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This study used the story of "Sadako and the thousand paper cranes" by Coerr (1977) to discover similarities between the events of August 1945 in Hiroshima and the events of August 1990 in Kuwait. The participants in a children's literature class at Kuwait University folded paper cranes and wrote in their journals to answer two questions: (1) what is the importance of the story of Sadako, the Japanese girl, in introducing the issue of Kuwaiti prisoners of war? and (2) what are the educational values that Kuwaiti students can extract from Sadako's story? Three techniques were used, with a special focus on the participants' remarks and their impressions of those remarks in written form. The researcher counted nine values that the participants mentioned while they folded the paper crane and five values after they realized the crane's meaning. Several recommendations, suggestions, and remarks are also proposed.

The present study compares research productivity in physics in Bahrain and Kuwait, as indexed in the Web of Science database during 2011-2020. Scientometric indices, such as the yearly research growth, type of research, prolific author, most impactful source, productive institutions, and most cited country and documents, portray the different dimensions. It was examined that during 2011-2020, there was a substantial increase in the yearly output of physics literature in Bahrain and Kuwait. The study reveals that the literature in physics is gradually increasing, and there is an upwards trend. The year 2019 was the leading year for contributions from Bahrain (78 papers) as well as Kuwait (272 papers). Coincidently, Bououdina M (189 papers) was the most prolific author in both Bahrain and Kuwait. 'Optic' (24 papers) was the most productive source for Bahrain, while it was 'AIP Conference Proceedings' (54 papers) for Kuwait. X-Ray Diffraction (84) was the most researched title topic in Bahrain, while it was Nano Fluidics (132) for Kuwait. Single author collaboration for Bahrain was 69, while it was 160 for Kuwait; documents per author collaboration for Bahrain was 0.513 and was 0.233 for Kuwait; and authors per documents collaboration for Bahrain was 1.95 and for Kuwait was 4.3. However, the research trends specify a greater scope for higher research in physics in Bahrain and Kuwait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of regulation corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the return on asset and return on equity. In addition, this paper also investigates the relationship between CSR and accounting performance. This paper extend the previous research in terms of sample coverage and CSR measurement, which is zakat. Sample for this research is 709 observations firm year observation from companies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Malaysia. This research found that highly payment of corporate social responsibility exhibit high level of return on asset (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Unfornutaly, regulation doesnt affect the relationship between CSR and accounting performance. This suggest that corporate performance affected significantly by social responsibility. This findings of this research lay some foundation for corporate social responsibility regulation formulation. In addtion, this paper recommend the implementation of CSR program benefiting the society, in turn, leads the company to enhances the level of CFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses micro-level data from the 2013 official Kuwait Household expenditure survey covering 2961 households; and three 2020 COVID-19 shock-related CEO, labor force and household surveys to juxtapose the consumption profiles of foreign workers in Kuwait. The paper contributes to a growing literature on foreign workers by focusing on foreign workers' employment and earnings and consumption profiles following the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper compares differential consumption responses of 250 foreign and Kuwaiti households during the COVID-19 shock with profiles that existed during 2013, which was a shock-free year. Moreover, since foreigners represent nearly 70% of the population, OLS regressions were applied to the 2013 microdata and the 2020 household survey to inquire if standard consumption functions deployed in the economic literature hold in the case of foreign households in Kuwait and vets how their consumption responded to income shocks. Our data and empirical analysis corroborate that Kuwait's foreign community bore the brunt of COVID-19 in terms of employment, earnings and living conditions. Moreover, our results broadly indicate congruence with Friedman's permanent income hypothesis, and that for given income levels, consumption heterogeneity holds for foreign workers according to age cohorts, giving support to the life cycle hypothesis. The findings carry significant implications to Kuwait's dichotomous labor markets, and to households' income and consumption policies especially to Kuwait's transformative policy to realize sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kuwaiti policymaker has never overlooked the protection of market competition. Anticompetitive practices have always been a concern in Kuwait; from the Kuwaiti Constitution 1962, which allows a legal monopoly for a certain time, and the Commercial Law Act 68/1980, to the Competition Protection Acts (CPA) of 2007 and 2020. However, the legislative responses to anticompetitive behaviours in Kuwait have varied, with criminal prohibition being historically dominant. Recently, with the introduction of the CPA 2020, Kuwait has decriminalized cartel activity. Although it may have been expected that the criminal nature of cartel activity should have been maintained, the major shift in Kuwait was contrary to the global trend towards criminalization. Cartel activity is now being dealt with within a regulatory framework, with only administrative sanctions. This paper suggests that the decriminalization in Kuwait weakens the argument that the global trend towards criminalizing cartel activity has always been driven by a top-down process. This paper has three aims: the first is to explore this inadvertently 'neglected' research area in Kuwait; the second is to discuss why cartel activity has been decriminalized, with a focus on the problem of 'moral ambiguity' as an explanation; and the third is to argue for the re-criminalization of cartel activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improper arrest or detention of individuals represents a critical human rights concern with far-reaching implications for the rule of law, justice, and social harmony. This research paper addresses a vital and important topic, which is the reasons for the ineffectiveness of legislative measures in reducing the occurrence of illegal arrests. This paper undertakes a comprehensive comparative analysis of the legal systems in some of the United States and Kuwait states, focusing on the sanctions employed to deter and redress improper arrests and detentions. It became clear from this study that common and similar reasons between the two systems would prevent the effectiveness of legislative measures (criminal, functional, and the rule of excluding evidence resulting from the illegal procedure) from achieving its goal. This study concluded that the reasons for legislative measures not achieving their goals are of a different nature, including the lack of sincere desire to implement these measures by the relevant agencies, as well as the difficulty of implementing some of these measures in practice. Finally, this study recommended the need for a legislative, judicial, and executive review of these measures and the need to adopt means to monitor the effectiveness of these measures and the mechanism for their effective implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the dynamics between different social groups within Kuwait’s society, specifically focusing on the majority Arab population and the minority Ajam group originating from Iran. The Ajam community is distinct from the Arabs in terms of ethnicity and religious beliefs, with the majority of them identifying as Shiʿi Muslims while the majority of Kuwaitis are Sunni Muslims. Although the Ajam community has integrated into Kuwaiti society, speaking Arabic and sharing similar daily lives, their acceptance was not always the case. In the past, they were considered outsiders and faced hostility from Arab nationalists, the dominant political groups in Kuwait during the previous century. This paper conducts an analysis of the discourse employed by Arab nationalists towards the Ajam community in the 1960s, utilizing the Arab nationalist weekly newspaper, al-Taliʿa, as a case study. This analysis involves contextualizing the discourse and linking it to Kuwait’s state formation and the Ajam community’s status within the country. Through an examination of over 250 issues of the newspaper published between 1962 and 1968, the study demonstrates that Kuwaiti Ajam were framed as ‘Others’, targeted based on their country of origin and ethnicity and viewed as potential threats to the nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil and Gas Industry is highly hazardous and prone to accidents due to various errors and human factors is one of the major reasons. The paper explores accidents at oil and gas exploration sites in Kuwait due to human factors. HFACS-OGI framework is deployed for the study to understand various Human factors causing the accidents. Twenty accident reports are taken up for study from the year 2012 till 2020. From the analysis, the organizational process, inadequate supervision, Industry standards, and routine violations emerge as major causes based on frequency tables. The research suggests precautions and safety steps that need to be taken to prevent future accidents in Kuwait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purple-spotted bigeyes Priacanthus tayenus Richardson (Priacanthidae) and bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus) (Platycephalidae) were collected from the Arabian Gulf and examined for species of Monogenoidea (Polyonchoinea) from February to December 2020. Diplectanum robustitubum Wu & Li, 2003 and an undescribed species of Platycephalotrema Kritsky & Nitta, 2019 were recovered from the gill lamellae of these hosts, respectively. Diplectanum robustitubum from Iraq was redescribed and transferred to Oliveriplectanum Domingues & Boeger, 2008 (Diplectanidae) as Oliveriplectanum robustitubum (Wu & Li, 2003) n. comb. Platycephalotrema parile n. sp. (Dactylogyridae) from Iraq and Kuwait was described and differentiated from the similar species, Haliotrema indicum Tripathi, 1959, Platycephalotrema ogawai Kritsky & Nitta, 2019, and Platycephalotrema platycephali (Yin & Sproston, 1948) Kritsky & Nitta, 2019, based primarily on the comparative morphologies of the vaginal sclerites. Haliotrema indicum was transferred to Platycephalotrema as Platycephalotrema indicum (Tripathi, 1959) n. comb. and Haliotrema swatowense Yao, Wang, Xia, & Chen, 1998 was considered a junior subjective synonym of P. indicum. The finding of O. robustitubum in the Arabian Gulf represents a new geographic record for the species. Background: The present paper represents the third installment concerning the monogenoids collected during surveys to explore their diversity on the marine and freshwater fishes of Iraq. Previous installments on the monogenoids emanating from the surveys included the dactylogyrid and gyrodactylid species parasitizing mugilid fishes. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to further document the diversity of monogenoids infecting the fishes of Iraq. Methods: Marine fishes were necropsied for parasites, and standard procedures for collecting, mounting, drawing, and measuring of monogenoids were employed. Results: Oliveriplectanum robustitubum n. comb. (Diplectanidae) and Platycephalotrema parile n. sp. (Dactylogyridae) were collected. The occurrence of O. robustitubum in the Arabian Gulf represented a new locality record for the species. Conclusion: The recorded presence of O. robustitubum and P. parile n. sp. suggests that the diversity of monogenoids in Iraq is under estimated in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Lidcombe Program is a stuttering treatment approach for children between the ages of 3 and 6 years. Most papers about the Lidcombe Program, however, are based on studies conducted in native English-speaking countries. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the delivery and implementation of the Lidcombe Program in non-native English-speaking countries. Summary: A resource search was conducted between October and November 2019. Scopus, PubMed, ASHA, Cochrane Library, ERIC, Google Scholar, and SpeechBITE databases and reference lists of relevant papers were searched for the identification process. Joanna Briggs Institute tools were used for the appraisal of the studies. The search yielded 8 studies conducted in non-native English-speaking countries. The Lidcombe Program is efficacious in non-native English-speaking countries when delivered to both preschool and young school age children who stutter. It is reported to be delivered with minor changes and challenges. The number of weekly clinic visits and the total time needed to reach zero or near-zero stuttering levels with the Lidcombe Program can be up to 3 times greater in non-native English-speaking countries than in native English-speaking countries, mostly due to the increased time needed to introduce the parental verbal contingencies. Key Messages: Speech and language therapists practicing in non-native English-speaking countries are encouraged to use the Lidcombe Program for both preschool and young school age children who stutter, although this can take more time than that reported in native English-speaking countries. Further investigation to explore the therapy process with children and parents in non-native English-speaking countries is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sign language is significant in its linguistic complexity and sociocultural values to its users. The linguistic situation of sign languages in the Middle East is controversial. For Arab deaf communities, each country has a rich and complex national sign language without the need for a superior, more standard unifying Arabic sign language (ArSL). There have been attempts to unify sign languages by creating ArSL. This initiative has been mostly taken by nondeaf persons and has been met with opposition and resistance. This paper investigates sign languages in Kuwait and the attitudes towards both Kuwaiti Sign Language (KSL) and ArSL from both deaf individuals and sign language translators/teachers using surveys, informal interviews, and fieldwork visits. The research question is: What sign language would the deaf community and sign language interpreters/teachers in Kuwait choose (KSL, ArSL, or both) to better serve the deaf community. This paper is designed to uncover the impact of language policies on communities' representations of self and explore the richness and complexity of national sign languages that can be underestimated by language policymakers. The findings of this study indicate a preference for KSL or the use of both KSL and ArSL, but not ArSL alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a cultural analysis of the popular Kuwaiti TV series Men Sharea El Haram (translated as From Haram Street). Combining religion, class, race, nationality, and patriarchy, Haram Street showcases pertinent issues that today's Kuwaiti society has to face. Attending to the scarcity of previous research on vernacular communities and their salient concerns, this paper explores the following research questions: How does Men Sharea El Haram capture the intersecting nature of women's resistance? What does a feminist Kuwaiti vernacular look like, and how does it intersect with privilege? The analysis outlines how Men Sharea El Haram touches upon several silenced themes in the conservative Kuwaiti society of Kuwait, showing the many and varied ways in which Kuwaiti women are oppressed and showcasing the ways in which women can—and do—resist. Together, the findings provide a deeper understanding of several central issues in Kuwaiti society, especially around masculinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work environment became very challenging in 2023 due to the upsurge in automation, artificial intelligence applications as well as turbulent economic and political factors that corporates had to endure. This paper reflects on the experience of business leaders in the Middle East with reference to overall performance results, teams' effectiveness and applied soft skills development mechanisms in year 2023. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with business leaders of 22 national and multinational organizations operating in 12 different business and service sectors in Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Leaders of 19 out of 22 organizations confirmed that they lack clear soft skills development mechanisms. Soft skills development is especially needed when it comes to staff and leaders' enablement and empowerment to manage change, resolve complex business situations, collaborate effectively and fulfill assigned goals in challenging environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the development pattern of resource-rich countries like Norway, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of South Africa by analyzing their stock markets. As resource-rich countries have profound implications for the world's sustainable development, it is essential to investigate whether they transform natural resource wealth into sustained growth by reorientation from related to raw material industries to modern ones based on information and technologies. The analysis of resource-rich countries' stock markets allowed us to conclude that partially these countries are on the way to an economy dominated by intangible assets. Nevertheless, despite the declared intentions, some traditional attachments to raw materials are still present. At the same time, most companies in the optimal portfolios of these markets have a long-term nonlinear strategy. The impact of the pandemic COVID-19 turned out to be significant, but short-lived. The research was carried out based on R and Python packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the characteristics of arid surface soil deposits leads to increasing the confidence level before stabilizing and to applying such materials in the field. Two types of surface soil deposits in Kuwait, sabkha soil and dune sand, have been examined by series of intensive laboratory testing reported in this paper. The chemical, the physical, and the compressibility characteristics of the two soils have been examined and evaluated. A single oedometer test has been carried out in order to obtain the compressibility characteristics and the collapse behavior. This paper has concluded that the samples from sabkha soil have a lower initial void ratio than the samples from dune sands. The lower compressibility parameters values of surface soil deposits and slightly higher collapsibility values of sabkha soils are encouraging that surface soil deposits can be used for construction purposes after the suitable stabilizing technique. Despite their low compressibility, the stabilizing of arid soils should concentrate on reducing salts’ dissolution in these soils during saturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no denying the effort to introduce anti-competitive measures has been one the most divisive issues in the area of international cooperation. In fact, the effort to combat anti-competitive behaviors is the reason the Meeting of WTO Ministers in Cancún, Mexico, has failed to produce any agreement. On its face, this can be interpreted as a signpost that domestic entrenchment of competition law may be stalled. Interestingly, competition law has become a fixture of all member states of the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). Against that background, this paper argues the process of the domestication of competition law is still possible, albeit modestly. To achieve that, it is important to rein in a host of underlying conditions that might constitute a socio-cultural profile. For that reason, this paper highlights the particularities of the receiving jurisdictions to reveal the logic that can deepen the entrenchment of the legalization of anti-competitive measures. To unfold the argument, this paper starts with the claim there is a common aspiration among the GCC member states to embrace competition as their primary means to achieve a diversified economy. This commonality is undergirded by the fact all GCC member states share a similar cultural outlook. To substantiate the claim further, the paper presents a contextualized and therefore intimate reading of Kuwait and UAE competition law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kuwait's post-oil modernisation is often attributed to a sequence of masterplans designed by British architects and planners. Throughout the recent history of Kuwait's urban development, these plans foreshadowed policies mediated by local actors and an ambitious public infrastructure building conceived by a new Arab muhandis (architect-engineer). This paper seeks to illuminate a specific period in Kuwait's architectural and urban history that was facilitated by Arab actors hired in the 1960s in different capacities, and the emergence of the Arab architectural firm in the 1970s. By taking on the role of "expert," refining what it means to be a muhandis, and by looking at more regional references, these local actors were able to experiment, attempting to develop a distinctly Arab architectural and urban modernism situated in a global modernist movement. This paper offers an expanded reading of the making of Kuwait's architectural and urban production beyond the polarisation between imported masterplans and locally produced building knowledge and the role played by muhandis in such development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-series analysis is a widely used method for studying past data to make future predictions. This paper focuses on utilizing time-series analysis techniques to forecast the resource needs of logistics delivery companies, enabling them to meet their objectives and ensure sustained growth. The study aims to build a model that optimizes the prediction of order volume during specific time periods and determines the staffing requirements for the company. The prediction of order volume in logistics companies involves analyzing trend and seasonality components in the data. Autoregressive (AR), Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous Variables (SARIMAX) are well-established and effective in capturing these patterns, providing interpretable results. Deep-learning algorithms require more data for training, which may be limited in certain logistics scenarios. In such cases, traditional models like SARIMAX, ARIMA, and AR can still deliver reliable predictions with fewer data points. Deep-learning models like LSTM can capture complex patterns but lack interpretability, which is crucial in the logistics industry. Balancing performance and practicality, our study combined SARIMAX, ARIMA, AR, and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models to provide a comprehensive analysis and insights into predicting order volume in logistics companies. A real dataset from an international shipping company, consisting of the number of orders during specific time periods, was used to generate a comprehensive time-series dataset. Additionally, new features such as holidays, off days, and sales seasons were incorporated into the dataset to assess their impact on order forecasting and workforce demands. The paper compares the performance of the four different time-series analysis methods in predicting order trends for three countries: United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and Kuwait (KWT), as well as across all countries. By analyzing the data and applying the SARIMAX, ARIMA, LSTM, and AR models to predict future order volume and trends, it was found that the SARIMAX model outperformed the other methods. The SARIMAX model demonstrated superior accuracy in predicting order volumes and trends in the UAE (MAPE: 0.097, RMSE: 0.134), KSA (MAPE: 0.158, RMSE: 0.199), and KWT (MAPE: 0.137, RMSE: 0.215). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The State of Kuwait operates a US$110bn economy and serves as an integral part of the global energy trade, holding over 9% of the world's oil reserves. In addition, Kuwait is making attempts to open its economy, working towards domestic diversification. This paper aims to understand Kuwait's internal financial protection mechanisms and their compliance to international standards. It is imperative to understand Kuwait's legal and regulatory system that combats money laundering and terrorist financing concerns, which further extends to the region's security discourse. This paper focuses on the State of Kuwait's internal efforts to propel anti-money laundering/combating terrorist financing (AML/CTF) measures, and further evaluate these measures with respect to international evaluations. Design/methodology/approach: Anti-money laundering and combatting terrorist financing mechanisms require a layered analysis to understand the legislative and bureaucratic organization of enforcement. Further, these measures, taken within the domestic framework, must be compared to international standards, and thus taken into account by observers. This paper studies Kuwait AML/CTF mechanisms by studying the country's legislation, regulation and implementation. The country's legislation will offer insight into the basic foundation of the country's stance against money laundering and terrorist financing. Kuwait's regulation against money laundering/terrorist financing (ML/TF) will represent the enforcement mechanisms and risk-assessment tools mandated by the independent regulatory authorities. Finally, the country's enforcement levels will provide a deeper understanding of the country's systemic approach to successfully combatting ML and TF activities. In addition, this paper also studies international evaluations that present an independent and factual view regarding Kuwait's AML/CTF structure and its implementation. Findings: Following a thorough examination of primary and secondary literature, this paper finds the State of Kuwait to have taken significant steps in implementing recommended legislative and regulatory mechanisms. The paper found significant strategic deficiencies within internal mechanisms pre-2014, which have been largely resolved in the state's ex post approach to the Financial Action Task Force's recommendations. There is also evidence of an improving enforcement mechanism in the state's recent efforts in reducing exposure to ML and TF risks. However, the paper finds certain "strategic deficiencies" within the country's internal reporting and external publishing administration. Practical implications: The State of Kuwait is an important member in the route to regional stability and security in the Middle-East and Arabian Gulf region. Kuwait's northern border abuts with Iraq, and connects the country with the rest of the Middle-East. The upward regional instability could create internal security risks for Kuwait. In addition, the State of Kuwait has taken the onus, in addition to the Sultanate of Oman, to mediate the diplomatic lapse between members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The aforementioned positions ascertain a need to examine, and further recommend measures that promote a strong regional financial system. Originality/value: This paper finds the government of Kuwait to have taken major steps to create a framework that is parallel to international standards. However, there have been significant delays in activating and implementing several regulatory procedures. The delay of certain procedures has since been rectified by the state. This paper presents a comprehensive qualitative analysis of the country's legislative, regulatory and enforcement structures and further evaluates the internal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a framework of assessing de jure adoption of Sharīʿah governance standards of international standards setting bodies and uses it to assess the legal and regulatory framework of Sharīʿah governance regimes (SGR). Using leximetrics and content analysis, the framework is used to assess SGR in four countries (Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan and UAE) in an objective manner. The results show that Malaysia has the most robust SGR and UAE has the weakest legal and regulatory environment of Sharīʿah governance. The results also identify the weaknesses in the SGR and areas that can be improved further. Furthermore, the paper reveals the diversity in the qualitative nature of SGR in terms of the extent to which the laws and regulations are used to develop the SGR in different countries. As the Islamic financial industry continues to grow globally, regulators would need to mitigate the Sharīʿah non-compliant risk by introducing the international Sharīʿah governance standards to promote growth and ensure stability of the sector. The framework to assess the SGR can be a used as a first step to assess the SGR in different jurisdictions to identify the weaknesses and come up with relevant laws and regulations to strengthen the SGR for the development of a robust Islamic financial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Islamic banks (IBs) and macroeconomic variables on economic growth in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Bahrain and Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach: Based on these criteria, 672 observations from 24 IBs in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Bahrain and Bangladesh were chosen for further investigation. Time series analysis is a well-known method for determining if model variables are stationary and how long-term relationships function through cointegration analysis. This study uses impulse response function (IRF) and variance decomposition (VD) methodologies to demonstrate how each macroeconomic variable shock influences the short-term dynamic path of all system variables. Findings: Islamic banking promotes economic growth, especially in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Bahrain and Bangladesh. The findings of the Islamic banking VDC test have a direct and long-term effect on economic growth. Research limitations/implications: The literature on this topic can be improved in a number of ways, including by adopting a more robust method to analyze over a longer time frame. By researching specific financing in various areas of the economy, one can gain a deeper understanding of Islamic financing. This will enable the identification of sectors that contribute to economic expansion. Future research should examine combining nations with pure Islam and dual-banking systems to acquire sufficient data. Practical implications: This paper has practice and research implications. It recommends adopting the nation's successful experiment with the Islamic banking system as a model for attaining economic growth through Islamic financing. To replicate this successful experiment, government-based decision-makers and monetary policy experts must collaborate to make Islamic money flows simple and rapid through financial channels that enhance economic growth. Originality/value: The study of the contribution of Islamic banking to economic growth in developing nations, particularly those with the highest total assets (TAs) and total deposits (TDs) in the world, remains of modest value. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to empirically assess the impact of IBs in developing nations, particularly those with the highest TAs and TDs in the world, on economic growth as measured by gross domestic product (GDP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the evaluation systems of faculty performance in Kuwait's private higher education, emphasizing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in refining these frameworks. In reviewing the existing scientific literature, the paper identifies a gap in incorporating advanced technologies, particularly AI, in performance evaluation processes. It points out that while traditional methods provide a foundation, they often fall short in capturing the dynamic and multifaceted nature of faculty contributions and satisfaction. The research employs a thorough snowball sampling technique, gathering data from 71 participants to explore facets such as faculty engagement, research activities, use of technology, and non-academic contributions. The methodology investigates how these dimensions influence overall satisfaction with existing evaluation systems. Research questions probe the extent to which current evaluations align with faculty expectations and how AI might address existing shortcomings. Key findings reveal faculty engagement as a primary influencer of satisfaction levels, with teaching effectiveness, service contributions, and diversity and equity initiatives being vital components. Moreover, the study underscores the impact of professional development opportunities on enhancing engagement, research output, and technological proficiency. Notably, the analysis advocates for AI integration to automate, optimize, and personalize the evaluation process, offering a nuanced understanding of faculty performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper conducts a thorough comparative analysis of custody assessment criteria employed in the legal systems of the United States and Kuwait. The freedom of the accused during the pre-trial investigation stage is one of the most important issues related to human rights and freedoms. The study adopted the analytical method of legal texts, judicial rulings, and jurisprudential opinions between two systems belonging to different legal families, namely the system in the United States of America and the system in the State of Kuwait. The study showed that the legal system in the United States of America addresses the factors that play a role in determining the decision to detain the accused during the pretrial investigation stage in a better and more in-depth manner than the treatment adopted by the Kuwaiti legislators. The study also indicated that the American legislative treatment is preferable to a procedural reason related to the American system. Finally, this study recommended the need to reorganize the issue in Kuwaiti law by adopting many humanitarian aspects related to the accused in the issue of the decision to release or detain the accused during the pre-trial investigation stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the intentions of individuals' monetary charity during the COVID-19 crisis in Kuwait. The new conditions of COVID-19 enhanced both the theoretical as well as empirical importance of understanding how charities canalize monetary donations toward those in need. Design/methodology/approach: An initial framework is developed based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to conceptualize how an individual's intention of donating money to charitable organizations is realized in their behaviors. A cross-sectional study of 276 donors is conducted. Findings: Explained variance gained is 0.73% suggesting that during the pandemic, donors are financially able to donate and prioritize easily accessible channels to transfer monetary charity. Donor attitudes towards charitable organizations were found to be insignificant regardless of the mismanagement reported. Practical implications: This study importantly discusses public behavior toward charities during the pandemic and suggests policies for managing such charities during a pandemic for optimizing their effectiveness. Originality/value: This paper used a contemporary context to measure behavioral intentions including attitude (attitude toward making a financial donation, attitude toward charitable organizations and the attitude toward helping others), perceived behavioral control, descriptive norms, moral norms, injunctive/prescriptive norms and past behavior and thus enhance the empirical base of the TPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research paper examined the interplay between social media, brand personality, and voter behaviour in Kuwait's unique political environment. The study applied the Aaker model of brand personality to investigate how social media shapes the brand personality of political candidates, how voters perceive this brand personality, and the impact it has on their behaviour. Further, it explored the role of tribal and religious affiliations in shaping the perceived brand personality of candidates and their implications for election campaign strategies. Through a quantitative research design, data was collected from 363 Kuwaiti voters using a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed the significant influence of social media on voter behaviour, as well as the relevance of the Aaker model in the political context of Kuwait. The study uncovered the connection between voter demographics and preferences, highlighting the impact of socio-cultural factors on voter behaviour. The implications drawn from these findings provide valuable insights for election campaign strategies in Kuwait's digitalised political environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work presented a comparative analysis of traffic demand and safety skills before and after control measures during the COVID-19 epidemic, acquired time-series change data curves, and constructed a prediction model after determining the trend of traffic demand over time. From a data analysis perspective, the paper draws some interesting conclusions about long span, coarse sampling studies. In terms of the study population, the paper did focus on the specificity of the global epidemic. Kuwait was selected as a case study. Traffic demand analysis was conducted using a Structural Equation Model (SEM), Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), and safety skills questionnaire along with flow charts and demographic variables. These methods were utilized to study the impact of COVID-19 on traffic congestion and safety skills as well as to forecast the future traffic volumes. Results showed that traffic congestion had a significant reduction during COVID-19 as a result of the preventive safety measures taken to control the spread of the virus. Such reduced traffic volume was associated with a decrease in traffic violations and an increase in the safety skills and PM skills of drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of the legal frameworks governing the taking of juveniles into custody in Kuwait and the United States. The treatment of juveniles in the criminal justice system is a critical area of concern, as it reflects a society’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of its youth. The study evaluates the need to adopt special procedures for juvenile arrests when compared to adult arrests in Kuwait. The study undertook a comparative analytical investigation of Kuwaiti and American law which are based on different legal systems. The study found that the Kuwaiti legislator should take juveniles’ nature, qualities, and characteristics into account, and based on that approach, adopt special procedures regarding juvenile arrests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, financial inclusion and bank stability have gained attention among researchers, particularly since the 2008 global financial crisis. This study investigates how financial inclusion may have influenced bank stability given differences in banks' structure based on operating principles (Islamic and conventional banks) during the period of 2003–2017, using Kuwait as a high-income economy case. The current paper assesses how bank stability responds to financial inclusion. This work adopts a Linear Mixed Model (LMM), which tracks variables over time while considering other time-invariant variables. The findings show that the adopted measures of financial inclusion, access and depth, are both significant and negatively related to bank stability. Furthermore, the results unveil a slight difference between the response of Islamic and conventional banks' stability to the dimensions of financial inclusion. Additionally, the study concludes that the financial crisis had an inverse and significant impact on bank stability. However, the extent of the impact appears to have been greater on Islamic banks compared to their conventional counterparts. Based on this study, banking with more financial inclusion can improve stability if institutional quality in Kuwait is improved so that these banks can operate more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on recent research on the factors that prevent publicly traded companies in the Gulf State of Kuwait from taking an interest in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), and especially sustainability issues. The paper examines the practice of sustainability reporting (or lack of it) by public companies. Seen in the context of the stakeholders involved and push and pull factors, and barriers impacting this practice, the study reveals the pivotal role of each company's leaders and managers. If there was interest at the top, it was likely that ESG issues were considered, but if leaders and managers could not see the value, then the concern for sustainability was given a low priority. More transparency among the Kuwaiti publicly-listed companies is widely seen as required to support this Middle-Eastern country in achieving its national development plan which calls for the creation of a robust and vibrant private sector and fostering an environment that attracts foreign direct investments. The lack of conviction among corporate leaders has been identified as the major hurdle to adoption of sustainability reporting by companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third places are those that offer a space outside of work and home for people to escape the stress associated with the primary spaces of their lives. Through social interactivity these help in acquiring some emotional support provided by a close and intimate attachment. Such social support can turn into social resources for individuals and can lead to forming communities that may become incubators for social capital through regular visits to shared socializing places. This paper focuses on social interaction that takes place through the third place and the communities that are being created as a contributing factor to knowledge management. The study being reported in this paper investigated the role of coffee shops as third places in building communities and social capital in Kuwait. A mixed-method approach was used to conduct the study. These methods included qualitative methods such as extended conversations in the form of semi-structured interviews and quantitative methods of using questionnaires distributed to coffee shop staff and visitors. Results indicated that importance attached to providing facilities by coffee shops reflected that the owners perceived these as third places. The facilities attracted customers to coffee houses where interactions took place that helped to build communities. The pattern of visits by customers showed that mostly they come in groups and have meetings and gatherings that facilitated and encouraged interactions. The communities that are being built in the coffee shops are indicative of these being perceived as third places by owners, customers, and staff. This study shows the potential of coffee shops as a major sector of the food industry promising a valuable contribution in transformation and transition to a knowledge-based economy in Kuwait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corona virus disease pandemic (COVID-19) is one of the recent issues that spread in the world, which disrupted life, impacted the economy, and led to heavy losses, whether for government sectors or private companies. This paper focuses on the Kuwait public transport company KPTC and Kuwait Airways' experience during the pandemic, since they incurred major losses due to the decline of their users. Public transport is a place to catch COVID-19, as it is subjected to the use of a large number of passengers daily within a small closed environment. The causes that led to the spread of the virus among public transport users and develop solutions to limit its spread and preserve public transport pioneer's safety were discussed in the paper. Additionally, the environmental impact resulting from the reduction of public transportation using was also addressed. Data was obtained from the KPTC, Kuwait Airways office, the Ministry of Health (MOH) database, and the Environment Public Authority (EPA) database. A questionnaire was distributed to public transport users to determine the reasons for the decline in its user's number and their aspirations to reconsider their use and ensure their satisfaction. For airplane data, the risk of importation of COVID-19 was calculated. For KPTC data, COVID-19 impact on the emissions generated per passenger-km was computed where the emissions were estimated by MOVES. The survey responses were statically analyzed using the chi-square test on the SPSS program, and they were compared to numerical analysis results. The results showed the impact of COVID-19 on people's willingness to use public transportation which was associated with the increase in the number of buses to implement social distancing has negatively affected the environment. Thus, a comprehensive strategy solution was presented consisting of three basic approaches: providing a healthy, risk-free environment for public transportation users, achieving social distancing at a low cost to offset the losses, and ensuring a healthy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The two main contributing factors that control the overall buildings' energy performance are the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and the envelope design. Environmental design guidelines that consider these two factors aim to lower energy consumption. However, they are regional and climate-sensitive. This study aims to investigate how three main buildings' envelope design variables (orientation, compactness and window to wall ratio) impact the overall building's energy consumption within Kuwait's regional and climate conditions. Design/methodology/approach: This study simulate the energy consumption of typically shaped buildings by varying their geometry between a square to a rectangular floor plan. This study analyse the associated energy usage and provide early-stage envelope design guidance specific to the country's conditions, to make informed decisions towards environmentally conscious buildings. Findings: The analysed envelope variables have the potential to reduce energy consumption by 40%, and the possibility to reduce HVAC system capacity by 30%. In contrast to the general guidance in literature and standards, the simulation results demonstrate that less compact building forms perform on occasions better than the most compact ones. Originality/value: The objective of this paper is to quantify the energy consumption rates for buildings located within the Arabian Peninsula, an under-studied region with potentially high interest considering three main envelope design variables. The buildings' yearly energy consumption patterns are unique and suggest different envelope design considerations, compared to other regions with different climate conditions. This emphasises the importance of regional guidelines for the different factors associated with energy and buildings' environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Statistical analysis is based on annual data collected from 132 Boursa Kuwait listed firms from 2016 to 2019 (i.e. yielding 528 firm-year observations). During the observation window (i.e. 2016 to 2019) 116 firms switched from joint-to solo-audits. Level and change models test if audit quality (proxied by abnormal accruals) is impacted by joint-/solo-audit switching. Therefore this paper explores the audit quality following abolition of mandated joint-audits in Kuwait. Design/methodology/approach: This paper investigates the impact on audit quality following abolition of mandated joint-audit requirements in 2016 in Kuwait. The study is differentiated from prior analysis by focusing on an emerging economy setting, and by considering a more expansive set of joint-audit pairings, solo-audit types and switching options. Findings: Abolition of mandated joint-audit requirements prompted a majority of Boursa Kuwait listed firms to switch to solo-audits. Analysis indicates that switch does not significantly decrease audit quality. Also, audit quality changes are not dependent on the specific joint-audit pairing/solo-audit type switch. Research limitations/implications: Analysis is based on a single national setting comprising a small set of firms. Nonetheless, results imply the impact of joint-/solo-audit switching following abolition of mandated requirements is more universal with generalizability to different economic settings. Practical implications: Results indicate that following elimination of mandated joint-audit requirements, firms have a propensity to favor solo-audits. Irrespective of the joint-audit pairing and solo-audit type, findings show a joint-/solo-audit switch does not compromise audit quality. Originality/value: Analysis is the first to investigate the impact of joint/solo-audit switches on audit quality in an emerging economy with tests considering more joint-audit pairings than assessed previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome its reliance on burning fossil fuels for energy generation and water desalination, Kuwait has pioneered research and cutting-edge projects in renewable energy since the 1980s. This paper examines the power sector in Kuwait and emphasizes the government’s keenness to diversify the country’s electric power supply. It provides a comprehensive overview of Kuwait’s efforts, to emerge as a leading example in the region, fostering collaboration and matchmaking within renewable energy industries. The country’s goal is to meet 15% of the demand for power from renewable energy by 2030, including a reduction in energy use in the building sector by 12% and a decrease in CO2 emissions by 33%. The country’s initiatives revolve around harnessing renewable sources, particularly emphasizing the exploration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Challenges and opportunities are presented to provide information for international institutions, technology companies, designers, researchers, and decision makers, aiming to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of PV project implementation in the country and the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of fully battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) in Kuwait is currently at less than one percent of the population, and hence Kuwait has the lowest index rank among countries around the globe. Effectively, only Kuwaiti nationals have the opportunity to own EVs, as there are no fast direct-current charging stations in Kuwait, and Kuwaiti landlords (expats cannot own real estate) do not allow the installation of EV-charging home wall boxes at their rented properties. Given these facts, this paper only focuses on the preferences of Kuwaiti nationals, even though they only constitute 25 percent of the population of Kuwait. To accomplish the present objectives, a quantitative descriptive method (closed-ended questions) was used to collect data from a sample of 227 Kuwaiti nationals who were representative of the owners of half a million internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and that were categorized as early majority consumers. The findings of the present study indicate that over 50 percent of the respondents would prefer to buy an EV in the following three years when certain criteria were satisfied, including government-controlled pricing policies and recharging point availability, high-speed roads, and free EV-dedicated parking spaces. Furthermore, over 40 percent of respondents stated that they would contemplate purchasing an electric vehicle if the price of gasoline or diesel increased by 19 to 50 percent. The findings also indicated that more than 40 percent of respondents believed that EVs are fire- and crash-safe, and roughly 50 percent of the respondents would be willing to pay between 6 and 20% more for an EV because they believe that EVs are ecofriendlier vehicles and are significantly faster than conventional petrol vehicles. Additionally, respondents rewarded those vehicles with an excellent mark because of their ecological, economical, and technological attributes and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kuwaiti dialect is a particular dialect of Arabic spoken in Kuwait; it differs significantly from standard Arabic and the dialects of neighboring countries in the same region. Few research papers with a focus on the Kuwaiti dialect have been published in the field of NLP. In this study, we created Kuwaiti dialect language resources using Q8VaxStance, a vaccine stance labeling system for a large dataset of tweets. This dataset fills this gap and provides a valuable resource for researchers studying vaccine hesitancy in Kuwait. Furthermore, it contributes to the Arabic natural language processing field by providing a dataset for developing and evaluating machine learning models for stance detection in the Kuwaiti dialect. The proposed vaccine stance labeling system combines the benefits of weak supervised learning and zero-shot learning; for this purpose, we implemented 52 experiments on 42,815 unlabeled tweets extracted between December 2020 and July 2022. The results of the experiments show that using keyword detection in conjunction with zero-shot model labeling functions is significantly better than using only keyword detection labeling functions or just zero-shot model labeling functions. Furthermore, for the total number of generated labels, the difference between using the Arabic language in both the labels and prompt or a mix of Arabic labels and an English prompt is statistically significant, indicating that it generates more labels than when using English in both the labels and prompt. The best accuracy achieved in our experiments in terms of the Macro-F1 values was found when using keyword and hashtag detection labeling functions in conjunction with zero-shot model labeling functions, specifically in experiments KHZSLF-EE4 and KHZSLF-EA1, with values of 0.83 and 0.83, respectively. Experiment KHZSLF-EE4 was able to label 42,270 tweets, while experiment KHZSLF-EA1 was able to label 42,764 tweets. Finally, the average value of annotation agreement between the generated labels and human labels ranges between 0.61 and 0.64, which is considered a good level of agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes sedimentological and biostratigraphic data for the Minjur and Marrat Formations in Kuwait and places them within an expanded sequence stratigraphic framework based on the letter and number scheme initiated by Sharland and others (2001). Only two sequences (Tr80 and J10) were identified in this interval in the original scheme, whereas, between Tr80 and the top of the Upper Marrat, 18 sequences are now recognized and their sequence boundaries and maximum flooding surfaces identified and illustrated herein. One new sequence (Tr90) was proposed in the underlying Jilh A Member. Three new sequences (Tr100, Tr105 and Tr110) are recognized in the Minjur Formation (= Lower Minjur in Saudi Arabia). Four sequences (J02, J04, J06 and J08) and part of a fifth (J10) are recognized in the Lower Marrat. Seven sequences (part of J10 and J11-J16) are recognized in the Middle Marrat. Three sequences (J17, J18 and J19) are recognized in the Upper Marrat. Biostratigraphic data are sparse for the Minjur and Marrat Formations. In the Marrat Formation, calcareous nannofossils are extremely rare, benthic foraminifers are relatively common but long-ranging and palynomorphs are sparse and most commonly non-age diagnostic. Published and unpublished proprietary data from 33 wells have been combined to determine the ages of the succession. Using palynology, the Minjur Lower Member was dated as Norian. An undifferentiated Norian-Rhaetian age range is assigned to the Middle and upper Members of the Minjur Formation. The Triassic/Jurassic boundary is placed just below the base of the Lower Member of the Marrat Formation, where cuttings samples from a thin interval of strata yielded long age-ranging palynomorphs. The Sinemurian/Pliensbachian boundary occurs in the Lower Marrat at the base of the S J06 transgressive systems tract. The Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary, dated on the basis of Nannoceratopsis triceras and Lotharingius crucicentralis, is also in the Lower Marrat at the base of the S J10 transgressive systems tract. The contact of the Middle and Upper Marrat is unconformable and locally karsted but appears to correlate to the Toarcian/Aalenian boundary. The upper section of the Upper Marrat and the base of the overlying Dhruma Formation have not been cored but the Aalenian/Bajocian boundary is placed in the upper portion of Sequence J19. SB J20 is placed at the top of the Upper Marrat Member. Change in the age of the Late Triassic Baluti Formation in Iraq has resulted in changes in correlations of the Minjur and Marrat Formations to each other and to other formations in the region. The Lower Marrat is shown to be the shallow marine equivalent of the Upper Minjur siliciclastics in the subsurface Rub al Khali Basin and in the shallow subsurface Arabian Basin near the outcrop belt in Saudi Arabia. The Lower Marrat correlates to the Adaiyah Formation and the Upper Sarki Formation in Iraq. The Middle Marrat correlates to the Mus and Alan Formations in Iraq and to all of the Marrat Formation as defined in outcrop in Saudi Arabia. The Upper Marrat is largely represented by an Aalenian-age hiatus in the Saudi Arabian outcrop belt but a thin, condensed Aalenian section is present in the subsurface, basinward of the outcrop belt, and correlated with the Lower Dhruma (D1-D2). The Upper Marrat is correlated to the lower Sargelu Formation in Iraq. These new and revised correlations clarify the timing of the Late Triassic (Norian) uplift of the Qatar Arch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to industrialization and an exponential increase in population, the demand for vehicles has increased in Kuwait. Utilizing fossil fuels to power vehicles that are in high demand has posed various environmental and medical implications. Considering the emission-free feature of electric vehicles (EVs), moving towards "EV readiness" is the need of the hour. This can be further enhanced by adopting alternative sustainable technologies such as photo voltaic (PV) charging of EVs, to potentially eliminate or significantly reduce the reliance on fossil fuel while simultaneously decreasing harmful emissions. As Kuwait does not manufacture cars, it imports all vehicles and their parts, including internal combustion engines (ICEs) and EVs. To find out the challenges to uplifting Kuwait's "EV readiness" this study delved into the performance of a typical EV car in Kuwait's weather conditions. This includes the investigation of parameters that influence the energy requirements in an electric vehicle, the change in the energy requirement in relation to several driving scenarios, and the efficiency of the EV battery. The results indicate that a significant amount of energy is being wasted for battery conditioning, which drastically reduces the distance covered during summer. The energy required for air-conditioning and battery conditioning are both positively correlated to the ambient temperature, while the time required to charge the battery has no relationship with the time of the day, traffic, or trip length. Additionally, the paper discusses some major challenges, such as lack of awareness, inadequate charging stations, and absence of policy. The paper recommends the most vital areas to be focused on for meeting the above challenges to make the transition to an "EV ready" state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper investigates volatility spillovers between the global crude oil market and the stock markets of the global oil stock markets (Russian, Canada, China, Kuwait, and the USA) pre and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We use wavelet Granger causality methods to study the volatility spillovers between global oil stock markets, mainly from January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2021. Our Results (1) shows that WTI and Brent oil prices had a negative mean return before COVID-19 but a positive mean return during the pandemic spread. Other Results (2) find the positive, significantly lowest, and highest frequency during the COVID-19 outbreak for all selected countries. The results also show that the link between oil WTI & Brent prices and stock markets return in the lowest (33-66 days) and highest frequency range (4-16) before the Covid-19 epidemic, especially in the first quarter of 2020. Before the COVID-19 period, the Russian oil stock market is seriously prejudiced with oil prices on a modest scale, but not after the pandemic's start. This study also perceives direction opposite between the COVID-19 period. The Canadian and United States America oil and stock markets influence the lowest scale in the previous COVID-19 sample for the U.S. market. Moreover, this paper exposed that oil marketing highest oil futures in their portfolios than stock shares for all times. We found that oil price shocks had a more significant impact on the stock markets of the United States and Canada than on the stock markets of other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information-seeking behaviour is the process of acquiring information from sources in response to a need. The acquired information can then be transferred into knowledge for use, archiving, or sharing. This study investigates the information-seeking behaviour and knowledge transfer among food industry business (fbiz) owners in Kuwait, and how these differ across generations of fbiz owners. Eighteen interviews with 10 large fbiz owners from different generations were carried out. The study found that the information needs of fbiz owners changed at different stages of their business. For information seeking, fbiz members consult a variety of information sources, with the newer generation relying more on online sources than word-of-mouth. Both paper-and-computer-based archiving is used, but information loss remains a threat. Effective knowledge transfer requires better communication between generations and appropriate archiving systems. Each fbiz in Kuwait, irrespective of generation, is required to follow Islamic law. This study brings together the related but differing fields of information behaviour and knowledge management. Most importantly, it contributes two models—a family business information behaviour model and a family business knowledge retention and transfer model that would be useful to the research and practice of information behaviour and knowledge management in family businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports analysis of data from a household survey concerning water conservation behaviour in Kuwait. Econometric models were used for nine conservation measures, The models were estimated for nationals and expatriates. The results revealed that households made efforts to conserve water by changing habits/practices. The results failed to support the theory of planned behaviour as water conservation campaign had no effect on households' water conservation. Awareness about environment and water conservation did not result in pro-conservation behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), such as the internet and mobile phones, facilitate the spread of knowledge and interactions across borders in previously unimagined ways, questions are being asked about whether the benefits of this digitization process are equally distributed between and within countries. Motivated by the way technology adoption and usage patterns may differ in the Arab Middle East, this paper examines how the Kuwaiti context shapes people's understanding of a survey instrument used for evaluating digital inequalities, as they relate to access, skills and engagement, and outcomes of ICT use. Specifically, it discusses the adaptation and validation of the survey measures of socio-digital inequalities through a process of cognitive interviewing and provides insight into the theoretical and empirical linkages between cultural conceptions of digital and traditional inequalities in ways that explore both their universal and contextual aspects, or denotative and connotative meanings. Evidence suggests that important cross-cultural complications relate to language issues, socio-economic conditions, citizenship, and differing perceptions of social desirability. These findings offer important considerations for improving the reliability and validity of future survey-scale adaptations in the broader MENA region, especially in countries containing significant multicultural populations. Simultaneously, they call into question the extent to which global conceptualizations of digital inequalities and their measures reflect complex local realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is gaining popularity worldwide, especially in the Middle East, and significantly affects oral health. Nicotine stomatitis (NS) is an inflammatory response of the palate to the heat and chemical irritation caused by tobacco. The high temperatures of hot beverages have been found to have a synergistic effect. This study investigated the association of NS among waterpipe smokers and hot beverage drinkers. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in several public locations in Kuwait. Demographic data, smoking habits, and hot beverage intake were recorded using questionnaires. An oral examination was performed with informed consent, and the occurrence of NS was recorded. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics version 28.0 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS Of the 211 participants, 55 subjects (26.1%) presented with NS. All the patients with NS drank hot beverages, while 37 (67.3%) patients with NS were waterpipe smokers and hot beverage drinkers. Smokers with NS smoked significantly more tobacco heads (Z= -2.606; p=0.009) and for more hours per day (Z= -2.222; p=0.026). CONCLUSIONS This study explored the association between WPS and NS in Kuwait. Waterpipe smokers and males were more likely to present with NS. Also, the number of tobacco heads and the number of hours of WPS were found to correlate with the presence of lesions. Effective strategies to reduce WPS need to be implemented. Further studies are recommended to investigate the cause-and-effect relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of human resources and investing in their development raises a number of issues of growing importance for management. Internationally, such an problem finds different solutions depending on the specifics of the concrete business environment. This paper focuses on the housing support in Kuwait as a factor of investing in human capital development. For analytical purposes, human capital is understood in a broader sense and is not only related to the employees. People have personal characteristics through which they contribute to the success of an organization. These characteristics may include educational level, skills, experience, creative attitudes, personal characteristics, health status, moral and ethical values, etc. The presented analysis is based on studies conducted over the past five years. The aim is, having in mind the collected and analyzed information, to highlight good practices for supporting the development of human capital through specific decisions in the field of family housing assistance. Such an overall economic policy encourages young people to develop professionally in their own country, while creating families and presenting themselves as individuals in society. The investments made in the development of human capital contribute not only to business organizations, but also to society as a whole. Decisions of this type are not a common practice and are therefore of interest for researchers in this field. The paper outlines not only trends and possibilities for further human capital development, but also links the latter with concrete investment opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of technical and vocational education would depend on several factors among which are: the quality of management, the management adopted philosophy, the organization structure, the quality of workshops and laboratories, the competencies of academic and managerial staff, the level of interactions with related industries, health and safety codes and conducts, and the quality of high school graduates who are interested in joining technical and vocational institutions. However, the quality of management is considered the main dominate in the success or failure of technical and vocational education in producing graduates with the require knowledge, skills, and attitude that are mostly needed by industries. In other word, it is the mentality, philosophy, and practice that is being adopted by the management of technical and vocational education that would determine the quality of the outcomes which would consequently contributes in the reduction of the level of dependence on expatriates particularly in essential sectors of the Kuwaiti economy (e.g., oil, electricity and water, health sector, communications, and navigations). In this paper, a model is introduced to reconstruct the management philosophy, practice, and organization structure at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, PAAE&T, Kuwait. The aim is to tackle the weakness of the present management philosophy, practice, and organization structure and proposed instead an effective and efficient management philosophy, practice and organization structure that would enhance the quality of technical and vocational graduates. The outcomes of this paper would significantly contribute in creating a general awareness of the real notion and application of technical and vocational education and the requirements that would, without any doubt, allows a better and efficient utilization of human and material resources in achieving the overall country's manpower plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]