SOFT X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY STUDY of WIDE BAND GAP SEMICONDUCTORS-M2PN3 (M=Mg, Zn) and BP3N6

The research on nitridophosphate materials has gained significant attention in recent years due to the abundance of elements like Mg, Zn, P, and N. The compound semiconductors comprising of these earth-abundant elements are important in terms of manufacturing cost of electronic devices and no detrimental impact on the environment. Here in this thesis, a detailed study of band gap and electronic structure of M2PN3 (M=Mg, Zn) and BP3N6 is presented using synchrotron-based soft X-ray spectroscopy measurements as well as Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The experimental N K-edge X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) spectra are used to estimate the band gaps, which are compared with calculations along with the values available in literature. The band gap, which is essential for electronic device applications, is experimentally determined for the first time to be 5.3 ± 0.2 eV, 4.2 ± 0.2 eV, and 5.3 ± 0.2 for Mg2PN3, Zn2PN3, and BP3N6, respectively. The experimental band gaps agree well with the calculated band gaps of 5.4 eV for Mg2PN3, 3.9 eV for Zn2PN3, and 5.8 eV for BP3N6 using the modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) exchange potential. The states that contribute to the band gap are investigated with the calculated density of states especially with respect to the non-equivalent N sites in the structure. The calculations and the measurements predict that all the three materials studied here in this thesis, have an indirect band gap. The wide band gap of M2PN3 (M=Mg, Zn) and BP3N6 could make it promising for the application in photovoltaic cells, high power RF applications, as well as power electronic devices

Oh, begitu rupanya kisah Nabi Adam Alaihissalam: cerita sahih dari langit

Kami hanya merujuk sumber utama dalam agama Islam iaitu petikan daripada ayat-ayat al-Quran dan juga hadis-hadis sahih yang diriwayatkan secara marfu' daripada Muhammad S.A.W - Dr. Salah Abdul Fattah al-Khalid

Methods other than Experimental Animals for Screening Antitumor Compounds

Some scientists avoid the work with experimental animals. For that, it is important to describe alternative methods. In this review, some bioassays were described as an alternative for the experimental animals. The concept of cancer formation was discussed to show why such bioassays are useful for detecting antitumor compounds. The bioassays described in this review are technical, practical and recommended as a preliminary screening of large samples for the existences of antitumor activities. Such bioassays could reduce the pain of the experimental animals

The Impact of Service Quality Dimensions on Customer Satisfaction: A Field Study of Arab Bank in Irbid City, Jordan

Service-offering channels in the banking system has emerged on the scene with a wide variety of forms such as internet banking, automated teller machine (ATM), telephone banking and banks . Mature competition and global financial systems have been forced to investigate the significance of customer satisfaction.Therefore, the research should shed light on the changing status of the banking system and financial market dynamics. This study has used the model of service quality (Parasuraman et al., 1988) with five dimensions to evaluate its effect on the customer satisfaction among Arab bank customers in the city of Irbid. The results indicate that the higher the service quality, the more the costumer’s satisfaction. The Dimensions of service quality plays an important role in this equation. These dimensions are tangibility, responsiveness reliability, empathy, and security. Finally, the findings indicate that these five factors have positively affected the customer satisfaction. This research also shows that the service quality is an appropriate tool to measure the quality of service in the banking sector in the Arab bank. Therefore, the banking sector practitioners regard this instrument a very important tool to evaluate, support, and improve the quality of their services. Keywords: Service quality, Customer satisfaction, Banking industry, Jorda

Effect of Storage on Flavour, Colour and Other Sensory Qualities Of Sugarcane Juice (Saccharum Officinarum) Yellow Cane

A study was conducted to determine the effects of storage on the flavour and sensory attributes of sugarcane juice. Freshly extracted sugarcane juice was stored at 25 ± 20C and 5 ± 20C for IS-days. The parameters measured were colour, acidity (pH and TA), acidic phenolics and flavour. The sensory attributes tested were colour, viscosity, sweetness, sharpness, appearance, jaggery and fresh flavour. Phenolic compounds were separated using solid phase extraction technique and HPLC method was used for isolation and identification. Major volatiles were extracted using vacu um steam distillation (VSD) technique. Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were used for separation of the volatiles and identification of their molecular weights. Results indicated that sugarcane juice stored at 5 ± 20C retained its colour and acidity until 10-days meanwhile, a drastic change occurred on the colour and acidity of juice stored at 25 ± 2oC. The sensory results showed that no remarkable changes occurred on the quality (colour, viscosity, sweetness, sharpness, appearance,jaggery and fresh flavour) of samples stored at 5 ± 2°C up to 10- days. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) observed between samples stored for 5 and 10-days. However, at the end of the IS-days, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in terms of colour, sweetness, sharpness, jaggery and freshness compared to the fresh, the 5 and the 10-days stored juices (except for appearance and viscosity). Six types of phenolic compounds were identified in sugarcane juice namely 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic, p-coumaric and 2 ,3-dihydroxybenzoic acids. Changes in the phenolics contents were observed in samples stored at both temperatures (5 ± 2°C and 25 ± 2°C). Changes in the phenolics' concentrations were more noticeable in the juice stored at 25 ± 2°C. This occurred despite the fact that the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was deactivated at the beginning before juice extraction. At the same time, there seemed to be increases and decreases in their concentrations. This may indicate that not only enzymatic reaction, which consumed the phenolics but also autoxidation reaction, may have occurred. Sugarcane juice was found to consist of about 17 major volatile compounds. Upon storage at 5 ± 2°C the major volatiles were retained until 10-days; after that some compounds were lost and others were evolved. After two days of storage at 25 ± 2°C the major volatiles were lost and many other new compounds were evolved.A strong relationship (R²≥0.90) was observed between some of the phenolics and the sensory attributes (colour, appearance, viscosity, sweetness, sharpness, jaggery and fresh flavour) . The changes in colour (ϪE) was also correlated well (R²=0.90) with the sensory evaluation results.In general, sugarcane juice stored at 5 ± 2°C retained its quality until l0-days. However, undesirable colour, flavour and the change in taste from sweet to sour occurred after the end of the I5-days at 5 ± 2°C. Significant changes in acidity, colour, flavour and phenolics were observed at 25 ± 2°C compared to 5 ± 2°C. In fact, the flavour of the sample stored at 25 ± 2°C changed significantly after 2 days. This indicated that the juice will lose its quality if kept at 25 ± 2°C and deterioration of the juice stored at 5 ± 2°C was only noticeable after the end of the 15-days

The Direct and Indirect Effect of Predictor Variables on Destination Brand Loyalty in Jordan

Destination branding literature generally lacks empirical data evaluating the effectiveness of brand campaigns, particularly in terms of enhancing destination brand loyalty. In particular, little is known about the relationship between destination brand awareness, destination brand image, destination brand quality, destination brand promotion, and destination brand loyalty. To fill this gap, this study examined the relationships between destination brand awareness, destination brand image, destination brand quality, and destination brand promotion on destination brand loyalty. Based on the Theory of Brand Equity, this study had the following objectives: (1) to identify the relationship between destination brand awareness, destination brand image, destination brand quality, and destination brand promotion on destination brand loyalty; (2) to examine the relationship between destination brand awareness, destination brand image, destination brand quality, and destination brand promotion on destination perceived value; and (3) to determine the mediating effect of destination perceived value on the relationship between destination brand awareness, destination brand image, destination brand quality, and destination brand promotion with destination brand loyalty. The data was collected at Jerash, Petra, and the Dead Sea, Jordan, during November and December 2010. Of the 700 tourists participating in the 54-questions, face-to-face intercept survey, 600 or about 86% responded. After dropping incomplete questionnaires, 550 usable responses were analyzed using SPSS. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between destination brand awareness, destination brand image, destination brand quality, destination brand promotion, and destination brand loyalty. Results showed significant, positive relationships between destination brand awareness, destination brand image, destination brand quality, destination brand promotion and destination brand loyalty. However, the study found no significant relationships between destination brand image and destination perceived value. Finally, destination perceived value was found to mediate the relationship between destination brand awareness, destination brand quality, destination brand promotion, and destination brand loyalty

Degree of Creative Teaching Skills Used by Teachers Practicing Social Studies in Jordan in Light of the Variables of Qualification, Experience and Gender

The study aims to find out the degree to which teachers practicing social studies in Jordan use creative teaching skills and how the variables of qualification, experience and gender affect these skills. A random sample of 145 teachers was selected, and the tool of the study used consisted of 26 items to measure creative teaching skills. The study found that the degree of creative teaching skills used by teachers practicing social studies in Jordan in light of variables of qualification, experience and gender was large, with statistically significant differences in the degree of practice among teachers due to the variable of qualification in favor of master's degree holders and experience, especially those with less than 5 years. There were no significant differences in the variable of gender in the degree of creative teaching skills used by social studies teachers Keywords: skills, teachers, creative teaching

Multimodal and multidimensional geodata interaction and visualization

This PhD proposes the development of a Science Data Visualization System, SdVS, that analyzes and presents different kinds of visualizing and interacting techniques with Geo-data, in order to deal with knowledge about Geo-data using GoogleEarth. After that, we apply the archaeological data as a case study, and, as a result, we develop the Archaeological Visualization System, ArVS, using new visualization paradigms and Human-Computer-Interaction techniques based on SdVS. Furthermore, SdVS provides guidelines for developing any other visualization and interacting applications in the future, and how the users can use SdVS system to enhance the understanding and dissemination of knowledge

The use of accounting information systems in analytical procedures for the audit process, from the point of view of internal and external audit in the public sector (a case study of public universities)

This study sought to measure and assesses the use of accounting information systems in analytical procedures for the audit process, from the point of view internal and external audit in the public sector (a case study of public universities) and their role in promoting evidence in the audit results and its availability in Jordanian public universities, as well as to determine the extent of the use of analytical procedures in the audit process, from the point of view of both the internal in observation and auditing services workers at Jordanian universities and external auditors for these universities and how consensus the study sample answers in answering the study questions. Researchers have developed a study tool (questionnaire) based on the conceptual framework and previous studies, (100) questionnaire were distributed on a sample of the population of the study which is consisted of the internal observation units services workers in Jordanian public universities and external auditors for these universities. Using appropriate statistical analysis tools for the study data (arithmetic means, standard deviations and One way ANOVA). It was concluded that there are no significant statically differences between the views of the internal observation services staff in public universities and external auditors for these universities on the importance of using analytical procedures in auditing ? There are no significant differences between the views of the two sample study for these universities to the auditors use of analytical procedures in audits, and the study showed that the use of analytical review methods was moderate by internal and external auditors, while the advanced analytical review methods are used less ? Because they need the skills of statistical analysis, the study also revealed that there are obstacles limiting the use of analytical procedures in the field of work, and most of these obstacles are the absence of clear criteria for analytical procedures issued by the INTOSAI Organization and the organizers of the audit profession, lack of skills in the field of analytical measure. Although the constraints that limit the application of analytical procedures did not have any statistically significant and material impact on increasing the efficiency of the audit performance. In the light of the analysis results the researchers presented a set of recommendations that they consider them necessary to improve and strengthen the evidence in the audit results and availability in Jordanian public universities, as well as to determine the extent of the use of analytical procedures in the audit process, and reduce the risk of control to gain an understanding of the business and its environment. Key Words: Accounting Information Systems, Internal auditing, External auditing