Assessing Student Perceptions and Current Adoption of E-Textbooks

This study looks into students’ perception about E-textbooks and assess current adoption of E-textbook in a medium-size university in the Midwest of the United States. Literature reviews indicated some inconsistencies related to E-book adoptions. This study will investigate some of those inconsistencies including prior usage as factors in E-book adoption. Other factors considered in this study are: trialability, perceived values, and technology savvy. The theory of Technology Acceptance Model will be used in this study. An E-textbook adoption model is proposed and survey methodology will be used in this study. Survey will be administered among students on campus

Hexavalent Chromium Removal and Reduction to Cr (III) by Polystyrene Tris(2-aminoethyl)amine

A commercially available chelating polymer, polystyrene tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, was used for the removal of chromium from aqueous solution. The influence of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage and initial Cr (VI) concentration on adsorption was studied. The optimum pH for the removal of Cr (VI) was at pH 5, while optimum contact time and adsorbent dosage were 120 minutes and 10 g/L, respectively. Total chromium and Cr (VI) concentrations were analyzed by ICP-MS and UVVisible. Adsorption isotherms using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models revealed that the data fitted Langmuir isotherm model better than Freundlich with a maximum adsorption capacity of 312.27 mg/g. FTIR spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) analyses were performed on the adsorbent before and after binding Cr (VI). All analyses confirmed the complexation of Cr (VI) to the adsorbent. Desorption experiments using KCl solution indicated 89.3% release of chromium, rendering this method of high potential for adsorbent regeneration.We wish to thank Professor Dr. Z. Abdeen for his valuable financial support which made this work possible. We also wish to thank the Aquatic and Aquaculture Research Laboratory at Al-Quds University for performing the ICP-MS analysis

The Impact of the Significance of the General Pronunciation on the Rule of Usury Through the Book of Interpretations of the Ahmadiyya Lamla Jeon "T 1130 AH"

Praise be to God. We praise Him and seek His assistance, guidance, and forgiveness; we seek refuge in God from the evils of our actions and thoughts. He whom God guides is not misled, and he who misleads him, there is no guide for him. As for the legal rulings that are the basis of our life that God Almighty has drawn for us and approved by His servants, scholars must understand these rulings and communicate them to the people. The early scholars were keen to sit down to elicit and understand these rulings, so it is not possible to judge something as permissible or forbidden without referring to it. These rules, and among these basic rules, are the semantics of the words that are indispensable to any scholar who is diligent about them. Everyone who addresses fatwas and interpretation must be familiar with these rules, and the general significance is one of the basic semantics sections, which is the significance in terms of the situation where it determines who is covered by the speech. To demonstrate this type of connotation, we took an example that we hear constantly now due to its widespread prevalence among us, and we shed light on the impact of the general connotation in this ruling and how the legislator used it to abolish this treatment to preserve the society. To achieve the best result, we divided the research into several demands: The first requirement: introducing Mullah Jun, the Hanafi Indian scholar (died 1130 AH), and his book (Al-Tafsir al-Ahmadiyya). The second requirement: we have defined the general term and its form and significance according to scholars and their disagreements about it. The third requirement: we dealt with the effect of the general significance in deducing the ruling on the prohibition of usury. The fourth requirement is concerned with the effect of general significance in interpreting the meaning of usury. The fifth requirement: is the reason for the interest. We have concluded this research with the most important results we have reached, including the absolute prohibition of usury and the absence of exceptions or licenses in this ruling. And with this, we have concluded this research with the praise of God Almighty. Keywords: general connotation, usury, Mullah Jeon, Ahmadi interpretation

Feasibility Study of Residential Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems in the State of Indiana

This study aims to measure the financial viability of installing and using a residential grid-connected PV system in the State of Indiana while predicting its performance in eighteen geographical locations within the state over the system’s expected lifetime. The null hypothesis of the study is that installing a PV system for a single family residence in the State of Indiana will not pay for itself within 25 years. Using a systematic approach consisting of six steps, data regarding the use of renewable energy in the State of Indiana was collected from the website of the US Department of Energy to perform feasibility analysis of the installation and use of a standard-sized residential PV system. The researcher was not able to reject the null hypothesis that installing a PV system for a single family residence in the State of Indiana will not pay for itself within 25 years. This study found that the standard PV system does not produce a positive project balance and does not pay for itself within 25 years (the life time of the system) assuming the average cost of a system. The government incentive programs are not enough to offset the cost of installing the system against the cost of the electricity that would not be purchased from the utility company. It can be concluded that the cost of solar PV is higher than the market valuation of the power it produces; thus, solar PV did not compete on the cost basis with the traditional competitive energy sources. Reducing the capital cost will make the standard PV system economically viable in Indiana. The study found that the capital cost for the system should be reduced by 15% - 56%.Al-Odeh,MahmoudBadar, Affan M.Schafer, Marion DPeters, RandellDoctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Technology ManagementCunningham Memorial library, Terre Haute,Indiana State UniversityISU-Disertation-Aug-2013DoctoralTitle from document title page. Document formatted into pages: contains 227 p.: ill. Includes bibliography, abstract and appendix

Key Factors Influencing Students\u27 Post-Triability Intention to Adopt E-Textbooks in a Medium-Size University

In recent years, E-textbooks have become a real alternative to the traditional textbooks in higher education. Many institutions have been encouraging their usage with mixed success. This study investigates students’ perceptions of E-textbooks in a medium-sized university in the Midwestern United States and measures students’ intention to adopt E-textbooks where they had an option to choose between traditional textbooks and E-textbooks for their classes. Literature reviews indicated some inconsistencies related to E-textbook adoptions. We used the Technology Acceptance model to investigate these inconsistencies. We considered three factors in this study: Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Values, and Technology-Savvy. An E-textbook adoption model is proposed, and we used an online survey to collect data among students on campus. In this study we focus on those students who have tried E-textbooks in at least one of their classes and assess their intention to adopt. This study confirms that the Perceived Ease of Use is a critical factor to consider for the successful adoption of E-textbooks

Variation in the optical sensing properties of dithiocarbamate polymer microspheres as function of surface morphology

Three polymers with N-ethanolamino-, N-benzylamino-, and N-t-butylamino-dithiocarbamate groups were synthesized from polyvinylbenzylchloride. Each of the three polymers was incorporated in a hydrogel membrane (PVA) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde to form a sensing element. The latter was, then, evaluated for its optical sensing behavior by subjecting it to varying concentrations (1.0x10-5 up to 0.1 M) of metal ions (Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+,Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, Cr3+, Ni2+, Cu2+). Significant response was observed for the Hg2+ ions while the others showed negligible or no response. The turbidity absorbance increased consecutively from the dithiocarbamate polymer derived from N-t-butylamine towards that from ethanolamine as the concentration of the Hg2+ solution increased. The response time measured for the three polymer microspheres ranged between 2 and 30 minutes. The aminodithiocarbamate polymers were stable at normal temperatures (25ο - 40 ο C) and as pH was changed between 2 and 7. In addition, the polymers demonstrated excellent stability with time and a capacity of 3.967, 3.787, 3.355 mmol Hg2+ ions per gram of polymer for the N-ethanolamino-, N-benzylamino-, and N-t-butylamino-dithiocarbamate respectively. SEM and Eds analyses showed an increase in size of about 25% in the case of complexation with N-ethanolamino-, no size change with N-benzylamino-, and a 16.6% decrease in size with N-t-butylamino-dithiocarbamate.We are grateful to professor W.R.Seitz and his research group, of the University of New Hampshire (USA) for supplying us with the polymer polyvinylbenzylchloride.We are also grateful to professor M.Khamis of Al-Quds University for financial support for the SEM analyses

The Impact of Family Consumption on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Analytical Study of the Jordanian Economy

This study aimed at identifying the impact of the family consumption of the Jordanian GDP during the period from 1976-2013. The study's community consisted of all Jordanian families, therefore, the study' sample included all Jordan families for the period under examination and analysis. To reach the goal of the study, data were analyzed using the least squares method.  The results of the test indicated that there is an impact of the family consumption on the Jordanian GDP for the years of study under examination and analysis. Keywords:  Family consumption, Gross Domestic Product (GDP

Optical Sensing Properties of Dithiocarbamate-Functionalized Microspheres, Using a Polyvinylpyridine-Polyvinylbenzyl Chloride Copolymer

In this study, a new modified optical chemical sensor based on swellable polymer microspheres is developed using a 5% copolymer of polyvinylpyridine-polyvinyl-benzyl chloride microspheres functionalized as the corresponding dithiocarbamate. This sensor demonstrated significant enhancements in sensitivity, dynamic range and response time. These improvements are related to the presence of pyridine in the polymer backbone, which is believed to increase the space between the groups, thus decreasing steric hindrance, and hence increasing substitution of the dithiocarbamate group. The hydrophilicity of pyridine also allows free movement of the solvent and analyte to and from the inside of the microspheres. These dithiocarbamate-derivatized polymer microspheres were embedded in a hydrogel matrix of polyvinylalcohol cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. This sensor responded selectively to Hg2+ solutions of different concentrations (1 × 10−5 M to 0.1 M). The observed turbidity measured as absorbance varied between 1.05 and 1.75 units at a wavelength of 700 nm. The response is based on the interaction between the metal cations with the negative charges of the deprotonated dithiocarbamate functional group, which led to neutratization of the charges and thus to polymer shrinking. As a result, an increase in the turbidity of the sensing element due to a change in the refractive index between the hydrogel and the polymer microspheres occured. The changes in the turbidity of the sensing element were measured as absorbance using a conventional spectrophotometer

The Effects of the Global Financial Crisis on the Tourism Sector (Analytical study: Jordan)

Despite of the remarkable prosperity witnessed by the Jordanian tourism sector since early 2004, and growing the contribution in the national economy, but the negative effects of the global financial crisis which broke out in the second half of 2008 and gripped on the global economy, has affected this sector and others sectors. And the implications of the crisis began on the tourism sector to emerge since December 2008, where the number of the arrivals tourists to Jordan dropped in that month by to 15% compared to the same month of 2007. This study aimed to highlight and analyze repercussions of the global financial crisis on the tourism sector in Jordan, through clarify the nature of the current crisis, and select the channels their impact on the tourism sector, as well as discuss the foundations of the ways to help the sector out of the crisis. The study concluded to the significant effect of each of the median income & relative prices on tourism demand, while not find significant evidence of the impact of the exchange rate, and confirmed by the results on a high elasticity of demand for tourism relative prices. The study predictions pointed out to the decrease rate of the influx of tourists to Jordan, from all countries in the world and finally the study provided ??a number of recommendations for policy-makers regarding the demand and supply beside me, and the role of government in helping the tourism sector to exit from the crisis. Keywords: (UNWTO) The United Nations World Tourism Organization, (JIB) Jordan Investment Board, (GDP) Gross Domestic Product, (JTB) Jordan Tourism Board, (CBJ) Central Bank of Jordan, Tourism Secto