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Socioeconomic, agricultural, and individual factors influencing farmers’ perceptions and willingness of compost production and use: An evidence from Wadi al-Far`a Watershed-Palestine.
No full textIn Palestine, open dumping and/or burning
the waste, including agricultural waste, are prevalent
practices resulting in emitting leachate and acidifying
greenhouse gases. Composting the agricultural waste
can reduce emissions and provide ‘compost’ as an organic
fertilizer and soil amendment; yet, it has not been
implemented at the national level. To develop a local
marketing strategy for compost, this study views a need
to identify farmers’ perceptions and willingness of compost
production and use in agriculture and examine
various socioeconomic, agricultural, and individual factors
shaping them. The case ofWadi al-Far’a watershed
(WFW) is investigated, where farmers practice inappropriate
waste disposal and overuse of agrochemicals. A
semi-structured questionnaire is administered to 409
farmers through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics,
bivariate analyses, Chi-square test, and binary
logistic regression are used for data analysis. High acceptance
level (84%) is disclosed among farmers in
WFW for the hypothetical idea of producing and using
compost. Farmers also have high, yet lower, willingness
level (63.6%) of the more salient option of producing
compost themselves and using it in agriculture. Tenure
systems, large cultivated areas, rainfed irrigation, and
lack of access to training sessions inhibit farmers’ acceptance
of the idea of compost production (overall p
value = 0.000). Large cultivated areas and rainfed irrigation
is also associated with farmers’ unwillingness to
produce compost, besides high household monthly income,
animal or mixed animal-plant farming, experience
in compost production, and use of pesticides (overall
p value = 0.000).Funding of the conduct of this research
was provided by German Federal Ministry for Education and
Research (BMBF) and the Ministry of Education and Higher
Education (MEHE) of the Palestinian National Authority
Pressure Ulcers Prevalence and Potential Risk Factors Among Intensive Care Unit Patients in Governmental Hospitals in Palestine: A Cross-sectional Study
No full textcross-sectional quantitative studyAim:
To determine the prevalence rate and the potential risk factors of pressure ulcers (PUs) among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) departments
of the government hospitals in Palestine.
Methods:
A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study was carried out in five government hospital intensive care units in four different
Palestinian cities between September 27, 2017, and October 27, 2017. The data of 109 out of 115 (94.78%) inpatients were analyzed. The
Minimum Data Set (MDS) recommended by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) was used to collect inpatients’ information.
Results:
The result of the analysis showed that the prevalence of pressure ulcers in the ICU departments was 33%, and the prevalence of PUs when
excluding stage one was 7.3%. The common stage for pressure ulcers was stage one. It was also determined that the most common risk factors for
the development of pressure ulcers were the number of days in the hospital, moisture, and friction.
Conclusion:
According to the recent studies in the Asian States, the prevalence of pressure ulcers in Palestine is considerably higher than in China and Jordan.
However, it is still lower than the prevalence reported in comparable published studies in Western Europe. Increasing the staff’s knowledge about
PUs screening and preventive measures is highly recommended in order to decrease the burden of PUs
Context-led capacity building in time of crisis : fostering non-communicable diseases (NCD) research skills in the Mediterranean Middle East and North Africa
Full text linkArticle published in online journal : Global Health Action : 2019, vol. 12, 1569838ABSTRACT
Background: This paper examines one EC-funded multinational project (RESCAP-MED), with
a focus on research capacity building (RCB) concerning non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in
the Mediterranean Middle East and North Africa. By the project’s end (2015), the entire region
was engulfed in crisis.
Objective: Designed before this crisis developed in 2011, the primary purpose of RESCAPMED was to foster methodological skills needed to conduct multi-disciplinary research on
NCDs and their social determinants. RESCAP-MED also sought to consolidate regional networks for future collaboration, and to boost existing regional policy engagement in the
region on the NCD challenge. This analysis examines the scope and sustainability of RCB
conducted in a context of intensifying political turmoil.
Methods: RESCAP-MED linked two sets of activities. The first was a framework for training
early- and mid-career researchers through discipline-based and writing workshops, plus short
fellowships for sustained mentoring. The second integrated public-facing activities designed
to raise the profile of the NCD burden in the region, and its implications for policymakers at
national level. Key to this were two conferences to showcase regional research on NCDs, and
the development of an e-learning resource (NETPH).
Results: Seven discipline-based workshops (with 113 participants) and 6 workshops to
develop writing skills (84 participants) were held, with 18 fellowship visits. The 2 symposia
in Istanbul and Beirut attracted 280 participants. Yet the developing political crisis tagged
each activity with a series of logistical challenges, none of which was initially envisaged. The
immediacy of the crisis inevitably deflected from policy attention to the challenges of NCDs.
Conclusions: This programme to strengthen research capacity for one priority area of global
public health took place as a narrow window of political opportunity was closing. The key
lessons concern issues of sustainability and the paramount importance of responsively
shaping a context-driven RCB
Restoration of Wadi Zaimer using a Pilot Instream Phytoremediation System for the Reduction of Industrial Pollution Loads from Nablus West, Palestine
No full textconference proceedingsThis study aims at the design and evaluation of phytoremediation, a nature-based solution, using constructed wetlands to revitalize Wadi Zaimer from industrial pollution loads discharged from Nablus West. The urban sewage works for Nablus West is not capable of treating heavy industrial pollution loads, and the industrial firms of various types lack onsite treatment systems to get permits for legal connection to public sewerage network. Recent studies revealed that the annual discharges of industrial wastewater into Wadi Zomer pose sever public health and quality degradation in groundwater resources. Lack of science-based data pertinent to the role of bioremediation using local vegetation on the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants in Wadi Zomer warrants deep insight understanding. A pilot phytoremediation system using constructed wetlands cultivated by local vegetation (Typhae and Cattail), a 400 m long instream low impact development strip, along the course of Wadi Zomer will be established and monitored. Analysis of physical, chemical and biological parameters including organic, inorganic (heavy metals) pollutants and biological (microbial counts and enzymatic activities) provides evidence on self-purification capacity and efficacy of phytoremediation processes. What role bioremediation my play in the uptake of selective heavy metals is part of the research questions this study raise. The results provide decision makers in the field of water and environment road map regarding integration of natural based treatment technologies for the pollution reduction and environmental protection. Low-impact developments along Wadi Zomer ensure pollution loads reduction, where compliance with national and regional water quality limits help Palestinian government avoid annual Israel environmental levy and promote recreation activities along Wadi Zaimer courseNRO Ramallah, PADUCO progra
Assessment of Wastewater Treatment Technologies and Promotion of Smart Irrigation Systems in the MENA Region Using an Eco-friendly Gum
No full textBZU, Morocco, Tunisia and IHE Delft joint research projectWastewater treatment facilities in Morocco and Palestine serve solely residential communities, and lack design considerations for the treatment of industrial wastewater discharges. This urges the local municipalities to connect the industrial discharges to public sewerage networks with ultimate treatment in central wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). These current practices lead to negative impacts on WWTPs efficacy with associated environmental, economic and socio-political impacts. Considering water-energy-food nexus, climate change, water scarcity and limited access to available water resources in the MENA region, use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation forms a core element within an integrated water resources management. How achieve sustainable WWTPs with safe reclaimed water suitable for agricultural application is the main goal of this research project. A cutting-edge irrigation system using a Superabsorbent Polymer Technology [SPT], an eco-gum manufactured at bench scale, will be used for the removal of selective heavy metals and organic pollutants of industrial origin. We argue that SPT can help local municipalities find environmentally sound solutions to reduce organic and inorganic residues from reclaimed water. Policy makers can integrate research results within the national guidelines aiming at fostering the adoption of integrated (waste)water management for smart agricultural irrigation, environmental and public health improvement within the MENA region.DUPC2 Program, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affair
Simplified empirical approach for estimating the remaining strength factor used in pavement rehabilitation applications
Full text linkThis paper presents a simplified empirical model for predicting the asphaltic remaining strength factor to be used in estimating the resurfacing thickness for both thin and thick asphaltic surfaces. The proposed model for predicting the asphaltic remaining strength factor in the case of thin asphaltic surface is mainly a function of key performance indicators and calibration constant (K). In the case of thick asphaltic surface, an average remaining strength factor is proposed which is a function of the existing asphaltic surface thickness, cold milling thickness, and the remaining strength factor associated with thin asphaltic surface. The proposed remaining strength factor is to be used in estimating the resurfacing thickness component due to the strength loss endured by the asphaltic surface. Two case studies are presented to predict the remaining strength factor. The first one applies the remaining strength factor model to estimate the resurfacing thicknesses for two sample projects considering variable rehabilitation scheduling time, while the second one calibrates the remaining strength factor model for a local roadway sample using minimization of sum of squared errors. The sample results indicate that the remaining strength factor values (0.45-0.94) are lower for thin asphaltic surface compared to the corresponding values (0.72-0.97) for thick surface considering 6-12 years rehabilitation scheduling time, and they are lower for inferior pavement performance compared to a superior one. The sample results also indicate that the optimal (K) values for thin asphaltic surface (0.71-1.24) are considerably lower than the corresponding optimal (K) values for thick surface (2.08-3.83)
The range and nature of reproductive health research in the occupied Palestinian territory : a scoping review
No full textArticle published in : Reproductive Health, April 2019, vol. 16, article no. 41Background: In order to set research priorities for reproductive health in the occupied Palestinian territory, it is vital
to know what current research has been done in the field of reproductive health. The purpose of this scoping
review is to examine the range and nature of reproductive health research in the occupied Palestinian territory and
to identify research gaps in the existing literature.
Methods: We searched four databases: EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, and Popline. We included studies that: (i) are
published (with an abstract); (ii) relevant to reproductive health; (iii) Palestinians living in Palestine; (iv) participants
over the age of 15 years; and (v) restricted to human research. Three independent reviewers screened title and
abstracts, and extracted data from included articles. We conducted quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Results: Of 1025 titles and abstracts screened, 145 articles were included. 52 (36%) articles were conducted in
community setting and 34 (24%) were conducted in hospitals. There were 5 (3%) experimental studies. 15 articles
had more than one main theme; 160 subthemes overall were identified. The most frequently studied theme was
labor and delivery (n = 19; 12%). One article discussed adolescent reproductive health and menopause while no
articles discussed men’s reproductive health.
Conclusions: 91% of the research conducted is observational. The focus of reproductive health research was to
understand the topic, community and providers’ perceptions and knowledge. Articles related to the quality of
services were limited. It is also important to research the reproductive health of women outside of reproductive
age, men, and adolescents
Self-adaptive mussels wandering optimization algorithm with application for artificial neural network training
No full textThe mussels wandering optimization (MWO) is a recent population-based metaheuristic optimization algorithm inspired ecologically by mussels’ movement behavior. The MWO has been used successfully for solving several optimization problems. This paper proposes an enhanced version of MWO, known as the enhanced-mussels wandering optimization (E-MWO) algorithm. The E-MWO aims to overcome the MWO shortcomings, such as lack in explorative ability and the possibility to fall in premature convergence. In addition, the E-MWO incorporates the self-adaptive feature for setting the value of a sensitive algorithm parameter. Then, it is adapted for supervised training of artificial neural networks, whereas pattern classification of real-world problems is considered. The obtained results indicate that the proposed method is a competitive alternative in terms of classification accuracy and achieve superior results in training time
معادلة الحالة للمادة النووية قليلة الكثافة و متوسطتها و المحتوية على تجمعات أنوية خفيفة و متوسطة حتى خمسين نيوكليونا
No full textNuclear matter at low and intermediate density and moderate temperature minimizes
its energy by forming nuclear clusters. Most previous theoretical investigations
ignored the formation of the heavy clusters and focused on light clusters with mass
number up to A = 4. In this work, clusters with mass number up to A = 50 are
included in nuclear matter and treated by the Nuclear Statistical Equilibrium model
(NSE) which states that clusters are in chemical equilibrium with the free nucleons in
the surrounding vapour. The Nuclear Statistical Equilibrium (NSE) model was
modified by using density-dependent binding energies of clusters where the clusters’
binding energies decrease as the surrounding medium density increases. In fact,
clusters undergo the Mott transition and get dissolved as the density of nuclear matter
increases due to the medium effects. The Pauli Blocking is found to be the prominent
factor that affects clusters’ binding energies. It was found that heavier clusters play a
significant role in low and intermediate density symmetric nuclear matter
composition and should be included in the equation of state (EoS) to make the study
more realistic. Finally, these clusters reduce the critical temperature by several MeVs
Urban transformations in localities of the Palestinian central mountains : Ni’lin & Ein Yabrud as case studies
No full textتناولت الدراسة موضوع التحولات الحضرية في كل من نعلين وعين يبرود كحالة دراسية، محاولة البحث عن أبرز المؤشرات الحضرية التي برزت فيها، والعوامل والأسباب التي ساهمت في نشوء هذه المؤشرات وجعلت من نعلين وعين يبرود تجمعات ريفية في طريقها الى التحضر. وهدفت الدراسة الى رصد المؤشرات الحضرية )العمرانية والاقتصادية والاجتماعية كخصائص الأنماط العمرانية، وطبيعة البناء، رصد مستوى الدخل....( والتي طرأت في منطقة الدراسة وما هي الأسباب التي ساهمت في بروز التحول الحضري فيها، ومعرفة التباينات في مظاهر التحضر بين نعلين وعين يبرود، وأخيرا تحديد اهم المشكلات البيئية الناتجة عن عملية التحول الحضري، وتمت معالجة الدراسة من خلال جمع البيانات التي تتعلق بالنمو الحضري والدراسات السابقة واستخدام صور جوية وخرائط سابقة وتحليلها باستخدام نظم المعلومات الجغرافية 4.10 ArcMap بالإضافة الى عمل مقابلات شخصية. وقد توصلت الدراسة الى العديد من النتائج وكان من أهمها، أن كل من التجمعين قد تمدد على حساب الأراضي الزراعية مما أدى لمشكلات بيئية، لكن عين يبرود اختلفت عن نعلين في سيادة البناء بالحجر النظيف والفيلات أكثر من نعلين، كما ان معظم المباني )حوالي 80 )%من المباني في كال التجمعين هي ملك لأصحابها مما يعكس الوضع المادي الجيد، لكن ومع هذا التحضر الحاصل إال أن التحضر في نعلين كان تدريجيا منذ زمن طويل على عكس عين يبرود. كما أظهرت الدراسة أن نعلين وعين يبرود كالهما أصبحتا تجمعات ريفية في طريقها الى التحضر وتشابهت في بعض المظاهر الحضرية ولكن اختلفت في الأسباب والعوامل التي ساهمت في بروز هذه المظاهر المتشابهة، حيث شكل موقع نعلين الجغرافي وقربها من الخط الأخضر والعمالة في الداخل المحتل من جهة، والهجرة الخارجية في عين يبرود والتحويلات المالية من المغتربين من جهة اخرى، الدور الأكبر في تحضرهما. وقد خلصت الدراسة الى عدة توصيات ومقترحات لتقديم الحلول المناسبة للمشاكل حتى تتمكن منطقتي الدراسة من اداء وظائفها