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IntroductionSeabirds and other insular birds are an important part of marine ecosystems and are increasingly threatened worldwide. Phenology, abundance, distribution, and breeding success are important baseline parameters needed to evaluate population trends and dynamics, identify biodiversity hotspots and potential breeding sites, and assess habitat selection. In the Red Sea basin, reliable and complete data on birds are lacking for islands in most of the Important Bird Areas (IBA). Such data are now especially important since development projects have started at several of these locations. Here, we assess the distribution, abundance, phenology, and population trends of 13 bird species that breed in the Duba Islands, Al Wajh Bank, and Al Lith Islands. Breeding success and habitat selection for six species were also assessed.MethodsBetween December 2020 and August 2023, more than 90 islands were visited multiple times with different frequencies. All nests were counted, and the area occupied by the different colonies was georeferenced. Breeding success was assessed by visiting selected colonies multiple times until the chicks were ready to fledge. Habitat selection was determined by analyzing the habitat found in the georeferenced colonies.ResultsMore than 25,000 nests were counted each year, mainly in the summer, on more than 75 islands. Of the 13 species studied, the most abundant and widespread species was the White-cheeked tern, and the second most widespread was the Osprey.DiscussionWe estimate that the Al Wajh Bank hosts the following percentages of global breeding populations: Crab plover: 5%, Sooty gull: 17%–35%, White-eyed gull: 15%, Bridled tern: 1%, White-cheeked tern: 4%, and Lesser crested tern: 2%, making the area a regional and global hotspot for these species. Some of the islands occupied by breeding birds are slated for development for tourism activities as part of the Kingdom’s tourism expansion plans. At the same time, there are several ambitious conservation programs underway in these areas. To be effective, such programs require reliable and comprehensive data of the kind presented here.

Under the changing climate due to global warming, various abiotic stresses including drought (D) and salinity (S) are expected to further trigger their devastating effects on the already vulnerable crop production systems. This experiment was designed to unravel and quantify the potential role of exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) in mitigating both D and S stresses and their combination (D+S), with three replications using CRD (Completely Randomized Design). The obtained results of the current study demonstrated significant effects of all three types of stresses (D, S, and D+S) on various parameters in Brassica napus plants. Quantifying these parameters provides a more informative and precise understanding of the findings. Current results revealed that all three stress types (D, S, and D+S) resulted in a reduction in leaf area (13.65 to 21.87%), chlorophyll levels (30 to 50%), gaseous exchange rate (30 to 54%) and the concentration of mineral ions compared to non-stressed plants. However, application of SA helped in mitigating these stresses by ameliorating the negative effects of these stresses. Moreover, Malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, an indicator of lipid per-oxidation and oxidative stress, the levels of antioxidants, proline content, an osmolyte associated with stress tolerance, and sugar content in the leaves were elevated in response to all stress conditions. In addition, the ultra-structures within the leaves were negatively affected by the stresses, while an application of SA considerably minimized the deterioration of these structures thus providing protection to the brassica plants against the stresses. In a nutshell, the findings of this study suggest that SA application in S, D and S+ D stresses provides evasion to the plants by improving different physiological and growth indices. The application of Salicylic Acid (SA) mitigated the negative effects of the stresses on all the above parameters, reducing MDA contents (47%), antioxidants (11 to 20%), proline (28%), sugar contents (20.50%), and minimizing the deterioration of ultra-structures. The findings emphasize the potential mitigatory role of SA in mitigating D and S stresses and highlight the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms in detail and explore its practical application in farming practices.

Rapeseed not only provide considerable amount of edible oil with high nutritional properties but can also be used as a raw material for biofuel production in many industries. It is therefore in high demand to bring genetic changes in order to fulfill the need of human and of industries. Though traditional breeding techniques such as hybridization and mutagenesis remained the top methods for long time to create improved varieties in oilseed rape. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is becoming one of the most valuable gene editing technologies that allow precise genome engineering, and open new ways for research in plant functional genomics. Though CRISPR has been used in many other crops for genetic improvement it is expected to be an effective tool for genome editing and molecular design in oilseed rape for seed oil improvement. This mini review will discuss and summarize the past and ongoing research and development in rapeseed in terms of seed oil improvement and fatty acid composition using CRISPR technology. In addition, the factors that hinder the efficiency of this tool and how to eliminate those factors will be briefly summarized. The improvement of CRISPR technology for getting better results in oilseed rape will also be considered here. This minireview will open new windows for researchers in Brassica napus oil improvement research and genetic improvement using CRISPR technology.

Two oilseed rape genotypes (Jiu-Er-13XI and Zheyou-50), differing in seed oil content, were subjected to cadmium (Cd) stress in hydroponic experiment. Genotypic differences were observed in terms of tolerance to Cd exposure. Cd treatment negatively affected both genotypes, but the effects were more devastating in Jiu-Er-13XI (low seed oil content) than in Zheyou-50 (high seed oil content). Jiu-Er-13XI accumulated more reactive oxygen species (ROS), which destroyed chloroplast structure and decreased photosynthetic pigments, than Zheyou-50. Total fatty acids, especially 18:2 and 18:3, severely decreased as suggested by increase in MDA content. Roots and shoots of Jiu-Er-13XI plants accumulated more Cd content, while less amount of tocopherol (Toc) was observed under Cd stress, than Zheyou-50. Conversely, Zheyou-50 was less affected by Cd stress than its counterpart. It accumulated comparatively less amount of Cd in roots and shoots, along with reduced accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and ROS under Cd stress, than Jiu-Er-13XI. Further, the level of Toc, especially α-Tocopherol, was much higher in Zheyou-50 than in Jiu-Er-13XI, which was also supported by high expression of Toc biosynthesis genes in Zheyou-50 during early hours. Toc not only restricted the absorption of Cd by roots and its translocation to shoot but also scavenged the ROS generated during oxidative stresses. The low level of MDA shows that polyunsaturated fatty acids in chloroplast membranes remained intact. In the present study the tolerance of Zheyou-50 to Cd stress, over Jiu-Er-13XI, is attributed to the activities of Toc. This study shows that plants with high seed oil content are tolerant to Cd stress due to high production of Toc.

Cadmium, a high toxicity element, is a potential threat to plant and human health, and a dangerous pollutant in the environment. Uptake and accumulation by crops represent the main entry pathway for potentially health-threatening toxic metals into human and animal food. Crops and other plants take up Cd from the soil or water and may distribute it in their roots and shoots. Soil and/or water are usually contaminated with Cd through natural sources, industrial effluent, and anthropogenic activities. In this review, the sources of Cd contamination, evaluation of the phytotoxic effects on plants, and mode of action of Cd toxicity, were summarized. Plant defensive strategies upon excess Cd are also considered in this review. Cd-induced effects include oxidative stress, disintegration of the photosynthetic apparatus, reduction in gas exchange parameters, nutrient imbalance, and subcellular organelle degradation. In addition, Cd severely impairs biomolecules such as DNA, protein, and lipids. Although plants are sessile in nature, they are equipped with certain mechanisms to cope with unfavorable conditions. These mechanisms include synthesis of metal-helating proteins, expression of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, organic acids, and plant root–mycorrhiza association. The built-in system of plant tolerance to Cd can be further enhanced by the application of exogenous organic and inorganic metal sources. This review will broaden the knowledge about the Cd accumulation in plants and the responses to metal exposure, as well as our understanding of metal tolerance and overcoming this serious issue for sustainable agriculture and human health worldwide. Highlights Cd accumulation has harmful effects in an organism. Cd has been listed 7th out of 275 compounds in the priority list of hazardous materials. Cd remains in the soil for 15–1100 years. Plants usually imply certain strategies to overcome Cd toxicity. Plants built-in systems can be enhanced to overwhelmed this problem.

Aim: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal status among Down’s syndrome population in Riyadh City. Materials and Methods: A total of 81 male Down’s syndrome subjects were examined in this study. All subjects were recruited from the Saudi Center for Down Syndrome, Riyadh. Clinical examination was carried out by a single precalibrated examiner. Dental caries experience was counted according to the DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) indexes. Periodontal status was evaluated by using plaque and gingival indexes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19 version. Consequently, Pearson chi-square test and Fisher exact test was used to calculate p-value for parametric variables. Results: In this study 11.1% of the subjects were not having any decayed teeth, 39.5% were not having any missing teeth, and 55.6% were not having any filled teeth. In plaque index, maximum number of subjects in all the age group were in the fair group, and there was a highly significant (P value

Banks are one of the key pillars of all countries and their establishment is subject to the competent authorities and requires the fulfillment of the conditions, controls and procedures necessary for this. This research clarifies the controls and legal and regulatory procedures for the establishment of banks in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and demonstrating the provisions for obtaining the banking license and the legal and regulatory procedures applicable and coordination with the competent authorities in order to show the role of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the application of Islamic law (Sharia). Also, it highlights the role of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) as the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia in the supervision and control of banks. It has been appeared to the researcher through this research that banks are an indispensable cornerstone of countries, states, societies, its stability, its survival and its ability to adapt to events and developments particularly that this matter requires tightening and controlling the necessary rules and regulations and procedures necessary for its establishment. The study found that banks in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia are governed by rules and principles derived from Islamic Sharia, which is the basis for the rest of the legal and regulatory rules aimed at regulating banking work. The study recommended amending the paid-up capital required to establish and establish banks in accordance with the current economic situation and allowing institutions and natural persons with high financial capacity to invest in banks.

Oral microbiota is a vital part of human microbiota, including bacterial, protozoa, viral and fungal species. Beneficial microbes form biofilms to form a first-line defense against harmful microorganisms. Tobacco smoking is considered a major environmental factor affecting the orodental microbiota. Smokers harbor more pathogenic microbes than non-smokers. In fact, cigarette smoking exposes the oral cavity to a large number of toxicants, perturbing the oral microbial ecology through various mechanisms. In Saudi Arabia, research on the impact of tobacco smoking on oral microbiota is still lacking. Therefore, this case-control study is an important addition to the literature in terms of tobacco use and its effects on oral microbiota and oral hygiene. 130 men were recruited for this study, including 65 smokers and 65 non-smokers. The following parameters were recorded for all 130 participants – age, weight, height and education. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effect of tobacco smoking on the oral microbiome of smokers and non-smokers. The majority of the smokers were young adults between the ages of 21 and 30 inclusive (n=27). The results show that excessive microorganism growth was seen in smokers to a greater degree than non-smokers (38.5% of smokers vs. 8.8% of non-smokers). Not surprisingly, a significant majority (85.3%) of non-smokers had moderate microorganism growth compared to only 53.8% of smokers. cigarette smoking facilitates excessive growth of oral microorganisms, predisposing smokers to various periodontal diseases. In fact, smoking perturbs the balance of oral microbiota, producing a viable environment for microbes to cause diseases. Further large scale prospective studies are required to determine the exact mechanism that causes tobacco to affect oral microbiota.

Abstract Background The cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel (CNGC) family affects the uptake of cations, growth, pathogen defence, and thermotolerance in plants. However, the systematic identification, origin and function of this gene family has not been performed in Brassica oleracea, an important vegetable crop and genomic model organism. Results In present study, we identified 26 CNGC genes in B. oleracea genome, which are non-randomly localized on eight chromosomes, and classified into four major (I-IV) and two sub-groups (i.e., IV-a and IV-b). The BoCNGC family is asymmetrically fractioned into the following three sub-genomes: least fractionated (14 genes), most fractionated-I (10), and most fractionated-II (2). The syntenic map of BoCNGC genes exhibited strong relationships with the model Arabidopsis thaliana and B. rapa CNGC genes and provided markers for defining the regions of conserved synteny among the three genomes. Both whole-genome triplication along with segmental and tandem duplications contributed to the expansion of this gene family. We predicted the characteristics of BoCNGCs regarding exon-intron organisations, motif compositions and post-translational modifications, which diversified their structures and functions. Using orthologous Arabidopsis CNGCs as a reference, we found that most CNGCs were associated with various protein–protein interaction networks involving CNGCs and other signalling and stress related proteins. We revealed that five microRNAs (i.e., bol-miR5021, bol-miR838d, bol-miR414b, bol-miR4234, and bol-miR_new2) have target sites in nine BoCNGC genes. The BoCNGC genes were differentially expressed in seven B. oleracea tissues including leaf, stem, callus, silique, bud, root and flower. The transcript abundance levels quantified by qRT-PCR assays revealed that BoCNGC genes from phylogenetic Groups I and IV were particularly sensitive to cold stress and infections with bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, suggesting their importance in abiotic and biotic stress responses. Conclusion Our comprehensive genome-wide analysis represents a rich data resource for studying new plant gene families. Our data may also be useful for breeding new B. oleracea cultivars with improved productivity, quality, and stress resistance.

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a member of family linaceae with annual growth habit. It is included among those crops which were domesticated very early and has been used in development related studies as a model plant. In plants, Calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs) comprise a unique set of Calmodulin-binding proteins. To elucidate the transport mechanism of secondary metabolites in flax, a genome-based study on these transporters was performed. The current investigation identified nine CAMTAs proteins, classified into three categories during phylogenetic analysis. Each group had significant evolutionary role as illustrated by the conservation of gene structures, protein domains and motif organizations over the distinctive phylogenetic classes. GO annotation suggested a link to sequence-specific DNA and protein binding, response to low temperature and transcription regulation by RNA polymerase II. The existence of different hormonal and stress responsive cis-regulatory elements in promotor region may directly correlate with the variation of their transcripts. MicroRNA target analysis revealed that various groups of miRNA families targeted the LuCAMTAs genes. Identification of CAMTA genes, miRNA studies and phylogenetic analysis may open avenues to uncover the underlying functional mechanism of this important family of genes in flax.

Development of the new crop cultivars with high yield under low nitrogen (N) input is a fundamental approach to enhance agricultural sustainability, which is dependent on the exploitation of the elite germplasm. In the present study, four barley genotypes (two Tibetan wild and two cultivated), differing in N use efficiency (NUE), were characterized for their physiological and biochemical responses to different N levels. Higher N levels significantly increased the contents of other essential nutrients (P, K, Ca, Fe, Cu and Mn), and the increase was more obvious for the N-efficient genotypes (ZD9 and XZ149). The observation of ultrastructure showed that chloroplast structure was severely damaged under low nitrogen, and the two high N efficient genotypes were relatively less affected. The activities of the five N metabolism related enzymes, i.e., nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamate synthase (GOGAT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) all showed the substantial increase with the increased N level in the culture medium. However the increased extent differed among the four genotypes, with the two N efficient genotypes showing more increase in comparison with the other two genotypes with relative N inefficiency (HXRL and XZ56). The current findings showed that a huge difference exists in low N tolerance among barley genotypes, and improvement of some physiological traits (such as enzymes) could be helpful for increasing N utilization efficiency.

Restoration, preservation and sustainability of agricultural resources including soil demands biologically and economically viable farming practices. For boosting physico-chemical properties of soil from 2012 to 2015, three legumes including cowpea, cluster bean and soybean were intercropped with sorghum in 40-60, 75-25 and 100-100 seed blending ratios, while pure stand of sorghum was kept for comparison. Correlation studies were also conducted to determine linear or inverse relationship between physiological and agronomic attributes with green forage yield of sorghum. Results revealed that intercropping systems were not effective in significantly improving the physical properties of soil, however soybean and sorghum mixed seeded crop in 100-100 seed ratioresulted in the highest total and available nitrogen especially during last two years of the study and it was followed by mixed seeded crop of cluster bean and sorghum (100-100 seed ratio), while pure stand of sorghum appeared to be the most exhaustive farming system. Correlation analysis depicted a linear relationship between all agronomic attributes (seedling count, plant population at harvest, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf area per plant, fresh and dry weights per plant) and physiological growth parameters (leaf area index and leaf area duration, crop growth rate and net assimilation rate) with forage yield of sorghum. Thus, legumes inclusion was found to be effective in restoring soil fertility, while long term legumes inclusion by following rotation may be suggested.

This study investigated second language learners' processing of ambiguous words (e.g., "bank": [1] a financial institution, [2] an edge of a river/lake) and whether these learners are able to activate the secondary meaning as quickly as they do with the dominant meaning. English L2 and L1 participants used a window paradigm to perform a self-paced reading task, in which all sentences were biased for the secondary meaning (i.e., "bank" as an edge of a river/lake). The results showed that L1 participants activated both the dominant and the secondary meanings of an ambiguous word even when it is embedded within a secondary-biasing context. However, L2 participants had some difficulty in activating the L2 secondary meaning even when the preceding context was biased for it. The results of the L1 participants were compatible with the autonomous access model in that all meanings of an ambiguous [L1] word are accessed even when the context is biasing for a specific meaning. However, the results of the L2 participants, although they knew both meanings of each ambiguous word in this study based on their post-experiment questionnaire, showed that the more dominant meaning of an L2 ambiguous word is activated first, even when the context is biasing for a secondary meaning.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent gastrointestinal condition that has a detrimental impact on one's quality of life because of acid reflux causing damage to the esophagus. Primary symptoms consist of heartburn and regurgitation, although patients may also encounter chest pain, nausea, and dysphagia. Medical students may be particularly susceptible due to stressful lifestyles and unhealthy habits. This study investigates the prevalence of GERD among medical students in Egypt and explores associated risk factors. Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study that was conducted among undergraduate medical students at 21 medical schools across Egypt. The study included 602 participants from medical schools. The study utilized a pre-designed, self-administered questionnaire that includes questions about sociodemographic and lifestyle attributes, accompanied by the GERDQ questionnaire used to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease. Results: A total of 602 undergraduate medical students completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of GERD was found to be 28.4%, with heartburn and regurgitation being the most prevalent symptoms among participants. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression revealed family history of GERD and stress after medical school enrollment as significant predictors of GERD symptoms (p=0.043 and p=0.044, respectively). Conclusion: GERD has become increasingly common among medical students in Egypt. Contributing factors include medical students' stressful lifestyles and familial predispositions. To address this, it is essential to implement counseling programs and raise awareness as initial steps toward reducing GERD prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution is one of the critical challenges of today's society. Dyes are carcinogenic pollutants that are resistant to degradation and their adsorptive removal from water require some adsorbents with higher adsorption efficiency. Current research focuses on the adsorptive removal of Azure C dye onto a graphene oxide-carboxymethyl cellulose-coacrylamide (GO/P(CMC-Co-Am)) nanocomposite synthesized via free radical copolymerization process. Batch adsorption study was carried out for bitter understanding the effects of dye concentration and temperature on adsorption efficiency. Data from concentration study and temperature was applied to different isotherm models and thermodynamic study. Results revealed that Freundlich isotherm model fits best to adsorption data (R² = 0.9219), highlighting the heterogeneous adsorption. Furthermore, high temperature results in decreasing the adsorption capacity, revealing the exothermic nature of the adsorption process. Thermodynamically, the process was spontaneous and exothermic in nature with a decrease in entropy over a range of temperature. Overall, results showed the effectiveness of GO/P(CMC-Co-Am) nanocomposite for adsorption of Azure C dye from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the camel immune response to Trypanosoma (T.) evansi, the causative agent of Surra, are very limited. In the present study, flow cytometry was employed to investigate the modulatory effects of different T. evansi antigens on the in vitro differentiation of camel blood monocytes into macrophages. For this, in vitro, separated camel monocytes were differentiated into monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) in the presence or absence (control) of formalin-fixed (inactivated) T. evansi whole parasite (T. evansi group) or the purified Ro Tat 1.2 antigen (Ro Tat 1.2 group). The analysis of the antimicrobial functions of MDM (phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production) revealed reduced phagocytosis activity of camel MDM generated in the presence of T. evansi antigens. In addition, a lack of ROS-response was observed in camel MDM generated in the presence of T. evansi antigens after stimulation with PMA. These results indicated a compromising effect of T. evansi on the innate defense mechanisms in camels. Phenotypic analysis revealed the upregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules together with the lower abundance of the scavenger receptor for haptoglobin-hemoglobin complexes (CD163) on MDM generated in the presence of whole T. evansi parasites, indicating a polarizing effect of T. evansi on the differentiation of camel monocytes into an M1 phenotype. However, the reduced antimicrobial functions of these cells argue against their pro-inflammatory nature. Although both MDM generated in the presence of whole T. evansi antigens or their purified Ro Tat 1.2 proteins indicated similar expression levels of CD14 and MHCII molecules, the different abundance of the cell surface molecules CD172a, CD163, CD45, and CD44 indicated different phenotypes of the two MDMs. The results of the present study revealed compromising effects of T. evansi antigens on camel macrophages differentiated in vitro from blood monocytes. Whether these effects contribute to the in vivo pathogenesis of T. evansi in camels remains to be determined in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]