Vol. 18 Issue 2
N. Al-Khalifah, A. Al-Swailem and D. Alani
With the advancement of science in different fields, the applications of biotechnology have increased, based on its use. Saudi Arabia, as one of the developing countries is using some biotechnological applications in agriculture, medicine, environment and petrochemicals. In Saudi Arabia, biotechnology has been used both in research and commercial applications. This paper illustrates the efforts made for research in biotechnology, such as in tissue culture, DNA studies in plants and desulfurization of oil. It also shows some of the industrial applications of biotechnology that are suitable for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf area. It also shows the efforts being made to transfer the basic knowledge of biotechnology and the techniques that have commercial returns.
B.H. Ali, A.A. Al-Qarawi, A.K. Bashir and M.O.M. Tanira
The desert plant Iphiona aucheri Boiss (found in the Arabian Gulf countries and Iran) has been claimed to be highly toxic to rats, camels and sheep. In the present work we have studied the acute toxic effects of oral treatment with water and methanol extracts of this plant in mice. A compound isolated from the methanol extract (termed compound A) and authentic atractyloside were also similarly tested. No morality in mice was found twenty four hours after the administration of the water and methanol extract (2g/Kg), compound A or the authentic atractyloside (100 and 500 mg/Kg). However, these treatments caused minor clinical or biochemical signs of toxicity, a small degree of depletion of reduced glutathione in the liver and little or no significant macro- or microscopic changes in the vital organs. These results suggest that, contrary to the previous reports, the plant is of low toxicity to animals.
H. A. Abulfatih
Leaf anatomy of the 10 species of the most common perennial halophytes found in Qatar were investigated, including Aeluropus lagopoides, Anabasis setifera, Avicennia marina, Halopeplis perfoliata, Limonium axillare, Salsola baryosma, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Suaeda vermiculata, Zygophyllum qatarense and Zygophyllum simplex. Most dicot halophytes have leaves of ring-shaped or oval-shaped transverse sections, coated with a layer of cuticle, with one row of epidermal cells. avicennia marina, exceptionally, have multiple epidermal layers. Trichomes were minimal among species, yet, Aeluropus lagopoides and Avicennia marina had an ample amount of trichomes. Palisade tissue is rich with chloroplasts. Intercellular spaces were limited in the palisade and spongy tissues. Spongy tissue was often full of water. Salt crystals were found in the Anabasis setifera and Limonium axillare. Vascular bundles usually occupy the central parts of the succulent leaves, or are distributed across the width of the flattened non-succulent leaves. Vascular bundles are surrounded by bundle sheaths in the monocot Aeluropus lagopoides. Twig anatomy of the green leafless Arthrocnemum glaucum show the presence of well developed chlorenchyma and water storing parenchyma tissues.
H.A. Ibrahim
Geological interpretation of Bouguer gravity anomalies and total intensity magnetic anomalies of two profiles from the Abu Gharadig basin suggests a general northward increase in basement depth (about 3 to 6 km). Gravity modeling using software given by Enmark (1981) and Begg et al. (1987) are applied along the gravity profiles, giving reliable results agreeing with the available geologic information on the area. The magnetic profiles are interpreted and analyzed using two methods: non-linear optimization techniques and interactive techniques. A prominent uplift of the basement rocks is observed to the south, which is considered a part of the major basement high in the northern Western Desert of Egypt. In addition, a significant deepening of the basement is found to the north, which represents a part of the major subsidence including the present Mediterranean basin. The abnormal thickness of the sedimentary section of various facies, and the presence of deep-causative intrabasement (acidic or basic bodies) are possibly considered the main causes for
1) the origin of different gravity anomalies (negative and positive respectively); and
2) the origin of different magnetic anomalies (low and high), particularly those in the middle part of the study area.
T. Youssef, M. El Amry and A. Youssef
The effect of post-spill defoliation and the subsequent readjustment in resource allocation was investigated in relation to individual reproductive fitness of the monotypic mangrove stands Avicennia marina in Umm Al-Qwain Bay, northeastern United Arab Emirates. The effects of the persistence of high levels of oil hydrocarbons in the sediments after the spill on propagule dispersal, seedling recruitment, and anomalous vegetative growth forms were also studied. Growth and physiological performance of the new individuals produced from polluted and unpolluted vegetations were compared under glasshouse conditions.
Vegetative recovery of the oiled mangrove stands from post-spill massive defoliation had a negative effect on all stages of plant reproductive events including flowering, fruiting and propagule dispersal. Persistence of toxic levels of oil hydrocarbons in the substrate has further reduced the possibility of successful establishment of the new generation in the contaminated site. A significant correlation exists between the levels of hydrocarbons in the sediments and the degree of anomalies in shoot growth of seedlings (r^2 = 0.862) and the newly growing pneumatophores (r^2 =0.827).
Improving substrate condition by reducing levels of toxic hydrocarbons would increase the chance for better recruitment and performance of the new generation of seedlings. Active rehabilitation processes at the site may enhance the site productivity and minimize time for natural recovery.
Nagwa E. Abdel-Aziz
The qualitative and quantitative dynamics of a zooplankton community were studied monthly over a year in relation to the variable environmental conditions in Dekhaila Harbour, a coastal eutrophic area.
The temporal changes of water temperature were similar to those previously known along the southeastern Mediterranean coast (15 - 29°C). Dissolved oxygen varied between a low level of 1.7 ml/L and well oxygenated conditions (8.3 ml/L). Surface salinity suffered from marked seasonal and regional variations, falling between 17.34% and 39.18% over the year. The low transparency was one of the characteristic features of the harbour water, where Secchi depth maintained low values (45-270 cm). The phytoplankton chlorophyll a showed an abnormally wide range of variations from a significantly low value of 1.63 mg/m^3 to an abnormally high one (1323 mg/m^3).
The species composition and density of zooplankton were clearly affected by the ecological variations. The annual average count (22640 organisms/m^3) demonstrated a relatively low standing crop, fluctuating all the year round between 781 and 236644 organisms/m^3.
The zooplankton community showed a group structure more or less different from those usually known in the coastal Egyptian Mediterranean waters. The protozoans appeared as the major constituent, forming 66.1% of the total catch, and copepods came in second (26.5%). The bulk of zooplankton density was attributed to a few species, including the tintinnids Favella serrata, Tintinnopsis nana, T. Lata, T. compressa and Eutintinnus lusus-undae and the copepod Oithona nana, which all together formed 62% of total count. Several freshwater holoplanktonic forms were recorded in the area, contributing 2.7% to the total crop, and reflecting the impact of the discharged wastewater.
The temporary planktonic assemblages played a small role in the study area, averaging annually 5.2%, with the dominance of the larval stages of polychaetes and cirripedes.
The index of biotal despersity, diversity index and species richness exhibited pronounced temporal and spatial variations as a reflection of environmental changes.
Waleed M.K. Zahid and Abdullah M. Al-Rehali
This paper introduces major use applications of reclaimed municipal wastewater and their benefits, important elements of water reclamation and reuse criteria, and key factors in the establishment of these criteria. The paper also evaluates reuse practices in Saudi Arabia with emphasis on treatment systems, quantities of reclaimed water, and criteria established in the new governmental code Reclaimed Wastewater and Reuse. Comparisons with some international criteria and standards are also presented.
The principal reuse application in the Kingdom has been for landscape and agricultural irrigation. Reclaimed water amounts to about 23% of the treated wastewater, which constitutes only 7% of the total amount of wastewater generated from cities. There is an obvious need to develop and expand wastewater infrastructures in the Kingdom in order to increase utilization of reclaimed water for different possible use applications. Evaluation of current practices in the Kingdom reveals that different plants adopt different treatment systems, and some of them suffer several operational problems.
The need for a strategy delineating the objectives of wastewater treatment in view of potential reuses for the Kingdom, appears obvious. There is also a necessity for establishing an agency equipped with adequate expertise and resources to implement the strategy, monitor and advise treatment plants and reuse projects.
Abdullah A. Al-Tajem
In the face of transformations, and as a result of changes in economic, social, technology and labor markets, there are expectations as to the role of power in the Saudi Public Organizations.
According to the importance of power as a strategic factor in the process of change, organizational development and the overcome of change resistance, the questions that are facing these organizations today are: How are managers and subordinates transacting with power and authority in a downward and lateral relationship? What are the sources of power available to the managers in the Saudi Public Organizations? What are the most frequently used sources? What are the correlations between personal power and position power to commitment and managerial effectiveness?
The finding of this study has indicated that managers have more influence upon their subordinates through position power, also the power (reward, legitimate and coercive power) has more importance as a reason for complying with the request of managers. The findings of this study have indicated the relative importance of personal power over positional power as correlated to commitment and managerial effectiveness, the power (charisma, information and reverent) has more importance to the peer as a rating of managerial effectiveness.