FRET primers for quantitative real-time PCR: Optimization for genomic and cDNA templates

 The chemistry of FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) primers real-time thermal cycling technique depends on internally labeled primers with FRET dyes. Fluorescent dyes are linked internally close to the 3` end of both primers. FRET primers technique was tested and optimized on PCR products as an amplification template. It showed high efficiency, correlation coefficient and wide dynamic range in short amplification time. FRET primers technique was not tested on real sample materials such as genomic and cDNA. The main objective of this study was to test and optimize FRET primers on genomic and cDNA as an amplification templates to be used in research and diagnosis. Two steps amplification protocol (denaturation step and annealing-elongation step) showed higher efficiency, correlation coefficient and wider dynamic range compared to three steps protocol in case of genomic and cDNA templates. Moreover, shorter amplification time is needed for two steps protocol that makes FRET primers suitable and alternative choice for research and diagnostic purposes.Â

The effect of human resources practice on job satisfaction among the academics staffs of Yarmok University in Jordan

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of human resources practice on job satisfaction among the academics staffs of Yarmok University in Jordan. The factors that examined in this study are training and development, compensations, performance appraisal, benefit as well as safety and health. The Yarmok Universitie academics staffs were the respondent of this study. The respondent was obtained from the human resource department of the University, a total of 283 questionnaires were distributed to obtained the primary data used for this study, both descriptive and internal analysis employed in this study, the result shows that training and development, compensation, performance appraisal, safety and health precedents employee job satisfaction with training and development showing strongest contribution, suggestions are made for future research on ways to enhance job satisfaction among employee

EFFECT OF GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COUNTDOWN TIMER AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS

Occurrence of red light running is when vehicles cross an intersection after the traffic light tnrns to red. This behavior is dangerous and can cause harm to other motorists and also pedestrians. Data provided from previous study in Ipoh shows that the effectiveness of a countdown timer varies between intersections. It is also generally noted that people from different states behave differently. They have their own sets of culture and understanding of their surroundings which could affect the behavior when crossing at intersections. Therefore, this study is done to determine whether geographical locations affect the effectiveness of countdown timers and to justify its efficiency in reducing red light running. Eight random locations with and without timers in Penang were chosen to conduct this study. Video camera is used to capture the movements of the vehicles entering the intersection. By using Chi-square statistical analysis, it is found that there is no significant difference between Penang and Ipoh for the intersections with countdown timer but there is a significant difference for intersections without countdown timer. This justifies that a countdown timer works efficiently in reducing red light running. It is also noted that drivers between these two cities behave differently at intersections without countdown timer

Interaction between population and Enviromental Degradation

The present study investigates the long-run interrelationship among the demographic variables and environmental indicators by using the Johansen-Juselius cointegration technique and error correction model to determine the short-run dynamics of the system related to time series data for Pakistan economy, over the period 1972–2001. The paper finds the existence of a cointegrating vector, indicating a valid long-run relationship among the variables. Moreover, demographic variables have a significant effect in the short-run on AL but their short-run coefficients have an insignificant impact on CO2 emission. The empirical evidence clearly support that high population growth rates have a deleterious impact on environment. The policy implication thereof is to enhance the need of lowering population in Pakistan which seems to be a burden on the existing resources and a challenge to the environment.

Fog computing security and privacy issues, open challenges, and blockchain solution: An overview

Due to the expansion growth of the IoT devices, Fog computing was proposed to enhance the low latency IoT applications and meet the distribution nature of these devices. However, Fog computing was criticized for several privacy and security vulnerabilities. This paper aims to identify and discuss the security challenges for Fog computing. It also discusses blockchain technology as a complementary mechanism associated with Fog computing to mitigate the impact of these issues. The findings of this paper reveal that blockchain can meet the privacy and security requirements of fog computing; however, there are several limitations of blockchain that should be further investigated in the context of Fog computing

Development of Threshold Levels and a Climate-Sensitivity Model of the Hydrological Regime of the High-Altitude Catchment of the Western Himalayas, Pakistan

Water shortages in Pakistan are among the most severe in the world, and its water resources are decreasing significantly due to the prevailing hydro-meteorological conditions. We assessed variations in meteorological and hydrological variables using innovative trend analysis (ITA) and traditional trend analysis methods at a practical significance level, which is also of practical interest. We developed threshold levels of hydrological variables and developed a non-parametric climate-sensitivity model of the high-altitude catchment of the western Himalayas. The runoff of Zone I decreased, while the temperature increased and the precipitation increased significantly. In Zone II, the runoff and temperature increased but the precipitation decreased. A two-dimensional visualization of the Pardé coefficient showed extreme drought events, and indicated greater sensitivity of the hydrological regime to temperature than to precipitation. The threshold levels of runoff for Zones I and II were 320 and 363 mm using the Q80 fixed method, while the mean runoff amounts were estimated to be 79.95 and 55.61 mm, respectively. The transient threshold levels varied by month, and the duration of droughts in Zones I and II ranged from 26.39 to 78.98 days. The sensitivity of the hydrological regime was estimated based on a modified climate-elasticity model (εp = 0.11–0.23, εt = −0.04–2.39) for Zones I and II, respectively. These results highlight the sensitivity of the hydrological regime to temperature, which influences the melting process. However, it is important to establish thresholds for hydrological variables and understand the climate sensitivity of the hydrological regime of the entire basin, so that policy makers and water managers can make sustainable water-resource-management decisions for this region