INFLUENCE OF MAGNETIZED WATER ON THE GROWTH OF CORN (ZEA MAYS) SEEDLINGS

This study was conducted to evaluate the response of some growth characteristics of corn (Zea mays) seedlings for watering with magnetized water. For this experiment, we took corn seedlings and separated it into two sets. The first set watered with magnetized water and the second one was given tap water (control). The magnetized water was prepared by passing of tap water through the magnetization device at a relatively low speed and then collected into bottle for distribution. The seedlings were immediately watered after magnetization of water. The growthrelated aspects of corn seedlings were investigated for 7 weeks. The results of the current study revealed that the seedlings’ length, stem thickness, leaves number and leaves morphology were affected by magnetized water. Analysis of the results revealed the positive effects of magnetized water on the growth of corn seedlings. The seedlings that given magnetized water exhibited marked increases in shoot length, stem thickness and leaves number per seedling, and also changes of morphology of leaves over the control.أجريت هذه الدراسة لتقييم استجابة بعض خصائص النمو شتلة الذرة (زيا ميس) لسقي بالماء الممغنط. لهذه التجربة ، اتخذنا الذرة الشتلات وفصلها إلى مجموعتين. المجموعة الأولى تسقى بالماء الممغنط والثانية أعطيت واحد ماء الصنبور (السيطرة). تم تحضير الماء الممغنط بتمرير ماء الصنبور من خلال جهاز مغنطة بسرعة منخفضة نسبيا ثم جمعت في زجاجة ل توزيع. تم سقي الشتلات على الفور بعد مغنطة المياه. تم التحقيق في الجوانب المرتبطة بالنمو لشتلات الذرة لمدة 7 أسابيع. نتائج الدراسة الحالية كشفت أن طول الشتلات وسمك الساق وعدد الأوراق والأوراق المورفولوجية كانت تتأثر المياه الممغنطة. كشف تحليل النتائج الآثار الإيجابية للممغنطة الماء على نمو شتلات الذرة. الشتلات التي أعطت المياه الممغنطة عرضت ملحوظ يزيد في طول تبادل لاطلاق النار ، وسمك الجذعية ويترك عدد لكل الشتلات ، وكذلك تغييرات التشكل من الأوراق على السيطرة

A Comparison of Mantel-Haenszel and the Area Difference Between Item Characteristic Curves Index Techniques for Detecting Differential Item Functioning

The study is aimed at comparing between Mantel-Haenszel-MH chi-square and the area difference between three item characteristic curves Index -3ICCs by using Raju’s index to detect the differential item functioning DIF in post-graduate general aptitude test according to gender variable. The study sample of (2280) students was distributed equally between male and female groups. The MH techniques revealed a uniform DIF in (43) items, equal to (45%) of the items in post-graduate general aptitude test. 3ICCs technique, revealed a uniform DIF based on gender in two items, equals to (2%) of item\u27s test. MH technique revealed more efficiency in detecting differential item functioning in post-graduate general aptitude test compared to area difference between 3ICCs. The agreement rate was low between these two techniques. Based on these results, the researchers recommended to use more than one technique when detecting the differential item functioning. Keywords: Differential Item Functioning, Mantel-Haenszel, The three-parameter logistic model, post-graduate general aptitude test

RESPONSE OF CORN (ZEA MAYS), BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM) AND EGGPLANT (SOLANUM MELONGENA) SEEDLINGS TO WI-FI RADIATION.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes of growth related aspects of seedlings after being exposed to Wi-Fi radiation. Experiment was carried out by exposing seedlings to radiation from a Wi-Fi router. The test seedlings and the control were subjected to the same environment during four weeks. The results showed that corn seedlings when exposed to Wi-Fi radiation grew faster and have shoot length and stem thickness significantly larger than the other control. On the other hand basils and eggplants, both exposed and not exposed to Wi-Fi radiation, were found with no significant effects on the shoot length and stem thickness. Moreover Wi-Fi radiation significantly reduced the fresh weight of corns and basils, whereas eggplants were not affected. Furthermore Wi-Fi radiation significantly increased the dry weight of eggplants, whereas corns and basils were not affected. Finally, the results showed that Wi-Fi radiation significantly decreased the water content of three tested seedlings. The study concluded that the Wi-Fi radiation may alter growth related characters of seedlings

Assessment of Quality of Nursing Care for Children with Burns Injuries in Baghdad City Hospitals

Abstract: Objective(s):To determine the quality of nursing care provided to children with burns at centers and units in Baghdad City Hospitals and to identify the relationships between nurse's demographic characteristics like (age, gender, level of education years of experience in burn units, monthly income, course of training in burns) and their quality of care provided to children with burn. Methodology: A descriptive study design was carried out at the non Teaching Hospitals in Baghdad City from the November 27th of 2011 up to the 20th of April 2012. Non probability (purposive) sample of (70) nurses were selected from burns wards in non Teaching Hospitals in Baghdad City, and they have at  one year of experience in burn units of Hospitals .The  part is concerning with observational checklist skin care and composed of (16) items about nurses' practices of child's with burns at burn units. Select the stability of the questionnaire during and select the pilot study through a group of 15 experts. Been described and data analyzed through using of two statistical approaches: descriptive statistical analysis and inferential statistical analysis. Results: The study revealed (37.1%) of the sample has good practices (37.1%) of them has acceptable practices and (25.7%) of the sample has poor practices about skin care for child's with burns at burn units. Moreover, the findings reflects that no significant relationship between nurse’s practices and their demographic characteristics. However, significant relationship is found between their practices there is a significant relationship between nurses' level of education and their practices. Conclusion: There is significant relationship only between level of nurses' education and their practices of skin care for child with burn injury. There was no statistical significant association between nurses' practices and their general information. Nursing interventions practices shows high grade about skin care to the children with burns Injury. The study found more that than half of the nurses have acceptable and good practices scores toward skin care of child with burns injury.                                                                                                Recommendation: The study recommended that the educational by providing educational posters, guidelines, pamphlets and manuals, and training program of burns care which is important for the nurses working in burns wards.Keyword: Assessment, Quality, Nursing Care, Children, Burns Injuries

Evaluation of Saudi International Educational Programs using Rossi and His Colleagues Evaluation Model

This study aimed to evaluate international educational programs (IEP) of the Saudi private schools, their need, design, inputs, processes, outputs and impact using the hierarchical evaluation model (HEM) of Rossi and his colleagues. The methodology adopts dual quantitative and qualitative methods. The evaluation includes Saudi private schools applying such programs, and samples of some foreign schools and foreign community schools employing deep comparisons, questionnaires, field observations and interviews of administrators, teachers, students and parents. This evaluation shows that HEM helped in grading evaluation and determining questions that suit program grade. Results show that IEP maintain students’ identity, and achieve outcomes reasonably. They reduced student enrollment in foreign programs, and helped raise their knowledge, language, personal and educational skills to a global level. However, there is lack of clear program theory that identifies inputs, processes and outcomes, lack of clarity in program mechanisms, design, needs assessment, performance monitoring and evaluation. They show limited external evaluation, with no standardized or uniform standards for teachers selection and intake as well as final achievement exams. They likewise show lack of information for parents and community members. This study recommends the expansion of experience provided that international standards of programs quality and monitoring be ensured

The Palestinian Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Preserved at the Biology Exhibitions of the Universities of the Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip (365 km2 ) of Palestine (27,000 km2 ) is home to a wealth of terrestrial vertebrate fauna. Some of these faunistic species find their ways to preservation at the local universities. Hence, the current study comes to document the Palestinian terrestrial vertebrate fauna acquired by the biology exhibitions (BEs) of Al-Azhar University, Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Aqsa University that are located at the Gaza City of the Gaza Strip. The amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals preserved at BEs of the universities in question were surveyed and scientifically classified during a three-month period extending from January to March, 2012. The study showed that all BEs of local universities are underdeveloped, lacking attention and suffer from specimen scarcity and good preservation. The BE at Al-Azhar University is the best in the arrangement and preservation of bird specimens. A total number of 200 specimens belonging to 54 terrestrial vertebrate fauna species, 39 families and 17 orders was recorded at BEs. Reptiles constituted 40.7% of the total species recorded, followed by birds (38.9%), mammals (14.8%) and amphibians (5.6%). The Islamic University of Gaza was considered the best in terms of the number of preserved species (39.8%), followed by Al-Azhar University (36.3%) and Al-Aqsa University (23.9%). The Common Toad (Bufo viridis) was the most preserved among the amphibian species recorded. Squamata was the biggest reptilian order, comprising 20 species (8 lizards and 12 snakes), with the Syrian Black Snake (Coluber jugularis asianus) was the commonest. The Palestine Viper (Vipera palaestinae) is endemic to Palestine and most venomous and dangerous to human health. The Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) was the largest Palestinian bird preserved at BE of Al-Azhar University. The Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) and the Common Badger (Meles meles) were the biggest mammalian specimens preserved, while the Palestine Mole-rat (Spalax leucodon ehrenbergi) was the only Palestine endemic species encountered among the preserved mammals. Finally, the improvement of BEs of local universities and the construction of a Central Museum of Natural History is highly recommended in order to change the Palestinians’ attitudes toward a sustainable ecological conservation in the Gaza Strip

Impact of deletion of a catabolite repressor Mig1 on hyphal morphology and cellulase expression in Penicillium funiculosum NCIM1228

Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is a regulatory mechanism which negatively regulates genes of for ancillary carbon source utilization. It is mediated by Mig1 orthologues, which are Zn finger transcriptional repressors. We studied the effect of CCR disruption in Penicillium funiculosum NCIM1228, a hypercelluloytic ascomycete. Upon phylogenetic analysis of fungal genomes, Mig1 presence across all taxa of kingdom fungi revealed its conserved role in catabolite repression. Also it was found to constitute distinct clade from industrially important cellulase producing fungi like Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus sp. It shared the clade with other highly evolved fungi T. cellulolyticus and P. marneffei and represented more recent radiations of evolutionary conserved catabolite repressor Mig1. Genotypic analysis showed that NCIM1228 harbors a truncated yet functional allele of Mig1. Mig1 orthologue of NCIM1228 has a non-sense mutation at 134th amino acid position, making a large C-terminal portion of Mig1 (415aa) dispensable for carbon repression. NCIM1228 was grown in presence of allyl alcohol to check the phenotypic effect. NCIM1228 showed sensitivity to allyl alcohol as compared to Penicillium funiculosum (Pf). Deleting active Zn finger domain made NCIM1228 completely sensitive to allyl alcohol. Surprisingly, the deletion showed small and compact colonies with compromised filamentous proliferation while the dry mycelial weight didn’t change when grown on 0.5% glucose supplemented with 2% avicel. Using microscopy, we unraveled that PfΔMig1 showed reduced aerial hyphae and profuse branching pattern in terminal hyphae resulting in compact colonies. We further observed more than two-fold (7.6 FPU/ml) higher FPU in production media than NCIM1228 under similar condition

Disruption of zinc finger DNA binding domain in catabolite repressor Mig1 increases growth rate, hyphal branching, and cellulase expression in hypercellulolytic fungus Penicillium funiculosum NCIM1228

Abstract Background There is an urgent requirement for second-generation bio-based industries for economical yet efficient enzymatic cocktail to convert diverse cellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars. In our previous study, secretome of Penicillium funiculosum NCIM1228 showed high commercial potential by exhibiting high biomass hydrolyzing efficiency. To develop NCIM1228 further as an industrial workhorse, one of the major genetic interventions needed is global deregulation of cellulolytic genes to achieve higher enzyme production. Mig1 orthologs found in all yeast and filamentous fungi are transcriptional regulators that maintain carbon homeostasis by negatively regulating genes of secondary carbon source utilization. Their disruption has long been known to be beneficial for increasing the production of secreted enzymes for alternate carbon source utilization. Results Upon detailed genotypic and phenotypic analysis, we observed that NCIM1228 harbors a truncated yet functional allele of homolog of a well-known catabolite repressor, Mig1. Alleviation of carbon repression in NCIM1228 was attained by replacing functional Mig1134 allele with null allele Mig188. P. funiculosum having Mig188 null allele showed better growth characteristics and 1.75-fold better glucose utilization than parent strain. We also showed that visibly small colony size, one of the major characteristics of CCR disruptant strains in filamentous fungi, was not due to retarded growth, but altered hyphal morphology. CCR-disrupted strain PfMig188 showed profuse branching pattern in terminal hyphae resulting in small and compact colonies with compromised filamentous proliferation. We further observed that basal level expression of two major classes of cellulases, namely, cellobiohydrolase and endoglucanase, was regulated by Mig1134 in NCIM1228, whereas other two major classes, namely, xylanases and β-glucosidase, were only marginally regulated. Finally, CCR disruption in P. funiculosum NCIM1228 led to prolonged cellulase induction in production medium resulting in twofold increased cellulase activity than the parent strain with maximum secreted protein titer being > 14 g/l. Conclusions CCR-disrupted P. funiculosum showed better growth, enhanced carbon source utilization, profuse branching pattern in terminal hyphae, and higher cellulase activity than parent strain. Our findings are particularly important in shedding light on important functions performed by Mig1 in addition to its role as negative regulator of alternate carbon source utilization in filamentous fungi