146 research outputs found
Conservation in an Islamic context a case study of Makkah
No full textThe Holy Qu’ rān contains many injunctions for Muslims to respect and conserve the natural environment but few address the built environment. Habitat at the time of the Prophet (PBOH) was in the vernacular and relatively impermanent. The first habitat was the cave, the second the tent and then simple flat roofed buildings of post and lintel construction made of mud and rubble. Later buildings were not indigenous but reflected the architectural styles and techniques of Muslim pilgrims from beyond the Arabian Peninsula. Permanent exotic buildings were later erected as reminders of holy places and events. This work advances a case to restore and preserve historic and religious sites in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Makkah is the destination for millions of Muslim pilgrims who annually pay homage to Allah during the occasions of Hajj, Ramadan and Umra. The tranquillity and peaceful ambience that one associates with the holiest of Islamic experiences have, over the years, given way to jostling crowds of people who must be expediently housed, fed, transported, and protected. Due to the lack of planning and the insensitive but profitable development of the city, Makkah is in grave danger of becoming a bustling metropolis instead of a sanctuary where pilgrims gather to perform their religious rites and reaffirm their dedication to Allah. The author calls for professional planning and international cooperation to guide future development for this expanding and sensitive area. The author's ideas are grounded in practical and aesthetic study, therefore, the political, environmental and economic issues are examined in relationship to religious, historic and artistic values. The author makes proposals for a future Makkah that would provide pilgrims with the physical comforts, security, and serene environment they deserve—without destroying the city they came to visit. The author discusses preservation and conservation in the western world and the need for their acceptance in Muslim countries, the former being an aesthetic and intellectual concept sustained by law and the latter being the prescribed free expression of the individual unhindered by material considerations. Both worlds are rapidly being overwhelmed by materialism, but body, mind and spirit combine in making us aware of our surroundings and the way in what we see around us has come into being
Synergistic antibacterial effects of Ulva lactuca methanolic extract alone and in combination with different antibiotics on multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate
No full textAbstract Various antibiotics are available, including gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, amoxicillin, and streptomycin, but they have some restrictions. Many microorganisms are resistant to these medications. A new antimicrobial source must be found or developed to solve this issue. Inhere, extract from seaweeds Ulva lactuca was investigated for its antibacterial activity using a well diffusion assay against Klebsiella pneumoniae, and a promising inhibition zone diameter was recorded to be 14.04 mm. The biochemical structure of the antibacterial compound was determined via GC-MS and FTIR analysis. Also, a micro-dilution assay was used to calculate the minimum concentration that makes inhibition (MIC) to be 1.25 mg/ml from U. extract reliable to prevent the visibility of any bacterial growth, this was followed by examining the antibacterial effect of U. Lactuca methanolic extract alone and the synergetic effect of U. Lactuca methanolic extract in combination with two different antibiotics (gentamicin and chloramphenicol). This was assayed by the agar well diffusion method to achieve promising and strong inhibiting power against K. pneumoniae. It was deduced that the maximum synergism could be achieved by adding 2.5 mg/ml of Ulva methanolic extract to gentamicin (4 µg/ml), and the results were illustrated obviously via transmission electron microscope in which severe morphological deteriorations were experienced by the treated cells. From this study, we can conclude that U. lactucae extract has the power to aid antibiotics in reducing the growth of pathogenic K. pneumoniae
Construction of ovine GH-pmKate2N expression vector and its uptake by ovine spermatozoa using different methods
No full textThis study aims to produce transgenic ovine spermatozoa bearing Ossimi sheep growth hormone (Os_GH) cDNA using different methods. The complete coding sequence of Os_GH has been registered in GenBank accession no. KP221575. The sequence of Os_GH cDNA has been subcloned into pmkate2-N expression vectors to construct Os_GH-pmKate2-N vector. Five groups of sperm uptake were submitted. All groups were incubated at 37 °C for 1 h: Control (sperm cells were incubated without vector), Traditional incubation (sperm cells were incubated with vector), Heat shock (sperm cells were incubated with vector at 4 °C for 20 min and heated for 2 min at 42 °C), Heat shock + Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (sperm cells were incubated with vector and supplemented with 3% of DMSO and then submitted to heat shock regime) and DMSO (sperm cells were incubated with vector and supplemented with 3% DMSO). The sperm genomic DNA in groups was extracted. The Os_GH-pmKate2-N vector was introduced efficiently into the head of sperm cells in all treated groups. Adding DMSO either with or without heat shock increased the sperm uptake. The progressive motility was reduced (P < 0.05) by 29.9% in heat shock group compared to the control. Adding DMSO improved (P < 0.05) the total and progressive motilities by 8.2% and 19.8%, respectively in heat shock group compared to the heat shock group without DMSO. The results documented the ability of ovine spermatozoa to uptake the exogenous vector. Also, sperm incubation with 3% DMSO is the best method to introduce the exogenous vector into spermatozoa without notable adverse effects on sperm motilities
A Study of Nutrient Digestibility, Milk Production and Performance of Lactating Barki Ewes Fed Synchronous Least Cost Ration
No full textDevelopment of new fluorescent silica and multifunctional nanoparticles for bio-imaging and diagnostics
No full textSilica nanoparticles are effective fluorophore carriers with high potential in
imaging, diagnostics, and therapy. The particles are resistant to drastic change
of environmental conditions (pH, temperature etc. and insulate the dyes so as to
protect them from photobleaching. Silica chemistry is also versatile and affords
an easy modification of the particle composition and surface to integrate
targeting ligands or to integrate other nanoparticles. Regardless of their
advantages, there exists a lack of dye diversity in the literature that is connected
to a low affinity for
potential tools for biology and medicineThis thesis describes the development
of an alternative method for the synthesis of fluorescent silica nanoparticles and
their modification to incorporate iron oxide and gold. cont/d
Synthesis, characterization and medical efficacy (hepatoprotective and antioxidative) of albendazole-based copper(II) complexes – an experimental and theoretical approach
No full textSynthesis, characterization and medical efficacy (hepatoprotective and antioxidative) of albendazole-based copper(II) complexes – an experimental and theoretical approach
No full text<div><p>A series of albendazole-based copper(II) complexes with different counter anions, [Cu(Albz)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>2</sub>](ClO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> (<b>1</b>), [Cu(Albz)<sub>2</sub>(Cl)]Cl·2H<sub>2</sub>O (<b>2</b>), [Cu(Albz<b>)</b><sub>2</sub>(NO<sub>3</sub>)](NO<sub>3</sub>) (<b>3</b>), and [Cu<sub>2</sub>(Albz)<sub>2</sub>(μ-SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>2</sub>] (<b>4</b>) (Albz = albendazole), have been synthesized and characterized. Their structures and properties were characterized by elemental analysis, thermal analysis (TGA, DTG and DTA), IR, UV–vis and ESR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, electrical molar conductivity, and magnetic moment measurements. A square-planar geometry is proposed for <b>1</b>, whereas the five-coordinate copper(II) complexes <b>2</b>, <b>3</b>, and <b>4</b> have a square pyramidal geometry. Theoretical calculations (DFT) using B3LYP/6–311 + G(d,p) level of theory corroborated the experimental results to investigate both the drug Albz and its copper(II) complex, <b>1</b>. The hepatoprotective and antioxidative efficacy of Albz and <b>1–4</b> were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatotoxicity in experimental rats was evidenced by significant decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GSH-S-transfers, and GSH-Rd levels). The results have strong impact for designing anticancer drugs, combined with their potential cytotoxic and antioxidant activities, which can be targeted selectively against cancer cells and increase their therapeutic index and advantages over other anticancer drugs. The DNA cleavage studies of Albz and its copper(II) complexes using genomic DNA indicated that Albz has no role in cleavage of DNA, and only <b>1</b> played a marked role in the DNA cleavage without any external additives.</p></div
Desenvolvimento de uma nova metodologia para preparação de nanopartículas de prata estabilizadas pela polietilenoimina funcionalizada e aplicação em catálise
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Físicas e Matemáticas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Florianópolis, 2010O presente trabalho relata a preparação de Nanopartículas de prata (Ag-NPs) catalíticas estabilizadas pela polietilenoimina (PEI) derivatizada. Para isto, realizou-se a derivatização sistemática do tipo "paralela" da PEI, em micropratos de 96 poços de 2 mL, permitindo assim, a obtenção de 96 polímeros diferentes em uma única etapa. Os grupos inseridos foram o etanólico, butil e octil. Posteriormente, as Ag-NPs foram preparadas in situ através da redução química do sal de prata (AgNO3), na presença dos polímeros, em microplacas de 300 L e a formação foi acompanhada por Espectofotômetria UV-Vis pelo aparecimento da banda correspondente a ressonância de plasmon de superfície (SPR) das Ag-NPs. As concentrações de polímero, sal e redutor foram variadas a fim de encontrar as melhores condições de estabilização das Ag-NPs e isto foi feito através da análise dos seguintes parâmetros: máx (comprimento de onda máximo), Amáx, (absorvância máxima) e FWHH (largura a meia altura) que estão relacionados ao tamanho, quantidade e polidispersidade, respectivamente. Dentre os 96 possíveis estabilizantes poliméricos, 3 foram escolhidas (A1-PEI sem derivatização, E5- 0,35 eq. de 2-cloroetanol e 0,4 eq. de 1-bromobutano e E11- 0,35 eq. de 2-cloroetanol e 0,4 eq. de 1-bromooctano) e sintetizadas em larga escala para a realização de um estudo mais completo quanto à cinética de formação das Ag-NPs. A1, E5 e E11 foram caracterizadas por Microscopia Eletrônica de transmissão, que revelou a preparação de NPs com diâmetros de 18,4 nm, 19,5 nm e 24,5 nm, respectivamente, e uma boa distribuição de tamanho. A atividade catalítica das 3 combinações foi avaliada na reação de redução do p-nitrofenol. As constantes catalíticas (k2SV) foram calculadas normalizadas para a área superficial e volume da reação, cujos valores demonstraram uma boa atividade catalítica, principalmente para E11, que apresentou uma atividade catalítica maior do que os reportados na literatura até o presente momento
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