An examination of the Saudi Arabian citizens’ perception on leisure tourism’s impact on culture in Saudi Arabia

This dissertation aims to understand the perception of Saudi Arabian citizens on the impact of leisure tourism on culture in the country. Given that Saudi Arabia is the second most popular tourist destination in the Middle East, with more than 16 million visitors in 2017, and that the leisure tourism industry is rapidly expanding, it is important to examine the impact of this growing industry on the local culture. This study is significant as it provides valuable insights into the perceptions of Saudi Arabian citizens on the impact of leisure tourism on their culture and ways it may shape their future. It also highlights the potential for the leisure tourism sector to contribute to the country’s economy as an alternative source of revenue. The study used a quantitative research approach and collected data through a questionnaire survey of 98 Saudi Arabian citizen participants from both the general population and the tourism industry professionals. The results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences with regression and correlation analysis. It was concluded that there is no significant relationship between leisure tourism’s impact on culture in Saudi Arabia. The study also found that leisure tourism has the potential to contribute significantly to the country\u27s economy, especially in light of the declining oil industry. However, there is a need for sustainable tourism practices that take into account the preservation of cultural heritage and the protection of the environment. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the impact of leisure tourism on culture in Saudi Arabia and highlights the need for a balanced approach that considers both the economic benefits and the preservation of cultural heritage

Learning Community Psychology Practice Competencies: Student Pathways through the Applied Community Psychology Specialization

Community psychology practice competencies provide a framework of skills students can learn to promote social change processes in communities. However, there is great overlap and cross-over of skill sets among some competencies. The complex nature of learning any competency will likely take multiple learning experiences to master and span years beyond a student’s exit from training to achieve expertise. Programs training students in practice competencies can benefit from working collaboratively with students to better understand how students develop experience and skill in utilizing competencies across the curriculum. This article explores five narrative accounts of how students and graduates learned selected community psychology practice competencies through their training in the Applied Community Psychology (ACP) specialization at Antioch University Los Angeles. Students and graduates were asked to select a competency and write a two-page narrative of how they learned the competency through their training in the ACP specialization. Implications for academic program development and training in community psychology practice competencies are discussed

Learning Community Psychology Practice Competencies: Student Pathways through the Applied Community Psychology Specialization

Community psychology practice competencies provide a framework of skills students can learn to promote social change processes in communities. However, there is great overlap and cross-over of skill sets among some competencies. The complex nature of learning any competency will likely take multiple learning experiences to master and span years beyond a student’s exit from training to achieve expertise. Programs training students in practice competencies can benefit from working collaboratively with students to better understand how students develop experience and skill in utilizing competencies across the curriculum. This article explores five narrative accounts of how students and graduates learned selected community psychology practice competencies through their training in the Applied Community Psychology (ACP) specialization at Antioch University Los Angeles. Students and graduates were asked to select a competency and write a two-page narrative of how they learned the competency through their training in the ACP specialization. Implications for academic program development and training in community psychology practice competencies are discussed

Residual Levels of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Cattle Hides Singed with Scrap Tyre and Firewood Fuel Sources: a Comparative Study in the Wa Municipality of Ghana

The present study compared the residual levels of heavy metals in cattle hides obtained from the Wa Municipal abattoir (in the Upper West Region of Ghana) singed using scrap tyres and firewood as fuel sources. Heavy metals of interest included As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd. Residual levels of these metals were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer AA 220. Scrap tyre singed hides in general recorded the highest concentrations of As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd than firewood singed hides and unsinged hides. Scrap tyre singed hides recorded significant increments in metal levels in the range of 312.50 - 811.11 %, 221.95 - 599.56 %, 236.21 - 366.57 %, 1408.82 - 1600.00 % and 1275.00 - 2875.00 % respectively for As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd. Firewood singed hides similarly recorded considerable increments in metal levels ranging from122.22 - 375.00 %, 202.44 - 280.63 %, 120.44 - 302.51 %, 1251.43 - 1361.73 % and 462.50 - 1837.50 % respectively for As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Cd. As, Pb and Cd maximum and minimum levels recorded for scrap tyre singed hides, firewood singed hides and unsinged hides all exceeded respective maximum permissible limits of 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg. Cu and Fe maximum levels were below the respective maximum permissible thresholds of 20 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg. The present study essentially brought to bear the unwholesome state of cattle hides being consumed within the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana

Pathotype diversity among Algerian isolates of Pyrenophora teres f. teres

Barley Net Blotch caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt) is one of the most important foliar diseases in north western Algeria. The disease could cause appreciable yield losses under favorable environmental conditions. Studies on pathogen variability and distribution of virulence in Ptt are essential to identify effective sources of resistance to net blotch of barley. In this study, pathogenic variability in 48 isolates of Ptt, collected from different barley-growing areas of north-western Algeria were evaluated using 22 barley genotypes as differential hosts. Trials carried out under controlled conditions confirmed the large variation in the virulence of this fungus. The genotypes exhibited variability in response ranging from complete resistance to high susceptibility. This is the first report of pathogenic variability in Ptt in north western Algeria. The 48 isolates tested were further differentiated into 12 pathotypes according to their reaction on the host. Eight differential cultivars were resistant to all isolates tested, but others were susceptible to one or more of the isolates. The variability in the pathogen and the resistance identified in some genotypes used in this study are being investigated further to develop superior, adapted germplasm for use in barley breeding programs in north western Algeria

A Review article of Streptococcus pyogenes infection: Rick factors, prevention and management strategies

Background:-Streptococcus pyogenes is an exclusively human pathogen. This bacterial species is responsible for a large variety of infections. Objective: This review identified published articles on the risk factors, prevention and control strategies for streptococcus diseases. Material and methods: A systematic search was carried out to identify papers published on the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar electronic databases in an attempt to provide basic information about Streptococcus infections, potential risks for their spread, and treatment and prevention strategies. Results: The more common methods for Streptococcus pyogenes transmission are through respiratory droplets, skin lesions brought on by Streptococcus pyogenes contact with infected objects or devices. Another potential mode is foodborne transmission but more research is needed to determine this infection route. Native communities, and those of low socio-economic status worldwide were found particularly susceptible to Streptococcus diseases, as well as children, older adults and those with impaired immune system. Those groups are susceptible to Streptococcus pyogenes infections and their complications with higher infectious rates in educational institutions, hospitals, over-crowding and the continuous increase in social contact. The importance of improving living conditions and personal and hand hygiene is one of the techniques in the management and prevention of Streptococcus pyogenes infections. Infection control methods must be highlighted with greater precision. Conclusion: Prevention and control measures should target the improvement of living conditions, and personal and hand hygiene. Adherence to infection prevention and control practices should be emphasized in high-risk settings

Relationship between the microorganisms isolated from septicemic neonates and place of delivery

Background: Neonatal septicemia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide especially so in developing countries. To reduce the mortality caused by neonatal septicemia, it became vital to diagnose it as soon as possible and treat with administration of appropriate antibiotics. Objective: To study the relationship between themicroorganisms isolated from septicemic neonates with place of delivery. Patients and Methods: Blood sample was obtained from 76 neonates (50 of them are born in Baghdad teaching hospital (Inborn), 26 of the babies are born at home or in Al-Elwya teaching hospital (out born) ,the laboratory diagnosis for the out born patients done in the same hospital(Al-Elwya teaching hospital .The aged of the neonates ranged from1 hour-28 days. These neonates are diagnosed clinically (poor feeding, respiratory distress, fever, hypothermia, gastrointestinal and/or central nervous system symptoms) and bacteriologically to have neonatal septicemia. Results:One of the most important neonatal factors predisposing to infection is place of delivery, in our study significant number of babies was had sepsis at inborn group (65.8%) as compared to out born (34.2%). Gram negative bacteria constituted 71% of the total isolates. (28%) of neonates born in Baghdad teaching hospital (inborn) were infected with K. pneumoniae, (24%) of them were infected with S.aureus, and (10%) of them were infected with E. cloacae and P. aeruginosa equally. On the other hand (26.9%) neonates born at home or in any other hospital (out born) were infected with E. coli followed by Enterobacter species (23%). Conclusion: inborn babies were at higher risk for infection with K. pneumoniae and S. aureus, whereas out born babies were at risk of E.coli infection

Screening techniques and sources of resistance to root rots and wilts in cool season food legumes

Soilborne, fungal pathogens of cool season food legumes, including seed and seedling blights, rot rots, and wilts are described. Seed and seedling diseases are caused primarily by Pythium and Rhizoctonia spp. The most important fungi causing root rots include Aphanomyces euteiches, Fusarium solani, Pythium spp., Sclerotium rolfsii, and Macrophomina phaseolina. Wilt is caused primarily by various host-specific forms of Fusarium oxysporum. This paper discusses these diseases and screening procedures that emphasize standardization of inoculum levels, maintenance of virulent pathogen cultures, inoculum growth media, environmental conditions, and host plant age. Sources of resistance to these diseases are discusse

Nuclear Progestin Receptor (Pgr) Knockouts in Zebrafish Demonstrate Role for Pgr in Ovulation but Not in Rapid Non-Genomic Steroid Mediated Meiosis Resumption

Progestins, progesterone derivatives, are the most critical signaling steroid for initiating final oocyte maturation (FOM) and ovulation, in order to advance fully-grown immature oocytes to become fertilizable eggs in basal vertebrates. It is well-established that progestin induces FOM at least partly through a membrane receptor and a non-genomic steroid signaling process, which precedes progestin triggered ovulation that is mediated through a nuclear progestin receptor (Pgr) and genomic signaling pathway. To determine whether Pgr plays a role in a non-genomic signaling mechanism during FOM, we knocked out Pgr in zebrafish using transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and studied the oocyte maturation phenotypes of Pgr knockouts (Pgr-KOs). Three TALENs-induced mutant lines with different frame shift mutations were generated. Homozygous Pgr-KO female fish were all infertile while no fertility effects were evident in homozygous Pgr-KO males. Oocytes developed and underwent FOM normally in vivo in homozygous Pgr-KO female compared to the wild-type controls, but these mature oocytes were trapped within the follicular cells and failed to ovulate from the ovaries. These oocytes also underwent normal germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and FOM in vitro, but failed to ovulate even after treatment with human chronic gonadotropin (HCG) or progestin (17α,20β-dihydroxyprogesterone or DHP), which typically induce FOM and ovulation in wild-type oocytes. The results indicate that anovulation and infertility in homozygous Pgr-KO female fish was, at least in part, due to a lack of functional Pgr-mediated genomic progestin signaling in the follicular cells adjacent to the oocytes. Our study of Pgr-KO supports previous results that demonstrate a role for Pgr in steroid-dependent genomic signaling pathways leading to ovulation, and the first convincing evidence that Pgr is not essential for initiating non-genomic progestin signaling and triggering of meiosis resumption

Permeable biosorbent barrier for wastewater remediation

Chromium is one of the heavy metals that significantly affect water quality in Mongolia. The present study is focused on the remediation of surface water contaminated with chromium (III) by a permeable barrier in order to prevent sediment pollution. The adsorption capacity of the selected materials (13X zeolite and vermiculite) was investigated at different sorbent dosages, pH and initial Cr(III) concentration. The equilibrium adsorption studies showed that vermiculite has a higher Cr(III) removal efficiency in comparison with 13X zeolite. A fungal isolate obtained from the sediment samples collected near Tuul River (Mongolia) was selected from enriched Luria-Bertani medium, showing a good performance for Cr(III) removal (78.2\% for an initial concentration of 50 mg/L). The fungal isolate was genetically typed by DNA sequencing and was identified as belonging to the Alternaria alternata species. 13X zeolite showed the best performance for Cr removal in the permeable barrier assays compared to vermiculite, achieving a total removal of 96\\% and a global uptake of 2.49 mg/g. After 13 days of operation none of the barriers reached saturation with chromium.A previous version of the paper has been presented in the 2nd EWaS International Conference: BEfficient & Sustainable Water Systems Management toward Worth Living Development^, Chania, Crete, Greece, 1-4 June 2016. This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Bruna Silva is thankful to the FCT for the concession of a Post-Doc grant (SFRH/BPD/112354/2015). Sampling process was supported by the collaborative research grant of National Academy of Sciences of Taiwan and Science and Technology Foundation of Mongolia, project code NCS-NECS2013003 and co-funded by the Young Scientist Grant (SEAS-2015075) of National University of Mongolia. E. Tuuguu would like to acknowledge the Erasmus-Mundus AREAS+ program for the opportunity to conduct research at CEB-University of Minho.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio