The Multifunctionality of a Morpheme Proposes its Morphosyntactic Features and their Specifications: Feature Matrix

Multifunctionality is a cross linguistic phenomenon. It refers to the linguistic capability of a linguistic form to manifest itself in different syntactic structures that result in different syntactic functions. Treating multifunctionality from a generative perspective, the paper focuses on the different functions of the Hijazi Arabic (HA) maa and contributes to the HA literature by describing these different functions and claiming that they are not instances of homonymy, but of multifunctionality. Those different functions are governed by the different syntactic environments that maa occurs in. Its occurrence in multiple syntactic environments suggests that maa has a feature matrix that includes its morphosyntactic features and their specifications that express the appropriate use and interpretation of a given structure. The findings show that maa may function as a negative particle, emphatic particle, relative pronoun, infinitival particle, conditional particle, interrogative particle, exclamative particle and a particle of inclusion. These uses differ in their syntactic flexibility and rigidity (restrictedness). Although more than one function can incorporate to express multiple senses, the salient point about the different functions of maa is that there is no semantic or syntactic ambiguity between its functions

Grammaticalization Cases Through the Four Linguistic shifts

The present study aims at describing the grammaticalization phenomenon of some HA elements that, to the best of the author’s knowledge, have not been dealt with. It argues that the elements xən, ʕsəs and lissa have gradually developed from the verb xalla, the preposition phrases (PP) ʕla asa:s and ila al-sa:ʕah respectively. To achieve this, the paper speculates that these developed forms have followed the prevalently agreed upon grammaticalization chains where they have undergone desemanticization (semantic shift), decategorialization (morphosyntactic shift), cliticization (morphophonological shift) and erosion (phonetic shift). These chains exhibit the grammaticalization stages of the elements under study

Quality Distance Education for Early Childhood During the Corona Pandemic: The Perceptions of Female Teachers

The corona (Covid-19) pandemic caused the closure of kindergarten institutions and schools around the world which forced higher authorities to shift focus towards online distance education. The impact of the pandemic was so severe that it affected almost a quarter of the people lives, public health and above all the education sectors. The present study was designed according to the Servqual Model using sample perceptions of early childhood parameters in Saudi Arabia and Jordan utilizing online questionnaires to collect the responses from 157 teachers.  The quality of the online education services provided for primary school children due to Covid-19 suffered greatly as the teachers were not accustomed to the technology of distance learning. The present study recommends the need to explore the research of the high level for primary school children’s study tool where teachers and parents will be able to deal with online platforms effectively. During the present unavoidable crisis, the article presents an easier and equitable platform for every child in the family

ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF PLANT EXTRACTS FROM RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA) ON MDA-MB-231 BREAST CANCER CELLS

Background: Medicinal plants have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of numerous diseases worldwide. There is a dire need for new anticancer agents and plants used in traditional medicine are a particularly useful source. Materials and methods: In this study, extracts of five different plants that grow in the desert of Saudi Arabia were evaluated to assess their cytotoxicity against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Soxhlet extraction was carried out on the leaves and stems using different solvents. The cytotoxicity of these extracts against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells was assessed using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. The apoptotic cellular morphological changes were observed using inverted and fluorescence microscopes. Results: Our results showed that two of the five different medicinal plants (Rumex vesicarius and Malva parviflora) exhibited strong anticancer activity against the breast cancer cells. Specifically, 2 of the 40 extracts (from the five studied plants) showed promising activity. The chloroform extract of the stem of R. vesicarius (RSV CHCL3) exhibited moderate anticancer activity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 230 µg/mL while that of the hexane extract of M. parviflora stems (MPS Hex) was 248 µg/mL. Loss of cell integrity, shrinkage of the cytoplasm, and cell detachment were observed in the extract-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusion: R. vesicarius and M. parviflora chloroform and n-hexane stem extracts showed significant cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells

Studies on Polybenzimidazole and Methanesulfonate Protic-Ionic-Liquids-Based Composite Polymer Electrolyte Membranes

Funding Information: This project was funded by the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Award Number (2-17-01-001-0042). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.In the present work, different methanesulfonate-based protic ionic liquids (PILs) were synthesized and their structural characterization was performed using FTIR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Their thermal behavior and stability were studied using DSC and TGA, respectively, and EIS was used to study the ionic conductivity of these PILs. The PIL, which was diethanolammonium-methanesulfonate-based due to its compatibility with polybenzimidazole (PBI) to form composite membranes, was used to prepare proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for prospective high-temperature fuel cell application. The prepared PEMs were further characterized using FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, and EIS. The FTIR results indicated good interaction among the PEM components and the DSC results suggested good miscibility and a plasticizing effect of the incorporated PIL in the PBI polymer matrix. All the PEMs showed good thermal stability and good proton conductivity for prospective high-temperature fuel cell application.publishersversionpublishe

Characterization of Thermal, Ionic Conductivity and Electrochemical Properties of Some p-Tosylate Anions-Based Protic Ionic Compounds

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Award Number (2-17-01-001-0042In the present work, six protic ionic liquid (PIL) compounds based on p-toluene sulfonic acid [PTSA] anion along with different cations viz. tetraethylenepentammonium [TEPA], triethy-lammonium [TEA], pyridinium [Py], N-methylpiperidinium [Pip], 1-methylimidazolium [Im], and N-methylpyrrolidinium [Pyrr] were synthesized using the standard neutralization reaction method. The structural characterization of these compounds was achieved using FTIR,1H and13C NMR spectroscopies. Thermal behavior was studied using differential scanning calorimetry to determine the melting point (Tm) and crystallization (Tc ) temperatures. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to determine the thermal stability and degradation temperatures (Tdec) and to ascertain the hygroscopic or hydrophobic nature of the synthesized compounds. Structural effects on the outcome of various properties were witnessed and discussed in detail. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was utilized to study the electrical transport properties of the PILs at different temperatures. Cyclic voltammetry was performed to analyze the electrochemical stability of these PILs. Low values of activation energy indicating easy proton transportation along with good electrochemical stability make the PILs a potential candidate for use in the preparation of polymer electrolytes membranes for fuel cell applications.publishersversionpublishe

Experimental Investigation of Metal-Based Calixarenes as Dispersed Catalyst Precursors for Heavy Oil Hydrocracking

Slurry-phase hydrocracking utilizing metal-containing oil-soluble compounds as precursors of dispersed catalysts is an effective approach for heavy oil upgrading. We propose applying metal-based p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene (TBC[6]s) organic species as dispersed catalyst precursors to enhance catalytic hydrogenation reactions involved in the upgrading of vacuum gas oil (VGO). Co- and Ni-based TBC[6]s were synthesized and characterized by SEM-EDX, ICP, XRD, and FT-IR. The thermogravimetric and calorimetric behaviors of the synthesized complexes, which are key properties of dispersed hydrocracking catalysts, were also explored. The experimental evaluation of the synthesized catalyst precursors show that the synthesized metal-based TBC[6] catalyst precursors improved the catalytic hydrogenation reactions. A co-catalytic system was also investigated by adding a commercial, first-stage hydrocracking supported catalyst in addition to the dispersed catalysts. The naphtha yields increased from 10.7 wt.% for the supported catalyst to 11.7 wt.% and 12 wt.% after adding it along with Ni-TBC[6] and Co-TBC[6], respectively. Mixing the metal-based precursors resulted in elevated yields of liquid products due to the in situ generation of highly active Co–Ni bimetallic dispersed catalysts.This research was funded by Deanship of Research Oversight and Coordination (DROC) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), grant number DF181018