The current research aims at improving the skills of producing digital stories using the tools of generative artificial intelligence Chat GPT and Google Bard, which are necessary for female student teachers’ specialization: Kindergarten. The current research has used the descriptive approach and the experimental approach with a quasi-experimental design through a design based on one group and comparing the differences between the pre and post-evaluation. The study sample was randomly selected from female students teachers specializing in kindergarten, and their number (...) reached (25) students. A list of producing digital stories standards was prepared and controlled, and a graded performance rating scale was prepared to evaluate the skills of producing digital stories among female student teachers specializing in kindergarten. The results indicate the effectiveness of using the generative AI tools in improving digital stories production skills according to the criteria that were built in the current research. (shrink)

We examine the role of religiosity on the financing activities in both Islamic and conventional banks in Indonesian provinces by using five different measures of religiosity: number of Islamic schools, hajj application, number of Islamic seminary schools, number of Mosques, and number of certified halal products. Based on regression analysis, the results show that both Islamic and conventional banks provide more financing in religious provinces. Religiosity also helps in reducing the volume of non-performing financing. Our the results are still qualitatively (...) valid after taking into account endogeneity issue that emanates from omitted variables (i.e., unobservable beliefs, ideas, and attitudes), and possible reverse causality between religiosity and the total amount of financing at the province level. (shrink)

The ability to bear witness to human trauma and devastation through technologies in the new media age endorses suffering as a form of mass spectacle which can negotiate distance between an exterior world as well as the unfamiliar and the unknown. Our engagements with these forms of mediated suffering in postmodernity can be public and complex and conditioned by both media power and our ability to domesticate suffering in the private confines of our homes. This article reviews the domestication of (...) suffering historically in mainstream media. It contends that mediated suffering has become an entrenched ritual in the media landscape and is a multi-faceted device which can be functionalist and therapeutic yet too pervasive to be rendered meaningful in people’s everyday lives. (shrink)

The links between utopian and dystopian imaginaries, computer mediated communication technologies and the “digital divide,” in its numerous forms, as well as the links between these things and science fiction, are relatively under-researched. It will be argued here that the tendency to view the internet in terms of utopian or dystopian imaginaries is problematic on a number of levels; it will also be argued that science fiction films which are framed in terms of informatics and computer mediated communication technologies, such (...) as 2001 and The Matrix trilogy, actually problematise such imaginaries. (shrink)

The question of the ethical life is arguably one of the most compelling, and urgent, questions of our time. As Peter Singer, among others, has pointed out, almost 10 million children die each year due to poverty, some of whom would not die if the amount of aid that we now offer increases significantly. As Singer has also pointed out, the exploitation of human beings and other animals is a major ethical and practical concern. There can be little reasonable doubt (...) that pain and suffering abound, in the world today, due to many causes such as poverty, disease, environmental degradation and destruction and anthropocentrism among others, just as there can be little reasonable doubt that some of the pain and suffering is preventable. So, what does it mean to live ethically today? Does it mean taking the point of view of the universe, as Sidgwick put it, memorably, rather than a narrow anthropocentric or speciesist view? Does it mean living in accordance with duties or obligations, or in light of recognised virtues, or with the minimisation of pain and suffering primarily in mind? Does it entail a consideration of the interests of other species and a rejection of the principle of the sanctity of human life? Does it mean not eating animals when other healthy alternatives are available, especially when those animals have been treated in ways that are inconsistent with their interests, whatever they may be? Does it mean taking active steps to reduce poverty on our part on a day to day basis? Is ethics exhausted in some sense today? And if we could reach some consensus on these questions, what difference would the ethical life make? Some argue that speciesism and the exploitation of human beings and other animals might diminish; that pain and suffering, especially gratuitous pain and suffering, would decrease, or at the very least, not increase; or that we will become more aware of the limitations of things such as "the traditional ethic of the sanctity of life", as Singer calls it. Some argue that the ethical life is closely related to a life of relationships, reflection and deliberation, all of which deepen our understanding and enrich us personally. Others argue that the ethical life is closely related to our search for a meaningful life - that the ethical life can help us to find meaning in a world in which "meaning", defined broadly, can seem elusive, enigmatic or unsubstantial. These and related issues and questions are explored in this collection, which illustrates the relevance, vitality and dynamism of ethics today. (shrink)

Background In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, nurses play a crucial role as ethical stewards, responsible for whistleblowing, nurse advocacy, and patient safety. Their duties involve ensuring patient well-being through ethical practices and advocacy initiatives. Aim This study investigates the ethical responsibilities of nurses regarding whistleblowing and advocacy in reporting concerns about patient safety. Research Design A cross-sectional study utilized cluster and simple random sampling to gather a representative sample of actively practicing registered nurses. Data collection involved a demographic form, (...) Nurse Whistleblowing Intentions Scale, Nursing Advocacy Scale, and Clinical Decision-Making Scale. Participants and Research Context The study utilizing a robust sample size determination formula for reliable findings included 96 diverse nurses, predominantly females. Engaged actively in direct patient care across various outpatients clinics. The recruitment process specifically sought individuals with expertise in safety protocols and reporting, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the study’s focus. Ethical Considerations Ethical approval was obtained from the ethics committee of the university and the hospitals involved. Written consent was obtained from the participants. A thorough ethical review was conducted to guarantee participant protection and adherence to ethical principles. Results Surveyed nurses demonstrated positive whistleblowing (Overall Mean Score: 3.58), high advocacy (Overall Mean Score: 12.2), and nuanced ethical decision-making for patient safety (Overall Mean Score: 15.78). Demographic factors, such as nationality and ethical training, significantly impacted whistleblowing intentions, while age, gender, and ethical training correlated with nursing advocacy behavior. Associations with experience and qualification emerged in ethical decision-making. Conclusion The gained insights foster targeted interventions, improving ethical practices, advocacy, and informed decision-making in nursing. This study explores the intricate link between demographics and ethical considerations among surveyed nurses, acting as a catalyst for ongoing initiatives to strengthen the ethical foundation in healthcare sector. (shrink)

This book is the culmination of over twenty years of work toward a pedagogical theory that promotes experiential learning of model-laden theory and inquiry in science.

A critical account of "Humanism" and some of its extreme forms and manifestations; reflection on some of the important challenges these raise in relation to higher education in the 21st century.

Trump’s foreign policy outlook and his rhetorical predispositions suggest that the American foreign policy is about to undergo drastic changes in terms of substance matter of policy. The arrival of Trump at the helm of affairs has built a conventional perception of gradual American retreat from the Obama’s rebalancing policy and its pacific-centric outlook. Any abrupt change in this policy of rebalancing will have serious repercussions for the regional economic, political and security architecture designed by America since world-war II. In (...) this context, Offensive Realism, that takes system level variables as the primary determinants of foreign policy of great powers, offers a valuable framework to understand and explain the future course of Obama’s policy of rebalancing under the incumbent administration. To this end, this article is aimed at delving into the theoretical and historical reservoirs related to the US foreign policy along with the current practices of Trump administration to test the claims of continuity or transformation in the US foreign policy of rebalancing in the Asia Pacific region. This article asserts that Obama’s rebalancing policy would continue in the future with certain tactical adjustments related to the implementation of policy. (shrink)

Intersecting authority-language-and-symbolic power, this article tells the story of a group of continental Francophone African youth who find themselves in an urban French-language high school in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Through their narrative, one is confronted by the trauma of one's own language being declared an illegitimate child, hence becoming a ‘deceptive fluency’ in the ‘eyes of power’ thanks to race and post-coloniality. They are fully consciousness of this situation and their ‘linguistic return’, thus gazing back at the eyes of power (...) and declaring themselves ‘subjects’ capable of love and desire. I briefly address questions of hospitality and language ownership and conclude by addressing the need to re-think the connection between race, power and language. (shrink)

En el presente artículo se afirma que la humanidad enfrenta dos grandes desafíos: reconciliar nuestro ser material con el ser espiritual y reconciliar las necesidades individuales con las necesidades colectivas. Al no haber reconciliado estas dos dimensiones de la vida humana, nos encontramos en guerra, exclusión social, sufrimiento, desilusión, ira, incapacidad de avanzar, y muchos otros males. Tras aportar un marco de referencia de la sociedad globalizada, el autor el autor plantea algunos aspectos del desafío, tales como el contraste entre (...) una sociedad materialmente rica y espiritualmente pobre y la necesidad de la integración de valores humanistas y espirituales en la economía que derivarían en una “economía espiritual”. (shrink)

This article expands Kandiyoti's concept of patriarchal bargaining to include men's negotiations. It analyzes how marginalized groups within a dominant sociocultural knowledge regime strategize to advance change while trying to maximize security and optimize their life options. The case study analyzes primaries held within kin-based groupings— hamulas among Palestinian Arabs in Israel—to determine the candidates for municipal elections. Based on interviews and analysis of newspaper articles, the authors claim that the turn to primaries by hamulas was an attempt to resolve (...) disputes that were undermining the patriarchal system. The primaries provided entry to those of lower ranking in the hierarchy of hamula political leadership, while retaining the exclusion of women from the political sphere. Thus, while bargaining with patriarchy, gender identities and hierarchies are contested, re/produced, and negotiated as both a political means and an anchor for social identities. (shrink)

paper to be presented at "Religion, Society, and the Science of Life", 2017 IRC-ISSR Conference, 19-22 July, Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, Oxford University.

In the study of _Lawāmiʿ al-Naẓar_, Ibrahim Safri presents a history of rational sciences in the Maghribī tradition in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. He also presents a critical edition of the work, which can be considered as an introduction to post-Avicennian studies in North Africa.

In this paper an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model, for predicting the category of a tumor was developed and tested. Taking patients’ tests, a number of information gained that influence the classification of the tumor. Such information as age, sex, histologic-type, degree-of-diffe, status of bone, bone-marrow, lung, pleura, peritoneum, liver, brain, skin, neck, supraclavicular, axillar, mediastinum, and abdominal. They were used as input variables for the ANN model. A model based on the Multilayer Perceptron Topology was established and trained using (...) data set which its title is “primary tumor” and was obtained from the University Medical Centre, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia Test data evaluation shows that the ANN model is able to correctly predict the tumor category with 76.67 % accuracy. (shrink)

This study looks at how the seventeenth-century philosopher Sadr al-Din al-Shirazi, known as Mulla Sadra, attempted to reconcile the three major forms of ...

The menace of conflicts and natural disasters in different states of the world had spiralled into a global phenomenon of Internally Displaced Persons. These are groups of humans who had helplessly drifted away from their natural and ancestral home due to conflicts and disasters but had not crossed international boundaries into another country. They merely take solace by the protection offered by the spirit and letters of relevant international laws which have domesticated by member states. This paper seeks to answer (...) the question regarding the extent to which the IDPs have become a menace in Nigeria. The paper reveals that many governments’ actions are the primary and the root cause of the IDPs while others are recipient of the domino effect. The paper relies on a panel data elicited from thirteen out of the thirty six states in Nigeria. The paper reveals the need for urgent measures by government to douse the upsurge in the number of IDPs. The political settlement analysis was used to proffer a better way of culminating the crises. Recommendations are directed to the individuals, civil societies and the government at all levels. (shrink)

The question of the limits of reason, not just within philosophy but also in the modern sciences, is arguably more important than ever given numerous recent commentaries on “life,” “reality,” meaning, purpose, pointlessness and so on, emanating not from philosophers or metaphysicians, but rather from physicists and biologists such as Steven Weinberg and Richard Dawkins. It will be argued that such commentaries concerning the “pointlessness” of the universe, or the purpose of “life,” and other such things, are flawed and unconvincing, (...) not least because they seem to overlook or forget a number of well known and significant philosophical contributions on the question of limits, particularly by Kant, but also by Hume, Russell and Sir A J Ayer. (shrink)

ABSTRACT An ethical analysis of Jordan's Clinical Research Law, which became effective in 2001, was performed. Accordingly, this paper discusses the major components, key strengths and weaknesses of this law. As an initial effort, the Law addresses important aspects of research ethics and, hence, should serve as an example for other Arab Countries in the Middle East. Unique aspects of the Law include the requirement that those conducting any study have insurance that can compensate for research injuries and a system (...) of fines and punishments for noncompliance with the Law. There are, however, some key items missing in the Jordanian Law. For example, the Law does not mention the requirement of a favourable assessment of risks and benefits, the fair selection of subjects, or articles regarding the protection of the rights and welfare of children and other vulnerable subjects participating in research. The paper concludes with the suggestion that new amendments should be considered for future revisions of the Clinical Research Law in Jordan. (shrink)

Governance of biomedical research in the United States has been characterized by ethical individualism, a mode of reasoning that treats the individual person as the center of moral concern and analysis. However, genomics research raises ethics issues that uniquely affect certain genetically related communities as collectives, not merely as aggregates of individuals. This is especially true of identifiable populations—including Indigenous Peoples—that are often minoritized, socially marginalized, or geographically isolated. We propose an alternative, complementary framework based on the United Nations Declaration (...) on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (2007), which explicitly recognizes both individual and collective rights. We use the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance as a case study to show how this UNDRIP‐based framework can complement the individual‐focused national standard for research oversight represented by the Belmont principles, thereby better protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights and interests in genomic data. (shrink)

Günahın, imanı ve diğer salih amelleri boşa çıkarmayacağı hususunda birleşen Ehl-i sünnet âlimleri, irtidadından sonra yeniden İslâm’a dönen kişinin ilk Müslümanlık devresinde işlemiş olduğu amellerin durumu hakkında görüş ayrılığına düşmüşlerdir. Genel anlamda Hanefî/Mâtürîdîler doğrudan irtidad ile o amellerin boşa çıkacağını savunurken, Şâfiî/Eş’arîler ise bunun için ayrıca riddet üzere ölümü şart koşmuşlar, tek başına irtidad ile kişinin önceki amellerinin zayi olmayacağını ileri sürmüşlerdir. Kelâm, fıkıh ve usûl gibi ilimlerle ilişkisi bulunan bu meselede kapsamlı yorumlar daha çok tefsirlerde kendisine yer bulmuştur. Burada (...) Hanefî/Mâtürîdîler, sadece irtidad üzerinden amellerin boşa gideceğinden bahseden Mâide suresi 5/5. ayetini; Şâfiî/Eş’arîler ise bu boşa gitmeyi riddet üzere ölüm haline bağlayan Bakara suresi 2/217. ayetini esas almıştır. Taraflar, birbirlerine karşı ilgili ayetler üzerinden farklı istidlallerde bulunmuş, muhtelif cevaplar vermişlerdir. Bunların içerisinde en esaslı ihtilaf noktasını ise usul tabiriyle mutlak olan ilk ayetin mukayyed konumda bulunan ikinci ayete haml edilip edilmeyeceği meselesi teşkil etmiştir. Hanefî/Mâtürîdîler ilgili ayetler özelinde mutlakın mukayyede hamil şartlarının oluşmadığı düşüncesiyle bu işleme karşı çıkarken, bu konuda daha esnek tavır alan Şâfiî/Eş’arîler ise oluşan şartlar çerçevesinde bu hamil işlemine onay vermiş, buna bağlı olarak da ilgili görüşlerine ulaşmışlardır. Taraflar, ilgili ayetleri değerlendirirken, açıklamalarını, daha çok tertip itibariyle önce gelen ve mukayyed konumda bulunan Bakara suresi 2/217. ayetinin izahında getirmişlerdir. Şâfiî/Eş’arî ilim ehli zaten ilgili ayeti temel aldıkları için onların konuyu inceledikleri yerin bu ilahi kelamın tefsiri olması gayet anlaşılabilir bir husustur. Hanefî/Mâtürîdî zevat ise, daha çok Şâfiî/Eş’arîlerin ayete yükledikleri manaya cevap vermek amacıyla konuyu burada işlemişlerdir. Şâfiî/Eş’arîler, mutlakı mukayyede haml etmelerinin bir gereği olarak konuyla ilgili iki ayetten, Bakara suresi 2/217’yi esas alarak hükümlerini bunun üzerine bina etmişler ve aslında tek ayeti kıstas kabul etmişlerdir. Buna karşılık Hanefî/Mâtürîdîler ise, ilgili iki ayet özelinde mutlakın mukayyede hamil şartlarının gerçekleşmediği iddiasıyla onların her ikisinden ayrı ayrı hüküm çıkarmışlardır. Bu çerçevede ilk ayetten, irtidad üzere ölümün, ebedi hüsranı gerektirmesi, ikinci ayetten ise irtidadın mutlak şekilde amelleri zayi etmesi sonucuna ulaşmışlardır. Burada iki mezhep arasındaki ayrılığın en tipik semeresi, kişinin Müslüman iken yerine getirdiği örneğin hac ibadetini, irtidad sonrası İslâm’a döndüğünde yeniden yapıp yapmayacağı konusunda ortaya çıkmaktadır. Amellerin ancak irtidad üzere ölümle zayi olacağını düşünen Şâfiî/Eş’arîler yeniden hacca gitmeyi gerekli görmezken, ölüm gerçekleşmese de irtidad ile amellerin doğrudan zayi olacağını düşünen Hanefî/Mâtürîdîler ise ilgili kişiyi hac ile sorumlu tutmaktadır. İşte bu çalışmada tarafların savundukları görüşün temel fikri çerçevesi ile muhaliflerine ne tür eleştiriler getirdikleri arka planın izah edilmesine gayret edilecektir. (shrink)

A critical account of Russell's understanding of the relationship between science and religion.

On the aesthetics and poetics of Hawks and Ford; their resurgence in film studies.

Critical evaluation of Heidegger on philosophy & politics (with particular emphasis on the Heidelberg Conference featuring Gadamer, Derrida and Lacoue- Labarthe).