CRITICAL CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON TEACHING ARABIC AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TAFL): A CRITICAL ETHNOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION OF A US COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSE

A gap in the critical cultural research paradigm in foreign language teaching (FLT) and teaching Arabic as a foreign language (TAFL) at the college level in the U.S. context subsists. FLT and TAFL have been characterized by the prevalence of the communicative and proficiency-based pedagogies and their concomitant research frameworks. This prevalence is tied to the growing neoliberal and terror rhetoric in recent years (Kramsch, 2005; Bernstein et al., 2015). In the face of the latter, a need for critical cultural frameworks of teaching and research became plausible to deconstruct the different clichés and biases in the context of Arabic teaching, and namely in this study, the stereotyping techniques that Arabs and Muslims have been experiencing since the 9/11 terrorist attacks (Morey & Yaqin, 2011; Kramsch, 2005). The ultimate goal is to provide insights on culturally inclusive pedagogies in the Arabic and foreign language classrooms. I corresponded to the gap mentioned above through a critical deconstruction of the development of cultural representations across a variety of classroom discourses in an advanced college-level Arabic course. In so doing, I benefited from the critical ethnographic orientation for data collection, (Carspecken, 1996; Madison, 2012; Emerson, Fretz & Shaw, 2011), critical discourse analysis (CDA) (Fairclough, 2003, 2008), and thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) for data analysis. Through CDA (Fairclough, 2008), I analyzed two readings and two subsequent in-class debate activities to critically disclose the types of cultural representations constructed in them vis-à-vis their ideological underpinnings as well as the macro- and micro-contextual elements that construe them. Via thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), I analyzed the participants’ interviews to pin down the factors that informed or hindered their cultural engagements with the course’s materials Conclusions are concerned with six points: 1- Texts are ideological artifacts, and they potentially play a role in the augmentation of cultural stereotypes, 2- instructional genres may contribute to the development of cultural clichés, 3- students’ perceptions of Arab cultures may entail cultural decontextualization and labeling, 4- semantics and syntax might represent incentives as well as barriers for cultural growth, 5- goals for Arabic learning may range from economic to social incentives, and 6- the immersion and shared cultural experiences are potential means for cultural connections. Findings suggest recommendations for teaching and research that can enhance inclusive cultural engagements to challenge the cultural labeling dynamics and the neoliberal drive in the foreign language classroom context. The latter can be achieved via reading texts against the grain, deconstruction of the instructional genre, drawing on the immersion and personal experiences as means for all-encompassing cultural engagements, emphasizing non-neoliberal language learning goals, and reconceptualizing the learning of semantics and syntax in foreign language teaching

Effect of Educational Intervention Guideline on Quality of Life among Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Contexts: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disorder among women during the childbearing period that diminished women’s quality of life.Aim: The current study evaluated the effect of educational intervention guidelines on quality of life among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: The current study was conducted at the outpatient gynecological clinic at Benha University Hospital. A Quasi-experimental design was used to collect data from a purposive sample of 98 women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. Three tools were used for data collection. A structured interviewing questionnaire, a healthy practice assessment scale, and health-related quality of life questionnaire for polycystic ovary syndrome. Results: The study findings revealed that women's knowledge mean score was increased from (8.84±5.72) pre-intervention to (33.56±3.91) at post-intervention. Besides, the healthy practice was satisfactory improved, as practice mean score was increased from (11.41±4.56) to (28.85±2.47) at the post-intervention phase, with a statistically significant difference between the two phases, that subsequently affect the improvement of studied women’s quality of life. Conclusion: An educational intervention guideline is effectively improving the quality of life of women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Educational intervention guideline is essentially recommended for women with polycystic ovary in order to improve different quality of life domains. Counseling and health education program must be provided to all women who attended gynecological clinics to increase women's knowledge regarding PCOS and its management, to enable early detection, and to improve their quality of life. A replication of the study on a larger probability sample in order to obtain generalizability is highly recommended

The dynamic relationship between exchange rate, interest rate and stock market; comparison between ASEAN5 and ASEAN5+3

The global market has been witnessing great volatility which gave importance to estimating the linkage among economic and financial variables and their response to shocks, making it a major concern for both policymakers and investors. Among these markets; the ASEAN5, along with their major trading partners, Plus Three (China, Japan and Korea) are gaining attention in trade, domestic and foreign investment, creating a need to understand how major variables are interrelated in this market. Therefore this study examines the joint dynamic relationship between exchange rate (against USD), interest rate and stock market, investigating the effect of innovation on the linkage comparing between ASEAN5 and ASEAN5+3 from 2007:9 to 2017:3. For this purpose causality, VAR, VECM, Impulse response and Variance decomposition were employed. The results showed there is long run relation between the variables in ASEAN5 based on VECM, a result not confirmed in ASEAN5+3, although there is cointegration. A negative relation exists between exchange and interest, while the direction was not confirmed with stock. The lag values of exchange rate do not have predictive power over stocks in ASEAN5+3. In the short run convergence to and divergence from equilibrium was found in ASEAN5+3 and ASEAN5 respectively. Innovation to stock negatively affects exchange rate and interest rate in both markets. Changes in stock do not immediately affect exchange rate in ASEAN5, whereas in ASEAN5+3 was stock own innovations accounted for most of the variation. Therefore, policymakers need to reduce intervention but also be in control when needed and investors are advised to diversify to reduce risks

Evaluation of the Predictive value of C-reactive Protein, Interleukin-6 and their derived immune-inflammatory indices in COVID-19 Egyptian patients

Background: In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), finding sensitive biomarkers is critical for detecting severe cases early and intervening effectively. Aim of the work:  To compare and evaluate the value of pretreatment c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and their derived immune-inflammatory indices (CRP/albumin (CRP/alb), lymphocyte/CRP (L/CRP), and lymphocyte/IL-6 (L/IL-6)) in the prediction of COVID-19 severity and in-hospital mortality. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 85 confirmed COVID-19 patients, their complete blood count with differential, as well as albumin and IL-6 levels on the day of their hospital admission, were assessed and compared. We followed all patients till their in-hospital death or discharge from the hospital. Results: On admission levels of CRP, IL-6, and CRP/alb were significantly higher (p < /em>=0.001) in severe patients and non-survivors, but L/CRP and L/IL-6 were significantly lower (p < /em>=0.001) compared to non-severe patients and non-survivors. CRP/alb and L/CRP at cut-offs of 1.65 and 260.86, respectively, were the best predictors for COVID-19 severity, while IL-6 and L/IL-6 at cut-offs of 120 pg/ml and 5.40, respectively, were the best predictors for COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. IL-6 was an independent risk factor associated with severe disease development (odds ratio (OR): 1.033; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002-1.066). Conclusions: Pretreatment levels of CRP, IL-6, and their derived indices should be included in the diagnostic work-up of COVID-19 to determine the severity and predict the outcome

Methods of expression in the work of Painting art education students as a variable for the movement in the image

The title of the research: "Methods of expression in the work of Painting art education students as a variable for the movement in the image"Prepared by Prof. Shaimaa Abdel-Azeem Moustafa Shams El-Dain - Assistant Professor of Painting, Department of Drawing and Painting, Faculty of Art Education, Minia University E.mail address: [email protected] Expression is the language of communication between the artist and his artistic work and between the artistic work and the recipient, and the human being expresses thousands of life experiences through thousands of means that depend on showing, and expression is a group of influences and emotions that give the aesthetic content of any artistic work a special emotional significance. The art of painting from a performative point of view is "the art of distributing dyes or liquid colors on a flat surface of a painting canvas, or a framed painting or paper, in order to create or imagine a sense of space, movement, texture and shape. Therefore, the artist can subject the pictorial materials and conduct experimental practices that help him to create Movement within the image through the organization of the surface and the interconnection of the elements through the means and methods of expressing emotions, and through the above, the current research problem crystallized in the following question, which is how to create movement within the image through methods of expression in the work of photographing art education students. To produce graphic works that depend on their emotions and expressions, as well as trying to direct attention to the elements of expression in work and their role in producing good painting works. Hadith, and determine the imposition of research into the possibility of inducing movement within the image through methods of expression in portraying art education students, through the use of the descriptive approach in knowing Methods of expression in painting and the quasi-experimental approach to knowing how to create movement within the image through the methods of expression in the work of students' painting at the Faculty of Art Education at Minia University

AUGMENTING LANDMARKS: EXTENDING “PLACES” IN THE HYBRID CITY

Several recent technological advancements are substantially altering how we interact with urban spaces. The existing physical space as we know it now encompasses a plethora of emerging realities into which we shift in and out, resulting in what is called Hybrid Spaces. Augmented Reality (AR) today gives way to forms of hybrid realities that are accessible through our handheld devices, and which allow us to engage with our physical reality in a new way. These devices allow us to access and view digital information that is saturating our urban spaces, and yet appear invisible to the naked eye. When this information is localized, it can be used to augment physical space with virtual overlays. These augmentations may become physically linked to the environment, establishing virtual landmarks that could only be accessed via these handheld or wearable digital portals through digital applications. This gives way to new forms of engaging in real-time with our socio-cultural daily activities. The literature shows that urban space is reimagined through augmented reality (AR) which plays a significant role in introducing new augmented “places” supporting our physical ones as hybrid realities. This paper, accordingly, investigates the notion of location-based AR experiences on landmarks in the urban space in accordance with our spatial memory, and how augmented reality through mobile devices, plays an important role as a gateway between our physical space and the virtual one. It also seeks to understand how these augmentations might insert and employ symbolic or personal meanings to the space, based on our different interpretations. In doing so, we conducted an integrative analytical review of the most recent literature, to study the forms of augmentations in multiple cities, and how they are used as agents in our spatial experience. The paper then introduced a framework that could be used to assess users’ satisfaction and the design considerations of the AR spatial experience. Finally, the paper adopts a few recent AR practices to be assessed by the proposed framework

Influence of tooth loss on mandibular morphology : a cone-beam computed tomography study

Tooth loss adversely affects patients? health and psychosocial wellbeing. In addition, it changes mandibular morphology. Objective: To evaluate the effect of tooth loss, age, and gender on mandibular morphology. Cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans of 101 patients were examined to measure the gonial angle (GA), ramus height (RH) and condylar height (CH). Patients? age, gender, and dental status were recorded. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the impact of gender, age, and tooth loss on the GA, RH and CH. The mean measurements of the GA, RH and CH were compared between dentate/edentulous patients after splitting by gender. The GA was larger in edentulous patients compared to dentate ones, in females than in males, and in older than in younger. RH on the right side was significantly longer than on the left side (P< 0.0001), and also longer in males and younger patients. CH was shorter in younger than in older patients and in dentate than in edentulous patients. Tooth loss is associated with changes in mandibular morphology and its prevention would avoid these irreversible changes

Kinetin Ameliorates Cisplatin‐Induced Hepatotoxicity and Lymphotoxicity via Attenuating Oxidative Damage, Cell Apoptosis and Inflammation in Rats

Though several previous studies reported the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant effect of kinetin (Kn), details on its action in cisplatin‐induced toxicity are still scarce. In this study we eval-uated, for the first time, the effects of kinetin in cisplatin (cp)‐ induced liver and lymphocyte toxicity in rats. Wistar male albino rats were divided into nine groups: (i) the control (C), (ii) groups 2,3 and 4, which received 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg kinetin for 10 days; (iii) the cisplatin (cp) group, which received a single intraperitoneal injection of CP (7.0 mg/kg); and (iv) groups 6, 7, 8 and 9, which received, for 10 days, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg kinetin or 200 mg/kg vitamin C, respectively, and Cp on the fourth day. CP‐injected rats showed a significant impairment in biochemical, oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in hepatic tissue and lymphocytes. PCR showed a profound increase in caspase‐3, and a significant decline in AKT gene expression. Intriguingly, Kn treatment restored the biochemical, redox status and inflammatory parameters. Hepatic AKT and caspase‐3 expression as well as CD95 levels in lymphocytes were also restored. In conclusion, Kn mitigated oxidative imbalance, inflammation and apoptosis in CP‐induced liver and lymphocyte toxicity; therefore, it can be considered as a promising therapy

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century