Ala’aldin Alrowwad

Predicting credit risk is vital for banks as it safeguards financial stability, minimizes default losses, optimizes capital, and ensures regulatory compliance. This study aims to predict credit risk (High/Low) in commercial banks by integrating machine learning with traditional econometric approaches. The Structural Learning in Vague Environments (SLAVE) fuzzy rule-based model handles ambiguity in financial decisions, while the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) uncovers non-linear patterns among predictors. Input variables—profitability, liquidity risk, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) score, and monetary freedom—were selected via multicollinearity tests and three panel regression models, including ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects, and random effects models. The empirical investigation uses a panel dataset of forty commercial banks across seven Middle Eastern countries from 2014 to 2023, yielding 400 observations. Regression results reveal that profitability and ESG score significantly reduce credit risk. Liquidity risk and monetary freedom increase credit risk. XGBoost combined with the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP)-based interpretation identifies ESG Score as the most influential predictor. The SLAVE model was evaluated using three data splits: 70/30, 80/20, and 90/10. The 80/20 split achieved the highest accuracy, with superior performance in identifying low-risk banks. Stronger ESG performance and stable monetary environments contribute to fostering sustainable banking and reducing credit risk, making these indicators valuable for risk management frameworks in the Middle Eastern banking sector.

The composition of cloud services plays a vital role in optimizing resource allocation, load balancing, task scheduling, and energy management. However, it remains a significant challenge due to the dynamic nature of workloads and the variability in resource demands, where addressing these challenges is essential for ensuring seamless service delivery. This research investigated the implementation of the Cuckoo Optimization Algorithm (COA) in a cloud computing environment to optimize service composition. In the proposed approach, each service was treated as an egg, where high-demand services represented the host’s original eggs, while low-demand services represented the cuckoo bird’s eggs that competed for the same resources. This implementation enabled the algorithm to balance workloads dynamically and allocate resources efficiently while optimizing load balancing, task scheduling, cost reduction, processing and response times, system stability, and energy management. The simulations were conducted using CloudSim 5.0, and the results were compared with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithms across key performance metrics. Experimental results clearly demonstrate that the COA outperformed both PSO and ACO across all evaluated metrics. The COA achieved higher efficiency in task scheduling, dynamic load balancing, and energy-aware resource allocation. It consistently maintained lower operational costs, reduced SLA violations, and achieved superior task completion and VM utilization rates. These findings underscore the COA’s potential as a robust and scalable approach for optimizing cloud service composition in dynamic and resource-constrained environments.

This paper explores the linkages between corporate governance, AI-sponsored decision-making, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices, and organizational performance. In particular, it examines the mediating influence of ESG practices and the moderating effect of AI-based decision-making regarding implementing the corporate governance and performance relationship. The study employed a quantitative research design by collecting primary data through structured surveys distributed to executives, managers, and board members of various industry Jordanian firms. A stratified random sampling approach is used to select a representative sample. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that corporate governance positively impacts ESG practices and organizational performance. It suggests that ESG practices partially mediate between governance and performance. Moreover, AI-based decision-making moderates the governance-performance relationship, whereby governance effectiveness is augmented by improved risk assessment, compliance monitoring, and strategic planning. The findings of this study strengthen the belief that corporate governance should go beyond traditional compliance models and adopt AI-backed and ESG-influenced strategies to maintain an expertise edge. The results highlight the practical implications for corporate heads, policymakers, and investors, underscoring the need for governance systems that align artificial intelligence-based decisions with ESG sustainability standards. Enterprises must be responsible for AI adoption, with adequate human oversight and ethical safeguards to minimize risks.

Previous research has found support for depression and anxiety associated with social networks. However, little research has explored parents’ depression and anxiety constructs as mediators that may account for children’s depression and anxiety. The purpose of this paper is to test the influence of different factors on children’s depression and anxiety, extending from parents’ anxiety and depression in Jordan. The authors recruited 857 parents to complete relevant web survey measures with constructs and items and a model based on different research models TAM and extended with trust, analyzed using SEM, CFA with SPSS and AMOS, and ML methods, using the triangulation method to validate the results and help predict future applications. The authors found support for the structural model whereby behavioral intention to use social media influences the parent’s anxiety and depression which correlate to their offspring’s anxiety and depression. Behavioral intention to use social media can be enticed by enjoyment, trust, ease of use, usefulness, and social influences. This study is unique in exploring rumination in the context of the relationship between parent–child anxiety and depression due to the use of social networks.

The purpose of this research paper is to identify and test the factors influencing the perceived usefulness and perceived effectiveness of adopting an e-learning system from the perspective of teachers in public and private schools as well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jordan during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the academic year 2019/2020. Based on the findings and best practices, the study intends to make appropriate recommendations to decision-makers. Its significance stems from the use of scientific tools of research and investigation, and it aims to ensure the quality and effectiveness of Jordanian schools’ e-learning systems. The study’s hypotheses were verified by electronically collecting 551 questionnaires from teachers in Jordan. To test the study hypotheses, the empirical validity of the research model was set up, and the data were analyzed with SPSS version 21.0. Structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and machine learning (ML) methods were used to test the study hypotheses and validate the properties of the instrument items. Nineteen variables and one mediating variable were studied. The study found that independent variables pertaining to technology (relative advantage, compatibility, top management support, communication technologies, competitive pressure, technology competence, information intensity, and work flexibility) and moderating variables pertaining to the teacher’s personal income and those pertaining to school (school size, education program, and work sector) had a positive effect on teachers’ perceived usefulness of adopting e-learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, independent variables pertaining to technology (complexity and collaboration technology), moderating variables pertaining to the teacher (age, education level, and gender), and moderating variables pertaining to school (educational stage, number of students) were not supported.

Smartphone addiction has become a major problem for everyone. According to recent studies, a considerable number of children and adolescents are more attracted to smartphones and exhibit addictive behavioral indicators, which are emerging as serious social problems. The main goal of this study is to identify the determinants that influence children’s smartphone addiction and social isolation among children and adolescents in Jordan. The theoretical foundation of this study model is based on constructs adopted from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (i.e., perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness), with social influence and trust adopted from the TAM extended model along with perceived enjoyment. In terms of methodology, the study uses data from 511 parents who responded via convenient sampling, and the data was collected via a survey questionnaire and used to evaluate the research model. To test the study hypotheses, the empirical validity of the research model was set up, and the data were analyzed with SPSS version 21.0 and AMOS 26 software. Structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and machine learning (ML) methods were used to test the study hypotheses and validate the properties of the instrument items. The ML methods used are support vector machine (SMO), the bagging reduced error pruning tree (REPTree), artificial neural network (ANN), and random forest. Several major findings were indicated by the results: perceived usefulness, trust, and social influence were significant antecedent behavioral intentions to use the smartphone. Also, findings prove that behavioral intention is statistically supported to have a significant influence on smartphone addiction. Furthermore, the findings confirm that smartphone addiction positively influences social isolation among Jordanian children and adolescents. Yet, perceived ease of use and perceived enjoyment did not have a significant effect on behavioral intention to use the smartphone among Jordanian children and adolescents. The research contributes to the body of knowledge and literature by empirically examining and theorizing the implications of smartphone addiction on social isolation. Further details of the study contribution, as well as research future directions and limitations, are presented in the discussion section.

Mobile banking is a service provided by a bank that allows full remote control of customers’ financial data and transactions with a variety of options to serve their needs. With m-banking, the banks can cut down on operational costs whilst maintaining client satisfaction. This research examined the most crucial factors that could predict the Jordanian customer’s continued intention toward the use of m-banking. Following the proposed model, the research was conducted by using a self-conducted questionnaire and the responses were collected electronically from a convenience sample of 403 Jordanian customers of m-banking through social networks. The suggested model was adapted from the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), and the technology acceptance model (TAM). The research model was further expanded by considering the factors of service quality and moderating factors (age, gender, educational level, and Internet experience). The collected data of customers were analyzed, validated, and verified by using a structural equation modeling (SME) approach including a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), in addition to machine learning (ML) methods, artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SMO), bagging reduced error pruning tree (RepTree), and random forest. Results showed that effort expectancy, performance expectancy, perceived risk, perceived trust, social influence, and service quality impacted behavioral intention, whereas facilitating conditions did not. Furthermore, behavioral intention impacted upon word of mouth and facilitating conditions (the latter regarding the continued intention to use m-banking), and had the highest coefficient value. Results also confirmed that all moderating factors affect the behavioral intention to continue using m-banking applications.

Using mobile applications in e-government for the purpose of health protection is a new idea during COVID-19 epidemic. Hence, the goal of this study is to examine the various factors that influence the use of SANAD App As a health protection tool. The factors were adopted from well-established models like UTAUT, TAM, and extended PBT. Using survey data from 442 SANAD App from Jordan, the model was empirically validated using AMOS 20 confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM) and machine learning (ML) methods were performed to assess the study hypotheses. The ML methods used are ANN, SMO, the bagging reduced error pruning tree (RepTree), and random forest. The results suggested several key findings: the respondents’ performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived risk, trust, and perceived service quality of this digital technology were significant antecedents for their attitude to using it. The strength of these relationships is affected by the moderating variables, including age, gender, educational level, and internet experience on behavioral intention. Yet, perceived risk did not have a significant effect on attitude towards SANAD App The study adds to literature by empirically testing and theorizing the effects of SANAD App on public health protection.

YouTube usage as a learning tool is evident among students. Hence, the goal of this study is to examine the various factors that influence the use of YouTube as a learning tool, which influences academic achievement in a bilingual academic context. Using survey data from 704 YouTube users from Jordan’s bilingual academic institutes, the research model was empirically validated. Using Amos 20, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to assess the study hypotheses. SEM permits concurrent checking of the direct and indirect effects of all hypotheses. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to validate the instrument items’ properties in addition to machine learning methods: ANN, SMO, the bagging reduced error pruning tree (RepTree), and random forest. The empirical results offer several key findings: academic achievement (AA) is influenced by the information adoption (IA) of YouTube as a learning tool. Information adoption (IA) is influenced by information usefulness (IU). Source credibility (SC) and information quality (IQ) both influence information usefulness (IU), while information language (IL) does not. Information quality (IQ) is influenced by intrinsic, contextual, and accessibility information quality. This study adds to the literature by empirically testing and theorizing the effects of YouTube as a learning tool on the academic achievement of Jordanian university students who are studying in bilingual surroundings.