Microbial Metabolism of Rofecoxib, A Selective COX-2 Inhibitor

Microbial transformation studies of rofecoxib (1), a potent selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, using sixty microorganisms, mainly fungi and actinomycetes, have revealed that it was metabolized by three microorganisms. Using a standard two-stage screening technique, Cunninghamella echinulata var. echinulata ATCC 9244, Mucor griseocyanus ATCC 1207b, and Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 34121 showed two common more polar metabolites 2 and 3. Moreover, it was apparent that Cunninghamella echinulata var. echinulata was the most efficient microorganism to almost completely metabolize 1, and hence, was selected for preparative scale fermentation. These metabolites were characterized on the basis of their spectral data as 4'-hydroxyrofecoxib (2) and 3'-hydroxyrofecoxib (3)

Examining the Role of the Drosophila Melanogaster Unc13 Protein in Open Field Activity Using RNAi

Unc13 are proteins in the presynaptic neurons essential in controlling synaptic vesicle fusion and synaptic transmission. Recently, the reduction of Drosophila melanogaster Unc13 proteins (Dunc13), were found to result in a resistance to alcohol, highly reminiscent of tolerance formation. I investigated whether genetically reducing Dunc13 activity in Drosophila brain regions leads to different forms of behavioral plasticity using an open field activity paradigm. In my approach, a Dunc13 RNAi transgene was expressed in the Drosophila brain within the mushroom body, the ellipsoid body, and in all neurons. The activities of the flies were examined in the open field paradigm to measure the locomotor and exploratory behavior. In my experiments, I did not find a significant effect of Dunc13 RNAi expression in any of the tested areas. I conclude by describing the effect of the reduction of Dunc13 activity in the neurons on the behavior of the fly and proposing methods of improvement

The Extent of Compulsory Car Insurance Coverage for Injuries Caused by Cars\u27 Accidents: A Comparative Study between the Jordanian Laws and, UAE Laws

Car accidents are one of the main causes which endangers human life in addition to causing materialand moraldamage. The aim of the study is to shed light on the adequacy of compulsory car insurance in providing satisfactory legalprotection for injured persons, whether these injuries are fatalor non-fatal. It is suggested in the study, that, this can be achieved via establishing legalmeans which enable the injured party to directly claim damages from the insuring company. The study focuses on compulsory car insurance laws in the Jordanians and UAE laws. And it also attempts to explore the influence of Islamic Jurisprudence on both law

A Generalization of the Exponential-Logarithmic Distribution for Reliability and Life Data Analysis

In this paper, we introduce a new two-parameter lifetime distribution, called the exponential-generalized truncated logarithmic (EGTL) distribution, by compounding the exponential and generalized truncated logarithmic distributions. Our procedure generalizes the exponential-logarithmic (EL) distribution modelling the reliability of systems by the use of first-order concepts, where the minimum lifetime is considered (Tahmasbi 2008). In our approach, we assume that a system fails if a given number k of the components fails and then, we consider the kth-smallest value of lifetime instead of the minimum lifetime. The reliability and failure rate functions as well as their properties are presented for some special cases. The estimation of the parameters is attained by the maximum likelihood, the expectation maximization algorithm, the method of moments and the Bayesian approach, with a simulation study performed to illustrate the different methods of estimation. The application study is illustrated based on two real data sets used in many applications of reliability.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figure

An Empirical Study on the Relationship between Stock Market Index and the National Economy Growth: the Case of Jordan

This paper investigates the causal relationship between stock market development and economic growth for Jordan for the period 2000-2012 using a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between ASE market index and Jordan's national economic development (Real GDP). Researchers applied Johansen co-integration analysis based on classical unit roots tests. The results of Granger causality tests indicated that there is a unidirectional causality between stock market development and economic growth with direction from stock market development to economic growth. Granger Co integration indicated that all t-statistics were significant which indicates that variables have long-term relationship. Unit root test showed that all sector indexes have non-standing existence; while GARCH-M revealed that research hypotheses have mixed results and were not exclusively rejected. Keywords: Stock market; Economic growth; VAR model; Granger causality

Prevalence, Pathogenicity, Virulence, Antibiotic Resistance, and Phylogenetic Analysis of Biofilm-Producing Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Different Ecological Niches in Egypt: Food, Humans, Animals, and Environment

Serious outbreaks of foodborne disease have been caused by Listeria monocytogenes found in retail delicatessens and the severity of disease is significant, with high hospitalization and mortality rates. Little is understood about the formidable public health threat of L. monocytogenes in all four niches, humans, animals, food, and environment, in Egypt. This study analyzed the presence of L. monocytogenes collected from the four environmental niches and bioinformatics analysis was implemented to analyze and compare the data. PCR was used to detect virulence genes encoded by pathogenicity island (LIPI-1). prfA amino acid substation that causes constitutive expression of virulence was common in 77.7% of isolates. BLAST analysis did not match other isolates in the NCBI database, suggesting this may be a characteristic of the region associated with these isolates. A second group included the NH1 isolate originating in China, and BLAST analysis showed this prfA allele was shared with isolates from other global locations, such as Europe and North America. Identification of possible links and transmission pathways between the four niches helps to decrease the risk of disease in humans, to take more specific control measures in the context of disease prevention, to limit economic losses associated with food recalls, and highlights the need for treatment options

A Reverse Exponential-Generalized Truncated Logarithmic (Rev-EGTL) Distribution For Ordered Spacing Statistics

This paper extends the exponential-generalized truncated logarithmic (EGTL) distribution to model reverse ordered statistics. Our procedure generalizes the exponential-logarithmic (EL) distribution to a distribution more appropriate for modelling the mth-largest value of lifetime instead of the maximum lifetime. We give a general form of the new family of spacing distribution appropriate for descending ordered statistics. General forms of the pdf and the failure rate function as well as their properties are presented for some special cases. The parameters’ estimation is attained by the maximum likelihood (ML) and the expectation maximization (EM) algorithms. The application study is illustrated based on four real data sets

Cost Evaluation and Management for Adopting Reinforced Earth Retaining Structures in Jordan

Globally, different studies and investigations in the field of new technologies and alternative building materials are continuously performed to decrease the cost and time of carrying out construction projects. In this research, a geotechnical and management investigations were conducted to evaluate (primarily) the cost of adopting reinforced earth retaining structures in Jordan and then to compare this technology with conventional concrete retaining walls. In Jordan, the reinforced earth technique is relatively performed, since 2005; however, it is still not popular among the construction engineering sectors. The methodology of this research consisted of two stages. The first stage included collecting for literature of previous investigations and the required information related to the above subject; whereas, the second stage focused on the idea of adopting reinforced earth structures for a proposed project in Jordan, then considering it as a case study for this research. Briefly, the study project was a proposed retaining wall that to be executed along one side of an existing road located at Al Fuhais City (about five kilometers from the Capital Amman). Accordingly, a comparison study for implementing two alternatives of retaining structures had been conducted for this project (i.e., reinforced earth & reinforced concrete retaining walls). The engineering evaluation of carrying out this project has been studied during performing a comprehensive analysis for each alternative considering the structural cost, labor and equipment's costs, quality and availability of the required materials, applicability, and the construction management. Considering the results of this research, it was concluded that conducting reinforced earth retaining structures in Jordan has more benefits considering their lower cost, less duration of execution, the availability of materials, the presence of workers with good experience, in addition to other several factors concerning the structure's durability, and serving as projects with most convenient to local environment. Keywords: Reinforced Earth Walls, Engineering Management, Cost Evaluation, Planning, R.C Walls