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Despite contemporary research calls for promoting learners’ feedback dialogue, how feedback dialogue occurs and contributes to learners’ uptake has been little addressed. This study on 28 pairs of ...

The purpose of the study was to develop and validate UV-Vis spectrophotometric method for estimation of black seed oil (BSO) and peppermint oil (PO). Emulsions were prepared using alginate (2.0 %) ...

This paper examines the postcolonial concept of “writing back to the self” in relation to two novels authored by two female Arab novelists, namely Leila Aboulela’s Minaret (2005) and Fadia Faqir’s ...

Evaluation of head and cervical spine posture and estimation of sample size.Thirty eligible participants who required functional therapy were randomly assigned to the Control group (C), Twin Block group (TB), or the Bionator group (B). Randomization was accomplished by means of blocks of fixed size stratified by sex and age, with the allocations concealed in opaque and sealed envelopes.Significant differences were identified between the pre -and post-functional SNB (The functional appliance did not cause any statistical change in head posture or cervical spinal column in comparison with the non-treatment group.

Purpose A2 and A2B are rare phenotypes of the ABO blood group system. Some individuals with A2 and A2B may have anti-A1 antibodies that may be clinically significant or insignificant. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of A2, A2B phenotypes and anti-A1 antibodies in blood donors in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. This study also evaluated the reactivity potential of anti-A1 antibodies. Materials and methods Blood samples collected from 446 blood donors were typed for ABO (cell and serum grouping) and Rh D. Individuals with blood group A and AB were further subtyped by testing with anti-A1 lectin. In addition to the serum grouping using A1 red cells, A2 and A2B individuals were screened for the presence of anti-A1 in their sera against A1 red cells at 4°C, 22°C and 37°C to determine the thermal amplitude of the reacting anti-A1 antibody (if present). Results Among A and AB, A1 was the commonest phenotype (20.2%, n=90 out of 446) while A1B was found to be 1.8% (n=8) among AB phenotype. A2 and A2B were found to be 2.2% (n=10) and 0.9% (n=4), respectively. Only one individual with A2B blood type showed cold reactive anti-A1 antibody, the strength of which was 32. Conclusion A2 and A2B were the rarest among ABO phenotypes in the studied population. Although rare, anti-A1 antibody is not so uncommon. Care shall be taken during routine ABO grouping especially in cases of mix-field or weak positive reactions in A and AB phenotypes.

The cloud point (CP) of a mixture of Tween 80 (Tw 80) and neomycin sulphate (NS) was measured in an aqueous medium containing electrolyte (NaCl, NaNO3, and Na2SO4). The CP of Tw 80 decreased when T...

Purpose The aim of this study was to analyze and evaluate dental antibiotic prescriptions in Albaha Region, Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods A two-year retrospective cohort study was conducted between September 1, 2017 and September 1, 2019 in children and adults. Data collected from the patients' medical records were analyzed using SPSS. The Z-test with Bonferroni correction and descriptive proportions were utilized to compare several levels of categorical variables. Results Of the 43,255 dental visits, antibiotics were provided during 12,573 (29.1%). The commonly prescribed antibiotics were amoxicillin and amoxicillin combined with metronidazole (56.3% and 16.9%, respectively). Alarmingly, antibiotics were provided in several conditions for which they are medically neither recommended nor indicated; together, they represented 27.8% of those consultations in which antibiotics were prescribed. Female dentists prescribed more antibiotics than male dentists (30%, P = < 0.000), with male patients receiving more antibiotics than female patients (36%, P =

The aim of this study was to explore the potential of Google Docs in facilitating and supporting pedagogical practices in a writing course at a large Saudi university. As a qualitative case study, ...

This article examines clientelism in Iraq as a case study of one form of corruption. Iraq is an unusual case of corruption, because a key feature of Iraq's corrupt environment is an institutionalis...

This paper argues that corruption protection arises because a central feature of Iraq’s institutional environment is its factionalised political system between groups (i.e. sectarian affiliation), ...

Herein, we have investigated the interaction between three different amino acids (AA) namely glycine (Gly), threonine (Thr), and alanine (Ala) with cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) by conductance measurements and computational method. For pure CPC as well as amino acid–CPC mixtures, three different critical micelle concentrations (c*) were achieved. The values of c* for the AA–CPC mixtures in KCl solution are lesser in comparison to the aqueous solution. The negative values of are obtained in every studied system. The values of and for AA–CPC micellization reveal that both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions are the binding forces among CPC molecules and between AA and CPC. Molecular dynamics simulation indicates that the pyridine ring of CPC promotes the non-bonding interaction in AA–CPC complexes. Further quantum calculation revealed that non-conventional CH⋯O hydrogen bonding plays a critical role and stabilizes these complexes.

Since the publication of Geography for Life: National Geography Standards in the United States (Geography Education Standards Project, 1994), it has been widely used to develop quality curriculum m...

As a result of the disarmament of Germany after the Second World War, 65,000 tons of chemical munitions were dumped in the Baltic Sea. Approximately 13,000 tons containing chemical warfare agents (CWAs) of which 11,000 tons were dumped in the Bornholm Basin east of Bornholm. This paper addresses the ecotoxicity of compounds actually present in the Bornholm dumpsite by obtaining novel acute ecotoxicity data. EC50 values were successfully obtained for 12 CWAs from acute tests using Allivibrio fischeri (Microtox™). The three most toxic compounds were α-chloroacetophenone, 2-chlorovinylarsonic acid and 1,2,5-trithiepane having EC50 values of 11.20, 31.20 and 1170 μg L−1, respectively. A. fischeri demonstrated hormesis when exposed to triphenylarsine and triphenylarsine oxide at concentrations of 100 and 50 mg L−1, respectively. Four different mixtures were assessed including compounds which were dissolvable; a mixture of sulphur mustard degradation products, a mixture of the three most toxic sulphur mustard compounds, a mixture of organoarsenical degradation products and a mixture of all compounds. The mixtures deviate by a factor of 1.5–2.5 from the prediction of the concentration addition model and hence, the mixtures demonstrate no sign of synergism or antagonism. The compounds presented in this study are mainly CWA.

Very few studies have been conducted on students’ definitions of geography. The purpose of the present study was to add to the existing literature by exploring Omani students’ definitions of geography. Participants were 477 students of grade 6 (ages 11–12) and grade 10 (ages 15–16) in one school district in Oman. They had been taught geography since grade 3 as part of social studies curriculum, but not as an independent subject. Of the 477 students, 46 (9.6%) students of both grades were uncertain about the meaning of geography. A total of 431 students referred to a wide range of geographical components in their definitions. For half of the students in the sample, geography was associated with the study of weather/climate, the environment and environmental issues, and physical processes that shape the Earth's crust (e.g. earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion). With the exception of map skills, there were limited references to field work or other geographical skills. The findings also demonstrated that there...

This study evaluates the mitochondrial noncoding regions by using the Sanger sequencing method for application in Forensic Science. FTA® Technology (FTA™ paper DNA extraction) was utilized to extract DNA. Portion of coding region encompassing positions from (10,716 to 11,184) amplified in accordance with the Anderson reference sequence. PCR products purified by EZ-10 spin column were then sequenced and detected using the ABI 3730 × L DNA Analyzer. A new polymorphic positions 10,750 and 10,790 that are described may be suitable sources in future for identification purpose. The data obtained can be used to identify variable nucleotide positions characterized by frequent occurrence, most promising for identification variants.

The habit of khat chewing is widespread with a deep-rooted sociocultural tradition in these regions and as such poses a public health problem. The use of pesticides is considered to be indispensable practice for the production of adequate food supply for the increasing demands by the global population and for control of insect-borne diseases. Thus, contamination of the environment with pesticides and entry of these chemicals into the food chain is unavoidable especially in developing countries. The main objective of our current study was to assess pesticide pollution of khat leaves (unknown origin) obtained while being smuggled into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to be used in Jazan area. A total of 120 khat leaf samples were extracted using solid-phase extraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis for the presence of 69 standard pesticides using an internal standard, tiphenyl phosphate. No pesticide residues were detected in all the studied samples. These data as preliminary and m...

There have been remarkable changes in the Omani educational system since the implementation of the Basic Education Reform in 1998. The current study was an attempt to offer insights into the state of geography in the current reform. Particularly, the study examined teachers’ preferred reasons for teaching geography, teachers’ views on important topics that should be emphasized in geography curriculum, teachers’ views on their instructional methods and materials used in geography teaching and teachers’ views on challenges facing geography teaching. Data were gathered from 144 social studies teachers in Muscat Governorate using a survey. Findings indicated that teachers were interested in a variety of topics, including weather and climate, geomorphology, environmental issues and natural disasters. The most often used instructional methods were discussion, the use of current events, cooperative learning, individual projects, brainstorming and inquiry. Teachers reported using a variety of instructional materi...

There is an absence of education regarding psychosocial issues in Iraqi paediatric training programmes. The aim of this study is to examine current knowledge and perspectives around these topics and to explore potential development in these programmes. 56 paediatric trainers and students at the Child Central Teaching Hospital, a hospital affiliated to the Al-Mustansyria medical college in Baghdad, responded to a questionnaire to evaluate knowledge and perspectives regarding psychosocial approaches to child and adolescent health as delivered presently via academic training and used in professional practice. The majority of the respondents reported having no training in psychosocial interventions. Using a scale from 0 ('not relevant') to 10 ('very important'), psychosocial issues were rated 7.1 in their relevance to everyday paediatric practice. On a scale of 0 ('very poor') to 10 ('totally adequate'), respondents rated formal current psychosocial training at 2.5. It is concluded that incorporating psychosocial approaches in paediatric training will lead to a broader base of knowledge in children's health and contribute to the promotion of multidisciplinary practice in Iraq.

This study is part of a comprehensive investigation on the transformation of land management in Saudi Arabia. The vernacular landscape in the highlands of southwestern parts of the country is indebted to the tribes whom preserved its greenery and regional character especially architecture. Through the concept of hema , which means preserved lands, the tribes were able to balance the use of natural resource and the basic demands for survival. After the unification of Saudi Arabia in 1932, the central government took over gradually the responsibility of managing and preserving the vernacular landscape through established governmental agencies. In 1957, the government considered the hema as public lands and assigned their administration to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water (MOAAW). This transformation involves new written rules and regulations for land management. The transformation of hema into public land facilitated the implementation of the concept of National Parks by MOAAW. The paper attempts to cl...

The paper investigates the current practices of cost estimation involved in tendering and invoicing of construction projects under execution for construction works in Saudi Arabia. It shows that most of the practices use standard methods established by several government agencies while rely on bidding based on unit price tender documentation. This paper proposes the adoption of KSU-ESTIMATE, a computerized estimation program developed in King Saud University, which can be used in associate with the available AutoCAD program. The KSU-ESTIMATE is able to be linked with related databases pertinent to cost indices of materials, labours, labourers, and personnel. The program helps architects, contractors, employers and other decision makers to calculate the cost estimate of a project. The program supply designers with guidance which allows manipulation of building material schedules and window and door schedules in relation to cost. The manipulated project attributes helps design contractor and project manager...

This study is part of a comprehensive investigation of traditional settlements in the highland of Southwestern Saudi Arabia. The present study focuses on several factors which influenced the urban development of Al-Alkhalaf and its surroundings. The investigation began with the exploration of kinship systems as an underlying force that shaped the urban and economic structure of the village which is considered the principal determinant of the settlement built form and environment. The role of climate and topography in the urban and economic structure is examined, an influence highlighted by the unique pattern of agronomic, building and design techniques. The influence of Islamic and tribal laws on agricultural and building practices is investigated, a pertinent relationship which is viewed through the integration between the agricultural fields and the built form of the village, the layout of streets, open spaces, warning and defence towers, and residential areas.

Before the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, villages and towns of the Arabian Peninsula possessed several types of towers. The towers include warning and defense, minarets and lighthouses. These structures, built for highly practical purposes, became endowed with a rich symbolism which affected the behaviour of the people who lived in their shadows. The unification of Saudi Arabia in 1932 brought new transformation to the uses of the structures and eventually a demand developed for new type of towers. Telecommunication towers, airport towers, electrical, silo, incinerators etc.. The change of function, is always associated with the inception of new meaning and attitudes. Recently, Saudi Arabia has witnessed the introduction of new and important towers which brought new trends in art and architecture to the country. This work attempts to understand the transformation in towers in light of the historical context in which they were built and used. The meaning in the architectural form ca...

This article explores the forces behind the transformation of traditional settlements in southwest Saudi Arabia. It provides a synopsis of the present circumstances of such settlements, analyzes is...