Search

In the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA), dry eye disease (DED) is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. This review summarizes a series of conversations with ophthalmologists in the region around a variety of climatic, lifestyle, and iatrogenic factors that contribute to specific features of DED in the MENA region. These considerations are further classified by patient lifestyle and surgical choices. All statements are based on discussions and formal voting to achieve consensus over three meetings. Overall, a deeper understanding of the disease characteristics of DED specific to MENA can better guide local eyecare practitioners on appropriate management and follow-up care. Additionally, population-based studies and patient and physician education on ocular surface diseases, together with the use of culturally appropriate and language-specific questionnaires can help ease the public health burden of DED in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of millions of financial documents, which has been known as the 'WikiLeaks' of the financial world (a.k.a. 'Panama Papers'), has dragged global attention in how highly structured means applied by some of the elite to conceal their financial assets. Consequently, significant financial corruption allegations were raised. We concentrate on a somewhat overlooked region, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study aims to use social network analytics to study the information contained in these documents. We are checking the major players in the MENA's trends and patterns to determine if it matches the known economic powers. The analysis reveals that while the constructed network enjoys some typical characteristics, many interesting observations and properties are worth discussing. Specifically, using the extracted network consisting of 62 987 nodes and 84 692 edges, our social network analysis finding shows that, perhaps surprisingly, the nodes or the social network are not necessarily directly correlated with perceived economic influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jinn of Islamic and Middle Eastern popular mythology play a role in maintaining spatial divisions between sacred and profane space, public and protected areas, and acceptable and exceptional behaviour. Though research on jinn continues to be of importance in cross-cultural psychology, the rich relationship between jinn and place has largely been lost or severed. This paper seeks to restore this link through an examination of the relationship between unseen spirits and place in Palestine and throughout the Levant (Bilad ash-Sham). Drawing upon both European and Palestinian historical ethnographic writing, as well as oral history interviews with Palestinian elders, this paper examines spatial practices that can attract, prevent, or heal harm from jinn and other unseen forces, as well as places where such spirits dwell, including graveyards, caves, wells, sacred trees, and shrines. Jinn play a dual role in helping to protect the sanctity of these places, while also threatening to violate the intimate space hearth and home. In this way, jinn play an important role in both establishing, and at times blurring and negotiating social mores and their related physical boundaries. In examining how jinn threaten the sanctity of homes and bodies, but also how place-dwelling spirits help to heal bodies and sooth souls, this paper moves beyond mere metaphorical understandings of spectral geographies to understand the material implications of unseen and imagined forces. By doing so, this paper builds upon recent research exploring the deep connection between the environment and spiritual/sacred understandings of place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the effect of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict on the firms operating in the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries, focusing on how different sectors of the economy have responded. The empirical methodology utilizes firm‐level data from MENA countries, employing fixed effect and instrumental variable estimations to control for the potential endogeneity of casualties in the war and firm dynamics. The results of this study reveal that (1) an increase of 1% in the hostility of the Russian–Ukrainian war corresponds to a 0.13% decrease in the market cap of MENA firms. (2) This effect is more pronounced among highly indebted firms, conducting business solely within the domestic market, and operating on a small scale. (3) The monetary policy is vital in mitigating the effect of the conflict on firms. This study has two main contributions. First, it empirically assesses how firms operating in the MENA region respond to geopolitical events, highlighting differences in responses between firms and sectors. Second, this paper serves as guidelines for governments to face the challenges raised by wars. In particular, the paper shows the relevance of sector‐specific policy responses based on the extent to which each sector is affected by geopolitical events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an attempt to understand a mesh of complex relationships among tangible and intangible socio-economic factors that turned a desert city into the headquarters of one of the mighty polities in the Middle East in the fourteenth century CE. This paper argues that proto-industrialization led to the growth of 'virtual water' that helped the city of Yazd, in central Iran, to break free from its water limitation for the first time in its history. Yazd was almost absent in history until the twelfth century, as a peripheral oasis whose sparse population lived off subsistence agriculture irrigated by qanat systems (groundwater-mining subterranean channels). Following the Mongol invasion in the thirteenth century, the influx of landless refugees changed the relations of production and paved the way for proto-industrialization whose development hinged on skill and capital rather than water and land. Sufism and waqf (endowment tradition) contributed to the expansion of trading routes that facilitated the mobility of goods and people. The qanats were urbanized, and Yazd became an industrial hub where raw materials were processed into tradable products with considerable value added. This paper contributes to a broader understanding of the historical geography of the arid Middle East. • The Iranian city of Yazd rode out the Mongol invasion in the thirteenth century. • A surge of refugees upset the balance between population and agricultural resources. • Abundance of skilled workers led to a Middle Eastern mode of proto-industrialization. • Proto-industrialization engendered virtual water as an adaptation strategy. • Virtual water made a transition to a non-hydraulic society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Sign language is significant in its linguistic complexity and sociocultural values to its users. The linguistic situation of sign languages in the Middle East is controversial. For Arab deaf communities, each country has a rich and complex national sign language without the need for a superior, more standard unifying Arabic sign language (ArSL). There have been attempts to unify sign languages by creating ArSL. This initiative has been mostly taken by nondeaf persons and has been met with opposition and resistance. This paper investigates sign languages in Kuwait and the attitudes towards both Kuwaiti Sign Language (KSL) and ArSL from both deaf individuals and sign language translators/teachers using surveys, informal interviews, and fieldwork visits. The research question is: What sign language would the deaf community and sign language interpreters/teachers in Kuwait choose (KSL, ArSL, or both) to better serve the deaf community. This paper is designed to uncover the impact of language policies on communities' representations of self and explore the richness and complexity of national sign languages that can be underestimated by language policymakers. The findings of this study indicate a preference for KSL or the use of both KSL and ArSL, but not ArSL alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reconsiders Ezekiel's alleged anti-imperial attitude toward the Babylonian empire. It nuances the alleged attitude with Frantz Fanon's theory of colonized subjects' desire to be like their colonizer. Looking at Ezekiel's privileged social location, I argue that the book exhibits a desire to be like the Babylonian empire. Ezekiel intertwines Babylonian's "anti-Egyptian" propaganda with Yahweh's interest in maintaining loyalty toward the empire. To support this argument, the paper first surveys the Babylonian and Egyptian conflict over the Levant. It then reconsiders the situation of Ezekiel and his community in exile. Further, it discusses Fanon's theory of colonized subjects' desires and how Ezekiel operates within it. It concludes by looking at what Ezekiel might gain through this maneuver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates rural development from a micro-level standpoint, focusing on individual and collective aspirations. We aim to deepen understanding of how a person's socio-economic environment shapes their aspirations and simultaneously how aspirations contribute to future-oriented actions. In combining concepts of sustainable livelihoods and aspirations with a context of 'ordinary uncertainties' (Pine, Ordinary uncertainties: remembering the past and imagining the future at times of rupture and mobility. In: Paper presented at the conference "Rurality and Future-Making. Comparative Perspectives from Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean", 22–24 May, Cologne, Germany, 2019), we discuss the role of individual and collective aspirations in developing livelihood strategies. Drawing on qualitative data from field research in Namibia's Zambezi region, we identify crucial factors that influence aspirations: multiple uncertainties, experiences, and role models. Access to diverse experiences and social exchange shapes future-oriented aspirations, and therefore needs to be included in rural development strategies that account for diversity within communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The First 1000 Days (the period from conception to a child's second birthday) is an important developmental period. However, little is known about experiences of parents with refugee and migrant backgrounds during this period. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Publications were identified through searches of the Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus databases, critically appraised, and synthesised using thematic analysis. A total of 35 papers met inclusion criteria. Depressive symptomatology was consistently higher than global averages, however maternal depression conceptualisations differed across studies. Several papers reported changes in relationship dynamics as a result of having a baby post-migration. Consistent relationships were found between social and health support and wellbeing. Conceptualisations of wellbeing may differ among migrant families. Limited understanding of health services and relationships with health providers may impede help-seeking. Several research gaps were identified, particularly in relation to the wellbeing of fathers, and of parents of children over 12 months old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the nonlinear relationship between ICT and CO2 emissions by controlling for economic growth, foreign direct investment, energy consumption, and trade openness. Using data from 16 Middle East and North African (MENA) countries over the period 1990–2019, we apply the Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR) model, as introduced by (González A, Teräsvirta T, vanDijk D (2005) Panel smooth transition regression models. SEE/EFI Working Paper Series in Economics and Finance, No. 604), to study the potential regime-switching behavior of the relationship between the variables. The results reveal the existence of a strong regime-switching effect between ICT and CO2 emissions. It was found that after reaching a certain threshold, ICT use and penetration starts to significantly mitigate environmental degradation. Our results show that high levels of ICT not only improve environmental quality but can also be part of the solution to combat the environmental challenges that the MENA region has faced over the past decades. In addition, to account for the potential endogeneity bias, we also develop and estimate a PSTR model with instrumental variables (IV-PSTR) using the approach of (Fouquau et al., Econ Model 25:284–299, 2008). The results obtained confirm those initially found by the PSTR model. The study concludes with policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conflict in Gaza presents distinct difficulties that significantly impact the psychological well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs) making it imperative to understand and address their mental health needs in this specific context. This article highlights the unique challenges of the ongoing Gaza conflict and its critical impact on the mental health of HCWs. Observations in the paper revealed that HCWs in Gaza face extraordinary challenges, including the targeting of medical facilities, severe shortages of medical supplies, and the ethical dilemmas of providing care in such constrained conditions. These factors contribute to heightened stress, anxiety, and a pervasive sense of helplessness among HCWs. The paper also notes the compounded emotional burden due to the loss of colleagues and the need to navigate complex interactions with patients' families under extreme conditions. Furthermore, the lack of basic needs like adequate nutrition and safe drinking water for HCWs themselves further compromises their ability to provide care effectively, contributing further to worsened mental health. The paper also notes the lack of sufficient media coverage and support for these workers, contributing to a sense of isolation and neglect. HCWs in Gaza find themselves in a uniquely challenging situation, one that is marked not only by the immediate stresses of the ongoing conflict but also by the deep-seated psychological scars from past wars. The circumstances in Gaza are clinically relevant as they directly affect the HCWs' ability to provide care and maintain their well-being. These findings highlight the need for targeted mental health interventions and support tailored to the specific challenges faced by HCWs in Gaza. Addressing these issues is crucial for their well-being and ability to provide effective healthcare under such demanding and traumatic circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Although Europe was not a primary centre of cattle domestication, the cattle expansion from the Middle East and subsequent development created a complex pattern of cattle breed diversity. Many isolated populations of local historical breeds still carry the message about the physical and genetic traits of ancient populations. Historical cattle diversity is currently at the intersection of two leading directions of genetic research. Firstly, it is archaeogenetics attempting to recover and interpret the preserved genetic information directly from archaeological finds. Secondly, it is collecting genomic information about the previous development of extant populations. The present paper aims to place selected archaeogenetic, genetic, and genomic findings in the picture of cattle history in Central Europe, as suggested by archaeozoological and historical records. The importance, actuality, and effectiveness of combining different approaches to each archaeological find, such as morphological characterization, interpretation of the historical context, and molecular data, are stressed. Although Europe was not a primary centre of cattle domestication, its expansion from the Middle East and subsequent development created a complex pattern of cattle breed diversity. Many isolated populations of local historical breeds still carry the message about the physical and genetic traits of ancient populations. Since the way of life of human communities starting from the eleventh millennium BP was strongly determined by livestock husbandry, the knowledge of cattle diversity through the ages is helpful in the interpretation of many archaeological findings. Historical cattle diversity is currently at the intersection of two leading directions of genetic research. Firstly, it is archaeogenetics attempting to recover and interpret the preserved genetic information directly from archaeological finds. The advanced archaeogenetic approaches meet with the population genomics of extant cattle populations. The immense amount of genetic information collected from living cattle, due to its key economic role, allows for reconstructing the genetic profiles of the ancient populations backwards. The present paper aims to place selected archaeogenetic, genetic, and genomic findings in the picture of cattle history in Central Europe, as suggested by archaeozoological and historical records. Perspectives of the methodical connection between the genetic approaches and the approaches of traditional archaeozoology, such as osteomorphology and osteometry, are discussed. The importance, actuality, and effectiveness of combining different approaches to each archaeological find, such as morphological characterization, interpretation of the historical context, and molecular data, are stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the migration of women from Bangladesh to the Middle East as short‐term migrants, mainly for work in the domestic care sector as domestic workers, housekeepers, nannies, cooks, etc. This group accounts for about 15 per cent of the total short‐term migration cohort. They face particular challenges around not only the precarity of their employment but also in navigating a series of patriarchal norms in both Bangladesh and the destination countries in the Middle East. The paper will build on the work of Deniz Kandiyoti and her seminal work on patriarchal bargains. This paper will explore the challenges women face in migrating to the Middle East: in their decision to migrate, their experiences abroad, and on return and reintegration into Bangladesh society and their home life, and how these are determined by a series of patriarchal bargains both in Bangladesh and the destination country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the problem of finite-time command-filtered control for switched nonlinear systems with input quantization and output constraints. The unmeasurable state is estimated by designing a switched state observer. During the design process, to overcome the chattering problem effectively, the hysteresis quantization is designed as two bounded nonlinear functions. Furthermore, in order to restrict the output to an expected range, the barrier Lyapunov function approach is introduced. The "explosion of complexity" and the error compensation problems in the backstepping design are solved by using a finite-time command-filtered approach. A first-order Levant differentiator is used instead of the general command filter in this paper, which can not only filter the intermediate signals accurately to get the differential signals, but also ensure the finite-time stability of the filter. Stability of the closed-loop system in the sense of semi-global practical finite-time stability (SGPFS) is proved by exploring a multiple Lyapunov functions approach. Finally, a simulation example is provided to verify the validity of the presented control method. [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]

Dental microwear (DMA) is a tool used for the palaeodiet reconstruction of animals in Archaeology. The use of this proxy on domestic ungulates provides valuable information to reconstruct livestock strategies, yet it presents several methodological limitations. Most studies have been carried out using low-magnification DMA and the interpretations often relied on comparisons with databases of extant wild ungulates. In addition, several studies have highlighted challenges in discerning diets in extant domestic caprines. In parallel, dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) – a quantitative methodology based on 3D micro-texture height maps – has shown better discrimination. In this paper, we explore the capacity to distinguish four different management strategies of domestic goats (Capra hircus) and three species of wild ibexes (Capra nubiana, C. pyrenaica and C. ibex) using DMTA. Results revealed good discrimination among extant domestic goat populations and between wild and domestic goats. This new dataset was subsequently used to characterise the palaeodiet of archaeological goats from two Pre-Pottery Neolithic B sites in the southern Levant. Preliminary findings suggest evidence of human intervention in goats at least during the early 8th millennium BCE. In addition, incorporating various current management strategies has enhanced our understanding of early goat domestication in southern Levant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of ancient irrigation is crucial in the archaeological research of arid regions. It covers a wide range of topics, with the Near East being the focus for decades. However, political instability and limited data have posed challenges to these studies. The primary objective is to establish a standardised method applicable to different arid environments using the Google Earth Engine platform, considering local relief of terrain and seasonal differences in vegetation. This study integrates multispectral data from LANDSAT 5, Sentinel-2, SAR imagery from Sentinel 1, and TanDEM-X (12 m and 30 m) DSMs. Using these datasets, calculations of selected vegetation indices such as the SMTVI and NDVSI, spectral decomposition methods such as TCT and PCA, and topography-based methods such as the MSRM contribute to a comprehensive understanding of landscape irrigation. This paper investigates the influence of modern environmental conditions on the visibility of features like levees and palaeo-channels by testing different methods and parameters. This study aims to identify the most effective approach for each case study and explore the possibility of applying a consistent method across all areas. Optimal results are achieved by combining several methods, adjusting seasonal parameters, and conducting a comparative analysis of visible features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long considered a cultural contact zone, the Mediterranean has become a weaponised border zone keeping refugees from Africa and the Middle East away from 'Fortress Europe'. The Mediterranean has become excessively dangerous to cross, leading many commentators to call this maritime space a 'massive graveyard'. The widespread indifference and enmity towards migrants in Europe is, amongst other things, countered by documentary and commemorative projects by artists drawing attention to the suffering of drowned refugees. In this paper, I zoom in on documentary and memorial artistic projects by Mimmo Paladino, Jason deCaires Taylor, Christoph Büchel, Ai Weiwei and Đỉnh Q. Lê. In the frequent absence of dead bodies and specific grave sites on the 'high seas', they make claims regarding the humanity, singularity and memorability of the human lives of refugees drowned at sea. Based on a description of the artworks and their public, I make two interlinked theoretical arguments. First, the commemorative materialisations by contemporary artists are temporal claims to constitute the cultural heritage of the future. Second, given the sea's aquatic materiality, the commemorative claims of these art projects require that commemorative materialisations must spatially move from the flux of the sea to the fixity of the land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical evidence on the benefits of international ownership for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) financial performance is either not available for most African and Middle Eastern countries or presents mixed results. In this paper, we investigate this further by examining the effects of ownership structure on firm performance, using financial data covering SMEs in 60 African and Middle Eastern countries, for the years 2006–2015. Results from pooled ordinary least squares and random‐effects estimations indicate that international ownership is significantly positively correlated with firm performance for (most of) Africa and the Middle East. Examining the interaction of international ownership with capital resources, we find that internationally owned firms do not use capital more efficiently than locally owned firms, implying that internationally owned firms use international resources—other than capital—more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poland was the second-to-last country in the Soviet bloc to establish official relations with the PLO – only doing this in March 1976. However, mutual contacts date back to the late 1960s, when Polish military intelligence forged a top-secret relationship with the PLO based around the arms trade. Using a variety of archival sources, this paper seeks to re-assess the relationship between Warsaw and the PLO within the broader framework of Polish policy towards the Middle East from the time of the Six-Day War to the time of opening of the PLO Office in Warsaw in 1976. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most ancient and attractive tourism destinations in the Middle East and South Asia, Iran seeks to maximize its competitive identity to compete more effectively at international level. This study examines the major factors influencing Iran's competitive identity as a tourism destination from a supply-side perspective. The paper is divided into two phases using qualitative and quantitative techniques. First, we determined Iran's major competitiveness factors using thematic content analysis. Second, we examined the relationships between the identified factors, Iran's competitive identity, and its international tourism market development. The findings of this study suggest that factors including information technology, politics, products and services, spatial and infrastructure, structure and organization, economic and sociocultural factors significantly impact the destination's competitive identity. This paper also outlines the key theoretical and practical implications of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the fight against ideological warfare of the Islamic State (ISIS) would not be possible without an effective counter ground operation led by the Kurds, these unique players in regional stability have contributed to the mitigation, and in some cases the elimination of Islamist extremist ideology, conducing to the human security of the region. Viewing these actions within a pro-democracy approach, this paper will demonstrate why the international community, led by the United States and EU, needs to, indeed ought to consider the Kurdish de facto autonomous region model as an element for stability. The resulting outcome could help contribute to the regional security of the Middle East, and also prevent the perpetration of any future atrocities against the Kurds and other minorities. Through a collective case study and a qualitative set of data, this paper will evaluate the de facto autonomous governance experience of the Kurds, its impact, and its potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-screen female advocates have been the subject of investigation in a growing body of literature over the past two decades. Celluloid depictions of women lawyers in the Middle East are less common. This paper attempts to fill this gap by examining two films: In Between and The Accused. These films were chosen for two reasons. First, they constitute rare cinematic representations of female lawyers' personal lifestyles and the way these lifestyles inform professional identity. Secondly, they evoke detraditionalized versions of gender while emphasising the construction of new on-screen femininities not that far off from modern day legal practice. This paper consists of three parts. The first part examines the striking similarities in the way both films portray female lawyers as role models and outsiders in the legal profession. The second part situates the discussion of the two films within the consumer-based, pleasure-seeking attitude associated with the new aesthetics of legal practice. The third part draws parallels between the fictional representations of the female lawyers in the two films and the reality of legal practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats have gained cumulative attention as potential reservoirs for viruses, being crucial to increase our ability to predict viral prevalence and transmissions, as well as support the possible management of future zoonotic episodes. Following the PRISMA standard systematic review protocols, we conducted a comprehensive search worldwide for scientific papers dealing with bat-hosted viruses of the Adenoviridae and Herpesviridae families. The search was completed using the Scopus, CABI, and SciELO, databases of bat-associated viruses of these two families as well as the Google Scholar search engine. Our search comprised a total of 2656 scientific papers. After a thorough review and screening of the papers, we selected for our study a total of 90 papers published between 1996 and 2022. We found marked taxonomic and spatial biases, the most studied bats being predominantly vespertilionids, rhinolophids, phyllostomids, and pteropodids, whereas other families (e.g., Natalidae, Noctilionidae, and Furipteridae) are still lacking information. The most studied areas are southern and east Asia, although there are large areas (north Africa, the Middle East, and all the way to central or northern Asia) still overlooked. Out of the total number of papers, as many as 55 identified bat-hosted Adenovirus (AdV) and 54 papers identified Herpesvirus (HSV). Our revision reveals the presence of AdVs in a total of 97 bat species from 42 genera and 11 families. The presence of HSVs is reported also in 109 bat species from 45 genera and 10 families. Although both AdVs and HSVs in general show a clear host specificity and parallel evolution with their hosts, these results also point to the potential of these viruses to cross, in some cases, species barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses Iraq as a case study to answer the research question, how do consociational settlements impact the state? Firstly, the paper argues that consociationalism, at best, has an under-theorized conception of the state, implicitly defaulting to an unexamined neoWeberian model. The paper then surveys state theory and finds that key works on the state in the Middle East are vulnerable to the postcolonial critique of Eurocentrism. To overcome this, the paper deploys the works of Mann, Jessop, and Bourdieu to develop a universal model of the state, disaggregating the state, conceiving of it as a series of competitive fields, bureaucratic, political, coercive, and economic. The paper then uses this model to assess how a consociational political settlement impacts upon the state. Deploying a disaggregated model of the state, the paper argues that Iraq’s consociational settlement shifted the balance of power in the bureaucratic field away from any autonomous power or centralized coherence that the institutions and the civil service possessed toward the political parties empowered by the consociational system. After being empowered by the informal consociational settlement, it is the political parties who now dominate the system for their own ends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal respiratory failure (NRF) is an emergency which has not been examined extensively. We critically synthesized the contemporary in-hospital prevalence, mortality rate, predictors, aetiologies, diagnosis and management of NRF to better formulate measures to curb its burden. We searched MEDLINE and Google Scholar from 01/01/1992 to 31/12/2022 for relevant publications. We identified 237 papers from 58 high-income and low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). NRF prevalence ranged from 0.64 to 88.4% with some heterogeneity. The prevalence was highest in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Globally as well as in Asia and the Americas, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was the leading aetiology of NRF. Neonatal sepsis was first aetiology in Africa, whereas in both Europe and the Middle East it was transient tachypnoea of the newborn. Independent predictors of NRF were prematurity, male gender, ethnicity, low/high birth weight, young/advanced maternal age, primiparity/multiparity, maternal smoking, pregestational/gestational diabetes mellitus, infectious anamneses, antepartum haemorrhage, gestational hypertensive disorders, multiple pregnancy, caesarean delivery, antenatal drugs, foetal distress, APGAR score, meconium-stained amniotic fluid and poor pregnancy follow-up. The NRF-related in-hospital mortality rate was 0.21–57.3%, highest in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This death toll was primarily due to RDS globally and in all regions. Clinical evaluation using the Silverman-Anderson score was widely used and reliable. Initial resuscitation followed by specific management was the common clinical practice. Conclusion: NRF has a high burden globally, driven by RDS, especially in LIMCs where more aggressive treatment and innovations, preferably subsidized, are warranted to curb its alarming burden. What is Known: • Neonatal respiratory failure is a frequent emergency associated with a significant morbidity and mortality, yet there is no comprehensive research paper summarizing its global burden. • Neonatal respiratory failure needs prompt diagnosis and treatment geared at improving neonatal survival. What is New: • Neonatal respiratory failure has an alarmingly high global burden largely attributed to Respiratory distress syndrome. Low resource settings are disproportionately affected by the burden of neonatal respiratory failure. • Independent preditors of neonatal respiratory failure are several but can be classified into foetal, maternal and obstetrical factors. An illustrative pedagogical algorithm is provided to facilitate diagnosis and management of neonatal respiratory failure by healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the fragility, fragmentation, and crisis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by dissecting the region into three subregions--Maghreb, Mashreq, and the GCC--and elaborating on their complex contours, diverse ideological orientations, and unavoidable outcomes. Politically, economically, demographically, and ethnically heterogeneous, and religiously reasonably homogenous, the MENA records high conflict rates. There is a lack of unity in diversity, hurting regional cooperation and cohesion. We argue that fragility and fragmentation lead to persistent inter- and intra-state conflict, high unemployment, water disputes, deepening poverty, recurrent famine, and growing numbers of refugees and displacement. By referring to examples from Maghreb, Mashreq, and the GCC, the paper shows the interplay between fragility and resilience and thus attempts to offer a nuanced understanding of the factors that trigger and sustain fragmentation and conflict in the region. The insights into the dynamics of fragility, fragmentation, and crisis highlight the imperatives of cooperation and cohesion in regional integration. [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]

The twenty-first century has seen near constant crises and conflicts across the Middle East, many of which have had a devastating impact on the region's rich cultural heritage. Confronted by this reality, UNESCO – the world's foremost body designed to promote the protection of heritage – has struggled to meaningfully address site destruction and has been hamstrung by its own institutional inertia. The vacuum created by UNESCO's failures has given rise to a hybrid heritage landscape of multilateral agencies, INGOs, state bodies and local organisations which seek to emulate, improve on or radically re-imagine the work that UNESCO was designed to lead. In turn, this has created burgeoning business opportunities and a thriving consultancy culture for INGOs, often with little public oversight, accountability or effective monitoring. This paper critically examines the rise of these heritage INGOs and their efforts in the Middle East, bringing into question their efficacy and legitimacy by drawing on results from original surveys conducted in both Mosul and Aleppo. The results indicate that these heritage INGOs largely fail to adequately engage locals in their programmes to protect and restore heritage and that respondents would prefer to see domestic control over the future of their past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper starts from the unusual observation of the overrepresentation of females among adults in the cemetery of Bronze Age Shahr‐i Sokhta (Seistan, Iran) and explores the post marital residence pattern. By integrating taphonomical (skeletal preservation), anthropological (sex ratio [SR], sexual dimorphism, stress indicators, age at death), archeological (long distance trade indicators, habitation floor area, social role of women), and ancient DNA (heterozygosity levels in X chromosomes) data we test the hypothesis of post marital matrilocality in the site. Methods: We computed the SR (pelvis‐based sex determination) in a random unpublished adult sample from the cemetery of Shahr‐i Sokhta and in two samples previously published by other authors. We used comparative data on SR from: a large Supra Regional multi‐chronological sample of sites, n = 47, with 8808 adult sexed individuals, from Southern Europe, Egypt, Middle East, Southern Russia; a Regional Bronze Age sample of sites (n = 10) from Bactria Margiana and Indus Valley with 1324 adult sexed individuals. We estimated the heterozygosity levels in X chromosomes compared with the rest of the autosomes on the assumption that in a matrilocal society females should show lower variability than men. Results: Adult SR in a sample (n = 549) from Shahr‐i Sokhta is 70.5, the overrepresentation of females is shared with Regional Bronze Age sites from Bactria Margiana (SR = 72.09) and Indus Valley (SR = 67.54). On the contrary, in a larger Supra Regional multi‐chronological sample of sites, mean SR ranges between 112.7 (Bronze Age) and 163.1 (Middle Ages). Taphonomical and anthropological indicators do not explain the overrepresentation of female skeletons. Archeological indicators suggest a high social status of women and that the society was devoted to long range trade activities. heterozygosity levels in X chromosomes are in agreement with a matrilocal society. Conclusions: Indicators suggest that Bronze Age Shahr‐ì Sokhta was a matrilocal society and that long distance trade was an important economic factor producing an overrepresentation of adult female skeletons in the cemetery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper has analysed the impact of cultural dimensions, investor sentiment and uncertainty on bank stock returns. Also, the study examined the influences of the interaction between cultural dimensions and individual (private) sentiment (investor sentiment). Design/methodology/approach: To meet the study's objectives, a two-step generalised method of moments estimator was applied to the study sample, which included 105 banks in the nine Middle East and North African region countries between 2010 and 2020. Findings: The cultural dimensions of individualism and masculinity were found to have a positive and significant effect on banks' buy and hold stock return (BUH). At the same time, power distance and uncertainty avoidance were discovered to have negative effects. Besides, the findings revealed that the interactions of power distance, individual sentiment and uncertainty avoidance had positive and significant relationships with banks' BUH. However, individualism, individual sentiment and masculinity had inverse relationships with banks' BUH. Furthermore, the findings revealed that investor sentiment positively influenced banks' BUH. Finally, uncertainty influenced banks' BUH stock returns positively. Research limitations/implications: Important implications for participants in the financial sector and governments may be learnt from this study's conclusions. Due to cultural biases, this study's findings suggested that investors overreact in the stock market. Originality/value: Additionally, this research comprises one of the few studies that have overviewed the link between classical and behavioural finance in MENA countries with distinctive cultural characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost all Middle Eastern nations now struggle with malnutrition and allocate a significant portion of their oil earnings to food. In addition to already challenging and changing climate and water pressure, ongoing conflict and the war atmosphere, poverty, a lack of purchasing power, and pandemic diseases in the region all seem to play a role. However, the deepening of Russia's conflicts with Ukraine in recent years has made matters worse for the hungry in this fragile region and placed even self-sufficient nations in a precarious position. This paper addresses the Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative, which was implemented through diplomatic measures hosted by Türkiye and guaranteed the secure transportation of Ukrainian grain to international markets. The study begins with a thorough discussion of the origins and effects of food insecurity in Middle Eastern countries. The second part examines the impact of this initiative on regional politics. To address the current issue, an integrated approach built on comprehension of cause-and-effect interactions has been implemented. The findings were gathered using a data collection technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edges of stone tools have significant technological and functional implications. The nature of these edges–their sharpness, whether they are concave or convex, and their asymmetry–reflect how they were made and how they could be used. Similarly, blunt portions of a tool's perimeter hint at how they could have been grasped or hafted and in which directions force could be applied. However, due to the difficulty in accurately measuring the complex 3D geometry of tool edges with traditional methods, their attributes are often overlooked. When they are analyzed, they have traditionally been assessed with visual qualitative categories or unreliable physical measurements. We introduce new computational 3D methods for automatically and repeatably measuring key attributes of stone tool edges. These methods allow us to automatically identify the 3D perimeter of tools, segment this perimeter according to changes in edge angles, and measure these discrete edge segments with a range of metrics. We test this new computational toolkit on a large sample of 3D models of handaxes from the later Acheulean of the southern Levant. Despite these handaxes being otherwise technologically and morphologically similar, we find marked differences in the amount of knapped outline, edge angle, and the concavity of their edges. We find many handaxes possess blunt portions of perimeter, suitable for grasping, and some handaxes even possess more than one discrete sharp edge. Among our sample, sites with longer occupations and more diverse toolkits possessed handaxes with more diverse edges. Above all, this paper offers new methods for computing the complex 3D geometry of stone tool edges that could be applied to any number of artifact types. These methods are fully automated, allowing the analysis and visualization of entire assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quad bikes are popular recreational, four-wheeled bikes in the Middle East. Injury prevention programs targeting quad bike crashes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) need evidence about the risk factors and behaviours associated with these crashes in the target population. This is a protocol for a study aiming to investigate quad bike rider behaviours and to assess the risk factors associated with related injuries in the UAE. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study aiming to describe a seasonal sport in a desert environment. With an estimated sample size of 451, the survey will follow a three-stage, location-based sampling strategy using the line-transect method. A sampling frame of desert locations with high injury incidences was developed, using Dubai ambulance injury records. Further expansion of the sampling frame was participatory, involving police, enthusiasts, emergency responders and gas station employees. The data collection will be limited to the winter months in fifteen high-injury desert locations across three major Emirates in the UAE. Trained researchers will observe the riders directly in the desert to note their riding habits, followed by a researcher-administered interview on riding and injury history. The interviews will be administered in Arabic and English using Qualtrics software on handheld tablets with offline and online entry mode. In addition, paper-based entry with the same format will be used as a contingency in busy quad bike locations. Conclusion: The objective of this study protocol is to develop a comprehensive survey that will furnish substantial evidence for the formulation of effective injury prevention strategies. To enhance the credibility of the recorded riding behaviors, field observations will be employed. The uniqueness of this study lies in its innovative sampling strategy, custom-tailored to accommodate the highly mobile and transient population of desert bikers in the UAE. [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]

In 2016, Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organisation, published a report on the use of forced anal examinations to identify and prosecute putative 'homosexuals'. The report provided detailed descriptions and first-person accounts of these examinations in several countries in the Middle East and Africa. Drawing on theories of iatrogenesis and queer necropolitics, this paper uses these accounts and other reports of forced anal examinations to explore the role of medical providers in the 'diagnosis' and prosecution of homosexuality. The goal of these medical examinations is explicitly punitive rather than therapeutic, making them quintessential examples of iatrogenic clinical encounters which harm rather than heal. We argue that these examinations naturalise socioculturally derived beliefs about bodies and gender that construct homosexuality as 'readable' on the body through close medical inspection. These acts of inspection and 'diagnosis' reveal broader hegemonic state narratives of heteronormative gender and sexuality, both within countries as well as internationally as different state actors circulate and share these narratives. This article highlights the entanglement of medical and state actors, as well as contextualises the practice of forced anal examination within its colonial roots. Our analysis offers the potential for advocacy and holding medical professions and states accountable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of its geographic location, cultural diversity and historical trajectory, the Gaza strip is a key zone of scholarly enquiry and has a central role in the historical, social, political, economic, legislative and environmental discourses for the wider region. Existing historical knowledge of Gaza is dominated by combative narrative trends that emphasise the events of the 20th and 21st centuries and invoke archaeology extensively. In this context, cycles of material preservation and damage—often accompanying other forms of violence—have attracted the attention of academics and international media. Among the corollaries of this situation, is the destruction and marginalisation of vulnerable cultural heritage, particularly maritime cultural heritage, which is subjected to additional environmental, climatic, and anthropogenic pressures. As a means of countering the challenges on current field research in the region and to further assess the damage and threats faced by archaeological fabric, this paper combines data from coastal and archaeological research conducted in the Gaza Strip to create a benchmark for the study of its maritime archaeology. Additional information on the alteration of coastal landscape is deduced through the analysis of aerial photographs and satellite imagery. This study falls within the scope of the Maritime Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and Africa Project (MarEA). MarEA aims to comprehensively document and assess vulnerable maritime archaeology (underwater, nearshore, coastal) and produce baseline information that can enhance existing infrastructure on archaeological monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The old-world sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli 1786), is a major vector of Leishmania major, the predominant pathogen responsible for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Middle East, North Africa, Southern Europe, and Central Asia. DEET and other synthetic insect repellents have been used for personal protection against sand fly bites. However, the frequent use of DEET repellent raised concerns in regards to skin sensitivity, toxicity, and unpleasant odor. There are increasing efforts to evaluate natural products for use in developing more effective organic sand fly repellents. This paper reports the results of a laboratory study on several plant essential oils and saturated fatty acids concerning their repellency against female sand flies. A static air repellency assay was used to measure the responses of sand flies to test materials. The sand fly repellency of each test material was compared with those achieved by commercial repellent DEET and IR35353 at the same test concentration. The study identified two of the tested essential oils as effective spatial repellents at reduced concentrations compared to those of DEET, and two saturated fatty acids were found to produce significant sand fly mortality. The results from this study establish the foundation for developing more effective natural sand fly repellent products. The sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli, 1786), is a major vector for Leishmania major in the Middle East, which has impacted human health and US military operations in the area, demonstrating the need to develop effective sand fly control and repellent options. Here, we report the results of spatial repellency and avoidance experiments in a static air olfactometer using the female P. papatasi testing essential oils of Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano), Pimenta dioica (allspice), Amyris balsamifera (amyris), Nepeta cataria (catnip), Mentha piperita (peppermint), and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree); the 9–12 carbon saturated fatty acids (nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, and dodecanoic acid); and the synthetic repellents DEET and IR3535. The materials applied at 1% exhibited varying activity levels but were not significantly different in mean repellency and avoidance from DEET and IR3535, except in regards to nonanoic acid. Some materials, particularly nonanoic and undecanoic acids, produced sand fly mortality. The observed trends in mean repellency over exposure time included the following: (1) P. dioica oil, M. alternifolia oil, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, DEET, and IR3535 exhibited increasing mean repellency over time; (2) oils of N. cataria, A. balsamifera, M. piperita, and dodecanoic acid exhibited relatively constant mean repellency over time; and (3) L. graveolens oil and nonanoic acid exhibited a general decrease in mean repellent activity over time. These studies identified the essential oils of N. cataria and A. balsamifera as effective spatial repellents at reduced concentrations compared to those of DEET. Additional research is required to elucidate the modes of action and potential synergism of repellents and essential oil components for enhanced repellency activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A distinct feature on many Middle Bronze Age scarabs from the southern Levant is the presence of chromatic marks on the backs of these objects, often described as longitudinal lines. Previous explanations have fallen into one of three proposals: Either they are the product of production-related techniques related to firing and glazing, intentionally applied marks, or the byproduct of use-wear related or depositional practices. To date, no critical investigation of these enigmatic marks has been published and thus no consensus reached. However, through new high-resolution photography of the stamp seals from the sites of Lachish and Megiddo in the southern Levant, a systematic analysis was recently permitted. This paper presents the results from a study on these enigmatic marks and a discussion on what the new photography reveals about previous interpretations and possible new directions for the study of this corpus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How does urban migrant and refugee settlement occur in face of national inaction on immigration policy? This paper focuses on recent migration to Cairo, a Global South megacity that is home to migrants and refugees from across sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Using in-depth fieldwork, it examines the informal policies that have developed in the absence of national legislation, and explores the impact these have on: (1) the ability for individual migrants and refugees to participate socially, politically and economically; (2) the ability for civil society organizations to organize, provide social services, or engage in activism; (3) occasions when the Egyptian state will forego its hands-off approach in favour of direct intervention. This informs our understanding of the relationship between national policy, informal urban governance, and migrant and refugee settlement in the context of Global South cities, with potential applications to other urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, human geneticists have substantially embraced the concept of "biogeographical ancestry" to account for the racial, ethnic, and linguistic categories they use to analyze and interpret genetic difference. Understanding the ongoing role of these categories in human genetic research therefore requires attention to geneticists' representations of geography, particularly the geographic maps they use to illustrate gene distribution and migration. This article examines how the methods and imagery of international genetic geography and its major evolutionary narratives have reinforced or refashioned nationalist practices of geography in the Middle East. Geneticists simultaneously conceptualize the region's physical space as both a historical "crossroads" of human migration and the birthplace of distinct gene sequences and civilizations, alternately blurring and sharpening the boundaries between Europe and Asia. Focusing on genetic research in Turkey and Iran, this paper analyzes how geneticists draw and interpret geographic maps of the region while selectively erasing or highlighting state borders. These genetic maps negotiate between the idealized aims of international projects to reconstruct human evolutionary history, and the reality of practicing science under the constraints of nationstate politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arab world faces serious challenges in the protection of human rights. Merely criticising government policies towards human rights has long meant risking one's freedom, if not life. Yet despite the myriad threats, there is a long and powerful history of efforts to address human rights from multiple perspectives that has largely been ignored outside the region (and even by many human rights scholars and practitioners within it), in good measure because most of it occurs in Arabic, which most international human rights scholars do not read. This paper critically reviews Arab human rights publications written in Arabic as a first attempt towards elucidating the diversity and depth of human rights literature in the Arab world for the broader field of human rights studies. Bringing this knowledge to the international human rights community is crucial to helping develop a human rights discourse in and for the Arab world that can positively impact research, advocacy and governance despite the broad environment of authoritarian retrenchment across the region. In so doing, our research offers new knowledge for developing human rights studies in trajectories that can have more direct impact on human rights struggles on the ground globally. [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]

The regulatory governance literature has shown a rising interest in the development of the regulatory agencies in developing countries. We now have a relatively good number of studies on Latin America and Asia. However, there is, to date, very scarce knowledge about regulatory governance in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA countries), where regulatory agencies diffused less systematically and more slowly. This paper makes a first step towards filling this gap and, in doing so, it raises a general question about the role of oil and gas revenues in restraining the propensity for agency creation by national states. Making use of a cross-sectoral database about the creation of regulatory agencies in MENA countries, we discuss the relevance of states' oil and gas revenue to explain their lower levels of agencification compared to other regions. A case study focused on electricity regulation in Algeria is also included for this purpose. We place several hypotheses considering variations in agencification over time and across countries, in order to strengthen our argument about the constraining impact of oil and gas rent on the process of regulatory agency diffusion that occurred worldwide in the previous decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses discourses and policies of citizenship and immigration in Croatia, with a special focus on marketization and culturalisation of citizenship. Along with many other Central and Eastern European states, Croatia is commonly studied as a model case of ethnonationalism. This study seeks to warn that in an ethnocentric state, there can also be other important notions of deservingness that structure one's route to membership today, showing us that we need to move beyond an exclusive focus on ethnonationalism. The paper explores how socioeconomic status and (ethno)cultural origin impact the ability of non-ethnics to claim and receive citizenship rights. The research focuses on two cultural groups: traditional immigrant populations coming from post-Yugoslav states and the new immigrant groups coming from countries in the Middle East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Online ride-hailing platforms match drivers with passengers by receiving ride requests from passengers and forwarding them to the nearest driver. In this context, the low acceptance rate of offers by drivers leads to friction in the process of driver and passenger matching. What policies by the platform may increase the acceptance rate and by how much? What factors influence drivers' decisions to accept or reject offers and how much? Are drivers more likely to turn down a ride offer because they know that by rejecting it, they can quickly receive another offer, or do they reject offers due to the availability of outside options? This paper aims to answer such questions using a novel dataset from Tapsi, a ride-hailing platform located in Iran. Design/methodology/approach: The authors specify a structural discrete dynamic programming model to evaluate how drivers decide whether to accept or reject a ride offer. Using this model, the authors quantitatively measure the effect of different policies that increase the acceptance rate. In this model, drivers compare the value of each ride offer with the value of outside options and the value of waiting for better offers before making a decision. The authors use the simulated method of moments (SMM) method to match the dynamic model with the data from Tapsi and estimate the model's parameters. Findings: The authors find that the low driver acceptance rate is mainly due to the availability of a variety of outside options. Therefore, even hiding information from or imposing fines on drivers who reject ride offers cannot motivate drivers to accept more offers and does not affect drivers' welfare by a large amount. The results show that by hiding the information, the average acceptance rate increases by about 1.81 percentage point; while, it is 4.5 percentage points if there were no outside options. Moreover, results show that the imposition of a 10-min delay penalty increases acceptance rate by only 0.07 percentage points. Originality/value: To answer the questions of the paper, the authors use a novel and new dataset from a ride-hailing company, Tapsi, located in a Middle East country, Iran and specify a structural discrete dynamic programming model to evaluate how drivers decide whether to accept or reject a ride offer. Using this model, the authors quantitatively measure the effect of different policies that could potentially increase the acceptance rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]