Mechanisms of pathogenesis of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on tomato

Imperial Users onl

Genetic variability, heritability and character association of grain yield and its components among selected genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.), Gezira State, Sudan

In the Sudan, the low yield of maize was mainly due to the use of low yielding land races and open-pollinated varieties. Hence, the current study was conducted to measure the extent of genotypic and phenotypic variability, genotypic performance, heritability, genotype x season interaction, and the magnitude of association among seed yield and its components of 10 maize genotypes. The experiment was carried out during the summer of 2017 and the winter of 2017/18, using a randomized complete block  design with three replicates, at the University of Gezira Farm, Wad Medani, Sudan. The characters measured were days to 50% tasseling and silking, plant and ear height, number of kernels per row and per ear, ear diameter, cob length, 100-kernels weight and grain yield. High significant phenotypic variability was detected for all the measured characters. Seasonal differences were also significant. High broad sense heritability estimates were recorded for 50% tasseling and silking and plant height while the rest of the characters showed moderate estimates. The study confirmed the fact that maize is a summer crop in central Sudan. In summer, the highest seed yield genotype was HSD 5158 (2609 kg/ha) and in winter was HSD 3538 (2285 kg/ha). Days to 50% tasseling and silking and plant height were significantly and positively correlated with yield and so recommended as selection criteria for seed yield improvement. It is recommended to grow genotypes HSD 5158 in summer and HSD 3538 in winter as well as genotypes VMH 4040, VMH 4102 and HSD 5007 in both seasons. Testing of these genotypes under different locations and seasons is suggested.              يعزى ضعف إنتاجية الذرة الشامية بالسودان لزراعة أصناف مفتوحة التلقيح وسلالات محلية ضعيفة الإنتاج. هدفت هذه الدراسة لقياس التباين الظاهري والوراثي ودرجة التوريث على المدى العريض وتفاعل الطراز الوراثي والموسم وارتباط إنتاج البذور ومكوناته. نفذت التجربة في صيف 2017 وشتاء 18/2017 بتصميم القطاعات العشوائية الكاملة بثلاث مكررات بمزرعة جامعة الجزيرة، واد مدني، السودان. الصفات التي  قيست هي : عدد الأيام لظهور 50% من الأزهار المذكرة والمؤنثة وطول النبات وارتفاع القندول وعدد بذور الصف والقندول ومحيط القندول وطول الكوز ووزن مائة حبة وإنتاج البذور. أظهرت النتائج اختلافاً معنوياً بين الطرز الوراثية لكل الصفات وفي الموسمين. تأثير الموسم كان معنوياً. سجلت قيم عالية لدرجة التوريث بالمعنى العريض لصفات 50% إزهار مذكر ومؤنث وطول النبات ولكن الصفات الأخرى أظهرت قيم وسطية. ثبت أن محصول الذرة الشامية في وسط السودان محصول صيفي. الطراز الذي أعطى أعلى إنتاجية صيفاً هو HSD 5158 (2609 كجم/هـ) وشتاءً  هو  HSD 3538 (2285 كجم/هـ). ارتبطت صفات الإزهار المؤنث والمذكر وطول النبات ارتباطاً موجباً ومعنوياً بالإنتاجية وعليه يمكن استعمالها كمؤشرات انتخاب لتحسين إنتاجية الحبوب. يوصى بزراعة الطراز HSD 5158  صيفاً والطراز HSD 3538 شتاءً والطرز VMH 4040 و VMH 4102 و HSD 5007 في الموسمين معاً. يوصى بزراعة هذه الطرز المقترحة في مواسم ومواقع متعددة لتأكيد النتائج. &nbsp

Sight Words in the Field of Teaching Saudi Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Like all students with special needs, those with ASD are unique. To help them develop their skills and capacities, they need specialized programs and interventions. The main purpose of this study was to understand teachers’ knowledge about sight words intervention. In addition to that, the study was intended to discover teachers’ perspectives on the use of sight words to enhance reading skills of Saudi students with ASD. 89 male and female teachers of students with ASD participated in this study. The result showed that teachers have a high level of knowledge about sight word strategy in teaching reading to their students with ASD. In addition, teachers see that the use of sight words is moderately effective in enhancing on other aspect of literacy of students with ASD

The Effectiveness of Transition to School for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Systematic Review

Numerous factors, phases, stages, and stakeholders come into play when exploring the topic of transition to school for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers interested in this topic must go through many procedures to eventually reach the end goals of their studies at the highest level possible of accuracy especially when their studies are built on the participation of children with ASD. Moreover, the transition to school is a multi-threaded topic and the possibilities that researchers can explore are endless. This study aimed to explore the issue of students with ASD transitioning to schools and scrutinize the multiple sub-topics associated with the process of transitioning. The study reviewed 16 studies that fell within the inclusion criteria to find out about (1) the main purpose of the studies, (2) what methodologies were used, and (3) whether researchers had pre-set hypotheses about ASD. Findings revealed that several topics and sub- topics were falling under the overarching umbrella of the issue of the transition to school for children with ASD. Researchers utilized many methodologies to examine the topics, some of which were common across some studies. Some studies were found to have included different groups of participants: children with ASD as well as other stakeholders for this group of children, such as parents, care providers, teachers, and workers of intervention programs. Most of the reviewed studies did not include prior hypotheses about ASD and speculations were not paramount elements

Speed of Lexical Access to Arabic and English Letters

To examining the role of cultural differences in speed of lexical access, we employed two types of Posner (1967) name matching task: Arabic and English types. We have conducted an experiment on 30 native Arabic speakers from King Saud University. The results showed that the lexical access to physically identical letters is faster than lexical access to the nominally identical letters. However, there was a significant effect of task's type in the speed of lexical access. Also, the correlations coefficients varied with task's type. In its entirety, these results suggest that the cultural aspects have a role in the speed of lexical access. Keywords: Lexical Access, long term memory, letters matching

Assessing post-traumatic stress disorder in South African adolescents: using the child and adolescent trauma survey (CATS) as a screening tool

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that South African children and adolescents are exposed to high levels of violent trauma with a significant proportion developing PTSD, however, limited resources make it difficult to accurately identify traumatized children. METHODS: A clinical interview (K-SADS-PL, selected modules) and self-report scale (CATS) were compared to determine if these different methods of assessment elicit similar information with regards to trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescents. Youth (n = 58) from 2 schools in Cape Town, South Africa participated. RESULTS: 91% of youth reported having been exposed to a traumatic event on self-report (CATS) and 38% reported symptoms severe enough to be classified as PTSD. On interview (K-SADS-PL), 86% reported exposure to a traumatic event and 19% were found to have PTSD. While there were significant differences in the rates of trauma exposure and PTSD on the K-SADS and CATS, a cut-off value of 15 on the CATS maximized both the number of true positives and true negatives with PTSD. The CATS also differentiated well between adolescents meeting DSM-IV PTSD symptom criteria from adolescents not meeting criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that trauma exposure and PTSD are prevalent in South African youth and if appropriate cut-offs are used, self-report scales may be useful screening tools for PTSD

Congenital and neonatal infections

Infections acquired in utero or during the birth process are a significant cause of fetal and neonatal mortality and an important contributor to early and later childhood morbidity. The original concept of the TORCH perinatal infections was to group five infections with similar presentations, including rash and ocular findings (1). This TORCH complex encompasses the infections caused by Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus both types 1 and 2 and other infective organisms. This review will concentrate on the traditional TORCH infections with Syphilis, Parvovirus B 19, Group B Streptococci infection and Varicella discussed under 'Other Infections(8). Treatments each vary as discussed however no specific therapy for certain infections has yet been established, thus prevention protocols should be heeded to.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/medogam201

Power Quality Evaluation of Electrical Distribution Networks

Researches and concerns in power quality gained significant momentum in the field of power electronics systems over the last two decades globally. This sudden increase in the number of concerns over power quality problems is a result of the huge increase in the use of non-linear loads. In this paper, power quality evaluation of some distribution networks at Misurata - Libya has been done using a power quality and energy analyzer (Fluke 437 Series II). The results of this evaluation are used to minimize the problems of power quality. The analysis shows the main power quality problems that exist and the level of awareness of power quality issues with the aim of generating a start point which can be used as guidelines for researchers and end users in the field of power systems

The Effectiveness of Scientific Stations Strategy in Achievement of the Seventh Grade Students in Dictation

The study aims to examine  the effectiveness of using the “scientific stations strategy” for grade seven students,  achievement in dictation in the Sultanate of Oman. In order to achieve this, the researchers prepared an achievement test and a guideline for   executing the strategy. The tool was checked for validity by a panel of area experts.  The reliability of the test was 0.84 as determined by Cronbach’s Alpha. The study sample consisted of two groups, where 24 female students  were taught dictation according to the scientific stations strategy, and 18 students were taught by the conventional method. The results of the post test showed that there is a statistically  significant difference in the mean scores between the two groups, in favour of the experimental group. Based on  these results, the researchers recommended making use of the science stations strategy by training teachers to use it in teaching dictation and in other language areas

Surface and cross-sectional characterization of titanium-nitride coated nickel–titanium endodontic files

Background/purpose Although the effect of experimental surface modifications on various properties (e.g., fatigue, wear) on coated files have been tested in the past, there is no report for the coating quality of commercially available TiN coated files. The aim of this study was to characterize the surface and cross section of TiN coated endodontic files. Materials and methods TiN coated nickel–titanium endodontic files (EasyShape) were surface and cross-sectionally analyzed via scanning electron microscopy backscattered electron imaging and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis in spot, area, and line scan modes. Results Surface imaging revealed parallel oblong regions with higher mean atomic contrast, a finding attributed to increased Ni content. Cross-sectional analysis showed that the coating’s average total thickness was 0.31 μm and consisted of a thin layered film. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of Ti, Ni, N, and O in the coating, whereas only Ni and Ti were identified in the bulk of the file. Ti and O showed their peak compositions at the bulk/coating and coating/surface interfaces, respectively, whereas N displayed a rather constant content within the coated region. The N and O contents started increasing inner to the coating/bulk interface, denoting possible diffusion of both elements to the subcoating region. Conclusion Surface and bulk characterization showed no uncoated areas of the files tested. Apart from Ti, Ni, and N, oxygen was also identified within the coating region