Femtosecond Laser Mass Spectrometry and High Harmonic Spectroscopy of Xylene Isomers.

Structural isomers, molecules having the same chemical formula but with atoms bonded in different order, are hard to identify using conventional spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. They exhibit virtually indistinguishable mass spectra when ionized by electrons. Laser mass spectrometry based on photoionization of the isomers has emerged as a promising alternative but requires shaped ultrafast laser pulses.

In vitro and in silico attenuation of quorum sensing mediated pathogenicity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa using Spirulina platensis.

Biofilm forming pathogenic bacteria showing resistance towards antimicrobial agents has increased the urge to find an alternative treatment strategy. Among the biofilm forming pathogenic bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a well-recognised Gram negative biofilm former causing nosocomial infection and other disease among immunocompromised patients. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the antipathogenic potentials of S.

Organometallic Zirconium Compounds in an Oxygen-Rich Coordination Environment: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Tris(oxoimidazolyl)hydroboratozirconium Compounds.

A series of tris(oxoimidazolyl)hydroborato ligands, which serve as LX [O] donors, have been employed to obtain organometallic zirconium compounds in an uncommon oxygen-rich coordination environment. For example, Cp[To]ZrCl has been synthesized via the reaction of [To]Na with CpZrCl and bears a structural resemblance to the bent metallocene dichloride derivative CpZrCl. In addition, the half-sandwich counterparts [To]ZrCl and [To]ZrCl have been obtained by metathesis of ZrCl with [To]Na and [To]Na, respectively.

Q192R polymorphism in the PON1 gene and familial hypercholesterolemia in a Saudi population.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by abnormal levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood. FH is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The relationship between the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease has not been studied in Saudi patients.

Bis- and Tris(2-oxobenzimidazolyl)hydroborato Complexes of Sodium and Thallium: New Classes of Bidentate and Tridentate Oxygen Donor Ligands.

A series of bis- and tris(oxobenzimidazolyl)hydroborato compounds, namely, [Bo]Na and [To]-Na (R = Me, Bu, Ad), which feature uncommon sterically demanding LX [O] and LX [O] donor ligands, have been obtained via the reactions of NaBH with 1-R-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-ones. Evidence that the alkyl substituents are suitably located to have a significant impact on the coordination environment is provided by the observation that the methyl derivative [To]Na(κ-diglyme) exhibits κ-coordination of the diglyme, whereas the t-butyl and adamantyl derivatives, [To]Na(κ-diglyme) and [To]Na(κ-diglyme), exhibit κ-coordination. The [Bo] and [To] ligands also allow for isolation of discrete mononuclear thallium compounds, [Bo]Tl and [To]Tl, for which the steric demands of the ligands have been quantified in terms of both cone angle and buried volume concepts.

The Role of Rubidium in Multiple-Cation-Based High-Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on cesium (Cs)- and rubidium (Rb)-containing perovskite films show highly reproducible performance; however, a fundamental understanding of these systems is still emerging. Herein, this study has systematically investigated the role of Cs and Rb cations in complete devices by examining the transport and recombination processes using current-voltage characteristics and impedance spectroscopy in the dark. As the credibility of these measurements depends on the performance of devices, this study has chosen two different PSCs, (MAFACs)Pb(IBr) (MA = CH NH , FA = CH(NH ) ) and (MAFACsRb)Pb(IBr) , yielding impressive performances of 19.

Assessing Saudi medical students learning approach using the revised two-factor study process questionnaire.

Objectives: To assess learning approaches of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year medical students by using revised two-factor study process questionnaire, and to assess reliability and validity of the questionnaire.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2014. The revised two-factor study process questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) was completed by 610 medical students of both genders, from foundation (first year), central nervous system (second year), medicine and surgery (third year) courses.

New Synthesis of nZVI/C Composites as an Efficient Adsorbent for the Uptake of U(VI) from Aqueous Solutions.

New nanoscale zerovalent iron/carbon (nZVI/C) composites were successfully prepared via heating natural hematite and pine sawdust at 800 °C under nitrogen conditions. Characterization by SEM, XRD, FTIR, and XPS analyses indicated that the as-prepared nZVI/C composites contained a large number of reactive sites. The lack of influence of the ionic strength revealed inner-sphere complexation dominated U(VI) uptake by the nZVI/C composites.

A simple and low cost dual-wavelength β-correction spectrophotometric determination and speciation of mercury(II) in water using chromogenic reagent 4-(2-thiazolylazo) resorcinol.

The most common problems in spectrophotometric determination of various complex species originate from the background spectral interference. Thus, the present study aimed to overcome the spectral matrix interference for the precise analysis and speciation of mercury(II) in water by dual-wavelength β-correction spectrophotometry using 4-(2-thiazolylazo) resorcinol (TAR) as chromogenic reagent. The principle was based on measuring the correct absorbance for the formed complex of mercury(II) ions with TAR reagent at 547nm (lambda max).

In vitro induction of human embryonal carcinoma differentiation by a crude extract of Rhazya stricta.

Background: Rhazya stricta Decne. is a medicinal plant that is widespread in Saudi Arabia and desert areas of the Arabian Peninsula. Its extract contains alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids that are involved in different biological activities.

94 β-Decay Half-Lives of Neutron-Rich _{55}Cs to _{67}Ho: Experimental Feedback and Evaluation of the r-Process Rare-Earth Peak Formation.

The β-decay half-lives of 94 neutron-rich nuclei ^{144-151}Cs, ^{146-154}Ba, ^{148-156}La, ^{150-158}Ce, ^{153-160}Pr, ^{156-162}Nd, ^{159-163}Pm, ^{160-166}Sm, ^{161-168}Eu, ^{165-170}Gd, ^{166-172}Tb, ^{169-173}Dy, ^{172-175}Ho, and two isomeric states ^{174m}Er, ^{172m}Dy were measured at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory, providing a new experimental basis to test theoretical models. Strikingly large drops of β-decay half-lives are observed at neutron-number N=97 for _{58}Ce, _{59}Pr, _{60}Nd, and _{62}Sm, and N=105 for _{63}Eu, _{64}Gd, _{65}Tb, and _{66}Dy. Features in the data mirror the interplay between pairing effects and microscopic structure.

A Zwitterionic-Shielded Carrier with pH-Modulated Reversible Self-Assembly for Gene Transfection.

Cationic vectors are ideal candidates for gene delivery thanks to their capability to carry large gene inserts and their scalable production. However, their cationic density gives rise to high cytotoxicity. We present the proper designed core-shell polyplexes made of either poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) or poly(2-dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) as the core and zwitterionic poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PAA-b-PSBMA) diblock copolymer as the shell.

Comparison of Saudi Arabian hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients' illness perceptions.

The clinical outcome of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may differ according to their beliefs concerning their illness and its treatment. Both the disease itself and negative perceptions of the illness may increase patients' morbidity and mortality. This study aims to compare hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients' illness perceptions and their related factors.

Purification and Properties of Extracellular Lipases with Transesterification Activity and 1,3-Regioselectivity from and .

NRRL 5282 and NRRL 1526 can produce lipases with high synthetic activities in wheat bran-based solid-state culture. In this study, the purification and biochemical characterization of the lipolytic activities of these lipases are presented. SDS-PAGE indicated a molecular mass of about 55 and 35 kDa for the purified and enzymes, respectively.

Abstracts from the 3rd International Genomic Medicine Conference (3rd IGMC 2015) : Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 30 November - 3 December 2015.

O1 Regulation of genes by telomere length over long distances Jerry W. Shay O2 The microtubule destabilizer KIF2A regulates the postnatal establishment of neuronal circuits in addition to prenatal cell survival, cell migration, and axon elongation, and its loss leading to malformation of cortical development and severe epilepsy Noriko Homma, Ruyun Zhou, Muhammad Imran Naseer, Adeel G. Chaudhary, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Nobutaka Hirokawa O3 Integration of metagenomics and metabolomics in gut microbiome research Maryam Goudarzi, Albert J.

Quality of life and satisfaction with care among palliative cancer patients in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between quality of life and satisfaction with care among cancer patients in palliative care in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A total of 130 palliative cancer patients were invited to participate in our cross-sectional study. Patients were recruited from a large tertiary hospital within the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia.

Human genome meeting 2016 : Houston, TX, USA. 28 February - 2 March 2016.

O1 The metabolomics approach to autism: identification of biomarkers for early detection of autism spectrum disorder A. K. Srivastava, Y.

Zwitterionic Modifications for Enhancing the Antifouling Properties of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Membranes.

The development of effective antibiofouling membranes is critical for many scientific interests and industrial applications. However, the existing available membranes often suffer from the lack of efficient, stable, and scalable antifouling modification strategy. Herein, we designed, synthesized, and characterized alternate copolymers of p(MAO-DMEA) (obtained by reaction between poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) and N,N-dimethylenediamine) and p(MAO-DMPA) (obtained by reaction between poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) and 3-(dimethylamino)-1-propylamine) of different carbon space length (CSL) using a ring-opening zwitterionization.

Pioglitazone.

Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione antidiabetic with actions similar to those of rosiglitazone. It is used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and is prepared by reducing 5-[4-[2-(5-ethyl-2-pyridyl)ethoxy]benzilidene]-2,4-thiazolidinedione with sodium borohydride in the presence of a cobalt ion and dimethyl glyoxime. Ultraviolet spectroscopy shows maximum absorption at 270nm.

Awareness regarding childhood asthma in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: Assessing the knowledge and awareness of the Saudi society about bronchial asthma in children.

Methods: Structured questionnaires were randomly distributed to 1039 Saudi Arabians in May 2014 at Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam.

Results: The awareness of bronchial asthma questions showed that 67% of total sample thought that it could be a fatal disease, and only 13.

Validation of Fitbit-Flex as a measure of free-living physical activity in a community-based phase III cardiac rehabilitation population.

Background: Accurate physical activity monitoring is important for cardiac patients. Novel activity monitoring devices may enable precise measurement of physical activity. This study aimed to validate Fitbit-Flex against Actigraph accelerometer for monitoring physical activity.

Stress and its association with working efficiency of junior doctors during three postgraduate residency training programs.

Background: The residency training period in the medical profession is well known for physical and mental stress, which may affect cognitive function and practical life. The aims of this study were to assess prevalence of stress among the resident trainees of the three medical specialties of Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS) training programs, namely, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and their association with training years, sex, and marital status. This study also aimed to correlate the stress levels with the working efficiency and self-perceived general health problems.

Screening for genetic mutations in LDLR gene with familial hypercholesterolemia patients in the Saudi population.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is caused by genetic defects involving the low density lipoprotein-receptor (LDL-R), predisposing affected people to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and death. The aim of the present study was to assess certain exons in the LDLR gene mutation detection analysis affecting in the Saudi population with FH. This case-control study was carried out with 200 subjects; 100 were FH cases and 100 were healthy controls.

In vitro antifungal activity of antipsychotic drugs and their combinations with conventional antifungals against Scedosporium and Pseudallescheria isolates.

In the present study, in vitro antifungal activities of five antipsychotic drugs (i.e., chlorpromazine hydrochloride, CPZ; trifluoperazine hydrochloride, TPZ; amantadine hydrochloride; R-(-)-deprenyl hydrochloride, and valproic acid sodium salt) and five conventional antifungal drugs (i.