• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권13호
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• pp.5377-5383
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• 2015

Background: Participation is one of the major factors affecting the long-term success of population-based prostate cancer screening programs. The aim of this study was to explore strong factors linked to participation in prostate cancer screening among older Jordanian adults using the Health Belief Model (HBM). Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from Jordanian older adults, aged 40 years and over, who visited a comprehensive health care center within the Ministry of Health. A pilot test was conducted to investigate the internal consistency of the the Champion Health Belief Model Scale for prostate cancer screening and the clarity of survey questions. Sample characteristics and rates of participation in prostate cancer screening were examined using means and frequencies. Important factors associated with participation in prostate cancer screening were examined using bivariate correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: About 13% of the respondents had adhered to prostate cancer screening guidelines over the previous decade. Four out of the seven HBM-driven factors (perceived susceptibility, benefits and barriers to PSA test, and health motivation) were statistically significant. Those with greater levels of susceptibility, benefits of PSA test and health motivation and lower levels of barriers to PSA testing were more likely to participate in prostate cancer screening. Family history, presence of urinary symptoms, age, and knowledge about prostate cancer significantly predicted the participation in prostate cancer screening. Conclusions: Health professionals should focus more on the four modifiable HBMrelated factors to encourage older adults to participate in prostate cancer screening. Intervention programs, which lower perceived barriers to PSA testing and increase susceptibility, benefits of PSA testing and health motivation, should be developed and implemented.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제8권5호
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• pp.543-549
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• 2021

The stock market plays a crucial role in the growth of industry and trade, which eventually affects the economy. This paper studies the determinants of stock market development in Jordan using yearly time-series data (1978-2019). The autoregressive distributed lag approach is applied to examine co-integration, while the vector error correction model is employed to estimate (long-run and short-run) causal relationships. The results show that macroeconomic determinants such as gross domestic product, gross domestic savings, investment rate, credit to the private sector, broadest money supply, stock market liquidity, and inflation rate are important determinants of stock market development. These findings provide vital implications for policymakers in developed and emerging stock markets. First, economic development plays an imperative role in stock market development. Second, developing the banking sector is mandatory because it can significantly promote stock market development. Third, domestic investment is a significant determinant of stock market development, especially in emerging countries. However, it is vital to launch policies that lead to encourage investment and promote stock market development, and this could be done through (1) encouraging competition, (2) improving the institutional framework, and (3) removing trade blocks by establishing a mutual connection between foreign private investment entities and government authorities.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.539-550
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• 2018

Concrete is highly non-linear material which is originating from the transition zone in the form of micro-cracks, governs material response under various loadings. In this paper, the constitutive models published by many researchers have been used to generate novel stiffness parameters and constitutive curves for concrete. Following such linear material formulations, where the energy is conservative during the curvature, and a nonlinear contribution to the concrete has been made and investigated. In which, nonlinear concrete elastic modulus modeling has been developed that is capable-of representing concrete elasticity for grades ranging from 10 to 140 MPa. Thus, covering the grades range of concrete up to the ultra-high strength concrete, and replacing many concrete models that are valid for narrow ranges of concrete strength grades. This has been followed by the introduction of the nonlinear Hooke's law for the concrete material through the replacement of the Young constant modulus with the nonlinear modulus. In addition, the concept of concrete elasticity index (${\varphi}$) has been proposed and this factor has been introduced to account for the degradation of concrete stiffness in compression under increased loading as well as the multi-stages micro-cracking behavior of concrete under uniaxial compression. Finally, a sub-routine artificial neural network model has been developed to capture the concrete behavior that has been introduced to facilitate the prediction of concrete properties under increased loading.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제9권9호
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• pp.39-47
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• 2022

This study explored the effectiveness of the measures taken by the Jordanian Central Bank embedded in its monetary policy in encouraging banks to support investment. It aimed to explore the impact of this monetary policy on supporting credit-related decisions and the monetary policies that aim to support investment in Jordan. The targeted tools of the monetary policy are: (Overnight Deposit Window Rate, money supply, and exports). The researchers carried out an analysis to measure the effectiveness of the monetary policy in fostering investment in Jordan during the period 1992-2020. They carried out the time series analysis. They explored the stationarity of the time series. They used the ARDL model. It was found that the Overnight Deposit Window Rate has a negative significant effect on the gross fixed capital formation. It was found that the money supply has a positive insignificant effect on gross fixed capital formation. The researcher recommends using Overnight Deposit Window Rate in a manner that is consistent with the intended investment-related goals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권16호
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• pp.7011-7023
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• 2015

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men globally, constituting the sixth leading cause of cancer related death in males, and the eleventh leading cause of death from cancer in all age groups. In Jordan, prostate cancer is the third most common cancer in the male population, accounting for one third (6.2%) of cancer related deaths and in 2010 alone, 218 (9.4%) new cases were identified. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of different health education interventions aimed at enhancing knowledge, beliefs and intention to screen for prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: A literature search from January 2000 to April 2015 was conducted using the key words "prostate disease," "educational program," "knowledge," "prostate cancer," "demographic factors and prostate cancer," "knowledge and prostate cancer," "education for patients with prostate cancer," "factors that affect intention to screen," "knowledge, beliefs, and intention to screen for prostate cancer," "impact of prostate educational program on beliefs," and "impact of educational program on intention to screen." Results: Majority of studies reviewed indicated that men had low levels of knowledge regarding prostate cancer, and mild to moderate beliefs with good intention to screen for prostate cancer. Conclusions: Most studies indicated that men's knowledge levels about prostate cancer were poor and they had mild to moderate beliefs and intentions to screen for prostate cancer. Therefore, development of an assessment strategy based on the Health Belief Model seems essential. An effectively designed and implemented educational program can help identify the needs and priorities of the target population.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.87-103
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• 2007

This paper presents some of the results from an experimental research project on the behavior of extended end-plate connections subjected to moment conducted at the Structural Laboratory of Jordan University of Science and Technology. Since the connection behavior affects the structural frame response, it must be included in the global analysis and design. In this study, the behavior of six full-scale stiffened and unstiffened cantilever connections of HEA- and IPE-sections has been investigated. Eight high strength bolts were used to connect the extended end-plate to the column flange in each case. Strain gauges were installed inside each of the top six bolts in order to obtain experimentally the actual tension force induced within each bolt. Then the connection behavior is characterized by the tension force in the bolt, extended end-plate behavior, moment-rotation relation, and beam and column strains. Some or all of these characteristics are used by many Standards; therefore, it is essential to predict the global behavior of column-beam connections by their geometrical and mechanical properties. The experimental test results are compared with two theoretical (equal distribution and linear distribution) approaches in order to assess the capabilities and accuracy of the theoretical models. A simple model of the joint is established and the essential parameters to predict its strength and deformational behavior are determined. The equal distribution method reasonably determined the tension forces in the upper two bolts while the linear distribution method underestimated them. The deformation behavior of the tested connections was characterized by separation of the column-flange from the extended end-plate almost down to the level of the upper two bolts of the lower group and below this level the two parts remained in full contact. The neutral axis of the deformed joint is reasonably assumed to pass very close to the line joining the upper two bolts of the lower group. Smooth monotonic moment-rotation relations for the all tested frames were observed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.187-206
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• 2007

A rational three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model is described and implemented for evaluating the behavior of high strength concrete slabs under transverse load. The concrete was idealized by using twenty-nodded isoparametric brick elements with embedded reinforcements. The concrete material modeling allows for normal (NSC) and high strength concrete (HSC), which was calibrated based on experimental data. The behavior of concrete in compression is simulated by an elastoplastic work-hardening model, and in tension a suitable post-cracking model based on tension stiffening and shear retention models are employed. The nonlinear equations have been solved using the incremental iterative technique based on the modified Newton-Raphson method. The FE formulation and material modeling is implemented into a finite element code in order to carry out the numerical study and to predict the behavior up to ultimate conditions of various slabs under transverse loads. The validity of the theoretical formulations and the program used was verified through comparison with available experimental data, and the agreement has proven to be very good. A parametric study has been also carried out to investigate the influence of different material and geometric properties on the behavior of HSC slabs. Influencing factors, such as concrete strength, steel ratio, aspect ratio, and support conditions on the load-deflection characteristics, concrete and steel stresses and strains were investigated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.93-115
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• 2012

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the mechanical behaviour of extended end - plate steel connections including comparison with full size experiments. Contact and friction laws have been taken into account with nonlinear, three dimensional finite element analysis. Material and geometric nonlinearities have been implemented to the model, as well. Results are then compared with experimental tests conducted at the Jordan University of Science and Technology. According to the most significant observation of the analysis, a separation of the column flange from the extended end - plate occurs. Other important structural parameters of the connection, like the impact of some column stiffeners on the overall response, local buckling of the column and friction of the beam to column interface, have been examined as well.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.25-38
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• 2017

This study investigates the causal relationship between stock prices and exchange rates for six Middle Eastern countries, namely, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia before and during (after) the 2007 global financial crisis for the period between January 2004 and September 2015. The sample is divided into two sub-periods, that is, the period from January 1, 2004 to September 30, 2007 and the period from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2015, to represent the pre-crisis period and the post-crisis period, respectively. Using Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model in a multivariate framework (including two control variables, inflation rates and oil prices) the results suggest that in the case of Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, there exists bidirectional causalities after the crisis period but not the before. The opposite status is available for the case of Iran. In the case of Oman, there is bidirectional causality between the variables of interest in both periods. The results also reveal that the relationship between stock prices and exchange rates has become stronger after the 2007 global financial crisis. Overall, the results of this study indicate that fluctuations in foreign exchange markets can significantly affect stock markets in the Middle East.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.93-102
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• 2022

The goal of this study was to see how big data analytics (BDA) affected external audit procedures in the Middle East. The measurement model and structural model of this investigation were evaluated using PLS-SEM (3.3.3). The study sample members were (361) auditors who work in auditing companies in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, and Iraq. A questionnaire was chosen to the study sample members electronically, and the study sample members were (5093) auditors who work in auditing companies in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, and Iraq. To choose the sample, the researchers used a stratified random sampling procedure. The findings show that BDA has an impact on audit procedures at all phases of the auditing process, where it contributes to information delivery that helps auditors understand the client's internal and external environments, which in turn influences the choice to accept the audit assignment. Furthermore, by providing essential information, BDA enables auditors to simply run analytical procedures, estimate client risks, and understand and evaluate the internal control system. As a result, auditors must develop their abilities in the BDA field, as it adds to the creation of additional value for both auditors and their clients.