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Objectives: Medication errors are among the most common medical errors. They can result in mortality, morbidity and additional healthcare costs. Surveillance of medication errors is encouraged to identify gaps in the healthcare system and work on them. This study aimed to compare medication errors in outpatient prescriptions in two hospitals in Jordan: one with a paper‐based and one with an electronic prescription system. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional observational study in two large hospitals in Jordan over a three‐month period. Prescribing and dispensing of medicines were screened for medication errors in both centres: 2500 prescriptions were screened in each hospital. Key findings: In the hospital with electronic prescriptions, of the 2500 prescriptions screened, 631 medication errors were detected: 231 (36.6%) prescription errors and 400 (63.4%) dispensing errors. In the hospital with paper‐based prescriptions, 3714 medication errors were found: 288 (7.8%) prescription errors and 3426 (92.2%) dispensing errors. The most common prescription and dispensing errors in electronic prescriptions were, respectively, prescription of drugs that could have a drug–drug interaction, and omitting to dispense a drug on the prescription. In the paper prescriptions, the most common prescription and dispensing errors were, respectively, inappropriate dose/quantity/frequency or route of administration, and inappropriate and/or inadequate labelling of medication when dispensed, of which there were a large number (2496 (67.2%)). Conclusion: This study highlights the effect of the prescription system used by hospitals. Fewer medication errors were found in the electronic system. Healthcare policymakers, professionals and administrators are encouraged to invest in electronic systems to minimize medication errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To assess and compare the quality of paper-based and electronic- based health records. The comparison examined three criteria: content, documentation process and structure. Background: Nursing documentation is a significant indicator of the quality of patient care delivery. It can be either paper-based or organised within the system known as the electronic health records. Nursing documentation must be completed at the highest standards, to ensure the safety and quality of healthcare services. However, the evidence is not clear on which one of the two forms of documentation (paper-based versus electronic health records is more qualified. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, comparative design was used to address the study’s purposes. A convenient number of patients’ records, from two public hospitals, were audited using the Cat-ch-Ing audit instrument. The sample size consisted of 434 records for both paper-based health records and electronic health records from medical and surgical wards. Results: Electronic health records were better than paper-based health records in terms of process and structure. In terms of quantity and quality content, paper-based records were better than electronic health records. The study affirmed the poor quality of nursing documentation and lack of nurses’ knowledge and skills in the nursing process and its application in both paper-based and electronic-based systems. Conclusion: Both forms of documentation revealed drawbacks in terms of content, process and structure. This study provided important information, which can guide policymakers and administrators in identifying effective strategies aimed at enhancing the quality of nursing documentation. Relevance to clinical practice: Policies and actions to ensure quality nursing documentation at the national level should focus on improving nursing knowledge, competencies, practice in nursing process, enhancing the work environment and nursing workload, as well as strengthening the capacity building of nursing practice to improve the quality of nursing care and patients’ outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prolonged presence of Syrian refugees in Jordan has highlighted the need for sustainable health service delivery models for refugees. In 2012, the Jordanian government adopted a policy that granted Syrian refugees access, free of charge, to the national health system. However since 2012, successive policy revisions have limited refugee access. This paper seeks to understand factors that initially put refugee integration into the health system on the policy agenda, as well as how these same factors later affected commitment to sustain the policy. Methods: This paper draws on data from a document review of 197 peer-reviewed and grey literature publications, a media analysis of newspaper articles retrieved from four officially recognized newspapers in Jordan, and 33 semi-structured key informant interviews. We used Kingdon's Multiple Streams Model – a well-established tool for analyzing policy adoption – to understand how political priority developed for integration of refugees into the health system. Results: We find that several factors helped bring attention to the issue, namely concerns over infectious disease transmission to host communities, high rates of chronic conditions among the refugee population and the increasingly urban and dispersed nature of refugees. At the outset of the conflict, the national mood was receptive to refugees. Politicians and government officials quickly recognized the crisis as an opportunity to secure material and technical support from the international humanitarian community. At the same time, global pressures for integrating refugees into national health systems helped move the integration agenda forward in Jordan and the region more broadly. Since 2012, there were several modifications to the policy that signal profound changes in national views around the continued presence of Syrian refugees in the country, as well as reduced external financial support which has undermined the sustainability of the policy. Conclusion: This case study underscores the dynamic nature of policymaking and the challenge of sustaining government commitment to the right to health among refugees. Our analysis has important implications for advocates seeking to advance and maintain momentum for the integration of refugees into national health systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper of Philcox, Goodman and Slepian, the solution of the elliptic Kepler's equation is given as a quotient of two contour integrals along a Jordan curve that contains in its interior the unique real solution of the elliptic Kepler's equation and does not include other complex zeroes. In this paper, we show that a similar explicit integral solution can be given for the hyperbolic Kepler's equation. With this purpose, we carry out a study of the complex zeros of the hyperbolic Kepler's equation in order to define suitable Jordan contours in the integrals. Even more, we show that appropriate elliptic Jordan contours can be defined for such integrals, which reduces the computing time. Moreover, using the ideas behind the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm, these integrals can be approximated by the composite trapezoidal rule which gives an algorithm with spectral convergence as a function of the number of nodes. The results of some numerical experiments are presented to show that this implementation is a reliable and very accurate algorithm for solving the hyperbolic Kepler's equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study paper is to examine Jordan's mineral development and investment policies. Mining policies that attract foreign investment must handle both traditional investor concerns and some new challenges. The paper delves deeply into issues such as a country's geological, political, financial, regulatory, operational, fiscal, social, and environmental characteristics, as well as profit and marketing factors. After analyzing these criteria for Jordan, they were compared to the MENA region in order to provide insights into potential changes and improvements to both the MENA and Jordan mineral policies. International investors have not been drawn to Jordan's mineral resource sector for a number of reasons, including—but not limited to—a lack of digitally available and accessible geological data, lack of access to finance exploration projects, an unfavorable legal and fiscal environment, lack of many of the best practices for transparency standards, and lack of awareness and promotion of Jordan's mineral potential among international businesses. For Jordan to improve its standing in the world for investing in mining, it needs effective mining regulations, effective regulatory agencies, very lenient foreign investment laws, highly competitive tax system, enormous geologic potential, highly qualified personnel, exceptional local expertise and skills, modern infrastructure, and stable political and economic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a final report of the 2011 season of excavation at the archaeological site of Gadara (Umm Qais) in Jordan. The season was directed by Lamia El-Khouri (PhD), during the 15th of June until the 28th of July 2011. The excavation took place in Area Z, along the southern edge of the main colonnaded street (Decumanus Maximus). The main discoveries showed that this part of the city was occupied during several historical periods, from the Late Hellenistic until the Crusader–Mamluk periods. The majority of archaeological artefacts in the excavated area showed clear evidence of intensive human activities mostly in the Late Byzantine, Umayyad and Abbasid periods. This paper includes a full description of the historical levels as well as the most impressive archaeological finds that were collected during the excavation. An isometric reconstruction drawing of the original construction was produced to give a better view of the city of Gadara during the Graeco–Roman period. As it has been delineated by the stylobate and the other architectural remains, this building seems to have been part of an inner courtyard lined by an Ionic peristyle. It was perhaps a sort of square-shaped colonnaded enclosure, a courtyard, or an open-air garden used for exercise, whether it was part of a bath construction, or a palaestra on the atrium of a private house or a gymnasium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal comfort is usually calculated using discrete point measurements. This procedure is not suitable to study thermal comfort for inhabited areas with rugged terrains where climate gradient is high. The wide availability of remote sensing data and GIS tools has revolutionized data management, processing, and visualization. The present paper implemented digital elevation data, GIS tools, and a computational algorithm to generate spatially continuous maps of climatological elements which were employed to derive thermal comfort levels across Jordan. Results show detailed information of the spatial distribution of the degree of thermal comfort in winter and summer across the country which cannot be resolved using discrete point measurements. It is shown that most mountainous areas in the country, where most urban centers are situated, experience "slightly warm" to "warm" indoor apparent temperatures in summer in 50% of the diurnal cycle. The Jordan Valley and the desert experience high indoor apparent temperatures in summer with warm and hot conditions for the most part of the diurnal cycle. Cold conditions prevail over most parts of the country in winter, with the heating degree days ranging from 2200 in the southern mountains to values close to zero near the Dead Sea area. Mountainous and desert areas experience cold or very cold conditions in more than 75% of the diurnal cycle. The presented procedure demonstrated that the very low levels of ambient vapor pressure is an important atmospheric forcing contributing to the widespread cold conditions prevailing over the desert areas in winter. The efficiency of direct evaporative cooling systems to achieve thermal comfort in the various parts of the country is investigated. The procedure presented can be used over regional scales with different levels of spatial resolutions for a wide range of climatological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assume that is a unital algebra over a commutative unital ring ℛ and is an -bimodule. A trivial extension algebra ⋉ is defined as an ℛ -algebra with usual operations of ℛ -module × and the multiplication defined by (u 1 , s 1) (u 2 , s 2) = (u 1 u 2 , u 1 s 2 + s 1 u 2) for all u 1 , u 2 ∈ , s 1 , s 2 ∈. In this paper, we prove that under certain conditions every Jordan n -derivation Δ on ⋉ can be expressed as Δ = d + δ , where d is a derivation and δ is both a singular Jordan derivation and an antiderivation. As applications, we characterize Jordan n -derivations on triangular algebras and generalized matrix algebras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whole of society has been passing through difficult times due to the effects of COVID‐19. Such a lengthy period has greatly impacted lifestyles and living standards. Accordingly, this paper aimed to examine the role of Jordanian children in purchasing decision‐making within the framework of parental mediation during COVID‐19. A quantitative methodology was applied, and a questionnaire targeted 287 children aged 8–12. Findings demonstrated a correlation between the influence of COVID‐19. They changed the purchasing behaviour of children, as their daily habits have changed to increased periods of stay at home, leading to a long preoccupation with watching the Internet/commercials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a term that has acquired different definitions in different settings and is considered as an ambiguous concept. However, it represents an empiricist mode of thinking in medicine. EBM is a patient-centered approach in medicine and bases clinical knowledge on evidence as well as having a huge impact on clinical practice during the past few decades. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate medical resident trainees’ attitude, knowledge, and practice of EBM and encountered barriers in clinical settings to determine the relationship between trainees at different levels and departments and implications on patient care. Methods: A cross sectional survey conducted between June 2022 till December 2022, utilizing face-to-face and online questionnaire. Our questionnaire consisted of 37 questions which include characteristics of the sample in addition to attitudes related to EBM and perceptions of barriers related to it. Inclusion criteria were residents working at Jordan University Hospital with a total of 175 residents who agreed to participate in this study, and exclusion criteria were other medical assistant members and fellows. Results: A survey was distributed to 175 residents, who completed it and provided information on their sociodemographic. Approximately 72.6 percent of the participants were females (n = 127), and the median age was 27 years and an interquartile range of 2 years. The majority of participants (n = 171, 97.7%) stated that they had heard the term "evidence-based medicine" before. When asked about the residents' knowledge of various research-related terms, their answers showed a positive trend, with the majority indicating that they had some understanding of the term. The remaining findings are covered below. Conclusion: Despite having received no formal training in this area during their years of training, JUH residents demonstrated positive views regarding EBM, supporting it, and believing in its conclusions. They also generally had good terminology knowledge. More than 85% utilize medical websites, more than 50% have papers published, and more than 50% endorse EBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although Jordan has made significant progress toward expanding the utilization of facility‐based intrapartum care, prior research highlights that poor service quality is still persistent. This study aimed to identify quality gaps between women's expectations and perceptions of the actual intrapartum care received, while exploring the contributing factors. Methods: Utilizing a pre–post design, quality gaps in intrapartum care were assessed among 959 women pre‐ and postchildbirth at a prominent tertiary hospital in northern Jordan. Data were gathered using the SERVQUAL scale, measuring service quality across reliability, responsiveness, tangibles, assurance, and empathy dimensions. Results: The overall mean gap score between women's expectations and perceptions of the quality of intrapartum care was −0.60 (±0.56). The lowest and highest mean gap scores were found to be related to tangibles and assurance dimensions, −0.24 (±0.39) and −0.88 (±0.35), respectively. Significant negative quality gaps were identified in the dimensions of assurance, empathy, and responsiveness, as well as overall service quality (p < 0.001). The MLR analyses highlighted education (β = 0.61), mode of birth (β = −0.60), admission timing (β = −0.41), continuity of midwifery care (β = −0.43), physician's gender (β = −0.62), active labour duration (β = 0.37), and pain management (β = −0.33) to be the key determinants of the overall quality gap in intrapartum care. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of fostering a labour environment that prioritizes enhancing caregivers' empathetic, reassuring, and responsive skills to minimize service quality gaps and enhance the overall childbirth experience for women in Jordan. Patient or Public Contribution: This paper is a collaborative effort involving women with lived experiences of childbirth, midwives, and obstetrics and gynaecologist physicians. The original idea, conceptualization, data generation, and coproduction, including manuscript editing, were shaped by the valuable contributions of stakeholders with unique perspectives on intrapartum care in Jordan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By a classical theorem of Jordan, every faithful transitive action of a non‐trivial finite group has a derangement (an element with no fixed points). The existence of derangements with additional properties has attracted much attention, especially for faithful primitive actions of almost simple groups. In this paper, we show that an almost simple group can have an element that is a derangement in every faithful primitive action, and we call these elements totally deranged. In fact, we classify the totally deranged elements of all almost simple groups, showing that an almost simple group G$G$ contains a totally deranged element only if the socle of G$G$ is Sp4(2f)$\mathrm{Sp}_4(2^f)$ or PΩn+(q)$\mathrm{P}\Omega ^+_n(q)$ with n=2l⩾8$n=2^l \geqslant 8$. Using this, we classify the invariable generating sets of a finite simple group G$G$ of the form {x,xa}$\lbrace x, x^a \rbrace$ where x∈G$x \in G$ and a∈Aut(G)$a \in \mathrm{Aut}(G)$, answering a question of Garzoni. As a final application, we classify the elements of almost simple groups that are contained in a unique maximal subgroup H$H$ in the case where H$H$ is not core‐free, which complements the recent work of Guralnick and Tracey addressing the case where H$H$ is core‐free. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in Jordan requires massive efforts to prepare the infrastructures that serve the transportation sector. The lack of EV charging stations is the major obstacle that faces EV drivers. Utilizing renewable energy in EV charging stations contributes to the spread of these stations. Renewable energy technologies are environmentally friendly as they mitigate greenhouse gases that cause the global warming phenomenon. In this paper, an EV charging station, based on a PV-biodiesel-battery hybrid system, is investigated. The importance of this article is to discuss the hybrid system of PV and waste vegetable oil (WVO) along with storage that applies the maximum reliability supply, having an environmentally friendly supply and achieving the lowest energy cost of charging. This station is designed based on renewable and WVO utilization. In fact, WVO, coming from restaurants, is exploited to produce electricity by a diesel generator through direct burning after converting it into biodiesel. The capacity of each station is 14 cars/day with a medium-speed charger of 7 kW. The system is simulated and optimized using iHOGA software where multiobjective optimization is applied to achieve the minimum net present cost (NPC) and CO2 emissions considering three cases, PV-diesel, PV-biodiesel, and PV-WVO, all with battery-hybrid system. These values for the EV charging station that uses the PV-biodiesel-battery hybrid system are 624408 € and 15.4 tons/year, respectively. The corresponding values are 781473 € and 15.14 tons/year and 615310 € and 18.84 tons/year for the systems that work with diesel and WVO, respectively, and energy cost is achieved in best solution to be 0.11 Euro/kWh. Simulation results show that the proposed technique led to enhanced operational efficiency in terms of both NPC and annual CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the years, the knowledge translation (KT) field has moved from promoting linearized models to embracing the importance of interaction and learning. Likewise, there is now increased attention on the transfer of KT approaches to new environments. Some scholars, however, have warned that ideas about transferability still hinge on linear thinking and doing. In the current study, we therefore sought to use a more reflexive approach to KT and to study how actors align KT approaches with their local environments. Methods: Our (auto) ethnographic study took place in a wider KT project. This project intended to combine three components: (1) co-organizing demand-driven, locally led and embedded KT cycles in Cameroon, Jordan, and Nigeria, (2) building upon established KT methods and (3) equipping and empowering local teams. We conducted 63 semi-structured interviews with key KT actors, observed 472 h of KT practices, and collected a paper trail of documents. At the same time, we also compiled project exchanges, such as project documents, plans, protocols, field notes, meeting notes and an archive of (email) correspondence between project members. We analysed all data abductively. Results: We show that there were numerous moments where the design of our project indeed enabled us to align with local practices and needs. Yet this often did not suffice, and the project design sometimes conflicted with other logics and values. By analysing these tensions, we want to show that doing KT work which acts upon different values and knowledges and is sensitive towards the different effects that it produces demands both structuring projects in a specific way and requires significant alignment work of KT actors in practice. Conclusions: We show that practising KT more reflexively relies on two important conditions. First, KT projects have to be structured with sufficient discretionary space. Second, even though the structure of a project is important, there will be continuous need for alignment work. It is important to facilitate such alignment work and to further support it. In the discussion of this paper, we therefore articulate three design principles and three sensitivities. These elements can be used to make future KT projects more reflexive and sensitive to (social) complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the added-value that multisystem approaches bring to research and intervention in contexts of war and forced displacement. I highlight what is useful and truly innovative about systems-level work, aware that providing data-related evidence is only part of the story when connecting research to policy and practice. I discuss four types of added-value: these are conceptual, instrumental, capacity-building, and connectivity impacts that, respectively, aim to change current knowledge, improve implementation, build research skills, and strengthen network connectivity. Specifically, systems-based research can help transform the key frames of humanitarian work, fostering the more integrated and distributive models of professional assistance known as resilience and network humanitarianism. I argue that systems-level approaches on resilience and flourishing in war-affected and refugee populations help to articulate new mindsets, methodologies, partnerships, and ways of working relevant for humanitarian research, policy and practice. I focus attention on interdisciplinary, interventionist, prospective, transgenerational, and network-building initiatives. My specific examples cover the family context of mental health and trauma memory in Afghanistan, as well as program evaluation with Syrian refugees in Jordan, connecting stress biology to human experience, and social networks to psychological empowerment. The paper suggests future directions to support more effective and impactful systems-level work in protracted humanitarian crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main questions that has resurfaced in the post-2011 Arab Uprisings era has been to what extent these public protests and the popular calls for political opening would result in democratization in the MENA region. Despite the conventional arguments that explain the persistence of authoritarian regimes as a derivate of cultural authenticity and patriarchy, the Arab Uprisings have unlocked the threshold of fear, and given rise to a new moment of political activism in the region. In light of this, one of the arguments of this paper is centred on the idea that during and after the 2011 Arab Uprisings, regimes did not travel similar trajectories in this region; as a result, it is not possible to talk about an 'Arab path' and/or an 'Arab regime typology'. This work draws its data from the opinion surveys conducted between 2017 and 2020 by the World Values Survey Wave 7, and aims to shed light on the current demands for and perceptions of democracy and elections in the MENA region. To that end, this paper will scrutinize the various trajectories in the post-Arab Spring era through the lenses of three selected countries. These countries are Tunisia, Jordan and Lebanon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some of the new Safaitic inscriptions that were found in 2022 in one of the branches of Wādī al‐Khuḍarī, which is in al‐Ḥarrah approximately 35 km to the northwest of al‐Ruwayshed (H4). Two of these inscriptions bear an attestation for the verb ṣlb, meaning 'to crucify'. This is the fourth appearance of that verb in Safaitic inscriptions. The verb is thoroughly discussed in this study since the topic of crucifixion in the context of Safaitic epigraphy is of particular interest and has been the subject of scholarly dispute. The present research also provides an explanation for some geographical terms that are used by local residents and researchers to refer to the locations of the inscriptions. Apart from the philological analysis of these selected texts, the paper presents an overview of the 'Badia Epigraphic Surveys' (BES) project, which was launched by Michael C. A. Macdonald and Ali Al‐Manaser in 2015, and aims to redocument the inscriptions and rock art from the Jordanian Ḥarrah region. As a part of this project, five survey seasons have been conducted so far. During these surveys, nearly 400,000 images from the Jordanian Badia were photographed. These include images of the inscriptions and images of the sites where the texts were found. Some of these images are a redocumentation of inscriptions that were previously reported by various researchers, and some of the images contain new inscriptions that will be added to the 'Online Corpus of the Inscriptions of Ancient North Arabia' (OCIANA) database. It is important to note that soon after the launch of the BES project, interest in the Jordanian Badia region began to increase, and many epigraphic and archaeological surveys have been conducted in this region. Furthermore, the Jordanian government has recently registered the Jordanian Ḥarrah region on the Tentative List of World Heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While individuals living near or on archaeological sites have frequently been hired around the world to dig on archaeological excavations, they have very rarely participated in the recording or documentation of those excavations. They have played even less of a role in designing the structures of either paper or electronic data management systems. In this paper, I describe some potential gaps in the archaeological record as a result of this exclusion, by detailing some ways that the communities at Çatalhöyük, Turkey and Petra, Jordan have developed highly situated forms of knowledge about these archaeological sites due to their proximities to them. I also argue that "proximity" inculcates not only forms of knowledge about an archaeological site, but also, under certain conditions, an important means of sharing knowledge between archaeologists and the communities who live where we work. I contrast proximity to the expansiveness of big data, and question whether it is possible and even preferable to imagine ways of integrating local, proximate perspectives into the rubric of big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Khirbat Iskandar is an Early Bronze Age (ca. 3800-1950 BCE) mound in the Madaba Governorate of Jordan. Until a decade ago, it was better known as a key site for the non-urban Early Bronze IV period (ca. 2500-1950 BCE), but is increasingly emerging as a signature site for the urban Early Bronze II-III period (ca. 3050-2500 BCE). The contour of the tall site is shaped by the presence of buried fortifications that were investigated in the north-western sector of the mound, where a long sequence of rebuilds was recognized, but were exposed to and impacted by modern construction activities along the southern and south-eastern areas prior to being recorded. There, due to erosion and weathering, the stone fortifications dating to the first half of the Early Bronze III (ca. 2850-2650 BCE) fell down. In this paper, we report on our strategies to assess threats, document damages, sustainably stabilize, and consolidate the collapsed ancient fortifications in the 2023 field season at Khirbat Iskandar. At the same time, we discuss the conceptual/methodological and practical challenges of identifying best practices in the conservation and preservation of antiquities that collapsed prior to being excavated. We conclude with some thoughts on how to build on these actions to efficiently present the archaeology and cultural heritage at protohistoric sites, like Khirbat Iskandar, and to make it accessible for the local and the international communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on new empirical insights gained in a multi-country project with a particular focus on Jordan as a hotspot of international development in the context of forced displacement, the paper in hand stages the relevance of the concept of financial health vis-à-vis financial inclusion to better support the financial lives of refugees. Financial inclusion of refugees – allowing them to store, borrow, and transfer money, insure against shocks, and pay bills through the formal financial infrastructure of host countries – has become a well-established practice in endeavours of economic integration in protracted displacement. Such access is expected to enable refugees to rebuild their livelihoods and become self-reliant. In other contexts, however, there is increasing acknowledgement that financial services are only a means to an end and not the end itself, resulting in a push for a shift in focus to a more holistic approach. Applying this understanding to the context of forced displacement, our research demonstrates that financial services are only one, and often not the most important, input to improve the self-reliance of refugees. In the absence of supportive conditions, such as access to jobs, identity and long-term certainty, financial inclusion investments can only improve refugees' financial lives at the margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandibular incisive canal (MIC) and related mental foramen (MF) and anterior loop (AL) morphometrics are important landmarks in medical and dental clinical applications. The main aim of this retrospective study to determine the morphometry of the mandibular incisive canal (MIC) in a Jordanian population and to propose a new shape-pattern classification of the MIC. In addition, MF and AL morphometrics were determined. Carestream 3D imaging software was used on 100 Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) of a Jordanian population to determine the MF, AL and MIC morphometrics. The detection prevalence of the MIC was 96 %. The right and left MIC showed four distinct line patterns, proposed for the first time in this paper. The line-patterns were angular (L-line), straight (I-line), curved (V-line) and wavy (W-line), with a prevalence of 41 %, 19 %, 25.5 %, and 10.5 %, respectively. MF was detected in all mandibles with a round shape in 58 % of the images. The most common horizontal and vertical positions of the MF were H4 and H3 (73.5 %) and V3 and V2 (95 %), respectively. An accessory MF was detected in 14.5 % of the samples and was more prevalent in males and on the right side. AL was detected in 92.5 % of the samples and exhibited a pattern prevalence of 25.5 %, 40 % and 27 % for types I, II and III, respectively. Results revealed that asymmetry and gender differences between right and left MIC, MF, AL and AMF was seen in patient's mandibles. In conclusion, this is the first study to propose and show that Mandibular incisive canal exhibits four potential line patterns (L, I, V and W lines patterns). Gender and ethnic variations of the mandibular canal landmarks morphometrics of both right and left hemi-mandible are important to be acknowledged in learning anatomy and when planning or performing dental and medical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we proved that each nonlinear non-global semi-Jordan triple higher derivable mapping on a 2-torsion free triangular algebra is an additive higher derivation. As its application, we get the similar conclusion on a nest algebra or a 2-torsion free block upper triangular matrix algebra, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological plant remains are key data in the identification of the material consequences of imperial interventions in past local lifeways. In this paper, the spatial and stratigraphic analysis of plant remains preserved in a hypothesized kitchen context from the archaeological site of Dhiban, Jordan, is presented in detail. This context is dated to ca. a.d. 570–640 based on 16 AMS dates, a time when the Dhiban community was part of and located at the eastern edge of the Byzantine empire. Analysis of over 130 point-provenienced flotation samples reveals a local emphasis on the agricultural production of wheat, peas, and grape, in spite of the challenges of water management in a semi-arid landscape. Comparison with other nearby and contemporaneous sites indicates that while all grew a similar suite of crops, their frequencies vary, possibly indicating a community of agricultural practice specializing in different foodstuffs or crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An environmental assessment for Jordan Paper and Cardboard Factory (JPCF) was conducted. Cleaner production concept, what it can achieve, and how it can be applied to JPCF was tested. Using the waste audit tool, five independent options were identified as having potential for improvements; these were on site reuse, technological changes, raw material changes, good housekeeping, and product changes. For each option, one or more pollution prevention actions were recommended. Economical advantages that could be achieved in water, energy, and material savings were quantified and simple payback periods calculated. Analyses revealed that on-site reuse and technological changes were the most efficient environmental options. Although different actions might result in similar benefits, the decision to execute a certain action is dependent upon its economic viability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of the study presented in this paper is to test the ability of WaterCad, which simulates chlorine concentrations throughout water supplies, in predicting chlorine concentrations in the Jabal Amman distribution system and hence provide a tool to water supply operators in Jordan that helps them to better manage chlorine concentrations throughout distribution systems. To achieve this goal a sampling programme that aimed at measuring chlorine concentrations throughout Jabal Amman over time was conducted over a 2-year period. Half of the data collected was used for model calibration and the other half was used for model verification. Results showed good agreement between measured and simulated chlorine concentrations. An important input for WaterCad is bulk chlorine decay coefficient. So, bulk chlorine decay coefficient for Zai Water Treatment Plant effluent, which supplies water to Jabal Amman, was modelled in terms of initial chlorine concentration, total organic carbon and temperature based on laboratory experiments. The developed mathematical model was used to determine bulk chlorine decay coefficient for the conditions of initial chlorine concentration, total organic carbon and temperature observed at the time of sampling, the determined bulk chlorine decay coefficient was then input into WaterCad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic health records provide a vast amount of text health data written by physicians as patient clinical notes. The world health organization released the international classification of diseases version 10 (ICD-10) system to monitor and analyze clinical notes. ICD-10 is system physicians and other healthcare providers use to classify and code all diagnoses and symptom records in conjunction with hospital care. Therefore, the data can be easily stored, retrieved, and analyzed for decision-making. In order to address the problem, this paper introduces a system to classify the clinical notes to ICD-10 codes. This paper examines 7541 clinical notes collected from a health institute in Jordan and annotated by ICD-10's coders. In addition, the research uses another outsource dataset to augment the actual dataset. The research presented many approaches, such as the baseline and pipeline models. The Baseline model employed several methods like Word2vec embedding for representing the text. The model structure also involves long-short-term memory a convolutional neural network, and two fully-connected layers. The second Pipeline approach adopts the transformer model, such as Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), which is pre-trained on a similar health domain. The Pipeline model builds on two BERT models. The first model classifies the category codes representing the first three characters of ICD-10. The second BERT model uses the outputs from the general BERT model (first model) as input for the special BERT (second model) to classify the clinical notes into total codes of ICD-10. Moreover, Baseline and Pipeline models applied the Focal loss function to eliminate the imbalanced classes. However, The Pipeline model demonstrates a significant performance by evaluating it over the F1 score, recall, precision, and accuracy metric, which are 92.5%, 84.9%, 91.8%, and 84.97%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We examined the predictive factors of COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy among Jordanian older adults. Background: Vaccine hesitancy among older adults is influenced by several factors. Design: This study employed a cross‐sectional design. Methods: Online surveys were conducted between November 2021 and April 2022. The surveys included socio‐demographic variables, COVID‐19 vaccine‐related information, the Vaccine Attitude Examination Scale and the Fear of COVID‐19 Scale. Results: Participants were 350 older adults (aged 68.1 ± 7.21 years; 62.9% females). Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of correlated variables on the explanation of anti‐vaccination attitudes. Participants reported a moderate level of fear of COVID‐19 and a moderate level of hesitancy towards receiving the COVID‐19 vaccine. The linear regression model revealed that several chronic illnesses, fear of COVID‐19 and number of family incidences of COVID‐19 explained vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: Raising awareness among older adults about the desired effect of the COVID‐19 vaccine in terms of minimizing hospitalization, disease consequences and mortality rate is required. Well‐tailored interventions are essential to reduce vaccine hesitancy among older adults and reinforce the importance of receiving the vaccine for those with multi‐morbidities. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? COVID‐19 vaccines are effective in minimizing the undesirable consequences of COVID‐19 and decreasing the mortality rate.Fear of COVID‐19 and misconceptions about the vaccination contribute to vaccine hesitancy.New COVID strains, new policies and new vaccine risk factors increase vaccine hesitancy. What this paper adds? There is a moderate level of COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy among the Jordanian older adult population.Vaccine hesitancy among older adults is attributed to multi‐morbidities, negative attitudes towards the vaccine, fear of COVID‐19 and number of family incidences of COVID‐19.Factors that influence the attitudes of Jordanian older adults towards anti‐vaccination include having had COVID‐19, number of chronic illnesses, fear of COVID‐19 and number of family incidences. The implications of this paper: Health‐care providers should use evidence‐based strategies to motivate and encourage Jordanian older adults to get vaccinated by disseminating factual and transparent information about the efficacy and safety of COVID‐19 vaccines, thereby reducing associated fears and promoting trust among older adults.Health‐care providers should tailor educational campaigns and communication strategies that address the gap in health literacy levels among older adults to achieve the desired vaccination rate.The results inform policymakers and other stakeholders to commence proactive vaccination campaigns that use population‐specific strategies to increase vaccine uptake and acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor medication adherence is a concern among patients with hypertension. However, few studies have assessed the effect of health literacy on medication adherence among refugee patients. Aim: The aim was to examine the effect of health literacy and associated factors in explaining medication adherence among Syrian refugee patients with hypertension. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was used, recruiting 150 Syrian refugees with hypertension in February 2020. The Hill‐Bone scale and the Health Literacy Questionnaire were used to collect data, which were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Participants had low levels of medication adherence and had low mean scores in eight of nine subscales of the health literacy scale, except in the appraisal of health information subscale. Factors including patient's age, marital status, the number of medications and co‐morbid diseases were significantly associated with medication adherence. Age, understanding written health information and ability to engage with healthcare providers were predictive of medication adherence. Conclusion: To increase medication adherence among refugee patients with hypertension, nurses need to improve patients' health literacy and understanding of health information about their disease. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Refugees report a higher prevalence of chronic diseases than non‐refugees due to a lack of available medications and limited access to health‐care services.Adherence to antihypertensive drugs is the cornerstone for accomplishing hypertension control.Health literacy is closely associated with better adherence to medications. What this paper adds? Syrian refugees diagnosed with hypertension showed low medication adherence.Age and level of understanding of health information were found to be factors that explained the level of medication adherence.Medication adherence was associated with the number of prescribed medications, the presence of other medical problems and marital status. The implications of this paper: To enhance medication adherence, healthcare providers, including nurses, should educate their patients about their diseases and medical regimes to enhance their health and health literacy.Further research is required to explain other personal factors, including patients' beliefs about their health and medications.Nurses, nurse managers and other healthcare professionals should develop and implement programs that address the individual needs of refugees to increase patients' levels of health literacy and medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify needs of Jordanian families of hospitalized, critically ill patients. The Critical Care Family Needs Inventory was introduced to 158 family members who were visiting their hospitalized, critically ill relatives. The findings revealed that ≥ 80% of the family members perceived 16 need statements as important or very important. The participants ranked order needs for assurance, information and proximity the highest and needs for support and comfort the lowest. Specifically, the most important needs of the families were to receive information about the patients, to feel that the hospital personnel care about the patients and to have the information given in understandable terms. Results of this study indicated that Jordanian families had specific and identifiable needs. Providing families of critically ill patients clear, simple and updated information about the patients, and assuring them about the quality of care the patients receive, should be essential components of the critical care nursing delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the utilization of Arabic tautological expressions, provided by customers as a reiteration of an element of an English compound such as 'apple pie' [ fatˁi:rit ʔabil bai 'an apple pie pie'], from the perspective of Relevance Theory (RT). Data was collected from 90 participants, divided into two groups: 40 native speaker informants recruited from various shopping malls, and 50 shop assistants in Amman, Jordan. The first group was interviewed, whereas the second group filled out a multiple-choice task aimed at identifying the type of expression they typically receive when taking orders from customers. The data analysis revealed that Arabic tautological expressions are more frequently used compared to other alternatives. Drawing on RT, we argue that Arabic tautological expressions function as an ostensive stimulus. We propose that tautological expressions, utilized within a code-switching context, function as a means of pragmatic enrichment. This occurs through the process of ad hoc construction, wherein speakers refine the originally encoded concept to convey corrective or contrasting meanings. Instead of lacking information, the use of tautological phrases can be seen as a pragmatic tactic to maximize relevance by minimizing cognitive effort, optimizing successful communication of the intended meaning, and reinforcing contextual effects. • Examining the use of Arabic tautology in English compounds provided by customers. • Arabic tautologies are preferred and more frequently used than alternatives. • Drawing on RT, Arabic tautological expressions function as an ostensive stimulus. • The use of tautology conveys corrective or contrastive meanings via ad hoc concept construction. • The use of tautological phrases can be seen as a pragmatic tactic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses two distinct but interwoven questions on the link between spirituality and religion in the lives of Syrian Muslim refugee parents. (1) How do religious and spiritual convictions impact these refugees and their families? (2) How do these convictions shape Syrian Muslim refugee parents' own positionality as caregivers and as individuals? We distinguish religious convictions as ones entrenched in the practice of organized religion (e.g., prayer and fasting), and spiritual convictions as ones associated with the frame of reference inspired by religion (e.g., embedded references to God and/or the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessing be upon him). This paper is focused on qualitative findings from 16 Syrian refugee parents (15 mothers and 1 father) and their individual families. While the study began as a pilot for an intervention program focused on early childhood education among refugee children in Jordan, it became overwhelmingly clear that the refugee parents' individual senses of parenthood, responsibility, and aspiration for their children's futures are inextricably linked to their spiritual and religious convictions. Highlights: Explores the importance of faith and spirituality in the context of refugee parenting and early childhood development. Provides insight into how refugee parents speak about their faith and spirituality in the context of their migration experiences, aspirations for their children, and as an extension of their own development. Based on a qualitative study with 16 Syrian caregivers in Jordan. Argues for the need to include awareness of and sensitivity to Islamic religious and spiritual practices in the design of interventions and programs concerning Muslim refugee children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores cultural heritage pedagogical practices in architectural curricula. A comprehensive mixed-method research approach was implemented on a national scale to examine the curricula of architecture departments in all Jordanian universities. This investigation encompassed qualitative and quantitative analyses, including the development of Standard and Compulsory Affinity Index ratios to assess the level of heritage integration in these curricula. To further enhance findings from both analyses, purposive criterion sampling was used for semi-structured interviews with 20 architectural professors, alongside a participatory workshop involving 25 academics, heritage professionals, and organisations. The research contributes to the limited existing literature on cultural heritage education in architectural curricula. It also introduces a model for assessing cultural heritage education at the BSc level, uncovering disparities in its presence within architectural curricula. The role of the Accreditation & Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions in promoting heritage education is found to be limited, and inconsistencies in terminology and approaches across institutions are observed. While the primary focus is on the Jordanian context, this research offers practical recommendations that can be applied more broadly to architectural education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What explains why reductive explanations of social phenomena in the global South persist? This paper addresses this question by considering how researchers' assumptions of their positionality premised upon global North–South explanations of power shape how they collect and determine the scope of their data. Building upon standpoint theory's emphasis of knowledge production as material sites of inquiry, we first consider how researchers' positionality assumptions informed how they constructed 'the entirety' of their research sites in one global South context, Jordan. Second, we explore 'moments of mismatch': when researchers' assumptions of their positionality do not align with interlocutors' perceptions. We highlight these moments because they reveal critical relational hierarchies beyond global North–South dichotomies that literally shaped how the researchers subsequently expanded and changed the scope of their sites of inquiry in turn. We argue that these moments of mismatch provide fruitful opportunities to engage in more thorough forms of reflexivity that reflect the dynamism of social relations of power in the global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical sector corruption undermines patient access to medicines by diverting public funds for private gain and exacerbating health inequities. This paper presents an analysis of UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) compliance in seven countries and examines how full UNCAC adoption may reduce corruption risks within four key pharmaceutical decision-making points: product approval, formulary selection, procurement, and dispensing. Countries were selected based on their participation in the Medicines Transparency Alliance and the WHO Good Governance for Medicines Programme. Each country’s domestic anti-corruption laws and policies were catalogued and analysed to evaluate their implementation of select UNCAC Articles relevant to the pharmaceutical sector. Countries displayed high compliance with UNCAC provisions on procurement and the recognition of most public sector corruption offences. However, several countries do not penalise private sector bribery or provide statutory protection to whistleblowers or witnesses in corruption proceedings, suggesting that private sector pharmaceutical dispensing may be a decision-making point particularly vulnerable to corruption. Fully implementing the UNCAC is a meaningful first step that countries can take reduce pharmaceutical sector corruption. However, without broader commitment to cultures of transparency and institutional integrity, corruption legislation alone is likely insufficient to ensure long-term, sustainable pharmaceutical sector good governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let \mathcal M be a semifinite factor with a faithful normal semifinite tracial weight \tau, and \mathscr P the set of all projections in \mathcal M. Denote by \mathscr P_{c} the Grassmann space of all projections in \mathscr P with trace c, where c is a positive real number. A map \psi : \mathscr P_c\rightarrow \mathscr P_c is called an ortho-isomorphism if \psi is a bijection of \mathscr P_c onto \mathscr P_c satisfying, for all P,Q\in \mathscr P_c, P\perp Q if and only if \psi (P)\perp \psi (Q). The aim of this paper is to establish a version of Uhlhorn's theorem in the setting of semifinite factors. We give a complete characterization of ortho-isomorphisms on Grassmann space \mathscr P_c in a semifinite factor. And we show that an ortho-isomorphism \psi : \mathscr P_c\rightarrow \mathscr P_c can be extended to a Jordan *-isomorphism \rho of \mathcal M onto \mathcal M. As an application, we obtain the structure of surjective isometries on \mathscr P_c with respect to strictly increasing unitarily invariant norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the performance of the construction sector in Jordan and to investigate the most important factors affecting the growth of the sector, during the period from 1985 to 2018. The study overviews the development of the sector by dividing the study period into three subperiods that reflect the extent to which the sector is affected by the volatile political, economic, and demographic conditions. Moreover, the study applies Auto Regressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) to estimate the impact of some economic variables on the growth of the construction sector in the long run and short run. The results show that there is a direct and positive statistically significant relationship between the bank credit facilities to the construction sector and the number of employees in the construction sector on the growth of the construction sector in the long run and short run, while the real interest rate has insignificant impact on the growth of the construction sector in the long run and short run. The study provides some recommendations, the most prominent of which is the inclusion of the construction sector in the development plans, encouraging and qualifying young people to work in the construction sector, which will be reflected positively on the growth of the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by the general investigation of the "discursive assault" launched by Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East and beyond, this paper examines the resonance of IS' use of language in grassroots populations living in Jordan. Representing IS' communication campaign as a sender-message-receiver continuum, this research aims to give primary importance to the message and its audience. Frame theory is used as the general framework to understand the formation and reception of IS' discourse on the conflicts in Iraq and Syria. The analysis reveals that, while IS' rhetoric on the perceived "crisis of the Ummah" and its solution seems to resonate inside Jordan, the social practices this solution entails failed to convince. In that sense, if IS succeeded to echo the grievances and resentment of its audiences in Jordan, the group was unable to attract generalized support for its caliphate. Nonetheless, this apparent rejection of IS' project must be nuanced at the regional and state levels. After years of war in Iraq and Syria, the conditions that initially gave rise to IS remain. So, do the dynamics that nurtured the popular grievances against perceived illegitimate rulers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the ratification of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Jordan in 1999. CRC stands at critical crossroads that will determine whether it will end up as just another declaration of noble intentions or a genuinely effective tool for enhancing the well-being of children. The clearest manifestation of the government's top-level political commitment to children has been through Jordan's early ratification of the CRC, and Their Majesties' explicit endorsement of the nation's duty to address issues pertaining to children's well-being: in a monarchical political system as Jordan's, Royal Patronage of a cause is usually crucial to its success. Children have also been described by the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the youth of the future. Even before having ratified the CRC had been part of various regional initiatives aimed at improving social planning and education for children. It has also been signatory to the Charter of the Rights of the Arab Child since it was enacted in December 1984. In this sense, adopting the CRC for Jordan can be seen as an extension of an already existing and active commitment to child welfare. Within Jordanian Arab society, a religious, moral, humanitarian and cultural significance is also attached to children, with a corresponding duty towards their welfare and well-being. Culturally, the child is seen as the crucial generational link in the family unit, the key to its continuation, the living person that ties the present to the past and to the future. A lot of importance is attached to education in particular, as it is perceived to be a source of security for the child within an economically and politically insecure regional context. Such attitudes are important in the sense that they reflect the prevailing value-base towards children in Jordanian society, and their position within the family and community.

This paper looks at the changes in urban air quality and the effect on building materials, particularly concerning their deterioration arising from pollution due to vehicles. The paper aims to review basic information on the likely effect of ozone on calcareous building materials (limestone, marble, dolomite, and calcareous cemented sandstone). Controlling factors in the reaction and oxidation of sulphite to sulphate is the type and porosity of the stone. The level of humidity, is effected by the nature of the oxidants and to a lesser extent the presence of other extraneous reactants, e.g. metal oxides, chlorine and ammonia salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores co‐production of knowledge for impact with young people through the process of creating digital story maps, drawing on co‐produced research from two projects: with homeless youth in African cities; and with youth refugees in Uganda and Jordan. It examines the process of creating three story maps with the intention of enabling young people to co‐produce knowledge exchange and research impact. Participants were able to engage in the latter stages of research as part of research analysis, outcomes and outputs beyond the temporal and spatial confines of data collection. The story maps were therefore used not only to 'bring life' to reports produced for stakeholders and funders, but also to take young people's research stories beyond locally bound contexts to reach a variety of global audiences. The reflections in this paper also highlight that while the approach adopted was not without challenges, in all three story maps a knowledge exchange process was fostered that resulted in young people feeling they had been listened to; were able to contribute to debates that affect their own lives and to instil a desire to create change, influence policy and inform publics about their lives. The paper concludes that story mapping is a useful creative process for extending young people's input into knowledge exchange and longer‐term research impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to connect my personal experiences as an academic activist, along with my first-hand experience in rural areas in Jordan, to 'barefoot nisswiyya' [barefoot feminism], a concept I coined in 2002 and have been developing through praxis since then. These experiences have helped me connect with nature in the countryside as a 'Fourth Space', as articulated by Nigel Thrift, disrupting some hierarchical and power-related practices in an attempt to bring about more balance in overdue social change and transformative paradigms within my own self and community. By using the two methodic tools that I crafted of Bawh بوح [spontaneous intimate articulation and disclosure] and Ishrah عشرة [engaging connectedness], I explore how this practised form of nisswiyya has helped me, first and foremost, to build Ishrah with grassroots women (shepherdesses, farmers, factory workers, janitors) while they are articulating their Voices and vernacularising their Stories that manifest their nisswiyya. These stories illuminate how barefoot nisswiyy(at) [feminists] navigate through patriarchal and hierarchical spaces to mobilise the 'barefooted' Fourth Space (Nigel Thrift constructed four different spaces: (1) the empirical; (2) the unblocking, fluid space; (3) the image, virtual space; and (4) the Fourth Space that he calls the Place Space). The paper discusses all these experiences as rooted in barefoot nisswiyya, a form of feminism/nisswiyya(ism) which aims to narrow the divide between theory and praxis, connect the personal to the political, step away from 'femocracy' and power-over empowerment, and widen the scope of feminism to encompass expressions of indigenous knowledge that is driven by homegrown grassroots women's agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a unique case of the application of remote sensing methods in archaeological survey devoted to ancient pre-Roman Imperial roads in the Southern Levant. The results of our preparatory remote sensing research and subsequent fieldwork in Jordan and Israel between 22 February and 23 March 2023, within the framework of the research project entitled "Travel and Mobility in Hellenistic and Early Roman Palestine", are reported and discussed. Part of this project is a large-scale, systematic research attempt to discover additional ancient pre-Roman roads and to suggest a working methodology for future research. The methodology is supposed to combine remote sensing research and archaeological survey. The project's first fieldwork achieved several goals. First, the modern methods enabled us to provide a high-resolution capture of the detected features and artifacts, including the courses of ancient roads and the locations of road-related archaeological sites. Altogether, 105 road remains, 62 archaeological sites, and 14 pottery findings were identified; what is more, 11 GPS (Global Positioning System) tracks of ancient roads were registered. Second, we suggested necessary revisions to the previous state of research and reported new findings. For instance, newly discovered rock art evidence found along Glueck's Road confirms the continuity of the use of this road long into late antiquity and early Islam. Third, some methodological conclusions were reached. For example, a multi-source approach to identifying ancient roads including the use of archival cartographic sources, archival and modern satellite and aerial imagery, and the databases of archaeological sites is still necessary. However, there can be no doubt that spatial analyses and remote sensing studies must be accompanied by archaeological fieldwork, which is absolutely necessary for determining the dating of the roads (by dating the settlement and pottery) and a detailed identification of the road courses (particularly through the discovery of road-related infrastructure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into recent legislation in Jordan regarding the decriminalization of narcotics and traces the evolution of related legislation in the country. It explores the definition and underlying philosophy of decriminalization while examining arguments from both proponents and opponents of drug decriminalization from a jurisprudential perspective. Additionally, the research sheds light on practices that have emerged in response to the decriminalization of narcotics in other jurisdictions. The study thoroughly examines the advantages and disadvantages of decriminalizing narcotics, analyzing its potential impact on drug consumption. Finally, the researcher proposes the implementation of a gradual and partial systematic plan within Jordanian legislation to address the growing trend of drug decriminalization. The paper also provides insights into the stances of the United States and other countries on this issue and how their legislations have addressed it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has seen a policy shift from separate and parallel education systems for refugees to integration into national education systems. The benefits from integration, including longer-term planning, more sustainable funding and opportunities to improve the quality of education are highlighted in the literature. However, there has been less attention to how integration is implemented in practice, how different models of integration are experienced by refugee students, and the extent to which they provide quality education and advance social justice for refugee students. This paper draws on Nancy Fraser's principle of parity of participation and integration theory to examine Syrian refugee students' perspectives across three models of integration in Jordan (camp, second shift and host community schools). Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data, we highlight how each model gives rise to social arrangements which, in different ways, impede socially just and equitable education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Major health inequalities exist surrounding the utilisation of cervical cancer screening services globally. Jordan, a low- and middle-income country, has poor screening rates (15.8%), with barriers to accessing services, including lack of education. Emerging studies demonstrate that intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts reproductive health decisions. As a large proportion of Jordanian women have reported experiencing IPV, this study examines the association between IPV and cervical cancer screening in Jordan, the first of its kind using national-level data. Methods: Using Jordan's Demographic Health Survey 2017–18, cervical cancer screening awareness and self-reported screening were estimated in participants who answered questions on IPV (n = 6679). After applying sample weights, Heckman's two-stage probit model determined the association of awareness and utilisation of cervical cancer screening with experience of IPV, adjusting for the socio-economic factors. Results: Of the women with privacy to answer the IPV module, 180 (3.4%) were found to be victims of sexual violence, 691 of physical violence (12.6%) and 935 (16.2%) of emotional violence. Women subjected to sexual violence were less likely to admit to having awareness of a Pap smear test; however, this did not impact screening rates. Victims of emotional violence were more likely to be screened than non-victims. No association between physical violence and cervical cancer screening was found. Conclusions: A significant association between cervical screening awareness and IPV demonstrates that cancer screening policies must consider IPV among women to improve screening awareness. The paper further sheds light on the paradoxical association between emotional violence and screening. It is acknowledged this situation may be far worse than reported, as women without autonomy were unlikely to answer IPV questions that may endanger them—targeted surveys on cervical cancer screening warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two major characteristics that can impact the frequency and severity of traffic crashes are average speed and speed variance. This paper investigated these characteristics on 49 multilane highway segments in Jordan and developed prediction models for three different conditions: free (no enforcement), camera, and police enforcement. Speed data were collected during off-peak periods with fair weather conditions. Multiple linear regressions and nonlinear regressions were used to develop speed variance and average speed models. For the free condition, speed variance mainly depends on the difference between design speed and speed limit (DS-SL), with the speed variance decreasing as the difference reduces, while the average speed was positively correlated with the design speed. Camera enforcement causes speed variance and average speed to be positively correlated and linearly dependent with the speed limit. A quadratic relationship was found between speed variance during police enforcement and DS-SL, while the average speed during police enforcement depended on the speed limit and design speed. These modeling results, along with analysis of the collected data, can help operating agencies and roadway designers determine how various enforcement strategies affect average speed and speed variance and better set speed limits on existing and future roadways to improve safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]