Natural Sciences

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3-AMINOIMIDAZO[1,2-a] PYRIDINE DERIVATIVES: SYNTHESIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES
(An-Najah National University, 2024-12-18) Dragmeh, Osama
Background: Worldwide, antimicrobial resistance continues to be a major public health issue. Novel antibacterials with improved activity characteristics are therefore in high demand. Antibacterial is one of the many pharmacological actions of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. These bioactive substances are the main ingredients of several widely marketed therapeutic medications, such as Alpidem and Zolpidem. Objectives: Creation of novel 3-amino-6-floroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives and evaluation of their effectiveness against five bacterial strains. Methodology: The one-pot Groebke-Blackburn-Bienayme-Three Component Reaction (GBB-3CR) was used in the compound synthesis. Several spectroscopic methods, including infrared (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), were used to confirm the structure. The assessment of purity also makes use of the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technology. To evaluate the compounds' effectiveness against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli, biological experiments were conducted on the produced compounds. Results: The seven synthetic compounds (85-91) were produced with a purity of 88-100%. These compounds (85-91) have been verified for their structural formula using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopy. These techniques indicate the GBB-3CR normal product. Biologically, compound 91 exhibited the best inhibitory behavior among the others; the lowest MIC value (15.625 µg/ml) was recorded for compound 91 against E. coli. Moreover, compound 91 works better than Gentamicin against K. pneumoniae. The same observation was reported for compounds 85 and 89 against S. epidermis. It is worth pointing out that compound 89 in this study kills E. coli and S. epidermis at lower concentrations (62.5 µg/mL) than Gentamicin antibiotics 125 µg/mL and 250 µg/mL, respectively. The same observation was noticed for compound 85 against S. epidermis with an MBC value of 62.5 µg/mL. Compounds 91, 89, and 85 have good antibacterial effects due to the substitution on C-2 of 3-amino-6-floroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine scaffolds, which are 1-methylimidazole, p-trifluoromethylphenyl, and 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl, respectively. Conclusions: A straightforward, cost-effective, one-step process was used to create new, promising bioactive chemicals. Additional research on these derivatives might provide more potent compounds that show promise as innovative antibacterial treatment options.
A COMPARISON OF NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS FOR ONE FREDHOLM INTEGRAL EQUATIONS SYSTEM OF THE SECOND KIND
(An-Najah National University, 2025-02-06) Badrien, Mohammed
The main goal of this work is to propose various numerical techniques for approximating the solution of a system of Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. The methods proposed involve the Chebyshev collocation method, the Haar wavelet method and the reconstruction of the variational iteration method. After reviewing the basic concepts of Fredholm integral equations and addressing the mathematical framework of these numerical methods, we provide some illustrative numerical examples with known exact solution to illustrate the effectiveness and the efficiency of these methods. Numerical results show clearly that Chebyshev collocation method is one of the most efficient method for solving system of Fredholm integral equations in comparison with its counterparts.
A HYBRID DEEP LEARNING MODEL FOR FORECASTING PM2.5 AIR POLLUTANT CONCENTRATIONS
(An-Najah National University, 2024-12-18) Massad, Asma
Air quality forecasting is a crucial research field that aids scientists and policymakers in making informed decisions to combat air pollution. Among various pollutants, PM2.5 -particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers- poses significant health risks, as it can reach the lower respiratory tract and enter the bloodstream. Accurately forecasting PM2.5 levels is thus essential. Although machine learning-based spatiotemporal forecasting models have advanced, the pursuit for more accurate forecasts continues. The use of hybrid deep learning models for PM2.5 forecasting represents a promising and active area of research, as these models aim to capture complex spatiotemporal dependencies more effectively. We developed a Dynamic Graph Attention Network (DyGAT) to model spatial dependencies effectively. DyGAT leverages engineered edge features, including distance, wind speed, and wind direction, while using attention mechanisms to capture the dynamic nature of these dependencies. DyGAT was then combined with Informer, a Transformer for efficient time-series forecasting, to capture spatial and temporal patterns comprehensively, improving prediction accuracy. Our model was evaluated on a benchmark dataset from Beijing, with 420,768 records over four years. DyGAT-Informer outperformed a version without the DyGAT component and other baseline models. It achieved 50.43 for MAE, 79.9 for RMSE and 28.88% for SMAPE, compared to 51.44 for MAE, 80.83 for RMSE and 30.25% for SMAPE in the next best model. Additionally, we conducted a case study using a dataset from Nablus, Palestine, consisting of 2692 records per station over a two months period. We incorporated geospatial features about nearby pollution sources into the dataset. Due to the insufficient number of records in the Nablus dataset for training the Informer, it was replaced with a sequence-to-sequence Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model. DyGAT-LSTM, trained with additional geospatial features about nearby pollution sources, achieved a 2.08% reduction in MAE, 1.17% in RMSE, and 1.96% in SMAPE. This confirms the benefit of incorporating such data. Finally, despite the short distances between stations, DyGAT successfully captured spatial dependencies, where DyGAT-LSTM achieved a reduction of 3.13% in MAE, 1.48% in RMSE, and 3.67% in SMAPE when compared to the LSTM-only model.
ACCEPTANCE AND SATISFACTION WITH ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN PALESTINIAN HOSPITALS
(An-Najah National University, 2024-08-22) Sabri Dweikat, Ahmad
Background: This study investigated the factors influencing employees’ acceptance and satisfaction of Electronic Health Information Systems (EHIS) in An-Najah National University Hospital and Rafidia Surgical Hospital. Methods: The study included healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, medical secretaries, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and radiologists. The study investigated fifteen hypotheses related to relative advantage, system quality, top management support, information technology (IT) department support, and competitive pressure. Results: A total of (n = 220) The research study, found no significant gender differences in EHIS acceptance (55% males, 45% females). Educational backgrounds varied, with 71% holding bachelor's degrees, 22% master degrees, and 7% diplomas. Participants with younger ages and less experience exhibited different perspectives on EHIS. Postgraduate participants showed greater awareness of relative advantage. The study also revealed that external factors such as relative advantage, system quality, top management support, and competitive pressure significantly affected perceived usefulness (PU) and ease of use (PEOU). Conclusion: The study looked at factors affected the acceptance of EHIS by Palestinian hospital staff and found that perceived usefulness (PU) was highly impacted by system quality, relative advantage, competitive pressure, top management support, and IT department support, while organizational support, compatibility, and system complexity had little effect on perceived ease of use (PEOU).
AFLATOXIN B1 LEVELS IN CORN IN CORN (ZEA MAIZE) AND SOYBEAN (GLYCCINEMAX L.MERR.)-BASED FEED IN NORTHERN PALESTINE
(An-Najah National University, 2023-12-20) Hamdan, Elahm
Aflatoxin is a by-product of the metabolism of aspergillus fungi has severe health risks as indicated by many researchers. This study is aiming to examine the existence of aflatoxin B1 in two crops; corn and soybean which is the major raw material in poultry feeding concentrates. Both ingredients are imported and inter the manufacturing process in local factories. In this study 42 samples of corn and soybean were collected from siloes of concentrates processing factories for animal feeding located in Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm districts. The samples were collected in October, 2021. The samples were kept in cool dark containers and then sent to the lab analysis to test the concentration of Aflatoxin B1 according to the procedure of RIDASCREEN® Aflatoxin B1 30/15. The results indicated that aflatoxin B1 was detected in 80%, 100%, and 100% of the corn samples from Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarm consequently. While in soybean the existence of aflatoxin B1 was found in 60%, 85.7%, and 100% of the samples in Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm consequently. In corn samples; the overall average AFB1 concentration was 0.69 µg/kg, the average concentration is 0.64 µg/kg in Jenin, 0.604 µg/kg in Nablus, and 0.80 µg/kg in Tulkarm. These results are ithin the accepted levels according to the standards. Significant differences in the aflatoxin concentration of both crops were found between the three districts. In soybean sample; the overall average AFB1 concentration was 0.66 µg/kg. The average concentration is 0.78 µg/kg in Jenin, 0.61 µg/kg in Nablus, and 0.65 µg/kg in Tulkarm, which is within the accepted levels as indicated by the European and US FDA guidelines, which is 20 ppb ( 20 µg/kg).
ALGAE FOR NUTRIENTS REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATER: THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR ENHANCED ALGAL GROWTH
(An-Najah National University, 2024-10-10) Alhamaydeh, Ahlam
Treating municipal wastewater using algae to remove nutrients is considered one of the most successful, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive natural methods, as algae grow naturally in wastewater if the appropriate conditions are available for its growth, such as nutrients, temperature, duration, and intensity of exposure to light, as well as the presence of bacteria that form a symbiotic relationship with algae to help it grow. This research studied the effect of artificial light on the growth of algae and its activity in removing nutrients from municipal wastewater. Three beakers of municipal wastewater in which the algae grew, with a volume of 5 liters as a pilot scale of patch reactors, were used and placed in the same conditions which were Temperatures and mixing for 15 days, with varying durations of exposure to artificial light. In the first sample, the algae was exposed to light 24 hours a day and was called the light sample. The second beaker was exposed to light for 19 hours, the fifth was exposed to natural daylight and was called half light sample, and the third sample remained in the day and night cycle, where it was called the natural sample. After 15 days of comparing the three samples, although the results were close in the two light and half-light samples, the algae in the light sample were the most efficient in removing nutrients from wastewater, as their efficiency in removing COD was 95% and phosphorus was 96%. 99.8% ammonium, TSS concentration 737.4 mg/L, and chlorophyll A pigment concentration of 129.4 μg/L. In the half-light sample, the effectiveness of algae in removing COD was 93%, phosphorus was 94%, ammonium was 99.8%, TSS concentration was 237.4 mg/L, and chlorophyll A concentration was 57.2 μg/L. Finally, in the natural sample, the efficiency in removing COD was 93%, phosphorus was 6%, ammonium was 56%, TSS concentration was 174 mg/L, and chlorophyll A concentration was 8 μg/L. These results show the effectiveness of algae as a natural method for removing nutrients from wastewater and the positive effect of light on improving algae growth and its efficiency in the treatment process.
ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT OF NEDCO ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION NETWORK OF JENIN GOVERNORATE AND CLARIFYING THE IMPACT OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PENETRATION
(2022) Haitham Alawneh
This thesis starts by getting information from North Electrical Distribution Company (NEDCO) about all parameters and contents of the electrical network of Jenin, such as transmission lines, underground cables, transformers, loads, and PV systems in detail with all lengths, diameters, capacities, average annual consumption and PV systems power. ETAB simulator program was used to build this network, and the analysis started at a low voltage side at every load. Thesis focus on the power quality and voltage quality through the analysis. The objective of this thesis is to improve the power and voltage quality of the whole network in different ways, such as improving power factor to be more than 95% with respect to IEEE standards, improving low voltages at some loads and reducing drop voltages to be within 5% as IEEE standards, and reducing power losses using techniques such as: adding new PV systems, adding new capacitor banks, increasing the tap changers. Depending on the readings of the voltage bus and power factor (i.e., real and reactive power) of each load bus. Also, this thesis discusses another subject: the PV penetration level. It describes in detail the problem led by high penetration in the network and loads. It also discusses the solution to each problem. High PV penetration in the network causes many problems such as power losses, voltage rise, voltage fluctuations, voltage unbalance and reverse power flow that impacts the power quality; also, it causes a negative on power factor, voltage sag, harmonics, and frequency. The thesis suggests many solutions for these problems, such as: using an on load tap changer, reactive power control, energy storage system, PV generation curtailment, and smart inverter, and passive filters to reduce the harmonics effect. These solutions are described in detail in chapter 4. However, these solutions aim to balance real power and reactive power production to improve the power factor, avoid reverse power flow, store the power and use it at a suitable time and reduce harmonics effect to be within 5% for THD and less than 3% for IHD as IEEE standards. Keywords: Effect of high PV Penetration; Improve power quality; Improve voltage quality; Improvement of NEDCO; Harmonics Effect.
ASSESSING CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITIES OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN PALESTINE -RISK MANAGEMENT APPROCH
(2024-02-18) Jafar Talib Ismail
Abstract Climate change threatens solid waste management in vast ways in Palestine by augmenting environmental risks as well as matters of public health. Thus, this thesis covering the interactions of climate vulnerabilities (temperature, rainfall, extreme weather, sea level and winds( within the regional wastes management practices and aimed at developing strategies towards climate resilience. The goal is to help people cope better with climate change on waste management by providing policymakers with sound advice. The thesis aims to build a holistic approach that guarantees waste disposal practices conform to global norms and contribute to a greener environment by considering climate change vulnerability and waste management. The research included quantitative assessment for historical data (rainfall, evaporation, temperature) and analysis it using R studio software (R programming for integrated development environment to analysis historical data and visualization), then applied to perform ARCGIS 10.8 mapping of the data levels to analyze areas with high climatic changes. This thesis also used qualitative assessments such as interviews with policy makers to determine which vulnerabilities are the most severe and which strategies work best for climate change vulnerabilities. According to experts in ministry of local government said the national strategy play a significant role in the mitigation of climate change and ensuring sustainable demands coordinated efforts in the development of waste management sector in Palestine. The key results showed that some regions like Gaza and south of Palestine has certain challenges and more vulnerable with regard to climate change. According to results the extreme weather such as storms, floods and draughts are high, rainfall and temperature are moderate, winds and rising sea level are low. The main strategies to be included are (Recycling programs, waste to energy, public awareness, sustainable procurement practices, circular economy, extend producer responsibility, climate resilience infrastructure). In addition to installing methane pipes in Zahrat Al-Finjan, expanding recycling programs for paper, cartons and plastic, reinforcing trash container such as strong frame to prevent movement during high winds and covering it to make transportation more efficient. Keywords: Climate Change, Mapping, Vulnerability, Waste Management, Palestine, Strategies.
ASSESSING THE ADOPTION OF IOS (INTERORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS) ON SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCES IN AUTO SPARE PARTS INDUSTRY: THE MEDIATION ROLE B2B (BUSINESS TO BUSINESS) INTEGRATION
(An-Najah National University, 2024-10-02) Abdelnaser Salous, Nour
In today's rapidly evolving automotive industry, companies require effective Inter-organizational Systems (IOS) and strong Business-to-Business (B2B) integration to improve Supply Chain Performance (SCP). Despite the growing importance of IOS adoption and B2B integration in Supply Chain Management (SCM), limited research exists that investigates the effects of these variables within the automotive spare part businesses in Palestine. This study seeks to address this research gap by focusing on the nature of the relationship between IOS adoption, B2B integration, and SCP. The methodology used in this study was based on a quantitative approach, which involved distributing a questionnaire to 70 auto spare parts companies in Palestine. PLS-SEM was employed to test the developed conceptual model. The analysis shows that IOS adoption as well as B2B integration have positive significant effects on SCP. Additionally, it was found that B2B plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between IOS adoption and SCP. The findings enhance the theoretical development by offering empirical data on the link between IOS adoption, B2B integration, and SCP within automotive spare parts. This study also supports the adoption and implementation of information and technology systems to enhance organizational SCP.
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF CLINICAL ALARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON PATIENT ’S SAFETY AS PERCEIVED BY NURSES: THE MODERATING ROLE OF JCI-ACCREDITATION
(An Najah National University, 2024-09-25) Abdelhadi, Fadi
This study investigates the impact of Clinical Alarm Management Practices and Knowledge (CAMPK) on Patient Safety as Perceived by Nurses (PSPN) and the moderating role of Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation within Palestinian hospitals. To this end, the Health Technology Foundation (HTF) 2016 Clinical Alarms Survey, was used to collect data from 102 nurses across various departments in Palestinian hospitals. Collected data were analyzed using the partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) via Smart PLS software. The findings of the analysis revealed that effective CAMPK positively enhance the PSPN with value of ( p = 0.004) . Furthermore, the study shows the importance of reducing nuisance alarms and the use of smart alarm systems as major and important elements of CAMPK that positively impact PSPN. JCI accreditation was found to have a minimum statistically significant effect on nurses’ perception of patient safety and a minimum moderating effect on the relation between CAMPK and PSPN. The analysis shows that the interaction effect between JCI and CAMPK on PSPN was not statistically significant p = 0.486 which is > 0.05 . In order to enhance patient safety perceptions this study suggests that accreditation alone is insufficient and a comprehensive approach integrating CAMPK and tailored accreditation processes is necessary. The findings show the complexity of patient safety improvements and the need for ongoing evaluation and adjustment of clinical practices and accreditation standards. The study's conclusion provides data highlighting the importance of effective Clinical Alarm Management Practices and Knowledge (CAMPK) in enhancing nurses' perceptions of patient safety (PSPN). Also this study provides the tools, for healthcare policymakers and administrators in Palestinian healthcare sector as well as clinical staff, necessary for developing patient safety programs in the altered clinical settings, allowing one to comprehend the link between CAMPK, PSPN, and JCI accreditation. As Palestinian hospitals have just recently begun to participate in international joint commission accreditation, accrediting processes require regular reviews and modifications. Administrators need to take a more active role in quality improvement initiatives in order to close any gaps that exist and ensure that clinical practice and accreditation criteria are in line with patient safety objectives. Keywords: Clinical Alarm Management Practices and Knowledge (CAMPK), Patient Safety, Smart PLS, Palestinian healthcare sector, nuisance alarms, Health Technology Foundation (HTF).
ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL OF ADOPTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND ITS EFFECT ON THE SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE IN THE PALESTINIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
(An-Najah National University, 2024-06-09) Zean Al-dean, Shaimaa
In recent years, the global community has acknowledged the critical importance of sustainable development approaches in addressing acute environmental concerns while also ensuring long-term social and economic success. In this environment, the circular economy (CE) has emerged as a viable paradigm for encouraging sustainability in a variety of industries, including construction. In Palestine, the construction industry is crucial to economic growth. This thesis aims to assess the potential of adopting the principles of CE in the Palestinian construction industry and to investigate its effects on sustainable development. It also aims at studying how the application of CE in the Palestinian construction industry can help in using resources, and exploring the potential social and environmental impacts of applying the principles of CE in Palestinian construction industry. To this end, a research model was developed where data was collected using questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Data were collected from a random sample of 80 participants including engineers, contractors and suppliers. The respondents scored CE in a medium level 2.480 . Aspects observed in current practice reveal only occasional fulfilment of goals set regarding recycled content, although some obstacles are related to the limited availability of recycled materials, the lack of official rules concerning their use, insufficient financial incentives, and the lack of appropriate training. But the opportunity to extend CE is the possibility to decrease its negative impact, governmental programs, and financial stimuli, all of which stimulate activity. The partial least squares- structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS software was used to analyze the data collected by the questionnaire and test the model hypotheses. The results obtained showed that the level of implementation of adopting principles of CE is of medium level. Keywords : Circular economy (CE), Construction industry (CI) , Sustainable development (SD) , Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
ASSESSMENT OF WIND ENERGY POTENTIAL IN PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
(An-Najah National University, 2024-06-24) Qasem Solaiman, Motasem
The Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) face significant challenges due to a high dependency on imported conventional energy sources, including petroleum and approximately 90% of its electrical energy needs from Israeli companies. This dependency results in elevated energy costs and susceptibility to price fluctuations. Amidst these challenges, The energy dilemma has a vital solution in renewable energy. with wind energy representing an underutilized yet promising resource within the OPT. Despite its global significance, wind energy's potential remains largely untapped in the OPT due to a limited number of studies, professional capacity constraints, and geopolitical barriers, alongside the high costs associated with wind energy technologies. These factors have led to a palpable sense of frustration and the perception of wind energy projects as impractical within the region. This study uses exacting scientific procedures to thoroughly examine and evaluate the possibility of wind energy in the OPT. Employing the Weibull distribution method, The goal of the study is to present a thorough summary of the state of wind resource evaluations as of right now., explore existing wind energy conversion technologies suitable for the OPT, and present detailed wind characteristics for specific regions under study. Additionally, it aims to identify the most viable locations for wind turbine installations and determine the most appropriate turbine types for these areas. Through this approach, the research endeavors to offer substantive insights and recommendations to overcome the challenges facing wind energy implementation in the OPT.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BLOOD MAGNESIUM LEVEL AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG COMMUNITY DWELLING OLDER ADULTS IN TULKARM: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
(An-Najah National University, 2024-05-09) Layan Alkum
Background: The investigation into the potential association between blood Magnesium level and cognitive impairment among community dwelling older adult in Tulkarm stems from a growing interest in understanding modifiable factors influencing cognitive health in aging populations, magnesium deficiency is associated with poor cognition or dementia. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of Magnesium deficiency, to determine the association between magnesium levels in the blood and to determine the factor that associated with magnesium deficiency among community dwelling older adult in Tukaram. Methodology: A cross-sectional design study was conducted among 200 participants aged 60 years or older. The participants were selected by convenient sampling from Tulkarm Governance. The collected data included: sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, life style, nutritional status, cognitive status and functional status. Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA) tool was used to screen for malnutrition while Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) was used to determine the adherence to Mediterranean diet. Magnesium deficiency was defined according to Magnesium levels less than (1.9 mg/dl). Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test. Functional status was determined using activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL). SPSS21 software was used to analyze the data, and Chi Square test was used to determine the association between magnesium level and other variables. Results: The finding revealed that 63.5% were female, with a mean age of 64.6±3.3 years old. Most of the participants (72.5%) were married, 67.5% did not receive formal education, and 40.5% were not working. The most prevalent chronic diseases were: hypertension (32.5%), diabetes (29.0%), and heart disease (15.0%). In terms of lifestyle, 19.0% smoked and 77.5% good sleep quality. A low magnesium level was discovered in 30.5% of the population. The mean cognitive and functional status were; (24.5±3.66), ADL (5.4±1.19), IADL (6.2±3.2) respectively. The results revealed that, there was a significant association between magnesium levels and smoking status (P=0.006), IADL (P=0.048), and cognitive function (P=0.011). There were no significant relationships detected with sociodemographic, sleep quality, Physical Activity, body mass index, malnutrition or adherence to Mediterranean diet. Conclusions: The prevalence of magnesium deficiency was 30.5%, it was significantly associated with smoking status, IADL and cognitive performance. These findings shed light on the association between magnesium deficiency and numerous elements of participants' lives, as well as possible links to lifestyle and health concerns, Recommendation: The study findings suggest prioritizing the dietary consumption of older persons and raising awareness about the need of selecting nutrient-rich foods that are high in minerals and vitamins, particularly magnesium. Additional investigation is advised to ascertain the efficacy of Magnesium supplementation on the cognitive and functional condition of elderly individuals. It is advisable to conduct a longitudinal research to examine the causal factors that affected magnesium intake which may impact the cognitive and functional status of older adults in the Palestinian community. Keywords: aging population, magnesium deficiency, cognitive function, functional status
AUTOMATED OPTIC DISC SEGMENTATION FOR FUNDUS IMAGES BASED ON ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS: U-NET
(An-Najah National University, 2024-08-27) Alhendi, Nour
Optic disc (OD), located at the back of the eye, is a significant part of the retina. It represents the entry point for the optic nerve and blood vessels. Accurate OD segmentation provides critical information about the anatomy and health state of the retina, aiding in diagnosing and managing various eye conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and optic nerve abnormalities. With automatic OD segmentation, computer-based systems can efficiently analyze large numbers of retinal images, enabling early detection and monitoring of eye diseases. This automation not only enhances the speed and accuracy of diagnosis but also facilitates cost-effective and accessible healthcare, especially in areas with limited ophthalmic expertise. In this study, an automatic method for OD segmentation in retinal images using a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, known as U-Net, was introduced. First, a region of interest (ROI) was extracted from the fundus images using the bounding box technique. For faster calculations, the cropped images were resized to 128 × 128 pixels. Then, these images were enhanced using the contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) to eliminate the noise and improve their qualities. After that, a U- Net model was constructed and trained to obtain segmented images. The proposed model was trained and evaluated using the public dataset ORIGA, and the predicted results were compared with the ground truth (GT) images. This method competed with other studies and achieved average accuracy of 98.42%, average precision of 97.46%, and average sensitivity of 95.33%. As the execution time is short, this enables the proposed method to be an online implemented method.
BIOBASED IMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVES WITH VERSATILE BIOACTIVITIES
(2024-03-07) Saber Mahmoud Abu-Jabal
Abstract Imidazole is known to be a highly momentous biomolecule since it is demonstrated to possess exceptional biological properties, like antimicrobial, antifungal, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase, and cytotoxic activities. Vanillin was used as the starting material in this study, it is a natural phenolic substance, and it makes up the majority of the vanilla orchid's bean and pod. It is used as a flavoring agent and as a preservative in the pharmaceutical industry and cosmetics. This work aims to synthesize a novel natural vanillin-based imidazolone derivatives and zwitterionic vanillin-based imidazolone derivatives with alkyl sulfonate moiety starting from the natural product vanillin. Thirty new derivatives were synthesized. Various spectroscopic methods analyzed all prepared derivatives. The anticancer properties of all derivatives were evaluated against two liver cancer cell lines (Hep-3B, LX2) and cervical cancer (HeLa). Moreover, the molecular docking between some of the prepared compounds and DNA was performed. The study discovered that a few of these substances have high impact on preventing the growth of two types of cancer cells liver cancer (Hep-3B) and cervical cancer (HeLa), and compounds with the numbers (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 24, 26) shown extraordinary efficiency against these cancer cells with low viability against the normal cells. A molecular docking study showed excellent interaction of some of these derivatives with the DNA through forming strong H-bonding. Prepared compounds with the alkyl sulfonate moieties showed improvement in the anticancer efficiency. In conclusion, a new novel set of imidazoles and synthesis of imidazolone with alkyl sulfonate moiety were successfully prepared. The anticancer activities were very promising, which makes the synthesized compounds possible future drugs for the treatment of various cancers. Keywords: Hippuric acid; oxazolone; imidazolones; anticancer; Benzimidazole; Schiff.
BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF PLANT EXTRACTS FROM MIDDLE EAST AREA ON FOOD BORNE PATHOGENS
(2018-07-24) Nouraldin Shtaya
ABSTRACT there's many research investigate of high activity of plants extract and microbes and during the past few decades there has been a notable increase in the demand natural preservatives. The aim of our study to evaluate six methanolic extracts of medicinal plants from Palestine against 18 bacterial indicator strains (gram positive & gram negative). Six methanolic extracts were prepared from different parts of plants used in traditional medicine in Palestine. We prepared the crude extract by using methanol and distilled water, and used rotary evaporator, Testing by using two method paper disc diffusion and agar well diffusion. In our study has shown the antibacterial activity for all methanolic extract of plants we tested Origanum syriacum L. Var. syriacum, Rhus coriaria L., Rumex acetosa L, Salvia hierosolymitana Boiss, Teucrium capitatum L, Cyclamen persicum mill at different amount range (5µL-50 µL ). In addition the results we got it, can be first step for various future research.
CHARACTERIZATION OF DAMAGE IN ALUMINUM NITRIDE SINGLE CRYSTALS BY RBS-C, AN ION BEAM ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE
(An-Najah National University, 2024-10-20) Hussein, Sarab
Insulating optical materials such as aluminum nitride (AlN) will play a crucial role in future fusion reactors, particularly in diagnostic systems. AlN is being considered as an insulating coating in some reactor designs due to it is high resistance to chemical corrosion and also exhibits a high thermal conductivity up to 321 W/(m·K). Understanding the degradation mechanisms of AlN under implantation and irradiation is of utmost importance. This study investigated the effect of helium ions on the structure of aluminum nitride (AlN) single crystals using 6 MeV Au+ ions. The crystals were implanted with Au+ ions and analyzed using the Rutherford Backscattering in Channeling (RBS/C) technique across various ion fluences to mimic damage from heavy recoil nuclei. Results showed a gradual increase in damage, measured as a percentage of defects, with increasing ion fluences, reaching saturation at a depth of around 1.3 µm. Monte Carlo McChasy simulations validated the experimental Rutherford Backscattering in Channeling RBS/C data, demonstrating excellent agreement. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of AlN samples pre-implanted with 6 MeV Au+ ions at room temperature revealed a gradient of defect concentration, with higher densities at the rear of the damaged layer and notably high defect density at the surface. Discrepancies between observed defect sizes and the Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM) predictions highlighted SRIM's limitations for high-energy, high-mass projectiles on light targets. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis provided insights into strain values influenced by implantation fluence and flux. Despite a slight temperature increase in the highest fluence sample, strain values remained consistent with lower fluences, indicating robust behavior. Elastic strains increased with fluence, reaching saturation at approximately 1.7% and 2.5% for near-surface and peak damage regions, respectively. Challenges in determining near-surface strain due to complex XRD curve shapes were noted, but an overall trend was observed This study offers valuable insights into the structural changes induced by helium in AlN crystals, enhancing our understanding of material responses to irradiation and aiding in the development of predictive models for radiation-induced damage in materials.
COMPARISON OF NUMERICAL METHODS FOR SOLVING SYSTEMS OF ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
(An-Najah National University, 2024-10-31) Boshnaq, Abdul Fattah
In this work, we shed the light on the numerical handling of systems of ordinary differential equations. These systems have wide range of applications in mathematical physics, chemistry, biology, stereology, heat conducing and engineering models. After introducing some important aspects of systems of differential equations including the solvability of homogeneous and non-homogeneous systems, we focus on the numerical techniques for solving systems of differential equations. Namely; one step and multistep methods. The one step methods include Euler and Runge-Kutta methods. The multistep methods involve Adams-Bashforth method, Adams-Moulton method and the Predictor-Corrector method. The mathematical framework of these numerical methods together with their convergence properties and their error bound associated with these methods will be presented. The proposed numerical methods will be illustrated by solving some numerical examples. Numerical results show clearly that the multistep methods are more efficient and give faster convergence than other methods.
COMPUTATIONAL METHODS FOR SOLVING VOLTERRA INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
(2022-10-20) Masa Husam Saeed Desuqi
Background: Integro-Differential Equations (IDEs), one of the most important mathematical tools in both pure and applied mathematics, arise in many physical problems such as wind ripple in the desert, nano-hydrodynamics, population growth model, glass-forming process.. They have motivated a huge amount of research in recent years. Many researchers have developed numerical schemes for solving these IDEs. Aim: In this work, the researcher proposed three numerical schemes, namely, the Taylor collocation method, Legendre polynomials method and the Haar wavelets method, to approximate the solution of Volterra Integro-Differential Equations (VIDEs). Material and method: These three numerical methods have been applied in the form of algorithms, and Maple software has been developed/used to solve some numerical examples. Results: The numerical results showed that the convergence and accuracy of the aforementioned methods were in good agreement with the analytical solution. Comparison of numerical results, mentioned in tables and figures, showed clearly that the Haar wavelets method provides more accurate results and is, therefore, more effective than other methods. Keywords: Volterra integro-differential equations; Taylor collocation; Legendre polynomials; Haar wavelets. Introduction Importance of Integral Equations: the subject of IDEs have attracted the attention of many scientists and researchers over the past few years due to their wide range of applications like wind ripple, hydro-dynamics, glass-formation, model of population growth and various models in physics, engineering and medicine, namely the mathematical modelling of epidemics, particular when the models contains age-structure or describe spatial epidemics [5, 6]. Literature Review Many numerical schemes for solving VIDEs have been constructed and implemented by many researches. For example, Karamete et al. [19] used collocation method based on Taylor expansion to solve VIDEs. Khater et al. [20] implemented the Legendre polynomials method to approximate the solution of VIDEs subject to initial conditions. Ali [2] has applied the Haar wavelets approach to obtain an approximate solution to VIDEs. Draidi et al. [12] used the product Nystrom in parallel with the sinc-collocation scheme to solve integral equations with Carleman kernel. Hamaydi et al. [16] solved fuzzy integral equations using variational iteration and Taylor expansion techniques. Moreover, Fazeli et al. [14] suggested several numerical schemes to approximate the solution of VIDEs. Other numerical techniques for solving VIDEs are: variational iteration [30], Walsh expansion series [26], Chebyshev collocation [1], Nystr"o" ̈m method [22], differential transform [11], homotopy [25], power series [3] and finite difference [10]. Burton [7, 8] has investigated in the 1980s some stability results for the VIDEs. Zhang [31] has also presented some stability results for VIDEs. Tunc [28] and Staffans [27] proposed a new stability results based on Lyapunov functional for VIDEs. In this work, we suggest three numerical techniques to solve VIDEs, namely, Taylor collocation method, Legendre polynomials and Haar wavelets method. The VIDE under consideration has the form: Y^((n) ) (x)=r(x)+∫_a^x▒F(x,t)Y(t)dt where Y^((n) ) (x)=(d^n Y)/(dx^n ) ,n∈N subject to the initial conditions: Y^((s))=a_s , s=0,1,2,…,(n-1). The kernel F(x,t) and the function r(x) are given. The unknown function Y(x) is to be determined. A major objective is to compare between these numerical techniques in approximating the solution of the VIDE by solving some numerical examples. We organize this work as follows: chapter one deals with some general aspects of VIDEs together with their solvability. In chapter two, we address all the aforementioned methods, namely, Taylor collocation, Legendre polynomials and Haar wavelets methods. We conclude chapter three by solving some VIDEs with known exact solution by the aforementioned algorithms.
COMPUTER VISION AND MACHINE LEARNING APPROACHES FOR INTERPRETATION OF BREAST HISTOPATHOLOGY
(An-Najah National University, 2024-09-12) Odeh, Omar
Breast cancer, along with other cancer types, represents a major health issue worldwide, especially in regions with limited medical resources, such as Palestine where it’s harder to diagnose and treat cancer patients. The traditional diagnostic methods which rely mainly on the manual examination of histology slides in the lab by experts are both time consuming and require high skills, which often leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment. This research aims to leverage Whole Slide Imaging (WSI) and advanced image processing techniques, including machine learning and deep learning, to develop a tool to support breast cancer diagnosis in Palestine. A collection of histopathology images from breast cancer cases, provided by An-Najah Hospital in Nablus, Palestine, was used in this study. An automated classification model was developed, capable of identifying normal, benign, in situ, and invasive breast cancer tissues at magnifications of x20 and x40. It was empowered using advanced preprocessing techniques to normalize the colors and sizes of the training data. The classification model resulted in a remarkable performance of InceptionV3 and Gradient Boosting models with accuracies of up to 98.7% and 98% respectively in different settings. The same algorithm was applied to a BACH challenge dataset, resulting in a high accuracy of 96.7%, surpassing the results of other studies. The study also covers whole slide image (WSI) analysis, emphasizing the complex approach required for the proper detection of malignancy and tumor size estimation using a customized segmentation approach which resulted in an 84% Jaccard index score. Additionally, it discusses novel approaches in localization of tumor beds and grading of treatment responses, aiming to provide a methodological basis for improving patient care outcomes in challenging environments like Palestine. Keywords: Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Automated Image Analysis, Whole Slide Imaging (WSI), Deep Learning in Pathology, Healthcare in Palestine.

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