The Influence of Social Media on Palestinian Secondary Schools English Writing Skills from English Teachers’ Perspectives in Jenin Region

Writing skills play a crucial role in this modern world, and one must develop these skills to excel in teaching-learning processes. Therefore, writing becomes one of the most important abilities of all four language skills to communicate effectively in this global environment. Since English is commonly used throughout the world, learners need to acquire their writing skills to be effective in their respective fields. The teachers have to consider and seek to incorporate different teaching methods, especially social media, during these challenging times with the presence of COVID 19. This study aimed to find out the influence of social media on Palestinian secondary schools' English writing skills from teachers' perspectives in the Jenin region, and also the influence of (gender, academic qualification, and years of experience) variables in the influence of social media on Palestinian secondary school's English writing skills from teachers' perspectives in the Jenin region. The study sample consists of (30) Palestinian secondary schools English language teachers who will select randomly in the scholastic year (2019-2020). Thus, the researcher adopted the descriptive-analytic approach (quantitative method). The results show that a negative influence of social media on Palestinian secondary schools students' English writing skill

Improved Methods for Fluorescence Microscopy Detection of Macromolecules at the Axon Initial Segment

The axonal initial segment (AIS) is the subcellular compartment required for initiation of the action potential in neurons. Scaffolding and regulatory proteins at the AIS cluster with ion channels ensuring the integrity of electrical signaling. Interference with the configuration of this protein network can lead to profound effects on neuronal polarity, excitability, cell-to-cell connectivity and brain circuit plasticity. As such, the ability to visualize AIS components with precision provides an invaluable opportunity for parsing out key molecular determinants of neuronal function. Fluorescence-based immunolabeling is a sensitive method for morphological and molecular characterization of fine structures in neurons. Yet, even when combined with confocal microscopy, detection of AIS elements with immunofluorescence has been limited by the loss of antigenicity caused by fixative materials. This technical barrier has posed significant limitations in detecting AIS components alone or in combination with other markers. Here, we designed improved protocols targeted to confocal immunofluorescence detection of the AIS marker fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) in combination with the cytoskeletal-associated protein Ankyrin-G, the scaffolding protein βIV-spectrin, voltage-gated Na+ (Nav) channels (especially the Nav1.6 isoform) and critical cell type-specific neuronal markers such as parvalbumin, calbindin, and NeuN in the mouse brain. Notably, we demonstrate that intracardiac perfusion of animals with a commercially available solution containing 1% formaldehyde and 0.5% methanol, followed by brief fixation with cold acetone is an optimal and sensitive protocol for FGF14 and other AIS marker detection that guarantees excellent tissue integrity. With variations in the procedure, we also significantly improved the detection of Nav1.6, a Nav isoform known for its fixative-sensitivity. Overall, this study provides an ensemble of immunohistochemical recipes that permit excellent staining of otherwise invisible molecules within well-preserved tissue architecture. While improving the specific investigation of AIS physiology and cell biology, our thorough study can also serve as a roadmap for optimizing immunodetection of other fixative-sensitive proteins expanding the repertoire of enabling methods for brain studies

Chemometrics and Spectroscopic Analyses of Peganum harmala Plant’s Seeds by Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

In the present work, the rapid identification of elements and their relative chemical com‐ position in various Peganum harmala seed samples were investigated using a calibration‐free laser‐ induced breakdown spectroscopy technique (CF‐LIBS). A pulsed Nd:YAG laser‐source with a 5 ns pulse‐duration, and 10 Hz pulse repetition rates providing 400 and 200 mJ energy at 1064 and 532 nm wavelength, respectively, was focused on the Peganum harmala seed samples for ablation. A LIBS 2000+ spectrometer within the wavelength range (200 to 720 nm), emission‐spectra were recorded. The measured spectra of the Peganum harmala sample gives spectral lines of Carbon (C), Magnesium (Mg), Lithium (Li), Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Silicon (Si), Iron (Fe), Strontium (Sr), Copper (Cu), Potassium (K), and Lead (Pb). A CF‐LIBS technique has been employed for the compositional study of the elements exist in the Peganum harmala seed samples. The measured results demonstrate that C, Mg, and Ca are found to be major elements in the Peganum harmala seed samples with composi‐ tions of ~36.64%, ~24.09%, and ~19.03%, respectively. Along with the major elements, the elements including Li, Na, Si, K, Fe, and Sr were identified as minor elements with compositions of ~2.87%, ~2.33%, ~3.72%, ~7.17%, ~2.83%, and ~1.14%, respectively. Besides Cu (~8.07 μg/g), and Pb (~1.10 μg/g) elements were observed as trace elements exist in the Peganum harmala seed samples. Further‐ more, the electron number density including the plasma excitation‐temperature were calculated using the stark‐broadening line profile method and the Saha–Boltzmann plot method, respectively. The plasma parameters versus laser‐irradiance and the distance from the sample were further in‐ vestigated. Moreover, a principal component analysis (PCA) method was also utilized to the spec‐ tral data obtained by using LIBS to discriminate various seed samples with four classes, namely, α, β, γ, and Δ. Three principal‐components (PCs) calculated from eigenvalues of score matrix de‐ scribed 87.6%, 4.6%, and 2.5% of total variance for PC1, PC2, and PC3, respectively. The LIBS spec‐ tral data variance covered by the initial 3 PCS was found as ~94.7% of total variance. The PCA results have successfully demonstrated the different classes of the Peganum harmala seed samples based on the different doping compositional ratios of the Zn element. This study confirmed the feasibility and ability of LIBS and PCA for the rapid analysis of Peganum harmala seed samples. Finally, the results achieved using CF‐LIBS were incorporated with those obtained from the XRF and EDX an‐ alytical techniques

New Use of the SSRI Fluvoxamine in the Treatment of COVID-19 Symptoms

From the perspective of repurposing medication, recent evidence suggests that the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) can help reduce the severity of symptoms and death associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. To focus more, COVID-19 is a viral disease with potentially high risk of symptoms. There is presently no cure. However, there are specific treatments that may help manage the condition. Since the SSRI fluvoxamine has a unique mechanism of action in reducing cytokine production, researchers have started to relate the antiviral effects via modulation of sigma-1 receptors with the vision of treatment options for COVID-19 patients. The scope of this chapter is to examine different mechanisms of fluvoxamine in relation to immune response, including both the serotonin and the sigma-1 receptor-related mechanisms. Addressing the impact of fluvoxamine in minimizing possible complications during COVID-19 infection

An Analysis of the Reality of the Palestinian Press During Its Field Coverage. Sherine Abu Aqleh's Assassination: A Case Study

The aim of this research paper is to clarify the challenges Palestinian media professionals face as a result of their work. It uses the assassination of Sherine Abu Aqleh, an Al-Jazeera correspondent, as a model, and discusses the legal repercussions of the scene where she was assassinated by an Israeli sniper while covering the Jenin camp invasion on Monday, May 11, 2022, and her martyrdom. Qualitative research and semi structured interviews will be used to collect information for this scientific paper. The interview will include open and closed questions that can be analyzed by the journalists accompanied by Sherine Abu Aqleh when she was assassinated. They are Ali Smoudi, Shatha Hanaysha, and Mujahid Al-Saadi. Interviewers' consent will be obtained before recording and analyzing their answers. In addition, the researchers conducted a number of interviews with lawyers and activists from human rights institutions as well as journalists who testified at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva last month

R270C polymorphism leads to loss of function of the canine P2X7 receptor

The relative function of the P2X7 receptor, an ATP-gated ion channel, varies between humans due to polymorphisms in the P2RX7 gene. This study aimed to assess the functional impact of P2X7 variation in a random sample of the canine population. Blood and genomic DNA were obtained from 69 dogs selected as representatives of a cross section of different breeds. P2X7 function was determined by flow cytometric measurements of dye uptake and patch-clamp measurements of inward currents. P2X7 expression was determined by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry. Sequencing was used to identify P2RX7 gene polymorphisms. P2X7 was cloned from an English springer spaniel, and point mutations were introduced into this receptor by site-directed mutagenesis. The relative function of P2X7 on monocytes varied between individual dogs. The canine P2RX7 gene encoded four missense polymorphisms: F103L and P452S, found in heterozygous and homozygous dosage, and R270C and R365Q, found only in heterozygous dosage. Moreover, R270C and R365Q were associated with the cocker spaniel and Labrador retriever, respectively. F103L, R270C, and R365Q but not P452S corresponded to decreased P2X7 function in monocytes but did not explain the majority of differences in P2X7 function between dogs, indicating that other factors contribute to this variability. Heterologous expression of site-directed mutants of P2X7 in human embryonic kidney-293 cells indicated that the R270C mutant was nonfunctional, the F103L and R365Q mutants had partly reduced function, and the P452S mutant functioned normally. Taken together, these data highlight that a R270C polymorphism has major functional impact on canine P2X7