Islamic education elementary teachers’ degree of using e-learning skills in their teaching process, and its relationship with some variables, in Hail Region

This study aimed at identifying the Islamic education elementary teachers’ degree of using e-learning skills in their teaching process, and its relationship with some variables in Hail Region. And to achieve the objectives of the study; the researcher had used a questionnaire consisted of (33) statements covering two fields, and it has been applied to a sample of 90 male and female teachers during the first academic semester 2015/2016. The study results showed that the degree of possession of e-learning skills that the teachers of Islamic education have in the elementary stage in their teaching came significantly, and also showed that there are no statically significant differences due to gender and  teaching experience variables, and in the light of the study results the researcher presented a set of recommendations which will hopefully benefit the decision makers of educational policy, curriculum and teachers in schools for the universal use of e-learning in the educational system learning-processes, including the importance of mobilizing schools with capabilities that allows the use of innovative e-learning processing, and holding training courses for all teachers, through which they are updated on the newest techniques in the field of using e-learning.

EXPLORING SERVICE QUALITY IN THE ISLAMIC BANKING INDUSTRY IN KUWAIT: ANALYSIS OF CUSTOMER PERCEPTIONS

Service quality management is an important organizational factor, through which organizations differentiate themselves, compete, and take the lead in the marketplace. It is even more challenging for banks and financial services which, by and large, offer products and services that are difficult for customers to differentiate. Improvements in service quality are expected to increase customer satisfaction, which, in turn, will increase the banks’ ability to retain their customers, broaden their market share, and increase profitability. This study, hence, is an attempt to measure the perceived service quality of three Islamic banks in Kuwait; Kuwait Finance House, Kuwait International Bank, and Boubyan Bank. Additional dimensions are added to the service quality model (SERVQUAL) to measure the perceived service quality and the customers’ perceptions. Dimensions such as; Shari’ah compliancy, the competitiveness between Islamic banks in Kuwait, the technology factors, and the general customer satisfaction were incorporated to the respective model. The study aims to identify those dimensions that influence the level of customers’ perceptions in the sampled banks, examine the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction and assess the correlation between the Islamic banking variables and the SERQUAL dimensions. To attain these aims the study utilized a sample of 700 responses across the three Islamic banks. The study findings demonstrate an above-average level of satisfaction among the Islamic banks’ customers. ‘Compliance’, ‘empathy’, and ‘assurance’ were the most important dimensions as perceived by the Islamic banks customers in Kuwait. The results showed a significant relationship between customer satisfaction and some of the modified SERVQUAL dimensions namely; ‘empathy’, ‘assurance’, ‘compliance’, and ‘competitiveness’. The study also found that demographic factors have significant effect on the perceptions of service quality in Kuwaiti Islamic banks. Based on these results and findings, it could be concluded that in Kuwaiti Islamic banks customers are satisfied with the quality of services depending on their bank being Shari’ah-compliant and assured to deliver the promised services, employees being considerate and understanding, and finally being competitive by offering the best service with competitive charges. The study also confirmed that the avoidance of interest and other religious motives are the most important reasons why customers prefer to patronize the Islamic banks in Kuwait in general. However, when testing each bank individually, differences accrued in ranking the religious factor and being compliant with Islamic Shari’ah principles. The results are expected to provide both theoretical and practical contributions in the area of service quality management and customer behavior in Islamic banking. The overall findings are important for service quality managers to identify efficient and effective approaches for improving quality in their banks

Refurbishment Model for Qatari Neighborhoods

Present a model that remedies root causes of sustainability and livability issues as they are not tackledin Qatar’s current urban development plans with relation to the most basic unit of urbanism: theneighborhood. The developed model presents modifications to Al-Markhiya in short-, medium-, andlong-term implementation phases that include typical characteristics applicable to any Dohaneighborhood so that they could be easily adopted by municipalities as well as local communities.Developed model received favorable feedback when presented to a group of environmental and urbanplanning experts at the frontlines of developing and updating Qatar National Master Plan and detailsof urban planning regulations to poll their views on its applicability for greater. This study is expectedto influence decision makers in Qatar to pay the required attention to the enhancement ofneighborhood sustainability and livability. This model may be the stepping stone to future strategiesand plans of refurbishment as the next national goal post the World Cup to be hosted in 2022

Counseling communication competencies of counselors in Jordanian schools and their impact on gender and type of educational institutions

This study aimed to identify the nature of counseling communication competencies among educational counselors in Jordanian schools and the extent to which these competencies are affected by gender and work organization variables. The study sample consisted of 115 male and female counselors in Jordanian schools. This study relied on the descriptive analytical approach. The counseling communication competencies scale which was prepared by the researcher himself was also applied to the study sample. The results of the study indicated the absence of a statistically significant relationship between the components of counseling communication competencies, especially between knowledge of counseling competency and training in counseling competency. There was also a statistically significant relationship between knowledge of counseling competency and the ability to practice counseling competency as well as between training in counseling competency and the actual practice of counseling competency and the ability to practice counseling competency. In addition, the results indicated the absence of statistically significant differences between the components of counseling communication competencies among educational counselors in Jordanian schools attributable to gender and work organization variables. The  researcher recommends the necessity of qualifying and developing counseling communication competencies among educational counselors in Jordanian schools based on the results of the study

Multiple intelligences among educational counselors in Jordanian schools and their relationship to gender and academic qualifications

This study aimed to identify the nature of multiple intelligences among educational counselors in Jordanian schools by examining the predictive differences in multiple intelligences among educational counselors, as well as their relationships and impacts based on demographic variables, gender, and academic qualifications. The researcher developed the Multiple Intelligences Scale for Educational Counselors, which was utilized in the study, adopting a descriptive analytical methodology. The results indicated that the level of multiple intelligences among the sample members was average. No statistically significant differences were found in multiple intelligences based on gender. Additionally, there were no significant differences according to educational qualifications, except for existential intelligence, which was higher among those with a doctorate degree in multiple intelligences. Finally, a set of recommendations was proposed based on the incoming results, emphasizing the importance of conducting similar future studies and the need for continuous training, qualification, and development programs to activate multiple intelligences among the members of the study sample in the provision of educational counseling services

Tuberculosis in Dr Granville's mummy: a molecular re-examination of the earliest known Egyptian mummy to be scientifically examined and given a medical diagnosis

‘Dr Granville's mummy’ was described to the Royal Society of London in 1825 and was the first ancient Egyptian mummy to be subjected to a scientific autopsy. The remains are those of a woman, Irtyersenu, aged about 50, from the necropolis of Thebes and dated to about 600 BC. Augustus Bozzi Granville (1783–1872), an eminent physician and obstetrician, described many organs still in situ and attributed the cause of death to a tumour of the ovary. However, subsequent histological investigations indicate that the tumour is a benign cystadenoma. Histology of the lungs demonstrated a potentially fatal pulmonary exudate and earlier studies attempted to associate this with particular disease conditions. Palaeopathology and ancient DNA analyses show that tuberculosis was widespread in ancient Egypt, so a systematic search for tuberculosis was made, using specific DNA and lipid biomarker analyses. Clear evidence for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA was obtained in lung tissue and gall bladder samples, based on nested PCR of the IS6110 locus. Lung and femurs were positive for specific M. tuberculosis complex cell-wall mycolic acids, demonstrated by high-performance liquid chromatography of pyrenebutyric acid–pentafluorobenzyl mycolates. Therefore, tuberculosis is likely to have been the major cause of death of Irtyersenu

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of 3-{3-(s-Aryl and s-Heteroaromatic)acryloyl}-2Hchromen-2-one Derivatives

The exploration of potential utilization of microwaves as an energy source for heterocyclic synthesis was herein investigated using condensation of 3-acetylcoumarin (1) with aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes to afford the corresponding aromatic chalcones (2a–j) and heteroaromatic chalcones (3a–e and 4a–e), respectively, in good to excellent yield within 1–3 min. The chemical structures were confirmed by analytical and spectral data. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity and 3-{3-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)acryloyl}-2H-chromen-2-one (2i) was discovered to be the most active at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 7.8 µg/m

Sequentially aerated membrane biofilm reactors for autotrophic nitrogen removal: microbial community composition and dynamics

Membrane-aerated biofilm reactors performing autotrophic nitrogen removal can be successfully applied to treat concentrated nitrogen streams. However, their process performance is seriously hampered by the growth of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). In this work we document how sequential aeration can bring the rapid and long-term suppression of NOB and the onset of the activity of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed that such shift in performance was mirrored by a change in population densities, with a very drastic reduction of the NOB Nitrospira and Nitrobacter and a 10-fold increase in AnAOB numbers. The study of biofilm sections with relevant 16S rRNA fluorescent probes revealed strongly stratified biofilm structures fostering aerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in biofilm areas close to the membrane surface (rich in oxygen) and AnAOB in regions neighbouring the liquid phase. Both communities were separated by a transition region potentially populated by denitrifying heterotrophic bacteria. AOB and AnAOB bacterial groups were more abundant and diverse than NOB, and dominated by the r-strategists Nitrosomonas europaea and Ca. Brocadia anammoxidans, respectively. Taken together, the present work presents tools to better engineer, monitor and control the microbial communities that support robust, sustainable and efficient nitrogen remova