Saturday, January 9, 2010

Problems in Teaching English Conversational Interaction

Problems in Teaching English Conversational Interaction


 
Nadia F. Qawasmi



The study aim to investigate the need for providing more opportunities that stimulate students to participate in actual conversational interaction and the need for a natural atmosphere and comfortable setting are created for teaching English conversational interaction. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 175 students for Beir Ziet, AN-Najah, Bethlehem and Hebron Universities. To ensure the validity of the questionnaire it was given to five specialists. The reliability for the questionnaire was 0.87.

The results of the study showed that the students do not have enough opportunities to practice English in their daily life, and the students who misunderstand the speech of native speakers of English considered pronunciation as the major obstacle, and the heavily reliance on the teacher in class makes it difficult for the learners to interact  with native speakers of English outside the classroom.


Nadia F. Qawasmi
Supervisors
Dr. Ali Habayeb
Dr. Rami Hamadallah
1995

Rainfall - Runoff Process and Modellin for Soreq Stream Subbasin Near Jerusalem

Rainfall - Runoff Process and Modellin for Soreq Stream Subbasin Near Jerusalem


 
Mazin Husni Barakat




The Unit hydrograph and SCS methods were used here to simulate `he runoff coefficient and the, lag time from the mountainous sub-catchment of the Soreq stream near Jerusalem using the data obtained during the period 1957-1994 for frequency analysis and IDF curves. Data ohlained during the period 1994-1996 were used for the rainfall-runoff analysis.

The investigated area is situated near Jerusalem in the watershed of the Soreq and IZafaim streams that flow toward the Mediterranean. The drainage area studied is 167 km2 after excluding the urban area from the stream origin until the Belt Zayit (dam) reservoir. Intensity-Duration-frequency curves were developed for this area by analyzing the historical data of the two rainfall stations using the Gumbel distribution. 'These curves can be used as a reference for the determination of rainfall internsity for different return periods to be used for drainage systems design.

Some of the problem, related to the study area are that the two western outlets of the raw sewage system of Jerusalem, discharge towards Soreq stream. This sewage flov, which is the flow measured at flartov station during the dry periods along the Soceq stream is considered as a base flow all along the study. According to these, measurements, considerable amounts of sewage, water infiltrate along the Soreq stream.

Representative events were analyzed during the study period in order to have an indication of the real amount of excess rainfall that causes the runoff. For each event the area under the direct runoff hydrograph (Vd) was calculated for the derivation of the excess rainfall. For the infiltration rate, the ~ and W index methods were used. The average value of the ~ index was 16.77mm/hr. While the average value of the W index was 3.27rrm/hr. The runoff measured was about 0.3 % of the measured rainfall due to the high percolation rate into the karstic layers of the area. On the other hand, for each event the recession constant K,- was evaluated The average value of this constant for the above events was 0.9925.

Unit hydrographs for these events were obtained. Each unit hydrograph of the above events have a different duration. The lag time measured for these events has an average of 609.25min, while Rising the equations of the SCS method the average was 334.1 lmin. This situation arises the problem of the sewage flow along the stream, which makes the runoff including the sewage deposits flow slowly towards the outlet. These results may be approximated by assuming that the lag time of this watershed equals the time of concentration, instead of 0.6 of the time of concentration as the SCS method suggests.



Mazin Husni Barakat
Supervisors
Dr. Hafez Shaheen
Dr. Anan Jayyousi
2000


Removal of Copper and Zinc by Decaying Leaves

Removal of Copper and Zinc by Decaying Leaves


 
Hadeel Braik




Pollution of water with heavy metals has received a lot of concern recently, as some of these metals have been found to be toxic to human and animals even at low concentrations. Though some of these metals are essential to life, they become toxic when cumulate to certain concentration. Copper and zinc are tow examples. Finding ways to remove metals from polluted water is great importance.

Walnut and poplar leaves have been found capable of removing zinc and copper ions from polluted water.  The effect of several factors on this removal process had been studied.

These factors include pH of solution, type of leaves used, complexing agent present in solution, agitation, leaf extract of leaves, cleaning leaves, drying leaves used, presence of competing ions in solution, size of leaves used, effect of concentration of zinc and amount of walnut leaves\L. Uptake of zinc by walnut leaves has been found to be very dependent on both amount of leaves used and concentration of zinc ions in solution.

The rate of uptake of metal ion by leaves was decreased by the presence of comlexing agents in solution.  It has been found that complexing agents have an adverse effect on the uptake of metal ions by leaves. Presence of foreign ions along with zinc and copper ions in water has different effects on uptake of zinc and copper by leaves.

Oven and naturally dried ; eaves have higher capability to remove metal ions from water than green leaves.  Size of leaves used and cleaning of leaves before use have very small effect on the removal of metal ions. Applicability of two adsorption isotherms, on the experimental results has been examined and the parameters of Fruendlich isotherm have been calculated. The order of interaction of zinc and walnut leaves with respect to zinc has been found to be first order. A mechanism based on the data of adsorption of zinc ions on walnut leaves has been suggested.


Hadeel Braik
Supervisors
Prof. Radi Dauod
Dr. Mohammed M. AL-Subu
1998



Reading Comprehension Strategies of Literature Texts Employed by English Language & Literature Majors at An-Najah National University

Reading Comprehension Strategies of Literature Texts Employed by English Language & Literature Majors at An-Najah National University


 
Khuloud Ahmad Isma'el Al-Asmar




This study aimed at examining the reading comprehension strategies that are employed by the English majors at An-Najah National University while reading literature texts. The population of the study consisted of all third year students registered in "Eighteenth Century Literature" course at AN-Najah National University. The sample of the study consisted of (57) students: (13) males, (44) females.

This investigation into the thoughtful process of comprehension aimed at exploring the way students comprehend literary texts. the type of strategies that are used and contribute more to comprehension, types of problems they encounter, and the effect of gender and specialization in school on the usage of strategies. In addition, the research aimed at investigating the effect of participation in the Think-aloud Protocol. gender and specialization in school on comprehension of literary texts.

To answer these questions, the Think-aloud Protocol experiment was carried out on individual basis. Students' thinking-aloud was recorded by a tape-recorder. Protocols were analyzed using the Strategy Model Sheet developed by the researcher. The results were also analyzed with respect to participants' gender and specialization at school. A Cloze test was also used to assess the students' attainment in the reading comprehension strategies. The test was validated, and the reliability coefficient was (0.75), using test-retest technique. A Two-way Univariate (T-Test) Analysis of variance was employed in analyzing the data obtained, using the program of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).

In the light of the findings of the study, it was recommended that English majors should be given the opportunity to choose between two major specializations -- literature or language. It was also recommended that English Department hold a compulsory reading course for those who want to go through with English literature as a major specialization. It was also recommended that a language laboratory should be established by the university administration. The researcher also recommended that other studies be carried out to assess the reading comprehension strategies taught at preliminary stages at school, detect the effect of achievement level on the reading comprehension process and detect the effect of students' specialization and their use of strategies.


Khuloud Ahmad Isma'el Al-Asmar
Supervisor
Dr. Suzanne Arafat
2000

Removal of Iron from Aqueous Solution Using Walnut and Pomegranate Leaves


Removal of Iron from Aqueous Solution Using Walnut and Pomegranate Leaves


 
Anees A. Abou-Attayeb





It has been suggested that life in any form would probably be ii11E1ossible without the E) rescilce of iroil, but irolt becomes toxic wlie11 its collcelltratlon becomes hlgller flail 0.3 pp111 111 drinking water. Thus finding ways of removing boll or at least reducing    its concentration is of great importance.

Removal of iron from aqueous solutions by twenty different plant leaves known in Palestine was investigated. Effect of several factors on iron removal by two types of leaves, walnut and pomegranate leaves, (whic11 were found to be the most suitable types for iron removal among the types which were studied), has been thoroughly investigated. These factors included concentration of iron ions, amount of walnut or pomegranate leaves, pH, agitation, crushing and drying leaves, leaf extract, complexing agent and competing ions. Iron uptake by walnut and pomegranate leaves was found to be pH dependent. Maximum iron uptake, by the two types, was found at pH 2.50. The rate and amount of iron ion removal increased largely by increasing the initial concentration of iron ions and amount of leaves in solution .

Agitation affected the removal process slightly. The rate of iron ion uptake oil walnut and pomegranate leaves has been found to be affected by the presence o1' complexing agents. Such agents have adverse effects on the iron 1011 uptake by leaves. Presence of foreign ions along with iron ion in water has different effects on the uptake of iron by pomegranate and walnut leaves. Cu, Zn, Ni and As reduced the uptake of iron by pomegranate leaves. Only As ion reduced iron uptake by walnut leaves. Some foreign ions like Ca and Mn increased the rate and amount of iron uptake by pomegranate leaves. Zn, Cu, Na and Ca ions increased iron uptake by walnut leaves, Na ions did not have any effect on the iron uptake by pomegranate leaves, Ni ion had no effect on iron uptake by walnut leaves.

The most efficient form of walnut and pomegranate leaves for removing iron from aqueous solution was to use the ground form of leaves. The capacity of various forms of walnut and pomegranate leaves for removing iron ions increased in the order: nornnal leaves < crushed leaves < ground leaves. Naturally-dried walnut and pomegranate leaves had the higher capability, for iron removal from water, than both oven-dried and green-leaves.

It was   found that iron removal depended on leaf type. The ability of different types of leaves to reduce the concentration of iron ions in solution followed the following decreasing order Walnut =- Ponregrancite -> Eucalyptus > Palestine Pistachio > Apple , Mpanese Allecllar - Olives - Oak = Carob > Vine > Oil-Palm - Fig tree == Sisso > Alnnoncl =Lemon > Apricot > Prickly pear > Jz jobe-tree > CypressWillow leaves. Adsorbed iron was found to be released from walnut and pomegranate leaves by changing pH, adding competing ions or using a complexing agent. Using a compexing agent was found to be the most efficient way for releasing iron ions from leaves.

The results of the present work fit well with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and the parameters were calculated. Also, Langmuir adsorption isotherm was satisfied incase of walnut leaves only. The interaction between iron ions and leaves was found to be first order with respect to iron ions. A mechanism based on the assumption that adsorption was the main controlling factor for the removal process was suggested.




Anees A. Abou-Attayeb
Supervisors
Prof. Badi Dauod
Dr. Mohammed Ai. Al-Subu
1999 

Attitudes of An-Najah National University Students towards English as a Foreign Language

Attitudes of An-Najah National University Students towards English as a Foreign Language


 
Reema Nizar Bustami







The present study aimed at determining the attitudes of An-Najah National University students towards English as a foreign language and determining the effect of students' gender, college, academic year, place of residence, and fathers' and mothers' level of education on their attitudes towards English as a foreign language.

A questionnaire has been developed, reviewed and tested. The population of this study is the Bachelor students of An-Najah National University. The size of the proposed population is 8165 students. They are distributed between eleven colleges. The sample is taken as a stratified random sample with a size of approximately 11% of the population (893 students).

To analyze the results of the questionnaire, different statistical techniques have been used. These include means and percentages to determine the student's attitudes, one way analysis of variance and scheffe's Post Hoc test to determine the effect of the study variables on the attitudes of students, and independent t-test to determine the effect of the study variables on the attitudes of the students.


Reema Nizar Bustami
Supervisor
Dr. Fawaz Aqel
1999

Role of Plant Growth Regulators in the Interaction Between Botrytis Cinerea and it's Host Plants

Role of Plant Growth Regulators in the Interaction Between Botrytis Cinerea and it's Host Plants


 
Khaled Mohammed Ibrahiem Hardan



The role of plant growth regulators in the interaction between Botrytis cinerea and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants was studied in vitro and in vivo. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) significantly decreased mycelium growth rate on PDA amended with 125 ~g/ml. On the other hand, it significantly increased grey mould disease severity on tomato at concentrations more than 600 [g/ml. NAA had no effect in the disease severity on bean plants at the same concentration, and also decreased the disease on tomato and bean detached leaves at 300 gg/ml. Gibberellic acid (GA3) had no effect the mycelium growth rate on PDA, whereas it increased disease severity on tomato and bean plants at 500 gg/ml. Ethephon (Et) did not significantly affect mycelium growth rate on PDA, while it significantly increased the disease severity at 500 gg/ml in both hosts. Methyl jasmonate (MeJa) significantly decreased mycelium growth rate on PDA at 150 gg/ml, increased disease severity at high concentrations (more than 300 gg/ml) in tomato plants, while it decreased the disease severity in bean plants at the same concentration.

The ethylene inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) significantly decreased mycelium growth in vitro at 200 gg/ml, and it decreased disease severity on tomato and bean plants at 300 [Lg/ml. Abscisic acid (ABA) significantly decreased mycelium growth in vitro at 200 gg/ml, while at low concentrations up to 150 [tg/ml it increased the disease in vivo. Ethylene was produced by the fungus B. cinerea growing on shaking PDB-amended with 10 mM methionine. Ethylene production reached a peak of 2000 gl/g/h after 4 days of incubation. However there is a high variability in ethylene production between the strains.



Khaled Mohammed Ibrahiem Hardan
Supervisors
Prof. Mohammed S. Ali- Shtayeh
Dr. Radwan Barakat
July 2000

Screening for Anticancer Activity of Palestinian Plants


 
Walid Mahmoud Hassan Khaleeliah




One hundred and fifteen ethanolic extracts prepared from 96 plant species from Palestine were evaluated for anticancer activity against two prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and LNCaP; and one breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, using cell proliferation MTT assay and a 96-microwell plate-reader.

The results demonstrated that the studied plants differ significantly in their activity against test cancer cell lines. The most active plant species against test cancer cell linesinclude Cyclamen persicum Mill, Lycium europeum, Ecballium elaterium L., Euphorbia hierosolymitana, Capparis spinosa, Ononis sicula Guss., Anthemis tunictoria L, I erbascum sinuatum, and Nerium oleander L. For PC-3 cell line the most active plants include Cyclamen persicum Mill, Lycium europeum L., Ecballium elaterium (L.) Rick, Euphorbia hierosolymitana Boiss, Anthemis tunictoria L., Verbascum sinuatum L. and Nerium oleander L. For LNCaP cell line the most active plants include Cyclamen persicum Mill, Verbascum sinuatum L., and Capparis spinosa L. For MCF-7 cell line the most active plant species include Cyclamen persicum Mill, Lycium europeumL., lsuphorhia hierosolymiiana Boiss, and Ononis sicula Guss.

Another important observation was the stimulation of PC-3 cell line by some plants, for instance Crataegus aronial, Ziziphus spina-christi, Salvia fruiticosa, Retema raetam, and Parietaria diffusa. These plant species were used in folkloric medicine for many diseases and disorders. Significantly, stimulation of LNCaP and MCF-7 cell lines was observed also with Quercus calliprines and Chrysanthemum coronarium, which are used as popular remedies. Therefore, care must be taken with respect to the great number of plant extracts that show stimulation of cancer cells.

The results demonstrated that Ether and Acetone fractions were the most active against the test cell lines. In addition Diethyl Ether dissolved terpeniods and some alkaloids, some of diterpenes and sesquiterpenes compounds act as anticancer drugs. Test cancer cell lines differed significantly in relation to their susceptibility to different plant extracts used. The most susceptible test cell line was PC-3, whereas the least susceptible one was LNCaP.




Walid Mahmoud Hassan Khaleeliah
Supervisor
Prof. Mohammed S. Ali –Shtayeh
2001 

Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus in the Population of the Northern Part of Palestine


Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus in the Population of the Northern Part of Palestine


 
Ammar Wasef S. Al-Refa'i




A total of 3030 blood samples were collected from Palestinian subjects and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg). These include: blood donors (1659), pregnant women (564), staff and students (309) and family members of HbsAg positive subjects (498). The prevalence rates of HbsAg were 3.4% in healthy blood donors, 3.9% in pregnant women and 4.9% in staff and students. The incidence rate of 10.6% was found among family members of HbsAg positive carriers.

These results indicate that Palestine is situated in an area with intermediate endemicity for HBV infection. The observed differences in the prevalence of HbsAg positive carriers in terms of age and sex did not reach the level of statistical significance. Statistically significant difference were observed in the prevalence rates of HbsAg positive carriers in terms of history of contact with a jaundiced person, history of blood transfusion, haemodialysis, hygiene, socioeconomic status, place of residence and family size.

A significant difference in the prevalence of HbsAg carrier status between children of HbsAg positive mothers and those of HbsAg negative mothers was observed and infection appears to be acquired mostly in the postnatal period. The spread between siblings implying other possible modes of transmission of HBV beside sex and blood transfusion. The seroprevalence of HBV markers (HbeAg, anti-Hbe, anti-HBc, anti-HBs) were investigated in all HbsAg positive subjects (147), and the subject were grouped into three patterns based on their serological markers. The prevalence rates for HbeAg positive pattern was 19.7% for anti-Hbe positive pattern was 44.2% and for HbeAg/anti-Hbe negative pattern was 36.1%.

Elevated ALT levels were found mainly in association with more than 50% HbeAg positive subjects. Seroconversion of HBV markers was investigated after 12 months from the first testing date. Based on the detection of anti-HBs, complete recovery was observed in 8.8% of HbsAg positive subjects.  Seroconversion rate from HBsAg to anti-HBs, on follow up, was dependent on the presence or absence of HbeAg. The persistance of HbsAg was found much lower in HbeAg negative subjects. Of 339 HbsAg alone was detected in 1.2% of these subjects. This finding strongly indicates that testing for HbsAg alone may fail to detect all HBV infections.




Ammar Wasef S. Al-Refa'i
Supervisors
Dr. Yahya R. Fadi 
Dr. Nael S. Abu-Hasan
1996


Short - Term Variations in the Abundance of Zooplankton near Coral Reef and Open Water in the Northern Part of Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea

Short - Term Variations in the Abundance of Zooplankton near Coral Reef and Open Water in the Northern Part of Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea


 
Raid M Rizik




The processes taking place when open-oceanic waters bearing pelagic organisms encounter shallow coastal habitats are virtually unknown. Such processes could potentially be a principal trophic path for benthic (coral-reef) and epibenthic (fish) communities, particularly in oligotrophic regions. This proposed to investigate the processes involved in the coupling between the Open Ocean and coastal habitats in the Gulf of Aqaba. Specifically, we propose to test hypotheses relating high-freguency (minutes, hours, days) fluctuations in zooplankton abundance, ocean currents, animal behavior, and trophic interactions on an ecosystem level.

Zooplankton abundance and grazing in short term variation (minutes to weeks) were measured along the Gulf of Aqaba reef and at a near-by, open water site during October 10 and December 2.1999. Role of currents, behavior and localized predation of zooplankton in the generation of the observed variations were also studied.

In our experiments zooplankton samples were obtained by filtering the pumped water through 100 m mesh net from the reef and open water sites to compare the temporal variations in the abundance of zooplankton and behavior at the tow above sites. Also two current meters equipped with a temperature sensor were deployed at the reef and away sites to record the average speed, direction and temperature of the current.

Our results clearly show that: Zooplankton were less abundant at the reef, compared with the away site because of the zooplankton predation at the reef from the corals and fish. A general increase in zooplankton abundance at the two study sites in the diurnal (during day time )and nocturnal (during night time)samples, from the start of our sampling to its ends coincided with the ennsuing fall mixing and seasonal eutrophication in the northern Gulf of Aqaba. A covariation of zooplankton abundance between the two sites on the scales of both the entire period and on hourly samples within a days. A bundance of zooplankton in a diel cycle was seen at the two sites, with nearly a doubling of zooplankton biomass during night. No correlation was found between the abundance of zooplankton and the component of the currents because of the behavior primarily active swimming of zooplankton in the vertical water column.

This study supports earlier reports on the important of zooplankton advection to the nutrition of coral reefs. Grazing at the reef together with physical advection seems to affect temporal variations of the zooplankton at our study sites.


Raid M Rizik
Supervisors
Prof. Ziad Abdeen
Prof. Ali Z. Abu Zuhri
January 2001 

 

Solvatochromism of Ferrocyphen in various aqueous organic and organic- organic mixtures--Aquation kinetics of the tris ferrozine complex of Fe(II) in Polyethyleneglycol(300) & tert-Butanol

Solvatochromism of Ferrocyphen in various aqueous organic and organic- organic mixtures--Aquation kinetics of the tris ferrozine complex of Fe(II) in Polyethyleneglycol(300) & tert-Butanol


 
Affan Othman Swiedan

Preferential solvation of bis-1,10-phenantliroline-bis-cyarloiron(II) (ferrocyplien), was investigated in aqueous-organic (tert-13utanoi and Polyethyleneglycol (300) ) mixtures and in organic-organic ( DMF Methanol, Ethanol, tert-Butanol, iso-Propanol, PEG(200) and PEG(300) Acetone-PEG(200),PEG(300) and Chloroform-PEG(300)) mixtures.

The thermodynamic model of Frankel was used to treat preferential solvation in the binary aqueous-organic and organic-organic mixtures. The kinetics for the aquation of tris(ferrozine) iron(II) was studied under the various aqueous organic ( tert-Butanol and PEG(300) ) mixtures. The order with respect to the complex is found to be unity and with respect to acid is zero order. Also the Arrhenius parameters for the aquation of tris(ferrozine) iron(II) were investigated under the same aqueous-organic ( tert-Butanol and PEG(300) ) mixtures .




Affan Othman Swiedan
Supervisor
Prof. Bassem Shraydeh
October 1999


Solvent Effects on the Solvatochromism of Ferrocyphen Complex and on the Kinetics of Aquation of Tris (ferrozine) iron (II) Complex

Solvent Effects on the Solvatochromism of Ferrocyphen Complex and on the Kinetics of Aquation of Tris (ferrozine) iron (II) Complex


 
Nasser M. Abu-Ghalwa




Preferential solvation of bis-1,10-phenanthroline -bis- cyanoiron (II) was investigated in aqueous acetone, 2- methoxyethanol, dimethylformamide dimethylsulphoxide, isopropyl alcohol, 1.4 dioxane, and acetonitrile binary mixtures. The thermodynamic model of Frankel was used to treat preferential solvation in the binary aqueous organic mixtures and reveals that preferential solvation by the organic solvent occurs. The kinetics for the aquation of tris (ferrozine) iron (II) was studied under the various aqueous organic (ethanol, methanol, DMF, DMSO, isopropyl alcohol, and acetonitrile) mixtures.

 The order with respect to the complex is found to be unity and with respect to the acid is zero order. Also a direct proportionality was found between rate of aquation and acceptance number.


Nasser M. Abu-Ghalwa
Supervisors
Prof. Bassem Shraydeh
Prof. Maher Abu Eid
1996


Solvent Effects, Solubility and Marcus Theory Application for the Solvatochromism of Re(II) Diimine Cyanide Complexes - Effect of Temperature on the Aquation of Tris (Ferrozine) Fe (II) Complex


Solvent Effects, Solubility and Marcus Theory Application for the Solvatochromism of Re(II) Diimine Cyanide Complexes - Effect of Temperature on the Aquation of Tris (Ferrozine) Fe (II) Complex


 
Lamees Zuhair Majjad






Preferential solvation of Fe(phen)2(CN)2 and [Fe(phen)(CN)4]-2 were investigated in aqueous, dimethylformamide, 2-butoxyethanol, polyethyl-eneglycol 400, polyethyleneglycol 200 and n-propanol binary mixtures. The thermodynamic model of Frankel was used to treat preferential solvation in the binary aqueous organic mixtures and reveals that preferential solvation by the organic solvents occurs. Besides preferential solvation, Marcus theory and transfer chemical potential (solubility data) studies were made. Also the Arrhenius parameters for the aquation of tris (ferrozine) iron (II) were investigated under various aqueous organic mixtures.


Lamees Zuhair Majjad
Supervisor
Prof. Bassem F. Shraydeh
199 

Some Chemical Applications of Graph Theory


Some Chemical Applications of Graph Theory


 
Mukhtar Mohammad Ahmad Al-Shelleh





Our air was to study, emphasize and describe the relationships between mathematical branch "Graph Theory" and Chemistry. We interest in the matrix representation of the molecular graph. We state and prove powerful theorems to find the eigenvalues and the cigenvectors of the star graph. We deal with the topological indices and relate them to the I) trysico-chemical properties of a molecule.

We suggest that the matrix I3, may be used instead of the distance matrix in a new topological index that was published by Ren (1999). Finally, we believe that this branch of study will grow in future as a modern science. We also wish that Mathematicians and Chemists work and cooperate together in order to improve and get best results in the future.


Mukhtar Mohammad Ahmad Al-Shelleh
Supervisor
Dr. Subhi Ruzieh
September 1999 

Some Syntactic Features Typical of Spoken English in the SeniorEnglish Majors' Writing at An-Najah National University


Some Syntactic Features Typical of Spoken English in the SeniorEnglish Majors' Writing at An-Najah National University


 
Malek Rasheed Saleh Nassrallah





The present study attempted to identify some syntactic features of spoken English in the senior English majors' writing at An-Najah National University. Specifically, it aimed at answering the following questions:

-Do English seniors apply syntactic features typical of spoken English in their writing?
-What are the most syntactic features of the spoken phase of English in their writing?
-What are the major sources of English spoken features in the senior English majors' writing?

The population of the study (n=51) consisted of all English seniors at An-Najah National University in the academic year 1999/2000. The sample of the study consisted of forty-five students who were attending an advanced English course, Research Methodology. Guided by the survey of previous research, criteria consisting of 18 items divided into three domains were developed by the researcher by which English seniors' essays, based on Hughes's "As I grew older", were syntactically analyzed, using means and percentages. The findings of the study were as follows:

-Great occurrences       of coordinated constructions, simple sentences, active voice constructions, simple present tense, parallel constructions, sentence fragments, self-references, and demonstrative modifiers.

-Few occurrences of wh-interrogatives, reduced participles, nominalizations, passive voice constructions, subordinated constructions, complex sentences, and compound complex sentences.

On the basis of the results, the researcher recommended that further research on other different syntactic and lexical features of spoken English would reveal more about the language used by English majors. Also, the researcher recommended that further courses in writing and, in particular, in spoken and written English would improve the writing skill of English majors as a Process including pre-writing, writing, and revision.


Malek Rasheed Saleh Nassrallah

Supervisors
Dr. Fawas Agel
Dr. Hanna Tushyeh
May 2001


Spectrophotometric and Electroanalytical Determination of Prilocaine


Spectrophotometric and Electroanalytical Determination of Prilocaine


 
Ismail Mohammed Badran



Sensitive and selective spectrophotometric and voltainmetric methods for the determination of Prilocaine have been developed. The spectrophotometric method was based on the formation of colored ion-pair complexes between Prilocaine and each of Bromothymol Blue (BTB) and Bromocresol Green (BCG), the complexes formed have been extracted with chloroform and exhibit maximum absorbance at 416 and 420 nm for BTB and BCG, respectively.

Beer's law was obeyed over a wide range (2.0 - 24.5 ppm) for BTB, and (2.0 - 26.5) ppm using BCG, with molar absorptivities (E) equals 1.68 x 104 L mol"1 cm-1 and 1.83 x 104 L mol'' cm-1 using BTB and BCG respectively. RSD were found to be 0.61% and 0.53% for BTB and B CG respectively. All factors affecting the color formation, extraction, sensitivity and reproducibility of the method were studied, among which are; effect of pH, type of solvent, shaking time, amount of buffer, concentration of dye, temperature, stability of complex formed, and stoichiometry. The voltammetric method was based on direct determination of Prilocaine using differential-pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (DP-AdCSV) in basic medium using Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer. The factors affecting the sensitivity of the method has been investigated to optimize the determination method, among these factors are: pH, accumulation potential, accumulation time, scan rate, drop size, and pulse amplitude. Calibration graph was found to be linear over the range (0.16-21.6 ppm) (6.2 x 10-7-8.4 x 10-5 M) with detection limit equals 0.16 ppm, and RSD of 0.68%.



Ismail Mohammed Badran
Supervisors
 Prof. Ali Z. Abu Zuhri
Dr. Raqi Shubietah
July 2000


Special Interpolation of Precipitation Data in the Northern West Bank

Special Interpolation of Precipitation Data in the Northern West Bank


 
Ali Nimer Sabbobeh


The distribution of precipitation in the Northern West Bank is so complicated. There is a great variation in precipitation over the Northern West Bank which is considered a small area. The raw precipitation data were not complete. In this research, precipitation data was taken from 28 stations located in the Northern West Bank for 28 years during the period of 1953 to 1980. Spatial analysis and modeling through computer models were developed to estimate precipitation at unknown points in the space. The models included:
-Local models such as: Thiessen, Arithmetic Mean, Inverse Distance, and Exponential models.

-Global models such as: Bilinear, Cubic, and Bicubic models. Constrained Optimal and Kriging models.

A comparative analysis was done between these models to select the most appropriate model for our locality. The comparative analysis was based on fictious point method. The parameters included in the comparison were: sum of squared deviations, root mean deviation, mean of absolute value of biases for both mean precipitation and standard deviation of precipitation.

The result of this comparison showed that the Bicubic Model is the best model that estimates the precipitation in the Northern West Bank. At the end of this study, recommendations are summarized by rehabilitation of existing weather stations, and establishment of new weather stations at several suggested locations to improve estimates of areal precipitation.





Ali Nimer Sabbobeh
Supervisors
Dr. No' Man Mizyed
Dr. Fayez Shaheen
1999