E-VOTING SYSTEMS: A TOOL FOR E-DEMOCRACY

Using electronic voting systems is divisive as some countries used such systems and others did not. Electronic voting (e-voting) is relatively a new concept based on its application that aims at reducing errors and improving the convenience and integrity of election process. This paper tried to explore the factors that influence the adoption of such systems in a university environment. The study utilized a sample of 302 bachelor degree students in a public Jordanian university and in relation to students’ council election process. Results indicated that students were keen on the concepts of trust and usefulness of e-voting when adopting such systems. The study supported the findings of TAM in the area of technology acceptance. Conclusions are at the end of this paper.E-government, e-democracy, e-voting, students’ elections.

The Night the People Reclaimed You

A poem addressed to the Wellington Trades Hall building, the site of the conference party and much else

The role of salt stress on laboratory cultivation of green macroalga Enteromorpha compressa and its antioxidant activity

تمت زراعة العشب البحري الاخضر انتيرومورفا كومبريسا (المثبت علي دعامته الصخرية الصغيرة) معمليا تحت الظروف الطبيعية لفصل الربيع من درجة حرارة و شدة اضاءه و توقيت ضضوي. و ذلك لدراسة مدي تحمل هذا العشب الاخضر و النامي طبيعيا في منطقة المد و الجزر، للاجهاد الملحي (تركيزات أقل و أكبر من تركيز ماء البحر). و لهذا تمت زراعتة معمليا و نقله بعد جمعه من بيئته و هو مثبت علي دعامتة الصخرية الصغيرة و في فصل الربيع (حيث يسود نموه في منطقة المد و الجزر) و أقلمته لمدة اسبوع علي النمو معمليا تحت نفس ظروف بيئته ثم نموه تحت ظروف اجهاد ملحي صناعي (ASW) و مقارنته بعينه ضابطه تنمو تحت ظروف ماء بحر طبيعي  (NSW) و باستخدام تهويه بمعدل ثابت خلال مده التجربة و تحت ظروف فصل الربيع الطبيعية من ضوء و درجة حرارة. تم تعيين معدل النمو للطحلب (ممثل بالمحتوي الصبغي الكلي للكلوروفيل و الكاروتينويدات) علي فترات منتظمة (كل 5 أيام) خلال مدة التجربة (25 يوما). تم عمل مستخلصات للطحلب النامي تحت ظروف الاجهاد الملحي المختلفة باستخدام مذيبات عضوية مختلفه القطبيه(petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and  acetone)   و تعيين المحتوى الصبغي و مضادات الاكسده (مقارنه بمضاد الاكسده القياسي BHT). أظهرت النتائج وجود زياده في معدل النمو خاصة عند تركيزات 35, 53 g/L   و بمعدل أقل عند تركيز106 g/L  و ذلك خلال الخمسه عشر يوما الاولي للتجربة ثم بدأ بعدها تدهور ملحوظ و تدريجي للنمو نتيجة تأثير الاجهاد الملحي التراكمي علي عمليتي البناء الضوئي و التمثيل الغذائي. بالنسبة للنشاط المضاد للاكسده و الذي يعتمد علي التركيز، نوع المذيب العضوي للمستخلص و علي مدة التحضين ، فقد تم تعيينه بعد الخمسه عشر يوما الاولي للتجربة و في نهايتها (25 يوم) ، أظهر مستخلص الاسيتون أعلي نشاط مضاد للاكسدة تحت كل الظروف و التركيزات مقارنة بباقي المستخلصات و بمضاد الاكسدة القياسي BHT، و كان أكثرها نشاط هو أكبر تركيز للملوحة (106 g/L).Cultivation of the green seaweed Enteromorpha compressa was performed under natural laboratory spring environmental conditions of temperature, light intensity and photoperiod to study the salinity tolerance of this intertidal green macroalga. Cultivation was carried out under artificial seawater (ASW) of different concentrations (18, 35, 53 and 106 g/l sea salt) compared to the control using natural seawater (NSW). Growth rate and pigment content of the cultivated alga were recorded at regular intervals during the experimental duration. Antioxidant activity of the crude ethanolic extract and its fractions (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and acetone) was performed against DPPH radical scavenging assay and compared to the standard synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxy-toluene (BHT). The finding showed that enhancement of algal growth rate under ASW concentrations of 35, 53 and to a lesser extent at 106 g/L during the first 15 days of cultivation were due to the increased pigment biosynthesis, photosynthetic and metabolic activities and followed by gradual retardation due to the impact of prolonged salt stress. Antioxidant activity of alga was found to be concentration, type of extract and incubation time dependent. Acetone fraction of all salt concentrations showed higher antioxidant activity compared to other fractions. Pronounced activity was recorded at higher seawater conc. (106g/l)

Join Them, If You Cannot Beat Them – Social Media in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study on the Benefits of Using Social Media in Higher Education

The purpose of this qualitative research is evaluate the benefits of using social media in higher education. The research study focuses on the problem of millennial and generation Z students being extremely dependent on social media, taking time away from their holistic development. Social media, being a popular platform can be use in two-fold in higher education; (1) by faculty to increase the classroom engagement and interaction and (2) by administration and faculty collaboration to create a strong social impact. Social media is very loosely defined; however, it will yield positive results if it is used in the right way to interest students. With the help of social media, educator can: (1) convert the eyeballs into academic discussions and (2) drive more traffic or engagement to the content of the class. The study will be based on the FFF consumer model to understand the perceptions of students and faculty with the use of social media

Solving the Diversity and Talent Paradox in the Melting Pot of the Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study on the Benefits of H1B Visa Employees in Academics

The purpose of this qualitative research is to solve the diversity and talent paradox in higher education. The research study focuses on the significance of employees with H1B visa in higher education to design global educational experience for students. Higher education is continually evolving and the United States is a melting pot for international students from across the globe, with around 350,472 students entering the United States on an F1 visa in 2017. Institutions put efforts into diversity, however research shows that there is still a gap to bridge. H1B visa employees come in with a wealth of cultural experience, inter disciplinary education, and dedication. Diversity can be valuable in many folds in higher education; (1) mentoring, (2) global perspective from faculty and staff while designing courses, (3) fostering innovation and social impact, (4) preparing for the real world, and (5) student retention. The research is based on in-depth investigations of deans, faculty members, and students in a small private institution; data will be collected using various methods such as observations and interviews

Prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associations with dietary habits among students from a major university in Palestine: A cross-sectional study

Overweight and obesity are major public health problems and the most common nutri-tional disorders. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is rising at an alarming rate in both developing and developed countries. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associations with dietary habits among students from a major university in Palestine. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 304 Students (50% males and 50% females). Students were asked to fill in a standard questionnaire. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured and hemoglobin level was tested. Statistical analysis was con-ducted using SPSS version 15.0. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity among stu-dents were 20.1% and 4.6%, respectively, (P\u3c 0.05). Overweight and obesity were more common among males compared to females (27.0% and 5.9% vs. 13.2% and 3.3%, respec-tively), (P\u3c 0.05). The prevalence of abdominal obesity among students was 17.8% and was more common among females (23.0%) compared to males (12.5%), (P\u3c 0.05). The preva-lence of anemia was 13.8%. Anemia was more common among females (18.4%) than males (9.2%), (P\u3c 0.05). 5.3% of males were underweight compared to 4.6% of female, (P\u3c 0.05). 68.4% of students reported that they take meals irregularly and a significant difference was found between males and females in meal patterns, (P\u3c 0.05). Also, there were significant differences between males and females in physical activity (69.1% of males and 55.9% of females practiced sports), and smoking (51.3% of males and 91.4% of females never smoked, while 48.7% of males and 8.6% of females were current smokers), (P\u3c 0.05). Uni-versity students would benefit from nutritional and health promotion programs to reduce the tendency of overweight and obesity. Educational programs are needed to encourage the con-sumption of fruits and vegetables to improve students\u27 eating habits

In vitro activity of certain drugs in combination with plant extracts against Staphylococcus aureus infections

This study has been done to evaluate the interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria (leaf), Psidium guajava (Leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Leaf), and Sacropoterium spinosum (seed) and antimicrobialdrugs including oxytetracyclin HCl, enrofloxacin, gentamicin sulphate, and sulphadimethoxin against 4 clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This evaluation was done by well-diffusion method. Results of this study showed that crude extracts from these plants increase the inhibition zones of oxytetracyclin HCl, gentamicin sulphate, and sulphadimethoxin, while combination between the plant extracts and enrofloxacin decreases inhibition zone