Sign-symmetry and frustration index in signed graphs

A graph in which every edge is labeled positive or negative is called a signed graph. We determine the number of ways to sign the edges of the McGee graph with exactly two negative edges up to switching isomorphism. We characterize signed graphs that are both sign-symmetric and have a frustration index of 1. We prove some results about which signed graphs on complete multipartite graphs have frustration indices 2 and 3. In the final part, we derive the relationship between the frustration index and the number of parts in a sign-symmetric signed graph on complete multipartite graphs

Is Your Student Fit For That College? A Study of the Factors That Contribute to Students’ Academic Performance in College

The purpose of this study was to expand the extent of available literature in regard to the factors that contribute to students’ academic performance in college. It focused on a neglected segment of the student population, which is Saudi Arabian students studying in the United States. This study utilized a nonexperimental quantitative research design in order to investigate the relationship between the independent variables (the characteristics of the student, the characteristics of the program, and the academic and social integration between the student and the program) and the dependent variables (degree GPA, ability to graduate within academic program time frame, or dropout). The data were collected from Saudi Arabian students who previously enrolled in the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) and had graduated or dropped out between the period of 2005 to 2016. A Web-based electronic survey was sent and made available for Saudi students who entered KASP via any of the entry methods in the United States. There were 1,020 students who participated in the survey, and only 543 of them fully completed the survey. Only completed surveys were considered for analysis. The results showed that some students’ characteristics, some program characteristics, and some academic and social integration attributes were strongly correlated with students’ academic performance in college. This study presented empirical evidence about which factors can impact students’ performance in college. It provided some answers to why some students succeed, while others fail. It also offered insights and recommendations for higher education policymakers as well as for scholars in the field of higher education policy, especially those concerned with admission policies of academic programs

Best Approximation from the Kuhn-Tucker Set of Composite Monotone Inclusions

Kuhn-Tucker points play a fundamental role in the analysis and the numerical solution of monotone inclusion problems, providing in particular both primal and dual solutions. We propose a class of strongly convergent algorithms for constructing the best approximation to a reference point from the set of Kuhn-Tucker points of a general Hilbertian composite monotone inclusion problem. Applications to systems of coupled monotone inclusions are presented. Our framework does not impose additional assumptions on the operators present in the formulation, and it does not require knowledge of the norm of the linear operators involved in the compositions or the inversion of linear operators

Evaluating Worker Performance Using the Energy Concept

Over the decades, worker performance on construction projects has been a significant source of concern to be evaluated. Comprehensive studies have developed models for evaluating worker performance outside of the construction industry; however, minimal research has been conducted to evaluate worker performance in the construction industry. One of the reasons for a lack of similar research in construction is because the construction process makes construction more complicated compared to other industries. This research aims to further develop a new way of evaluating worker performance in the construction industry using the energy concept. Within the context of this research, “energy” is a property related to performing construction operations and can be defined as the feeling of stress, pressure, and being overwhelmed as a result of the factors, conditions, and resources that accompany the performance of the task. To develop the energy model, an initial conceptual model from previous research and literature review was used as a starting point. The conceptual model contained three levels (constituents, components, and metrics) to measure the level of energy felt by a worker when performing construction operations. The Delphi method was utilized to identify, verify, and quantify the constituents and components, and confirm the energy model. The results from the literature review and Delphi survey revealed 14 constituents, 53 components, and one metric for each component to measure the level of energy. Constituents, components, and metrics were used to develop the energy model to evaluate worker performance on construction sites during a project and assess an ongoing project. The contributions of this research to knowledge are the validation and identification of the constituents, components, and metrics used for evaluating worker performance using the energy concept. The energy model contributes to evaluating worker performance in the construction industry based on the level of energy felt by the worker

Dynamic agent-based bi-objective robustness for tardiness and energy in a dynamic flexible job shop

Nowadays, manufacturing systems are shifting rapidly with the significant change in technology, business, and industry to become more complex and involved in more difficult issues, customised products, variant services and products, unavailable machines, and rush jobs. In the current practices, there are limited models or approaches that are dealing with these complexities. Most of the scheduling models in literature are proposed as centralised approaches. Researchers recently started to pay attention to reduce energy consumption in manufacturing due to the rising cost and the environmental impact. The energy consumption factor has been lately introduced into scheduling research among other traditional objectives such as time, cost and quality. Although reducing energy in manufacturing systems is very important, few researchers have considered energy consumption factor into scheduling in dynamic flexible manufacturing systems. This paper proposes an agent-based dynamic bio-objective robustness for energy and time in a job shop. Two types of agent are introduced which are machine agent and product agent. A new decision making and negotiation model for multi-agent systems is developed. Two types of dynamic unexpected events in the shop floor are introduced: dynamic job arrival and machines breakdown. A case study is provided in order to verify the result

Comparison of broad-spectrum antibiotics and narrow-spectrum antibiotics in the treatment of lower extremity cellulitis

Objective: Cellulitis is a commonly encountered medical illness and is most frequently caused by Group A 3-hemolytic Streptococcus species and Staphylococcus aureus. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of patients with lower extremity cellulitis treated with broad-spectrum and narrow-spectrum antibiotics. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a community tertiary hospital between January 2016 and May 2016. Patients were included if they were diagnosed with uncomplicated non-purulent lower extremity cellulitis. Patients were divided into two groups: Individuals receiving narrow-spectrum antibiotics or receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio of repeat visit between the groups. Results: A total of 599 patients with uncomplicated cellulitis were identified: of which 120 were included in the study (93 in narrow-spectrum arm and 27 in broad-spectrum arm). Repeat visit due to cellulitis was similar in both Groups 1 (4%) and 3 (3%) (P = 0.89) in the broad-spectrum arm and narrow-spectrum arm, respectively. Conclusion: Broad-spectrum antibiotic use in uncomplicated cellulitis was common and unjustified given the results of our study. Implementation of clinical practice guidelines is recommended in limiting broad-spectrum antibiotics use in such population.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Comparison of broad-spectrum antibiotics and narrow-spectrum antibiotics in the treatment of lower extremity cellulitis

Objective: Cellulitis is a commonly encountered medical illness and is most frequently caused by Group A 3-hemolytic Streptococcus species and Staphylococcus aureus. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of patients with lower extremity cellulitis treated with broad-spectrum and narrow-spectrum antibiotics. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a community tertiary hospital between January 2016 and May 2016. Patients were included if they were diagnosed with uncomplicated non-purulent lower extremity cellulitis. Patients were divided into two groups: Individuals receiving narrow-spectrum antibiotics or receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio of repeat visit between the groups. Results: A total of 599 patients with uncomplicated cellulitis were identified: of which 120 were included in the study (93 in narrow-spectrum arm and 27 in broad-spectrum arm). Repeat visit due to cellulitis was similar in both Groups 1 (4%) and 3 (3%) (P = 0.89) in the broad-spectrum arm and narrow-spectrum arm, respectively. Conclusion: Broad-spectrum antibiotic use in uncomplicated cellulitis was common and unjustified given the results of our study. Implementation of clinical practice guidelines is recommended in limiting broad-spectrum antibiotics use in such population.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Estimating total factor productivity in the Saudi Arabia construction sector

The study aims to estímate the total factor productivity in Saudi Arabia construction sector. Using Cobb Douglas production function. The results showed that that there is a long-run equilibrium relationship between the value of production and the factors of production labour  and capital. The study also showed that the coefficient of labour  is positive with a value of 0.015. While the elasticity of production with respect to capital is about 0.42 the elasticity of production with respect to the capital component is greater than the labour  component and the construction sector in KSA operates in light of decreasing returns to scale (DRS). The results indicates that the construction sector in Saudi Arabia during the coming years will witness a positive growth rate with interest in strengthening the partnership between the government and the private sector in order to develop the construction sector. The study also recommends expanding the production process within the construction sector and moving towards research and development in the field of construction and working to increase investment in the human capital component by training employment and encouragement of investment, in addition to, loans facilitates to the construction sector

Analysis of Project Failure Factors for Infrastructure Projects in Saudi Arabia: A Multivariate Approach

The rapidly changing face of the Saudi construction industry occasioned by the boost in oil revenue means that the best project management practices must be given priority to be able to confront the challenges associated with the management of infrastructure projects. The study develops a framework for identifying and classifying causes of project failures in the Saudi construction industry. A quantitative questionnaire survey was used to solicit responses from 67 respondents in the city of Jeddah, selected using an online questionnaire survey. Target respondents were mainly civil engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and building engineers who have years of experience in the management of infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. Findings reveal that poor risk management was rated the most critical failure factor for infrastructure projects, while budget overruns and poor communication by management followed closely at second and third, respectively. Additionally, eight components were extracted from the 24 items used for factor analysis. Among the extracted factors are project management deficiencies, risk challenges and government interference. Recommendations include, among others, that project risk management frameworks should be redesigned to guide clients and other stakeholders in an effort to reduce a project's unexpected exposure to risk

Analysis of Project Failure Factors for Infrastructure Projects in Saudi Arabia: A Multivariate Approach

The rapidly changing face of the Saudi construction industry occasioned by the boost in oil revenue means that the best project management practices must be given priority to be able to confront the challenges associated with the management of infrastructure projects. The study develops a framework for identifying and classifying causes of project failures in the Saudi construction industry. A quantitative questionnaire survey was used to solicit responses from 67 respondents in the city of Jeddah, selected using an online questionnaire survey. Target respondents were mainly civil engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and building engineers who have years of experience in the management of infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. Findings reveal that poor risk management was rated the most critical failure factor for infrastructure projects, while budget overruns and poor communication by management followed closely at second and third, respectively. Additionally, eight components were extracted from the 24 items used for factor analysis. Among the extracted factors are project management deficiencies, risk challenges and government interference. Recommendations include, among others, that project risk management frameworks should be redesigned to guide clients and other stakeholders in an effort to reduce a project's unexpected exposure to risk