A Comparison between the Israeli and Palestinian Twelfth Grade Textbooks in Reading Comprehension

This study aimed at evaluating the reading texts in student Book ,English for Palestine-Grade 12 and TOP MARKS " Israeli 12th Grade textbook in order to find out to what extent the reading texts in English for Palestine-Grade12 and TOP MARKS " Israeli 12th Grade match the suggested criteria. It also aimed at identifying the areas of similarities and differences in these reading texts. To fulfill the aims of the study, the researcher followed the descriptive analytical approach. He used a content analysis card to collect the needed data. Reliability was examined through the help of two colleague researchers who volunteered to analyze the reading texts. For the reading texts many tasks were designed to help students grasp the ideas and questions were graded and sequenced. English for Palestine and TOP MARKS aimed to make students learn intensively; however TOP MARKS paid more attention to extensive reading than did English for Palestine . Referring to culture both textbooks tackled issues related to culture. Higher order thinking skills were more clearly employed in TOP MARKS than English forPalestine. All texts in TOP MARKS were authentic. On the other hand, only one unit of English forPalestine was authentic. In English for Palestine Grade 12 there was no much employment of exercises that require students to infer the author's attitude, or activities that demand the students to distinguish between facts and opinions .similarly, there were no exercises that require students to find meanings of new vocabulary in contexts or relate the text to their personal experience and work out answers in pairs and groups, however in TOP MARKS these tasks and activities were much more employed. Concerning highlighted or coloured new vocabularies, they were apparently employed in the whole units of English for Palestine Grade 12; however, they were completely neglected in TOP MARKS Grade 12. Information gap activities were clearly introduced in the whole units of TOP MARKS Grade 12, but in English forPalestine few activities were used. Concerning presentation and layout, all items in the content of the two books were approximately similar. Both textbooks contained charts, graphics and maps. In TOP MARKS Grade 12, students were left for further information or titles to be searched .The objectives were found out to be more clearly presented in TOP MARKS. In English for Palestine the use of prerequisite was employed but in top marks it was totally neglected. The study recommends that interactive task and activities should be introduced for the reading in English for Palestine

¿Cómo te llamas? en No sabía que los pavos reales volasen

Traducción de un relato del escritor egipcio Bahá Tahi

أثر شرط التحكيم على الحصانة القضائية للدولة

تهدف الدراسة إلى البحث في مسألة الحصانة القضائية للدولة باعتبارها مشكلة بحد ذاتها، وتحديدًا فيما يتعلق بعقود الاستثمار الأجنبي والمنازعات التي تنشب بين أطرافها ولجوئهم إلى التحكيم. فالصفة العامة للدولة بوصفها طرفاً في التحكيم وتمتعها بالحصانة القضائية في مواجهة الخضوع للقضاء الوطني تقتضي التعامل معها بحذر شديد ومنحها معاملة تفضيلية من جانب سلطات الدول الأخرى لما قد تسببه تلك المعاملة من اضطراب في العلاقات الدولية. واعتمدت هذه الدراسة على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي والبحث في أبرز ما ورد في المقالات والبحوث القانونية التي تناولت موضوع الدراسة. وتوصلت إلى العديد من النتائج كان من أبرزها: يجب تحقيق التوازن بين مفهومي المصلحة العامة للدولة وتحقيق سيادتها، وحماية مصالحها، وأيضاً تحقيق مصلحة الأطراف المتعاقدة في عقود الاستثمار بما لا يؤثر على سيادة الدولة من خلال إقرار شرط التحكيم الذي يقوم على إرادة المتعاقدين ورضاهم. كما فرضت ضرورة التعامل الدولي بين الدول في ظل التطورات الاقتصادية الهائلة ضرورة تنظيم مسألة الحصانات القضائية للدول وإيجاد حلول لتمسك الدولة بحصانتها القضائية مقابل الامتثال لشرط الحكيم في حال حدوث النزاعات ولكن ضرورة التعاون الدولي، تفرض على الدول أن تقدم تسهيلات لجذب الاستثمارات وبالمقابل يمكنها أن تطلب ضمانات من المستثمرين أمام القضاء الوطني لدولة عن إبرام عقد الاستثمار ممارسة نشاطهم

Исследование фазового состава продуктов электрохимического окисления медь-кадмиевой системы в различных растворах электролитов

Разработка эффективных способов получения наноразмерных порошков оксидов металлов обусловлена расширяющейся сферой их применения в современных технологиях. Одним из таких способов является электрохимический синтез на переменном токе. Объектами исследования являются металлические медь, кадмий и продукты электрохимического окисления на переменном токе. Цель работы – изучение состава и свойств продуктов окисления кадмия и меди, полученных электролизом на переменном токе и выбор оптимальных условий электрохимического синтеза. В процессе исследования проводились опыты по получению продуктов электролиза на переменном токе меди и кадмия, рентгенофазовый анализ полученных продуктов, определение удельной поверхности методом БЭТ.Development of effective methods for producing nanoscale metal oxide powders is due to the expanding scope of their application in modern technologies. One such method is the electrochemical synthesis of an alternating current. Objects of the study are metallic copper, cadmium, and the electrochemical oxidation products alternating current. The purpose of the work - the study of composition and properties of cadmium and copper oxidation products produced by electrolysis of an alternating current and the choice of optimal conditions for electrochemical synthesis. During the experiments studies were conducted to obtain the products of electrolysis ac copper and cadmium, X-ray analysis of the product, determining the specific surface area by the BET method

Toward the Allelopathy of Peganum sp. and Related Chemical Constituents in Agriculture

The genus Peganum constitutes one of the perennial groups of plants of semi-arid regions across the world. It produces diverse classes of metabolites with claimed valuable pharmacological applications. Despite the key chemical and biological properties of the genus, its allelopathy or that of one of its species has not been reviewed yet. Thus, the present survey aims to report the agricultural applications of extracts, fractions, and compounds from the genus Peganum. This work was based on the available literature related to both the Peganum genus and agriculture, which were generated from available high-impact scientific engines. The plants in this genus contain a large group of secondary metabolites including phenolic compounds, terpenes, and N-containing compounds. Alkaloids, as the main components of the extracts from plants in the genus, were identified as the major active principles. The toxicity of Peganum isolates against plants and related pest organisms was also reviewed. Extract preparations from species of Peganum were listed among insecticidal and herbicidal allelochemicals used for crop protection. The review also tried to contextualize natural products in agriculture. Peganum plant extracts and fractions have showed significant potential in weed and crops management, soil health, and biopesticide production

Isolation of Myricitrin and 3,5-di-O-Methyl Gossypetin from Syzygium samarangense and Evaluation of their Involvement in Protecting Keratinocytes against Oxidative Stress via Activation of the Nrf-2 Pathway

The wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) is traditionally employed as an antibacterial and immunostimulant drug in traditional medicine. This plant is rich in different flavonoids and tannins. In this study, we isolated two compounds from S. samarangense leaves: myricitrin and 3,5-di-O-methyl gossypetin. Then, we investigated the mechanisms of action of the two compounds against oxidative stress (induced by sodium arsenite) and inflammation (induced by UV light) on human keratinocytes. We could clearly demonstrate that the pre-treatment of cells with both compounds was able to mitigate the negative effects induced by oxidative stress, as no alteration in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, glutathione (GSH) level, or protein oxidation was observed. Additionally, both compounds were able to modulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways to counteract oxidative stress activation. Finally, we showed that 3,5-di-O-methyl gossypetin exerted its antioxidant activity through the nuclear transcription factor-2 (Nrf-2) pathway, stimulating the expression of antioxidant proteins, such as HO-1 and Mn-SOD-3

GLC-MS profiling of non-polar extracts from Phlomis bucharica and P. salicifolia and their cytotoxicity

Phlomis species (Phlomis bucharica Regel and P. salicifolia Regel) have been traditionally used by Uzbek people as stimulant, tonic, diuretic, and in the treatment of ulcers, hemorrhoids, wounds and gynecological problems. In the present study, we characterized the chemical composition of non-polar extracts from P. bucharica and P. salicifolia by high resolution GLC-MS and evaluated their cytotoxicity. Concentrations of hexadecanoic acid in hexane and chloroform extracts were higher in P. bucharica than in P. salicifolia. 1,8- Cineol, camphor, borneol, α-terpinol, thymol, and isobornyl acetate were detected in P. bucharica but not in P. salicifolia. About 45 components were identified in P. bucharica and 40 in P. salicifolia. The chloroform extract from P. bucharica showed cytotoxicity in HeLa and HL-60 cells, with IC50 values of 26.07 and 29.42 μg/ml, respectively

Thymus algeriensis and Thymus fontanesii exert neuroprotective effect against chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain in rats

We have previously demonstrated that the Thymus algeriensis and Thymus fontanesii extracts have powerful anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic effects against acute pain models. We profiled their chemical composition and found many phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phenolic diterpenes. In this work, we investigated their antioxidant properties on HaCaT cells exposed to UVA-induced oxidative stress and examined their effects against chronic neuropathic pain and the underlying mechanisms. Through a rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model, we induced chronic neuropathic pain by placing 4 loose ligatures around the right sciatic nerve for 14 days. Thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in addition to cold and dynamic allodynia were tested on the day before surgery and on the 7th and 14th post-surgery days. Key markers of the nitrosative and oxidative stresses, in addition to markers of inflammation, were measured at day 14 post surgery. Histopathological examination and immunostaining of both synaptophysin and caspase-3 of sciatic nerve and brain stem were also performed. Results of this study showed that T. algeriensis extract suppresses UVA oxidative stress in HaCaT cells via activation of the Nrf-2 pathway. Both extracts attenuated hyperalgesia and allodynia at 7- and 14-days post-surgery with more prominent effects at day 14 of surgery. Their protective effects against neuropathic pain were mediated by inhibiting NOX-1, iNOS, by increasing the enzyme activity of catalase, and inhibition of inflammatory mediators, NF-κB, TNF-α, lipoxygenase, COX-2 enzymes, and PGE2. Furthermore, they improved deleterious structural changes of the brainstem and sciatic nerve. They also attenuated the increased caspase-3 and synaptophysin. The data indicate that both extracts have neuroprotective effects against chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain. The observed protective effects are partially mediated through attenuation of oxidative and nitrosative stress and suppression of both neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, suggesting substantial activities of both extracts in amelioration of painful peripheral neuropathy

Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds. and Salvia officinalis L. hydrosols mitigate aging related comorbidities in rats

IntroductionAging is often linked to oxidative stress, where the body experiences increased damage from free radicals. Plants are rich sources of antioxidants, playing a role in slowing down aging and supporting the proper functioning and longevity of cells. Our study focuses on exploring the impact of Mentha rotundifolia (MR) and Salvia officinalis (SO) hydrosols on aging-related comorbidities.MethodsThe chemical composition of MR and SO hydrosols was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. 2,2-Diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,20-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radicals scavenging assays were used to assess their in vitro antioxidant activity, and heat induced albumin denaturation test was used to evaluate their anti-inflammatory activity. Subsequently, we administered 5% of each plant hydrosol in the drinking water of 18-month-old rats for six months. We then conducted behavioral tests, including open field, dark/light box, rotarod, and Y-maze assessments, and measured biochemical parameters in plasma, liver and brain tissues.Results and discussionAt two years old, animals treated with MR and SO hydrosols displayed fewer physical and behavioral impairments, along with well-preserved redox homeostasis in comparison with animals in the control group. These results highlighted the significance of MR and SO hydrosols in addressing various aspects of age-related comorbidities. The study suggests that these plant-derived hydrosols may have potential applications in promoting healthy aging and mitigating associated health challenges