Implementation of remote sensing for vegetation studying using vegetation indices and automatic feature space plot

Remote sensing techniques play an important role for monitoring vegetation growth and health, as well as others Landcover and Landuse. Image segmentation techniques are the most important tools, usually used to differentiate between the Earth’s surface features. One of the most common techniques to isolating the vegetated area from other land use regions is by utilizing the vegetation indices. In this research, different vegetation indices will be utilized for detecting and monitoring vegetation greenness, healthiness, and wetness. A new adaptive technique for image segmentation has been introduced in this research is automatic feature space plot, this based on partitioning the feature space plot between the visible Red and Near-Infrared remotely sensed bands. The multi temporal Enhanced-Thematic-Mapper plus (ETM+) available scenes have been used to cover the studied areas, in two successive years (2001 and 2002). This feature space plot segmentation method divided the reflectance diagram in two regions; these were vegetation and no-vegetation. A variety of indices formulas have also been used to globalize the vegetation patches, three of these vegetation indices have been adopted (i.e. RVI, NDVI and IPVI). The “NDVI” has higher recognized vegetated areas than other adopted indices of the amount of vegetation (ripe vegetation). Image binarization method being followed the implementation of the indices to isolating the vegetation areas from the image background. The isolated vegetated areas and their percentages are presented in tables to show the agriculture regions in two multi temporal scenes. The changes at these agriculture areas have also been computed and presented visually on the form of images, and numerically by listing them in tables (in km2). The counted areas resulted from the automatic feature space plot method and the isolated vegetated areas resulted from the implementation of the vegetation indices are also presented. Keyword Image segmentation, feature space plot segmentation, vegetation indices, image binarization, change detection technique

Spectrophotometric Determination of Certain Antiepileptic's in Tablets Using Vanillin Reagent

A selective and new spectrophotometric method is described for determination of three antiepileptic drugs; namely lamotrigine (LAM), gabapentin (GAB), and oxcarbazepine (OXC) in drug substances and in drug products using vanillin reagent as the chromogenic agent. The method is based on a coupling reaction between the cited drugs and vanillin reagent in acidic condition. Under optimized conditions, the yellow colored products were measured at 405, 396, and 400 nm respectively. Beer’s law was obeyed at (0.4 – 10), (0.1-10), and (0.5-11) μg/mL, and  the calculated molar absorptivity values are 2.52 x 104, 1.74 x 104, and 2.54 x 104 L/mol/cm for LAM, GAB, and OXC respectively. Sandell sensitivity, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were calculated. No interference was observed from common additives found in drug products. The presented method was validated according to ICH guidelines. Statistical comparison of the results was performed using Student's t-test and F-ratio at 95% confidence level, and there was no significant difference between the reference and proposed method with regard to accuracy and precision. The method offers the advantages of rapidity, simplicity and sensitivity and low cost and can be easily applied to resource poor settings without the need for expensive instrumentation and reagents

Achieving Competitive Advantage in Human Resource Management in General School District of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia

The general school district of Riyadh is one of largest in the country of (45) school districts in Saudi Arabia. The school districts play an important roles in the development of education, therefore the objective of the study is to examine the roles of the management in the school districts to see if it is achieving competitive advantage. After the analysis of (226) respondents , the study revealed  that there are three of nine dimensions of human resource management in the study with low degree.in  recruiting human resources, motivation of human resources, services and public relations ( mean of 2.35 of 5.00), and moderate degree in salaries, work analysis, description and design, performance assessment, planning of  human recourses, and training and developing of human resources ( mean of 2.70 of 5.00), But the degree of overall of these roles of human resource management is blow the average(mean =2.53). The result of the study indicate that the General School District of Riyadh is not in a position to be  competitive in human resource management with other school districts in Saudi Arabia or with  the international level. The school district of Riyadh needs to put great efforts in development of management of human resources to achieve competitive advantages by training school district superintendent and human resource manager. The study has implication for other school districts in Saudi Arabia and for many developing countries with centralized system in education. It also highlighted the challenges facing  lack of regulation related to human resources management, and the absence of many of human resources management the lack of integrated management of competent human resources, lack of specialists in human resource management, and the most important is deficiencies in many of the functions of human resources and lack of incentives and training. Keywords: human resource management, competitive advantage, school district, Saudi Arabia developing countries

The Effectiveness of Using Some E-Supporting Applications in Developing Digital Empowerment among Public Education Teachers in Light of Quality Standards for the Instructional Design

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using some e-supporting apps in developing digital empowerment among public education teachers in light of quality standards for the instructional design. The study employed a semi-experimental approach with one group-pre-post-test. The study sample consisted of 90 teachers in the Summer Training Program at Taibah University in the year 1438-1439. The researchers used the following tools and materials: an achievement test, an observation card, and a scale of instructional design quality. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the average scores of teachers in the achievement test, the observation card, and the scale of instructional design quality in the development of digital empowerment in the post-test. The most important recommendations were: That electronic support apps. should be used o develop digital empowerment to become a formula in the development of digital content and the quality of educational design; to prepare teachers to meet the needs of the society, to encourage public education teachers to design new technologies for e-support; and to employ them in the design of all courses for different disciplines in the different academic stages

Anticancer Activity of New Di-Nuclear Copper (I) Complex

In-vitro biological activities of the free new H4L ( indole-7-thiocarbohydrazone) ligand and its Ni(II), Pd(II) , Pt(II), Cu(II), Ag(I), Zn(II) and Cd(II)  complexes are screened against two cancerous cell lines, that revealed significant activity only for [Cu2Cl2(H4L)2(PPh3)2]  after 72 h treatment by the highest tested concentrations. The Copper(I) complex was characterized by X-ray Crystallography and the NMR spectra, whereas it has been confirmed to have momentous cytotoxicity against ovarian, breast cancerous cell lines (Caov-3, MCF-7). The apoptosis-inducing properties of the Cu(I) complex have been investigated through fluorescence microscopy visualization, DNA fragmentation analysis and propidium iodide flow cytometry. Keywords: Cu(I) complex, biological investigation, anticancer activity & DNA fragmentation analysis

Psychological Problems resulted from COVID-19 and its relation to E-Learning and E-Assessment Stress in a sample of College of Education Students, Sultan Qaboos University

هدفت الدراسة إلى تحديد أهم المشكلات النفسية المترتبة على فيروس كورونا المستجد وتحديد نسبة شيوعها، ومعرفة دلالة الفرق بين الذكور والإناث في إدراكهم تلك المشكلات، والكشف عن طبيعة العلاقة الارتباطية بين المشكلات النفسية المترتبة على ذلك الوباء وبين كل من: ضغوط التعلم والتقييم الإلكتروني. ولتحقيق تلك الأهداف، تم بناء وتقنين مقياس المشكلات النفسية المترتبة على COVID-19، واستبانة ضغوط التعلم والتقييم الإلكتروني، وقد تم جمع البيانات بطريقة إلكترونية من خلال Google Form من 125 طالبًا وطالبة بكلية التربية، جامعة السلطان قابوس. وأسفرت النتائج عن أن المشكلات النفسية المترتبة على فيروس كورونا (مشكلات انفعالية، ومشكلات سلوكية وجسدية، والخوف من العدوى، والعزلة الاجتماعية، ونقص الدافعية) تنتشر بين أفراد العينة بدرجة متوسطة، وَوُجِدَت علاقة ارتباطية موجبة متوسطة دالة إحصائيًّا بين المشكلات النفسية وبين كل من: ضغوط التعلم والتقييم الإلكتروني، ولم يكن ثمة فرقٌ دالٌّ إحصائيًّا بين الجنسين في كل من: المشكلات النفسية، وضغوط التعلم الإلكتروني، وضغوط التقييم الإلكتروني.The present study aimed at identifying the psychological problems resulted from the COVID-19 outbreak.  Additionally, it explored the frequency, and gender differences in those problems. The paper also investigated the correlation relationship between COVID-19 associated psychological problems and e-learning and e-assessment stress.  To achieve the objectives of the study, a COVID-19 psychological problems scale (CPPS) and an E-learning and E-assessment stress questionnaire were developed and validated. Data were collected through Google form from 125 students enrolled in the College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University. Results indicated that COVID-19 associated psychological problems (Emotional problems, behavioral and health problems, fear of infection, social isolation, and lack of motivation) occupied a moderate rank. A significant positive correlation relationship was detected between COVID-19 associated psychological problems and e-learning stress r= 0.492, P > 0.01 and e-assessment stress r= 0.331, P > 0.01. No significant differences were found between both genders in COVID-19 associated psychological problems, e-learning stress, and e-assessment stress

Estimation Arginase Activity in the Serum of Uterine Fibroid Females and its Relationship with Other Parameters

The research includes a clinical study of Arginase and its relation with uterine fibroid. The normal value of arginase activity in female serum was found to be (0.52 ± 0.02 IU/L) in healthy group at age (35-55) years. The study also showed a highly significant increase in arginase activity (7.99 ± 0.23 IU/L) in serum of uterine fibroid patients group at (35-55years) in comparison to healthy.The results also indicated a highly significant increase in the level of progesterone, estradiol, prolactin, peroxynitrite and malondialdehyde in patients group. While a highly significant decrease in concentration of adiponectin in patients group was found in comparison to healthy. Keywords: Arg , Adipo Q, PRO, E2, PRL, Peroxynitrite, MDA. Abbreviations: Arg, Arginase; Adipo Q, Adoponectin; PRO, Progesterone; E2, Estradiol; PRL, Prolactin; MDA, Malondialdehyde

Anastatica Hierochuntica L. Used As an Alternative of Conjugated Estrogen (Premarin) in Rabbit Females

There are risks and benefits with all medicines and estrogen replacement is no exception. In fact, estrogen replacement is one of the most controversial topics in Endocrinology. Anastatica hierochuntica L. is a popular treatment  for the management of female reproductive disorders. The present research highlights the effect of  aqueous extract of plant against conjugated estrogen(Premarin) in rabbits. Femal oryciolagus cuniculus rabbits were divided into four groups: the 1 st group, rabbits were orally administered  (using a feeding solution )with daily dose(5 mL distilled water)for two months, the 2nd group, the rabbits were treated with conjugated estrogen (50 µg/kg b.w, body weight )for one month. The 3rd  group, the rabbits were treated with aqueose extract of plant(100mg/mL) for one month and group 4th the rabbits were treated with aqueous extract of plant(100mg/mL) for two  months  . The level of estrogen evaluated in blood. The findings of the study indicated that the administration of conjugated estrogen (50µg/kg b. w) induced a significant increase in estrogen. The result suggests that aqueous extract of Anastatica hierochuntica L. may increased leve of estrogen

Satellite Images Unsupervised Classification Using Two Methods Fast Otsu and K-means

Two unsupervised classifiers for optimum multithreshold are presented; fast Otsu and k-means. The unparametric methods produce an efficient procedure to separate the regions (classes) by select optimum levels, either on the gray levels of image histogram (as Otsu classifier), or on the gray levels of image intensities(as k-mean classifier), which are represent threshold values of the classes. In order to compare between the experimental results of these classifiers, the computation time is recorded and the needed iterations for k-means classifier to converge with optimum classes centers. The variation in the recorded computation time for k-means classifier is discussed

Towards a better understanding of the nomenclature used in information-packaging efforts to support evidence-informed policymaking in low- and middle-income countries

Background: The growing recognition of the importance of concisely communicating research evidence and other policy-relevant information to policymakers has underpinned the development of several information-packaging efforts over the past decade. This has led to a wide variability in the types of documents produced, which is at best confusing and at worst discouraging for those they intend to reach. This paper has two main objectives: to develop a better understanding of the range of documents and document names used by the organizations preparing them; and to assess whether there are any consistencies in the characteristics of sampled documents across the names employed to label (in the title) or describe (in the document or website) them. Methods: We undertook a documentary analysis of web-published document series that are prepared by a variety of organizations with the primary intention of providing information to health systems policymakers and stakeholders, and addressing questions related to health policy and health systems with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. No time limit was set. Results: In total, 109 individual documents from 24 series produced by 16 different organizations were included. The name ‘policy brief/briefing’ was the most frequently used (39%) to label or describe a document, and was used in all eight broad content areas that we identified, even though they did not have obviously common traits among them. In terms of document characteristics, most documents (90%) used skimmable formats that are easy to read, with understandable, jargon-free, language (80%). Availability of information on the methods (47%) or the quality of the presented evidence (27%) was less common. One-third (32%) chose the topic based on an explicit process to assess the demand for information from policy makers and even fewer (19%) engaged with policymakers to discuss the content of these documents such as through merit review. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for organizations embarking on future information-packaging efforts to be more thoughtful when deciding how to name these documents and the need for greater transparency in describing their content, purpose and intended audience