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Despite the extensive beekeeping practices in Saudi Arabia, relevant information related to socio-economic profiles of beekeeping and factors affecting the adoption of improved beekeeping technologies were lacking. To understand these conditions, 182 beekeepers from five regions were interviewed using exhaustive questionnaires and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic model. The study revealed that still 71.1% of the honeybee colonies in the country are kept in traditional hives and the adoption of box hives have been observed to be significantly influenced by the beekeeper's socio-demographic profiles. Education level had positively influenced the adoption of box hive, which could be due to the fact that education increases knowledge, accesses to information and easily understanding of the technology. The less acceptance of box hive was also implicated with its unsuitability to the biology and ecology of the local bees, which may indicate lack of consideration of these factors in selection and adoption of the technology. The majority (71.5%) of the respondents keep local bees for their better adaptability and 82% of the imported hybrid bees reported to die after one honey-harvesting which could be due to lack of adjustment to the new environment as result of the residual effect of the behavioral rhythms of their original homeland. The majority (93%) of beekeepers reported to migrate their colonies 2-9 times per annum which is important to exploit resources available at different seasons and ecologies. The average annual productivities of colonies were 6.64±5.64kg and 3.69±2.62 kg honey/colony/annum for box and traditional hives, respectively. The average price of locally produced honey is high and varies from $58.87 to $77.86/kg and this has contributed to attract and sustain many people in the beekeeping business. The average annual household earnings from beekeeping was relatively high ($58,937.6), and contributes to an average of 29.67 ±28.95% of the total annual income of beekeepers which show that beekeeping plays a significant role in increasing and diversifying the incomes of rural communities. The major constraints of beekeeping in the country as outlined by beekeepers are absence of rain, shortage of bee forage and honey bee enemies. To enhance the development of the subsector: a strong extension and research supports; consideration of the biology and ecology of the local race in selection and adoption of beekeeping technologies; focusing on conservation and rehabilitation of vegetation with integration of beekeeping; establishing of colony multiplication center and conserving of the indigenous honeybee race would be very important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present results showed that in Al-Si alloys, Sr modified (SrM), superheat (SH) and SrM melt thermal treatment (SrMTT) processed castings provide fine eutectic Si particles, with the SrMTT process giving the best modification results. Both size and morphology of the eutectic silicon particles are affected by the modification process used. The SrM, SH and SrMTT castings show well modified fibrous Si particles, whereas the melt thermal treatment (MTT) casting exhibits Si particles that, although refined to a certain extent, still retain their acicular morphology. Cooling rate affects the eutectic Si particle size in that a higher cooling rate produces finer Si particles. However, within the range of cooling rates provided by the end chill mould used in this work, the cooling rate does not affect the morphology of the Si particles. During solution heat treatment at 540°C, the eutectic Si particles undergo fragmentation, spheroidisation and coarsening, affecting the Si particle morphology. The spheroidisation process is determined by the size and morphology of the Si particles in the as cast condition. The SrM, SH and SrMTT processed castings with their refined Si particles require much less solution treatment time for the spheroidisation process to take place than do the non-modified and MTT castings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of macro-and trace elements in honeybee pollen loads collected from the Al-Ahsa oasis, Saudi Arabia during spring, summer, autumn, and winter in 2018/2019 were determined. After critical screening and observation, we found that the major pollen floral resources were rapeseed, sunflower, summer squash, and date palm. The highest values of sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P) and manganese (Mn) were found in pollen loads trapped during spring and winter. The highest levels of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) were found from pollen loads harvested during autumn, while the highest content of zinc (Zn) was found in pollen loads collected during the summer. Higher concentrations of the essential elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) for human nutrition found in pollen loads collected during the spring and winter seasons, make them valuable food supplements. Finally, the elements contained in pollen loads can be related to the season of pollen load collection., (© 2020 The Authors.)

This experiment explored the potential hepatic protective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. methanolic extract (MOE) against lead-induced hepatotoxicity. Thirty-two adult Wistar albino rats were allocated randomly equally into four groups, seven rats each. The control group received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of physiological saline (0.9% NaCl); the lead acetate (Pb) group was i.p. injected with 20 mg/kg of Pb; the MOE group was orally administered with 250 mg/kg of MOE; and the MOE+ Pb group was orally treated with 250 mg/kg of MOE 3 h before receiving i.p. injections of 20 mg/kg Pb. All rats received their treatment for 14 days. Results revealed that Pb(II) intoxication induced liver injury accompanied by elevated levels of liver function markers (ALT and AST), oxidative stress markers (MDA and NO), and proinflammatory cytokines (NF-κB p65, TNFα, and IL-1β as well iNOS expression) in addition to the pro-apoptotic-related proteins such as Bax and caspase-3. Meanwhile, significantly depleted GSH content, suppressed activity of antioxidant enzyme activity, and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were also manifested in the liver tissue. Interestingly, concurrent treatment of rats with MOE ameliorated liver markers, prevented tissue injury, and inhibited oxidative stress, apoptosis, and NF-κB. In addition, MOE activated the detoxifying enzyme system in Pb(II)-intoxicated rats. Therefore, the obtained results in the present experiment provide evidence that MOE concurrent administration has the potential to protect the liver tissues in Pb(II)-intoxicated rats by preventing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, via attenuation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background and Objective: Lactic acid bacteria are generally recognized as safe that could be beneficial for several uses in food industry to get their health benefits. The present study was focused on the isolation and identification of some new lactic acid bacteria that might be naturally occurred in the honeybees stomach and tried to explore their benefits., Materials and Methods: Twenty five isolates of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from the stomach of three different types of Egyptian bees (Apis mellifera lamarckii ), Carniolan bees (A.m. carnica) and hybrid Carniolan bees. Identification of isolates was carried out based on phenotypical tests and carbohydrate assimilation using API50 CHL and 16S rDNA sequencing., Results: In the present study, the results emphasized Lactobacillus plantarum to be the predominant species (62.5%), other strains were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus (12.5%), Lactobacillus pentosus (12.5%) and Lactobacillus sakei (12.5%). Eight of 25 isolates showed a potential antibacterial activity especially against Salmonella senftenberg strain. The novel isolates (HBMSS1, HBMSS3, HBMSS4, HBMSS5, HBMSS6 and HBMSS8) showed a significant antimicrobial activity against C. botulinum, E. coli, S. Senftenberg and S. epidermidis as food borne pathogens and P. larvae and M. plutonius as honeybee pathogens., Conclusion: These promising findings might be beneficial for discovering novel preservatives in food industry and substitution of antibiotic drugs used in the treatment of honeybees' infection.

Investigations were conducted to determine the insect pollinators visiting strawberry blossoms and their impact on fruit production. Various pollinators observed during the blooming period of strawberry were viz. Apis mellifera , Apis cerana , Apis florea . Apis dorsata, soil nesting solitary bees such as Andrena leana and A. ilerda , butterflies, houseflies, syrphid flies and some beetles. The percentage of fruit set was much higher in open pollinated plants than control. There was 11.20 per cent malformed fruit in open pollinated plots as compared to 17.44 per cent in controlled one. Further the fruits obtained from the open pollinated plants were of good quality and large as compared to the controlled plants. Growers are recommended to take advantage of the several pollinators, either the honey bee or the native pollinators (Syrphidae and native bees). The importance of diversifying pollination sources, avoiding the dependence on a single specific group is stressed. This study also suggests measures which envisage the conservation, establishment and increase of native pollinators' populations in the typical agro-ecosystem of region .

Protein content and amino acids composition of bee-pollens from major pollen floral sources in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia were determined to investigate the nutritive value of pollen protein relative to requirements of honeybees and adult humans. The major pollen sources were alfalfa, date palm, rape, summer squash, and sunflower. Bee-pollens from alfalfa and date palm showed high content of crude protein and amino acid concentrations. Bee-pollen from sunflower had low content of those components. Eighteen amino acids were found in bee-pollens from the five major floral sources. The highest concentrations of individual amino acids valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and proline were obtained from alfalfa bee-pollen; lysine, arginine, cysteine, tryptophan and tyrosine from date palm; methionine, histidine, glycine and alanine from summer squash; threonine, serine and glutamic acid from sunflower; and aspartic acid from rape bee-pollen. The amino acid composition obtained from sunflower bee-pollen showed the lowest concentrations of the essential amino acids: isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine. Apart from methionine, arginine and isoleucine, the essential amino acids of bee-pollen from alfalfa, date palm, summer squash and rape exceeded the honeybees' requirements. Methionine was the limiting amino acid in bee-pollens from the five selected sources. Concentrations of essential amino acids in the tested bee-pollens were variable and significantly correlated to their botanical origin of pollen. Bee-pollens from alfalfa, date palm and summer squash was found to be rich source of protein and amino acids for bees and for humans.

The probiotic effects of seven newly isolated gut bacteria, from the indegenous honey bees of Saudi Arabia were investigated. In vivo bioassays were used to investigate the effects of each gut bacterium namely, Fructobacillus fructosus (T1), Proteus mirabilis (T2), Bacillus licheniformis (T3), Lactobacillus kunkeei (T4), Bacillus subtilis (T5), Enterobacter kobei (T6), and Morganella morganii (T7) on mortality percentage of honey bee larvae infected with P. larvae spores along with negative control (normal diet) and positive control (normal diet spiked with P. larvae spores). Addition of gut bacteria to the normal diet significantly reduced the mortality percentage of the treated groups. Mortality percentage in all treated groups ranged from 56.67% up to 86.67%. T6 treated group exhibited the highest mortality (86.67%), whereas T4 group showed the lowest mortality (56.67%). Among the seven gut bacterial treatments, T4 and T3 decreased the mortality 56.67% and 66.67%, respectively, whereas, for T2, T6, and T7 the mortality percentage was equal to that of the positive control (86.67%). Mortality percentages in infected larval groups treated with T1, and T5 were 78.33% and 73.33% respectively. Most of the mortality occurred in the treated larvae during days 2 and 3. Treatments T3 and T4 treatments showed positive effects and reduced mortality.

Introduction: Parental presence/absence in the dental operatory (also called: Parent-in-parent-out technique) is an extremely controversial aspect of the nonpharmacological BMTs. Historically, dentists used to exclude parents from dental operatory to avoid their interference with the dentist's aptitude to build a rapport and relationship with the child, hence increasing the child management problems by disrupting treatment and making the dentist unfocused and uncomfortable., Aim: The purpose of this article is to review and emphasize on the importance of parental presence/absence in the dental operatory, especially in a certain age group, as a behavior management technique (BMT) in pediatric dentistry, and to present a modified view of this technique., Results: This article reviews the current literature concerning behavior management in pediatric dentistry. It includes a medline database search and review of the comprehensive textbooks in pediatric dentistry. Some recommendations were based on the opinions of experienced researchers and clinicians., Conclusion: Parent-in-parent-out technique in dental operatory is advocated to gain emotional support and avoid the effect of traumatic separation, especially in younger children or special health-care needs patients., Clinical Significance: The parent-in-parent-out technique in dental operatory is underused, or misused. This article clarifies the proper use of this technique along with a minor modification to it to make it more effective on young apprehensive dental patients.

Background. Since 2000, studies, experiments, and clinical observations revealed high prevalence of periodontal diseases among children and adolescents. Therefore, this paper was designed to provide an update for dental practitioners on epidemiology, microbiology, pathology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal diseases in children and adolescents. Methods. This paper reviews the current literature concerning periodontal diseases in pediatric dentistry. It includes MEDLINE database search using key terms: "periodontal diseases in children," "Periodontal diseasesin adolescents," "periodontal diseases risk factors," "microbiology of periodontal diseases," "classification of periodontal diseases," "epidemiology of periodontal diseases," and "treatment of periodontal diseases." Articles were evaluated by title and/or abstract and relevance to pediatric dentistry. Sixty-five citations were selected by this method and by the references within the chosen articles. A review of the comprehensive textbooks on pediatric dentistry and periodontology was done. Some recommendations were based on the opinions of experienced researchers and clinicians, when data were inconclusive.

Background: The Hunter TPS Vivacare periodontal probe was invented to perform consistent, accurate and reliable periodontal examinations "with controlled pressures"., Aims: The aims of the present investigation are 3: (1) what is the accuracy of the probing force when various probe heads are used in a correct operation position; (2) what is the effect of over- and under-reading of the operation position on the probing force; (3) what is the accuracy of the probing force when different probe handles are used. The Hunter TPS probe consists of a tip connected to a special spring mechanism, which controls the pressure extended to the probe tip. According to the manufacturer, the force indicator lines coincide at approximately 20 g force., Method: The test apparatus consisted of an electronic balance, and an electronic caliper. 12 TPS probes tips and 3 handles were selected to test whether there were differences in force between probes. Each probe tip was adapted to the same handle and tested 10 times. In a 2nd test, the TPS handles and over-, accurate-, and under-readings were analyzed as to how they affect the probing force. The 12 TPS probe tips were connected to each of the 3 handles and tested 10x for each of 3 handles and levels., Results: The range in force between TPS probe tips was 8.4 g (p<0.001). For the handles as well as for each of the readings of the operating positions, the differences were small and non-significant. However, between over- and under-readings, there were statistical significant differences., Conclusion: The conclusion is that the variation in force between probe tips is high and always above the manufacturer's "approximately" 20 g. As long as the same handle and the same probe tip are used together, and the examiner is reading the markings correct, the TPS probe is adequate.