Research Title: Blake, Holly and Alsaleh, Eman and Windle, Richard (2014) Behavioural intervention to increase physical activity among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD): randomised controlled trial. In: UK Society for Behavioural Medicine 10th Annual Scientific Meeting, 3-4 December 2014, Nottingham, UK.

Author: Eman Ahmed Alsaleh, Published Year: 2014

Proceedings of the 10th UK Society for Behavioural Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, 3-4 December, Nottingham., United Kingdom

Faculty: Nursing

Abstract: Citation: BLAKE, H, ALSALEH, E and WINDLE, R, 2014. Behavioural intervention to increase physical activity among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD): randomised controlled trial. In: Proceedings of the 10th UK Society for Behavioural Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, 3-4 December, Nottingham. Behavioural intervention to increase physical activity among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD): randomised controlled trial Holly Blake, Eman Alsaleh, Richard Windle University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK Background: Patients with CHD often do not follow prescribed physical activity recommendations. Aim: To assess the efficacy of behavioural intervention to increase physical activity in patients not attending structured cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Design: Randomised controlled trial comparing 6 month multi-component behavioural change intervention (n=85) with usual care (n=71). Intervention included face-to-face individualised consultation and telephone support (for goal-setting, feedback and self-monitoring) and reminder text messages. Setting: Two hospitals in Jordan, Middle East. Participants: 156 patients with CHD (mean age 57.5 years; 54% male, 46

Keywords: Physical activity, behavioural intervention, goal-setting

Research Title: Diagnosis of Verticillium dahliae kleb. latent infection on olive using DNA-fingerprinting techniques in Jordan

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 2003

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Fifty-six isolates of Verticillium dahliae Kleb., collected from olive trees in Jordan, were used to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- based diagnostic assay. V. dahliae was indicated as the only causal agent of olive vascular wilt disease as supported by PCR results and through cultural characteristics, growth patterns, colony morphology, microscopic examinations and a pathogenicity test followed by re-isolation on a selective medium. Three primer pairs of PCR were evaluated for their usefulness in the diagnostic assay. Deoxyoligonucleotide primers of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, were the most appropriate to identify all V. dahliae isolates from olive in Jordan without amplifying products from other tested fungi. The PCR detection was very sensitive to small amounts of template DNA but still showed negative results of some samples containing trace amounts of template DNA. The PCR signal in general was relatively stronger for samples taken from infected olive trees at heights closer to the soil surface. Using only vascular tissues for DNA extraction, has also enriched the extracted DNA with V. dahliae DNA as shown by more consistent PCR amplification results. The detection limit was further improved using nested PCR, where the first amplification reaction contained primers from the highly conservative DNA sequences of the 18S and 28S genes that flank the ITS regions, and the second reaction contains the more stringent ITS primers. The nested PCR signal of V. dahliae was much stronger and more consistent at different sampling heights. Detection of V. dahliae in olive tissues using PCR assay, was obviously more sensitive compared with the traditional standardized plating assay at five heights above the ground surface of symptomatic and non-symptomatic infected olive trees. Such a diagnostic PCR assay could be an effective tool to early detect infected olive plantlets before symptom development and could allow adapting a successful disease management strategy. An additional pair of PCR primers designed from nuclear repetitive DNA was also used but had a lower potential for diagnostic applications because it showed variable DNA band intensities for the different V. dahliae isolates from olive trees in Jordan. This has suggested the presence of genetic variability among the local olive isolates. Correlating such genetic variability to host specificity or geographical origins of the isolates may also have a potential practical application in controlling olive vascular wilt. تشخيص الصابة الكامنة بفطر الفيتسيليوم (Kleb dahliae Verticillium(.ف أشتال الزيتون باستخدام تقنيات بصمات الادة الوراثية (DNA (ف الردن سي مسعود و موفق كراجــة استخدمت ست وخسون عزلة من فطر Kleb dahliae Verticillium .ت جعها من أشجار الزيتون ف الردن لتطوير فحص تشخيصي مبن على تفاعل البلمرة التسلسل (PCR .(وقد ظهر أن dahliae. V هو السبب الوحيد لرض ذبول الزيتون الوعائي مدعم ذلك بنتائج الـ PCR ،من خلل ميزات التربية، و أناط النمو، و مظهر الستعمرة ، و الفحص اليكروسكوب، والقدرة التطفلية الت تلها إعادة العزل على البيئة الختيارية. ت تقييم أهية ثلثة أزواج من الـ PCR ف الفحص التشخيصي. كانت بادئات تسلسل النيوكلتيدات الكررة منقوصة الوكسجي للمناطق الفاصلة بي جينات بناء الرايبوزومات(ITS (هي الكثر ملءمة ف التعرف على جيع عزلت dahliae. V من الزيتون ف الردن، وبدون تضخيم ناتج من الفطريات الختبة الخرى، و كانت حساسة لكمية قليلة من DNA الــقالب، ولكن أظهرت نتائج سلبية ف بعض العينات عند استعمال كميات ضئيلة من DNA الــقالب. كانت إشارة الـ PCR بشكل عام أقوى نسبيا ف العينات الت أخذت من أشجار الزيتون على ارتفاع اقرب إل سطح التربة. إن اقتصار الستخدام على النسجة الوعائية ف استخلص الـ DNA زاد ف كمية الـ DNA الذي يوي الـ DNA الاص بـ dahliae. V ، و بالتالـي انتج الـ DNA القالــب الستخلـص نتائـج اكــثر دقـة ف التضـخيم. ت زيـادة مستــوى التـحري من خـــلل استــخدام الـ PCR Nested ، حيث احتوى التفاعل الول على بادئات من تسلسل الـ DNA عال الفظ لينات الـ 18Sو 28S الت تصر مناطق الـ ITS ،و احتوى التفاعل الثان على بادئات الـ ITS الكثر تصصا و حصرًا. كانت إشارة ال PCR Nested لفطر dahliae. V أقوى كثيا و اكثر دقة، حيث كان كشف الـ PCRاكثر حساسية بالقارنة مع فحص الطباق القياسي التقليدي على خسة ارتفاعات فوق سطح التربة ف أشجار زيتون مصابة تظهر عليها أعراض الرض و أخرى ل تظهر عليها. أن فحص الـ PCR التشخيصي سيكون مفيدا للكشف البكر عن أشتال الزيتون الصابة وقبل ظهور العراض، وقد يسمح بتطبيق إستراتيجية مكافحة ناجحة. استخدم زوج إضاف من بادئات الـ PCR مصمم من الـ DNA النووي التكرر، تبي أن استعماله التشخيصي أقل فاعليه بسبب أنه أعطى حزمة متقلبة ف الشدة بسب عزلت الزيتون اللية، وما يشي إل وجود تنوع وراثي. أن ربط هذا التنوع مع خصوصية العائل و النشأ الغراف للعزلة قد يسمح بعمل استخدامات عملية واعدة بكافحة الرض. Diagnosis of Verticillium dahliae kleb. latent infection on olive using DNA-fingerprinting techniques in Jordan The Higher Council of Science and Technology-Jordan.

Keywords: Molecular, PCR

Research Title: Microbiology, biotechnology and biosafety.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 2004

Faculty: Science

Abstract: CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN JORDAN First National Report of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Implementation of Article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity http://www.philadelphia.edu.jo/academics/smasoud/uploads/R4.pdf

Keywords: biodiversity

Research Title: Overexpression of L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase in tobacco cell suspension cultures.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1999

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Overexpression of L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase in tobacco cell suspension cultures. In: Plant Biotechnology and in vitro Biology in the 21st Century. A. Altman et al. (eds), Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. PP 297-301.

Keywords: plant resistance

Research Title: Improvement of natural defense responses. In: Engineering Plants for Commercial Products and Applications

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1996

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 792:126-139, 792

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Improvement of natural defense responses. In: Engineering Plants for Commercial Products and Applications

Keywords: biotechnology

Research Title: Metabolic engineering: Prospect for crop improvement through genetic manipulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and defense responses.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 1999

Gene, 179

Faculty: Science

Abstract: In leguminous plants such as the forage legume alfalfa, products of the phenylpropanoid pathway of secondary metabolism are involved in interactions with beneficial microorganisms (flavonoid inducers of the Rhizobium symbiosis), and in defense against pathogens (isoflavonoid phytoalexins). In addition, the phenylpropane polymer lignin is a major structural component of secondary vascular tissue and fibers in higher plants. The recent isolation of genes encoding key enzymes of the various phenylpropanoid branch pathways opens up the possibility of engineering important crop plants such as alfalfa for: (a) improved forage digestibility, by modification of lignin composition and/or content; (b) increased or broader-spectrum disease resistance, by introducing novel phytoalexins or structural variants of the naturally occurring phytoalexins, or by modifying expression of transcriptional regulators of phytoalexin pathways; and (c) enhanced nodulation efficiency, by engineering over-production of flavonoid nod gene inducers. The basic biochemistry and molecular biology underlying these strategies is briefly reviewed, and recent progress with transgenic plants summarized. The potential importance of metabolic compartmentation for attempts to engineer phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways is also discussed. Overexpression of an alfalfa glucanase-encoding gene confers significant protection against Phytophthora in alfalfa, possibly via indirect effects on phenylpropanoid metabolism.

Keywords: phytoalexins

Research Title: Meat and Organs Quality of Broiler Chickens Fed Diet Contaminated with B1 Aflatoxin

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 2014

Global Veterinaria , 12

Faculty: Science

Abstract: The levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in breast, leg, liver, kidney and gizzard and in litter were studied in broilers chicks maintained for 6 weeks on AFB1 contaminated diets of 0.0(group 1,control group), 384.5 µg/kg AFB1 (group2,treatment 1), or 128.9 µg/kg AFB1(group3,treatment2). The highest AFB1 of 1.2 µg/kg was at the third week in liver tissues and 0.8 µg/kg in chicken legs fed diet contaminated with 374.53 ppb AFB1. Breast and gizzard showed lower AFB1 concentrations of 0.5 and 0.8 µg/kg, respectively, than treatment 1 at the end of the third week. The residual level of AFB1 were increased in liver and kidney of 2.1 and 1.9 µg/kg AFB1 at wk 6 and chickens breast and leg AFB1 levels also affected and increased to 0.93 and 1.64 µg/kg, respectively.

Keywords: Broiler Aflatoxin B1 Organs Litter

Research Title: DNA extraction and PCR-based diagnosis of the root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species and races) of Jordan.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 2010

Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 6

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Three Meloidogyne spp. of the root-knot nematodes were recently surveyed in Jordan and identified as M. javanica, M. incognita (race 1 and 2), M. arenaria (race 2), based on a combination of several diagnostic methods. Several methods of genomic DNA extraction from nematode eggs, single or many 2nd stage juveniles and females were evaluated. For DNA fingerprinting, sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used. Among the tested DNA extraction methods, miniprep method was the most efficient, cost and time effective for SCAR-PCR. Methods used for DNA extraction from single juveniles or females were more suitable for RAPD than SCARPCR. Typical DNA products of 670, 420, or 1200 bp in size were specifically amplified by SCAR-PCR when DNA extracts of M. javanica, M. arenaria (race 2), or M. incognita (race 1 or 2), respectively, were used as template DNA. Accordingly, Meloidogyne species in Jordan could be most reliably identified using SCAR based PCR assay. The primer PA-01 produced RAPD patterns with clear bands that clearly distinguished one species from the others and so allowed the identification of the three Meloidogyne species. Molecular techniques for the identification of Meloidogyne spp. will be particularly useful in cases of mixed populations of the three species and for reliable quarantine tests

Keywords: DNA fingerprint

Research Title: Assessment of phenotypic diversity among Jordanian barley landraces (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 2007

Biotechnology, 6

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Assessment of phenotypic diversity among Jordanian barley landraces (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Keywords: RAPD PCR

Research Title: Serologic and molecular characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Jordanian clinical isolates compared with the strains of International Antigenic Typing Scheme.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 2007

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 58

Faculty: Science

Abstract: One hundred clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were serologically classified into 7 Jordanian serotypes (labeled JO1–JO7) Odeh, 2002, M.Sc. thesis, University of Jordan). Using the slide agglutination test, 4 of them (JO4, JO5, JO6, and JO7) were serologically matched with the International Antigenic Typing Scheme (IATS) strains (IATS 20, IATS 10, IATS 6, and IATS 11). One serotype (JO1) showed a weak crossreaction with IATS 1. The remaining 2 local serotypes (JO2 and JO3) did not react with any of the 20 IATS strains. Serologic analysis data showed to a certain extent correlations with molecular data using genetic clustering and similarity indices generated by random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Each of the 4 identified local serotypes formed a cluster with its serologically matched IATS strain with relatively high average similarity indices, whereas lower average similarity index was observed between IATS 1 and JO1, in consistence with the weak serologic reaction using the slide agglutination test. On the other hand, the 2 nontypeable serotypes (JO2 and JO3) formed 2 separate clusters that could not be matched to any of the IATS strain. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses suggest that JO2 and JO3, and possibly JO1, can be new serotypes of P. aeruginosa. RAPD-PCR was also used to study the relative relatedness among the 20 IATS strains. The IATS strains formed 2 main clusters. Half of the IATS strains formed one main cluster that included IATS 11–20. The remaining IATS strains (8 strains) formed the second main cluster, with the exception of IATS 4 and 9, where each formed a separate cluster.

Keywords: random primers, PCR