Effects of sowing method and herbicide application on growth, yield and water productivity of two wheat cultivars

Water management and weed control are crucial components in maximizing wheat yield and water productivity. Little research work has been done on the relationship between sowing methods, chemical weed control and wheat varieties. Field experiments were conducted during 2013/14-2014/15 seasons to evaluate the effect of four sowing methods and herbicide application on the performance of two wheat cultivars at the Gezira and New Halfa Research Stations. The experiment was arranged in a split-split plot design with four replicates, the main plots were assigned to herbicide application (sprayed and unsprayed), sub-plots were allocated to sowing methods (broadcasting + ridging, bed-planting, seed drill and wide level disc), and sub-sub-plots were assigned to wheat cultivars (Bohaine and Imam). Results showed that herbicides did not affect the yield and yield components of wheat for both seasons in the Gezira. Irrespective of herbicide application, seed drill resulted in the highest wheat yield for the two seasons. New Halfa results revealed that the crop growth and yield components were significantly affected. However, the two wheat cultivars resulted in higher yield with bed-planting method under sprayed condition. The interaction of herbicide application and bed-plating methods resulted in higher water productivity, which could be attributed to the lower amount of water applied compared to the other treatments. These results indicated that in the Gezira, unsprayed seed drill and wide level disc sowing methods can be used without yield reduction of wheat. Moreover, herbicides application with bed-planting sowing method in both sites can be used to improve water use efficiency. إدارة مياه الري ومكافحة الحشائش هي أحدى العوامل الأساسية لتعظيم انتاجية القمح وزيادة كفاءة مياه الري. أجريت تجارب حقلية خلال موسمي 2013/14 و 2014/15 لتقييم أثر أربعة طرق للزراعة ومبيد الحشائش على انتاجية صنفين من القمح بمحطتي بحوث الجزيرة وحلفا الجديدة. تم استخدام تصميم القطع المنشقة مرتين بأربع مكررات. وضعت معاملات مبيد الحشائش في الأحواض الرئيسية ووضعت طرق الزراعة في الأحواض الفرعية بينما وضعت الأصناف في الأحواض الفرعية . أوضحت النتائج أن مبيد الحشائش لم يؤثر على الإنتاجية ومكوناتها خلال الموسمين بمحطة بحوث الجزيرة. بغض النظر عن مبيد الحشائش، الزراعة في سطور أعطت أعلى انتاجية خلال الموسمين. كذلك أوضحت النتائج بمحطة بحوث حلفا الجديدة أن النمو ومكونات الانتاجية تأثرتا بصورة معنوية، حيث وجد أن صنفي القمح سجلتا أعلى انتاجية باستخدام الزراعة في مساطب والمكافحة الكيميائية للحشائش. إن أثر تفاعل الزراعة في مساطب والمكافحة الكيميائية للحشائش انتجت أعلى كفاءة مياه ري وذلك يمكن مرده لقلة كمية مياه الري المضافة مقارنةً بالمعاملات الأخرى. النتائج أعلاه تشير إلى أن الزراعة في سطور والزراعة باستخدام الدسك العريض يمكن استخدامهما بالجزيرة لإنتاج القمح دون نقص يذكر في الإنتاجية. اضافةً الي ذلك، فان اضافة مبيد الحشائش لطريقة الزراعة في مساطب يمكن أن تحسن من كفاءة استخدام مياه الري في كلا الموقعين

Knowledge, attitudes and practices among people in Saudi Arabia regarding COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

Background: The general population’s compliance with preventive measures and legislation is mainly influenced by their knowledge level, attitude, and practices. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices of public residents towards corona virus disease-2019 preventive measures in Saudi Arabia. Design and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study; it used a validated cross-sectional online survey that received responses from 13 Saudi administrative regions. Results: There were 1513 participants who completed the study (55% females; 77.7%, university education). Knowledge level, attitude, and practices towards corona virus disease-2019 were 81.3%, 86.6%, and 81.9%, respectively. The knowledge subscales showed that 1496 (98.9%) participants knew the system targeted by the virus, 96.2% and 97.3% knew the causative agent and symptoms, 783 (52.2%) participants knew the transmission modes, and 696 (46.0%) participants knew about the complications. The attitude subscales included 1465 (96.5%) participants who had dealt with an infected person, 1451 (95.9%) participants who isolated in a health facility, 1195 (97.0%) participants who knew about hand washing, and 1387 (91.7%) participants who thought the virus spread through home delivery. The practice subscales included 1505 (99.5%) participants who properly disposed of gloves and tissues and 1347 (89.0%) participants who reported safe practices when coughing or sneezing.Conclusions: This study showed satisfactory knowledge, attitude, and practice towards corona virus disease-2019 in Saudi Arabia. The educational level is a dominant influencing factor for knowledge, attitude, and practice

Demographical and population dynamics impact on public health of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Al-Madinah Almonawra, Saudi Arabia

Background: A cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Madinah Almonawra in KSA held during the period from March 2014-March 2015.Aim of the study: This study aimed at analyzing the effect of population dynamics on the current situation of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al-Madinah Almonawarah area, a holy city that attracts millions of muslims annually.Methodology: Epidemiological and clinical data were collected by especial questionnaire and laboratory specimens were collected using skin scraping and needle aspiration. Staining and direct microscopy were done. LST was conducted. Analysis was done using SPSS program.Results: The study included 164 patients, all of them were men. Saudi nationality comprised around 20% of the study group, the majority were Egyptians, 26.2%, followed by Pakistani, 21.3%.Conclusion: The presence of non-Saudi nationality as foreign workers, immigrants and refugees has worsened the current situation of the disease.Keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, refugees, immigration, L. tropica, L. major. Sandfly

The Outcome of Assisted Reproductive Techniques among Couples with Male Factors at Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Fertility Centre, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Thirty-three percent of infertility due to paternal factors, there are an increasing proportion of couples who decide to conceive by assisted reproductive techniques (ART). The outcome prediction is pivotal for decision making.AIM: We aimed to study the pregnancy outcomes of different ART with male factors infertility.METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One hundred fifteen patients' records reviewed using a structured checklist to collect demographic data, sperm (concentration, motility, and morphology). Female with significant infertility factor were excluded. Chi-square was used for the outcome of various ART.RESULTS: Out of 115 couples with male factors; treated by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI); the mean age was 35.2 ± 6.3 years for men and 29.7 ± 5.1 for females. IVF had the highest success rate overall and had a high pregnancy rate with oligospermia and asthenospermia. ICSI has a good outcome for those with azoospermia, severe oligospermia, and teratozoospermia. IUI must be tried as a first line treatment when semen concentration is more than 10 million sperm/ml. all are not significant (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: No significant differences were reported in the pregnancy outcome between various assisted reproductive techniques, smoking, type of infertility and medication

Demographical and population dynamics impact on public health of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Al-Madinah Almonawra, Saudi Arabia

Background: A cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Madinah Almonawra in KSA held during the period from March 2014-March 2015. Aim of the study: This study aimed at analyzing the effect of population dynamics on the current situation of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al-Madinah Almonawarah area, a holy city that attracts millions of muslims annually. Methodology: Epidemiological and clinical data were collected by especial questionnaire and laboratory specimens were collected using skin scraping and needle aspiration. Staining and direct microscopy were done. LST was conducted. Analysis was done using SPSS program. Results: The study included 164 patients, all of them were men. Saudi nationality comprised around 20% of the study group, the majority were Egyptians, 26.2%, followed by Pakistani, 21.3%. Conclusion: The presence of non-Saudi nationality as foreign workers, immigrants and refugees has worsened the current situation of the disease

Using Lamin B1 mRNA for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Background:  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is vital medical issue in Egypt. It accounts for 70.48% of all liver tumors among Egyptians. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic role of plasma levels of mRNA of lamin B1 by RT-qPCR as an early marker of HCC. Methods: This study was conducted at the Clinical Pathology Department in collaboration with the Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Ain Shams University Hospitals. It included 30 patients with primary HCC and viral cirrhosis (all were hepatitis C virus-positive) (Group I), in addition to 10 patients with chronic liver diseases (Group II) and 10 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects (Group III). Group I was further classified according to the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer Staging System. Serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) chemiluminescent-immunoassays and RT-qPCR analysis of plasma lamin B1 mRNA levels were performed for all participants. Results: AFP and lamin B1 significantly elevated in patients with HCC compared to those in the other studied groups. AFP and lamin B1 status could discriminate group I from group II and III. A significant increase was found among the three Barcelona stages with regards to AFP and lamin B1 levels. A significant decrease was found between group II and stage 0, A and B with regards to AFP and lamin B1. Lamin B1 and AFP could both differentiate HCC patients with one tumor nodule (T1) from those with two or more tumor nodules (T2&Tm), as well as between those with tumor sizes >3 cm and ≤3 cm. Conclusion: Measurement of lamin B1 mRNA is recommended in patients with chronic liver disease with normal serum AFP, especially in known cirrhotic patients that deteriorate rapidly without any apparent etiology

Gestational diabetes prevalence and risk factors among pregnant women — Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Background. The gestational diabetes (GDM) is considered as a global public health problem that affects pregnant women. GDM can become chronic type II and usually it is associated with many risk factors that may lead to many serious complications for the mother and the fetus. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of GDM among pregnant women in Jazan region and to determine the possible associated factors of the GDM. Material and methods. The study involved pregnant women attending department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at government hospitals of Jazan region. A sample of 440 pregnant women were randomly selected. Interviews were conducted using a questionnaire prepared to measure the GDM prevalence, risk factors, awareness and adherence to the advice of the doctor and medications. Results. The prevalence of gestational diabetes among pregnant women in Jazan is estimated at 8.2%. The GDM prevalence was significantly higher among obese women (20.2%; 95% CI 13.2–29.2) compared with women with normal weight (7.1%; 95% CI 1.7–7.6). The analysis showed that GDM was significantly associated with child weight more than 3.5 kg (OR 4.315; p = 0.004), mother’s BMI more than 30 kg/m2 (OR 4.703; p = 0.001), and family history of GDM (OR 2.606; p = 0.046). Conclusion. In conclusion, the GDM prevalence obtained in this study is more than global prevalence and less than other studies in KSA. The BMI of mothers and having neonates that weight more than 3.5 kg are the main risk factors for GDM. Suitable interventions programs are highly required for control and risk factor modifications

LEGaTO: first steps towards energy-efficient toolset for heterogeneous computing

LEGaTO is a three-year EU H2020 project which started in December 2017. The LEGaTO project will leverage task-based programming models to provide a software ecosystem for Made-in-Europe heterogeneous hardware composed of CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs and dataflow engines. The aim is to attain one order of magnitude energy savings from the edge to the converged cloud/HPC.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft