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- ItemA COMPARAIVE STUDY OF HUMAN VERSUS MACHINE TRANSLATION OF SOME RHETORICAL DEVICES: PUNS AND TAUTOLOGY IN IBRAHIM TOGAN’S POETRY(2022-12-22) Amani Ibrahim Muhammed RawajbiThis study aims to compare Machine Translation (MT) to Human Translation (HT) of some rhetorical devices of puns (absolute and homophonic) and tautology in Ibrahim Togan's poetry. The researcher chooses the descriptive method and the questionnaire as an instrument for the study. The target population of the study was a sample of (30) M.A. students of translation and (3) MT engines (software) which include (Google Translate, Bing Translate, Babylon Translate).The results of the study show that HT of Puns (absolute and homophonic) and tautology of Ibrahim Togan's poetry can be reliable compared to the MT. It also points out that MT engines should have a huge literary glossaries about the target culture especially literary and puns words, also the study finds that the M.A students of translation were confused about some pun words, so they resorted to the surface meanings. The findings of the study recommend that MT engines be developed by their own programmers to enrich their systems and glossaries with literary words and idioms. So, this study assures programmers to sustain developing these engines with puns and tautology words correctly, taking into consideration the correlation and meaning of the whole context of the poem. Keywords: Neural machine translation, computational linguistics, human translation, artificial intelligence, poetic translation, translation quality.
- ItemA QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF THE ARABIC DUBBING OF SONGS FROM DISNEY’S MUSICALS(2023-03-19) Marah RawajbehSince its launch in 1995, the field of audiovisual translation studies has been disregarded in Arab academia. At present, there are few studies on audiovisual translation in the Arab world, and most of them employ the linguistic approach, ignoring the non-linguistic elements of audiovisual products. This study is meant to be a contribution to research on audiovisual translation into Arabic and on song translation which is one of the least researched topics in translation studies. The study assesses the quality of the Arabic dubbing of songs featured in Disney’s musical films. By reflecting on the quality of song dubbing into Arabic, it aims at providing some insights into the professional situation of audiovisual translation in the Arab world. The study applies the triangle of aspects to the Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Arabic dubbed versions of songs featured in four Disney musical films to determine the success of each dubbed version in retaining the functional musical, visual, and verbal aspects of the original songs. The results of this analysis reveal that the Arabic dubbing manages to somewhat recreate the aspects related to the musical performance, but it fails to preserve key elements related to the visual performance and narrative function of the original songs. This results in a significant loss of narrative elements that contribute to the films’ narratives and characterization in the Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Arabic dubbed versions. Thus, from a functional perspective, the Arabic dubbing of songs featured in Disney’s recent musicals is found to be functionally inadequate. Keywords: Arabic; Audiovisual translation; Disney; dubbing; triangle of aspects; song translation.
- ItemASSESSMENT OF OPTOMETRY SERVICES IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS OF THE WEST BANK - PALESTINE(2022-12-08) Enas Faysal Dawwas Abu AwwadIntroduction: optometry is the profession that provided vision and eye examinations and eye care services by optometrists, in addition to the role of providing awareness and eye health guidance. This study aimed to assess the optometry services provided in the Northern Districts of the West Bank (Jenin, Tubas, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalailyah, and Salfit). Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study, was conducted between November and December 2021, selecting the target group consisting of all optometrists holding a diploma or higher who provide optometry services in the Northern Districts of the West Bank. The participants were 94 optometrists who answered a questionnaire prepared from three previous studies and filled out by the researcher in face-to-face interviews. Results: (72.2%) of optometrists were females, (85.2%) of them had a bachelor's degree or higher, while the private sector provided (97.9%) of optometry services. Optometry services such as subjective refraction, contact lens fitting, and spectacles dispensing were the most provided. However, differences in services provided according to workplace and optometrists' qualifications were found. (14.8%) of optometrists in private optometry, centers provided cycloplegic refraction while (84.6%) of optometrists in hospitals. Furthermore, only (7.7%) of diploma holders and (26.3%) of BSc used diagnostic drugs. Insufficient continuing training was the first barrier faced by optometrists (93.6%), and it had significant associations with gender and qualification. While the economic and political problems barrier was a barrier for optometrists working in private optometry centers (93.8%) and those in other workplaces (38.5%). Optometrists recommended expanding the scope of optometry practice in Palestine and letting optometrists provide vision services in primary health care centers of PMOH. Conclusion: Optometrists in Palestine practice the technology services category and visual function services category in the Model of Scope of Practice in Optometry by the WCO, in absence of ocular diagnostic and ocular therapeutic services categories. That requires expanding optometry scope of practice according to the quality of optometry education in Palestine, in addition to developing continuous training programs to deal with the insufficient training as a barrier faced by optometrists and prevent them from improving their skills. Keywords: Eye care services; Optometrist; Optometry; Palestine; Scope.
- ItemASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRACTICES AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR OF CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP ON GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE HEALTHSECTOR IN PALESTINE(2022-03-28) Mahdi W. ZiyadehAbstract Background: Healthcare sector is considered as one of the most important sectors in the world, in addition of being the largest services sectors in both developed and developing countries. The importance and the arising interest in this sector are justified by its noble role in preserving humanity, Modernization and environmental issues helped to launch ground breaking practices in Human Resources Management (HRM) that promotes an environmentally friendly practices called Green Human Resources Management (GHRM.( Objectives: The paper aims to investigate the relationship between Green human resources management (GHRM) practices in Palestinian healthcare organizations, and their impact on organizations sustainability (OS) as well as the role of corporate social responsibilities (CSR) and organization citizenship behavior environmental (OCBE) in mediating the GHRM practices– OS relationship. Methodology: This paper applied a quantitative method in which data were collected from a survey with from 88 respondents who have been using green human resource management practices at different managerial levels. The data analysis was conducted using the partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results: This paper provides empirical insights into how to enhance OS via GHRM practices, CSR and OCBE Palestinian healthcare organizations. In addition, the results showed that GHRM practices positively influenced both of CSR and OCBE and both of CSR and OCBE positively influenced OS. The findings contributed to the development of the AMO theory further by empirically exploring the significance of GHRM practices coupled with CSR and OCBE as competencies and capability to drive OS. The testing of the dual mediators' effects further added value to this study. Conclusion: This paper includes implications for achieving the health care sector's long-term sustainability by linking strategic environmental goals of human resource management practices with practices of social responsibility and organizational citizenship behavior, which ensures employee participation in the formulation of policies and strategies for the organization Kayword: Green Human Resources Management(GHRM), Green Training and Involvement(GTI), Green Performance and Compensation(GPC), Sustainability performance, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Organizational citizenship behavior environmental (OCBE),
- ItemCLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOMES OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019: A SINGLE-CENTER, RETROSPECTIVE STUDY FROM PALESTINE(2022-08-04) Muhamad Mamoon AmerAbstract Background: This study reports routine laboratory analysis related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity evaluated at admission and follows up the lab result until the disease outcome either discharge or death. This study combines test results with data on the severity of the disease. It can provide differences between patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 observed in a particular laboratory analysis. Therefore, this study contributes to a better understanding of the use of laboratory analysis in the evaluation of COVID-19 patients. Methodology: A cross-sectional retrospective study using medical records at An-Najah National University Hospital to abstract data about patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Palestine. The IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to conduct the statistical analysis (SPSS version 21). Results: The study included 106 patients with COVID-19, most of the patients were males (70.8%, n=75) and females (29.2%, n=31) with a ratio of 2.4:1. There were 18 patients who died during the follow-up of this study. Most of the symptoms were resolved at the time of discharge. The vast majority of the patients suffered from tiredness (91.51%) at the time of admission, while this symptom has reduced to (51.14%) at the time of discharge. Females had the highest percentage of severe COVID-19 among all participants (53.77%). In terms of age, geriatric females (30 patients) had severe COVID-19; this age group had the highest severity, which was not statistically significant (p=0.09). The current study analyzed the patients with COVID-19 based on disease severity and lab results, only neutrophils, lymphocytes, Lactate dehydrogenase, and c-reactive protien had statistically significant differences between severity of COVID-19 (p<0.05). D-dimer had very high levels with a mean of 2.96 in severe cases compared to a mean of 0.67±0.5 in mild cases. Conclusions: Latest research indicates, individuals with a severe COVID-19 illness history have a unique laboratory pattern upon admission that can be used for triaging and treatment decisions. Patients with a severe COVID-19 illness history are expected to exhibit a different pattern in terms of the results of regular laboratory testing, based on the current data. Instead of employing a single special biomarker, a systematic approach utilising multiple relevant regular tests is preferable. There is a need for more investigation into the use of laboratory testing as predictive indicators of COVID-19 disease severity and outcome. Keywords: Corona; COVID-19; Lab Results; Outcomes; Palestine.
- ItemCOMPARISON OF VASCULAR CLOSURE DEVICES VERSUS MANUAL COMPRESSION IN TERMS OF POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING CEREBRAL ANGIOGRAPHY: A HOSPITAL-BASED OBSERVATIONAL STUDY(2022-05-24) Duaa Ahmad Hussein FarajBackground: Transfemoral cerebrospinal angiographies are commonly performed in different healthcare settings around the world. Vascular closure devices (VCDs) and mechanical compression (MC) approaches are used to achieve hemostasis. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess and compare postinterventional complications occurring among patients who underwent transfemoral cerebral angiography when MC or a VCD (Angio-Seal VIP) were used. Methodology: This was a retrospective cohort study in which patients who underwent cerebral angiography At An-Najah National University and for whom MC or a VCD (Angio-Seal VIP) were used. The clinical files and records of the patients were reviewed for data collection. Results: A total of 166 patients were included. Of those, 89 had MC and 77 had Angio-Seal VIP. Patients in the MC group had significantly higher prothrombin time (p-value = 0.009), partial thromboplastin time (p-value < 0.001), and international normalized ratio (p-value < 0.001). Angio-Seal VIP was associated with significantly shorter time to hemostasis (p-value < 0.001), lidocaine use (p-value = 0.012), use of acetylsalicylic acid (p-value = 0.001), and use of tirofiban (p-value < 0.001). More patients in the MC group reported discomfort at discharge compared to patients in the Angio-Seal VIP group (p-value = 0.001), stayed significantly longer duration in the intensive care unit (ICU) (p-value < 0.001), in the hospital (p-value < 0.001), needed longer mechanical ventilation hours (p-value = 0.030), reported higher postinterventional pain (p-value = 0.011), and needed prolonged bed rest hours (p-value = 0.007). Conclusions: Findings of this study indicated that Angio-Seal VIP was associated with less postinterventional complications compared to MC for patients undergoing transfemoral cerebral angiographies. Although both methods could be safe and effective in helping achieve hemostasis, Angio-Seal VIP could reduce postinterventional complications that can lead to longer mechanical ventilation hours, higher postinterventional pain, longer stays in the ICU, in hospital, longer bed rest, and higher patient discomfort at discharge. Keywords: Catheterization, cerebral angiography, femoral artery, hemostasis, mechanical compression, vascular closure device.
- ItemContemporary Hybridity and the Fear of Dislocation in the Literature about the Arabian Gulf: The Eastern Other in Saud Al-sanousi's The Bamboo Stalk and Benyamin's Goat Days(جامعة النجاح الوطنية, 2024-09-19) Reem Mustafa Ismail GhanimThis thesis explores the challenges experienced by Eastern migrants in the Arabian Gulf states through analyzing both The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Al-sanousi and Goat Days by Benyamin. It examines the protagonists dilemmas and challenges with cultural hybridity, identity crises, discrimination, and rejection in their host countries. This study argues that migrants in Gulf states experience marginalization and disillusionment due to racial, linguistic, and social differences, as well as systemic discrimination. The novels critique the socio-cultural dynamics of the Gulf’s labor diaspora along with its psychological impact on migrant identity.
- ItemCONTENT ANALYSIS OF CAMBRIDGE GLOBAL ENGLISH FOR THE SEVENTH GRADERS IN LIGHT OF 21ST CENTURY SKILLS IN NABLUS(جامعة النجاح الوطنية, 2024-10-17) دعاء سميح فؤاد عيادThe current study aimed to analyze the content of the Cambridge Global English textbook for the seventh grade in terms of the extent of including the skills of the 21st century and assess its effectiveness in developing these skills among students. The mixed approach were used to analyze the content of the textbook based on the skills of the 21st century, and the qualitative method was used to conduct interviews with three English teachers of the Cambridge curriculum in Nablus. One of the study's most important outcomes indicates that the Cambridge Global English curriculum allocates attention unevenly among the four principal language skills—reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Compared to the other two, listening receives relatively little attention in the implementation of the curriculum. The study reported that more emphasis is placed on speaking and writing, while reading and listening are less frequently addressed. In the area of 21st-century skills, the textbook gives priority to research, critical thinking, communication, and creativity, with much less attention being paid to the skills of leadership, responsibility, and digital literacy. The study also identified challenges teachers face, particularly in using technology. The other challenges are the time limitation, the foreign cultural background of the textbook, and the issue of motivation and assessment. Recommendations include updating the curriculum to better address the uneven allocation of attention to the four principal language skills and providing more teacher training. The researcher recommends that the content of the book should be updated to further enhance the skills of the 21st century, in addition to providing additional training for teachers to enable them to teach these skills effectively.
- ItemCORPORATE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AS A MEDIATOR OF THE EFFECT OF CEO's CHARACTERISTICS ON SHARE PRICES: EVIDENCE FROM AN EMERGING ECONOMY(2024-03-09) Samah Ghassan Abdalhamid QarmashAbstract This study aimed to capture the impact of chief executive officers’ characteristics on a company’s share price, and to explore whether the sustainable growth rate (SGR) mediates the relationship between CEO characteristics and share price using a combination of upper echelons theory, signaling theory, and agency theory. CEO characteristics included in this study are CEO education, experience, turnover, and age. This study employed a quantitative approach. The research sample consisted of 43 industrial corporations; 11 of them are listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange (PEX) and 32 are listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) over the period 2016–2022, resulting in 301 observations. The data was analyzed using multivariate regression analysis, to examine the direct relationship hypotheses. Moreover, for testing the mediating role of the SGR hypothesis, the casual steps method and a Sobel test were applied. The study found a significant relationship between CEO characteristics and share price, where CEO age has a significant and negative association with share price, while CEO education, experience and turnover had an insignificant relationship. The study found a significant relationship between CEO characteristics and SGR, Regarding the Sobel test results, the study found that SGR's mediating role in the relationship between CEO education, turnover, age, and share price is insignificant. It was also found that SGR only diminishes the strength of the relationship between CEO experience and share price. Regarding the control variables, firm size and leverage had a negative association with share price, while firm age had a positive relationship with share price. This study provides an important contribution to explaining the causal relationship between CEO characteristics and share price, as only a few scholars have discussed possible mediator variables that can transmit the impact of CEO characteristics on share price and that can better explain how these two variables are related. The study assists investors and regulators in Palestine and Jordan in their investment decisions by considering the impact of CEO attributes on firm strategies and share prices, thus improving firms' value. The study's limitations include excluding other sectors and requiring larger samples. And the researcher recommends examining other CEO attributes, other mediating variables, and top management team characteristics in future research. Keywords: Chief executive officer's characteristics, sustainable growth rate, share price, Palestine Stock Exchange, Amman Stock Exchange, emerging economy.
- ItemCRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TRNSLATION OF ECOLOGICAL AND MATERICAL CULTURAL ELEMENT IN NAGUIB MAHFOUZ’S NOVEL “THE THIFE AND THE DOGS”(2023-03-16) Aden Rasim Mohammed NawajaThis thesis investigates the translation techniques employed by the translator when dealing with materially and ecologically culture-specific elements in Naguib Mahfouz's The Thief and the Dogs, and it aims to determine the effectiveness of domestication and foreignization approach that should be used to convey material and ecological elements in the process of translation. To do so, the original novel and its English translations are compared through selected data excerpts. This thesis also evaluates the translator's success in translating the novel and gauges the level of domestication and foreignization of cultural elements based on Venuti's (1995) model. Another key component of the thesis is that it explores the number of ecological and material culture items that are grouped and calculated under each strategy and the percentage of domestication compared to foreignization. Finally, it discusses cultural losses that may arise from the misapplication of certain strategies, the translator's misunderstanding of context, or the lack of equivalents using the Etic-Emic approach as another theoretical framework. The thesis shows that the translator used various local translation techniques to covey Egyptian ecological and material culture elements. In addition, the translator has used the foreignization approach more frequently than domestication. However, the study draws attention to the fact that the cultural elements were not accurately conveyed in the target language, especially ecological and material cultural elements, resulting in a lack of comprehension of the intended meaning of the source language, which ,in turn, led to cultural losses such as; explicit, implicit, modified, and complete losses. The thesis concludes that it is important for translators to understand the culture of both languages to achieve a more accurate translation. Keywords: Ecological and material CE, Domestication, Foreignization, Etic–Emic approach, cultural loss, “The Thief and the Dogs
- ItemDESIGN A SHUNT ACTIVE POWER FILTER FED BY 27-LEVEL INVERTER AND WIND TURBINE(2023-10-03) Manar Wael ShtayaThe need for energy is increasing rapidly along with the world's population. The generation of power assumes a critical role in facilitating national development by addressing the demands of the populace. Renewable energy sources, including solar energy, wind power, and others, have been utilised for centuries, predating the present era. Solar and wind energy are commonly acknowledged as the most promising modalities of renewable energy, and their utilisation is becoming increasingly prevalent. The widespread use of non-linear loads in modern electrical systems leads to harmonic pollution of the main network. Apart from the issues instigated by harmonic currents, reactive power represents an additional challenge in power systems. Enhancing the power of delivery quality to the system and achieve a power factor of unity, it is imperative to employ electrical filters to eliminate harmonics and reactive power. To improve the quality of the electricity, a parallel active filter is utilized. In this research, a 27-level multi-level inverter besides an active power filter have been integrated with a wind turbine as a renewable energy source by using MATLAB/SIMULINK. The system has been designed to work under different operation scenarios, the system effects, if it is connected with separated load or with network, have been evaluated for each scenario. In this project, the active power filter was simulated in MATLAB, and the results obtained were as follows: in the first operating condition, when the system connected with separated non linear load, the total harmonic distortion of the source output current was reduced from 21.02% to 8.90% after the inverter has started working. Furthermore, the THD of the inverter output current was increased from 6.74% to756.93%. In the second operating condition, the system connected with fifteen buses radial network, when the active filter connected near to the power source, the THD of the source output current was reduced from 26.67% to 13.19 %, on the contrary, when the active filter is connected near to the load, the THD of the source output current was reduced from 26.67% to 8.28%. The results confirm that the active filter at this location is effective in reducing THD values. Keywords: renewable energy sources, active power filter, multi-level inverter, wind turbine, non-linear loads, radial network, total harmonic distortion.
- ItemDESIGN, FORMULATION AND ANALYTICAL METHOD DEVELOPMENT OF CYCLOBENZAPRINE AND PARACETAMOL TABLET(2022-09-25) Raghad Abd alraoof LubbadehABSTRACT Background: Cyclobenzaprine HCl is a muscle relaxant, and Paracetamol is a pain relief drug. There are many indications for the co-administration of both medications. The aim of this project was to formulate and evaluate the stability of a novel tablet containing Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol together. Moreover, a new fully validated and stability indicating HPLC method was developed to test the stability of the obtained product. Method: The Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol novel tablet formula was optimized and selected according to several critical quality attributes (CQAs), including assay, content uniformity, dissolution, and degradation profiles. Method development it’s validation included linearity and range, accuracy and recovery, precision, specificity and stress conditions. Moreover, tablet stability was evaluated after 3 and 6 months under different storage conditions. A pilot study was conducted among doctors and patients to evaluate their opinions and acceptance of this combination. Results: Successfully formulated tablets, including 5 mg Cyclobenzaprine and 500 mg Paracetamol, were uniform in weight, with an average tablet weight of 650 mg. All product quality parameters were within specifications, including those for critical and non-critical quality attributes. A fully validated and stability-indicating method was established for assay and dissolution testing. The developed method exhibited high linearity with an R2 of more than 0.98 precision with a relative standard deviation of less than 2% and an accuracy result of between 98.0 and 102% for Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol. The prepared Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol tablets showed excellent stability over 6 months. The findings of the pilot field study provided insight into the acceptance of the combination of both drugs by doctors and patients. Conclusion: Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol tablets were successfully formulated and showed an acceptable stability profile. The developed and validated HPLC method was suitable for the characterization and assessment of the formulated tablets. The novel combination is likely to be accepted by doctors and patients. Key words: Cyclobenzaprine, Paracetamol, Formulation, Validation, Tablets.
- ItemDESIGN, FORMULATION AND ANALYTICAL METHOD DEVELOPMENT OF CYCLOBENZAPRINE AND PARACETAMOL TABLET(2022-09-25) Raghad Abd alraoof LubbadehBackground: Cyclobenzaprine HCl is a muscle relaxant, and Paracetamol is a pain relief drug. There are many indications for the co-administration of both medications. The aim of this project was to formulate and evaluate the stability of a novel tablet containing Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol together. Moreover, a new fully validated and stability indicating HPLC method was developed to test the stability of the obtained product. Method: The Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol novel tablet formula was optimized and selected according to several critical quality attributes (CQAs), including assay, content uniformity, dissolution, and degradation profiles. Method development it’s validation included linearity and range, accuracy and recovery, precision, specificity and stress conditions. Moreover, tablet stability was evaluated after 3 and 6 months under different storage conditions. A pilot study was conducted among doctors and patients to evaluate their opinions and acceptance of this combination. Results: Successfully formulated tablets, including 5 mg Cyclobenzaprine and 500 mg Paracetamol, were uniform in weight, with an average tablet weight of 650 mg. All product quality parameters were within specifications, including those for critical and non-critical quality attributes. A fully validated and stability-indicating method was established for assay and dissolution testing. The developed method exhibited high linearity with an R2 of more than 0.98 precision with a relative standard deviation of less than 2% and an accuracy result of between 98.0 and 102% for Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol. The prepared Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol tablets showed excellent stability over 6 months. The findings of the pilot field study provided insight into the acceptance of the combination of both drugs by doctors and patients. Conclusion: Cyclobenzaprine HCl and Paracetamol tablets were successfully formulated and showed an acceptable stability profile. The developed and validated HPLC method was suitable for the characterization and assessment of the formulated tablets. The novel combination is likely to be accepted by doctors and patients. Key words: Cyclobenzaprine, Paracetamol, Formulation, Validation, Tablets.
- ItemDIFFICULTIES IN LEARNING BASIC ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS FACED DURING E-LEARNING AS PERCEIVED BY 101 STUDENTS AND AN-NAJAH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY LANGUAGE CENTER TEACERS(2022-10-12) Islam Mohammad Arif Bani OudiThis study has researched into the difficulties that faced students in learning the basic English language skills during e-learning in terms of their perceptions towards e-learning and the types of these difficulties. The study also sought to understand An-Najah National University Language Center teachers` perceptions towards e-learning and the difficulties they faced while teaching during e-learning in terms of its effectiveness during COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the study examined the effect of the variables of gender, academic major and year of study on students` perceptions. It also examined the effect of gender and years of experience on teachers` perceptions. To these ends of the study, the researcher developed two questionnaires: one for students and one for teachers. The former consisted of eight domains: students` attitudes towards e-learning, administrative difficulties, technological difficulties, personal difficulties, difficulties in practicing the speaking skill, difficulties in practicing the listening skill, difficulties in practicing the reading skill and difficulties in practicing the writing skill. The latter consisted of three domains: teachers` attitudes towards e-learning, difficulties in teaching English language skills and the difficulties that faced students. The student questionnaire was administered to 140 male and female students who studied English 101 online while the teacher questionnaire was administered to 30 male and female English teachers at An-Najah National University’s Language Center. All the 140 students completed the questionnaire while 15 teachers completed the instrument sample of the study. The results of this descriptive study revealed that students and teachers had a mediocre/ underwhelming perception towards e-learning in light of Covid-19 pandemic. The results also revealed a number of personal, technological and administrative difficulties that hindered successful learning of the English language skills. The technological difficulties were the major cause behind poor effectiveness of e-learning in learning English language skills. Furthermore, the results showed that the difficulties in practicing the listening skill ranked first, followed by speaking, writing and reading due to the poor infrastructure problems such as power outages and lack of internet services. Additionally, no statistically significant differences were found at α=0.05 in the difficulties that faced students during e-learning which could be due to gender, academic major and year of study variables. There were also no statistically significant differences in the difficulties that faced teachers during e-learning which could be attributed to gender and years of experience. In light of these findings, the researcher recommends enriching Palestinian teachers and students with knowledge on how to use educational technology hardware and software. She also recommends organizing training programs/ and workshops for teachers and students to overcome e-learning phobia and make students` environment suitable for e-learning before starting using it. Keywords: Difficulties in learning; English language skills; E-Learning.
- ItemEFL TEACHERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE ROLE OF DIGITAL GAMES IN ENHANCING STUDENTS’ SOFT SKILLS IN SALFEET PUBLIC SCHOOLS(2023-12-24) Aliaa Atef Abdallah ShqairAbstract The rapid changes and the development in the world of work, field of education, the environment that we live, and the call of the surrounding environment for essential skills that are considered a main factor to have the tasks done with full of efficiency and creativity encourage me to discuss teachers’ attitudes toward one of most important skills that are highly required and recommended in the field of work, especially in the field of education since being involved in the teaching environment does not only depend on having a certificate in the field of study. Therefore, this study aimed to explore EFL teachers’ attitudes toward the role of using digital games in enhancing students’ soft skills. Digital games are games played on the computer, game system, television, or mobile device. They can be made specifically for educational purposes in which case they are often referred to as serious games or they can be commercial games such as Halo Call of Duty or Hearthstone. The study sample included (112) male and female English teachers in Salfeet public schools. The quantitative data collected have been analyzed using the SPSS V.23; whereas the qualitative collected data has been analyzed using Thematic Analysis technique. According to the survey, Salfeet's public school EFL teachers had moderate views regarding adopting digital games, indicating a middle-level attitude. Additionally, EFL teachers at Salfeet Public Schools confirm that digital games play a significant role in helping pupils enhance their soft skills. The researcher recommended EFL teachers to integrate digital games in the teaching process. Keywords: EFL, digital games, soft skills, Salfeet Public Schools.
- ItemEVALUATING EFFICIENCY OF BANKS OPERATING IN SOME MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES: ISLAMIC VERSUS CONVENTIONAL BANKS(2024-02-11) Muna Ghaleb Mahmoud NairatAbstract Background: Improving efficiency is central to the success of any financial institution, especially in today's competitive market environment. Focusing on improving efficiency helps banks reduce costs, increase profits, enhance customer satisfaction, improve competitiveness, and enhance financial stability. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the technical efficiency and identify the main factors contributing to the efficiency of Islamic and conventional banks in Iran, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. Methodology: (83) banks participated in this study during the period 2013–2017, where secondary data was obtained from the annual financial reports of banks operating in the selected regions. and then analysed using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the degree of technical efficiency and Regression analysis was also used to determine the main factors affecting the technical efficiency. Results: The results of the DEA showed that Islamic banks are more efficient in using inputs (assets, capital, and deposits) to produce outputs (income, investment, and advances) from conventional banks in these countries, as well as their role in confronting the political and economic conditions that these countries suffer from, and that conventional banks in Syria and Lebanon are more efficient than Islamic banks because of government restrictions on Islamic banks, while Islamic banks in Iran, Jordan, and Palestine are more efficient because governments do not impose restrictions on their work. The results of the regression analysis showed that bank size, capital adequacy, liquidity, profitability, GDP, poor asset quality and non-performing loans positively affect the technical efficiency of these countries' banking sector. The rule of law adversely affects this technical efficiency due to increased administrative costs. The study also revealed that Islamic banks are more efficient than conventional banks, and this is due to the business strategy of Islamic banks, which focuses on reducing costs, which leads to increasing their technical efficiency. Recommendations: Based on the results, the researcher suggests that regulatory authorities pass laws focusing on efficiency, determine the level of efficiency banks must achieve, and expand the geographical and temporal scope of the study to obtain more reliable results and proposals to improve the efficiency of the banking industry. Keywords: data envelopment analysis; technical efficiency; Islamic banks; conventional banks.
- ItemEVALUATING TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF INSURANCE FIRMS OPERATING IN JORDAN AND PALESTINE(2022-10-02) Mohammad Rida Tawfiq HirzallahObjective: As the title indicates, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the technical efficiency of the insurance firms operating in Jordan and Palestine markets and examine the factors affecting this efficiency. Methods: Using data of 26 insurance firms covering 2016-2020, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to evaluate efficiency score while the Panel Data Analysis (PDA) was used to identify the major factors affecting the technical efficiency of the listed insurance firms on Jordan and Palestine stocks exchange markets. Research results: DEA showed that the insurance firms listed on Palestine Securities Exchange were more efficient than those listed on Amman Stock Exchange Market. Results also showed that non-life insurance firms were more efficient than compound firms on both Palestine Securities and Amman Stock Exchange Market. Panel data regression analysis showed that capital structure and firm size had a negative effect on technical efficiency. However, both market share and Return On Assets (ROA) affected technical efficiency in a positive way. Type of business appeared to have no effect on technical efficiency. Recommendations: In the light of the research results, the researcher recommends that managements of firms raise capital through issuing bonds instead of common stocks, and refrain from expanding largely in company size without sufficient planning. Managements could keep firm profitable and use selling and advertising techniques to increase their market share. Regulatory bodies could issue laws and regulations to control how firms finance their assets in order to prevent an exaggerated increase in their total assets, and control competition in order to avoid illegal collusion between firms. Key Words: Efficiency; technical efficiency; insurance; Jordan; Palestine; DEA.
- ItemFINANCIAL STABILITY OF INSURANCE COMPANIES UNDER COVID-19 PANDEMIC: EVIDENCE FROM MENA COUNTRIES(2022-12-28) Hammam Azzam MustafaAbstract This thesis examined how the determinants of financial stability of insurance companies (ICs) have been influenced by COVID-19 in MENA countries. The study administered a two-step system-GMM to a sample of 78 insurance companies in eight MENA countries in the pre-COVID-19 from second quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2019 and during the COVID-19 from the second quarter of 2020 to fourth quarter of 2021. The macro and micro level determinants of financial stability were estimated. These variables were identified following the theories and literature related to financial stability and COVID-19 pandemic. Inflation was taken as a proxy for macroeconomic instability, whereas receivables, reinsurance dependence, invested assets ratio, firm size, change in the gross written premium, loss ratio, insurance leverage ratio, retention ratio and market concentration were the firm specific-factors. The Z-score was used as a proxy for the financial stability. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, a significant positive impact of inflation on financial stability was observed. However, the pre-COVID-19 period results showed no impact of inflation on financial stability. Concerning firm-specific variables, during COVID-19 pandemic period, the results showed that financial stability was impacted positively by firm size and negatively by loss ratio. Nevertheless, the results revealed that the receivables, reinsurance dependence, invested assets ratio, change in the gross written premium, age, insurance leverage ratio, retention ratio and market concentration had no significant effect on ICs’ financial stability. The pre-COVID-19 period outcomes showed that firm-specific variables yielded mixed results while there was a positive impact of the retention ratio and market concentration on FS. The insurance leverage, however, had a negative effect on FS. Furthermore, the results showed that the remaining variables were insignificant, including receivables, reinsurance dependence, change in the gross written premium, loss ratio, firm size and firm age. In the end, and contrary to expectations, the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive effect on the financial stability of ICs in the MENA region. The financial stability of insurance companies contributed to the overall financial stability at the macro-level, with a forward-looking view of appropriate policies to enhance the financial stability of these insurance companies during crises and pandemics. In addition, the study results assisted in understanding the actual impacts of COVID-19 with other firm-specific factors and macroeconomic factors on the overall financial stability of the economy. Based on the study findings, the researcher recommends that, for a healthy, sound and stable insurance sector, insurance industry regulators and supervisory authorities actively monitor the financial stability predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and utilize them to circumvent the effect of future pandemics and crises. Future studies are encouraged to use other proxies that capture the severity of the pandemic, such as the number of cases and deaths. In addition, researchers should focus on each country in the MENA region to find out how environmental factors affected FS during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher also suggests that more research should be carried on the effects of vaccinations and recent crises (such as the shipping crisis) on the financial stability of insurance companies and the overall economy. Keywords: Financial stability; Z-score, MENA Region; COVID-19; insurance companies, GMM.
- ItemFROM SOCIO-POLITICAL ABSOLUTISM TO SOCIO-POLITICAL RELATIONALISM: EXPLORING THE INTERPLAY OF LOGIC, METAPHYSICS, AND SEMIOTICS IN RECONSTRUCTING POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY(Najah National University, 2024-08-26) Mohammad Hisham DarwishScience, Religion, and Philosophy are domains of experience that have shaped all human culture and social phenomena, including socio-political life. By examining the history of socio-political evolution, we see the recurrence of irreconcilable dichotomies — static vs. dynamic, epistemic vs. procedural, inclusivity vs. exclusivity, uniformity vs. multiplicity, and so forth — producing an environment of dramatic irreconcilable social interaction in which mutual dialogue and shared evolution is rendered impossible. This tension has been the driving force for scenes of dramatic evolution in which the process of creating social life results in destroying other forms of social life, resulting in lost social knowledge and potential growth. At the heart of political science lies an irreconcilable dichotomy between its most crucial function represented in its pursuit of reconciling socio-political belief systems, avoiding the dramatic scenes of conflicts, and the prevailing conception of social evolution as a pre-destined, deterministic, and linear-cyclical process that inherently involves dramatic scenes of violence, a conception of socio-political evolution that I refer to as ‘Absolutism.’ Despite the divergence of Socio-political belief systems throughout history due to the varying ontologies and epistemologies that shape their foundation, they all shockingly share the same mode of evolution (Absolutism), which I will argue is rooted in their shared Ancient Greek metaphysical foundation of a worldview of irreconcilable binary oppositions characterized by static absolutes and hypothetical realms. Metaphysics has been completely overlooked in our analysis, disguised as a given, and buried so deeply within our frameworks of inquiry that it has become an unquestioned dogma; it has become so vague and misunderstood that it is commonly related to mythology, beyond reality, and irrelevant to the real world. This misconception has caused metaphysics to collapse into ontology and epistemology, making it completely invisible in our analysis; through the works of Basit Koshul and Charles Pierce, I will re-introduce it as the third constituent element of logic distinct from ontology and epistemology, in doing so, I will be able to propose an alternative socio-political framework and mode of evolution I refer to as Relationalism based on Charles Pierce triadic logic and metaphysics with the goal to reconstruct political sociology beyond determinism, and potentially opening the doors to reality in which we can influence the very nature of social evolution that has never been imagined before.
- ItemFUNCTIONALIZATION OF ANTICANCER NATURAL COMPOUNDS (CITRONELLOL, P-COUMARIC ACID, CIS-JASMONE, AND THYMOL): PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY(2024-03-09) Nehaya Mohammed Yousef SalamehAbstract Functionalizing of natural compounds exhibiting biological activity is one of the most efficient approaches for the synthesizing biologically active substances to improve their pharmacological effects or to investigate new therapeutic approaches. This study aims to prepare new derivatives of bioactive compounds including citronellol, p-coumaric acid, cis-jasmone, and thymol by modification of their functional groups and to test their new biological activities whether there is an improvement or decline in these activities. In our investigation, we follow the methods of preparing new compounds such as esters, amides, anhydrides and amines through condensation reactions of alcohols with carboxylic acids, and through Michael’s addition methods. The new compounds were identified by FT-IR and NMR analysis. MTS assay was used to evaluate their anticancer activity. The broth dilution method was used to assess their antimicrobial activity. Some of the new derivatives of natural products showed anticancer and antimicrobial activities more potent than the starting natural compound and others showed lower potency than the starting natural compound that was used to prepare new derivatives, but better preserving normal cell line. The newly synthesized derivatives were successfully prepared, and their structures were verified by spectroscopic analysis. Their biological activities were tested against different cancer lines and microbial strains. Among the citronellol esters: - J15 was the most potent against liver cancer Hep-G2. The p-CA ester J14 was the most potent anticancer agent against CaCo-2, Hep-G2, HeLa, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines, J14 also showed distinctively higher activity against all microorganisms except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The p-CA amide J19 showed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The p-CA anhydride N2 was the most potent against Hep-3B and MCF-7 cell lines while N4 was the most potent against HeLa cell lines. Among the cis-jasmone amines, N6 was the most potent against HeLa, and B16-F1cell lines. The amine N8 showed distinctively highest antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, P. vulgaris, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. The thymol ester J16 was the most potent against CaCo-2, Hep-G2, HeLa, MCF-7, and skin cancer B16-F1 and showed distinctively highest activity against all microorganisms except against E. coli J12 was the most potent. Keywords: Natural anticancer compounds, Citronellol, Thymol, cis-Jasmone, p-CA.