Vol 7 No.1

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https://dspace.alquds.edu/handle/20.500.12213/10031

7th Undergraduate Research Conference Proceedings

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 74

A comparative study of survival rates between auto and surgically splenectomized patients with sickle cell disease
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) AlBayan Mohammed AlMasalami; Mohammed-Rachid Boulassel
Background and aim: One of the common organs early affected in sickle cell disease (SCD) is the spleen, which has a vital role in normal homeostasis. In a significant number of patients with SCD auto auto-splenectomy occurs in childhood and may increase the risk of SCD-related complications later in life. To date, long-term survival rates among auto-splenectomized patients with SCD are still underestimated, especially in the Omani population. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of auto-splenectomy on overall survival rates over the period of ten years, and to compare these survival rates to surgically splenectomies patients with SCD.
Alexithymia among Palestinian Cancer Patients; Prevalence and Risk Factors
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Sara Elyan; Nisreen Elyan; Bassam Banat
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Alexithymia among Palestinian cancer patients in Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Hebron health care centers. The study approached the literature as a multi-dimensional phenomenon, which addressed both theoretical and applied research. The significance of this recent study is the first, which deal with this theme, to the author's knowledge, which in turn encourages other researchers to work on further research on this important issue. The study used the quantitative approach, in a cross-sectional study, using the sampling survey method. The questionnaire is appropriate for the exploratory nature of the research. Therefore, three hundred seventy-six cancer patients were stratified calculated and selected using the convenience sampling method. The sample size was calculated using the sampling web of https://www.idsurvey.com/en/sample-size-calculator/ , sample size calculator, with a margin error of 0.05.
Analysis of post-operative shivering following anesthesia: prevalence, predictors and intervention, a cross-sectional study in Palestine
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Anas Hamdan; Zaina Nazzal; Nisreen Ikhleif; Safaa Salhab
Antibiotic Resistance in Childhood Urinary Tract Infection in Palestine
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Shams Owdetallah; Esra Alhelale; Deema Zboun; Sara Alkhatib; Ibrahim Ghannam
Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in children, with increasing antibiotic resistance posing a significant healthcare challenge. Current data on resistance patterns in Palestinian children is limited, hampering effective empirical treatment strategies.
Assessing the Role of Cannabis in Managing Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Liza Saadeddin; Yazan AlHabilm; Hana Ishkirat; Mariam Alqam; Obada Hossoon; Seema Hameedi; Hamzeh Yacoub; Diana Yasin; Anita Bahbah; Majd Oweidat; Hanadi Mosa; Yazan AlHabil
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex, heterogeneous disease, and its management remains challenging due to varying symptoms and patient responses to treatments. While injectable therapies like glatiramer acetate and beta-interferon are common, they have limitations such as side effects and varying efficacy. Cannabis has garnered attention as a potential alternative treatment, particularly for symptoms like spasticity and pain.
Assessment of anxiety, depression, and quality of life among healthcare workers at hemodialysis centers of the West Bank: a cross-sectional study from Palestine
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Khadeeja Fanoun; Taqwa Abu Ghanieh; Saja Rabee; Saja Alkhdour
Background: Healthcare workers are significantly at higher levels of risk of suffering from a mental disorder during their lifetime, which is caused mainly by their stressful work environment. Being in contact with critically ill patients, like those who undergo hemodialysis, most of the time exacerbates their risk of developing secondary traumatic stress and subsequently anxiety and depression. As mental health and the quality of life for healthcare workers affect the quality of care they provide to patients, it is crucial to detect and manage any degree of mental illness among them.
Automated Wildlife Species Detection and Classification in Oman’s Natural Reserves Using Few-Shot Learning
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Ethar Tamimi; Malak Abdul Hamid Al Hinai; Iman Said Al Hajri; Abdelhamid Abdessalem
Background: Wildlife monitoring is a critical component of biodiversity conservation, especially in regions like Oman, where ecological challenges and human-induced threats endanger various species. Camera traps have become invaluable tools for capturing wildlife activity, producing large volumes of image data over time. However, manually analyzing these images is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. Accurate species detection and recognition are essential for informing effective conservation strategies, yet traditional methods of reviewing images present limitations.
Biochar Mitigation of Phosphorus Leaching from Agricultural Soils and Reduction of Nutrient Pollution of Aquifers
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Hamood Al-Hajri; Qais Al-Amri; Rawan Al-Jamudi; Fatma Al-Kashri; Ruqia Al-Sarihi; Daniel Blackburn
Phosphorus (P) leaching from agricultural soils is a growing environmental concern in Oman, particularly in the Al Batinah region where sandy soils and heavy fertilizer use have led to elevated phosphorus levels near palm farms. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of iron-enriched biochar, produced from locally sourced palm tree waste through pyrolysis at 600 °C—in reducing phosphorus mobility and leaching in sandy soils.
Bridging Cultures: A Contrastive Study of Human and AI Translation of Literary Texts, Normal People as a Case Study
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Nariman Mazaraa; Mahmoud Abdel Fattah; Mahmoud Abdel Fattah - Ismail
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a significant concern for human translators in recent years as it has permeated every field, including translation. AI translation is a process based on complex deep learning algorithms that allow AI to continue evolving. Consequently, the need to test AI limitations in translation has become more prominent. This research examines the capabilities of AI in literary translation, a genre that has long been considered the most demanding. The study tests and analyzes human and neural machine translation (ChatGPT4 and DeepL) of tense and culturally specific items in the Irish context by comparing AI translations of excerpts from "Normal People" by Sally Rooney with those translated by Mustafa Ban’ami in the Arabic version of the novel entitled " أناس عاديون ". The research paper found that despite AI's ability to learn and adapt, it struggled to convey a natural flow in the target language and stumbled when encountering culturally specific items and conveying the Arabic narrative and its linguistic features, such as tenses. This paper aims to contribute to the current discourse regarding AI’s role in literary translation, highlighting the pros and cons of human and AI translations, while also advocating for the use of Neural Machine Translation as a tool to enhance human translation rather than oppose it.
Calcium in CKD patients
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Shahnd S. M. Abu-Karesh; Omer Othman Ali Othman; Hend Naguib
Background: Chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) significantly impacts morbidity and healthcare costs. Purpose and Objectives: This audit assessed compliance with KDIGO/KDOQI guidelines for calcium management in CKD patients at Alexandria Main University Hospital. Methods:  Cycle 1 (Baseline): Retrospective review (n=24) identifying gaps in calcium control, patient education, and care plans.  Cycle 2 (Post-Intervention): Prospective study (n=28) implementing structured education, dietary support, and medication adjustments. Results: • Cycle 1: 62% hypocalcemia, 12.5% hypercalcemia, 0% patient education. • Cycle 2: Normal calcium levels increased to 57% (p<0.05), patient education compliance reached 68%, and medication adjustments improved to 75%. Persistent hyperphosphatemia (40%) remained a challenge. Conclusion: Targeted interventions improved calcium management; however, m
Communication Skills in Patients-Healthcare Providers Interactions: Learning from Patients Complaints
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Saja Quqas; Diana Sabarneh; Jana Harahsheh; Narmeen Abuayyash; Shaymaa Qashqeesh; Ayman Ikhlayel; Hussin Farajeen
This study aimed to assess the communication skills in patient-healthcare providers interactions: learning from patient complaints at Bethlehem and Hebron hospitals. The study used the quantitative approach, in a cross-sectional study, using a questionnaire, which is appropriate for the exploratory nature of the research. Therefore, three hundred sixty-eight health patients were stratified calculated, based on hospital and Governorate, and were selected using the convenience sampling method. The sample size was calculated using the sampling web of http://www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm, sample size calculator, with a margin of error of 1.11. To achieve this end, a 11-item scale was used to measure the communication skills in patient- healthcare providers interactions: learning from patient complaints at Bethlehem and Hebron hospitals, that was developed by the research team, based on Norouzinia et al. (1111) scale, taking into consideration the cultural appropriateness in the Palestinian society. A 1-point Likert scale (ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree) was used to measure responses. The collected data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
Comparative Analysis of the ESR Fast Detector Method Versus the Traditional Westergren Method and C-Reactive Protein Tests in Assessing Inflammation Among Palestinian Patients
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Heba Al-Salibi; Raed Shaheen; Rahaf Al-Shakhrah; Shurooq Al-Shaer
Background: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a widely utilized laboratory test that helps assess various inflammatory conditions by serving as an indirect measure of the acute-phase response. Typically performed alongside C-reactive protein (CRP) testing, which offers more immediate and sensitive detection of inflammation, ESR is valued for its simplicity and low cost. However, it lacks specificity and can yield inconsistent results, particularly when using modified Westergren techniques such as the ESR fast detector. This study aims to evaluate the correlation and comparison between the ESR fast detector and the traditional ESR reference method in Palestinian patients with inflammatory conditions.
Cultural Genocide in Gaza: Legal and Psychological Impacts on Palestinian Identity
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Nour Iriqat; Danyah Jaber
Cultural genocide, as theorized by Raphael Lemkin, involves the systematic destruction of a group’s cultural identity, traditions, and historical memory. In Gaza, the ongoing targeting of cultural, religious, and educational institutions by Israeli forces raises serious questions about whether these acts constitute cultural genocide. This study explores how the destruction of sites such as mosques, churches, libraries, and universities functions as a means of erasing Palestinian identity and severing connections to heritage and collective memory. The research aims to examine whether such acts fall under Lemkin’s broader concept of genocide, despite the exclusion of cultural genocide from the 1948 Genocide Convention. It also investigates how this legal omission enables impunity and complicates international recognition of cultural destruction as a form of mass atrocity.
Data-Driven Insights on the Effectiveness of Cloud Seeding in Oman
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Ahmad Al-Ghafri
Oman, one of the most water-scarce countries, experiences an arid desert climate with limited rainfall. This study investigates the impact of cloud seeding on increasing rainfall during the summers of 2015, 2016, and 2017, using data-driven analysis. Datasets provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources (MAFWR), along with data from weather stations and other sources, were thoroughly analyzed to assess the effects of cloud seeding.
Design of a 16-bit Binary Comparator
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Alhasan Manasra; Mohammed Khdour; Mohammed Hussien
Background: Comparators play a key role in digital circuits by determining the magnitude relationship between binary values. With the need for low-power designs in embedded systems, CMOS technology offers an ideal solution due to its complementary operation of NMOS and PMOS transistors.
Diagnostic yield and appropriateness of ambulatory electrography Holter monitor at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Mohammed Al Habsi; Mohammed AlRawahi; Suhaib AlMashari; Tasneem AlRashdi; Adil AlRiyami
Background: Ambulatory Holter monitor was developed to allow remote ECG monitoring of patients with suspected cardiac arrhythmias. It was first introduced by the American biophysicist Norman J. Holter in the 1940s. In recent years, there has been significant advancements in remote cardiac monitoring. The choice of the ECG-monitoring modality depends on the presenting symptom, symptom frequency, and degree of suspicion of a life-threatening arrhythmia.
Digital Eye Strain Among Medical Students in Gaza Universities During the War in Gaza: A Cross-Section Study
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Khalil Mostafa Alinaby; Salah Alaloul; Ismail Alqoqa; Mohammed Kamel; Jihen Brour; Mohammed Eleyan
Background: Digital Eye Strain (DES), also called Computer Vision Syndrome(CVS), refers to a group of ocular and extra ocular symptoms resulting from prolonged use of digital devices. Medical students have become increasingly dependent on screens, heightening their risk of DES. In conflict-affected regions such as the Gaza Strip, this reliance is not a matter of choice but a necessity. Medical students in Gaza are forced to engage in uninterrupted and prolonged screen use under suboptimal conditions marked by poor lighting, unstable power supply, and inadequate ergonomic setups, These compounded stressors significantly increase the risk and severity of DES symptoms. Study Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Digital Eye Strain (DES) and identify associated risk factors among undergraduate medical students during the war in Gaza.
Empathy in patient care
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Farah Mish'al; Tasneem Masalmeh; Qusai Ayash; Malak Jumhoor; Yasmin Iskafi; Alaa Sarhan; Tamara Ubaid; Bassam Halaikawi; Bassam Banat
Background: The Arnold P. Gold Foundation emphasizes the importance of empathy in patient care, promoting humanism through respectful relationships between physicians, team members, and patients. Organizational characteristics influence nurses' perceptions of communication, empathy, and emotional intelligence, promoting therapeutic change. Healthcare professionals should educate family caregivers on self-care and the importance of empathy in their role, as the demanding nature of caregiving can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being.
Epidemiology of Incidental Findings in Ultrasound Imaging: Insights from Palestine
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Raghad Sweity; Diar Alajrami; Ihab Hemeid; ZainEdeen Zyadah; Amer Al-Jawabreh; Abedelmajeed Nasereddin; Suheir Ereqat
Introduction: The expanding clinical applications of ultrasound (US) imaging have resulted in the increased detection of incidental findings during standard examinations. These findings, unrelated to the primary imaging indication, range from benign anomalies to clinically significant conditions requiring further evaluation.
Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anticancer, and Enzymes Effects of Terfezia Arenaria from Palestine
(Deanship of Research - Al-Quds University, 2025-06-01) Ayat Abu Qaddum; Sawsan salameh; Mohand Qurie
Background: Terfezia arenaria is a species of desert truffle belonging to the Terfeziaceae family. Desert truffles typically grow in dry and semi-arid regions, including Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, and Palestine, and are generally classified as Terfezia or Tirmania. Beyond their unique aromatic properties, desert truffles are recognized for their nutritional and medicinal value. They are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, lipids, and amino acids (Wang and Marcone, 2011). Additionally, they contain bioactive compounds such as ascorbic acid, ergosterol, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, phytosterols, and polysaccharides. Among these, flavonoids are particularly valuable due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anticancer properties. Unlike edible mushrooms, truffles can produce these metabolites naturally. Several studies have reported their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Regardless of species, desert truffles are highly valued both locally and internationally as luxury food items (Harir et al., 2019).

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