witches' broom disease of lime (WBDL) is present, it has significant impact. The main knowledge gaps concern (1) and vertical transmission of the phytoplasma to H.phycitis eggs (2) lack of information regarding susceptibility of citrus crops grown in the EU (3) status of potential insect vectors in the EU. Therefore, the WBDL phytoplasma meets the criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as a potential Union quarantine pest

A new gregarious parasitoid species, Microplitis idreesae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) reared from Mythimna sp. (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), with a key to the species of Microplitis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

A new species of parasitoid wasp (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is described, Microplitis idreesae sp. nov. The genus is reported for the first time in the Eastern province of the KSA. This is the first host-parasitoid association for Microplitis documented in the country. The new species attacks Mythimna Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Natural history information is provided such as the association of males with females, geographical location, possible food plants, and details of wasp cocoons. In addition, a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene is presented. A taxonomic key to the species of Microplitis reported from the KSA is provided. Characters of this new species and its affinities with the three previous species described from the KSA and four of the closely related to Palaeartic species are also discussed

Molecular Detection of Begomoviruses Infecting Some Vegetable Crops in Saudi Arabia

Begomoviruses have a huge impact on crop production worldwide. Investigations of begomviruses in four vegetable crops namely cucumber, squash, tomato, and watermelon were conducted by visual symptoms and molecular analysis using PCR with universal primers for begomoviruses. Obtained sequencing results of the core Coat Protein confirmed the presence of three already reported begomoviral species. TYLCV was detected on tomato samples exhibiting leaf curling and yellowing. Squash and greenhouse-grown cucumber plants were infected with the Oman strain TYLCV-OM. Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (WmCSV) isolates were detected in watermelon and greenhouse cucumbers. The begomoviral species ToLCPMV shared 99% identity with the Iranian isolates that are known to be very destructive. Integrated pest management should be implemented against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) to prevent the spread of begomoviruses on vegetable crops.</jats:p

Molecular and ultrastucture studies in barley mild mosaic virus transmission by Polymixa graminis

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