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Green hydrogen is crucial for society's access to peaceful, secure, and stable energy sources to flourish sustainably and get universal government support. To protect the environment and provide energy security, it is essential to use hydrogen as a sustainable fuel and energy source to cover the energy baseload. This paper investigates the developments of renewable energy (RE) and the potential for green hydrogen in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. There is a considerable chance to use RE because of the MENA region's excellent solar radiation. On the other hand, many countries in the MENA region are classified as one of the poorest in water resources and are known to have water-energy challenges. This paper focuses on the water needed to produce hydrogen in countries with water scarcity. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was performed for green hydrogen generation in the MENA, where recommendations for countries with a water-energy nexus can be made. Additionally, this paper offers suggestions for creating a sustainable hydrogen economy, such as cutting back on the domestic use of fossil fuels, subsidizing the renewable production industry, and supporting hydrogen manufacturing. • Green hydrogen production is highly affected by water scarcity. • SWOT analysis was performed on green hydrogen generation in the MENA. • Recommendations were provided on a country-by-country basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Children experience unequal environments and development prior to primary school • Pre-primary quality, home stimulation, and early childhood development are studied • Outcomes by socioeconomic status are examined for pre-primary students in Egypt • There is substantial socioeconomic inequality in stimulation at home • There is less inequality in pre-primary quality and inputs, varying by dimension By the time children start primary school, large socioeconomic disparities are evident in their learning and development. Both pre-primary and home environments can play important roles in influencing school readiness and can contribute to disparities in early childhood development, but there is limited evidence on their relative roles in the Middle East and North Africa. This paper examines how pre-primary quality, stimulation at home, and early childhood development vary by socioeconomic status for pre-primary students in Egypt. The results demonstrate substantial socioeconomic inequality in stimulation at home, more so than in pre-primary quality and inputs, although there is variation in the degree of inequality across different dimensions of pre-primary quality. "Double inequality" is observed, where students with less stimulating home environments experience slightly lower quality pre-primary inputs. There are particularly large pre-primary inequities in structural quality (physical environment) and less inequity in process quality (pedagogy). These results suggest that targeted investments in pre-primary education in Egypt are necessary to reduce inequality in school readiness but are likely insufficient to close the socioeconomic status gap in children's development. Investing in interventions to improve vulnerable children's home learning environments, as well as investing in quality pre-primary, is critical to address disparities in children's development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being often recognized as a middle power, Erdoğan and his aides have firmly believed that Turkey was not a real 'subject' in international relations and could only become one under Erdoğan's rule. This paper examines Turkey's claims to institute itself as a 'subject' in regional politics through the concept of 'actorness'. The article details the two major policy choices that represent Ankara's emergence as a subject, evaluates them with respect to the key attributes of actorness in international politics and discusses the implications of Turkey's militarised and assertive policies for its status in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The paper argues that while Turkey's quest for 'subjectness' has provided the country with some hard power capability and autonomy, it has not produced consistent and coherent policies, damaging its credibility and attractiveness in the eyes of the countries in the MENA region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the European Union (EU) response to three conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region and shines a spotlight on the degree of division among its member states and on the management of these divisions. It concludes that the EU's desire to be seen as an international actor varies according to the confrontation; it is stronger in the Arab-Israeli conflict, but weaker in the Sahara. Domestic protest and politicisation in the EU affect the fragmentation of positions and the frequency of obstructionist stances. The EU manages the divisions differently in each conflict, with strategies that vary according to the level of ambition or the desire to ensure the sides note the existence of a European position. The paper highlights the growing interaction between the different regional flashpoints and makes the case for a systemic and multilevel approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arab Spring was a period of intense activism demanding democracy and freedom that swept across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. While previous research has focused on the role of diaspora communities in the uprisings and the strategies employed by regimes to suppress them, it has primarily centered on countries that experienced large-scale revolutions and endured severe consequences. Consequently, the current literature has failed to explore the situation of Arab Gulf dissidents living in exile, instead focusing on a few isolated incidents. This paper examines the transnational repression (TR) campaign of the Arab Gulf states (AGSs). Drawing on the literature about the long arm of authoritarianism and TR, this paper explores the various TR methods employed by the AGSs to silence activists living abroad. The paper finds that the nature of TR in the Arab Gulf region is unique when compared with other MENA countries. The TR campaign of AGSs is alarmingly expanding, using various mechanisms and resources, making the region one of the world's leading perpetrators. The methods employed by the AGSs include travel bans as part of their coercion by proxy, digital transnational repression, and the use of multilateral organizations as tools of repression. Additionally, this paper highlights the AGSs' support of other countries' TR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the part of human nature to explore new locations, to study interesting landscapes, archeology and cultures, and to visit holy and religious sites. Travelling and journey are highly recommended by the Glorious Qur'an. Allah asked us to travel through the earth to take the lessons from His creation. Islam is a complete code of life. Islam spread due to the tourists from North Africa to the Middle East, and from Arabia to China. It is a well-established fact that Islam guide day-to-day activities whether at home or travelling.it recognizes people's right to move from one place to other and encourages travelling for beneficial purposes like health and medication, education, business, trade, entertainment, and fun. learning new things and personal enrichment have both been found to be motivators and desired benefits of travel But It has been proposed that all travel is educational because it broadens the mind and heart as people learn from and interpret experiences. Travelling improves person's knowledge gained from books. Ideas hit when people travel in different places. The mental prospect is broadened. It makes us open-minded in thought. It expands outlook of people. This paper will describe the educative outcomes and benefits of travel. First, meaning and etymology of travel will be defined. than link between traveling and learning benefits will be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy is a promising and sustainable natural resource that can be harnessed through solar harvesting devices such as photovoltaic (PV) cells and concentrating solar collectors. The efficiency of these systems can reach up to 23% and 70%, respectively. However, their performance is significantly affected by geographical and environmental factors, such as orientation, inclination angle, longitude, latitude, solar intensity, shade, wind, temperature, and dust accumulation. Among these factors, dust deposition is a major contributor to reduced efficiency, power production, and profitability of solar energy harvesting devices. Accumulated dust can decrease the efficiency of solar systems by more than 70% within a month, depending on their geographical location. The intensity and characteristics of dust, such as shape, size, meteorology, and type, vary worldwide and are determined by the system. Numerous studies have investigated the intensity of dust and various dust cleaning techniques with prospects and challenges to restore the performance of solar energy harvesting systems. This paper focuses on the intensity of dust around the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It provides a detailed review of recent investigations into dust-cleaning techniques for solar energy harvesting systems for researchers, designers, and engineers in this field. Furthermore, it includes a techno-economic comparison of the techniques, which can aid in selecting the most suitable dust-cleaning technique for a particular geographic region based on technical and financial aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth observation (EO) techniques have significantly evolved over time, covering a wide range of applications in different domains. The scope of this study is to review the research conducted on EO in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa (EMMENA) region and to identify the main knowledge gaps. We searched through the Web of Science database for papers published between 2018 and 2022 for EO studies in the EMMENA. We categorized the papers in the following thematic areas: atmosphere, water, agriculture, land, disaster risk reduction (DRR), cultural heritage, energy, marine safety and security (MSS), and big Earth data (BED); 6647 papers were found with the highest number of publications in the thematic areas of BED (27%) and land (22%). Most of the EMMENA countries are surrounded by sea, yet there was a very small number of studies on MSS (0.9% of total number of papers). This study detected a gap in fundamental research in the BED thematic area. Other future needs identified by this study are the limited availability of very high-resolution and near-real-time remote sensing data, the lack of harmonized methodologies and the need for further development of models, algorithms, early warning systems, and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the determinants of emigration from six Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries in light of the Arab Spring of 2011. The aim is to determine if the economically unfortunate events which occurred as a result of the Arab Spring, resulted in a brain drain for many countries. The paper's analysis is conducted using the Arab Transformation Project dataset of the year 2014 by employing an ordered probit model. The paper's main conclusion is that sentiments of unhappiness appear to be the primary determinant of the willingness to emigrate. Other post‐revolutionary feelings include lack of trust and political and democratic discontent, which highly encourage the willingness to emigrate. In addition, socio‐economic factors, such as being young, male, and highly educated, contribute to the willingness to emigrate. However, married individuals are less likely to consider emigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have been conducted worldwide to study travel behavior, specifically commuting times. Nevertheless, few or none have been conducted in the Middle East and North Africa region. The main objective of this paper is to understand the relationship between the actual, ideal and maximum willingness to commute times, and satisfaction with commuting in the city of Jounieh, Lebanon. Socio-economic and land use factors were included to investigate whether they influence commuting times. The average commuting time of the sample is 48.2 minutes, longer than their ideal commute time by about 20 minutes, while their maximum willingness to commute time is 53.46 minutes. The sample was neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their commutes. After performing multivariate Ordinary Least Squares model, and fixing the socio-economic and land use variables, the model proved that the actual and ideal commuting times as well as the actual and maximum commuting times are positively correlated, but the actual commuting time and satisfaction are negatively correlated. A univariate Ordinary Least Square model was performed to determine the correlation between ideal and maximum commuting times; they are highly positively correlated. Finally, the average commuting times and satisfaction were compared for some categories. Women spend almost 13% less time commuting than men, yet they have lower level of satisfaction. Lebanese commuters are also shown to commute more than non-Lebanese ones by approximately 22%. University level commuters commute about 36% more than non-university level people, while unemployed and employed respondents commute for the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to confront some of the many facets of academic freedom as a whole, including the shared concerns with Western academia, its relationship to the politics of Arab society and the relevance of these issues within local political domains. It attempts to profile the problems hindering societal progress beyond the seemingly defined truth. While this subject has many facets, this article only examines academic freedom within the scope of knowledge and inquiry derived from the revered text of the Qur'ãn, including its relation to democracy and radicalism. It is an effort to refocus Arab intellectual dialogue on its ailing academia. It also argues for Arab society to reclaim its core culture of Islam as an enabler of learning aside from the Eurocentric perspective of academic freedom. Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses an expository and persuasive format in its novel perspective. This expository form sets out the argument of academic freedom as being indigenous to Arab-Islamic heritage and pursues a persuasive statement for its resolution. This format outlines the main familiar aspects of academic freedom and lays out its components within Arab-Islamic history. Findings: This paper provides insights and arguments supporting its main theory. It suggests that Arabs must judiciously consider what their education will look like and accomplish in the next 100 years, considering the sociopolitical status quo and the chances of changing it. It argues that academic freedom is indigenous to Arab-Islamic early history, academia and knowledge governance. Therefore, Arab academia must not ignore its heritage to examine what hinders education and intellectualism. It concludes with the point that reinstalling a culture of knowledge will create a relevant democracy. Research limitations/implications: The implications for research, practice and society are vast. Further academic freedom research would redefine terms of processes, change the role of academic leadership, debunk locally dominated politics, introduce learning-first policies, balance inequalities in gender, abolish academic tribalism and move past colonialist ideas and predominance. For researchers, this point of view would open doors for new scholastic approaches. Practical implications: This paper includes practical implications that stem from an approach that would provoke practical possibilities and call for more academic conversations. Further conversations should explore and debate the gaps in Arab-Islamic knowledge history. The Global South of the Arab World or the Middle East and Northern Africa/Southwest Asia North Africa region could consider drafting a contemporary MENA account of a Magna Charta Libertatis Academicae or a Magna Charta Universitatum that is galvanized by Arab revivable heritage. Moreover, It would be productive if Western universities that operate in the Arab World would also take an active role in denouncing undemocratic practices and not merely operate as commercial enterprises. Social implications: Realizing academic freedom in Arab institutions will have a positive spillover effect on Arab society, including thriving and free media, freedom of speech and gender issues. Academic freedom is one of the main elements in structuring free political culture that adhere to the principles of tolerance. Academic freedom is necessary for showing all contesting ideas in a better light and, ultimately, achieving a form of intellectual equipoise. Originality/value: This paper concerns academic freedom in the Arab-Islamic World. The majority of academic freedom scholarship today assumes a Western democratic context in discussing or even arguing against it. The paper's focus is a novel expansion of that literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolitical and economic changes have accelerated worldwide since the Russian military operation in Ukraine. The impact of this military crisis has extended beyond the borders of Europe, casting its shadow on the Middle East and North Africa, causing major political, social and economic repercussions, due to the fragility of the economies in the region and the structural problems it suffers from, such as corruption, unemployment and lack of good governance, and the dependence on imports for most commodities, including food. This paper examines the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the regional and local Arab political situations, presenting a political reading on the variant standpoints from this war, and then analyzing stances in light of international changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, electricity tariffs play an essential role in the electricity retail market as they are the key factor for the decision-making of end-users. Additionally, tariffs are necessary for increasing competition in the electricity market. They have a great impact on load energy management. Moreover, tariffs are not taken as a fixed approach to expense calculations only but are influenced by many other factors, such as electricity generation, transmission, distribution costs, and governmental taxation. Thus, electricity pricing differs significantly between countries or between regions within a country. Improper tariff calculation methodologies in some areas have led to high-power losses, unnecessary investments, increased operational expenses, and environmental pollution due to the non-use of available sustainable energy resources. Due to the importance of electricity tariffs, the authors of this paper have been inspired to review all electricity tariff designs used worldwide. In this paper, 103 references from the last ten years are reviewed, showing a detailed comparison between different tariff designs and demonstrating their main advantages and drawbacks. Additionally, this paper reviews the utilized electricity tariffs in different countries, focusing on one of the most important countries in the Middle East and North Africa regions (Egypt). Finally, some recommended solutions based upon the carried-out research are discussed and applied to the case study for electricity tariff improvement in this region. This review paper can help researchers become aware of all the electricity tariff designs used in various countries, which can lead to their design improvements by using suitable software technologies. Additionally, it will increase end-users' awareness in terms of deciding on the best electricity retail markets as well as optimizing their energy usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the progress made by the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in terms of gender equality and social and, above all, educational emancipation, today there are still disparities in terms of the participation of women in the labour market. This paper proposes a descriptive and qualitative analysis of the situation of women in two MENA countries, which are Algeria and Morocco, and of the socioeconomic factors that hinder their autonomy in the field of work. As a result, the role of the family and the social environment on women is emphasised so that they could be active members of society and consequently become an additional labour force trained for the growth of the region, is emphasised, but it is condemned for the achievement of this triple challenge: education, professional integration, and economic empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand and dust storms are a common natural hazard in arid and dry areas of the Middle East and North Africa severely affecting human life and economic sectors, including agriculture production. In this paper, I explore the potential impact of sand and dust storms (SDS) on agricultural sub-sectors in Iraq by combining the household-level production and socioeconomic data with the climate dataset to allow the empirical assessment of agricultural impacts due to dust storms. I find compelling evidence that exposure of crops and livestock to dust storms significantly diminish agricultural productivity, vegetation cover and have significant bearings on the household welfare. Our analysis reveals a 1.1% reduction in the value of crop production as a result of an additional SDS event. This corresponds to about 0.045% losses in the GDP of Iraq, an amount equivalent to about $0.1 billion. Crop yields are reduced significantly ranging from 0.9% to 3% for an additional day of sand and dust storms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrids encourage and facilitate the integration of the proliferating distributed energy resources. In this paper, we address the needs of the largely unexplored region of the Middle East and North Africa by proposing a microgrid testbed with resources from this geographical location. The locational and temporal importance of the testbed data is a cornerstone in the motivation to design the system. The proposed microgrid testbed data reflect the special characteristics in the region, including the extremely hot and arid weather, in addition to special cultural events that affect load profiles, and hence the operation of the microgrid. The microgrid testbed consists of hybrid renewable energy resources, energy storage systems, and four load categories under a single-controlled and grid-connected entity. Together with the local utility grid, the energy storage systems, and the over 400kW rated average power of renewables feed the local controllable microgrid loads rated around 500kW. Real and local data from Saudi Arabia with multiple load categories are considered for the model to address the practicality and peculiarity of the study. Multiple case studies are implemented on the testbed to verify its performance and showcase its operation principle. Our results for example show the abruptness of the microgrid testbed controllers and storage devices in achieving energy balance, after introducing a 40% reduction in the PV output due to the shading effect. All testbed data can be accessed online to enable researchers to benchmark their findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the determinants of private tutoring in five major Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries: Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. The paper uses data extracted from the SAHWA Youth Survey (2016) and runs a probit model. The main findings indicate that age, receiving financial support, having educated parents and living in urban areas increase the demand for private tutoring. Conversely, the results show that being a male student or a child of an employed mother will decrease the need for a private tutor. The empirical findings propose potential policy implications for MENA countries facing the exacerbation of gaps in the education system while emphasizing the challenges hindering public schools from delivering quality education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Conflict, fragility and political violence, that are taking place in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have devastating effects on health. Digital health technologies can contribute to enhancing the quality, accessibility and availability of health care services in fragile and conflict-affected states of the MENA region. To inform future research, investments and policy processes, this scoping review aims to map out the evidence on digital health in fragile states in the MENA region. Method: We conducted a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. We conducted descriptive analysis of the general characteristics of the included papers and thematic analysis of the key findings of included studies categorized by targeted primary users of different digital health intervention. Results: Out of the 10,724 articles identified, we included 93 studies. The included studies mainly focused on digital health interventions targeting healthcare providers, clients and data services, while few studies focused on health systems or organizations managers. Most of the included studies were observational studies (49%). We identified no systematic reviews. Most of the studies were conducted in Lebanon (32%) followed by Afghanistan (13%) and Palestine (12%). The first authors were mainly affiliated with institutions from countries outside the MENA region (57%), mainly United Kingdom and United States. Digital health interventions provided a platform for training, supervision, and consultation for health care providers, continuing education for medical students, and disease self-management. The review also highlighted some implementation considerations for the adoption of digital health such as computer literacy, weak technological infrastructure, and privacy concerns. Conclusion: This review showed that digital health technologies can provide promising solutions in addressing health needs in fragile and conflict-affected states. However, rigorous evaluation of digital technologies in fragile settings and humanitarian crises are needed to inform their design and deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the impact of different parameters on promoting the role of cycling as a daily mode of transport. In the first step of the analyses, binary logistic regression was used to examine the impact of different parameters on using or not using the bicycle as a transportation mode in weekly trips. Then by text mining, the main reasons for not using a bicycle in weekly trips are outlined. Finally, for those who use bicycles for at least one utilitarian trip a week, the effect of different factors on the popularity of this mode is investigated by structural equation modeling. Tehran, as a big city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, was considered as the case study. The results suggest that it is necessary to work on social norms about cycling, especially among those with higher education levels and income. Women use bicycles less than men and it is also necessary to rethink attitudes and regulations in relation to women cycling in Islamic countries. Bicycle promotion should aim to facilitate more positive attitudes among women. Providing more facilities such as safe bicycle paths, bicycle parking, and bike-sharing facilities have significant impacts on using this mode and its popularity. In highly congested cities, alongside facilitating cycling, it is important to set restrictions on private car use. The United Nations has outlined sustainable development goals (SDGs), which among other important aspects focus on transportation systems in the cities. Attracting citizens to bicycles can be an effective step to establish a more sustainable future transport system. To contribute toward this objective, the current study aims to investigate the impact of different parameters on increasing the popularity of cycling and proposing countermeasures to attract more people to this mode. Tehran, the capital of Iran as a big Middle East and North Africa (MENA) city in a developing country with substantial sustainability challenges, was considered as the case study and 1,074 people in different districts of the city were surveyed. The practical results suggest that it is necessary to work on social norms about cycling, especially among those with higher education levels and income. Women use bicycles less than men and it is necessary to rethink attitudes and regulations in relation to women cycling in Islamic countries. Bicycle promotion should aim to facilitate more positive attitudes among females. Providing more facilities such as safe bicycle paths, bicycle parking, and bike-sharing facilities have significant impacts on using this mode and its popularity. In highly congested cities, alongside facilitating cycling, it is important to set restrictions on private car use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major health problem and one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. The purpose of this paper was to summarize knowledge about the epidemiology of HCV genotype (GT) 4 infection, similarities and differences with other genotypes, specific problems associated with this genotype, and treatment regimens used to treat GT4-infected patients. We performed an accurate search for literature using the PubMed database to select high-quality reviews and original articles concerning this topic. GT4 with a global prevalence of 8% takes third place, closing the global HCV podium in terms of frequency. However, there are regions where GT4 infections are dominant, such as sub-Saharan and North Africa, and the Middle East. The disease course and complications are generally similar to those of chronic hepatitis C caused by other genotypes, although the faster progression of fibrosis was demonstrated in patients with coexisting schistosomiasis. In the era of interferon-based therapy, GT4-infected patients were described as difficult to treat due to suboptimal response. A breakthrough in the treatment of HCV-infected patients, including those with GT4 infection, was the introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs. The availability of safe and effective therapy has created a real opportunity for HCV eradication in line with the goal set by the World Health Organization. An example of a country where this is happening is Egypt, where GT4 accounts for more than 90% of HCV infections. There, broad access to therapy has been effectively supported by population-based screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This retrospective descriptive study evaluated the Scopus-indexed dental journals and their most-cited documents affiliated with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries from 2011 to 2021. Methods: Dental journals affiliated with MENA countries, their bibliometric indicators (SJR, CiteScore, SNIP, and H-index), and the 101 most cited articles of the considered journals were extracted and studied through descriptive statistics. In addition, the "citation per year" of each top 101 articles was calculated. Spearman's rho test was used for pairwise comparisons of the correlation coefficient values between each two of the considered bibliometric indicators. Results: The number of citations of the 101 most-cited papers ranged from 35 to 203. The mean (SD) citations of studied articles were 61.33 (37.58) and the median was 46. Furthermore, CiteScore had the highest significant correlation with SJR (r = 0.828, P < 0.001). Moreover, the citation per year of the top 101 documents had no significant relationship with any of the journals' bibliometric indicators. Conclusion: Because journal performance and citation rate are multi-dimensional concepts, a single metric cannot express them thoroughly despite correlations between indices. "European Journal of Dentistry" from Turkey, "Saudi Dental Journal" from Saudi Arabia, and "Iranian Endodontic Journal" and "Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences" both from Iran had the highest ranks in the SCImago portal and the highest scores in bibliometric indices amongst the MENA dental journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine and compare the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows on bank deposits in aggregate as well as at the level of conventional and Islamic banks in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. The study also tests hypotheses of direct and indirect impacts of FDI flow and FDI stock on bank deposits. Design/methodology/approach: Static and dynamic panel generalized methods of moments (GMM) estimation techniques are applied to analyze a large data set of 491 commercial banks (422 conventional banks and 69 Islamic banks) across 18 MENA countries between 1993 and 2017 (12,275 year observations). Findings: Empirical results indicate that inflowing FDI flow and FDI stock have a significant negative direct impact on deposits of MENA banks. The results lend support for the direct channel hypothesis for the effect of FDI on bank deposits and find no evidence in support of the indirect channel hypothesis. FDI inflows affect bank deposits directly via increased FDI-related excessive competition in the banking market. Deposits from conventional banks appear to be more affected than those from Islamic banks. The variation may due to the fact that Islamic banks have fewer multinational corporations (MNC) customers than conventional banks and therefore are less sensitive to fluctuations in FDI. Practical implications: From this analysis, this study concludes that foreign investments have a higher productivity than local investments in MENA region. Attracting more FDI is aimed at increasing overall national productivity through competition. However, governments would be wise to enact such a policy to maximize benefits and minimize potential harm to local industry. Furthermore, FDI policy should encourage small to medium-size banks and firms (SMEs)' participation and linkage with multinational banks and MNCs, while upgrading research and development institutions and innovation activities to help SMEs to benefit from potential spillovers from foreign presence in the industry. In addition, the linkage and connection between SMEs and foreign firms should be strengthened and promoted by government policy. Originality/value: This study is the first of its kind to examine the effect of FDI inflows on bank deposits. It also provides an in-depth quantitative analysis of the impact of FDI flow and FDI stock, separately, on bank deposits for both conventional and Islamic banks. It distinguishes between direct and indirect channels through which FDI inflows may affect bank deposits. The study analyzes 25 years of panel data for 491 banks (12,275 year observations) and uses both static and dynamic panel GMM estimation techniques to analyze the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain Technology has disrupted our social, business, and technical domains and will continue to do so in the next coming years. As technology is still in its early stages, with several countries investigating ways of utilizing it and incorporating their systems and frameworks' capabilities. The Blockchain community is now recognizing some significant limitations, such as the absence of regulatory frameworks, collaborative leadership, a relatively small number of use cases, the challenge of cross country collaboration, and the limited availability of a skilled, educated workforce. The need for awareness and increased adoption in both developed and developing countries is of paramount importance, and this paper aims to contribute to this area. The paper seeks to shade light regarding the use of blockchain technology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of human–computer interaction (HCI) is a growing area of research. However, its ascendancy and evolution is not understood in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which is knocking on the doors of innovation and technological advancements. In our analysis, we present a bibliometric and socioeconomic overview of the progress of HCI research in the MENA region. Using a pool of 10 premier venues in the discipline, we extracted 549 papers. We show that authors from high-income MENA countries are the most prolific in terms of both research output and first authorship and that authors from upper-middle-income countries are more likely to publish their work in journals. The topical focus of conducted research was also observed to vary as per the socioeconomic category to which a country belonged to. The USA emerged as the standout collaborative partner of the MENA region, and there was an observed lack of intra-MENA associations. We conclude with the assertion that additional efforts are warranted to promote collaborations amongst the region. Our work is one of the first attempts to quantitatively chart the development of HCI in the MENA region using the socioeconomic level of a country as an important predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling buildings represent a major environmental issue, especially during summers. Although thermal insulation can decrease cooling loads, the presence of thermal bridges, infiltrations, windows, and other openings pose a continuous challenge. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, for instance, most windows are made of aluminum, a thermal conductor. This paper uses two methods to evaluate the alternative solution of enveloping buildings, including windows, with a secondary layer. The first method involved small-scale models; two test rooms were built, with one (the reference room) being based on regular municipal thermal guidelines and the other (the enveloped room) including an extra, secondary surrounding layer. The second test staged a similar scenario via software simulation. Both sets of results showed a significant reduction in electricity consumption in the enveloped room, which became more notable as the weather grew hotter. At the high end of the temperature scale, the power consumption of the enveloped room was 47%–54% lower than that of the reference room. However, such a secondary building envelope would increase the width of the wall structure and present the downside of adding to construction costs. While adopting this system in Dubai may save the city an estimated 16.6% in electrical energy, based on current prices, a house would likely need between 10 and 15 years to recuperate the associated capital investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for a low-carbon energy transition has grown in recent years as concerns about the effects of climate change have grown. In this context, several governments around the world are concerned about hydrogen's possible role in a decarbonized energy system. As a result, this paper will provide a high-level overview of the hydrogen value chain, as well as an analysis of current and emerging trends in the global hydrogen market, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which are considered the cornerstone of the current global energy system traditional fossil fuel. Egypt, as a case study, could instruct other emerging countries in general, and natural gas suppliers in particular, how to maximize gains by switching from current imports to blue hydrogen made from natural gas. Policymakers who are responsible for Egypt's national hydrogen strategy should focus on global energy insights, international experience, and natural gas-sourced blue hydrogen as a step to renewables-sourced green hydrogen. • The role of hydrogen energy in carbon-post age. • Perspectives into different low hydrogen technologies. • Blue hydrogen is a step to green hydrogen. • Egypt should formulate a national hydrogen strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost everywhere throughout the Majority World (MW), that is Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Christianity used to be called the 'white-man's religion'. But that is the case no more—the church has exploded all over the MW. In this paper I would like to look at this shift in Christianity worldwide, and what implications it has for the global church, and especially for us in Asia. My purpose here is not to highlight the weaknesses of the Western church and to glorify the growth of the churches in the MW. Rather my hope is that this will help us have a clearer understanding of the challenges before us so that we can labor more fruitfully for the advance of the gospel in the Asian context. In the process I will also raise questions which hopefully will help point the way forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional tillage coupled with monocropping and limited recycling of crop residues along with increased pressure from human and livestock population has led to the degradation of the soil, water resources, and the environment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Conservation Agriculture (CA) considered as "climate-smart" agriculture, strives to achieve acceptable profits along with high and sustained production levels while concurrently conserving and regenerating soils and protecting the environment. The objectives of this paper are to review and synthesize available findings on CA, its past trends, current opportunities and challenges, evidence on potential benefits from its adaptation, to discuss its future outlook, and to make relevant recommendations for interventions and novel research needs for its wider diffusion in the region. In MENA, major research on CA has been mainly conducted in Morocco, Tunisia, Iran, and Syria, while Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt embarked CA research fairly recently. About 25-40% out of the 53 million hectares total arable land is estimated to be suitable for CA in the region. In recent years a growing number of studies carried under a range of climatic, soil, management and cropping conditions in many countries of MENA reported several benefits including higher and more stable yields and profits, reduced risks of crop loss, labor requirements, soil erosion, and improved soil moisture and quality under CA system. Despite its benefits, adoption of CA in MENA is still very low for various reasons including: lack of affordable and well-adapted seeders, the complexity of the CA system which posed a major challenge for mostly uneducated farmers to comprehend, ill-conceived policies that promote cereal intensification hence inadvertently promote monocropping, tradeoffs between residue retention and livestock feed, lack of adequate policy and institutional framework and incentives to enhance farmers' adoption, and the private sector's active involvement in the dissemination of CA. The wider acceptance of CA requires the development of affordable and versatile no-till seeder alongside the implementation of integrated crop management practices. CA-based bundled agronomic management practices must be tailored to the biophysical and socio-economic environment. Finally, effective strategies for upscaling CA in MENA has to be developed by taking into consideration the unique features of the region. Despite the daunting past adoption trends and current challenges, we predict a bright future for CA in the region due to several factors including: rising energy prices and wage rates, the emergence of younger and more educated farmers, the advent of climate change, the increasing awareness on the degradation of land and water resources among farmers and policy makers, changes in dietary preferences subsequently increasing trends in demand and prices of legumes are expected to increase the desirability of CA and enhance its wider diffusion in MENA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a comprehensive review on the status of renewable energy developments and hydrogen economy in the Middle East and North Africa region. This region is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for its domestic energy supply and is also considered a global energy exporter. In this regard, an overview of the current state of energy sector in the region is provided. Moreover, the region possesses great potential for renewable energy exploitation due to its climatic advantages. Therefore, the current status of renewable energy utilization within the region's various countries is reviewed by presenting several operational renewable energy-based plants and future projects for deployment of renewable power in the region. Green hydrogen is an important sustainable clean fuel, and its utilization is essential for both environmental preservation and energy security. Thus, the status of hydrogen production and utilization in the region is discussed considering the various operational systems and future hydrogen generation projects. The concept of source, system and service is also incorporated which considers the utilization of clean energy sources for sustainable hydrogen production through environmentally benign pathways. The potential deployment opportunities for the renewable hydrogen production are also discussed based on available renewable sources in the region. Moreover, this paper discusses the challenges of increasing renewable energy utilization in the region. Furthermore, this paper provides a road map for achieving renewable hydrogen economy including a reduction in domestic utilization of oil and gas sources, subsidization of renewable production sector, and financial support to hydrogen production and transportation infrastructure. • Providing an overview of the status of energy sector in the region. • Providing an overview of the status of renewable energy utilization in the region. • Discussing the challenges and opportunities of renewable and hydrogen energy development in the region. • Providing a road map for renewable hydrogen development in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to investigate the impact of freedom dimensions, investor sentiment, and uncertainty on bank stock returns. Additionally, this study examines the interaction between economic freedom dimensions and oil prices. To meet the study's objectives, a two-step GMM estimator was applied to the data collected from 173 banks in 18 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region countries during 2010–2020. The findings revealed that the influence of economic, business, and labour freedoms on banks' stock returns was negative and significant, but government spending was positive and significant. The results for the region's monarchies indicated similar effects to those of the entire MENA region, except for lagged bank stock returns that were negative. Besides, both investor sentiment and uncertainty positively impact bank stock returns. In addition, it was found that the interaction between freedom and oil price significantly and positively impacted bank performance. The robustness testing results confirmed this finding. Moreover, this research stands out as one of the limited investigations that have scrutinized the 18 MENA countries, which are predominantly Islamic and characterized by their distinct social norms, geography, and cultural identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted stroke care services at multiple levels. There was a decline in acute stroke admissions. Fewer interventions have been performed. Increased "door-to-needle times and "door-to-groin puncture" during this pandemic. These factors combined have led to declining in the favoured outcomes of stroke patients' globally. Yet this pandemic permits an opportunity for higher preparedness for future pandemics. This paper aims to shed light on the main lessons learned in the field of stroke care during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Here we are presenting proposals and initiatives for better preparedness in future similar emergencies. These proposals are based primarily on literature review of COVID-19 publications, as well as the first-hand experience gained during the first wave at the regional level. In addition to the consensus and collective ride of stroke experts in the Middle East North Africa Stroke and Interventional Neurotherapies Organization (MENA+-SINO) and interaction and collaboration with international stroke specialists from the Stroke World Organization (WSO), European Stroke Organization (ESO) and stroke and COVID-19 papers authors. Stroke care is very complex, particularly in the initial hours after onset of symptoms. A successful outcome requires very close collaboration between clinical personnel from multiple specialties. Preparedness for future pandemics requires the improvement of care plans that allow for rapid assessment of stroke patients and ensuring that regular 'mock exercises' familiarize quintessential services that care for the stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, techno-economic analysis and the experimental campaign for a new solar concentrating system are presented. Two novel receivers (Jet impingement receiver with mesh structure & helical channel receiver) are tested on a novel collector technology. The collector technology integrates the two established models of solar concentrating technologies, which are linear Fresnel reflector technology and central receiver technology, into the new concept called the Point Focus Fresnel Collector (PFFC). It is found that the PFFC system with jet impingement receiver and mesh structure provides higher thermal efficiency and manufacturing ease compared to parabolic dish systems. Maximum thermal efficiency of jet impingement receiver is highest at 87% whereas that for helical channel receiver is 83%. Average thermal efficiency of jet impingement receiver is 61% whereas that for helical channel receiver is 58%. Economic analysis of the system reveals that the discounted payback time for the PFFC system is only 5.5 years and less than one year compared to diesel and electricity powered steam generators respectively at an inflation rate of 2.5%. Substantial saving is predicted with PFFC system compared to diesel and electricity powered steam generator. For all discount rates in the range of 2.5–25%, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for PFFC system is much lower than that of LCOE in Saudi Arabia for conventional system. Since the LCOE in most of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries is higher than the LCOE in Saudi Arabia, therefore, the PFFC system is also suitable for other MENA countries where average direct normal irradiation values are comparable to Saudi Arabia. • Results for a novel CSP system are presented with two new concepts of receivers. • Efficiencies of 58% and 61% are found to be higher than the commercial CSP systems. • Jet impingement receiver is best at 87% while helical channel receiver is at 83%. • Payback time is only 5.5 years compared to diesel driven steam generators. • LCOE is 0.075 SAR/kWh, substantially lower than that of Saudi Electricity Company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between economic growth and the environment has been a topic of steady research attention. In this paper, the link between the environment and the economy in 89 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 1995 to 2017 is examined, and both the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis and the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) are tested. The results showed that the BRI displayed an inverse U-shaped relationship between environmental degradation and economic growth. By introducing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the context of the EKC model, it was found that FDI generally had a positive impact on environmental quality. However, the region-specific results suggested divergent patterns related to the environment and economic growth. It was found that the EKC was valid, and FDI showed a negative relationship with environmental degradation in the European area. However, no evidence of the EKC was found in the Middle East and North Africa, nor in Sub-Sahara Africa. Mixed results for the EKC and the PHH were found in Asia, the Pacific, and the Latin America panel. This suggested that the BRI countries need to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and adopt more region-specific green policies for local sustainable development. • Environmental Kuznets Curve is examined for 89 Belt and Road Initiative countries. • Unit root, cointegration tests, and panel regression analysis are employed. • The inverted U-shape relationship is verified for the full panel, but not regionally. • Foreign direct investment showed mixed relationships with environmental quality. • Regional-specific policies over energy and FDI should be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the relationship between tourism and gender equality. Specifically, this study estimates the effects of tourism on gender equality in the labour market using a panel dataset consisting of 143 countries over the period 2006 to 2017. I find evidence of a positive relationship between tourism and gender equality in the labour market. However, the impact of tourism is not uniform across the sample. For instance, the results imply that tourism is positively correlated with gender equality in developed countries, has an inverse relationship with gender equality in Sub-Saharan Africa, and has no impact on gender equality in the Middle East and North Africa. The implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Automatic date palm tree detection algorithm in drone imagery. • Detecting crowded date palm trees using YOLO-V5. • Comparison of one-stage object detection methods for date palm tree detection. Date palm trees are an important economic crop in the Arabian Peninsula, Middle East, and North Africa. Counting the numbers and determining the locations of date palm trees are important for predicting the date production and plantation management. In this paper, we exploit the effective use of the state-of-the-art CNN, YOLO-V5, in detecting date palm trees in images captured by a camera onboard of a drone flying 122 m above farmlands in the Northern Emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the dataset preparation process, we randomly selected 125 captured images and divided them into three datasets: training (60%), validation (20%), and testing (20%). The images of date palm trees in the training and validation datasets were manually annotated and those in the training dataset were used to train the four sub-versions of YOLO-V5 CNNs. The validation dataset was used during the training process to assess how well the network was performing during training. Finally, the images in the test dataset were used to evaluate the performance of the trained models. The results of using YOLO-V5 for date palm tree detection in drone imagery are compared with those obtainable with other popular CNN architectures, YOLO-V3, YOLO-V4, and SSD300, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results show that for the amount of training data used, YOLO-V5m (medium depth) model records the highest accuracy, resulting in a mean average precision of 92.34%. Further it provides the ability to detect and localize date palm trees of different sizes, in crowded, overlapped environments and areas where the date palm tree distribution is sparse. Therefore, it is concluded that the method can be a useful component of an automated plantation management system and help forecast the quantities of date production and condition monitoring of the date palm trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists have been paying more attention to the shortage of water and energy sources all over the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In this article, a microgrid configuration of a photovoltaic (PV) plant with fuel cell (FC) and battery storage systems has been optimally designed. A real case study in Egypt in Dobaa region of supplying safety loads at a nuclear power plant during emergency cases is considered, where the load characteristics and the location data have been taken into consideration. Recently, many optimization algorithms have been developed by researchers, and these algorithms differ from one another in their performance and effectiveness. On the other hand, there are recent optimization algorithms that were not used to solve the problem of microgrids design in order to evaluate their performance and effectiveness. Optimization algorithms of equilibrium optimizer (EQ), bat optimization (BAT), and black-hole-based optimization (BHB) algorithms have been applied and compared in this paper. The optimization algorithms are individually used to optimize and size the energy systems to minimize the cost. The energy systems have been modeled and evaluated using MATLAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most urban areas in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have experienced unprecedented growth rates over the past few decades to absorb population increase and hefty migration from surrounding rural and/or politically unstable areas. Such expedited urbanization presents substantial stresses to these urban areas' ecological and financial resources, as well as to the overall well-being of their residents. This paper studies the urban growth pattern in five major cities in the MENA region including Dubai (United Arab Emirates (UAE)), Cairo (Egypt), Doha (Qatar), Casablanca (Morocco), and Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)). The study adopts a machine learning (ML)-based modeling framework, which integrates remote sensing and computer vision technologies to generate high-fidelity urban growth prediction with limited data requirements. The framework treats successive satellite images for the urban area under study as a video for which a future frame is constructed to present the predicted growth in a specific target year. The methodology is shown to produce growth prediction results that are consistent with previous studies conducted for these five cities. The obtained results are used to derive several recommendations to assist in developing sustainable growth policies for these cities. • Studying the urban growth pattern for five major cities in the MENA region • Machine learning model that integrates remote sensing and computer vision technologies • Model validation using the results of previous studies conducted for the region • Providing urban growth prediction capabilities for urban planners and policy makers • Deriving recommendations to develop sustainable growth policies for MENA cities and other cities around the world [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that the development of a country's people stems from its wealth, which is characterized by human, social, and natural capital, but an assessment of the Human Development Index adjusted for wealth is still missing in the literature. There are large differentiations in the productive bases of countries, and the Human Development Index alone does not allow for encompassing the systems' ability for fostering human development from the endowment of resources available. The input-to-output link between the resources and human development reflects the systems' ability to optimise assets. This paper introduces an evaluation of the Human Development Index adjusted for the comprehensive wealth of countries using an ordinal non-compensatory technique that is robust to outliers, and which allows for the consideration of environmental factors and non-discretional inputs. Results show relevant changes in ranking when Human Development Indexes is adjusted for wealth. Decreases in the Human Development Index when wealth is considered, are observed in North America, the Middle East & North Africa, while increases in the Human Development Index when wealth is considered, are observed in most Sub-Saharan African and South Asian countries. The unexplored link between wealth and human development reveals an unprecedented heterogeneity among countries that is affected by economic, social, and institutional factors. The gaps in these factors must be further investigated if the increase of human development is to be implemented because efficient long-term management of natural resources is necessary for sustainability. [Display omitted] • Multidimensional development measures must inform policies and priorities. • A new method to measure development considering the wealth of nations is proposed. • The model is used to estimate the Wealth-adjusted Human Development Index. • Adjusting human development for wealth a novel heterogeneity among systems shows up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CA system led to 307 kg/ha (35 %) higher wheat yield than conventional practices (CP). • CA system led to $99/ha (44 %) higher gross margins than CP. • Adoption of any one or two components of CA also led to higher benefits than CP. • Complete CA system led to higher benefits than partial adoption of its components. • Adoption of any two components of CA led to higher benefits than any one component. Despite several efforts for its dissemination, adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is low – causing some to wonder if an incremental approach for adoption of its three components would prove more effective. In this paper, we apply the endogenous switching regression model to a nationally representative sample of 1901 wheat fields in Morocco to analyze the impacts of partial or full adoption of all three components of the CA system. We also employ an ordered probit model to identify the determinants of partial and full adoption of CA. Model results show that adoption of the complete CA system leads to 307 kg/ha (35 %) higher yields, US$99/ha (44 %) higher gross margins, and 23 kg/capita/year (38 %) more consumption of wheat relative to the conventional system. Our results also show that adoption of only two principles of the CA system leads to higher benefits in all the livelihood indicators listed above compared to adoption of only one or none of the principles. Likewise, adoption of only one principle is more beneficial than the conventional system. Along with biophysical and environmental benefits documented elsewhere, our results demonstrate that the CA system can provide large economic, social, and food security benefits both at individual household and national levels. Therefore, wider diffusion of the full CA system involving zero tillage (ZT), crop rotation, and crop residue retention has potential to sustainably improve the viability of agriculture in the drylands of Morocco and other similar countries in the MENA region. Given that the CA system is complex and knowledge-intensive, transition from the conventional system to CA requires the following: (1) flexibility to let farmers incrementally adopt one or more of the CA components, learn at their own pace, use some of the benefits, and improve it over time to exploit the full potential of the CA system with close follow-up and technical support from experts and extension specialists; and (2) sustained policy and institutional supports that provide incentives for farmers to adopt and for the private sector to be actively involved, especially in service provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]