Effects of Anthropogenic Interventions on the Entisols of Al-Khoud Dam Area in a Dry Region of Oman

Said Al-Ismaily,Ali Al-Maktoumi,Anvar Kacimov,Hamad Al-Busaidi,Said Al-Saqri 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

The Role of Curcuma longa Against Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)-Induced Toxicity in Rats

Al-Tahtawy, Ragaa Hosny Mohamad,El-Bastawesy, Amal Mohamad,Zekry, Zekry Khalid,Al-Mehdar, Hussain A.,Al-said, Mohamad Gamil Abdel Monaam,Aly, Soaad Shaker,Sharawy, Sabry Mohamed,El-Merzabani, Mahmuod The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.2

The major component, called curcumin, of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) (Family Zingiberaceae) powder is responsible for its biological actions. The present study aimed to prove the protective effect of turmeric extract against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicity as evaluated in rats. Body weight and urine volume of the animal groups under investigation were recorded daily throughout the experimental period. Also, the cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicities were determined by estimating the changes in serum activities of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK), serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, nitric oxide, albumin, and calcium, and kidney and liver tissue activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the contents of glutathione and malondialdehyde. Hyperlipidemia was also determined, and protein and albumin changes in urine were estimated. Biochemical and histopathological findings demonstrate that turmeric extract has multiple therapeutic activities that are beneficially protective, and it has an ameliorative effect against DOX-induced cardiac toxicity and hepatotoxicity and blocks DOX-induced nephrosis. Similarly, turmeric extract inhibited the DOX-induced increase in plasma cholesterol, LDH, and CK. The present findings conclude that the turmeric extract has multiple therapeutic activities that block the cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicities induced by DOX, and it also possibly acts as a free radical scavenger.

Camel Milk as an Adjuvant Therapy for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes: Verification of a Traditional Ethnomedical Practice

Al-Tahtawy, Ragaa Hosny Mohamad,Zekry, Zekry Khalid,Al-Mehdar, Hussain A.,Salama, Omar,El-Shaieb, Siad Ebrahim,El-Basmy, Amany A.,Al-said, Mohamad Gamil Abdel Monem,Sharawy, Sabry Mohamed The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.2

There is a traditional belief in the Middle East that regular consumption of camel milk may aid in prevention and control of diabetes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of camel milk as an adjuvant therapy in young type 1 diabetics. This 16-week randomized study enrolled 54 type 1 diabetic patients (average age 20 years) selected from those attending the outpatient diabetes clinic of the Menofia University Hospital, affiliated with Egypt's National Cancer Institute. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 27 patients: one received usual management (diet, exercise, and insulin), whereas the other received 500 mL of camel milk daily in addition to standard management. A control group of 10 healthy subjects was also assessed. The following parameters were evaluated at baseline and at 4 and 16 weeks: hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), human C-peptide, lipid profile, serum insulin, anti-insulin antibodies, creatinine clearance, albumin in 24-hour urine, body mass index, and Diabetes Quality of Life score. The following parameters were significantly different between the usual-management group versus the camel milk group after 16 weeks: fasting blood sugar ($227.2\;{\pm}\;17.7$ vs. $98.9\;{\pm}\;16.2\;mg/dL$), HbA1c ($9.59\;{\pm}\;2.05$[%] vs. $7.16\;{\pm}\;1.84$[%]), serum anti-insulin antibodies ($26.20\;{\pm}\;7.69$ vs. $20.92\;{\pm}\;5.45\;{\mu}U/mL$), urinary albumin excretion ($25.17\;{\pm}\;5.43$ vs. $14.54\;{\pm}\;5.62\;mg/dL$/24 hours), daily insulin dose ($48.1\;{\pm}\;6.95$ vs. $23\;{\pm}\;4.05$ units), and body mass index ($18.43\;{\pm}\;3.59$ vs. $24.3\;{\pm}\;2.95\;kg/m^2$). Most notably, C-peptide levels were markedly higher in the camel milk group ($0.28\;{\pm}\;0.6$ vs. $2.30\;{\pm}\;0.51\;pmol/mL$). These results suggest that, as an adjunct to standard management, daily ingestion of camel milk can aid metabolic control in young type 1 diabetics, at least in part by boosting endogenous insulin secretion.

NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS FOR SYSTEM OF SECOND ORDER BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS

Al Said, E.A.,Noor, M.A.,Al Shejari, A.A. 한국전산응용수학회 1998 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.5 No.3

We investigate some numerical methods for computing approximate solutions of a system of second order boundary value problems associated with obstacle unilateral and contact problems. We show that cubic spline method gives approximations which are better than that computed by higer order spline and finite difference techniques.

Allele and Genotype Frequencies of the Polymorphic Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase and Lung Cancer in ther Jordanian Population: a Case Control Study

Al-Motassem, Yousef,Shomaf, Maha,Said, Ismail,Berger, Sondra,Ababneh, Nidaa,Diab, Ola,Obeidat, Nathir,Awidi, Abdallah Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.8

Background: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is involved in amino acid synthesis and DNA function. Two common polymorphisms are reported, C677T and A1298C, that are implicated in a number of human diseases, including cancer. Objective: The association between MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotype and haplotype frequencies in risk for lung cancer (LC) was investigated in the Jordanian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 98 LC cases were studied for MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms, compared to 89 controls taken from the general population, employing the PCR-RFLP technique. Results: The frequency of the genotypes of MTHFR C677T among Jordanians was: CC, 59.6%, CT, 33%; and TT, 7.4% among LC cases and 49.4%, 40.2% and 10.3% among controls. No significant association was detected between genetic polymorphism at this site and LC. At MTHFR A12987C, the genotype distribution was AA, 29.5%; AC, 45.3%, and CC 25.3% among LC cases and 36.8%, 50.6% and 12.6% among controls. Carriers of the CC genotype were more likely to have LC (OR=2.5; 95%CI: 1.04-6; p=0.039) as compared to AA carriers. Smokers and males with the CC genotype were 9.9 and 6.7 times more likely to have LC, respectively ($OR_{smokers}=9.9$; 95%CI: 1.2-84.5, p=0.018; $OR_{men}=6.6$; 95%CI: 1.7-26.2, p=0.005). Haplotype analysis of MTHFR polymorphism at the two loci showed differential distribution of the CC haplotype (677C-1298C) between cases and controls. The CC haplotype was associated with an increased risk for lung cancer (OR=1.6; 95% CI: 1.03-2.4, p=0.037). Conclusions: The genetic polymorphism of MTHFR at 1298 and the CC haplotype (risk is apparently lower with the C allele at position 677) may modulate the risk for LC development among the Jordanian population. Risk associated with the 1298C allele is increased in smokers and in males. The results indicate that a critical gene involved in folate metabolism plays a modifying role in lung cancer risk, at least in the Jordanian population.

CUBIC SPLINE METHOD FOR SOLVING TWO-POINT BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

Al Said, Eisa-A. 한국전산응용수학회 1998 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.5 No.3

In this paper we use uniform cubic spline polynomials to derive some new consistency relations. These relations are then used to develop a numerical method for computing smooth approxi-mations to the solution and its first second as well as third derivatives for a second order boundary value problem. The proesent method out-performs other collocations finite-difference and splines methods of the same order. numerical illustratiosn are provided to demonstrate the practical use of our method.

GENERALIZED MILDLY NONLINEAR COMPLEMENTARITY PROBLEMS FOR FUZZY MAPPINGS

Al Said, Elsa-A.,Noor, Muhammad-Aslam 한국전산응용수학회 1998 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.5 No.3

In this paper we introduce and study a new class of gen-eralized mildly nonlinear complementarity problems for fuzzy map-pings. We use the change of variabes technique to establish the equivalence between the generalized mildly nonlinear complementar-ity problems and the Wiener-Hopf equations. This equivalence is used to suggest and analyze a number of iterative algorithm for solv-ing the generalized mildly nonlinear complemetarity problems.

MODIFIED NUMEROV METHOD FOR SOLVING SYSTEM OF SECOND-ORDER BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEMS

Al-Said, Eisa A.,Noor, Muhammad Aslam 한국전산응용수학회 2001 The Korean journal of computational & applied math Vol.8 No.1

We introduce and discuss a new numerical method for solving system of second order boundary value problems, where the solution is required to satisfy some extra continuity conditions on the subintervals in addition to the usual boundary conditions. We show that the present method gives approximations which are better than that produced by other collocation, finite difference and spline methods. Numerical example is presented to illustrate the applicability of the new method. AMS Mathematics Subject Classification : 65L12, 49J40.

The effect of microfinance on women’s empowerment : Evidence from Malaysia

Sayed Samer Ali AL-SHAMI,Muhammad M. RAZALI,Izaidin MAJID,Ahmed ROZELAN,Nurulizwa RASHID 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2016 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.22 No.3

Microfinance is widely known as a financial development tool for those deprived of access to financial services, especially women. However, the literature provides conflicting evidence and shows that women’s empowerment may not, or may only be partially achieved through microcredit, especially in Muslim societies. This study seeks to scrutinize the effect of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), a microcredit institution, on Malay Muslim women in an urban area. A quasi-experimental method was used to conduct a cross sectional survey of 500 old and new clients. Informal semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 current clients who had received microcredit two years earlier. The findings show that AIM microcredit empowered the women and enhanced gender equality. It enabled women to access financial capital, form their micro- and smallbusinesses and obtain an income which helped them to contribute to household expenditure. Even though the effect of microcredit was partial, it provided them bargaining power for decision-making and controlling of resources and enhanced their self-esteem in their households and communities. Pembiayaan mikro secara meluasnya dikenali sebagai kaedah membangunkan mereka yang tidak diberi peluang akses perkhidmatan kewangan lain, khasnya di kalangan golongan wanita. Walau bagaimanapun, literatur kajian lampau telah mengemukakan bukti yang bercanggah di mana pembiayaan mikro kepada golongan wanita terutamanya mereka dalam masyarakat Islam mungkin tidak langsung atau mungkin sebahagiannya sahaja memberi kesan terhadap kejayaan mereka. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk meneliti kesan Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) iaitu sebuah institusi pembiayaan mikro, di kalangan wanita Melayu Islam di kawasan bandar. Satu kaedah kuasieksperimen telah digunakan untuk menjalankan kajian terhadap 500 pelanggan lama dan baru pembiayaan mikro. Temubual informal separa berstruktur telah dijalankan bersama 20 pelanggan yang sedang menerima pembiayaan mikro dalam tempoh dua tahun sebelumnya. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pembiayaan mikro AIM menjadikan wanita bertambah berjaya dan dapat menyumbang terhadap kesamarataan antara gender. Ia membolehkan mereka memperolehi modal, membentuk perniagaan mikro atau kecil dan seterusnya memperolehi pendapatan yang dapat membantu mereka untuk menyumbang kepada perbelanjaan isi rumah. Walaupun kesan pembiayaan mikro ini menyumbang kepada sebahagian sahaja peningkatan ini, namun ia dapat menyediakan mereka kuasa tawar-menawar untuk membuat keputusan, kawalan ke atas sumber dan meningkatkan keyakinan diri golongan ini.

Impact of Social Networks in Educational Media

Al-Said, Khaleel M.,Al Said, Nidal,Hattab, Ezz The Korea Institute of Information and Commucation 2020 Journal of information and communication convergen Vol.18 No.4

This study aims to determine whether student participation on Twitter affects academic performance. The key goals of the training course were to acquire social networking knowledge and skills and to learn how to share information, be productive in discussions, and create an interest-based community. The initial sample comprised 286 students from Jordan universities, 68.4% of whom agreed to participate in the study. Undergraduate students accounted for 73.9%, and graduate students accounted for 26.1%. Only 14.3% of the students chose the Twitter-based learning model. This is a mixed-methods study that integrates quantitative and qualitative approaches. The undergraduate students were found to tweet more and have more likes, while graduate students had more followers and were following more accounts. Moreover, 21% of the participants were the most active. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a connection between participation in social media and student performance. Therefore, the results of this study may help educational professionals and education managers.