iPad’s contributed to enhance inclusion of students with visual impairment in public schools

This study aimed to identify the extent iPad’s contributed to enhance inclusion of students with visual impairment (partially) in public schools. The study used the descriptive and analytical approach. The population consisted of (160) students who received iPad device within the “vision project” implemented at UNRWA schools in Gaza strip. The study used a questionnaire prepared and adapted by the researcher, to measure degree of iPad’s contribution to inclusion in general and at three dimensions: academic, psychological, and behavioral. Results showed the level of iPad’s contribution to enhance inclusion among students with visual impairment was high, with an average of 2.70 and a relative weight 90%. Concerning the three dimensions, results showed the academic attained as average of 2.77 with relative weight 88.6%, however in the second dimension (psychological) the mean was 2.98 with relative weight 99.3%, lastly for the third dimension (behavioral), the mean was 2.67 with relative weight 89.0%. This indicated high level of iPad’s contribution to enhance inclusion of students with visual impairment at public schools specifically at UNRWA schools. The study recommended use iPads for best inclusive practices.

The Symptom Burden and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, but there is an absence of evidence systematically assessing symptom burden and quality of life (QoL) using validated tools. Our objective was to assess associations between socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics, symptom burden and QoL in a sample of cancer patients accessing outpatient services in the Gaza Strip. Design A cross-sectional, descriptive survey using interviews and medical record review involving patients with cancer accessing oncology outpatient services at Al Rantisi Hospital and European Gaza Hospital (EGH) in the Gaza Strip was employed. Socio-demographic and disease-related data, the Lebanese version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS-Leb), and the Arabic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) were collected. Multiple linear regression was used to judge the relative influence of determinants of QoL. Results Of 414 cancer patients approached, 385 patients consented to participation. The majority were women (64.7%) with a mean age of 52 years (SD = 16.7). Common cancer diagnoses were breast (32.2%), haematological (17.9%) and colorectal (9.1%). The median number of symptoms was 10 (IQR 1.5–18.5). Mean overall QoL was 70.5 (SD 19.9) with common physical and psychological symptoms identified. A higher burden of symptoms was associated with marital status, education and income. Limited access to both opioids and psychological support were reported. Conclusions A high symptom burden was identified in outpatients with cancer. Increasing provision and access to supportive care for physical and psychological symptoms should be prioritised alongside exploring routine assessment of symptom burden and QoL.

Semantic and Pragmatic Implications of Inaccurate Translations of Shari’a-Court Phrases & Sentence Extracts into English

The present paper aims to highlight the semantic and pragmatic implications of the inaccurate English translations of Gazan shari’a-court phrases and sentence extracts. The researchers analyze the translations of five shari’a-court phrases and five sentence extracts from shari’a-court documents of different shari’a courts in Gaza Strip. The descriptive analytical approach was adopted to conduct this research paper. The texts used in this paper are extracted from a thesis on the linguistic difficulties Palestinian translators face when rendering shari’a-court terms in which the researchers participated as a master student and a supervisor. When selecting the source texts, the researchers consulted an assistant professor in law to identify the legal phrases and sentential extracts which require specific familiarity with shari’a-court terms. Then, the selected texts were given to four Palestinian sworn translators who rendered the translations which were afterwards analyzed by the researchers in light of explanations of the legal meaning of the shari’a-court terms by the law specialist. The findings of the selected translations, five phrases and five sentential extracts from fifty phrases and thirty-five sentential extracts in the original thesis, show that the inaccurate translations of shari’a-court terms have semantic and pragmatic implications which are mainly reflected in semantic loss and pragmatic ambiguity which lies in lack of specific reference to intended persons. The researchers recommend integrating specific contents in legal translation courses to better familiarize student translators and trainee translators with the semantic complexity of shari’a-court terms and the practical methods which can be adopted to translate such terms into English. Attention should also be given to the legal terms which are characterized by culture-based meanings.

Evaluating the Performance of Using Balanced Scorecard Case Study: Al-Aqsa University

This study aimed to identify the concept and dimensions of the balanced scorecard, identifying the degree to apply Al-Aqsa University the dimensions of the balanced scorecard, and identifying the fifth dimension related to the environmental dimension and the extent of its application at Al-Aqsa University. Al-Aqsa University seeks to use the best modern methods and keep pace with the development taking place. The descriptive analytical approach was used, and this study relied on collecting secondary data from several sources beside the primary sources represented by the questionnaire. The study concluded that Al-Aqsa University maintains a high market of registered students among the universities of the Gaza Strip throughout the academic years, and also Al-Aqsa University fulfills the elements of customer dimension in its performance and is keen to treat students fairly and without discrimination, but it does not give much attention to complaints submitted by students, The university also fulfills the requirements of the internal operations dimension, as the university is characterized by the diversity of the faculties and specializations in it to suit the requirements of students and the labor market, but it is blamed for its inability to provide job opportunities for graduates, but this is due to the economic conditions that the Gaza sector suffers from. As for the dimension of learning and growth, it was found that the academic staff at Al-Aqsa University is distinguished in terms of academic degrees, and this is reflected positively on the educational services provided. In addition to the interest in publishing scientific research and conferences, the university also has a deanship of scientific research and a magazine for publishing scientific research, all of which confirms the university's interest in learning, and finally it turns out that the university is keenly interested in the environment and providing an appropriate environment for its students. In light of the results, the study recommended a set of recommendations, the most important of which is the necessity of applying the Balanced Scorecard as a planning, evaluation and measurement card.

Risk Management Strategies in Construction Organizations

Background: Construction projects are among the riskiest businesses due to the number of factors involved that are difficult to control; hence, the popularity of risk management as part of the decision-making process in construction organizations is increasing. Despite the advancements, there are various risks involved that lead to project failure. Aim: Thus, this study aims to assess the risk management strategies in construction organizations in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Methods: Seventy questionnaires were distributed after subjecting them to pretesting and pilot study that confirmed the validity and reliability of the questions. The target respondents included engineers and consultants from the construction organizations, Ministry of Works and Housing, and international agencies. The questionnaire was retrieved with a 65.71% response rate. Results: Results indicated that the most popular method of risk factor determination in the Gaza Strip is the “checklist” (RII=84%). For tools/methods of risk analysis, relying on experience in the direct assessment is the most prominent, with an RII of 78%. For the methods of avoiding risk before the project implementation, dependence on experience in the work for preparing and planning was ranked highest (having RII of 81.6%). Finally, follow-up on the implementation to avoid rework, with an RII of 77.6%, was ranked highest among other factors of avoiding risk during the construction projects implementation. Conclusion: This study highlights the key risk management strategies that will be beneficial for the construction industry stakeholders to resolve the unwanted risk failures in the construction industry.

Glucokinase Gene Mutations in Subjects with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus from Gaza Strip

Objective: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the frequency of GCK gene mutations in exons 7, 8 & 9 in women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and their relationship to some biochemical parameters as compared to healthy controls. Methods: Samples were collected from 45 GDM women and 42 apparently healthy pregnant women. DNA was extracted and the samples were screened for GCK exons 7, 8 & 9 mutations at positions C.682A>G (p.Thr228Ala); C.895G>C (p.Gly299Arg) and C.1148C>A (p.Ser383X), respectively. The mutations were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology. Investigated biochemical features included: fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HbA1c, insulin and the lipid profile. Results: The results showed that 9 out of the 45 (i.e., 20%) GDM subjects harbored the exon 8 (895G>C) mutation. Neither exon 7 (c.682A>G) nor exon 9 (c.1148C>A) was encountered in the study population. Moreover, the level of FBG, OGTT and HBA1c were higher in the c.895G>C mutation-positive subjects, as compared to mutation-negative ones. Conclusions: The screening of GDM patients for GCK gene mutations allowed for the identification of glucokinase-deficient patients diagnosed as GDM. Therefore, molecular screening is important for the differential diagnosis of GDM and MODY2 and consequently, proper patient management.

Challenges Hindering the Resourcing for Post-Disaster Housing Reconstruction in Gaza

Resourcing post-disaster housing reconstruction (PDHR) entails many drawbacks creating bottlenecks to reconstruction projects. Understanding these vulnerable issues is of utmost to identify the appropriate interventions to mitigate their effects. The devastating aggression in 2014 in Gaza Strip served as a typical example of resources hampers. Based on the quantitative approach, the research employed a self-administrated questionnaire survey to identify the most significant challenges hindering the resourcing for post-2014 aggression housing reconstruction. The questionnaire targeted 55 of the key people in the implementing agencies of post-2014 aggression housing reconstruction. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics, through frequency distribution and effect index (EI); and using inferential statistics through one sample Wilcoxon signed rank test. Findings indicated that the challenges related to political issues have the most significant effect on resourcing the PDHR. The main key challenges are: (1) Difficulties to obtain permits from the Israeli side to flow the reconstruction materials into the Gaza Strip, (2) Insufficient funds for reconstruction efforts and (3) Refusal of the international community to contact the local de facto government. This research fills the knowledge gap relating to Gaza and provides the basis for more research on resourcing problems. This research has also extended, updated and confirmed the current knowledge regarding challenges hindering the resourcing for PDHR. The results draw attention of the implementing agencies in Gaza to the factors that creating bottlenecks to resource the reconstruction projects in order to overcome them and to mitigate their negative effects.