The Change from Syllabus-Focused Curriculum Courses to Object-Focused Curriculum: A Case Study at Alzaytoonah University—Part 1

This research sheds the light on the steps and procedures taken by the University of Alzaytoonah, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to convert their course delivery system from a Syllabus focused to object focused course. The research lists the current system, its deficiencies, describes the measurements taken to put the new system in place, faculty training, course objectives writing, as well as syllabus re-writing. The research also explains the benefits the university hopes to gain from making such a change, as well as its effect on both, faculty as well as the student community. Keywords: Object focused course, syllabus, online learning

Performance-Measurement Framework to Evaluate Software Engineers for Agile Software-Development Methodology

In spite of the marked benefits agile development brings, it has several shortcomings in quantitative quality measurement, especially in evaluating the performance of individual software engineers. The evaluation criteria for software engineers’ performance have been traditionally driven by metrics that don’t fit into agile-development principles. This study proposes a measurement framework to evaluate the performance of software engineers. The proposed measurement framework aligns with agile-development core values and principles. This framework can be applied to various agile methods, although the research assumes the use of the Scrum methodology by the software-development team and organization. The proposed framework is simple and doesn’t impose overhead on the development team or organization, as it is driven by key agile and Scrum development metrics such as team velocity, escaped-defects rate, defect-cycle time, defect spill-over rate, and individual communication and social skills.Keywords : Agile Software Management, Software Quality Management, Software Engineers Performance Measure, Scrum

THE DESIGN OF A POINT OF CARE FET BIOSENSOR TO DETECT AND SCREEN COVID-19

This work proposes and demonstrates a biosensor with reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) based Field Effect Transistor (FET) for rapid and selective detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The main objective of this thesis is to detect the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antigen on spot selectively and rapidly. The rGO channel is coated with the spike protein antibodies to achieve selectivity. Moreover, the biosensing performance and specificity are governed by decorating the sensor’s channel with Metal Nanoparticles (MNPs) such as, copper, and silver. The designed sensor successfully detects the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and shows singular electrical behavior for detection. The rGO-FET biosensor electronic transport characteristics such as transmission spectrum, electronic current, and transfer curves are studied by using semiempirical modeling combined with a nonequilibrium Green’s function. The transmission spectrum, I-V and transfer curves are investigated to spot the performance alteration caused by detecting the target molecule. The sensor is also tested against another virus, namely Rabies virus, and showed no detection reaction towards it. The introduced sensor is 8.2 nm long and 6.1 nm wide which makes it a perfect candidate for easy handling and transporting. RGO FET-based biosensor is developed and tested to take the advantage of the unique electronic properties of the rGO channel and offer a quick, rapid, easy, and accurate detection method for SARS-CoV-2 virus. The semiempirical study, along with the simulations results are in agreement with the previous literature studies and provide an excellent pathway for practical fabrication

Effect of Work Status, Experience and Job Sector on E-Learning Style in Hybrid Classrooms: GCC Case Study

Online education is spreading, and gaining an understanding of the different styles and factors that affect student performance online is gaining attention by universities as well as researchers. This paper aims to explore the role of three factors related to student performance in hybrid courses. Hybrid courses are courses taught in a classroom environment but takes advantage of online tools such as online quizzes, online lectures and online feedback. The three factors this paper explores include student work status (employed or unemployed), years of work experience, and job sector (public or government). To measure the impact of these attributes on student performance in hybrid courses a sample from Al Ain University of Science and Technology was collected; the data then was analyzed to ensure its significance and reliability. The research finds a strong relationship between (work status, job experience, and job sector in which students work in) and student performance in hybrid classrooms. Keywords: Online education, e-Learning, learning styles, social impact on online learnin

The role of Supply Chain Applications in Jordanian Pharmacies: A case study on Pharmacies in the capital city Amman

This paper explores the role of Supply Chain Management applications in the pharmaceutical world as well as its effect and uses in local pharmacies. Most pharmacies in the studied group rely heavily on manual labour rather than computerized systems, risking medicine interruption on a frequent basis. Furthermore, those who use a computerized system do not believe it helps them reduce medicine interruptions either because the system is too complicated to use or does not meet the pharmacy’s demands. To measure the effect and role of supply chain management applications a questionnaire was built and evaluated by peers. The research builds on data collected from pharmacies in Amman, the capital city of Jordan. The study sheds light on the importance of using Supply Chain Management applications to support and maintain a fixed supply of medicine. The study also focuses on some difficulties pharmacists face preventing them from using such tools. The research provides several suggestions on improving the supply chain applications used by pharmaceutical companies in Amman by focusing on the needs of the pharmacists as well as using the proper tools (both hardware and software). The research also provides several suggestions on how to improve the supply chain management model used by both pharmacies as well as suppliers to reduce medicine interruptions. Keywords: Supply Chain Management, technology, medicine interruptions, SCM life cycl

Investigating shear capacity of RC beam-column joints using artificial intelligence techniques

Beam-column joints are critical zones in reinforced concrete structures. The behavior of joints is very complex and governed by different mechanisms such as flexure, shear, and bond stress between the reinforcement and the concrete. Shear transfer mechanisms through the joint are one of the most important factors affecting the joint performance. Shear failure occurring in the joint can lead to severe damage and may result in the collapse of the structure. This thesis presents an investigation into the shear capacity of reinforced concrete beam-column joints. The performance is influenced by several key parameters. An analysis is carried out to simulate the behavior of the exterior beam-column joints subjected to monotonic loading and of interior joints subjected to reverse cyclic loaDing The main parameters considered in this study are: joint shear reinforcement ratio, concrete compressive strength, beam tension longitudinal reinforcement ratio, joint aspect ratio, and column axial stress. The analysis is conducted using a database collected from different experimental programs in the literature. Based on this database, analytical models are created using two artificial intelligence approaches namely artificial neural networks (ANNs) and genetic algorithms (GAs). Evaluation of the existing formulae is conducted and the effect of each of the investigated parameters is stated and new formulae are proposed for the shear design of a reinforced concrete beam-column joint

Analysis and Measurement of Risks in Business: A Case Study on the Jordan Valley Authority

This research attempted to shed light on the different measures used to evaluate risk. The research examines the Jordan Valley Authority’s risk measurements and explores the different procedures and techniques used to evaluate, or avoid (in some cases) risk. The research found that despite the existence of various quantitative methods to measure risk, the standard methodology used by Jordan Valley Authority is based on experience and intuition. Most managers, in this study relied heavily on the manager’s experience to handle risk. There are two ways to manage risk. The first is to avoid scenarios that could lead to a risky situation, causing the organization to divert from achieving its goals, and the second deals with reducing the effect of danger (or harm) caused by risk. Keywords: Risk measurement, risk assessment, Entrepreneurship, leadership, entrepreneurial dimension properties, and chances of survival

Total Quality Management Application in Alzaytoonah University: Opinion of Teachers in Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Quality management is becoming an important part of any organization if it is to maintain competitive advantage in the market. In order to maintain a strong educational environment, high quality standards, and properly manage and support programs, Al Zaytoonah University; located in Jordan/Amman, began an extensive restructuring of its departments based on total quality benchmarks assigned by the Ministry of Higher Education. This research aims to shed light on the effort Alzaytoonah University, is doing on implementing a Total Quality Management (TQM) System through applying a quality assurance system proposed by the Ministry of Education. Using the Quality Assurance System, the university hopes to achieve a system enabling it to properly manage its departments, improve its relationship with both faculty and students, and give it an advantage over other educational institutions. The research also explores the opinion of teachers about the effects of applying the (TQM) System. To measure the opinion of teachers about the (TQM) applications, a questionnaire was built and evaluated by peers. The research builds on data collected from teachers in Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and researches faculty opinion on tracking the effects of applying the total quality system. The results of study will help the university to know the range of the success of its efforts to build and apply the total quality system. Finally, the research provides several suggestions on improving the total quality system application. Keywords: Total Quality, Management, Evaluation, Performance

Random and Fixed Effects Selection for Weighted Ridge

Using penalized profiled log-likelihood and penalized limited profiled log-likelihood, respectively, together with the weighted ridge penalized term, we offer a method in this study for choosing the fixed and random effects in linear mixed models. Then, we use the penalized restricted profiled log-likelihood to perform in the random effects depending on the chosen tuning parameter. Second, we use the penalized profiled log-likelihood to choose the fixed effect parameters. There is no closed-form solution for the choice of the fixed and random effects, hence the Newton-Raphson technique is employed to iteratively estimate the parameters. We use a simulation study to show how well the suggested strategy works. Lastly, we use two separate datasets to use the methods to further evaluate the newly proposed model

The Methods of Measurement and Analysis of Risks in Businesses: A Case Study on the Jordan Valley Authority

This research attempted to shed light on the different measures used to evaluate risk. The research examines the Jordan Valley Authority’s risk measurements and explores the different procedures and techniques used to evaluate, or avoid (in some cases) risk. The research found that despite the existence of various quantitative methods to measure risk, the standard methodology used by Jordan Valley Authority is based on experience and intuition. Most managers, in this study relied heavily on the manager’s experience to handle risk. There are two ways to manage risk. The first is to avoid scenarios that could lead to a risky situation, causing the organization to divert from achieving its goals, and the second deals with reducing the effect of danger (or harm) caused by risk. Keywords: Risk measurement, risk assessment, Entrepreneurship, leadership, entrepreneurial dimension properties, and chances of survival