Sphingolipids have been suggested to act as second messengers for an array of cellular signaling activities in plant cells, including stress responses and programmed cell death （PCD）. However, the mechanisms underpi...Sphingolipids have been suggested to act as second messengers for an array of cellular signaling activities in plant cells, including stress responses and programmed cell death （PCD）. However, the mechanisms underpinning these processes are not well understood. Here, we report that an Arabidopsis mutant, fumonisin B1 r_esistant11-1 （/br11-1）, which fails to generate reactive oxygen intermediates （ROIs）, is incapable of initiating PCD when the mutant is challenged by fumonisin B l （FB0, a specific inhibitor of ceramide synthase. Molecular analysis indicated that FBR11 encodes a long-chain base 1 （LCB 1） subunit of serine palmitoyltransferase （SPT）, which catalyzes the first rate-limiting step of de novo sphingolipid synthesis. Mass spectrometric analysis of the sphingolipid concentrations revealed that whereas the fbr11-1 mutation did not affect basal levels of sphingoid bases, the mutant showed attenuated formation of sphingoid bases in response to FBl. By a direct feeding experiment, we show that the free sphingoid bases dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine and sphingosine efficiently induce ROI generation followed by cell death. Conversely, ROI generation and cell death induced by dihydrosphingosine were specifically blocked by its phosphorylated form dihydrosphingosine- 1-phosphate in a dosedependent manner, suggesting that the maintenance of homeostasis between a free sphingoid base and its phosphorylated derivative is critical to determining the cell fate. Because alterations of the sphingolipid level occur prior to the ROI production, we propose that the free sphingoid bases are involved in the control of PCD in Arabidopsis, presumably through the regulation of the ROI level upon receiving different developmental or environmental cues.展开更多
Incidence rate for prostate cancer in the Arab World is significantly lower than United States and Europe, it ranges from 5.5% to 39.2%. However, the incidence and the number of deaths is expected to increase. In Saud...Incidence rate for prostate cancer in the Arab World is significantly lower than United States and Europe, it ranges from 5.5% to 39.2%. However, the incidence and the number of deaths is expected to increase. In Saudi Arabia, the crude incidence rate and age standardized incidence rate of prostate cancer are reported to be steadily increasing in between 2001-2008. Only two screening trials were attempted in 2001 and 2009 which yielded an incidence rate of 1.17% and 2.5% respectively. Men in the Arab world are sharing a common characteristic of poor knowledge and poor attitude towards prostate cancer examination and screening practices. They are ill-informed about the PSA test's strengths and drawbacks because the doctors are not talking to them about the importance of counselling. Men should be encouraged to do PSA testing before the age of 50 and till the age of 70 years. This could be achieved by enhancing their attitude and enriching the knowledge of the physicians towards PSA testing, harms and benefits, through shared decision making, which would increase men's knowledge scores, reduced their decisional conflict and promote greater involvement in decision making.展开更多
The prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) has increased dramatically during the last 2 decades, a fact driven by the increased prevalence of obesity, the primary risk factor for T2 DM. The figures for diabetes ...The prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) has increased dramatically during the last 2 decades, a fact driven by the increased prevalence of obesity, the primary risk factor for T2 DM. The figures for diabetes in the Arab world are particularly startling as the number of people with diabetes is projected to increase by 96.2% by 2035. Genetic risk factors may play a crucial role in this uncontrolled raise in the prevalence of T2 DM in the Middle Eastern region. However, factors such as obesity, rapid urbanization and lack of exercise are other key determinants of this rapid increase in the rate of T2 DM in the Arab world. The unavailability of an effective program to defeat T2 DM has serious consequences on the increasing rise of this disease, where available data indicates an unusually high prevalence of T2 DM in Arabian children less than 18 years old. Living with T2 DM is problematic as well, since T2 DM has become the 5th leading cause of disability, which was ranked 10 th as recently as 1990. Giving the current status of T2 DM in the Arab world, a collaborative international effort is needed for fighting further spread of this disease.展开更多
Research Problem: In Abu Dhabi, limited implementation of OSH Regulations contributes to the general unawareness among employees and workers about occupational hazards and safety measures, resulting in slow responsive...Research Problem: In Abu Dhabi, limited implementation of OSH Regulations contributes to the general unawareness among employees and workers about occupational hazards and safety measures, resulting in slow responsiveness toward enforcement measures and a lack of self-regulatory approaches within companies. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation methods practised in Abu Dhabi with those in developed countries with established OSH regulatory bodies. Methodology: Qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed to gather primary research data. Workers from various industries in Abu Dhabi were sampled on purpose and asked to respond to questionnaires and interviews on OSH protocol awareness and implementation, and circumstances of workplace incidence. Results: The findings of this study showed that the enforcement of OSH requirements in UAE positively correlated to a reduction in the rate of work-related injury and improved business performance. The quantitative research data showed that the energy sector had the highest score (15) while the tourism sector had the lowest score (5.3) in occupational health systems and improvements in business efficiency and productivity. Implications: The outcomes of this study shed light on the importance of implementing OSH Guidelines for companies to empower their safety managers to fully enforce OSH requirements in their organisations. In conclusion, effective OSH enforcement requires cooperation between general workers and OSH managers and facilitation from business owners.展开更多
The Semail ophiolite of Oman and the United Arab Emirates （UAE） provides the best preserved large slice of oceanic lithosphere exposed on the continental crust, and offers unique opportunities to study processes of ...The Semail ophiolite of Oman and the United Arab Emirates （UAE） provides the best preserved large slice of oceanic lithosphere exposed on the continental crust, and offers unique opportunities to study processes of ocean crust formation, subduction initiation and obduction. Metamorphic rocks exposed in the eastern UAE have traditionally been interpreted as a metamorphic sole to the Semail ophiolite. However, there has been some debate over the possibility that the exposures contain components of older Arabian continental crust. To help answer this question, presented here are new zircon and futile U-Pb geochronological data from various units of the metamorphic rocks. Zircon was absent in most samples. Those that yielded zircon and futile provide dominant single age populations that are 95-93 Ma, partially overlapping with the known age of oceanic crust formation （96.5-94.5 Ma）, and partially overlapping with cooling ages of the metamorphic rocks （95 90 Ma）. The data are interpreted as dating high-grade metamorphism during subduction burial of the sediments into hot mantle lithosphere, and rapid cooling during their subsequent exhumation. A few discordant zircon ages, interpreted as late Neoproterozoic and younger, represent minor detrital input from the continent. No evidence is found in favour of the existence of older Arabian continental crust within the metamorphic rocks of the UAE.展开更多
We describe the prevalence and treatment of glaucoma in a Muslim Arab population in Israel. Based on the medical records of 15 122 persons, the overall prevalence of glaucoma was 3.9%. Prevalence rates of primary open...We describe the prevalence and treatment of glaucoma in a Muslim Arab population in Israel. Based on the medical records of 15 122 persons, the overall prevalence of glaucoma was 3.9%. Prevalence rates of primary open angle glaucoma（POAG） and primary angle-closure glaucoma（PACG） were 3.0% and 0.42%, respectively. Prevalence rates of women were 135% that of men considering all types of glaucoma, 143% for POAG, and 96% for PACG. Prostaglandin analogs and beta blockers, alone or combined with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, were the preferred medications. Of 68 patients who underwent trabeculectomy, 27（39.7%） required medications, postoperatively, for treatment of glaucoma; following Ex-Press shunt surgery, 3/11（27.3%） required medications. During the last three years, 16（1.3%） individuals with POAG were recorded as legally blind as a result of glaucoma.展开更多
AIM： To study whether N-acetyltransferase 2 （NAT2） genotypes and phenotypes are associated with increased risk factor for gastric cancer in Omani patients and to study the clinico-pathological correlations and the ...AIM： To study whether N-acetyltransferase 2 （NAT2） genotypes and phenotypes are associated with increased risk factor for gastric cancer in Omani patients and to study the clinico-pathological correlations and the prognostic significance of NAT2. METHODS： Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 100 gastric cancer patients and 100 control subjects. NAT2 genotyping was performed using DNA sequencing. The prognostic significance of NAT2 and other clinicopathological features was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS： We observed no significant association between NAT2 genotypes and phenotypes and gastric cancer risk. The IVAT2 phenotype polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk predisposition were not modified by concomitant Hpylori infection and smoking. There was no significant association between NAT2 and clinicopathological features, and NAT2 had no independent prognostic significance. CONCLUSION： In the current study, NAT2 genotypes and phenotypes are not associated with gastric cancer risk predisposition. Moreover NAT2 phenotypes had no clinicopathological associations or prognostic significance.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intravenous ketamine-midazolam sedation during pediatric endoscopy in the Arab world.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study of all pediatric endoscopic procedures performe...AIM:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intravenous ketamine-midazolam sedation during pediatric endoscopy in the Arab world.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study of all pediatric endoscopic procedures performed between 2002-2008 at the shared endoscopy suite of King Abdullah University Hospital,Jordan University of Science & Technology,Jordan was conducted.All children were > 1 year old and weighed > 10 kg with American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1 or 2.Analysis was performed in terms of sedation-related complications(desaturation,respiratory distress,apnea,bradycar-dia,cardiac arrest,emergence reactions),adequacy of sedation,need for sedation reversal,or failure to complete the procedure.RESULTS:A total of 301 patients(including 160 males) with a mean age of 9.26 years(range,1-18 years) were included.All were premedicated with atropine;and 79.4%(239/301) had effective and uneventful sedation.And 248(82.4%) of the 301 patients received a mean dose of 0.16 mg/kg(range,0.07-0.39) midazolam and 1.06 mg/kg(range,0.31-2.67) ketamine,respectively within the recommended dosage guidelines.Recommended maximum midazolam dose was exceeded in 17.6% patients [34 female(F):19 male(M),P = 0.003] and ketamine in 2.7%(3 M:5 F).Maximum midazolam dose was more likely to be exceeded than ketamine(P < 0.001).Desaturation occurred in 37(12.3%) patients,and was reversible by supplemental oxygen in all except 4 who continue to have desaturation despite supplemental oxygen.Four(1.3%) patients had respiratory distress and 6(2%) were difficult to sedate and required a 3rd sedative;12(4%) required reversal and 7(2.3%) failed to complete the procedure.None developed apnea,bradycardia,arrest,or emergence reactions.CONCLUSION:Ketamine-midazolam sedation appears safe and effective for diagnostic pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Arab world for children aged > 1 year and weighing > 10 kg without co-morbidities.展开更多
In this multidisciplinary study, the main research question was how to improve the value of entrepreneurial initiatives that provide the web service of automatic accompaniment to Arab singing. As an example and case s...In this multidisciplinary study, the main research question was how to improve the value of entrepreneurial initiatives that provide the web service of automatic accompaniment to Arab singing. As an example and case study, we considered the Mawaweel website that offered an automatic accompaniment to Arab vocal improvisation as a main service. After overviewing the website, we conducted a survey examining the satisfaction of its visitors in regard to presentation and quality of service. It was found that the Mawaweel website had potential to achieve success as the majority of the 22 respondents expressed general satisfaction after their first visit to the website, with an average rate of 75%. However, respondents’ ratings were strict when discussing specific aspects about the website presentation and service quality, and the means of average rates were 68.32% and 50.23% respectively. The standard deviations of average rates were 15.70% and 19.13%, respectively. This revealed a sense of inhomogeneity in the values of the different aspects of the website presentation, and an expanded sense of inhomogeneity in the quality of the different services delivered by the website. We then compared the Mawaweel website to other websites and proposed specific improvements to the aspects with average rate below 50%.展开更多
Introduction: Arab populations have many similarities and dissimilarities. They share culture, language and religion but they are also subject to economic, political and social differences. The purpose of this study i...Introduction: Arab populations have many similarities and dissimilarities. They share culture, language and religion but they are also subject to economic, political and social differences. The purpose of this study is to understand the causes of the rising trend of diabetes prevalence in order to suggest efficient actions susceptible to reduce the burden of diabetes in the Arab world. Method: We use principal component analysis to illustrate similarities and differences between Arab countries according to four variables: 1) the prevalence of diabetes, 2) impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 3) diabetes related deaths and 4) diabetes related expenditure per person. A linear regression is also used to study the correlation between human development index and diabetes prevalence. Results: Arab countries are mainly classified into three groups according to the diabetes comparative prevalence (high, medium and low) but other differences are seen in terms of diabetes-related mortality and diabetes related expenditure per person. We also investigate the correlation between the human development index (HDI) and diabetes comparative prevalence (R = 0.81). Conclusion: The alarming rising trend of diabetes prevalence in the Arab region constitutes a real challenge for heath decision makers. In order to alleviate the burden of diabetes, preventive strategies are needed, based essentially on sensitization for a more healthy diet with regular exercise but health authorities are also asked to provide populations with heath- care and early diagnosis to avoid the high burden caused by complications of diabetes.展开更多
The Kimmeridgian-Tithonian aged Arab Formation, as the main reservoir of the Jurassic succession in the Balal oilfield, located in the offshore region of the Iranian sector of the Persian Gulf, is investigated in this...The Kimmeridgian-Tithonian aged Arab Formation, as the main reservoir of the Jurassic succession in the Balal oilfield, located in the offshore region of the Iranian sector of the Persian Gulf, is investigated in this study. The formation is composed of dolomites and limestones with anhydrite interbeds. Based on detailed petrographic studies, six microfacies are recognized, which are classified in four sub-environments including supratidal, intertidal, lagoonal and the high energy shoal of a homoclinal carbonate ramp. The main diagenetic features of the studied succession include dolomitization, anhydritization, cementation, micritization, fracturing and compaction. Based on stable isotope data, dolomitization of the upper Arab carbonates is related to sabkha settings （i.e. evaporative type）. In terms of sequence stratigraphy, three shallowing-upward sequences are recognized, based on core and wireline log data from four wells of the studied field. Considering depositional and diagenetic effects on the reservoir quality, the studied facies are classified into eight reservoir rock types （RRT） with distinct reservoir qualities. Dolomitization has played a major role in reservoir quality enhancement, whereas anhydritization, carbonate cementation, and compaction have damaged the pore throat network. Distribution of the recognized RRTs in time and space are discussed within the context of a sequence stratigraphic framework.展开更多
基金Acknowledgments We would like to thank the Arabidopsis Biological Resources Center （Ohio State University, USA） for providing seeds and Dr Teresa Dunn （Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, USA） for providing yeast strains. We are grateful to Drs Weicai Yang, Yongbiao Xue （Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences） and De Ye （China Agriculture University） for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （30330360, 30125025 and 30221002） and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to Jianru Zuo.
文摘Sphingolipids have been suggested to act as second messengers for an array of cellular signaling activities in plant cells, including stress responses and programmed cell death （PCD）. However, the mechanisms underpinning these processes are not well understood. Here, we report that an Arabidopsis mutant, fumonisin B1 r_esistant11-1 （/br11-1）, which fails to generate reactive oxygen intermediates （ROIs）, is incapable of initiating PCD when the mutant is challenged by fumonisin B l （FB0, a specific inhibitor of ceramide synthase. Molecular analysis indicated that FBR11 encodes a long-chain base 1 （LCB 1） subunit of serine palmitoyltransferase （SPT）, which catalyzes the first rate-limiting step of de novo sphingolipid synthesis. Mass spectrometric analysis of the sphingolipid concentrations revealed that whereas the fbr11-1 mutation did not affect basal levels of sphingoid bases, the mutant showed attenuated formation of sphingoid bases in response to FBl. By a direct feeding experiment, we show that the free sphingoid bases dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine and sphingosine efficiently induce ROI generation followed by cell death. Conversely, ROI generation and cell death induced by dihydrosphingosine were specifically blocked by its phosphorylated form dihydrosphingosine- 1-phosphate in a dosedependent manner, suggesting that the maintenance of homeostasis between a free sphingoid base and its phosphorylated derivative is critical to determining the cell fate. Because alterations of the sphingolipid level occur prior to the ROI production, we propose that the free sphingoid bases are involved in the control of PCD in Arabidopsis, presumably through the regulation of the ROI level upon receiving different developmental or environmental cues.
文摘Incidence rate for prostate cancer in the Arab World is significantly lower than United States and Europe, it ranges from 5.5% to 39.2%. However, the incidence and the number of deaths is expected to increase. In Saudi Arabia, the crude incidence rate and age standardized incidence rate of prostate cancer are reported to be steadily increasing in between 2001-2008. Only two screening trials were attempted in 2001 and 2009 which yielded an incidence rate of 1.17% and 2.5% respectively. Men in the Arab world are sharing a common characteristic of poor knowledge and poor attitude towards prostate cancer examination and screening practices. They are ill-informed about the PSA test's strengths and drawbacks because the doctors are not talking to them about the importance of counselling. Men should be encouraged to do PSA testing before the age of 50 and till the age of 70 years. This could be achieved by enhancing their attitude and enriching the knowledge of the physicians towards PSA testing, harms and benefits, through shared decision making, which would increase men's knowledge scores, reduced their decisional conflict and promote greater involvement in decision making.
文摘The prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) has increased dramatically during the last 2 decades, a fact driven by the increased prevalence of obesity, the primary risk factor for T2 DM. The figures for diabetes in the Arab world are particularly startling as the number of people with diabetes is projected to increase by 96.2% by 2035. Genetic risk factors may play a crucial role in this uncontrolled raise in the prevalence of T2 DM in the Middle Eastern region. However, factors such as obesity, rapid urbanization and lack of exercise are other key determinants of this rapid increase in the rate of T2 DM in the Arab world. The unavailability of an effective program to defeat T2 DM has serious consequences on the increasing rise of this disease, where available data indicates an unusually high prevalence of T2 DM in Arabian children less than 18 years old. Living with T2 DM is problematic as well, since T2 DM has become the 5th leading cause of disability, which was ranked 10 th as recently as 1990. Giving the current status of T2 DM in the Arab world, a collaborative international effort is needed for fighting further spread of this disease.
文摘Research Problem: In Abu Dhabi, limited implementation of OSH Regulations contributes to the general unawareness among employees and workers about occupational hazards and safety measures, resulting in slow responsiveness toward enforcement measures and a lack of self-regulatory approaches within companies. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation methods practised in Abu Dhabi with those in developed countries with established OSH regulatory bodies. Methodology: Qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed to gather primary research data. Workers from various industries in Abu Dhabi were sampled on purpose and asked to respond to questionnaires and interviews on OSH protocol awareness and implementation, and circumstances of workplace incidence. Results: The findings of this study showed that the enforcement of OSH requirements in UAE positively correlated to a reduction in the rate of work-related injury and improved business performance. The quantitative research data showed that the energy sector had the highest score (15) while the tourism sector had the lowest score (5.3) in occupational health systems and improvements in business efficiency and productivity. Implications: The outcomes of this study shed light on the importance of implementing OSH Guidelines for companies to empower their safety managers to fully enforce OSH requirements in their organisations. In conclusion, effective OSH enforcement requires cooperation between general workers and OSH managers and facilitation from business owners.
文摘The Semail ophiolite of Oman and the United Arab Emirates （UAE） provides the best preserved large slice of oceanic lithosphere exposed on the continental crust, and offers unique opportunities to study processes of ocean crust formation, subduction initiation and obduction. Metamorphic rocks exposed in the eastern UAE have traditionally been interpreted as a metamorphic sole to the Semail ophiolite. However, there has been some debate over the possibility that the exposures contain components of older Arabian continental crust. To help answer this question, presented here are new zircon and futile U-Pb geochronological data from various units of the metamorphic rocks. Zircon was absent in most samples. Those that yielded zircon and futile provide dominant single age populations that are 95-93 Ma, partially overlapping with the known age of oceanic crust formation （96.5-94.5 Ma）, and partially overlapping with cooling ages of the metamorphic rocks （95 90 Ma）. The data are interpreted as dating high-grade metamorphism during subduction burial of the sediments into hot mantle lithosphere, and rapid cooling during their subsequent exhumation. A few discordant zircon ages, interpreted as late Neoproterozoic and younger, represent minor detrital input from the continent. No evidence is found in favour of the existence of older Arabian continental crust within the metamorphic rocks of the UAE.
文摘We describe the prevalence and treatment of glaucoma in a Muslim Arab population in Israel. Based on the medical records of 15 122 persons, the overall prevalence of glaucoma was 3.9%. Prevalence rates of primary open angle glaucoma（POAG） and primary angle-closure glaucoma（PACG） were 3.0% and 0.42%, respectively. Prevalence rates of women were 135% that of men considering all types of glaucoma, 143% for POAG, and 96% for PACG. Prostaglandin analogs and beta blockers, alone or combined with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, were the preferred medications. Of 68 patients who underwent trabeculectomy, 27（39.7%） required medications, postoperatively, for treatment of glaucoma; following Ex-Press shunt surgery, 3/11（27.3%） required medications. During the last three years, 16（1.3%） individuals with POAG were recorded as legally blind as a result of glaucoma.
文摘AIM： To study whether N-acetyltransferase 2 （NAT2） genotypes and phenotypes are associated with increased risk factor for gastric cancer in Omani patients and to study the clinico-pathological correlations and the prognostic significance of NAT2. METHODS： Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 100 gastric cancer patients and 100 control subjects. NAT2 genotyping was performed using DNA sequencing. The prognostic significance of NAT2 and other clinicopathological features was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS： We observed no significant association between NAT2 genotypes and phenotypes and gastric cancer risk. The IVAT2 phenotype polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk predisposition were not modified by concomitant Hpylori infection and smoking. There was no significant association between NAT2 and clinicopathological features, and NAT2 had no independent prognostic significance. CONCLUSION： In the current study, NAT2 genotypes and phenotypes are not associated with gastric cancer risk predisposition. Moreover NAT2 phenotypes had no clinicopathological associations or prognostic significance.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intravenous ketamine-midazolam sedation during pediatric endoscopy in the Arab world.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study of all pediatric endoscopic procedures performed between 2002-2008 at the shared endoscopy suite of King Abdullah University Hospital,Jordan University of Science & Technology,Jordan was conducted.All children were > 1 year old and weighed > 10 kg with American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1 or 2.Analysis was performed in terms of sedation-related complications(desaturation,respiratory distress,apnea,bradycar-dia,cardiac arrest,emergence reactions),adequacy of sedation,need for sedation reversal,or failure to complete the procedure.RESULTS:A total of 301 patients(including 160 males) with a mean age of 9.26 years(range,1-18 years) were included.All were premedicated with atropine;and 79.4%(239/301) had effective and uneventful sedation.And 248(82.4%) of the 301 patients received a mean dose of 0.16 mg/kg(range,0.07-0.39) midazolam and 1.06 mg/kg(range,0.31-2.67) ketamine,respectively within the recommended dosage guidelines.Recommended maximum midazolam dose was exceeded in 17.6% patients [34 female(F):19 male(M),P = 0.003] and ketamine in 2.7%(3 M:5 F).Maximum midazolam dose was more likely to be exceeded than ketamine(P < 0.001).Desaturation occurred in 37(12.3%) patients,and was reversible by supplemental oxygen in all except 4 who continue to have desaturation despite supplemental oxygen.Four(1.3%) patients had respiratory distress and 6(2%) were difficult to sedate and required a 3rd sedative;12(4%) required reversal and 7(2.3%) failed to complete the procedure.None developed apnea,bradycardia,arrest,or emergence reactions.CONCLUSION:Ketamine-midazolam sedation appears safe and effective for diagnostic pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Arab world for children aged > 1 year and weighing > 10 kg without co-morbidities.
文摘In this multidisciplinary study, the main research question was how to improve the value of entrepreneurial initiatives that provide the web service of automatic accompaniment to Arab singing. As an example and case study, we considered the Mawaweel website that offered an automatic accompaniment to Arab vocal improvisation as a main service. After overviewing the website, we conducted a survey examining the satisfaction of its visitors in regard to presentation and quality of service. It was found that the Mawaweel website had potential to achieve success as the majority of the 22 respondents expressed general satisfaction after their first visit to the website, with an average rate of 75%. However, respondents’ ratings were strict when discussing specific aspects about the website presentation and service quality, and the means of average rates were 68.32% and 50.23% respectively. The standard deviations of average rates were 15.70% and 19.13%, respectively. This revealed a sense of inhomogeneity in the values of the different aspects of the website presentation, and an expanded sense of inhomogeneity in the quality of the different services delivered by the website. We then compared the Mawaweel website to other websites and proposed specific improvements to the aspects with average rate below 50%.
文摘Introduction: Arab populations have many similarities and dissimilarities. They share culture, language and religion but they are also subject to economic, political and social differences. The purpose of this study is to understand the causes of the rising trend of diabetes prevalence in order to suggest efficient actions susceptible to reduce the burden of diabetes in the Arab world. Method: We use principal component analysis to illustrate similarities and differences between Arab countries according to four variables: 1) the prevalence of diabetes, 2) impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 3) diabetes related deaths and 4) diabetes related expenditure per person. A linear regression is also used to study the correlation between human development index and diabetes prevalence. Results: Arab countries are mainly classified into three groups according to the diabetes comparative prevalence (high, medium and low) but other differences are seen in terms of diabetes-related mortality and diabetes related expenditure per person. We also investigate the correlation between the human development index (HDI) and diabetes comparative prevalence (R = 0.81). Conclusion: The alarming rising trend of diabetes prevalence in the Arab region constitutes a real challenge for heath decision makers. In order to alleviate the burden of diabetes, preventive strategies are needed, based essentially on sensitization for a more healthy diet with regular exercise but health authorities are also asked to provide populations with heath- care and early diagnosis to avoid the high burden caused by complications of diabetes.
文摘The Kimmeridgian-Tithonian aged Arab Formation, as the main reservoir of the Jurassic succession in the Balal oilfield, located in the offshore region of the Iranian sector of the Persian Gulf, is investigated in this study. The formation is composed of dolomites and limestones with anhydrite interbeds. Based on detailed petrographic studies, six microfacies are recognized, which are classified in four sub-environments including supratidal, intertidal, lagoonal and the high energy shoal of a homoclinal carbonate ramp. The main diagenetic features of the studied succession include dolomitization, anhydritization, cementation, micritization, fracturing and compaction. Based on stable isotope data, dolomitization of the upper Arab carbonates is related to sabkha settings （i.e. evaporative type）. In terms of sequence stratigraphy, three shallowing-upward sequences are recognized, based on core and wireline log data from four wells of the studied field. Considering depositional and diagenetic effects on the reservoir quality, the studied facies are classified into eight reservoir rock types （RRT） with distinct reservoir qualities. Dolomitization has played a major role in reservoir quality enhancement, whereas anhydritization, carbonate cementation, and compaction have damaged the pore throat network. Distribution of the recognized RRTs in time and space are discussed within the context of a sequence stratigraphic framework.
