Browsing by Author "El Khatib, Rami"
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Item Antifungal activity of some indigenous lactic acid bacteria isolated from soft wheat(Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 2018) Djaaboub, Serra; Abdallah, Moussaoui; Meddah, Boumedien; Makhloufi, Souad; Gouri, Saif; El Khatib, RamiThe objective of this study was to find an alternative to chemical control of pathogenic fungi in wheat, using microorganisms that are safe and that can be isolated from the same biotopes of the pathogens. Lactic acid bacteria isolated from soft wheat grains were screened for their antifungal activity against Fusarium graminearum Schwab, Aspergillus flavus Link and Aspergillus parasiticus Speare, using two techniques (overlay and co-culture) on De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe agar. The overlay method showed that out of forty-six lactic acid bacteria, five isolates showed an inhibition of radial growth range from 1% to 73.89%. According to the co-culture method, the most efficient biological agent for wheat mold growth isolate was LAB001 with an average rate of inhibition of 31.18% against A. flavus, 42.26% against A. parasiticus and 55.53% against F. graminearum. Lactic acid bacteria LAB001 was identified as Enterococcus faecium with 99.6% of similarity. E. faecium LAB001 can be considered as promising isolate for the biocontrol of pathogenic molds in small grain cereals. © 2018 Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology. All rights reserved.Item Assessing climate change indicators in the United Arab Emirates(Inderscience Publishers, 2022) Kamkar, Fatma; Khawatmi, Layla; Arif, Aysha; Hamed, Hamed; Issa, Sahar T.; El Khatib, Rami; Takshe, Aseel A.; Karkain, Rashed M.Anthropogenic and natural activities have led to a global phenomenon known as climate change, which evidence shows, is worsening. Climatic changes can sometimes be observed at a regional level by assessing certain indicators such as temperature, precipitation, and humidity. This study aims to explore climate indicators in the United Arab Emirates that play a possible role in climate change. To gain insight into the longer-term changes, we looked at regional changes by analysing trends of mean monthly temperature, maximum monthly temperature, minimum monthly temperature, mean monthly humidity, and rainfall quantities per year over the period of 2003 to 2019. The trend analysis showed an increasing trend in the maximum monthly temperature, minimum monthly temperature, mean monthly temperature, and mean monthly humidity, but a decreasing trend in rainfall quantities, which may suggest climate change at a regional level. Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.Item Testing the level of awareness on testicular cancer among the UAE residents(Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development, 2018-04) Topolskaya, Elizabeth; Ghani, Iqra; D'Silva, Jessica; Abdulwahab, Abdulrahman; AlAbayechi, Siraj; El Khatib, RamiThis research article presents a quantitative study conducted in the UAE in efforts to test the level of awareness regarding general knowledge on testicular cancer (TC) and self-examination practices among male and female residents. The determined level of understanding will help tailor the educational campaigns in order to provide information specific to the public need. The survey focused on 529 UAE residents, prioritizing males (71%) above females (29%). Less than 25% correctly identifies the age group, which has the highest risk of developing TC. Only approximately 30% of participants chose correct risk factors for developing TC. Furthermore, almost 50% of the surveyed individuals thought of lack of sexual function as a symptom of spread TC, which could create a fear barrier towards contacting health professionals in case of any concerns. Lastly, the results revealed that nearly half of male respondents either never or rarely self-examined. Our study suggested that the general public in the region currently possesses little information regarding the symptoms, risk groups and self-examination practices; thus, showcasing the necessity of educational campaigns targeted at improving levels of awareness. Using some of the recommendations we highlight as a means to address the current situation. © 2018, Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. All rights reserved.Item UAE University Students’ Dietary Practices and Lifestyles at times of COVID-19: A Cross Sectional Study(Enviro Research Publishers, 2022-08) Takshe, Aseel A.; El Khatib, Rami; Contu, Davide; Shehaiber, Samir Nael; Alkaabi, MohammedWe examinedthe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students’ dietary practices and lifestyles. In this study, the term “dietary practices” refers to people’s choice in food consumption, whereas “lifestyles” refers to their overall habits including both diet and exercise. We followed a quantitative approach through a cross sectional study and collected data from 475 university students in the UAE by means of an online survey. The results of this study indicated that a majority (67%) of the surveyed students seem to have changed their dietary practice for the better and were making healthier life choices. Additionally, it appears that students started leading more active, healthier lifestyles by incorporating exercise in their daily routine. The research concludes with initial suggestions and implications for healthcare practitioners and providing them with information regarding how younger adults in the UAE have behaved during a pandemic. Understanding the results from similar studies will help the health authorities in reshaping policies on nutrition in anticipation of any future pandemics. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Enviro Research Publishers.