Baynoon Centre for Studies and Development (BCSD): OJS
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Revisiting Characters in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness: Binarism, Trauma and Resilience
Get PDFFor decades, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (1899) has been subject to different readings and interpretations. Transcending the boundaries of time and place, Conrad’s novella is still a relevant text for modern critical readings. Although many critics have studied characters referring to different theories and perspectives, characterization is still a rich source of meaning. This paper aims to study the characters in Heart of Darkness and examine Conrad’s narrative strategy in terms of binarism and doubling. The paper also explores how, despite their depiction as powerful characters, Marlow and Kurtz show symptoms of failure and trauma while the black female character, usually depicted as an emblem of absence and negation, shows signs of power and resilience despite her muteness and minor presence. Feminist, Psychoanalytical and trauma theories are referred to in the revisiting of characters in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
The Influence of Teacher’s Gender on the Implementation of English Language Curricula in Public Schools in Aqaba Governorate, Jordan
Get PDFPurpose: This study examined the influence of teacher’s gender on the implementation of English language curricula in public schools in Aqaba governorate.
Methods: Employing a descriptive survey design, 167 male and female English language teachers were selected purposively and participated from 240 English language teachers in public schools in Aqaba governorate. A 36- item questionnaire, which was used for collecting data, was validated by twenty one jurors. Its reliability was ensured by using a test- retest technique which was piloted sample of twenty male and female English language teachers who were not included the main sample. To analyze data, a descriptive statistics was employed.
Findings: The findings of the study showed that there are not statistically significant differences at (α≤0.05) in the implementation of English language curricula due to the teacher’s gender. This implies that the implementation of English language curricula by male and female teachers in Aqaba governorate is not impacted by the gender of the teacher. Therefore, the study recommends carrying out more studies to ascertain the influence of teacher’s gender on the implementation of English language curricula and other curricula.
Practical Implications: The results of the study might be of practical value for ministry of education since there is no gender effect on implementing the English curriculum.
Originality/Value: The gender of the teacher does not have a statistical effect on the implementation of English language curricula in public schools in Aqaba governorate
Indications of Cesarean Section at Al-Wahdah Teaching Hospital, Dhamar, Yemen
Get PDFPurpose: Because of the lack of information about the incidence of cesarean section and its indicators in Yemen, particularly in Dhamar Governorate, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence of cesarean section and identify the most common indications for cesarean section in Al- Wahdah Teaching Hospital, in Dhamar Governorate, Yemen.
Subjects and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on 393 at Al- Wahdah Teaching Hospital to estimate the incidence and indications of cesarean section in the hospital. The data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire over a period of one month.
Results: The overall rate of cesarean section was 55.5% (218/ 393). Among the 218, 61.9% were emergency while 38.1 % were elective cesarean sections. The maternal age for patients undergoing cesarean section ranged from 16 to 40 years, 23.9% were under 20 years, 66.5% were from 20- 35 years, and 9.6% were more than 35 years. The majority of mothers who gave birth by cesarean section were multigravida “43.1%” of which 42.7% (93) were multipara and 72% had no abortion. The majority of mothers had term pregnancy 90.8% (198), and 54.6% (119) had limited antenatal care. The most common indication was previous cesarean section 22.5%, followed by contracted pelvis 22% and obstructed labor 20.6%.
Conclusions: In our study, the rate of cesarean section is higher than recommended by WHO. Most of them were emergency cesarean sections. The most common indication was a previous cesarean section, followed by the contracted pelvis and obstructed labor
A Feminist Dialogic Reading of the New Woman: Love, Female Desire, and Family in The Virgin and the Gypsy by D. H. Lawrence and in The Tragedy of Demetrio by Hanna Mina
Get PDFThis paper explores the depiction of female characters as New Women in a comparative analysis of two selected short stories by two seemingly anti-feminist authors; D. H. Lawrence in England and Hanna Mina in Syria. I argue that these short stories signal the need for a new perspective, analyzing how these two authors challenged the conventional fictional treatment of womanhood and created complex female heroines struggling against restrictive social roles and values. Examining these selected narratives, “The Virgin and the Gypsy” by D. H. Lawrence and in “The Tragedy of Demetrio” by Hanna Mina, sets forth an unexpected area of comparison between English and Arabic literature with a specific interest in the construction of New Woman identity at the turn of the century, namely the fragmented and complex presentations of the heroines’ inner struggle between the traditional female roles and their aspirations for a freer, more fluid identity. A close reading will, therefore, bring out certain similarities in terms of themes and style that call for a Bakhtinian insight into dialogism to account for the fragmented character of the New Woman in both texts
A Study of the Landscape Narrative of Tibetan Variety Shows --The example of The Tibetan Youth
Get PDFTibetan cultural images, as an important component of minority cultural images, are an indispensable part of the Chinese film and television system. While television is the most popular platform for the creation and dissemination of images, the practice and presentation of images related to Tibetan culture are concentrated in the film medium. Tibetan Youth is the first domestic Tibetan culture promotion and singing program created by SCTV and KBTV in cooperation with Panda Dreamworks, which is an innovative attempt to disseminate Tibetan culture in the field of television. It has made a breakthrough in TV program mode, theme, audio-visual application and promotion, but there are also problems of landscape narrative such as insufficient "deep description" of images on the surface form and lack of "main position" perspective. It is worth considering and discussing how the creators of TV programs can break through these difficulties, enhance cultural subjectivity in TV programs, break the stereotypical imagination of others, and promote the development and innovation of Tibetan TV programs
Evaluation of the Sensitivity and Specificity of three Rapid Test Kits Used in the Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) in Public Hospital Niger State, Nigeria
Get PDFPurpose: The assessment of HIV rapid test kits commonly used was evaluated for optimum performance on the suspected patient. This study aims to determine the sensitivity and specificity of rapid test kits used in public hospitals in Minna, Niger State.
Methods: A total of 300 gold positive and gold negative samples were analyzed. Three rapid test kits (Determine, Stat-Pak, and Uni-Gold) were tested against gold standard serum using the method provided by the manufacturers of these kits.
Results: Determine kit gave result sensitivity of (100%), specificity (96.5%), while Stat-Pak sensitivity was (99%), specificity (98%) and Uni-Gold sensitivity (100%), specificity (99%). In all Uni-Gold has the highest performance followed by Stat-Pak and lastly, Determine, but the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05).
Conclusion: This evaluation provides evidence for reliable rapid test kits for HIV testing in Nigeria. However, the claim by the manufacturers that their kit was 100% sensitive and 100% specific remains doubtful which may be a market strategy. Therefore, it is pertinent on a routine basis to evaluate the rapid test kits in circulation to re-validate their performance before usage for accurate HIV testing
Intelligent Leadership and Its Effect on Knowledge Sharing Behavior among Academic Staff in Kenyan Universities
Get PDFPurpose: The main is to assess the impact of intelligent leadership in Kenyan universities on knowledge sharing behavior.
Approach/Methodology/Design: The research was motivated by Path Target Theory. An explanatory research design was adopted with a positivism approach. The target population consisted of 6400 and a selection of 366 academic workers from 14 chattered Nairobi County Kenyan universities. The study used a stratified technique to select the academic staff of the university into 14 strata representing each university in Nairobi County, Kenya, using simple random sampling. The study used a stratified technique to select the academic staff of the university into 14 strata representing each university in Nairobi County, Kenya. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis while hypotheses were tested using multiple regression.
Findings: The regression results indicated that emotional leadership (β = 0.37, p<0.05) and spiritual leadership (β = 0.11, p<0.05).
Practical Implications: In addition, this study recommends that intelligent leadership in the sharing of knowledge is necessary in order for university leaders to consider leadership areas in university.
Originality/value: The study concluded that a high percentage of intelligent leadership results in improved behavior of sharing employee knowledge that is essential to transform Kenyan universities and drive the behavior of sharing knowledge
Examining the Roles of Institutional Quality and Financial Openness in Enhancing Economic Performance: Evidence from BRICS Countries
Get PDFPurpose: The aim is to examine the roles of institutional quality and financial openness on the economic performance of BRICS, using annual series that covered the period from 1996 to 2020.
Methods: Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to select the institutional quality variables, while analysis of the study was conducted under the panel data random effect model. Findings indicate that FDI inflows and capital account openness positively impacted on GDP per capita significantly; however the impact of FDI outflows on GDP per capita, though positive, was not significant. Moreover, control of corruption and government effectiveness both had positive and significant impact on GDP per capita, while trade openness impacted GDP per capita negatively, though the result was not significant.
Findings: The outcome of the study reveals that the economy of the BRICS improved by removing restrictions on capital controls which retard capital inflows, but liberalization of trade had adverse effect on growth in the bloc. Equally revealed in the study is that effective government which reduces corrupt tendencies lead to improved economic performance. The study therefore recommends the removal of all bottlenecks that hinder FDI inflows and the building of strong institutions in BRICS.
Practical Implications: With respect to the institutional variables employed in the study, findings revealed that when governance is effective, it encourages improvement in the economy. Effectiveness in governance encourages reduction in corruption which is the bane of underdevelopment in many developing countries.
Originality/Value: The panel random effect results showed that of the three financial openness indicators employed, FDI inflows and capital account openness significantly impacted on GDP per capita positively, while the impact of FDI outflows was positive but negligible
From Pure Aesthetics to Sensory Gratification: Shifting Paradigm of Aesthetic Pleasure in Indian Popular Campus Fiction
Get PDFThis paper explores the shifting paradigm of ‘aesthetic pleasure’ in the field of popular literature with an emergence of cultural studies in Literary Theory. It focuses on the concept of pleasure as a significant measure in analyzing the origin and development of Indian popular campus fiction as a distinct genre. It examines how the concept of ‘pleasure’ has shifted from a purely aesthetic appreciation of the values of truth, beauty and goodness to the contemporary aspects of hedonistic and somatic pleasures in the works of popular arts. The paper also sheds light on various theories, propounded by different cultural critics like Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse and Leo Lowenthal to analyze the ways the cultural industry has incorporated the values of enjoyment and entertainment into the aesthetic appreciation of pleasure, offering the emotional engagement of readers in these popular texts