Vol. 16 Issue 1
Yousif Y. Bilto
The Effects of Ramadan fasting on body weight as well as on the different biochemical and haematological parameters of the blood were studied on 74 healthy male and female Jordanian adults ranging in age from 20 to 48 years. Venous blood samples were tested which were taken during the pre-Ramadan week, 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of Ramadan, as well as during the post-Ramadan week. Of the studied parameters, body weight, glucose, uric acid, total cholesterol, HDL - cholesterol, LDL - cholesterol, total protein, albumin, iron, calcium, total bilirubin, free bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and its intestinal isoenzyme, RBC count and PCV were found to decrease significantly (p < 0.05) during the fasting weeks of Ramadan. Whereas the MCH and MCHC of the haematological parameters were found to increase significantly (p < 0.05) due to the decreased RBC count and PCV. However, the following parameters; triglycerides, phosphate, urea, creatinine, conjugated bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, bone and liver isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase, Hb, MCV, WBC count and ESR did not change significantly. It was concluded that Ramadan fasting could induce weight loss through restriction of energy intake with consequent relative hydration of the blood causing changes in biochemical and haematological parameters of the blood. Although these changes were within normal reference ranges and within the 95% confidence limits of pre-Ramadan values and appear to be reversible but they require attention by physicians practising in Muslim communities and countries, as they could be misleading in diagnosis and monitoring of the disease.
Abdallah Shanableh
The wastewater treatment process described in this paper is based on utilising sea salt brine as a source of magnesium for coagulation. Sea salt brine, a by-product of table salt (NaCl) production from sea water, is a rich source of magnesium and is relatively free of sodium. Magnesium hydroxide is an effective coagulant in water and wastewater treatment. The precipitation of magnesium in conjunction with lime treatment significantly improves the performance and economics of lime use. The sea salt brine provides a cheep source of magnesium for enhancing lime performance in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. The process was capable of achieving the following removal results: 76% B0D5,71% COD, > 99.9% Faecal Coliform, 90% turbidity, 96% total phosphorus, 98% soluble phosphorus, 96% TSS, 85% filtered colour and 43% TKN. This treatment is highly effective for removing phosphorus, turbidity, colour and pathogens. The treated effluent may be suitable for discharge and reuse for irrigation and industrial applications. The efficient removal of pathogens eliminates the need for effluent disinfection. The process results in a chemically stable and easy to dewater sludge suitable for land application.
Hamed A. El-Nakhal
The Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in Yemen consist of marine and nonmarine sediments. They are included within the Mudizer Medj-Zir) Member, Shihr Formation and Hadhramaut and Tihamah Groups Mudjzer (Paleocene) is the upper member of the Tawilah Formation (Cretaceous-Paleocene), and it consists of alternative sequences of marine and nonmarine sandstones. Hadhramaut Group (Paleocene-Middle Eocene) consists of carbonates and evaporites, and includes the Umm er Radhuma, Jeza, Rus, and Habshiya Formations. The Shihr Formation Oligocene-Miocene) consists of clastics and carbonates The Tihamah Group (Miocene-Holocene) includes the Abbas, Bad, and Kamaran Formations. The Abbas Formation consists of continental clastics of Miocene-Holocene age. The Bad Formation (Middle-Late Miocene) consists of evaporites and it is divided into the Qurayyah Salt Member and the overlying Harafa Gypsum Member. The Kamaran Formation consists of Quaternary reefal limestone. The Tihamah Group and all of its subdivisions (excluding the Bad Formation) are introduced here as new units,
Eid, F.M. and El-Gindy, A.A.
Hydrographic data, collected in the period 1933-1992 (from NODC, USA), in the Arabian Gulf and the area near the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman, are used for the evaluation of the surface density current in the Arabian Gulf relative to 50 decibar level. The current speed has attained its highest value in summer where it reaches a value of 19 cm/sec, whereas the lowest values are found in winter and autumn with a range of 2-8 cm/sec. This is explained by the strong horizontal and vertical mixing in late autumn and winter, which causes lower density current values while in summer, more stratification is established. The cyclonic eddies are deduced in the north and the south of the study area in winter and summer; this agrees with the previous current measurements and the ships drift data. The present model suggests also anticyclonic gyre in spring and autumn.
F.M. Attia, A.A. Alsobayel and A.A.S. Aldabiby
This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of adding high salt levels (2 and 2.4% salt) to starter and finisher diets (0.35% salt) on performance. livability and carcass composition of Hybro and Hypeco broiler chickens.
Results of this experiment revealed that body weights were not significantly affected by dietary salt level. Feed intake was significantly (p ≥ .05) reduced as the dietary salt level was increased, whereas water intake increased almost linearly with the level of dietary salt. Feed: gain ratio of chickens fed the high salt diets (2 and 2.4% salt) were significantly (p ≥ .05) better than those fed the 0.35% diet. Water: feed ratio was also higher. whereas livability was lower (p ≥ .05) in chickens on the high salt diets.
Abdominal fat / body weight and carcass composition were not affected by treatment except for the 6 wk carcass ash which was significantly (p ≥ .05) higher for the 2.4% salt group. Strain had a highly significant (p ≤ .01) effect on abdominal fat/body weight and carcass fat. Young chicks up to 4 wk of age were apparently more susceptible to toxic effects of salt than older birds, as shown by livability record.
Said A. Azab
Certain leaf and root chemical constituents of seven citrus rootstock seedlings were determined to study and compare the nutritional status among these rootstocks. The rootstocks used were Macrophylla, Volkameriana, Rangpur lime, Cleopatra mandarin, Citrus amblycarpa, Sacaton citrumelo and Yuma citrange . Seedlings were grown in calcareous soil and irrigated with moderately saline water under the arid environment of Qatar State, Arabian Gulf. Results showed that leaves of Macrophylla , Volkameriana and Rangpur lime contained significantly higher protein, ash, N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Cu and lower carbohydrates and Na contents than that of the other four studied rootstocks. However, the chemical constituents of roots did not show remarkable differences.
Gamal E.B. EI Ghazali and Sei-ichiro Tsuji
The study re-describes pollen grains of 10 tropical species belonging to 10 families. Significant variation in different pollen morphological characters was encountered in these species which were previously reported to have homo-morphic pollen grains. Pollen samples from various flowers collected from the same plant were analysed using LM and SEM. In each of the species examined, the diagnostic characteristics of the multiple pollen forms were presented. The relative percentages of these pollen forms were designated as common and less common pollen types. The study highlights the importance of the use of many pollen samples encompassing the whole range of variability as pollen reference material in tropical regions.
R.M. Natour and S.M. Yousef
Thirty one diatomaceous earth samples (sediments), belonging to Pliocene-Pleistocene era, taken from different pore holes at different depths from Azraq depression, were obtained from Jordan Authority for Natural Resources. After activation, the samples were tested for their ability to adsorb six potent mycotoxins (Aflatoxin B1, Aflatoxin M1, Sterigmatocystin, Zearalenone, T-2 toxin and Ochratoxin A). Adsorption tests were carried out by placing 0.05 to 0.2 g of the activated sediments into 100 ml water-methanol solution (1:4 v/v), containing a mycotoxin level ranging from 0.25 to 5.0 ppm.
The sediments of 45-63 µm dia. showed significant rates of adsorption for all mycotoxins, reaching 100% for aflatoxin B1. Maximum adsorption was achieved with particle size of 45-63 µm, incubated at 25°C for 15 to 25 minutes. Moreover, adsorption efficiency of sediments was found to be directly proportional to the number of diatom frustules (valves). Incubation of solutes for periods longer than 25 minutes, often did not cause significant increase in adsorption of aflatoxins. The sediments manifested significant adsorption of all mycotoxins in the following order: B1 > Sterigmatocystin> M1 > T-2 > Zearalenone and Ochratoxin A.
A.A. Al-Qarawil, A.A. Al-Doss and A.M. Assaeed
Survival and establishment of range plant seedlings is mostly dependent on the amount and distribution of rainfall. Little is known about survival and establishment of range plants native to Saudi Arabia. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of amount of rainfall (100, 200 and 400 mm) and rainfall distribution 7 and 14 days between two rains) on seedling survival and establishment three populations of Hammada elegans from different areas in Saudi Arabia. Water equivalent to the specified amounts of rainfall was evenly distributed every 7 or 14 days over a period of three months. Seedlings were then left to grow for another two months without irrigation. The results showed that survival and establishment under 400 mm rainfall were significantly higher than the other two rainfall averages (47% and 11% respectively). Survival percentage increased as the period between two rains was extended to 14 days although not significantly. Establishment increased from 3% to 9% with extension of period between two rains. No significant differences were observed among the three populations. These results indicate that successful establishment of H elegans may be expected in lower lands where rainwater is collected from surrounding areas and that seedling establishment may be encouraged as the period between two effective rains is extended.
S.A. Al-Yahya and H.M.M. Moghazi
An experimental study has been performed in order to measure drops in static pressure across columns of barley grain. It was designed to determine the effect of grain moisture content, grain depth, flow rate and bin diameter on resistance to airflow. Airflow ranging 2 from 0.1 to 0.7 m3 s-1 m-2 , moisture content levels of 8, 15, 17 and 21.7% (wet basis), bed depths of 31, 62, 93 and 124 cm and bin diameter of 15.24, 20.32 and 25.4 cm. Airflow resistance was accurately described by the well known Shedd's equation. Resistance to airflow decreased with increased grain moisture content and decreased airflow rate and bed depths. The airflow resistance increases as the decrease of the bin diameter especially at high grain moisture content.