Vol. 15 Issue 1
A. Rababah
A cubic piecewise approximation method is described for planar curves. The order of classical piecewise approximations is improved. The method exploits the freedom in the choice of the parametrization and raises the approximation order to 6. The cubic approximant and the curve have contact of second order. The examples show the simplicity of the construction and the Figures show the efficiency and the qualitative results of this approximation method.
Abo-Khatwa, A.N., Al-Robai, A.A. and Al-Jawhari, D.A.
(+) Usnic acid (2,6-diacetyl-7,9-dihydroxy-8,9b-dimethyl-1.3(2H, 9bH)-dibenzofuran Dione), an antibiotic, was found in large amount (about I % based on dry weight) in the Saudi-Arabia lichen Usnea articulata which grows in abundance on the Asir mountains of the South-Western region. This finding was confirmed by various chemical means including mass spectra, NMR, IR, UV spectrometry and polarimetry. Atranorin (3-formyl-2,4-dihYdroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid 3-hydroxy-4-(methoxycarbonyl)-2,5-dimethylphenyl ester), of a less known medical importance, was found in a lesser quantity (about 0.1 %) in the edible lichen Parmelia tinctorum which is consumed as a food spice in some Arab countries (called in Arabic- AI-Sheba). The presence of atranorin, which is known to be a food deterrent for insects and other herbivores, was also confirmed by the preceding methods of chemical analysis.
O. Al-Harbi, M. Amjad, A. Alabdula'aly, G. Khater and A. Alsari
There are many potential sources of white silica sandstone deposits in Saudi Arabia. One of them is Biyadh Formation east of Riyadh city. To evaluate the possible utilization of such natural resource, 221 samples were collected and analyzed mineralogically (19 samples), physically (221 samples) and chemically (135 samples). Mineralogically, the sandstone is quartz arenite (> 95% quartz), and the remaining includes feldspar, mica and stable heavy minerals (opaque, tourmaline, zircon and rutile). Physically, it is medium size, moderately well sorted. Chemically, it has a high silica content (> 94% Si02). The conducted chemical and physical analyses revealed that the white silica sandstone in Riyadh area (untreated) is favorable for use in the manufacture of glass. For sand filtration process in water purification, the effective size of untreated sand is below the lower limits specified for such use.
Noureddine Dechemi
The water balance modelling of the Annaba region is achieved by integrating the chronological series (20 years) of rainfall and potential evapotranspiration (ETP). Rain constitutes the main contribution in bringing water to the soil; it is included in the water balance in terms of the effective rain.
The ETP allows us to quantify the crop's need for water. It determines the water volume lost by soil evaporation and plant transpiration and depends on atmospheric demand. on the stage of development of the vegetative cover as well as on the water supply.
The water balance modelling, rainfall and potential evapotranspiration simulation are established on a daily basis.
The rainfall following an aleatory phenomenon is simulated by the discreet Markov's chains. In fact, two states are taken into consideration:
state 0: if the rainfall is inferior or equal to a previously determined threshold.
state 1: if the rainfall is superior to that threshold.
The potential evapotranspiration whose variations are cyclical is simulated by the decomposition of the historical series into seasonal and fluctuating components. These parameters (rainfall and potential evapotranspiration) enable the modelling of the water balance which allows to quantify the supply water volumes obtained by irrigation.
The synthetic series of water deficits allow us to anticipate and to predict certain problems due to climate hazards thereby enabling water resource managers to avoid them.
Joseph, J.K., Awosanya, B. and Adebua, B.A.
Ninety broiler chickens with an average weight of 1.4 kg were allocated at random to one of ten treatments to assess the effects of withholding feed alone or feed together with water on carcass shrinkage and meat quality. The ten treatments were: slaughter from the feedlot (control duplicated), and sampling times of 12,24, 36 and 48h. Live and carcass weights were taken to monitor shrinkage along with relevant meat quality parameters.
Live and carcass weights, weights of head, liver, kidneys and heart decreased progressively as the length of fasting period increased. The progressive decreases in weights were found to be more pronounced in animals from which feed together with waters were withdrawn. After 24 hours of fasting, decrease in weights were found to be significant (P < 0.05). Ultimate pH and index of water holding capacity of the meats also decreased with the increase in length of fasting period with a concomitant decrease in cooking losses. The fat content of the carcass component decreased with increase in length of fasting. The implications of the effect of these observations on commercial broiler chickens meat production in the tropics are discussed.
Suad Al-Hooti, Jiwan S. Sidhu, Hanan Al-Amiri, Jamla Al-Otaibi and Hussain Qabazard
The Khalal-stage fruits of Bushibal and Lulu cultivars were stored at three different temperatures to extend their shelf lives. The potassium sorbate treatment of date fruits during storage at 4°C extended the shelf life of Bushibal and Lulu cultivars to between 8 and 10 weeks, respectively. The microbial load on date fruits stayed within acceptable limits by this treatment at a level of 0.05%. During storage at temperatures of -2°C and -20°C, no coliforms or enterobacteriaceae were detected on the date fruits, while aerobes and mold counts stayed within acceptable limits. The use of subzero temperatures for storage of fresh date fruits retarded the growth of microorganisms naturally present on these fruits. No definite trend was observed in pH values during cold storage. The sensory scores of cold-stored date fruits indicated, that they were slightly to moderately acceptable to the panelists. The fruits of both cultivars matured from the khalal to rutab stage during the storage period.
A. Alsobayel and A.A. Al Abdullatif
A total of 240 late (LB) and early (EB) feathering Saudi Arabia Baladi chicks were used in this study to investigate the effect of feathering genotype on carcass traits. Similar number of Leghorn chicks (EL) were used for comparison. All chicks were subjected to conventional management practices. Five birds of each sex and genotypic group were randomly selected and slaughtered at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks of age for carcass studies. Traits were calculated in g/kg of plant weight.
Age had a significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on all studied traits and the effects of genotype, sex and interactions were also significant upon studied traits. LB had higher (P ≤ 0.05) abdominal fat and heart relative weights than their EB peers, whereas EL showed lower liver, heart and higher (P ≤ 0.05) plant weight and gizzard values compared with Baladi. Males had lower liver, gizzard and higher (P ≤ 0.05) plant weight and heart values compared with females. EB females had lower (P ≤ 0.05) eviscerated carcass relative weight than EB and LB males whereas LB females had similar value. Generally, plant weight, eviscerated carcass and abdominal fat relative weights increased whereas those of liver, heart and gizzard decreased (P ≤ 0.05) with age. EB showed higher feather and lower (P ≤ 0.05) head and leg relative weights than LB but EL had the highest (P ≤ 0.05) feather weight value. Males had also higher blood, head and leg and lower (P ≤ 0.05) intestinal relative weights than females. With regard to the effect of age, blood and feather relative weights significantly increased at early and decreased (P ≤ 0.05) at late age periods, whereas those of head, leg and intestical started to decrease at early age period. The results revealed that sex-linked feathering genes have no or little effect upon most studied traits. However sex-linked late feathering gene seems to enhance abdominal fat deposition and to reduce feather growth. The results also show that most of the early feathering Baladi carcass traits tended to be more similar to those of Leghorn compared with their late feathering peers.
Mohamed Shokry Osman
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of certain petroleum oil formulations on some phytophagous mites, i.e. Eutetranychus orientalis Klein and Tetranychus urticae Koch. Moreover, effect of these formulations on predacious mite Amblyseius gossipi El-Badry was also evaluated to predict suitability of petroleum oil formulations to be as a component of integrated mite control.
Results indicated that albulium 80% EC, KZ 95% EC, shokrona super 95% EC, and shokrona 95% EC were most toxic to adult females of E. orientalis than that of T. urticae and significantly reduced their fecundity. The response of eggs to the mineral oils varied according to their age. The predacious mite A. gossipi shows more resistance to petroleum oil than phytophagus ones. Under field conditions shokrona and shokrona super exhibited satisfactory effectiveness against phytophagous mites on fruit trees a little adverse effect on predacious mite was recorded comparing with synthetic acaricides.
G.A. Alhadrami, A. A. Nigm, A.M. Kholif, and O.M. Abdalla
Sixteen local ram lambs (18 ± 1.25 kg live weight) were divided randomly into four equal groups. Each group was offered ad libitum one of the following roughage: concentrate (R:C) ratios 100:0; 60:40; 40:60; and 20:80. Two lambs from each group were slaughtered after 3 months of feeding and the other two at the end of the trial (after 4 months).
Average daily gain (P<0.0001), dry matter intake (P < 0.0249) and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.0004) were significantly affected by R:C ratio. Lambs receiving 60 or 80% concentrate consumed more feed, gained more weight, and converted feed more efficiently compared to the other two groups. The group fed no concentrate (100% R) gave the poorest performance.
Slaughter weight (SW) (P < 0.05), hot carcass weight (HCW) (P < 0.006), and dressing percentage (DP) (P < 0.002) were significantly influenced by R:C ratio. Groups that received 60 or 80% C had the highest SW, HCW and DP. Performance of lambs on 100% R was the poorest. Roughage: concentrate ratio had no significant effect on carcass traits or composition, except percent bone in the ribs cut (P < 0.03) was lower in animals fed 60 or 80% C (by 37 and 37.5%, respectively) compared to the group fed 100% R. Inclusion of concentrates improved significantly feedlot gain, feed conversion efficiency and carcass characteristics of local lambs. There was no advantage to extending the feeding period after three months.
Fatima M. M. Al-Ansari
Seeds with low vigour as a result of ageing showed a large improvement in seed quality following a 40 minutes soak in water in case of marrow, and 80 minutes soak in water in case of wheat, reflected in increased germination percentage and seedling vigour compared with the non-primed control seeds. These findings may be resulted from the repair of previously sustained deterioration.