scholarly journals The state of biodiversity in Kuwait

Author(s):  
Zuhair S. Amr

This report is based on extensive literature search to reveal the elements of animal and plan biodiversity in the State of Kuwait, and points out missing information on other little-known groups. Despite its small area, Kuwait enjoys a rich fauna, given its desert and marine habitats. Hundreds of published scientific papers and reference books were reviewied to amass all species, fauna and flora, that were reported from Kuwait. Conservation status for several groups according to the IUCN listing are included.

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-42
Author(s):  
Chester R. Fieiel

Abstract I surveyed the peer-reviewed literature for studies on crayfish population genetics over the last 20 years (1996 to 2015). My objectives were to determine if there is research disparities based on crayfish conservation status, ecological group, geographic location, and genetic methods used. Additionally, I wished to determine overall trends in crayfish genetics related to population variability, systematics, and technique development. An extensive literature search yielded 201 peer-reviewed articles with genetic information published on 335 of the 590 crayfish species found worldwide. The majority of peer-reviewed articles took place in Europe and Australia/Oceania despite the fact that crayfish biodiversity is greatest in North America. Crayfish within each ecological group (primary burrowers, lotic inhabitants, lentic inhabitants, and stygobitic species) are represented in these published papers. I found published articles on ~ 57% of the estimated 590 extant species. Further, of the 173 species listed as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, or as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, I found published research on ~ 62% of these species in these classifications thus indicating a knowledge gap for many imperiled species. This lack of basic genetic (and ecological) information is significant as species designation is often used to determine where we should focus our conservation actions. Understanding what constitutes a single interbreeding population and identifying taxonomic designations are priorities for defining conservation management plans.


1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baidar Bakht ◽  
Leslie G. Jaeger ◽  
M. S. Cheung ◽  
Aftab A. Mufti

Load distribution characteristics of cellular structures are greatly influenced by transverse cell distortion and because of this these structures require a somewhat different analysis than those used for other common types of bridges.This paper summarizes the results of an extensive literature search and initial review of the current methods of analyzing cellular and voided slab bridges. The various methods of calculating the equivalent plate parameters, which are necessary for two-dimensional analysis, are also reviewed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-42
Author(s):  
Chester R. Figiel

Abstract I surveyed the peer-reviewed literature for studies on crayfish population genetics over the last 20 years (1996 to 2015). My objectives were to determine if there is research disparities based on crayfish conservation status, ecological group, geographic location, and genetic methods used. Additionally, I wished to determine overall trends in crayfish genetics related to population variability, systematics, and technique development. An extensive literature search yielded 201 peer-reviewed articles with genetic information published on 335 of the 590 crayfish species found worldwide. The majority of peer-reviewed articles took place in Europe and Australia/Oceania despite the fact that crayfish biodiversity is greatest in North America. Crayfish within each ecological group (primary burrowers, lotic inhabitants, lentic inhabitants, and stygobitic species) are represented in these published papers. I found published articles on ~ 57% of the estimated 590 extant species. Further, of the 173 species listed as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, or as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, I found published research on ~ 62% of these species in these classifications thus indicating a knowledge gap for many imperiled species. This lack of basic genetic (and ecological) information is significant as species designation is often used to determine where we should focus our conservation actions. Understanding what constitutes a single interbreeding population and identifying taxonomic designations are priorities for defining conservation management plans.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (36) ◽  
pp. 4312-4333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva M. Domínguez-Martín ◽  
Ana M. Díaz-Lanza ◽  
Célia M. C. Faustino

The exponential growth of cancer cases worldwide together with recent advances concerning the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease at the molecular level led to a paradigm shift in chemotherapy, from monotherapy to targeted drug combination regimens. However, adverse effects and the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) limit the effectiveness of these therapies. In this context, hybrid combinations mixing anticancer drugs and bioactive phytochemical components from medicinal plants, or even plant extracts, that can act synergistically on multiple targets and signaling pathways represent a promising approach with the potential to expand the current therapeutic arsenal. This review aims to provide a synopsis on anticancer hybrid combinations based on their multi-target mechanisms and synergistic effects from an extensive literature search focusing mainly on publications from the last ten years. In most of these combinations, the phytochemical component was shown to enhance the anticancer activity of the chemotherapeutic agent and to sensitize chemoresistant tumors in several types of cancer. Hybrid combinations, due to synergistic interactions, are also associated with less severe adverse events since lower doses can be used to achieve the same therapeutic effect. Further preclinical and clinical studies are needed, as well as the development of an adequate regulatory framework, before hybrid combination therapy can be translated into clinical practice.


Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram Rao ◽  
Subrat Kumar Bhattamisra

Background: COVID-19, a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) was first diagnosed in the patients from Wuhan, China in December 2019. Within couple of months of infection, it was declared as pandemic by World health organization. COVID-19 has become the most contagious infection with a serious threat to global health. In this review, we aimed to discuss the pathogenesis, diagnostics, current treatments and potential vaccines for COVID-19. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted using keywords “COVID-19”; “Coronavirus”; “SARS-Cov-2”; “SARS” in public domains of Google, Google scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Selected articles were used to construct this review. Results: SARS-Cov-2 uses the Spike (S) protein on its surface to recognize the receptor on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and bind with 10-folds greater affinity than SARS-Cov-1. Molecular assays and immunoassays are the most frequently used tests whereas computed tomography (CT) scans, Artificial intelligence enabled diagnostic tools were also used in patients. In therapeutic treatment, few drugs were repurposed and there are 23 therapeutic molecules including the repurposed drugs are in different stages of clinical trial. Similarly, development of vaccines is also in the pipeline. Few countries have managed well to contain the spread by rapid testing and identifying the clusters. Conclusion: Till now, the acute complications and mortality of COVID-19 has been linked to the pre-existing comorbid conditions or age. Besides the development of therapeutic strategies that includes drugs and vaccine, the long term implication of COVID-19 infection in terms of the disorder/disability in the cured/discharged patients is a new area to investigate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2199371
Author(s):  
Donald W. Bendig

Sterile pyuria is a common finding in pediatric patients. Literature describing the diagnoses as well as clinical characteristics of children with sterile pyuria is lacking. This review was performed to establish an evidence-based approach to the differential diagnosis by way of an extensive literature search. The definition of pyuria is inconsistent. The various causes of pediatric sterile pyuria identified were classified as either Infectious or Non-Infectious. Sub-categories of Infectious causes include: Viral Infection, Bacterial Infection, Other Infections (tuberculosis, fungal, parasitic), Sexually Transmitted Infections, Recent Antibiotic Therapy. Non-Infectious causes include: Systemic Disease, Renal Disease, Drug Related, Inflammation adjacent to Genitourinary Tract. Clinicians that encounter pediatric patients with sterile pyuria and persistent symptoms should consider the substantial differential diagnosis described in this study.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 821
Author(s):  
Marek Petráš ◽  
Ivana Králová Lesná ◽  
Jana Dáňová ◽  
Alexander M. Čelko

Vaccination as an important tool in the fight against infections has been suggested as a possible trigger of autoimmunity over the last decades. To confirm or refute this assumption, a Meta-analysis of Autoimmune Disorders Association With Immunization (MADAWI) was conducted. Included in the meta-analysis were a total of 144 studies published in 1968–2019 that were available in six databases and identified by an extensive literature search conducted on 30 November 2019. The risk of bias classification of the studies was performed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The strength of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. While our primary analysis was conducted in terms of measures of association employed in studies with a low risk of bias, the robustness of the MADAWI outcome was tested using measures independent of each study risk of bias. Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed to determine the stability of the outcome. The pooled association of 0.99 (95% confidence interval, 0.97–1.02), based on a total of 364 published estimates, confirmed an equivalent occurrence of autoimmune disorders in vaccinated and unvaccinated persons. The same level of association reported by studies independently of the risk of bias was supported by a sufficient number of studies, and no serious limitation, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, and publication bias. A sensitivity analysis did not reveal any discrepancy in the primary result. Current common vaccination is not the cause of any of the examined autoimmune disorders in the medium and long terms.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 678
Author(s):  
Adeeba Al-Hurban ◽  
Sawsan Khader ◽  
Ahmad Alsaber ◽  
Jiazhu Pan

This study aimed to examine the trend of ambient air pollution (i.e., ozone (O3), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), benzene (C6H6) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 microns (PM10), and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) at 10 monitoring stations located in the main residential and industrial areas in the State of Kuwait over 6 years (2012–2017). We found that the SO2 level in industrial areas (0.065 ppm) exceeded the allowable range of SO2 in residential areas (0.030 ppm). Air pollution variables were defined by the Environmental Public Authority of Kuwait (K-EPA). In this study, integrated statistical analysis was performed to compare an established air pollution database to Kuwait Ambient Air Quality Guidelines and to determine the association between pollutants and meteorological factors. All pollutants were positively correlated, with the exception of most pollutants and PM10 and O3. Meteorological factors, i.e., the ambient temperature, wind speed and humidity, were also significantly associated with the above pollutants. Spatial distribution mapping indicated that the PM10 level remained high during the southwest monsoon (the hot and dry season), while the CO level was high during the northeast monsoon (the wet season). The NO2 and O3 levels were high during the first intermonsoon season.


2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.P. Maheshwari ◽  
A. Al Mulla ◽  
Y. Al Hadban

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