Strategic Human Resource Practices and Competitive Advantage in Jordanian Internet Services Providers

The purpose of this study is examined the role that strategic human resource practices play in developing competitive advantage. Practical implications for Jordanian firms that consider human resources management as a strategic partner were also studied. However, the number of Jordanian firms at this time that met the selection criteria was not large. Hence, the focus of the research was concentrated on the Jordanian Internet service providers coinpanies Batelco, Cyberia, and TE Data. The sample for this study comprised 101 Jordanian employees who were randomly selected for this study. The results indicated that there is a significant relationship between socialization activities, organization's training, human behavior and competitive advantage. The study indicated that there is a relationship between socialization, training, and human behavior and competitive advantage

Investigating the Effectiveness of Digital-Based Concept Mapping on Teaching Educational Technology for Undergraduate Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using digital-based concept mapping as strategy on students’ achievements and attitudes. Data was collected from 58 students enrolled in the course of ”Introduction to Educational Technology” in Instructional and Teaching Technologies Department at Sultan Qaboos University. Two sections out of four sections were selected randomly as the sample of the study. One of the sections was randomly chosen as experimental group (n = 27) and the other was control group (n = 31). Both pre- and post- achievement tests were used. The results of the study revealed that students who were taught with digital-based concept mapping strategy performed better than those who were taught with the conventional method. There was a significant difference between male and female students in the post test scores of the experimental group in favor of females. In addition, no interaction effect for the independent variables was found. The study also showed that students in the experimental group had positive attitude towards using digital-based concept mapping in learning edu- cational technology

Mobile Phone Technology Knowledge Sharing Model Among University Academics

The potentials of mobile phone technology are huge and it has opened possibilities and avenues for enhancing knowledge sharing activities among academics in Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs). However, it was found that there was, in general, lack of knowledge sharing activities among academics in IHLs and lack of academic research on the use of mobile phone technologies for knowledge sharing purposes in IHLs. To address these issues, a study was conducted with the main aim of proposing a mobile phone technology knowledge sharing model for promoting knowledge sharing among academics in IHLs. In order to achieve this, a study was carried out to explore the current state of knowledge sharing among academics in IHLs, to identify the potential use of mobile phone technology for knowledge sharing among academics in IHLs, and to identify the factors that could lead to the adoption of mobile phone technology that could be utilized to promote knowledge sharing among academics in IHLs. A series of tests such as factor analysis, correlation, and reliability analysis was conducted to confirm that the instruments used are valid and reliable. This research adapted the triangulation method for collecting data. A survey research and a case study method were adopted to fulfill the research objectives. This study has successfully developed the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model in mobile phone technology knowledge sharing context. The results reinforced the role of mobility, self efficacy, usefulness, interpersonal influence, ease of use, enjoyment, academics' attitude, academics' subjective norm, and academics' behavior control factors as the fundamental drivers for adoption of mobile phone technology to promote knowledge sharing among academics in Institutions of Higher Learning. This research was conducted in three phases. The first phase was to explore the current state of knowledge sharing among academics in IHLs by conducting a 76-items questionnaire on 143 academics that were randomly selected from different colleges in University Utara Malaysia (UUM). The second phase was meant to identify the potential use of mobile phone technology for knowledge sharing among academics in IHLs. The researcher administered a 57-items-questionnaire on 154 academics that were randomly selected from different colleges of UUM. The third phase was carried out to identify the factors that could lead to the adoption of mobile phone technology that can be utilized to promote knowledge sharing among academics in IHLs. The researcher administered a 48-items-questionnaire on 181 academics that were randomly selected from different colleges of UUM. The outcome of this research also indicates that there are many benefits of adopting mobile phone technology for knowledge sharing purposes among academics in IHLs, and thus this study was a worth while effort and beneficial for the academic world. Among the benefits are, it helps to create awareness of the importance of knowledge sharing and management among academics, and it is also able to shed lights on better ways and avenues on how to manage knowledge, intellectual property, information and data in general. In addition, this study can perhaps inculcate the importance of knowledge sharing to all important stakeholders in the institutions of higher learning. Last, but not least, this study also hopes to elicit ways and avenues on how to make mobile phone technology more accessible to all academics and students and perhaps at a cheaper cost

Double-Diffusive Natural Convection with Cross-Diffusion Effects in an Anisotropic Porous Enclosure Using ISPH Method

A study on heat and mass transfer behaviour on an anisotropic porous medium embedded in square cavity/annulus is conducted using Incompressibe Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (ISPH) method. In the case of square cavity, the left wall has hot temperature Th and mass Ch and the right wall has cool temperature Tc and mass Cc and both of the top and bottom walls are adiabatic. While in the case of square annulus, the inner surface wall is considered to have a cool temperature Tc and mass Cc while the outer surface is exposed to a hot temperature Th and mass Ch. The governing partial differential equations are transformed to non-dimensional governing equations and are solved using ISPH method. The results present the influences of the Dufour and Soret effects on the heat and mass transfer. The effects of various physical parameters such as Darcy parameter, permeability ratio, inclination angle of permeability and Rayleigh numbers on the temperature and concentration profiles together with the local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are presented graphically. The results from the current ISPH method are well validated and have favorable comparisons with previously published results and solutions by the finite volume method

TiO2-carbon microspheres as photocatalysts for effective remediation of pharmaceuticals under simulated solar light

In this work, novel carbon microspheres supported TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared for the degradation of pharmaceuticals in water, selecting diclofenac, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen as target pollutants. Lignin, an important biomass byproduct from the paper industry and biorefineries, was transformed in carbon microspheres by a novel approach based on a Fe-activated hydrothermal carbonization followed by pyrolysis at 900 °C. These carbon microspheres were further covered with TiO2 by a solvothermal treatment. The effects of several parameters including hydrothermal carbonization time and mass ratio (TiO2:carbon) on the catalytic activity of TiO2-carbon microspheres were investigated. The results revealed that the combination of long carbonization time and high TiO2:carbon ratio achieved superior TiO2-carbon microspheres (Ti2-C20) catalytic performance. Ti2-C20 achieved complete degradation of ibuprofen (5 mg·L−1) and diclofenac (5 mg·L−1) within 3 h under solar light and mineralization percentages close to 50%. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance remained high after five reuse cycles and was barely affected by the presence of common inorganic ions in treated wastewater (such as Cl–, NO3– and HCO3–). The degradation pathway of diclofenac was proposed, involving C-N bond cleavage, and subsequent hydroxylation and cyclization reactions leading to the formation of aliphatic carboxylic acids. Overall, promising photocatalysts were obtained from a biomass byproduct for effective degradation of pharmaceuticals with the assistance of solar lightThis research was funded by the Spanish State Research Agency (PID2019-106186RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033). M. Peñas-Garzón is indebted to Spanish MECD for a FPU grant (FPU16/00576 grant) and to Spanish MICIU for funding the international stay (EST18/00048 grant) at the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (ChEE), University of Cincinnati. Authors thank the Research Support Services of the University of Extremadura (SAIUEx) for its technical and scientific suppor

Dyslipidemia among Sudanese Children Undergoing Maintenance Dialysis

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is an established risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It is common among children undergoing maintenance dialysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the lipid profile of children undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in Sudan. Methods: We studied 17 children on HD, 11 children on CAPD and 28 controls. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGD) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured from fasting serum samples using electrophoresis and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was then calculated. Results: End stage renal failure (ESRF) children had higher mean TC (193±36 versus 135±17 mg/dl), higher mean TGD (120±38 versus 90±15 mg/dl), higher mean LDL-C (129±32 versus 69±18 mg/dl), and lower mean HDL-C (39±12 versus 49±4 mg/dl) than controls (P=0.00 for all parameters). CAPD patients had higher mean TC (211±39 versus 181±30 mg/dl) and higher LDL-C (145±35 versus 118±25 mg/dl) than controls (P=0.03 for both parameters). The prevalence of dyslipidemia among ESRF patients was 75% while none of the control group had lipid parameters outside the accepted range. Among ESRF patients, 39.3% had TC > 200 mg/dl, 21.4% had TGD > 150 mg/dl, 42.9% had LDL-C > 130 mg/dl, and 35.7% had HDL-C < 35 mg/dl. Abnormal HDL-C values were more prevalent among CAPD patients compared to HD patients (52.9% versus 9.1%, P=0.02) Conclusion: Despite the small number of studied children, this study is likely to reflect the high prevalence of dyslipidemia among children undergoing maintenance dialysis treatment in Sudan. Keywords: Children; Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis; Dyslipidemia; Hemodialysis; Suda

Mitigation of train-induced vibrations on nearby high-rise buildings by open or geofoam-filled trenches

The vibrations induced by moving trains especially in close distances with high-rise buildings can be destructive. The high technology of wilding rails induced a high train velocity which is associated with high vibrations. The buildings near the railways suffer from the train-induced vibrations. In this paper, a 3D FEM model was constructed to study the train-induced vibrations on a nearby high-rise building (HRB), show its response and investigate the most suitable technique to mitigate the effect of the train-induced vibrations by an open trench or a geofoam-filled trench. Three trench parameters were investigated to enhance the mitigation performance, the distance from the trench to the HRB, the trench depth and the use of either open (empty) trench or geofoam-filled trench. The geofoam-filled trench technique improved the dynamic response of the structure. Thus, trenches filled with geofoam can be considered a protection technique for high-rise buildings constructed near moving trains

Concise Synthesis of Macrocycles by Multicomponent Reactions

A short reaction pathway was devised to synthesize a library of artificial 18-27-membered macrocycles. The five-step reaction sequence involves ring opening of a cyclic anhydride with a diamine, esterification, coupling with an amino acid isocyanide, saponification, and, finally, macro-ring closure using an Ugi or, alternatively, a Passerini multicomponent reaction. Three out of the five steps allow for the versatile introduction of linker elements, side chains, and substituents with aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic character. The versatile pathway is described for 15 different target macrocycles on a mmol scale. Artificial macrocycles have recently become of great interest due to their potential to bind to difficult post-genomic targets

Rapidly Progressive IgA Nephropathy in One of a Pair of Identical Twins

Introduction: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common cause of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. It was considered a benign condition for many years but long term follow up showed that it might progress to end stage renal disease (ESRD). The cause of primary IgAN is unknown and no consistent genetic abnormalities that predict the development or progression of IgAN have been identified. A variety of observations suggest an as-sociation to an unknown environmental antigen, familial clustering, or infectious agent. The patient presented here is the first report of a child with IgAN in Sudan. Case report: a seven years old boy was referred to our center for further evaluation and management of sudden onset macroscopic hematuria and renal impairment. He was born after an uneventful pregnancy and breast fed. He developed normally and was healthy before this illness. He had eight siblings who were all healthy, including his identical twin brother. Physical examination and laboratory tests led to the diagnosis of IgAN. The patient was treated with peritoneal dialysis and pulses of methylprednisolone for three consecutive days. He showed a remarkable response and regained normal renal function. He was then kept on alternate day’s steroids, ACE inhibitors, and Azathioprine. The other twin is being closely monitored. Conclusion: This report provides an indirect support for the hypothesis that environmental factors play a role in the pathogenesis of IgAN. However, follow up of the currently healthy twin is necessary, since affection with the disease may be expressed at a later time. Key words: IgA nephropathy, identical twins, macroscopic hematuri