Research Title: Fuzzy control of processes with long transportation delay – A comparative study

Author: Hisham Subhi Jibreel Hussein, Published Year: 2025

12th International Conference on Information Technology (ICIT 2025), Alzaytoonah university - Amman - Jordan

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: In this paper, the authors present linear fuzzy control system for controlling process variables with long transportation delay, which is frequent for numerous production lines. It is well known, that proportional-Integral control cannot handle processes with long transportation delay; therefore, fuzzy control with properly tuned membership functions and fuzzy inference system rules could give significantly better results than PI control. Fuzzy control requires thorough understanding of the process, its nominal operating conditions, a proper choosing of electric drive units and their saturation limits, converters, actuators, and sensors. Fuzzy control has gained more popularity in numerous industrial sectors, where process engineers and line operators work collaboratively to achieve best performance results and ultimately better final products. The plastic on-wire coating process is taken into consideration for this study as it exhibits long transportation delays after the measurement of the coated wire. The designed fuzzy controller is compared with cascade proportional integral control. Finally, we show that fuzzy control outperforms proportional integral control in terms of various performance metrics, like settling time, overshoot, and undershoot.

Keywords: Fuzzy control, Proportional integral control, Transportation delay, Cascade control

Research Title: Optimal Allocation of Phasor Measurement Units Using Particle Swarm Optimization: An Electric Grid Planning Perspective

Author: Mais Maher Aldwaik, Published Year: 2025

Energies, 5

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: In this paper, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique is used to optimally allocate phasor measurement units (PMUs) within standard test systems and a real-world power system. PMUs are allocated at system substations in a manner that ensures complete system observability while minimizing installation costs. This study considers IEEE 14-, 30-, and 57-bus standard test systems, along with the Jordanian national high-voltage grid. The optimal allocation was performed separately on the 132 kV and 400 kV buses of the Jordanian grid. Additionally, a novel technique for further minimization of measurement units, considering electric grid planning, is investigated. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach successfully reduces the required number of PMUs while maintaining full system observability. For instance, the IEEE 14-bus system achieved complete observability with only four PMUs, while the IEEE 30-bus and 57-bus systems required ten and seventeen PMUs, respectively. For the Jordanian transmission network, the 400 kV system required only three PMUs, and the 132 kV system required twenty-six PMUs. Furthermore, it was found that integrating power system planning and grid expansion strategies into the PMU placement problem may further reduce installation costs. The results emphasize the effectiveness of the proposed approach in enhancing situational awareness, improving state estimation accuracy, and facilitating reliable protection, control, and monitoring schemes. This study concludes that an optimal PMU allocation strategy shall be incorporated into power system planning studies to maximize cost efficiency while ensuring full observability.

Keywords: particle swarm optimization; phasor measurement unit; power system planning; observability; smart grid

Research Title: Interline Power Flow Controller Allocation for Active Power Losses Enhancement Using Whale Optimization Algorithm

Author: Mais Maher Aldwaik, Published Year: 2024

Energies, 17

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Transmission networks face continuous electrical and mechanical stresses due to increasing system challenges and power losses. Transmission networks require special focus and detailed studies each time a load or a generator emerges to the grid. The interline power flow controller (IPFC) is a relatively new scheme that is implemented in the transmission network to improve transmission efficiency, decrease transmission losses, and enhance voltage profile. In this paper, the interline power flow controller’s impact on transmission network performance is investigated as it is implemented within the IEEE 5-bus, 14-bus, and IEEE 57-bus systems. In addition, the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is used to optimize the interline power flow controller locations within the system to achieve optimal transmission system performance. WOA performance is also compared to genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms, and the superiority of the proposed WOA-based control is proved. The robustness of the optimized system against load variations is investigated and the results introduced affirm the capability of the interline power flow controller to enhance transmission network efficiency.

Keywords: interline power flow controller; transmission network; whale optimization algorithm

Research Title: The nexus between digital supply chain and sustainability: An empirical study in pharmaceutical companies in Jordan

Author: Abdallah Jamil Abu Salma, Published Year: 2025

Uncertain Supply Chain Management, Volume 12, Issue 3

Faculty: Business

Abstract: This study focuses on the impact of the digital supply chain, including digital suppliers, digital manufacturing, and digital logistics, on sustainability outcomes in pharmaceutical companies in Jordan. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 226 managers of pharmaceutical companies in Jordan. The questionnaire measures perceptions, attitudes and experiences related to digital supply chain adoption and sustainability performance. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as an analytical framework to study the relationships between digital supply chain and sustainability outcomes. The hypothesized relationships were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis techniques within the SEM framework. The results indicate a positive relationship between digital supply chain adoption and sustainability performance in pharmaceutical companies in Jordan. Based on the results, several recommendations were proposed for pharmaceutical companies in Jordan to enhance their sustainable performance through digital supply chain initiatives. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the relationship between digital supply chain practices and sustainability outcomes in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the context of Jordan. © 2024 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada.

Keywords: Digital Supply Chain; Jordan; Pharmaceutical Companies; Sustainability

Research Title: Impact of Green Supply Chain Practices on Performance of Healthcare Sector in Jordan

Author: Abdallah Jamil Abu Salma, Published Year: 2025

Artificial Intelligence, SCI,volume 1171

Faculty: Business

Abstract: This study aims to explore the impact of green supply chain practices on the performance of the healthcare sector in Jordan. It seeks to conduct an empirical analysis to understand how the adoption of environmentally sustainable supply chain strategies affects various aspects of performance within healthcare institutions in Jordan. Data were collected through structured surveys administered to 246 healthcare managers within hospitals in Jordan. SEM analysis is used to examine the direct effects of green supply chain practices on performance outcomes. Jordan's healthcare business benefited from environmentally friendly supply chain practices. This research is note-worthy for its empirical investigation of the correlation between green supply chain practices and the success of Jordan's healthcare industry, providing practical guidance for healthcare organizations to improve their operational efficiency, contribute to environmental conservation, and deliver high-quality healthcare in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords: Green, Supply chain, performance

Research Title: Digital transformation and the challenges associated with applying digital technologies in achieving strategic flexibility in public administration: a case study in Jordan

Author: Abdallah Jamil Abu Salma, Published Year: 2024

International Journal of Data and Network Science, 8

Faculty: Business

Abstract: The study aimed to identify the impact of digital transformation and analyze the obstacles and complexities facing the integration of digital technologies into Jordanian Customs and their subsequent impact on achieving strategic flexibility. The study aims to uncover challenges, evaluate their effects, and suggest recommendations to enhance adaptive strategies within Jordanian Customs considering digital transformations. The study included employees in Jordanian General Customs, including customs officials, IT staff, and administrative staff working on digital initiatives. A population of 670 individuals was identified, from whom a purposive sample of (465) directly involved in digital transformation efforts was selected to participate in the study. The study used the descriptive analytical approach to comprehensively investigate the challenges of digital transformation within Jordanian Customs. Surveys, interviews, analysis of regulatory documents formed data collection methods. Quantitative data were subjected to descriptive analysis and regression modeling, while qualitative insights were thematically analyzed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced. The analysis revealed the results, the most important of which is that digital transformation has a positive, statistically significant impact in its four dimensions (strategy, organizational culture, transformational leadership, and human resources) in achieving strategic agility in Jordanian Customs, and reveals multi-faceted challenges prevailing within Jordanian Customs, including structural constraints. Infrastructure, resistance to change, cyber security vulnerabilities, and skills gaps among the workforces. The regression analysis highlighted the significant impact of these challenges in hindering the achievement of strategic flexibility within the Customs Department. Based on the results of the study, Jordanian Customs is recommended to take proactive measures to confront the challenges identified. This includes investing in a robust technology infrastructure, implementing targeted training programs to improve employee skills, promoting a culture of innovation, and establishing cross-departmental collaboration to enhance adaptability and strategic flexibility. The study recommended increasing attention to training workers and raising their capabilities to deal with digital transformation positively and improve services.

Keywords: Digital, transformation,challenges, technologies

Research Title: Examining the relationship between business intelligence adoption and marketing effectiveness: The mediating role of customer satisfaction

Author: Abdallah Jamil Abu Salma, Published Year: 2024

Faculty: Business

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between business intelligence adoption (Business Intelligence (BI), Data Analysis and Reporting (DAR), Business Process Integration (BPI), and Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CII)) and marketing effectiveness in the Jordanian telecom industry. It specifically examines the mediating role of customer satisfaction in this relationship. A survey design method using the cross-sectional survey was utilized during the research process, involving quantification. The data was collected from 285 employees across the Jordanian telecom sector via electronic response forms. As the analysis's method, the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized. The results, which showed BI, DAR and CII to have a positive direct effect on marketing effectiveness, whilst BPI displayed a negative direct impact, were compelling. But clear signs of positive influence on CS by the four dimensions of BI (BI, DAR, BPI, and CII) have also been observed, and this result has been proved to be a mediator between them and business effectiveness. The above study is a source of invaluable learning for the managers of telecom companies in Jordan is a tool that managers in the Jordanian telecom industry will greatly benefit from in the sense that it brings out all the importance of integrating BI, DAR, BPI, and CII practices that emphasize high quality customer service. By properly utilizing these assets and up-to-the-market, companies can improve the effectiveness of marketing and the whole organizational efficiency. The study enhances the existing theory of the interrelationships between the adoption of business intelligence, customer satisfaction, and marketing power which can be viewed from both resource-based view (RBV) theory and expectationbased theory (EDT). It affirms an idea that the RBV was rooted in that when organizational assets are valuable, firms have a competitive advantage and better performance. Also, an EDT states that customer satisfaction increases if the expectations of customers are met. Innovation - The essay is innovative and takes an original angle to explore the multifaceted interconnectivity among business intelligence adoption, customer satisfaction, and marketing effectiveness in the framework of the Jordanian telecom industry. It highlights the steps to customer satisfaction problem solutions and the caution comes with process integration efforts, hence, helping to arrive at a full comprehension of the aspirations for organizational performance in the field.

Keywords: Examining, relationship,intelligence

Research Title: Household food insecurity and nutritional status of pre-school children following relaxation of corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) restrictions

Author: Mohammad Abdel Qaedr Al-Maani, Published Year: 2025

Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 66

Faculty: Nursing

Abstract: Background & aims: Studies found a high prevalence of household food insecurity (HFI) and malnutrition and an association between them during the movement restriction period of the corona virus disease- 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This nutritional status should have improved by now as movement restrictions, including quarantine, have been lifted. Therefore, the goal of this cross-sectional study was to determine the current prevalence of HFI and malnutrition and their associations and contributing factors among pre-school children (i.e., children under the age of 5 years) following relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions in Jordan. Methods: A sample of 386 children (197 boys and 189 girls) in Irbid, Jordan, were recruited in this study following the simple random sampling method. The levels of HFI and malnutrition were assessed using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and the World Health Organization (WHO) growth reference values, respectively. Relevant information were managed and measurements made and employed to calculate four major anthropometric indicators for the sample children (weight for height (WHZ), height for age z-score (HAZ), weight for age z-score (WAZ) and body mass index (BMI)-for-age z-score. Results: The results of analysis pointed out that prevalence of food security among the sample children was 58.2 %, where 19.9 % of the kids were experiencing moderate food insecurity and 38.3 % were suffering from severe food insecurity. On the other hand, prevalence of malnutrition among those children was 1.81 %, where 1.55 % of the kids were emaciated and 1.26 % were severely emaciated. The results also indicated that mother's age, number of children in the family, income of the family, monthly expenses on food and beverages and the energy expenses contributed significantly (p < 0.05) to food insecurity. Moreover, the study found that HFI had negative correlations with WHZ (r ¼ 0.272, p ¼ 0.000), WAZ (r ¼ 0.193, p ¼ 0.000) and BMI-for-age z-score (r ¼ 0.263, p ¼ 0.000) and a positive correlation with HAZ (r ¼ 0.041, p ¼ 0.00). Conclusions: The study reports high prevalence of HFI among children under the age of 5 years in Jordan, even after relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions on mobility. However, prevalence of malnutrition among this group of the population is low. These results spotlight the continued impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the financial statuses of households.

Keywords: Food insecurity; COVID-19; Nutritional status; Child; Preschool; Cross-sectional studies; Jordan

Research Title: The effect of an emotional support training program on weight self-stigma and body image among women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Author: Mohammad Abdel Qaedr Al-Maani, Published Year: 2024

Nutrition & Food Science,

Faculty: Nursing

Abstract: Purpose – This study aims to investigate the impact of an emotional support training program on weight selfstigma and body image among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design/methodology/approach – A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 200 women diagnosed with PCOS employing a pretest-posttest design. The experimental group, consisting of 100 women, participated in an emotional support training program and received an informational booklet, while the control group (100 women) received only the booklet. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using weight self-esteem and body shape questionnaires. Findings – The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference in weight self-stigma and body shape scores between the experimental and control groups following the intervention. For both the immediate post-intervention test [t(198) = 31.1, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 31.1, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 31.1, p = 0.01] and [t(198) = 60.7, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 60.7, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 60.7, p =0.01], as well as the delayed post-intervention test [t(198) = 32.3, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 32.3, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 32.3, p = 0.01] and [t(198) = 70.9, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 70.9, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 70.9, p = 0.01], the experimental group exhibited lower mean scores. Specifically, the experimental group scored 20.3 ± 9.2 for immediate and 20.4 ± 9.3 for delayed assessments on weight self-stigma, and 101.2 ± 7.2 for immediate and 86.5 ± 7.6 for delayed assessments on body shape. In contrast, the control group scored 159.8 ± 6.3 for immediate and 157.6 ± 6.4 for delayed assessments, respectively. Practical implications – Nurses should be aware of the adverse effects of PCOS and associated obesity on weight self-stigma and body image. They are encouraged to develop targeted emotional support training programs specifically designed to address weight self-stigma and body image concerns in women with PCOS.

Keywords: Training program, Stigma, PCOS,Weight, Body image

Research Title: Determinants of Disaster Competencies Among Jordanian Nurses in Public Hospitals

Author: Mohammad Abdel Qaedr Al-Maani, Published Year: 2024

SAGE Open Nursing, 10

Faculty: Nursing

Abstract: Introduction: In the last decade, disasters increased by 60% worldwide. These occurrences have resulted in approximately two million deaths and 4.2 million injuries and left 33 million people homeless. Nurses are part of the front-line response team and should be critical during disasters. For nurses to respond competently, they must have the knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive and holistic care to the populations affected by disasters. Objectives: This study aims to assess the level of competencies among nurses providing disaster care and identify their predictors. Method: A descriptive correlation design was utilized to measure and predict nursing competencies in providing care to individuals amid disasters. An electronic form of disaster response competencies assessment survey was distributed to 400 nurses working at three public hospitals in the central region of Jordan. Results: Jordanian nurses reported a moderate level of competencies in providing care for individuals. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis revealed that disaster training, disaster education, sex, and real disaster experience significantly predict nurses’ competencies. Conclusion: With the increasing frequency of disasters, nurses should be adequately prepared to respond to disasters competently to relieve the negative consequences of these events on the affected individuals.

Keywords: disaster, nurses, Jordan, determinants, care, competencies