The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of an exogenous enzyme blend (Natuzyme®) on the fermentation responses of diets differing in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations, using a proposed gas production technique. Diets contained different ratios of alfalfa hay to wheat straw, to provide different NDF concentration, such as 320 (D1), 340 (D2) and 360 (D3) g/kg dry matter (DM). Two hundred fifty mg of milled and dried experimental diets in three runs and four replicates were weighed into a 125-ml serum bottle for an in vitro gas production trial. A solution of Natuzyme® was added 12 hours prior to the commencement of the incubation (96 h), to make a treatment of 1.68 (g/kg DM). Serum bottles containing substrates without enzyme were considered as the control. Gas production parameters at 96 h incubation were estimated and half time of gas production (t1/2) was calculated. Another gas test was run according to t1/2. All the incubations for each treatment were terminated at t1/2, then gas and methane volumes recorded. Apparent dry matter degradability (ADMD) was assessed by centrifugation and ‘ml methane per mg dry matter apparently degraded’ was calculated. Results showed that level of alfalfa hay incorporation and elevation of NDF concentration in the diets significantly increased the fractional constant rate. Enzyme supplementation significantly increased the ADMD of the diets at t1/2, whereas gas production and produced methane per mg of DM at t1/2 (MD) of the experimental diets, was decreased at t1/2. Increasing the NDF content of the diet showed a significant contribution in altering the fermentation parameters at t1/2. Enzyme addition is an appropriate way to control the methane emission and to improve the dry matter degradability in the ruminant gut.

Teaching grammar has been a major area of debate and controversy in language teaching and second language acquisition for some time. Harsh criticism of traditional grammar teaching has continued over the last few decades, which has resulted in great confusion and lack of confidence among language teachers. This paper aims to encourage second language (L2) teachers and second language acquisition (SLA) researchers to reconsider the role of grammar instruction, through examining an alternative approach to grammar teaching, known as “form-focused instruction” (FFI), that reconciles with communicative language teaching (CLT). To this end, the paper reviews a number of studies in favor and against the direct teaching of grammar, and presents a brief discussion of four FFI options; namely, structured input, explicit instruction, production practice and negative feedback. Finally, the paper shows that grammar teaching is necessary to help students possess greater command of the target language. However, more input from L2 teachers and SLA researchers is needed to define the most effective FFI instructional options and strategies.

Rod-shaped antimony sulphoiodide (SbSI) crystals were grown by utilizing elemental components of the compound. The material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and surface morphology by SEM. Electrical conductivity was measured on the pallets of powdered SbSI by the four-probe technique in the temperature range of 4–300K, and by the two-probe technique in the temperature range of 300–550K. SbSI shows semiconducting behavior in the temperature range of 300–550K and metallic below 300K. Activation energy of an electrical conduction between 300–550K, is 1.87 eV.

We report the discovery of the blister beetle, Meloe coelatus Reiche, 1957, in Qatar. According to the Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera there is no record for the genus Meloe in Qatar, although the genus is well represented in other areas of the Arabian Peninsula. M. coelatus is a rare species, that is present along a wide area of Northern Africa and Western Asia. Our findings bridge the current geographic gap in the known distribution of the species from Saudi Arabia to Iran. We believe the Coleoptera fauna of Qatar might be underestimated. A thorough field survey is recommended in order to document the presence of other species of this family, and also to complete the catalogue of Coleoptera for the State of Qatar.

This paper describes the optical limiting performance of 2D ZnO nanoflakes and plates synthesized through a simple wet chemical method. Scanning electron microscopic imaging of these nanostructures revealed the shape evolution from the nanoflakes to nanoplates as the growth duration increased from 11 h to 18 h. The nonlinear absorption is studied using open aperture Z scan technique. The process behind the nonlinear absorption is predicted as two photon absorption and one photon assisted energy transfer to the nearby trapping sites. We observe the appreciable optical limiting threshold of 46.86 MW/cm2 for high pump power of 436 MW/cm2 for nanoplates compared with nanoflakes (169.49 MW/cm2).

INTRODUCTION The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nation Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit. Each year since 1995, the parties to the convention have met at the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess approaches to climate change and related progress. Annual COP conferences rotate among the five UN regional groups; the African Group last year hosted COP 17 on 29 November 2011 in Durban, South Africa. At COP 17, The State of Qatar and the Republic of Korea from the Asian Group agreed to cooperate in order to host and encourage the success of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 18/CMP 8 (the 18th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC, plus the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties, serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol), which will take place in Qatar from November 26 through December 7, 2012. The countries decided on a joint effort in preparing for the conference to globally promote and implement the green growth agenda. The Republic of Korea stands behind the green economy concept as a strategy to foster sustainable development and poverty eradication. One of the world’s main energy exporters, the State of Qatar expressed its eagerness to secure progress in the UN climate change negotiations and to support developing countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in adapting to the effects of climate change. Hosting the UN climate change negotiations this year makes Qatar the first OPEC nation to do so.

Abstract In this review, the story of Qatar’s economic emergence is told chronologically, beginning with Qatar’s independence and the discovery of the North Field gas reservoir in 1971 and ending with the steps that Qatar is now taking as it transitions towards a more diversified and innovative economy.

Abstract Abundance and species composition of non-marine benthic diatom assemblages were studied from surface sediments samples of 11 streams distributed in Socotra Island, located in the northwest Indian Ocean. A total of 145 diatom species, representing 44 genera, were identified. The overall diatom communities appear to be the first recorded off the island. Pennales and non-planktonic taxa were most dominant over centrales and planktonic forms, both in diversity of genera and species. The majority of recognized diatoms are of cosmopolitan distribution. The predominant diatom flora in the surface sediment samples follow:Synedra ulna, Synedra longissima, Encyonema caespitosum, Encyonema silesiacum, Encyonemopsis microcephala, Mastogloia braunii, Mastogloia dansei, Mastogloia elliptica, Navicula cryptocephala, Navicula cryptotenella, Navicula rhynchocephala, Navicula cincta, Nitzschia amphibian, Nitzschia frustulum, Nitzschia perminuta, Cocconeis placentula, Pleurosira laevis and Staurosirella pinnata. These are found in addition to the common occurrence ofAmphora coffeaeformis, Amphora Montana, Anomoeoneis sphaerophora, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Cymbella affinis, Diploneis elliptica, Encyonema mesianum, Diploneis smithii, Gomphonema gracile, Gomphonema parvulum, Kobayasia subtilissima, Mastogloia smithii, Navicula minuscule, Navicula notha, Navicula tenelloides, Nitzschia obtuse, Nitzschia palea, Nitzschia scalaris, Synedra nana, Tryblionella acuminate, Tryblionella granulateandTryblionella punctata. Multivariate statistical techniques including detrended correspondence and cluster analyses were used to summarize changes in the diatom assemblages present in the examined streams. The results indicated six major diatom assemblages with a variation in dominant species. Each assemblage reflects distinctive environmental conditions based on salinity preference of the recognized and dominant.

Abstract The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is presently one of the main medical problems in developing countries. This syndrome was studied in Puerto Rico at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean with emphasis on understanding the cardiovascular complications. The medical records of patients admitted between 1999 to 2005 were evaluated for three or more MetS diagnostic criteria. One hundred and seventy-three patients met the consensus criteria of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The mean age of those diagnosed with MetS was 60 years of age. Fifty-seven percent were males and 42 percent females. The mean body mass was 30 kg/m. The ejection fraction was found to be subnormal ( 49±8%) and the end systolic dimension of the left atrium was increased ( 45±10 mm) in comparison to a group of diabetic patients without MetS used for comparison. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was found to be 16% higher in the MetS group than in the comparison group. The number of cases of metabolic syndrome recorded within the Hispanic population of Puerto Rico showed a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation without ventricular tachycardia. This is thought to be as a result of the abnormal left ventricular and atrial function.