Culture in the AFL Novice Classroom: Teachers\u27 Perceptions, Teaching Techniques, and Assessment.

The teaching of cultural content in the foreign language classroom has received a great deal of attention throughout the past few decades. The role of culture in the L2 classroom has been investigated and studied from different perspectives. This study investigates teachers\u27 perceptions of teaching culture in the Arabic as a foreign language novice classroom, in addition to how Arabic as foreign language teachers introduce and assess culture. The aim of this study is to explore the current teaching practices regarding cultural content in the novice classroom, in order to determine what is needed for better teaching practices that can improve the Arabic as a foreign language learner\u27s intercultural communicative competence. The data collected for this study consisted of an online questionnaire, observations of Arabic as a foreign language novice classroom, and teachers\u27 interviews. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the findings revealed that Arabic as foreign language teachers have positive perceptions about teaching culture in the novice classroom. Although they consider teaching culture to be as important as teaching language, they use relatively few techniques for introducing culture such as culture notes, tasks and projects. For cultural resources, they rely mainly on the textbook cultural content or the spontaneous cultural content. Moreover, there are many challenges that affect teaching culture at the novice level, such as the availability of ready-made cultural content and activities, and also the time factor. In regard to assessing culture, however, while Arabic as foreign language teachers do assess the language use appropriateness, they struggle in assessing the cultural perspectives, and they have limited techniques for assessing cultural knowledge

Green synthesis, characterization and biofunctionalisation of nanoparticles for medical applications

In the presented work, the phytochemicals existent in the aqueous extract of (Hypericum perforatum L.) St. John's wort was harnessed to prepare silver nanoparticles. Many conditions have been tried and changed until we reached the final protocol, through which we obtained the desired nanoparticles in terms of size, shape and effectiveness. The organic compounds present in the St. John's wort plant played an important role in reducing the silver ions in the solution to metallic silver, as well as in protecting the formed silver nanoparticles in nano dimensions and preventing them from growing to millimeter dimensions by forming a protective layer on the surfaces of these nanoparticles and finally maintaining the stability of these formed nanoparticles in colloidal solutions. This green chemistry approach for the preparation of AgNPs is a simple, safe, sustainable, credible and eco-friendly protocol and the resulting silver nanoparticles are considered promising for later application in the treatment of various infectious and non-communicable diseases. green synthesized silver nanoparticles have been characterized using various techniques such as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and all results proved that biosynthesized silver nanoparticles are spherical in shape, stable in colloidal solution, the size of their particles ranges between 20 to 50 nm, have a face-centered cubic (fcc) and crystalline in nature and on the surfaces of these particles, there is a protective layer consisting of a group of St. John's wort compounds, the percentage of which varies according to the number of washing times. It is known that reducing agents and the chemical composition of nanoparticle surfaces are the most influential factors in determining the activity and toxicity of these nanoparticles later because they affect cellular uptake, biodistribution, penetration into biological barriers and the resulting therapeutic effects. Therefore, the second objective of this study was to identify the organic compounds from the aqueous extract of the St. John’s wort, which is present on the surfaces of silver nanoparticles as a protective agent. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to analyze the plant itself, i.e. develop a protocol in HPLC to separate the components of the extracts for this plant well. The aerial parts of the plant were extracted using 8 different solvents. A simple protocol has been developed to obtain isolated peaks in the HPLC spectrum. Detection was carried out at 260 for phloroglucinols (Hyperforin and derivates), 350 for Flavonols and 590 nm for naphthodianthrones (Hypericins). Various standards were selected for this, which also represent the most important and best-known compounds of St. John's wort and the mass spectrometric analysis in positive ion mode was performed to allow in-line analysis coupled directly to the HPLC system used for the separation of the molecular ions according to mass to charge (m/z). Finally, the major ingredients (Hyperforin, Adhyperforin, Hypericin, Rutin, Quercetin, Quercitrin, Quercitrin-hydrate, Hyperoside, Biapigenin and Chlorogenic acid) have been identified. Total phenolic, antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS assays.) and their relationship for different extracts were also presented in this study. In another study, the layer on the surfaces of silver nanoparticles was isolated using a mixture of solvents and following a specific protocol. After that, LC–ESI-Q-TOF–MS/MS analysis was carried out to determine these substances, and they have already been identified, which are 1=Neochlorogenic acid; 2=Hyperoside; 3=Isoquercitrin; 4=l3,II8-biapigenin; 5=Furohyperforin; 6= Hyperforin; 7=Furoadhyperforin; 8=Adhyperforin. Antioxidant activity of the biologically prepared AgNPs was studied using 3 different methods: DPPH, ABTS and SO assays, and the results were very impressive and better than all that was mentioned by other researchers. The antimicrobial effect on about 20 types of microbes (Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, Pathogenic yeast and leishmaniasis tropica Syrian strain (LT_SYR_24)) has been studied in multiple areas and using different methods. In fact, the results were very excellent compared to antibiotics, silver nitrate, as well as silver nanoparticles prepared by other researchers, as they were mostly lethal at very low concentrations. Anti-cancer activity against 3 types (Hela, Hep G2 and A549 cells) at various concentrations and various exposure times, and the results were very distinctive and promising for use as a future treatment for cancer. After the prepared silver nanoparticles achieved great success in treating different types of cancer cells, the last and most important step was how to modify these particles to be selectivity, that is, when injected in vivo, they go directly to the tumor or cancer cells without affecting healthy cells. Since oligonucleotide-based aptamers (APTs) are excellent ligands for targeting cancer cells, we have already developed a special protocol to conjugate silver nanoparticles prepared in our method with a specific aptamer as a selective targeting part for uptake by A549 cells. Many conditions and factors have been tried to reach a high coupling ratio without affecting the effectiveness of the aptamer. the cytotoxicity of aptamer-conjugated AgNPs against A549 (human non-small cell lung cancer) and BEAS-2B (normal human bronchial epithelial ) were studied using CTB test, cellular uptake, viability staining (using Calcein AM and Propidium Iodide), Quantitation of Apoptosis and Necrosis cells (using Annexin V and Propidium Iodide) and Cellular morphological changes (laser scanning confocal microscope and normal microscope). All results indicated that the effect of aptamer conjugated AgNPs was very large on cancer cells (A549 cells) compared to healthy cells (BEAS2B) at the same or lesser concentrations. This indicates that these nanoparticles exhibited selective binding and internalization to target A549 cells, but not by normal human bronchial epithelium BEAS2B, thus exhibiting high selective specificity

The use of digital-touch screen technology in reminiscence work with people with dementia in Jordanian care homes: a feasibility study

Background: Dementia is progressive degenerative illness is synonymous with cognitive and behavioural decline. Dementia cannot be cured. However, several pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches can be used to address the symptoms of dementia. Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a non-pharmacological intervention utilising of written, oral, or both accounts of historical events to improve psychological well-being utilising of written, oral, or both accounts of historical events evoke the long-term memories of the people with dementia (PwD), and improve psychological well-being. Using digital-touch screen technology to deliver RT content is new in the care home activities. The digital RT application contains a wide range of stimuli to prompt reminiscence amongst PwD in the care homes. This is the first study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using digital-touch screen technology to deliver RT for PwD in Jordanian care homes. Aims: The primary aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a digital RT intervention for PwD. The secondary aim was to determine the likelihood of changes in outcome measures including cognitive function, communication, depression, anxiety, and quality of life (QoL). Methods: Concurrent mixed methods research was conducted in two care homes in Jordan using outcome measures and semi-structured interviews for data collection. A single group pre-post-intervention quantitative study was conducted with 60 residents with dementia using the Arabic Version of Saint-Louis-University-Mental-Status (SLUMS) for memory; Older People's Quality of Life questionnaire (OPQoL) brief-13 for QoL; Arabic version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety and depression; and Holden Communication Scale for persons with dementia (HCS) for communication. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 residents with dementia and seven care home staff purposively sampled from both care homes to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a digital RT intervention for PwD. Quantitative data was analysed to determine whether certain outcomes are sensitive to change after completion of the digital RT intervention. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data using Nvivo. Statistical Package for the Social Science Version 25.0 (IBM SPSS 25.0) was used to analyse quantitative measures. Results: The recruitment process and response rate, retention rate and adherence to the intervention indicated the feasibility of the research processes. The response rate was 100%. There was a loss to follow up at post-intervention (25%). For adherence, the median of session attendance for those who received the intervention was 80%. No adverse health impacts were observed as a consequence of taking part, although emotional distress was reported on five occasions by participants who subsequently withdrew from the study. Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed four themes relating to the necessary features of a digital RT application to be used successfully with the PwD. These included being easy to use, having a facilitative environment, having interesting content and having a positive impact in QoL that participants recognise. The resident participants perceived several positive changes including enhancing communication and cognitive abilities, enhancing relationships, and positive changes in psychological and emotional aspects after completion of the digital RT intervention which led to improving their QoL. There was a positive, statistically significant and clinically relevant difference on all outcome measures from pre to post-intervention: means of cognitive ability (3.7; SD=2.4; t (45) =10.43; p=0.000), communication (6.2; SD= 4.2; t (45) = -9.9, p=0.000), anxiety (4.4; SD= 2.9; t (45) = -10.1, p=.000), depression (3.7; SD= 2.6; t (45) = -9.6; p=.000), and QoL (6.2; SD= 4.8; t (45) =8.6; p=0.000). Conclusion: Using digital-touch screen technology to deliver RT may be feasible and acceptable among PwD and their staff in care homes in Jordan. The statistically significant changes in outcome measures demonstrate that a digital RT intervention may be a promising intervention for PwD in care homes to improve their cognition, communication, QoL, depression, and anxiety for residents PwD. This thesis offers exciting avenues of future research, including a definitive trial to evaluate the efficacy and long-term effectiveness of the digital RT for PwD. However, the digital RT and research processes in their current form require simple adaptations to optimise their potential efficacy

Integrated design process model for green design building refurbishment projects / Abdalrahim Ali

Emjahed Improving the green design of refurbishment projects plays a key role in reducing the impact of buildings on the economic and environment of a country. However, to achieve that is not easy since the greater part of building refurbishment projects suffers from uncertainty. Furthermore, incorporating green design measures into the design of refurbishment projects is difficult since it requires the input of specialised knowledge of various members of the design team. The design team members need communicate effectively, have the right attributes and perform as a team. The integration of the design process in refurbishment projects can mediate the negative impacts of uncertainty on the green design performance. Therefore, the aim of this research is to develop an Integrated Design Process Model for green building refurbishment projects. The research objectives are: (1) to measure the level of uncertainties during the design process of building refurbishment projects, (2) to measure the extent to which green design measures are integrated into the design of building refurbishment projects, (3) to measure the level of integration in design process of refurbishment building projects and, (4) to establish the extent to which integration in the design process mediate the effects of uncertainty on the green design performance

Preparation and characterization of nano liposomes of Orthosiphon stamineus ethanolic extract in soybean phospholipids

BACKGROUND: O. stamineus is a medicinal herb with remarkable pharmacological properties. However, poor solubility of the active principles limits its medicinal value. This study sought to prepare nano liposomes of OS ethanolic extract in unpurified soybean phospholipids in order to improve its solubility and permeability. OS liposomes were prepared by the conventional film method, and were characterized for solubility, entrapment efficiency, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size and zeta potential, release, absorption in everted rat intestinal sacs, and DPPH scavenging effect. RESULTS: OS liposomes showed substantial enhancement of extract’s solubility from 956 ± 34 to 3979 ± 139 μg/ml, with entrapment efficiency of 66.2 ± 0.9%. FTIR study indicates interaction between soybean phospholipids and OS extract. TEM and dynamic light scattering showed presence of round anionic nano liposomes with particle size and zeta potential of 152.5 ± 1.1 nm and −49.8 ± 1.0 mV, respectively. A study using the fluorescent probe pyrene showed the critical micellar concentration is 9.2 ± 2.9 μg/ml. Release studies showed 94 ± 0.1% release in non-formulated extract and 62.4 ± 0.1% in OS liposomes. Released extract from OS liposomes showed improvement in DPPH scavenging effect, IC50 = 23.5 ± 1.1 μg/ml compared to 32.4 ± 0.5 μg/ml in non-formulated extract. OS liposomes were stable at pH 5.5 and 7.4, but showed reversible agglomeration at pH 1.6. Absorption in everted rat intestinal sacs showed substantial improvement in permeability of 3′-hydroxy-5, 6, 7, 4″-tetramethoxyflavone, sinensetin, eupatorin, and 3 other unknown compounds. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced solubility, absorption and antioxidant effect may improve the overall pharmacological effects and medicinal value of OS ethanolic extract

At the Centre of the Storm My years at the CIA George Tenet With Bill Harlow

In the whirlwind of accusations and recriminations that emerged in the wake of 9\11 and the Iraq war, one man's vital testimony has been conspicuously absent. Candid and gripping, " at the Center of the storm" recounts George Tenet's time at the Central Intelligence Agency, revealing look at the inner workings of the most important intelligence organization in the world during the challenging times in recent history. With unparalleled access to both the highest echelons of government and raw intelligence from the field, Tenet illuminates the CIA's painstaking attempts to prepare the country against new and deadly threats, disentangles the interlocking events that led to 9\11, and offers explosive new information on the deliberations and strategies that culminated in the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Beginning with his appointment as a director of Central Intelligence in 1997, Tenet unfolds the momentous events that led to 9\11 as he saw and experienced them: his declaration of war on al-Qaida; the CIA's covert operations inside Afghanistan; the worldwide operational plan to fight terrorists; his warnings of imminent attacks against American interests to white House officials in the summer of 2001; and the plan for a coordinated and devastating counterattack against al-Qaida laid down just six days after the attacks. Tenet's compelling narrative then turns to the war in Iraq as he provides dramatic insight and background on the run-up to the invasion, including a firsthand account of the fallout from the inclusion of "sixteen words" in the president's 2003 state of the union address, which claimed that Saddam Hussein had sought to purchase uranium from Africa; the true context of Tenet's own now-famous "slam dunk" comment regarding Saddam's weapons of mass destruction(WMD)program; and the CIA's critical role in an administration predisposed to take the country to war. In doing so, he sets the record straight about CIA operations and shows readers that the truth is more complex than suggested in other versions of recent history offered thus far Through it all, Tenet paints an unflinching self portrait of a man caught between the warning forces of the administration's decision-making process, the reams of frightening intelligence pouring in from around the world, and his own conscience. In "at the center of the storm", George Tenet draws on his unmatched experience within the opaque mirrors of intelligence and provides crucial information previously undisclosed to offer a moving, revelatory profile of both a man and a nation in times of crisi

Investigation of Cytotoxicity of Biosynthesized Colloidal Nanosilver against Local Leishmania tropica: In Vitro Study

Leishmaniasis is one of the biggest health problems in the world. Traditional therapeutic methods still depend on a small range of products, mostly chemically. However, the treatment with these drugs is expensive and can cause serious adverse effects, and they have inconsistent effectiveness due to the resistance of parasites to these drugs. The treatment of leishmanial disease has always been a challenge for researchers. The development of nanoscale metals such as silver has attracted significant attention in the field of medicine. The unique characteristic features of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) make them effective antileishmanial agents. In recent years, green nanotechnology has provided the development of green nanoparticle-based treatment methods for Leishmaniasis. Although there are many studies based on green nanoparticles against Leishmania parasites, this is the first study on the antileishmanial effect of biosynthesized AgNPs using an aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves (AEECL) as a reducing agent of silver ions. Different parameters such as AgNO3 concentration, AEECL concentration, and reaction time were studied to investigate the optimum factors for the preparation of stable and small-sized silver nanoparticles. The spherical shape of colloidal nanosilver (CN-Ag) was confirmed by atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images with sizes of 27 and 12 nm, respectively. A high density of nanoparticles with a small size of 10 nm has been confirmed from dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The zeta potential value of 23 mV indicated that colloidal silver nanoparticles were stable. The nano-tracker analysis (NTA) showed the Brownian motion of silver nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 31 nm. The antioxidant property of CN-Ag was determined using the stable radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. In this study, a significant cytotoxic effect of biosynthesized CN-Ag has been shown against Leishmania tropica parasites at low concentrations (1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 µg/mL). These results could be used as a future alternative drug or could be a supportive treatment for Leishmaniasis

Influences of socio-cultural values to community housing design in the Gaza Strip Palestine

Rapid socio-cultural change in contemporary life is affecting housing design in the Gaza Strip Palestine. Alongside design issues of housing, the absence of sociocultural values is also one of the serious problems facing the community of the Gaza Strip . Academic literature shows that socio -cultural values are deeply rooted in housing design and can play an integral role in developing sustainable communities. Thus, scholars believe that socio-cultural values should be incorporated in housing design and have suggested further inquiry . However , integrating socio -cultural values in housing design is a challenge . Against this background , the current study aims to investigate the relationships between socio -cultural values and housing design by bridging research gaps identified in the literature. This study employed the triangulation study design using both quantitative and qualitative data to address the research objectives. The quantitative data of 252 respondents were obtained through questionnaires , followed by seven semi -structured interviews conducted with residents from the Gaza Strip to complement quantitative results and provide better understanding of socio-cultural values in the context of housing design. Quantitative data was analysed through structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS 22 and qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis using NVIVO 11. The quantitative findings revealed that social values namely family structure (FS), family values (FV ), family life style (FLS ) and cultural factors namely privacy (PV ), religion and attitude beliefs (RAB), safety and security (SS) related positively with housing design (HD ). Several major themes of social and cultural values also emerged in explaining housing design. This study makes a novel contribution based on socio-cultural values and housing design in the field of built environment

Zinc Status In Pregnant Women In The Third Trimester

الهدف من هذه الدراسة هو تقييم معدل الزنك في النساء الحوامل. أجريت هذه الدراسة في ولاية الخرطوم، في مستشفى بشاير قسم النساء والتوليد. في الفترة ما بين نوفمبر 2015 ويناير 2016 وقد شملت 50 من النساء الحوامل، 25فى الأشهر الثلاثة الأولى و 25 فى الأشهر الثلاثة الأخيرة و20 من النساء غير الحوامل كمجموعة تحكم . وتتراوح أعمار هن بين 20 و 40 عاما. في الدراسة الحالية متوسط معدل الزنك في النساء الحوامل فى الأشهر الثلاثة الاخيرة (0.27 ± 0.12 ملغ / ل) أقل بكثير من الأشهر الثلاثة الأولى (0.43 ± 0.25 ملغ / ل) (p<0.01) . كان متوسط معدل الزنك في النساء الحوامل فى الأشهر الثلاثة الأخيرة أقل بكثير مقارنة بالنساء غير الحوامل (0.48 ± 0.21 ملغ / ل) ((p<0.001 كان معدل الزنك طبيعي بنسبة (18٪) و (82٪) لديهم نقص فى معدل الزنك