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Geographic distribution of health centers and services as related to the quality : Jenin governorate as a case study
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In vitro assessment of cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaves from two grape varieties collected from arid and temperate regions in Palestine
No full textGrape leaves (Vitis vinifera L.) are widely consumed in Palestine, and other Mediterranean countries.
Positive health effects of grape products are reported by various studies and pharmaceutical
preparations from grape leaves are patented and commercialized as drugs. The aim of this in vitro
study is to assess the therapeutic potential of leaf extracts; their cytotoxicity against lung cancerous
cells, their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against several human pathogenic bacterial strains,
and according to geographical location, to examine the overall effect of annual rainfall on the
aforementioned activities.
Leaves from Shami and Baituni grapes, collected from Dahria (an arid region) and Beit Omar
(a temperate region) in Palestine were ground to powder using liquid nitrogen and a pestle and mortar.
Cytotoxicity was measured against lung cancer cells and muscle cells. Antioxidants potential of leaf
extracts and antimicrobial activity against five human pathogenic bacterial strains were assessed.
Results showed Shami leaves from Beit Omar inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cells.
Cytotoxicity assessment against lung cancer cells showed leaves from Baituni grapes are ineffective.
Antioxidant capacity of the leaf extracts of both genotypes from both locations gave high levels of
antioxidants, but no significant differences recorded between treatments. Leaf extracts of both grape
genotypes were effective against S. aureus and slightly effective against P. aeruginosa bacteria.
However, these extracts were ineffective against L. monocytogenes, S. typimurium and E. coli.
Results show the therapeutic potential of leaves of Shami and Baituni might be related to their
phytochemical composition. Our findings suggest effective cytotoxic activity of Shami grape leaves
against lung cancer cells and provide a preliminary view of the effect of annual rainfall on the grape
leaves‘ anticancer and antimicrobial activitie
Profiling of primary metabolites and flavonols in leaves of two table grape varieties collected from semiarid and temperate regions
No full textCultivation of grapes in West Bank – Palestine is very old and a large number of grape varieties exist as a result of continuous domestication over thousands of years. This rich biodiversity has highly influenced the consumer behavior of local people, who consume both grape berries and leaves. However, studies
that address the contents of health-promoting metabolites in leaves are scarce. Accordingly the aim of this study is to assess metabolite levels in leaves of two grape varieties that were collected from semiarid and temperate regions. Metabolic profiling was conducted using GC–MS and LC–MS. The obtained results show that abiotic stresses in the semiarid region led to clear changes in primary metabolites, in particular in amino acids, which exist at very high levels. By contrast, qualitative and genotype-dependent differences in secondary metabolites were observed, whereas abiotic stresses appear to have negligible effect on the content of these metabolites. The qualitative difference in the flavonol profiles between the two genotypes is most probably related to differential expression of specific genes, in particular flavonol 3-O-rhamnosyltransferase, flavonol-3-O-glycoside pentosyltransferases and flavonol-3-O-D-glucoside L-rhamnosyltransferase by ‘Beituni’ grape leaves, which led to much higher levels of flavonols with rutinoside, pentoside, and rhamnoside moieties with this genotype
Entretien avec Abaher El Sakka; Palestine: Les chantiers de recherches en sciences sociales sur les révolutions arabes
No full textAn interview with Abaher El-Sakka, a sociologist and professor at the University of Bir Zeit in the
Palestinian Teritorries, several times a visiting professor in French universities. He is a researcher in sociology and historiography of the social sciences. He works
also on the variety of modes of political expression in Palestine. Currently he works on the social history are of the city of Gaza. Public action, collective memory and the mobilizations of new protest movements constitute another part of his researche
Wiener Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes
No full textThe lexical origin of traditional measure and weight units in the colloquial of Hebron district a considerable number of traditional terms to denote units of measurement and weight are used in the colloquial of Hebron district, This terminology has been essentially used by people living in that area to measure quantities, to perform commercial transactions (including bartering and trading with money), to distrib-ute agricultural and animal products, and in the buying and selling of land. This paper will provide an ethnographic and comparative lexical study of each term for the units of measurement. The ethnographic section will provide a definition of each unit in terms of its numerical value, and the measured materials or objects. The comparative lexical section will trace the etymology, meaning, and the ap-pearance of each term in the ancient Semitic and non-Semitic languages that were predominant in the area of study. This study is an attempt, firstly, to document these units as it has become apparent that many of them are dying out as they were being replaced with the modern metric and imperial systems. Secondly, it attempts to trace the lexical origins of these terms, since it has also become apparent that many of these units have counterparts, and sometimes even originated in the an-cient Semitic and non-Semitic languages.
Factors involved in the development of the terminology It was observed that these units are an outcome of contact between man and his natural and cultural surroundings. Many factors played a role in the creation of the names of these units. • The role of agricultural activities (ploughing, fanning, harvest, and storage) and the agricultural environment of the area have significantly affected the no-menclature of the units due to: 1. The amount of land which could be ploughed during the day by a pair of oxen, cows (cf. faddan) or by a single animal such as donkeys and mules (cf. .yarba). 2. The different types of agricultural produce like grain, vegetables and fruits, and liquids like oil, vine syrup and milk, as it was noticed that some of the units of measurements were applied only to a specific kind of crop (tanaka for measuring olive oil and sidsiyya for measuring grain on the threshing floor). With regard to measurements of weight, the seeds of plants, which were available in the surrounding areas, were harvested, dried up and used as a standard measurement to weigh very tiny things (cf. qTra-1). • The role of household utensils and tools was significant as most of the units of measurement of this type were derived from this context. The names used to refer to the vessels used for transport, distribution, division and storage of agricultura
Feasibility of small scale renewable desalination units in the Jordan Valley : solar energy for brackish water treatment
No full textThis paper investigates the feasibility of reviving the agricultural production from the Jordan Valley as the West Bank food Basket, might water and energy issues could be conquered by treating abundant brackish water in the Jordan Valley through renewable energy desalination. The study supported replicating the use of Reverse Osmosis technology for treating brackish water wells in the Jordan Valley. The selection was due its low energy requirement, market availability and applicability to the harsh conditions of outdoor installation, and the ease of being coupled to off–grid Solar Photovoltaic, which was also investigated. Although it’s economically recommended, a call for governmental subsidizes to fund RO-PV project is recommended as its investment cost would be a burden on the Jordan Valley farmers. The economic feasibility of the off-grid connected RO-PV (to operate the desalination unit) was compared to Diesel generator and electricity network, environment cost was included. Comparison was tested on operating desalination plant in Marj Najeh. The economic calculation has shown that the average produced water cost estimated to be 0.183 USD/m3, compared to 0.166 and 0.346 USD/m3 estimated if electricity network or Diesel generator. Might the feasibility could disseminated, and 162 agricultural well of different capacities and quality can benefit of this study after further investigation of the desalination design capacity, and efficiency
First urban MBR facility in Palestine, a cleantech for sustainable wastewater management and reclaimed water use
No full textThe shortage of water in Palestine and public concerns about the quality of groundwater resources have led to awareness that a national wastewater management and reclamation program should be developed and implemented. Unused reclaimed water is a wasted water resource. Impaired effluent quality is among major challenges behind lack of successful large scale effluent reuse schemes in Palestine, exacerbated by institutional and socio-political issues. This paper presents the local experience gained from the construction and operation of the first urban membrane bioreactor (MBR) in Alteereh suburb of Ramallah city, the first advanced domestic wastewater treatment facility in Palestine. The MBR facility is designed to serve 25000 capita with a current daily average flow rate of 1500 m3. The start-up phase of the MBR facility, during November 2014, faced two major operational challenges considering wastewater characteristics; an illicit discharge of petroleum and olive mill wastewater. Despite the challenges faced exacerbated by the severe cold winter conditions prevailed, the process performance of the MBR facility was stable. Reclaimed water produced, permeate, complied with stringent effluent quality. Beside public health protection, the reclaimed water quality is suitable for unrestricted beneficial uses including agricultural irrigation, cement industry, car wash, aquifer recharge, recreation and water for nature
Corruption in Palestine: a self-Enforcing system
No full textAs many as 81% of the Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territory believe there is
corruption in Palestinian Authority institutions according to a recent survey, perceptions reinforced by
the recently launched annual report of the Palestinian Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN),
the Transparency International chapter in Palestine. These perceptions persist despite former Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad’s much-touted state-building efforts to root out corruption - and are at variance
with international reports finding that suggest improvement in good governance.
Al-Shabaka Policy Fellow Tariq Dana makes the case that corruption is structural to the Palestinian
body politic and pre-dates the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. He argues that the problem
needs to be tackled at its roots and cannot just be addressed through conventional measures used in
other countries, particularly against the background of prolonged Israeli colonization and occupation
and the way in which Israel both reinforces and exploits corruptio