ABSTRACT Online education has become a necessity and blended approaches have gained momentum since the COVID-19 pandemic. Nowadays, the use of online resources combined with traditional strategies is being widely adopted in education. The new scenario is outpacing theoretical frameworks and research results, and empirical data is needed to assess the effectiveness of new teaching modalities to promote learners' achievement. In the field of language teaching, there is a paucity of studies offering empirical data on the use of combined educational strategies. The current paper aims to investigate the effect of WebQuests in two settings -Traditional (face-to-face) classes and flipped learning classes- on improving English listening skills and decreasing L2 listening anxiety. The study adopts a quasi-experimental design, with 96 participants of preparatory education learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Egypt. Three groups were selected randomly: The first experimental group used WebQuests in flipped learning; the second experimental group studied with WebQuests in a traditional (face-to-face) setting; and the control group studied through regular teaching with no WebQuests. A pre-test was used to assess students' L2 listening competence in the three groups. After the intervention, a post-test was given to the three groups to explore the improvement in their listening skills. Additionally, a pre-and-post foreign language listening anxiety questionnaire was used to check the effect of WebQuests on decreasing listening anxiety in the English classroom. The results showed that WebQuests are efficient strategies in teaching English, but the results are more significant in flipped learning.

RESUMEN Las modalidades de enseñanza virtuales y mixtas han ganado peso desde la pandemia del COVID-19. En la actualidad, los recursos en línea combinados con las estrategias pedagógicas tradicionales son un enfoque ampliamente adoptado en educación. No disponíamos de modelos teóricos ni resultados de investigación que nos preparasen para lo sucedido en la pandemia, y son necesarios datos empíricos que corroboren la efectividad de determinadas estrategias y modelos pedagógicos en la enseñanza no presencial. En concreto, en el campo de la enseñanza de lenguas hay una escasez de estudios que ofrezcan evidencias empíricas sobre el uso de estrategias combinadas para mejorar el aprendizaje del alumnado. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo investigar la efectividad de las WebQuests en las clases tradicionales y en clases invertidas de inglés. Ambos modelos serán examinados en relación a la mejora de las habilidades de comprensión oral en inglés y la reducción de la ansiedad por parte de estudiantes de educación secundaria en Egipto. La investigación adopta un diseño cuasi-experimental, con 96 participantes distribuidos en tres grupos seleccionados aleatoriamente: el primer grupo (experimental) estudió mediante aprendizaje invertido; el segundo grupo utilizó la WebQuests en clases tradicionales, y el tercer grupo siguió un aprendizaje tradicional (sin WebQuests). Se utilizó un pre-test para evaluar la comprensión oral en inglés de los tres grupos. Tras la intervención, se realizó un post-test para valorar la evolución del alumnado. Adicionalmente, se utilizó un cuestionario de ansiedad para medir la efectividad del uso de las WebQuests en el aula de inglés. Los resultados subrayan la efectividad de las WebQuests como recurso didáctico, pero se confirma que los resultados son más evidentes en el caso del aprendizaje invertido.

RESUMEN La hibridación intervarietal es una herramienta poderosa para el mejoramiento genético y la producción de nuevos genotipos prometedores para un rasgo de interés. Cuatro progenitores de haba (Vicia faba L.) fueron cruzados para obtener genotipos resistentes a la enfermedad de la mancha chocolate mediante caracterización agromorfológica y molecular. El estudio de campo se llevó a cabo en la Granja Experimental de la Estación de Investigación de Nubaria, Giza, Egipto. Se estimaron ocho características, incluidas el grado de resistencia a la mancha chocolate, los días a floración, la altura de planta (cm), el número de ramas/planta, el número de vainas/planta, el número de semillas/planta, el peso de 100 semillas (g) y el rendimiento de semillas/planta, durante las tres temporadas de crecimiento de 2016/2017, 2017/2018 y 2018/2019. Los parámetros genéticos se estimaron mediante marcadores RAPD e ISSR para evaluar la variación genética de los genotipos con sus generaciones. Los cruces 1 (P1 "Nubaria-1" x P2 "Sakha-1"), 2 (P1 "Nubaria-1" x P3 "TW") y 3 (P1 "Nubaria-1" x P4 "Camolina") revelaron alta resistencia a la enfermedad de la mancha chocolate con alto rendimiento. Los marcadores modelaron loci específicos de padres resistentes a una longitud de 360, 470, 450, 660 y 140 pb en RAPD y 1100, 810, 650, 700, 480 pb en ISSR. La hibridación intervarietal entre los genotipos resistentes y susceptibles es considerada uno de los métodos más promisorios para obtener germoplasma con resistencia y alto rendimiento.

ABSTRACT Inter-varietal hybridization is a powerful tool for genetic improvement and production of new genotypes for a trait of interest. Four parents of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) were hybridized using agromorphological and molecular characterization to obtain genotypes resistant to the chocolate spot disease. The study was done at the Nubaria Research Station, Giza, Egypt. Eight traits including resistance to chocolate spot, days to flowering, plant height (cm), number of branches/ plant, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/plant, 100-seed weight (g), and seed yield/plant were estimated during the three growth seasons of2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2018/2019. Genetic parameters revealed by RAPD and ISSR markers assessed the genetic variation of genotypes with their generations. Crosses 1 (P1 "Nubaria-1" x P2 "Sakha-1"), 2 (P1 "Nubaria-1" x P3 "TW"), and 3 (P1 "Nubaria-1" x P4 "Camolina") revealed high resistance to disease with high yield. Markers patterned specific loci of resistant parents at a length of 360, 470, 450, 660, and 140 bp in RAPD and 1100, 810, 650, 700, 480 bp in ISSR. Inter-varietal hybridization between the resistant and susceptible genotypes is considered one of the most promising methods to obtain germplasm with resistance and high yield.

Abstract Background: Ant venoms express surface molecules that participate in antigen presentation involving pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This work aims to investigate the expression of MHC-II, CD80 and CD86 on the polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) in rats injected with samsum ant venom (SAV). Methods: Rats were divided into three groups - control, SAV-treated (intraperitoneal route, 600 μg/kg), and SAV-treated (subcutaneous route, 600 μg/kg). After five doses, animals were euthanized and samples collected for analysis. Results: The subcutaneous SAV-trated rats presented decreased levels of glutathione with increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Intraperitoneal SAV-treated animals displayed significantly reduced concentrations of both IFN-γ and IL-17 in comparison with the control group. However, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous SAV-treated rats were able to upregulate the expressions of MHC-II, CD80 and CD86 on PMNs in comparison with the control respectively. The histological examination showed severe lymphocyte depletion in the splenic white pulp of the intraperitoneal SAV-injected rats. Conclusion: Stimulation of PMNs by SAV leads to upregulation of MHC-II, CD 80, and CD 86, which plays critical roles in antigen presentation and consequently proliferation of T-cells. Subcutaneous route was more efficient than intraperitoneal by elevating MHC-II, CD80 and CD86 expression, disturbing oxidative stability and increasing lipogram concentration.

Resumo Objetivos: Avaliar a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) em crianças com síndrome nefrótica idiopática (SNI) e com taxa de filtração glomerular (TFG) normal. Métodos: O estudo transversal de caso-controle foi feito com 50 crianças: 25 casos de SNI [16 sensíveis a esteroides (SNSE) e nove resistentes a esteroides (SNRE) com acompanhamento na unidade de nefrologia pediátrica do hospital da Menoufia University, centro de cuidados terciário] foram comparados com 25 controles saudáveis do grupo de controle com idade e sexo equivalentes. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a anamnese completa, exame clínico completo, exames laboratoriais [creatinina sérica, nitrogênio ureico no sangue (BUN), fósforo (P), cálcio (Ca) total e ionizado, paratormônio (PTH) e fosfatase alcalina (ALP)]. A densidade mineral óssea foi mensurada na região da coluna lombar (L2-L4) no grupo de pacientes com a absorciometria por raios X de dupla energia (DXA). Resultados: Os níveis de cálcio total e ionizado eram significativamente menores, ao passo que o fósforo sérico, a FA e o PTH eram maiores em casos de SNSE e SNRE do que nos controles. A osteopenia foi documentada pelo exame DXA em 11 pacientes (44%) e a osteoporose em dois (8%). O risco de fratura era leve em seis (24%), moderado em dois (8%) e acentuado em três (12%). Conclusão: A mineralização dos ossos foi afetada negativamente pelo tratamento com esteroides em crianças com SNI.

Abstract Objectives: To assess bone mineral density (BMD) in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) and normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Methods: Cross-sectional case-control study carried out on 50 children: 25 cases of NS (16 steroid-sensitive [SSNS] and nine steroid-resistant [SRNS] under follow up in the pediatric nephrology unit of Menoufia University Hospital, which is tertiary care center, were compared to 25 healthy controls with matched age and sex. All of the participants were subjected to complete history taking, thorough clinical examination, laboratory investigations (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen [BUN], phosphorus [P], total and ionized calcium [Ca], parathyroid hormone [PTH], and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]). Bone mineral density was measured at the lumbar spinal region (L2-L4) in patients group using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: Total and ionized Ca were significantly lower while, serum P, ALP, and PTH were higher in SSNS and SRNS cases than the controls. Osteopenia was documented by DXA scan in 11 patients (44%) and osteoporosis in two patients (8%). Fracture risk was mild in six (24%), moderate in two (8%), and marked in three (12%) of patients. Conclusion: Bone mineralization was negatively affected by steroid treatment in children with NS.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of source of roughage and crude protein level on feeding performance and carcass traits of Majaheem camels (Camelus dromedarius). Forty-eight male calf-camels weighing 203.3±5.1 kg were equally assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of two sources of roughage (Rhodes grass hay and dry salicornia biomass) and three dietary crude protein levels (12, 14.5, and 17%); the feeding trial lasted for 18 weeks. The results showed that slaughter and hot carcass weights, average daily gain, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, and separable fat from 9th-11th rib joint increased as the crude protein in the diets increased from 12 to 14.5%, whereas increasing crude protein to 17% resulted in no further changes. Slaughter weight, average daily gain, hot carcass weight, rib eye area, and separable lean did not differ between Rhodes grass and salicornia diets, but salicornia-fed camels had higher dry matter intake and produced heavier kidney fat and separable fat weights than camels fed Rhodes grass diets. It is suggested that the inclusion of salicornia biomass as a roughage ingredient up to 25% in the diet containing not greater than 14.5% crude protein can be utilized without adverse effect on feeding performance of calf-camels.