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This study delves into the impact of key European educational programs launched between the late 1980s and early 1990s, namely COMETT, Erasmus, PETRA, Lingua, TEMPUS, and Eurotecnet. These initiatives represented a concerted effort to foster deeper cooperation within the European Community, focusing on enhancing educational and vocational training opportunities. The COMETT program was instrumental in connecting academia with the labor market and advancing technology training but did not adequately support vulnerable groups such as women, ethnic minorities, and the unemployed. ERASMUS and PETRA contributed significantly to student mobility and youth vocational training, though PETRA struggled to directly address rising youth unemployment. LINGUA focused on enhancing foreign language skills, vital for fostering European integration, while TEMPUS facilitated educational reforms in post-communist Central and Eastern Europe. EUROTECNET promoted innovation in vocational training by integrating new technologies but faced challenges related to consistency across member states. Despite these initiatives’ successes in modernizing the educational systems and enhancing European competitiveness, many programs prioritized economic and technological objectives over social inclusion. Vulnerable groups often remained underrepresented in these reforms. However, these early efforts laid the groundwork for later programs like Leonardo da Vinci and SOCRATES, which aimed to balance competitiveness with social equity. The article calls for further research on the human impact of these programs, particularly regarding youth unemployment and the inclusion of marginalized groups.

Objectives: The prehospital emergency triage rapid algorithm (PETRA) method was designed to overcome the deficiencies of the earlier described simple triage and rapid treatment (START) method. This study has compared the START and PETRA triage methods regarding the appropriateness of triaging victims following a simulated mass casualty incident in terms of accuracy and time efficiency. The two triage systems were compared. Methods: This was a prospective study using a convenience sample of randomly distributed paramedic students between September 2022 and December 2022 at the Civil Defense College in Amman. Sample 102 students of the paramedic diploma program at the College. Total time of prehospital triage, accuracy of prehospital triage, level of under triage, and level of over triage were measured for both study groups. Results: Independent t-test revealed that there was no significant difference between the PETRA and START methods in terms of the prehospital triage accuracy, time spent in prehospital triage, and level of over triage. However, the level of under triage in the PETRA group was lower compared to the START group. Conclusion: The study proposes that the paramedic should adopt the PETRA method as an improved alternative to the START method during a massive causality incident. In the same way, this research encourages the incorporation of the PETRA method in the curricula of paramedics and nurses. More research is required to support the existing findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although tour guides' role in encouraging pro-environmental behavior has been confirmed in the literature, little research has been undertaken to examine how world heritage site (WHS) type may influence the relationship between tour guides' performance and tourists' pro-environmental behavior. The difference between cultural world heritage and natural world heritage in terms of tourists' behavior is under-explored. This research aims to assess the moderating effect of world heritage type (cultural and natural) on the relationship between tour guides' performance and tourists' pro-environmental behavior. A self-administrated survey was used for collecting data from two of the most famous natural and cultural WHSs: Petra Archeological Park in Jordan and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. PLS-SEM was employed to conduct multi-group and path analysis. The results showed that world heritage type partially moderates the relationship between the performance of tour guides, tourists' experience, satisfaction, and pro-environmental behavior. Managerial and theoretical implications and research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods are a widespread natural disaster that occur in most areas of the world, except for the polar regions. To minimize the damage caused by floods, effective management strategies and policies must be implemented. Petra and Wadi Musa areas are prone to floods, which happen every 2–3 years and result in significant harm to both lives and properties. To address this issue, a composite hazard and vulnerability index is commonly utilized to evaluate flood risk and guide policy formation for flood risk reduction. These tools are efficient and cost-effective in generating accurate results. Accordingly, the present study aims to determine the morphological and hydrometeorological parameters that affect flash floods in Petra catchment area and to identify high-risk zones using GIS, hydrological, and analytical hierarchy (AHP) modeling. Nine factors, including Elevation (E), Landuse/Landcover LULC, Slope (S), Drainage density (DD), Flood Control Points (FCP) and Rainfall intensity (RI), which make up the six risk indices, and Population Density (PD), Cropland (C), and Transportation (Tr), which make up the three vulnerability indices, were evaluated both individually and in combination using AHP in ArcGIS 10.8.2 software. These parameters were classified as hazard and vulnerability indicators, and a final flood map was generated. The map indicated that approximately 37% of the total area in Petra catchment is at high or very high risk of flooding, necessitating significant attention from governmental agencies and decision-makers for flood risk mitigation. The AHP method proposed in this study is an accurate tool for flood mapping that can be easily applied to other regions in Jordan to manage and prevent flood hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited understanding of differences in the composition and structure of ligaments between healthy males and females, and individuals of different ages. Females present higher risk for ligament injuries than males and there are conflicting reports on its cause. This study looks into T1ρ parameters for an explanation as it relates to proteoglycan, collagen, and water content in these tissues. Purpose: To investigate gender‐related and age‐related differences in T1ρ parameters in knee joint ligaments in healthy volunteers using a T1ρ‐prepared zero echo‐time (ZTE)‐based pointwise‐encoding time‐reduction with radial acquisition (T1ρ‐PETRA) sequence. Study Type: Prospective. Population: The study group consisted of 22 healthy subjects (11 females, ages: 41 ± 18 years, and 11 males, ages: 41 ± 14 years) with no known inflammation, trauma, or pain in the knee joint. Field Strength/Sequence: A T1ρ‐prepared 3D‐PETRA sequence was used to acquire fat‐suppressed images with varying spin‐lock lengths (TSLs) of the knee joint at 3T. Assessment: Monoexponential, biexponential, and stretched‐exponential 3D‐PETRA‐T1ρ parameters were measured in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and patellar tendon (PT) by manually drawing ROIs over the entirety of the tissues. Statistical Tests: Mann–Whitney U‐tests were used to compare 3D‐PETRA‐T1ρ parameters in the ACL, PCL, and PT between males and females. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to determine the association between age and T1ρ parameters. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. Results: Significant correlations with age were found the three ligaments with most of the measured T1ρ parameters (rs = 0.28–0.74) with the exception of the short fraction in the PCL (P = 0.18), and the short relaxation time in the ACL (P = 0.58) and in the PCL (P = 0.14). Data Conclusion: 3D‐PETRA‐T1ρ can detect age‐related differences in monoexponential, biexponential, and stretched‐exponential T1ρ parameters in three ligaments of healthy volunteers, which are thought to be related to changes in tissue composition and structure during the aging process. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various 'management-by-objectives' frameworks for visitor use management have evolved to balance enhancing visitor experiences with preserving heritage resources at archaeodestinations. These frameworks employ a normative approach, identifying specific indicators to assess visitor experience quality and resource conditions, along with associated thresholds that denote acceptable conditions. Traditionally, the normative approach for assessing visitor experience quality primarily relied on on-site questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. However, with the proliferation of online platforms like TripAdvisor, managers of archaeodestinations must adapt their strategies to leverage User-Generated Content (UGC) for evaluating visitor experiences. Embracing a novel methodology, this research integrates UGC with the normative approach to develop indicators for visitor experience at Petra World Heritage site in Jordan. A content analysis of 618 reviews posted on TripAdvisor was conducted, providing valuable insights into the visitor experience at Petra and assisting in developing potential indicators of quality for the site. Related methodological and managerial implications and recommendations are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is conducted to find out the effect of Word-of-Mouth, Destination Image, and Tourist Satisfaction on the tourist's intention to revisit. The World Heritage site of Petra has been selected as a study site. The descriptive quantitative research design is employed ; visitors of Petra were the target population and the convenience sampling method has been calculated using the G*Power software (version 3.1.9.7). Results reveal a strong relationship between e-WOM, destination image, tourist satisfaction, and revisit intention. Meanwhile, results show that destination image doesn’t have any impact or relationship on tourist revisit intention. The study has a practical and theoretical importance that helps in managing the heritage site and enables researchers to address more critically the strength and weaknesses of Petra's marketing locally and globally.

Jordan has a complex history that has left tangible traces in numerous archaeological sites scattered throughout the country. This unique heritage of inestimable cultural value must be documented, thoroughly researched, and protected in order to prevent its destruction and loss. In this context, knowledge and documentation can be achieved through the application of non-destructive geophysical and geomatic methods. This work represents a synthesis of the results of twenty years of projects carried out at the archaeological sites of Basta, Petra, Um-Hamat (Karak), Umm ar-Rasas, Wu'Ayra, Madaba, and Shawbak. This study enables the exploration of new buried structures in the ground and the documentation of the state of preservation of the structures. It provides an up-to-date overview of Jordan's rich archaeological heritage and supports restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is conducted to find out the effect of Word-of-Mouth, Destination Image, and Tourist Satisfaction on the tourist's intention to revisit. The World Heritage site of Petra has been selected as a study site. The descriptive quantitative research design is employed; visitors of Petra were the target population and the convenience sampling method has been calculated using the G*Power software (version 3.1.9.7). Results reveal a strong relationship between e-WOM, destination image, tourist satisfaction, and revisit intention. Meanwhile, results show that destination image doesn't have any impact or relationship on tourist revisit intention. The study has a practical and theoretical importance that helps in managing the heritage site and enables researchers to address more critically the strength and weaknesses of Petra's marketing locally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental advantages of green tourism are attracting the attention of a wider range of stakeholders. The behavior of travelers toward green tourism sustainability and its impact on the accomplishment of a green environment has not been well studied empirically, particularly in Petra. In this research, we use an expanded framework of the t heory of planned behavior to explore the behavioral features of foreign visitors toward the sustainability of green tourism (TPB). Descriptive analysis of the explanatory survey was the method of choice for the research project at hand. A large number of respondents were tourists. Office administrators are responsible for the formulation of a company's corporate strategy. 400 tourists took part in our survey for this research. According to our results, travelers' views toward green tourism were highly influenced by their opinions of the sustainability of green tourism and their environmental concerns. In addition, our findings show that visitors' intentions to engage in the sustainability of green tourism are negatively influenced by subjective norms, whereas tourists' attitudes are positively influenced by these norms. Both environmental concerns and the desire of visitors to engage in green tourism have a substantial influence on ecologically responsible tourism behavior, according to our findings.

Jordan has a complex history that has left tangible traces in numerous archaeological sites scattered throughout the country. This unique heritage of inestimable cultural value must be documented, thoroughly researched, and protected in order to prevent its destruction and loss. In this context, knowledge and documentation can be achieved through the application of non-destructive geophysical and geomatic methods. This work represents a synthesis of the results of twenty years of projects carried out at the archaeological sites of Basta, Petra, Um-Hamat (Karak), Umm ar-Rasas, Wu’Ayra, Madaba, and Shawbak. This study enables the exploration of new buried structures in the ground and the documentation of the state of preservation of the structures. It provides an up-to-date overview of Jordan’s rich archaeological heritage and supports restoration projects.

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Qasr al-Bint Temple is one of the best-preserved freestanding structures in Petra beside it is the main temple of the ancient city. The Nabataeans built this Temple at about the same time as the famous Al-Khazneh (Treasury) was built, in the second half of the reign of King Aretas IV (ruled 9 BC-40 AD). I can surely say that this Temple is an outstanding and unique example of the fusion of Greco-Roman and Eastern elements in Nabataean architecture, which motivates scholars to study and write about it. The Nabataean's architecture, culture and religion still fascinate every scholar whenever they discover something new about them. Unfortunately, the Nabataeans did not leave many inscriptions that reveal all details of their life, but they left the most amazing archeological remains that will always be impressive and provide the motivation to learn and dig more to reveal more about their mysteries. In this paper, I will write in general about the Nabataeans origin, their settlement and location and their temples. Then I will write in detail about Qasr al-Bint Temple which I will focus on in my paper, regarding its location, most important features and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental advantages of green tourism are attracting the attention of a wider range of stakeholders. The behavior of travelers toward green tourism sustainability and its impact on the accomplishment of a green environment has not been well studied empirically, particularly in Petra. In this research, we use an expanded framework of the t heory of planned behavior to explore the behavioral features of foreign visitors toward the sustainability of green tourism (TPB). Descriptive analysis of the explanatory survey was the method of choice for the research project at hand. A large number of respondents were tourists. Office administrators are responsible for the formulation of a company's corporate strategy. 400 tourists took part in our survey for this research. According to our results, travelers' views toward green tourism were highly influenced by their opinions of the sustainability of green tourism and their environmental concerns. In addition, our findings show that visitors' intentions to engage in the sustainability of green tourism are negatively influenced by subjective norms, whereas tourists' attitudes are positively influenced by these norms. Both environmental concerns and the desire of visitors to engage in green tourism have a substantial influence on ecologically responsible tourism behavior, according to our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terracing and the construction of a flood control system in Petra has allowed a unique opportunity to examine landscape conditions and changes beginning with the Late Iron Age. The study area is the Hremiyyeh catchment that flows into the core of the archaeological city of Petra and therefore constitutes an important key to understanding the human settlement of the area. The location was chosen as a focal point for intensive investigation and the study of human response to environmental change. This study involved careful documentation of the topography, geology, and archaeology of the site. In addition, samples were taken for the dating of terrace construction and changes in the landscape. The study indicates that the hydrological interventions began in the Late Iron Age, and intensified during the Nabataean and Early Roman periods. At the time, some of the drainage areas were already deeply gullied, while other parts had recently accumulated sediments. The lower terraces became filled with water-logged sediments, leading to the deposition of carbonates. The upper terraces changed the drainage pattern and deposition of the sediments. The sediments trapped there seem to have been less waterlogged. The abandonment of the system at the end of the Byzantine to Early Islamic periods led to partial collapses, gullying, and bedrock downcutting. Due to soil accumulation, the upper terraces were restored and enhanced with new ones around the 11th. Century CE, probably due to partial reclamation of the area by nomadic settlers, with charred botanical evidence found indicating the burning of wild vegetation in favor of domesticated cereal and legumes, with relatively humid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two new Nabataean inscriptions found by the authors in Shkārat el‐Faras, north of Petra. The paper includes a commentary on the vocabulary and the proper names attested in these two undated inscriptions and sheds light on the different interpretations of the disputed word ptwrʾ, a professional title possibly meaning 'diviner, augur', which is attested in both texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA) sequence was optimized to detect empty catheters in interstitial (HDR) brachytherapy with clinically acceptable spatial accuracy for the first time. Image quality and catheter detectability were assessed in phantoms, and the feasibility of PETRA's clinical implementation was assessed on a gynecological cancer patient. Empty catheters embedded in a gelatin phantom displayed positive signal on PETRA and more accurate cross-sections than on clinically employed T2-weighted sequences, differing by 0.4 mm on average from their nominal 2 mm diameter. PETRA presented minimal susceptibility differences and a symmetric metal artifact, contrary to the clinical sequences. The PETRA-CT catheter tip position differences assessed by a treatment planning system (TPS) were < 1 mm. PETRA also detected an interstitial template with empty catheters penetrating a poultry phantom and fused very well with CT. Interstitial catheter positional difference between PETRA and CT images was < 1 mm on average, increasing with distance from isocenter. All interstitial catheters and the employed interstitial template were detected on PETRA images of an endometrial adenocarcinoma patient. Empty needles were traceable using a TPS, with higher spatial resolution and more favorable contrast than on T2-weighted images used for contouring. A treatment plan could be produced by combining information from PETRA for catheter detection and from T2-weighted images for tumor and organs delineation. PETRA detected successfully and accurately interstitial catheters in phantoms. Its first clinical implementation shows a potential for MR-only treatment planning in interstitial HDR brachytherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a brief analysis of the architectural features of the building Kefeli Mescidi in Istanbul and supports its identification as a Byzantine monastic dining hall. The analysis of Late Byzantine written sources in connection to the topographical and material data of the building supports the association with the famous Constantinopolitan monastery of St John of Petra and its refectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of the early development of surface water control systems in Petra, Jordan, has thus far eluded investigators. While the Nabateans certainly used these extensively, it is not clear if they were the first to do so. In some areas in the headwaters of Petra in the Sharah Mountains, megalithic structures have been reported, with some investigators suggesting that they date back to the Iron Age. In this study, we investigate this issue using of quartz luminescence-depth profiles to date rock surfaces collected from a gabion (megalithic stepped terrace wall) at the site of Heash, Petra. Profiles from 5 cores from two rock samples show that quartz OSL signals were apparently fully bleached to a depth of 2 mm into the surface of the rocks used in construction of the terrace walls. Two other cores from the same rocks give an older age (3.3 ± 0.3 ka ago), compared to the other five (1.7 ± 0.2 ka ago). This indicates that structures at the site were initially constructed during the Iron Age, and experienced further development during the Late Roman/Byzantine period at ~ 300 CE, indicating the vitality and importance of the area. These dates are consistent with the pottery found at the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited understanding of differences in the composition and structure of ligaments between healthy males and females, and individuals of different ages. Females present higher risk for ligament injuries than males and there are conflicting reports on its cause. This study looks into T 1ρ parameters for an explanation as it relates to proteoglycan, collagen, and water content in these tissues., Purpose: To investigate gender-related and age-related differences in T 1ρ parameters in knee joint ligaments in healthy volunteers using a T 1ρ -prepared zero echo-time (ZTE)-based pointwise-encoding time-reduction with radial acquisition (T 1ρ -PETRA) sequence., Study Type: Prospective., Population: The study group consisted of 22 healthy subjects (11 females, ages: 41 ± 18 years, and 11 males, ages: 41 ± 14 years) with no known inflammation, trauma, or pain in the knee joint., Field Strength/sequence: A T 1ρ -prepared 3D-PETRA sequence was used to acquire fat-suppressed images with varying spin-lock lengths (TSLs) of the knee joint at 3T., Assessment: Monoexponential, biexponential, and stretched-exponential 3D-PETRA-T 1ρ parameters were measured in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and patellar tendon (PT) by manually drawing ROIs over the entirety of the tissues., Statistical Tests: Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare 3D-PETRA-T 1ρ parameters in the ACL, PCL, and PT between males and females. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to determine the association between age and T 1ρ parameters. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05., Results: Significant correlations with age were found the three ligaments with most of the measured T 1ρ parameters (r s  = 0.28-0.74) with the exception of the short fraction in the PCL (P = 0.18), and the short relaxation time in the ACL (P = 0.58) and in the PCL (P = 0.14)., Data Conclusion: 3D-PETRA-T 1ρ can detect age-related differences in monoexponential, biexponential, and stretched-exponential T 1ρ parameters in three ligaments of healthy volunteers, which are thought to be related to changes in tissue composition and structure during the aging process., Level of Evidence: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1., (© 2023 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.)

It is important to obtain accurate anatomical information with little distortion in preoperative examination of brain tumors. Using PETRA, which is an ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequence that is less affected by magnetic susceptibility artifacts, we determined the optimal imaging conditions (radial views [RV] and inversion time [TI]) for IR-PETRA using the inversion recovery (IR) method and compared it with MPRAGE. IR-PETRA was found to be slightly inferior to MPRAGE in sharpness under the optimum conditions (RV=100,000 and TI=500 ms), but it was significantly improved by using a high RV value, and SNR and CNR were higher than or equal to MPRAGE. It is suggested that IR-PETRA may be an alternative sequence of MPRAGE in preoperative examination of brain tumors.