DSpace Community: COLLEGES

Secure Identification System-SIS

Title: Secure Identification System-SIS

Authors: Rahal, Dr. Salah M.; Abu Samah, Hatim A.; Muteb, Khaled N.

Abstract: The secure identification of a person was and still of great interest in differentfields of human activities. The traditional identification methods such as PIN,passwords aren’t capable to achieve a high level of secure identification. In thecontrast, the biometrics allows to attain the suitable solution for this vital question.Different types of biometrics are reviewed. Its characteristics are unique for eachperson either for physiological or behavioral biometrics. It is shown that thefingerprint recognition has a very good balance of all desirable properties.The design of secure identification fingerprint-based system, in its hardware andsoftware parts, is done. This system was implemented with the suitable features.

Plant Diversity in Ghada Reserve, Unaizah

Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Plant Diversity in Ghada Reserve, Unaizah

Authors: alkhelifi, Abdulkareem abdulrahman a

Abstract: Rangelands are important component of renewable natural resources in SaudiArabia. They play an important role in maintaining livestock industry of thecountry. However, these rangelands are currently overexploited by means ofgrazing; firewood gathering, ecotourism and other human activities. Attentionshould be given to rangelands for future generations. Rangeland conservation isone of the most prominent practices to maintain renewable plant resources andprevent land degradation, loss of vegetation and desertification.The current study was conducted in Al-Ghada Reserve, Unaizah, located inthe center of Al- Qassim region (25 º – 26 º N, 43 º - 44 º E, altitude 630-724 masl.). Al-Ghada Reserve is one of the oldest protected areas and most famousplaces frequently explored by residents of the Al-Qaseem region.The main aim of the present study is to build a database of information onvegetation cover through the following objectives:1. Inventory of plant species in protected areas.2. Delineate plant communities in the reserve.3. Compare of the vegetation with previous studies of the region.Vegetation attributes, namely density, frequency and coverage were measuredin fifteen locations. Within each location, six quadrats (each 10m×10m) weredistributed randomly to measure the vegetation attributes. Soil samples werecollected from each location at a depth of 30 cm for determining physical andchemical properties.A total of 72 plant species were recorded that belonging to belonging to 62genera and 26 families. Thirty six species were perennials. These includeHaloxylon persicum, Tamarix nilotica, Calotropis procera and Deverra triradiata.The rest of species (50%) were annuals. They included Schismus barbatus,Anthemis deserti, Allium atroviolaceum, Malva parviflora, and Plantago boissieri.Seventeen species were shrubs, representing 23.61% of the total species. Theseinclude Haloxylon salicornicum, Scrophularia hypericifolia, Zygophyllummigahidii. Fifty five species were herbaceous representing (76.39%) of totalobserved species. They included Centropodia forskalii, Tripleurospermumauriculatum, Monsonia nivea, and Rumex vesicarius.The application of multivariate statistical analysis techniques in the terms ofclassification (Cluster Analysis) and ordination (Deternded CorrespondenceAnalysis (DCA), and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA)) were employedto identify vegetation types and their relevance to the underlying environmentalgradients. Four vegetation groups were identified as follows: (1) Haloxylonsalicornicum - H. persicum - Moltikiopsis ciliata, (2) H. salicornicum – M. ciliata,(3) H. salicornicum - Calligonum comosu - Stipagrostis plumosa, and (4) C.comosum - Deverra triradiata.The results of the CCA indicated that the cumulative variance explained by thefirst three axes was 65.4%. According to these results, the vegetation distributionin the study area was mainly affected by soil texture, CaCO3 content.The study indicated that vegetation represents different stages of succession.For example, Haloxylon persicum community represents climax, while thepresence of other species such as annuals would suggest a sign of degradation. Thestudy also indicates that protection increases the percentage of vegetation cover,density and frequency dramatically for all plant species that control soil erosion bywind and water.There is evidence that species diversity has increased within protected area, apromising sign that demonstrates the ability of plants to regenerate naturally ifgiven the opportunity to do so. Therefore, a management plan should be inserted toconserve and maintain the biodiversity in the reserve.

Cytokines profile of T helper lymphocytes in Diabetic Patients: Correlation with Markers of Inflammation, Obesity, and Hormonal Status

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Cytokines profile of T helper lymphocytes in Diabetic Patients: Correlation with Markers of Inflammation, Obesity, and Hormonal Status

Authors: Eid, Walaa Mohammed Ibrahim

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus; defined as a heterogeneous disease in which there is a defect in carbohydrate,fat and protein metabolism; involves several systems and is associated with the occurrence ofvarious complications. Both the occurrence of complications and the prognosis of the diseasemight be affected by differential immune response, inflammatory state, obesity and hormonallevels prevalent in different individuals. Understanding these factors and their relation to theincidence and/or prognosis of diabetic complications in the Saudi population might help indesigning methods to prevent and/or treat diabetes and associated complications. Therefore, themain aims of this study are to determine the T helper cell cytokines profile in diabetics both inthe absence and presence of complications, to measure markers of inflammation and obesity, todetermine sex hormonal status in female subjects, and to detect any statistical relation betweenthe previous markers and the presence of complications.Material and methods: Three groups of subjects were recruited to the study: the control group,the group of diabetic male, and the group of diabetic female. Biochemical measurements (fastingplasma glucose, fasting insulin, lipid profile, liver function tests and renal function tests);complete and differential blood count; peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) separation,culture, activation and immunostaining in preparation for flow cytometric analysis werepreformed. Then quantification of secreted cytokines, circulating levels of immunoinflammatoryand obesity markers and hormone measurements were assessed in the studiedsubjects. Microsoft Excel and SPSS software were used to statistically analyze the obtainedresults.Results and discussion: The PBMC-released Th2 cytokine; interleukin 4 was elevated in diabeticmale (as well as in the subgroups of diabetic male based on the absence or presence ofcomplications). The PBMC-released Th1 cytokine; IFN-g was found to be positively associatedwith insulin resistance, and negatively associated with adiponectin and its high molecular weight(HMW) form. Higher levels of IL-6 and CRP were detected with increasing obesity markers.Moreover, CRP was positively correlated to insulin resistance in diabetic male patients. Resistinwas found to have a positive association with the proinflammatory IL-6, CRP and WBC count;and with the obesity index, BMI in diabetic female. Leptin had a positive correlation withobesity indices. Adiponectin and HMW adiponectin on the other hand, had a negative correlationwith the inflammatory markers and with the atherogenic triacylglycerol. Fasting insulin wasfound to be positively associated with both adiposity and inflammatory markers; and negativelyassociated with the anti- inflammatory adiponectin, its HMW form, and ratios of each of theadiponectin and HMW form to leptin. Serum levels of estradiol and progesterone were comparedin both the follicular and the luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in control and diabetic female.It was found that during the follicular phase, the female diabetics showed lower progesteronelevel and somewhat higher estradiol levels relative to control. No further interpretation was ableto be performed regarding the sex hormone association with other measured parameters.Conclusions and further studies: the present study confirms the key roles played by chronicinflammation and obesity in the pathophysiology of diabetes in Saudi population. Somelimitations due to the small number of samples existed. Therefore, it is essential to conductfurther studies on a larger sample size. This is expected to help in assessing patients withdiabetes as far as the occurrence of diabetic complications, and might help in the future to designcertain therapeutic measures specific for each diabetic patient.

Genotype –Phenotype Correlation in Saudi β-Thalassemia Patients

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Genotype –Phenotype Correlation in Saudi β-Thalassemia Patients

Authors: Al-Shehri, Tahani Mohammad Ahmad; Warsy, Prof. Arjumand S

Abstract: Beta-thalassemias represent a group of hereditary blood disorders characterized by anomalies in the synthesis of the beta chains of hemoglobin resulting in variable phenotypes ranging from severe anemia to clinically asymptomatic individuals. Three main forms have been described: thalassemia major, thalassemia intermedia and thalassemia minor. In each population only a few (~6) common mutations in the -globinhave been found to be responsible for -thalassemia, which indicate population differences. In Saudi Arabia - thalassemia occurs in high frequency in some regions and premarital screening has been implemented for this disorder. No comprehensive mutational screening for the –globin gene locus have been carried so far in Saudi Arabia. This study was designed with the objective to sequence the -globin gene in -thalassemia patients and to investigate the genotype phenotype correlation. 110 -thalassemia patients were enrolled in the study and hematological and biochemical data were recorded, DNA was extracted and a 3.8Kb fragment of the -globin gene was sequenced. The -globin gene cluster at chromosome 11 was subjected to haplotype analysis using different restriction endonucleases in some of these patients. Direct sequencing of the -globin gene identified a total of 8 previously reported point mutations and one novel small deletion in 39% of the patients. -thalassemia major patients were either homozygous or compound heterozygous for the mutations, while -thalassemia minor patients were heterozygous for these mutations. In addition 53 variants were identified in the cohort of patients. Haplotype analysis revealed 7 novel haplotypes and demonstrated that Hap 1, Hap 11 and Hap 4 are the most prevalent haplotypes in these patients. This study characterizes the common mutations and variants in the -globin gene in Saudi Arabia and correlate between the genotypes and the phenotypes of the cohort of patients enrolled.