Representations of Arab Women in Hollywood Pre- and Post- 9/11

Many scholars argue that the image of Arabs in Hollywood has always been tainted by prejudice and stereotyping. However, little attention is paid to women\u27s representation in general or the influence of 9/11 on that representation. This paper compares portrayals of Arab women in popular Hollywood films before and after 9/11. A purposive sample of 76 Arab female characters from 40 popular Hollywood films is used to conduct a content analysis, comparing portrayals in films released before and after 9/11. Popular Hollywood films are defined as films with at least 50,000 reviews that score seven or more on the International Movie Database (IMDB). The results show that Arab women’s representation lacks diversity and Arab women remain unidentified in Hollywood films. Arab women’s portrayal shifts from one of the magical or sexualized characters to one of the violent terrorists. Despite the overall increase in the amount of violence depicted after 9/11, there is a shift in favor of the portrayal of Arab women, with more depicted as good or pure after 9/11. Finally, the results show that the morality of Arab female characters improves, with more characters depicted as evaluating options and making their own decisions

A Tentative List of the Land Snails of Georgia, U.S.A.

Because of their high ecological and conservation value, and because we know so little about the group, we compiled a systematic if tentative list of land snails from the state of Georgia. After gleaning a list of species from a monograph on the land snails of eastern United States, written by Leslie Hubricht in 1985, we realized that many species whose ecological requirements are found in Georgia had not been documented there. Therefore, we developed a qualitative model to predict the likelihood that these candidate species occur in Georgia and would eventually be documented. We tested the model with collections data from nine natural history museums and found that the model nonrandomly predicted the species that were collected after the publication of Hubricht’s work. Our searches revealed 214 species of land snails collected in Georgia that exist in museums. Our model predicted that another 68 species are likely occur in the state and await documentation. There are at least 10 species of exotic snails within Georgia’s borders, some of them invasive. We consider our list of land snails in Georgia tentative but useful because of our systematic approach. It is our hope that more researchers will consider Georgia land snails as a model for studying systematics, evolution, ecology, and conservation

Application of VACNTs in MEMS devices

Vertically aligned Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) which are commonly referred to as CNT forests, have many potential engineering applications for its attractive mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties. Various micro patterning of VACNTs are used for fabricating MEMS devices such as pressure sensor, thermometer, switches etc. A new patterning technique recently introduced by our group is named as micro mechanical bending (M2B) of VACNTs. Typically, CNT forest is known to be the darkest material on earth that can almost completely absorb light. This new M2B technique for CNT forest remarkably changes the optical property of the processed zone. The most significant observation made from the processed CNT forest is the visible optical reflection from bent and flattened area. Another interesting property of the resultant is anisotropic behaviour of the surface. The anisotropic and flexible nature of CNT forest has opened the gateway to use these patterned CNT forest as several types of MEMS based sensor, which will be discussed in this paper

Enhancing antioxidant defense system of mung bean with a salicylic acid exogenous application to mitigate cadmium toxicity

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation is an emerging environmental hazard and has detrimental effects on plant growth and development. Salicylic acid (SA) is a well-known plant growth regulator that can initiate various molecular pathways to ameliorate Cd toxicity. The experiment was executed to scrutinize the mediatory role of SA to accelerate the defensive mechanism of mung bean in response to Cd stress. Mung bean plants were exposed to 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg Cd kg-1 of soil. Exogenous application of SA 0, 10-6 and 10-3 M was added prior flowering. Results exhibited that Cd stress considerably reduced the growth-related attributes i.e. shoot length, root length, fresh and dry biomass, total soluble protein, total amino acids, relative water contents and photosynthetic pigments. Cadmium stress showed a significant increase in antioxidants levels such as peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), ascorbic acid (AsA), and catalase (CAT) and promoted the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. However, exogenously applied SA significantly improved plant biomass and photosynthetic pigments under Cd stress. Moreover, SA improved the defensive system by enhancing antioxidants’ activities under the increasing concentration of Cd stress. Furthermore, SA reduced the Cd uptake, membrane damage and, H2O2 and MDA accumulation. The study's findings concluded that exogenous-applied SA enhanced plant growth, promoted the antioxidant activities, and reduced the oxidative damage in mung bean seedlings under Cd stress

Tuning the Chemical Environment within the UiO-66-NH2 Nanocages for Charge-Dependent Contaminant Uptake and Selectivity

The remarkable water stability of Zr-carboxylatebased metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) stimulated considerable interest toward their utilization in aqueous phase applications. The origin of such stability is probed here through pH titration and plc modeling. A unique feature of the Zr-6(mu 3OH)(4)(mu O-3)(4)(RCO2)(12) cluster is the Zr-bridging oxo/hydroxyl groups, demonstrating several pK(a) values that appear to provide for the water stability at a wide range of pH. Accordingly, the tunability of the cage/surface charge of the MOF can feasibly be controlled through careful adjustment of solution pH. Such high stability, and facile control over cage/surface charge, can additionally be augmented through introducing chemical functionalities lining the cages of the MOF, specifically amine groups in the UiO-66-NH2 presented herein. The variable protonation states of the Zr cluster and the pendant amino groups, their H-bond donor/acceptor characteristics, and their electrostatic interactions with guest molecules were effectively utilized in controlled experiments to demonstrate high uptake of model guest molecules (137 mg/g for Cr(VI), 1275 mg/g for methylene blue, and 909 mg/g for methyl orange). Additionally, a practical form of the silica-supported MOF, UiO-66-NH2 @SiO2, constructed in under 2 h reaction time, is described, generating a true platform microporous sorbent for practical use in demanding applications

Association of The Mthfr C677t, Factor V (Leiden) G1961a and Prothrombin G20210a Gene Mutations with Recurrent Spontaneous Aboration (Rsa) in Duhok Province

Genetic causes of thrombophilia have been suggested as a possible cause of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Fifty female patients aged between 21- 40 years and experienced at least two times early pregnancy loss were enrolled in the current study. Blood samples were aspirated, infectious (TORCH), hormonal (gonadotrophines, steroids, and thyroid hormones), ultrasonic, and serological (anti-lupus and anti-phospholipid antibodies) evaluations were conducted to exclude any individual candidate who had been suspected to have causes of early pregnancy loss rather than the genetic attribute. DNA from each particular sample was extracted by components of (FVL-PTH and MTHFR)StripAssay®A kit Vienna Lab Diagnostics GmbH, Vienna, Austria).this kit includes three steps: (1) DNA isolation, (2) Multiplex PCR amplification was performed by using biotinylated primers, for detecting different mutations in the three genes of interest (FVL-PTH and MTHFR) (3) Hybridization of amplification products to a test strip containing allele-specific oligonucleotide probes immobilized as an array of parallel lines. The results revealed that 24 samples out of 50 had MTHFR C677T mutations while 2 samples only had   FV (G1691A)mutation while prothrombin mutation (G20210A)has not been detected. In conclusion: genetic mutation had significant impact in patients suffered recurrent pregnancy loss

Polycystic ovary syndrome: A disorder of reproductive age, its pathogenesis, and a discussion on the emerging role of herbal remedies

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common, complex, and heterogeneous endocrine disorder of women that involves a combination of environmental and genetic factors. PCOS affects women of growing age particularly at the early to late reproductive stage (15-35 years). Currently, PCOS affects 1 in every 10 women worldwide. It is characterized majorly by a raised level of androgens such as testosterone and a large number of ovarian cysts (more than 10) that cause anovulation, infertility, and irregular menstrual cycle. PCOS is also related to other endocrine and metabolic abnormalities, such as obesity, hirsutism, acne, diabetes, insulin resistance, and glucose impairment. PCOS can be treated with allopathic, ayurvedic, and natural or herbal medications along with lifestyle modifications. Herbal medicines remained in demand for numerous reasons such as high cost and side effects associated with the use of allopathic medicine and our traditional norms, which have helped humans to use more herbal products for their health benefits. Estrogenic and nonestrogenic phytochemicals present in various plant species such as Glycyrrhiza glabra L. [Fabaceae], Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. [Asphodelaceae], Silybum marianum (L.). Gaertn. [Asteraceae], Serenoa repens (W.Bartram) Small [Arecaceae], Actaea racemosa L. [Ranunculaceae], and Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels [Apiaceae] are effective and harmless. Herbal medicines are found to be cost-effective, efficacious, and a highly esteemed source of management/treatment for PCOS than allopathic medicines. In this literature review, diagnosis, signs, and symptoms of PCOS; causes of hormonal imbalance; and risk factors associated with PCOS and their management are discussed briefly, and the focus was to find out the role of herbal remedies in PCOS management

Revolutionizing cancer therapy: nanoformulation of miRNA-34 – enhancing delivery and efficacy for various cancer immunotherapies: a review

Despite recent advancements in cancer therapies, challenges such as severe toxic effects, non-selective targeting, resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and recurrence of metastatic tumors persist. Consequently, there has been considerable effort to explore innovative anticancer compounds, particularly in immunotherapy, which offer the potential for enhanced biosafety and efficacy in cancer prevention and treatment. One such avenue of exploration involves the miRNA-34 (miR-34) family, known for its ability to inhibit tumorigenesis across various cancers. Dysregulation of miR-34 has been observed in several human cancers, and it is recognized as a tumor suppressor microRNA due to its synergistic interaction with the well-established tumor suppressor p53. However, challenges have arisen with the therapeutic application of miR-34a. These include its susceptibility to degradation by RNase in serum, limiting its ability to penetrate capillary endothelium and reach target cells, as well as reports of immunoreactive adverse reactions. Furthermore, unexpected side effects may occur, such as the accumulation of therapeutic miRNAs in healthy tissues due to interactions with serum proteins on nano-vector surfaces, nanoparticle breakdown in the bloodstream due to shearing stress, and unsuccessful extravasation of nanocarriers to target cells owing to interstitial fluid pressure. Despite these challenges, miR-34a remains a promising candidate for cancer therapy, and other members of the miR-34 family have also shown potential in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. While the in vivo applications of miR-34b/c are limited, they warrant further exploration for oncotherapy. Recently, procedures utilizing nanoparticles have been developed to address the challenges associated with the clinical use of miR-34, demonstrating efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. This review highlights emerging trends in nanodelivery systems for miR-34 targeting cancer cells, offering insights into novel nanoformulations designed to enhance the anticancer therapeutic activity and targeting precision of miR-34. As far as current knowledge extends, no similar recent review comprehensively addresses the diverse nanoformulations aimed at optimizing the therapeutic potential of miR-34 in anticancer strategies

Risk factors for presentation to hospital with severe anaemia in Tanzanian children: a case-control study.

In malaria endemic areas anaemia is a usually silent condition that nevertheless places a considerable burden on health services. Cases of severe anaemia often require hospitalization and blood transfusions. The objective of this study was to assess risk factors for admission with anaemia to facilitate the design of anaemia control programmes. We conducted a prospective case-control study of children aged 2-59 months admitted to a district hospital in southern Tanzania. There were 216 cases of severe anaemia [packed cell volume (PCV) < 25%] and 234 age-matched controls (PCV > or = 25%). Most cases [55.6% (n = 120)] were < 1 year of age. Anaemia was significantly associated with the educational level of parents, type of accommodation, health-seeking behaviour, the child's nutritional status and recent and current medical history. Of these, the single most important factor was Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia [OR 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9-6.5, P < 0.001]. Multivariate analysis showed that increased recent health expenditure [OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.3-3.9), P = 0.005], malnutrition [OR 2.4 (95%CI 1.3-4.3), P < 0.001], living > 10 km from the hospital [OR 3.0 (95% CI 1.9-4.9), P < 0.001], a history of previous blood transfusion [OR 3.8 (95% CI 1.7-9.1), P < 0.001] and P. falciparum parasitaemia [OR 9.5 (95% CI 4.3-21.3), P < 0.001] were independently related to risk of being admitted with anaemia. These findings are considered in terms of the pathophysiological pathway leading to anaemia. The concentration of anaemia in infants and problems of access to health services and adequate case management underline the need for targeted preventive strategies for anaemia control