APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING: LONG-DISTANCE SUBJECT ANAPHORS AND PHASAL BINDING DOMAINS

An unusual behavior of anaphors is to occur in embedded subject positions and bebound across a finite clause boundary by a matrix subject. This thesis, however, demonstrates that such constructions exist in Malki Arabic, besides other languages. First, this thesis shows that the clause size of the embedded clause in which subject anaphors are allowed is CP and not always a TP. Second, in light of current reductionist approaches to binding domains of the classical binding theory to phase theory, a cross-clausal binding relation bears issues to those approaches, as a long-distance antecedence relation crosses a phase boundary. Taking long-distance bound subject anaphors as the main empirical focus in this thesis, I show that the cross-clausal binding relation in Malki Arabic is not bona fide evidence against reducing binding domains to phases. Following Wurmbrand (2019) and Lohninger et al. (2022), I propose that constructions with long-distance bound subject anaphors theoretically resemble cross-clausal A-dependencies, like hyperraising and long-distance agreement, for undergoing movement to a position in the edge of the embedded clause and showing similar properties. Third, I show that reducing binding domains to whole phases is plausible, but taking spell-out domains as binding domains is untenable. Finally, the proposal suggested in this thesis also sheds lights on the possibility of the anaphor agreement effect as an interface condition, in addition to highlighting an account for the accusative-marked embedded subject in Modern Standard Arabic

Blended learning in higher education in Saudi Arabia: a study of Umm Al-Qura university

Higher education came late to Saudi Arabia and the country is moving swiftly to adopt international standards in pedagogy, specifically in student-centred learning models. As part of these development programs, the internet is being introduced to add course flexibility for university instructors and their students. This is a form of blended learning, and this thesis explores the experiences and views of the instructors and students at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah regarding instructor websites used as a supplement to attendances at lectures and tutorials. This research investigates instructor websites from different perspectives. Makkah hosts the Islamic Hajj every year, when the population can triple and for a month, transport is difficult. Further, women may not move freely alone in public, and education in Saudi Arabia is strictly segregated. A blended learning concept therefore has appeal, with its potential to both increase students’ interaction with the instructor and facilitate class communication. This study employs a mixed methods approach, interviewing instructors who used websites on the university portal, and surveying their students through questionnaires. The findings of this study indicate that the instructor websites, although at various stages of development, provide better learning experiences, and improve class communication and interaction. Participant students reported that the websites were useful for communication and enhanced interaction with their instructors, and that they used the websites for course administration, and access to lecture and revision material. Female students reported greater approval of the websites than their male cohorts, preferred instructor websites’ content, and considered that the websites had a greater effect on their learning, communications and interactions. As the instructors developed and maintained their websites, there was a linkage between the site content and benefits to curriculum delivery style. The findings are that instructors can use their lecture time effectively, conduct trial exams, and introduce other curriculum delivery options. The study concludes that instructor and students valued the accessibility and flexibility advantages of blended learning design. The findings also identify resource factors that, given the pace of technological change, may be endemic and affect the adoption of blended learning at the university. Participants reported concerns regarding the university’s inadequate ICT infrastructure, resources, and technical support. Students added that there appeared to be a lack of commitment and reward for ICT use at the university. The study concludes that blended learning in Saudi universities has the potential to improve the universities’ performances in terms of quality and efficiency. Blended learning is useful to increase communication and interaction between students and instructors, which in turn would result in better learning experiences. This is especially true in a gender-segregated society. A major conclusion is that the implementation of blended learning in Saudi higher education requires a radical shift in the educational system, including changes to policy, curriculum, infrastructure, and university culture. The development should involve instructors, students, and administrators

Teaching teachers phonetics: The design and implementation of an asynchronous online English phonetics course

It is axiomatic that one of the chief goals of an applied linguistics program is to instruct teachers in the intricacies of English language structure. Explicit knowledge of the target language can help domestic and international teachers when dealing with adult 2nd language learners. But while most programs offer courses in English grammar, we found a paucity of (online) phonetics classes. We discuss three characteristics to be included in an online phonetics course: the description and learning of the sounds of the world’s languages, the technology-based collaborative procedures to narrowly transcribe a wide range of accented English speech, and the specific design to engage a variety of online students. Particular attention is devoted to our unique collaborative online project that at once trains students in the phonetic analysis of non-native speech. The results of these analyses are contributed to the online database, the speech accent archive (accent.gmu.edu), thereby giving students ownership of a publicly available online archive. The outcomes are described, with justifications and specific methods for measuring them. This paper emphasizes that learning to narrowly transcribe leads to enhanced listening and analysis, and that peer-to-peer collaboration is vital for any asynchronous online class

Protective effect of olive and juniper leaves extracts on nephrotoxicity induced by thioacetamide in male mice

AbstractThis study, for the first time, evaluates the effect of olive and juniper leaves extracts and their combination on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced nephrotoxicity in male mice. The experimental mice were divided into eight groups. Group 1 was served as control. Group 2 was exposed to TAA. Group 3 was treated with TAA and olive leaves extract. Group 4 was subjected to TAA and juniper leaves extract. Group 5 was exposed to TAA and olive and juniper leaves extracts. Groups 6, 7 and 8 were treated with olive, juniper, and olive and juniper leaves extracts respectively. In mice treated with only TAA, significant increases of blood urea nitrogen and uric acid were observed after six weeks. Moreover, levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid were statistically increased in mice administrated with only TAA for twelve weeks. Insignificant alterations in levels of these haematobiochemical parameters were noted in other treated groups after six and twelve weeks. Histopathological evaluations of renal sections from mice treated with only TAA for twelve weeks showed severe damage of the renal corpuscles. Furthermore, the renal sections from mice treated with TAA and olive leaves extract, TAA and juniper leaves extract, TAA and olive and juniper leaves extracts, olive leaves extract, juniper leaves extract, and olive and juniper leaves extracts showed normal structures. In addition, it is conceivable therefore, that these extracts exhibit protective influences against TAA-induced nephrotoxicity, probably mediated through the antioxidative pathway roles

Examining the supportive employment practices used by Project SEARCH: A descriptive study

Project SEARCH is a unique high school transition program from school-to-work for young adults with intellectual disabilities. This program teaches individuals with disabilities (interns) job skills in an inclusive work environment, such as a hospital. Therefore, the overall goal of this study was to examine Project SEARCH as a transition program that has data indicating positive outcomes regarding supportive employment for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, this study aimed to: (1) examine the ways in which Project SEARCH enacts its transition supported employment services for individuals with disabilities, and (2) examine the experiences and perceptions of Project SEARCH employees and coworkers toward working with individuals with special needs. Qualitative research methods, including descriptive and interpretative analysis, were employed in this study. The data were collected via face-to-face group interviews. The researcher interviewed two groups separately: Project SEARCH employees and interns’ coworkers. The interview questions were about practices implemented by Project SEARCH, teaching employment skills, coaching and support interns in the workforce, collaboration between Project SEARCH employees and coworkers, and experiences and perceptions of working alongside individuals with special needs. The results of this study were divided into two sections: descriptive results and interpretative results. In the first section, Project SEARCH employees provided valuable information about how to select, prepare, coach, and support interns in the program. In the second section, the interpretative results, coworkers provided an inclusive work environment to interns with disabilities through positive attitudes and support. Lastly, the results have important implications for research in the field of inclusive and supportive employment

Protective effect of some plant oils on diazinon induced hepatorenal toxicity in male rats

AbstractEnvironmental pollution and exposure to environmental pollutants are still some of the major global health issues. Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of health hazards. The toxicity of pesticides depends on several factors such as its chemical properties, doses, exposure period, exposure methods, gender, genetics, age, nutritional status and physiological case of exposed individuals. Medicinal plants, natural products and nutrition continue to play a central role in the healthcare system of large proportions of the world’s population. Alternative medicine plays an important role in health services around the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of olive, sesame and black seed oils on hepatorenal toxicity induced by diazinon (DZN) in male rats. The experimental animals were divided into nine groups. The first group served as control. The second group was exposed to DZN. The third group was treated with olive oil and DZN. Rats of the fourth group were subjected to sesame oil and DZN. Rats of the fifth group were exposed to black seed oil and DZN. The sixth, seventh and eighth groups were supplemented with olive, sesame and black seed oils respectively. Rats of the ninth group were treated with corn oil. Levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and malondialdehyde were significantly increased in rats exposed to DZN. Moreover, levels of serum glutathione and superoxide dismutase were significantly decreased. Several histopathological changes were observed in the structures of liver and kidney due to DZN exposure. This study showed that these oils attenuated the physiological disturbances and histopathological alterations induced by DZN intoxication. Moreover, the antioxidant properties of these oils support the bioactive roles of its protective effects on DZN toxicity. This study therefore suggests that these oils could be used as preventive factors against the toxicity of DZN due to its antioxidant properties

Antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia

We investigated the occurrence rate of antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in exotic pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia. Salmonellae samples were collected from eight different genera of pet reptiles (snakes and lizards). Selective enrichment and selective plating procedures were carried out in order to detect salmonellae. Isolated bacteria were identified using biochemical tests, API 20E strips, and the VITEK compact system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method. Salmonella spp. belonging to subspecies I (Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica) were detected in 29.2% of the samples. All of the detected salmonellae showed multidrug resistance (p<0.001, χ2 ). The results demonstrated that pet reptiles in private households could present health hazards to humans. Therefore, these animals should be carefully handled to avoid infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the occurrence rate of antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia. The detected Salmonella serovars should be subjected to further in-depth molecular analyses in order to understand the overall epidemiology of salmonellosis in Saudi Arabia.We investigated the occurrence rate of antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in exotic pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia. Salmonellae samples were collected from eight different genera of pet reptiles (snakes and lizards). Selective enrichment and selective plating procedures were carried out in order to detect salmonellae. Isolated bacteria were identified using biochemical tests, API 20E strips, and the VITEK compact system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method. Salmonella spp. belonging to subspecies I (Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica) were detected in 29.2% of the samples. All of the detected salmonellae showed multidrug resistance (p<0.001, χ2 ). The results demonstrated that pet reptiles in private households could present health hazards to humans. Therefore, these animals should be carefully handled to avoid infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the occurrence rate of antibiotic-resistant salmonellae in pet reptiles in Saudi Arabia. The detected Salmonella serovars should be subjected to further in-depth molecular analyses in order to understand the overall epidemiology of salmonellosis in Saudi Arabia

Numerical simulation of two-phase fluid flow

We simulate two-phase fluid flow using a stress–strain relation based on Biot’s theory of poroelasticity for partial saturation combined with the mass conservation equations. To uncouple flow and elastic strain, we use a correction to the stiffness of the medium under conditions of uniaxial strain. The pressure and saturation differential equations are then solved with an explicit time stepping scheme and the Fourier pseudospectral method to compute the spatial derivatives. We assume an initial pressure state and at each time step compute the wetting- and non wetting-fluid pressures at a given saturation. Then, we solve Richards’s equation for the non wetting-fluid saturation and proceed to the next time step with the updated saturations values. The pressure and saturation equations are first solved separately and the results compared to known analytical solutions showing the accuracy of the algorithm. Then, the coupled system is solved. In all the cases, the non-wetting fluid is injected at a given point in space as a boundary condition and capillarity effects are taken into account. The examples consider oil injection in a water-saturated porous medium.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Processing and Properties of Bar-Shaped Single-Seeded and Multi-Seeded YBCO Bulk Superconductors by a Top-Seeded Melt Growth Technique

© 2016 The Author(s)The fabrication of (RE)-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors, where RE is a rare-earth element such as Y, Gd and Sm, is both time consuming and expensive due to the complexity of the melt process and the slow growth rate of large, single grains. In this study, different approaches to the fabrication of bar-shaped, bulk YBCO superconductors are investigated and compared using single- and multiple-seeding techniques via top-seeded melt growth (TSMG). Both the microstructural and superconducting properties of the bulk samples are investigated, including trapped field, critical current density, critical temperature and levitation force. The results of this study indicate that, in general, the superconducting properties of YBCO fabricated by a single-seeded process are significantly better than those of samples fabricated by a four-seeded process for non-bridge seeds. The differences between the samples are less pronounced in the levitation force measurements, however. In this paper, we attempt to explain the reasons for the similarities and differences observed between bulk samples fabricated by the different single- and multi-seeded processes.This work was supported by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)