Middle Eastern Perspective Research Articles

(The concept of nihilism and its reflection in Kurdish poetry of Sorani dialect)( Hashim Saraj )for example

The current research is an attempt to interpret the concept of nihilism from the ancient Greek era to the postmodern era from different perspectives. The study sheds light on nihilism from the perspectives of ancient Greek philosophy and the western world in general and the reflections of modern philosopher Schopenhauer on this topic. The research describes and explains the reflection of nihilism in kurdish classic, modern, and postmodern poetry. The purpose of the study is also to show the differences and similarities of nihilism from Western perspective to the Middle Eastern perspective by referencing several poets. It is a fact that this context is more influenced by social norms, religious beliefs, and culture. The study also analyses the poems of Hashim Saraj as a modern poet. As a poet, Saraj is influenced by the intellectual waves of enlightenment movement. Although he has a large number of poems about pessimism and despair, he could not neglect the impacts of his culture in his poetry. However, Sarah's pessimism is to reflect a positive aspect rather than a negative one.

The Impact and Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management: A Middle Eastern Perspective

This big study looks into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Resource Management (HRM) connect in the Middle East. In the area where technology is changing very quickly, the study wants to find out how AI integration is changing HR practices in this place. The main part of the study is carefully created surveys for HR people and experts in AI/CS. These aim to find out how AI is used now, what more can be done with it, and ethical questions around its use in HRM. The main results show that AI is drastically making human resources jobs like hiring new workers, managing their paychecks, and checking their performance easier. This lets people working in HR avoid boring tasks and concentrate on big roles. The study also looks into the problems and limits that come with using AI. These include thinking about what's right, keeping your data secret, and needing a human link in HR jobs. This study is very important because it looks at how AI makes HR better. It also shows the careful mix needed between using new technology and keeping people in mind. It gives a future outlook on how AI can change HRM in the Middle Eastern business scene. It offers helpful information for both people who work there and those studying it.

Survival Trends in Pediatric Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Middle Eastern Perspective.

Pediatric Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (pedDTC) is a rare pediatric malignancy with an increasing incidence over time. To date, there is a paucity of literature specifically addressing pedDTC within the context of Middle Eastern ethnicity. This retrospective study aimed to assess the risk-stratifying factors for overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) in pediatric DTC patients from Iraq and Jordan. The medical records of 81 patients from two tertiary cancer institutes were retrieved. Kaplan-Meier analysis was employed to investigate OS and EFS, and the Cox proportional hazards model was employed to estimate hazard ratios. All patients underwent surgery and radioactive iodine therapy, with a median age of 14 and an interquartile range of 12-15. Lymph node involvement was observed in 55% of cases, while distant metastases were present in 13.5%. After a median follow-up period of 68 months, the 10-year survival rate was determined to be 94%, while the 10-year EFS rate was 58%. EFS was negatively impacted by cervical lymph node metastases and early age of diagnosis (p ≤ 0.01, each). Therefore, pediatrics with initial cervical lymph node metastases and those diagnosed before puberty tend to experience poorer EFS, which may justify the need for more aggressive management plans.

It’s Tandem, not Tinder! Interrogating Authenticity and Trustworthiness of Language Exchange Applications in Adult Learners: A Central Asian and Middle Eastern Perspective

Language exchange is based on teaching (the native language) and learning (the foreign language) in tandem. There are numerous language exchange applications (LEAs) on smartphones that connect language exchange partners from all over the world. This study investigates the trustworthiness of these applications and whether they are genuinely used for exchanging the target language or used as a camouflage for finding friends and building relationships. The study was conducted using a case-study approach focusing on two identical language exchange applications. Research tools included questionnaires and observation. The participants were active LEA users and included male and female language learners. The empirical data collected from LEAs and the qualitative data analysis will first look into application authenticity, user honesty and the most common misuse of the LEAs. It then attempts to gauge users’ attitude towards LEAs. Finally, it puts forward some recommendations for implementing LEAs amongst application developers, educators and adult learners.

Moderation effects of multiple directorships on audit committee and firm performance: A middle eastern perspective

This study examines the moderation effects of audit committee members’ multiple directorships on the association between the number of audit committee meetings, attendance in the audit committee meetings and firm performance. A panel generalized least square method is used as the analysis tool, on the selected listed firms in the Saudi Arabian Stock Market (Tadawul). Empirical evidence suggests an inverse relationship between the number of audit committee meetings, audit committee meetings’ attendance and firm performance. As for the moderation effects of multiple directorships, a positive effect is documented. The results indicate that the multiple directorships by the audit committee members play a significantly positive role on firm performance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study underwrites a middle eastern perspective on the relationship between the number of audit committee meetings and its attendance and the moderation effects of audit committee members’ multiple directorships on firm performance. The findings of this study provide valuable insights to policymakers and practitioners. The results should provide support to regulatory authorities to legislate effective regulations to make internal governance mechanisms work more effectively in the country.

The Purchase Behaviour Towards Consumer Goods During Economic Crisis – A Middle Eastern Perspective

Abstract The primary purpose of this study is to develop a realistic understanding of the factors that influence consumers’ purchase behaviour towards consumer goods in the middle east region during the economic crisis, by focusing on Oman. This study has used linear regression analysis to develop a clear idea of the factors that influence consumers’ purchase behaviour towards consumer goods during the economic crisis. This study has also used Sobel test, to conduct the mediation analysis. The data was collected using a standard five-point Likert scale-based questionnaire, from a sample of 122 individuals who have recently completed their bachelor’s program in one of the four major Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Oman. Unlike the popular belief, this study has found the elements of the marketing mix to not exert significant influence on consumers’ purchase behaviour towards consumer goods during the economic crisis. However, the results found cultural and social factors to exert useful influence on the consumers’ purchase behaviour towards consumer goods. The study recommends that organizations need to focus more on cultural compliance and societal acceptance of their offerings, than focusing on the traditional marketing mix. While helping the organizations manufacturing or marketing consumer goods in the middle east region during the economic crisis, this study would add more value and variety to the available literature. While the findings of this study could also be used by individuals dealing with consumer products in similar markets to redefine their product offerings, by taking the cultural and social issues into consideration, this study could act as a point of reference for future researchers. This study has provided a unique perspective related to the factors that drive consumers’ purchase behaviour towards consumer goods in the middle east region, during the economic crisis. These observations could also be generalized and used in other countries that have similar cultural and social affiliations.

Structural equation modeling of the association between professional and cultural competencies of nurses in Saudi Arabia

AimTo determine the influence of Saudi nurses’ professional competencies on their cultural competency using the structural equation model (SEM). BackgroundNurses are an essential component of the health care delivery system; it is crucial to understand their professional and cultural competencies. However, these concepts remain underreported from a middle eastern perspective. DesignA correlational, cross-sectional design. MethodsData were collected using two self-report instruments from 587 nurses employed in three government-run tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Spearman rho and SEM were performed to analyze the relationships of the studied variables. ResultsThe emerging model showed acceptable model fit indices. Among the six dimensions of professional competency, only three significantly influence cultural competency. Specifically, both care pedagogics and medical and technical care had a moderate, positive influence on cultural competency. Contrastingly, value-based nursing care had a moderate but negative influence on cultural competency. ConclusionsCultural competency is a complex and underused nursing concept influenced by nurses' professional competencies. The knowledge acquired from the presented model can be used by nurse leaders, administrators and educators in developing appropriate policies, programs and strategies.

Pharmacy practice in COVID-19 from a Middle Eastern and African perspective: A narrative review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a worldwide impact on all aspects of life and primarily on clinical practice involving all health-care professionals. Pharmacists are at the forefront of all clinical facilities in hospitals and the community. We aimed to provide a narrative overview of the global literature on the impact of COVID-19 changing roles and pharmacists' contribution to the overall clinical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a narrative, nonsystematic review of the international literature from a single major medical online database, PubMed, between February 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The relevant articles were narrated in a concise thematic account. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists had to serve their responsibilities alongside other activities while the entire world was fighting an invisible virus. However, it was much more complicated than before because the novel coronavirus is intractable. There was no vaccine or established therapeutic guidelines when it manifested suddenly. As part of an interdisciplinary team, community pharmacists may carry out their responsibilities and play an essential role in disease control and management. However, they may need to be appropriately prepared, trained, and equipped to deal with pandemic and postpandemic situations.

Uterine transplant: an ethical framework analysis from a Middle Eastern perspective

Background Significant advances in infertility treatment have been achieved over the past several decades, but women with uterine dysfunction, anomaly, or agenesis still need support to carry a pregnancy to term. Recently, advancements in surgical, anesthetic and immunosuppressive therapy have brought the idea of successful uterine transplant closer to reality, but many challenges must be overcome before uterine transplant can become more common, including ethical challenges related to the study and the conduct of this procedure. Methods This was an updated ethical analysis of uterine transplant from a Middle Eastern perspective, using an established ethical framework that has been adapted for the analysis of research in non-Western cultures and developing countries. Results Using the ethical framework, this analysis explored research developments in uterine transplant to date, using the following categories: collaborative partnership, social value, scientific validity, a fair selection of study population, favorable risk–benefit ratio, independent review, informed consent, and respect for recruited participants. The analysis revealed a significant need for region- and religion-specific ethical guidelines for uterine transplant procedures. Conclusions The horizons of research need to expand by addressing and researching the ethical issues related to uterine transplant trials and clinical procedures Limitations Limitations included the challenges related to applying ethical analyses to work in developing countries, and the fact that this analysis was based on the views and interpretations of a single researcher

Asymmetric Competition on a New Battleground? Middle Eastern Perspectives on Sino-US Rivalry

During the last few years, and especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, growing number of Middle East scholars and analysts have been closely observing an escalation of tensions between China and the United States and their impact beyond bilateral ties. Considering the major differences of focus and approach among these observers, this article aims to review systematically such Middle Eastern perspectives, both globally and regionally, on the emerging Sino-US rivalry. Certain Middle East analysts regard Beijing and Washington as largely “homogeneous” extra-regional powers competing in international politics, economy, and technology. Many others emphasise their “heterogeneity,” arguing that the essence of Sino-US confrontation lies in the clash of two models. Most Middle East scholars note that, in contrast to Washington’s waning influence, Beijing’s growing presence in the region during the past decade has rendered the Middle East a “new battleground” for the two great powers. Although China and the United States still have shared interests in certain regional affairs, most intellectuals focus on and collectively identify five domains across the Middle East wherein Beijing and Washington are locked in asymmetric competition. In light of both the opportunities and challenges that the emerging Sino-US rivalry engenders, Middle Eastern observers raise various policy suggestions, and debate on whether regional players should proactively take advantage of this great power competition, cautiously hedge against strategic uncertainty and risk, or constructively help reduce hostility between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.

Validation of academic motivation scale among medical students using factor analysis and structural equation modeling: Middle Eastern perspective.

BACKGROUND:Demanding careers like medicine requires a lot of motivation and the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) developed by Vallerand et al. (1992) is an instrument to measure motivation. This study evaluated the validity and reliability of AMS among medical students in the Middle East.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This was a methodological research utilizing a convenient sampling technique. AMS scale comprising 28 items subdivided into seven subscales was administered to 900 students (281 students returned the filled AMS). Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and t-tests. Exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha were used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the scale, respectively.RESULTS:There was a statistically significant difference between both genders in overall scores (P = 0.015*), two subscales, namely “Identified Regulation” (P =0.017*) and “Stimulating Experience” (P = 0.015*), with females showing higher value. Second-year students (n = 91) had significantly higher score (10.9 ± 4.1) for “Amotivation” (P =.001*) and first-year students (n = 48) had significantly higher score (16.2 ± 3.0) for “Achievement” subscale (P =.014*). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant with 95% confidence interval. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups based on nationality or age. Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (Chi-square: 2988.010; df = 278; P < 0.001). Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin was 0.890. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation extracted seven factors corresponding to the original items of AMS questionnaire. All subscales correlated positively except “amotivation.” Structural equation modeling revealed the relation between observed and unobserved variables.DISCUSSION:This study demonstrated that AMS is valid and reliable for application among Middle East medical students, without needing any modification. AMS has widespread application in medical education as it impacts learning outcomes.CONCLUSION:This study demonstrated that AMS is valid and reliable for application among the Middle East students without needing any modification.

The New Chinese Oil Benchmark: Implications for the Middle East

AbstractChina introduced a new oil benchmark in March 2018, part of a bid to establish its position as an economic superpower. This article analyzes the impact of this new index on the Middle East, a key region where much of the oil on which the index is based originates, by focusing on market transparency, market determination, government involvement, physical accessibility, and the internal Chinese dialogue. The article then discusses the political, financial, and economic view from the Middle Eastern perspective. It finds that China still has a long way to go before it can turn the new oil benchmark into an international standard. In addition, the Shanghai Stock Exchange was launched just before the escalation of the trade dispute between the world's two largest economies, the United States and China. While this fight could hurt the traditional indices and elevate China's new oil benchmark, the coronavirus, which has spread worldwide from China, is another factor that may affect the quality and impact of this new index.

Palestinian Immigration from Latin American and Middle Eastern Perspectives

The data obtained from Chile and Palestine suggests that there was only one significant immigration wave from Palestine to Chile – from the end of the nineteenth century until the First World War. This immigration was enabled by favourable global conditions such as available and reliable transportation, rather than being provoked by the exceptional hardship alleged to have occurred during those years. Palestinian immigration was chain migration: family members followed those who had immigrated earlier. Nonetheless, these were relatively short chains, which included only a handful of links. Those who arrived from Bethlehem and Bayt-Jala tended to marry Palestinian partners. These partners probably also stemmed from the same towns. Palestinians who arrived from other places often found local partners. Agar and Saffie have already demonstrated that the number of Palestinians in Chile is far fewer than the 350,000 suggested by Baeza, not to mention the 500,000 indicated by less credible sources. Yet, Agar and Saffie dealt with descendants, which is merely a technical term indicating someone with at least one Arab great-grandparent. It seems very difficult to determine to what extent such people identify themselves with their Arab or Palestinian origins. Therefore, the number of those who consider themselves Chileans of Palestinian origin is lower than 50,000, but how large precisely can only be speculated.

Nutrition in the Prevention of Breast Cancer: A Middle Eastern Perspective.

This paper reviews the escalating burden of breast cancer (BC) in the Middle East (ME) and the prevalence of modifiable risk factors and underscores opportunities to promote the prevention of the disease. Similar to more developed countries, BC is the most frequent cancer among women in countries of the ME, accounting for one-third of total cancer cases and 24% of total cancer deaths. Average age at BC diagnosis appears to be a decade earlier in Middle Eastern countries compared to the Western countries, and its incidence is predicted to further increase. Although incidence rates of BC are still lower in Middle Eastern countries than Western ones, mortality rates are similar and at times even higher. It is estimated that 30% of BC cases are due to environmental and lifestyle factors, such as obesity and diet and hence can be preventable. The ME suffers from surging rates of obesity, with eight of its countries ranking among the highest worldwide in obesity prevalence among adults aged 18 and above. ME countries with the highest prevalence of obesity that are among the top 20 worldwide include United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait with rates ranging from 30% in UAE to 37% in Kuwait. In parallel, studies in the ME have consistently showed a shift in dietary intake whereby traditional diets, rich in fruits and vegetables, are progressively eroding and being replaced by westernized diets high in energy and fat. Accumulating evidence is reporting convincing association between consumption of such westernized diets and higher BC risk. Addressing these risk factors and studying their association with BC in terms of their nature and magnitude in Middle Eastern countries could provide the basis for intervention strategies to lower the risk and alleviate the burden of BC in these countries.

Break the Wall: Intercultural Challenges in the Middle East to Teach Spanish as a Foreign Language

This paper investigates the needs of teachers of Spanish have while teaching the language while maintaining and emphasizing the sociocultural, intercultural and religious components. The research will attempt to shed light on offering a performance guide with materials and examples of different nature (songs, videos, textbooks, literary fragments). The paper will also provide a comparison between how to work with similar factors from different perspectives while taking into account the religious and emotional aspects. In order to achieve these aims the method used is based on a synergy of experiences, shared knowledge, culture clash and double perspective the European and the Middle Eastern perspectives. There is an increasing demand for Spanish language instructors’ in the Middle East. This increase together with beneficial work conditions for foreigners make The Middle East an attractive land to spread linguistics knowledge as a language instructor. However, there is an observable lack of cultural information, in terms of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in such a conservative culture, in addition to lack of knowledge of the social protocols in the Middle East. The absence of such essential information may result in misunderstandings and even complaints from both parties in this exchange. It is imperative that senior academics offer a sort of “lifeline” for the upcoming teachers, mainly European or Asian, who might consider working in this area. In a nutshell, in a classroom where the instructor is non-Muslim, what needs to be taken into account in order not to offend the cultural sensitivity of the students? How can the Spanish language instructor create a learning environment where the students do not feel culturally attacked?

One robot doesn’t fit all: aligning social robot appearance and job suitability from a Middle Eastern perspective

Social robots are expected to take over a significant number of jobs in the coming decades. The present research provides the first systematic evaluation of occupation suitability of existing social robots based on user perception derived classification of them. The study was conducted in the Middle East since the views of this region are rarely considered in human–robot interaction research, although the region is poised to increasingly adopt the use of robots. Laboratory-based experimental data revealed that a robot’s appearance plays an important role in the perception of its capabilities and preference for it to perform a particular job. Participants showed a preference for machine-like robots to perform dull and dirty occupations and humanoids, but not androids, to perform jobs requiring extensive social interaction with humans. However, other aspects of appearance than morphology determine whether a robot is preferred for a job irrespective of its perceived capability to do it.

Spirituality and Health: A Middle Eastern Perspective

Previous spirituality studies have mostly been conducted in a Western context (Moberg 2002; Koenig et al. 2012). However, an increasing number of studies are originating from Middle Eastern countries (Koenig et al. 2012). There is a need to review the current status of Middle Eastern research to identify priorities for future research. A search was conducted in two electronic databases: CINAHL and Medline. A final sample of 28 articles was included in the review. Eighteen articles reported on quantitative studies and ten reported on qualitative studies. The majority of previous research has been conducted in Iran (n = 16) and Jordan (n = 6). A total of 3096 participants were included in the studies ranging from 2004 to 2017. Two studies were randomised controlled trials. Most of the qualitative studies aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the concept of spirituality from a Muslim-Arabic perspective. Qualitative findings have conceptualised spirituality as meaning in life, connection, peace and transcendence. In conclusion, there are both differences and similarities between Middle Eastern and Western research on spiritualty and health. Further exploration is warranted to include comparative studies between patient and nurse populations in Western societies and in the Middle East.

Sharjah Biennial 12: The Past, the Present, the Possible

This essay reviews the twelfth iteration of the Sharjah Biennial, 2015, a major event in the international art calendar and the most significant fulcrum of cultural and artistic activities in the Middle East and North Africa. I examine how curator Eungie Joo articulated her theme of The Past, the Present, the Possible by looking closely at the exhibits and some of the key issues that framed the conversations during the March Meeting, the ancillary talk shop event that is as important as the various exhibitions. I explore selected works that either mirror the arc of art history from a Middle Eastern perspective or address some of the critical issues that are emblematic of our contemporary world. Finally, I consider how the biennial disrupts and/or affirms the typological structures and narratives that shape our understanding and experience of art biennials—what some scholars have described as the biennialization of contemporary art and of the art world.

No-show as a cause of surgical cancellation: A mini review from a Middle Eastern perspective.

No-show as a cause of surgical cancellation: A mini review from a Middle Eastern perspective.

Development of a college-level assessment framework in line with international accreditation standards: A Middle Eastern perspective

IntroductionAccreditation of international pharmacy programs by North American and European accrediting bodies is becoming increasingly popular. Practices regarding assessment and evaluation are especially highlighted in accreditation standards and many programs around the world do not currently have coordinated approaches to meet assessment expectations. This article describes the process of developing a comprehensive assessment framework at our institution and provides discussion regarding facilitators and barriers for those attempting to do the same. MethodsA coordinator of Assessment and Accreditation was appointed by the Dean. This person subsequently formed an Assessment Committee consisting of faculty, student, and administrative support membership. This committee developed the assessment framework through a review of published and online literature, in addition to extraction of key assessment points from accreditation standards. These data were then categorized according to major domains informed by the literature review and subcategorized based on components to be assessed using consensus techniques. ResultsA comprehensive assessment framework was developed consisting of three domains (programmatic assessment, academics, and engagement/satisfaction). The components relating to programmatic assessment included vision/mission and accreditation standards; academics consisted of program learning outcomes, final cumulative assessment, and course and curriculum assessments; and engagement/satisfaction consisted of students, faculty/staff, and other stakeholders. ConclusionAn assessment framework guided by accreditation standards can coordinate assessment plans and support program quality.