Pre-mentoring Training on Financial Literacy for Small Business Owners

Small business owners are continuously faced with challenges to grow their business. These challenges are not only related to market conditions, some of them are associated with the business owner\u27s lack of knowledge or skills; thus, many of them seek mentoring opportunities. This project explores the knowledge gap between the mentor and mentee, with a focus on financial literacy and how it impacts mentoring outcomes. A needs assessment was done to assess this performance problem through interviewing project SME’s, surveying stakeholders, and literature review. Based on the findings, a self-paced micro eLearning was proposed with an instructional goal of the need for small business owners to be able to apply proper business financial management practices to their business while demonstrating adequate levels of financial literacy when working with a mentor on their business development and growth. The ADDIE instructional design module was followed to complete this project. The assessment, design, and development phases were completed, while a pilot program for implementation and an evaluation plan using the Kirkpatrick training evaluation levels were proposed. The project includes background information, needs assessment findings, learning objectives, instructional strategies and material, and accessibility considerations. The development of the project used the WordPress platform, H5P application, and is highly dependent on text, video, and images to deliver the new content. The appendices contain samples of the training material developed under the name “Pre-mentoring Training: Financial Literacy for Small Business Owners”

Banking in Iraq in relation to economic development

The main object of this study is to explore and examine some of the ways which might enable the banking institutions in underdeveloped countries in general, and in Iraq in particular, to play a more effective part in the promotion of economic development. In the first chapter some important economic and social aspects of Iraq are displayed. In the second chapter some examination of the experiences of the Iraqi monetary authorities is made. The banking institutions in Iraq, i.e., the commercial and specialised banks, together with the central bank are discussed in chapter three. In this chapter, the possible contribution of the commercial banks in the promotion of economic development by providing medium and long-term loans to agriculture and industry is discussed. In addition, the possible ways in which some of the specialised banks might increase and improve their services are presented. In chapter four the device of deficit financing is applied to a model which represents underdeveloped countries in general. Chapter five offers an application of the device of deficit financing as shown in the model, adjusted to suit the circumstances prevailing in Iraq. Chapter six presents a consideration of the balance of advantage and disadvantage which may be thought to apply to the use of the device of deficit financing, especially when it is agreed that one of the possible outcomes is inflation. This is followed by chapter seven where the conclusions and recommendations reached in the light of the study are set out. We then have six appendices, including a statistical one. The main conclusions are: 1. It may be worthwhile for monetary authorities to consider, very carefully, the possibility of using the device of deficit financing, under certain conditions and within specified limits.2. In calculating changes in prices the categories of the Quantity Theory of the Value of Money can be usefully employed, particularly if an attempt is made to introduce dynamic elements into the Fisher framework, as is done in this study.3. It need not be held that moderate inflation must, necessarily, turn into high and hyper-inflation.4. The commercial banks in under developed countries should give favourable consideration to the making of medium and long-term loans to agriculture and industry.5. Under normal conditions, particularly of international trading, Iraq may be thought to be in a more favoured position to adopt the suggestions set out in (1) and (4) above, than most other underdeveloped countries. These are perhaps all the more significant for Iraq in that the natural resource, oil, which provides opportunity, is a diminishing or wasting asset

The role of PE in providing education for leisure in the UK and KSA

In post-industrial society, most people in the West have abundant leisure. However, leisure is not always perceived or experienced as beneficial. Lack of fulfilling leisure activities may lead to psychological problems and delinquency. One way to address this problem is to promote personally and socially beneficial uses of free time through education for leisure (EfL).The aim of this study is to explore the role of school PE in providing EfL in the UK, with the purpose of applying such experience to Saudi Arabia (KSA). The research explores how teachers view the concept of EfL, how EfL is regarded as an aim in teaching PE, how EfL is implemented in schools and factors that encourage or constrain EfL.In the UK data were collected via a questionnaire survey of PE teachers (N=229) from 156 secondary schools in Yorkshire and Humberside, and semi-structured interviews with PE teachers (N=4) and pupils (N=18) from a selected school in the same region. In the KSA, semi-structured interviews were conducted with PE inspectors (N=4) and teachers (N=5).UK teachers' understanding of leisure and EfL were consistent with definitions in the literature and EfL was considered an important aim in PE. It was implemented in lessons and extra-curricular activities by providing a wide range of activities, offering information about leisure facilities in society, and forming links with the community. The main focus was on the health benefits of active leisure. The amount and kind of EfL pupils received depended on their examination subject choices and teachers' personal interests. EfL was also perceived to be constrained by resources and gender issues. In the KSA, there was a confused concept of leisure and no understanding of EfL.School PE was intended to serve socialisation goals, but was not viewed in EfL terms. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for the development of EfL in the KSA

Evaluación económica y ambiental de un sitema de tratamiento y eliminación de los RSU en Misurata (Libia) utilizando la metodología coste/beneficio. Proyecto de vertedero controlado

Treball de Fi de Màster Universitari en Eficiència Energètica i Sostenibilitat (Pla de 2018). Codi: SJF019. Curs: 2020/2021La gestión de residuos sólidos urbanos es uno de los desafíos más importantes que enfrentan las ciudades y los ayuntamientos, especialmente en los países en desarrollo, ya que está muy influenciada por la cultura de los países y sus condiciones económicas y sociales, además de ser importantes problemas ambientales y técnicos. El éxito de cualquier país en la gestión de sus desechos es una buena indicación de la capacidad de las agencias gubernamentales interesadas y la población de este país para trabajar juntos para lograr un medio ambiente limpio. La adopción de metodologías sólidas para la gestión de residuos sólidos urbanos, que se realiza mediante el uso de métodos de tratamiento avanzados y adecuados, reduce la contaminación ambiental y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Confiar en métodos de tratamiento correctos tiene muchos beneficios, incluida la reducción del uso de recursos naturales a través de la reutilización y reciclaje de algunos desechos como papel, cartón, plástico, vidrio, metal, etc., y reducir la necesidad de áreas más grandes para vertederos o sitios de recolección, además de eliminar la reproducción de insectos, microbios dañinos y otros vectores que existen y se multiplican con los desechos. También juega un papel importante en la reducción de las tasas de contaminación ambiental y la propagación de gases de efecto invernadero como el dióxido de carbono y el metano. Esto, a su vez, reduce la contaminación del aire y los olores desagradables alrededor de los vertederos y lugares de reunión, además de mitigar el cambio climático

The syntax-pragmatics interface in L2 : aspects of information structure teaching and learning in a Saudi ESL context

Despite advancements in teaching English as a second language (ESL) in Saudi Arabia, Saudi ESL learners’ language, even at advanced levels, deviates from that of native English speakers. While these ESL learners can often generate well-formed sentences, their output may not be fully comprehensible in context, as they often fail to package information appropriately or deviate significantly from native norms. While there are many reasons due to which contextual organisation of information can be problematic for second language (L2) learners, this thesis sheds light on the Syntax-Information Structure interface (i.e., the mapping of information structure categories and the various syntactic constructions that realise those categories) as a barrier in L2 acquisition and it explores the effect of explicit and implicit teaching in overcoming such shortfalls in an ESL Saudi context. The study strengthens the assumption that grammatical competence and pragmatic competence do not necessarily co-develop. Although some factors such as first language (L1) influence, typological universals and markedness can affect use of L2 pragmalinguistic structures (information structure), this study provides evidence that Saudi learners can acquire these structures through awareness. The findings highlight that teaching can play a major role in promoting learners’ awareness of the pragmalinguistic structures of a second language. While such awareness leads to stable knowledge, however, it is not without shortcomings, as it can give rise to overproduction.KeywordsInformation structure, syntax, pragmatics, second language learnin

Influence of Aqueous Extract of Red Chillis Pepper as Curative for Gastric Ulcer in Albino Rats

The present study was carried out elucidate the effect of aqueous extracts of red chillis pepper (Capsicum frutescence) at three doses on the length of gastric ulcer induced by aspirin in rats. Thirty adult male albino rats (Sprague Dawley Strain) weight 175±5g were used and divided into 5 groups, each of 6 rats. The first group was used as a control negative (-ve) and fed on the basal ration only, other groups had given aspirin orally (200 mg/kg B.Wt.), one of these groups left as control +ve (ulcerated rats) and other groups administrated with aqueous extract of red chillis pepper (RCP) at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg B.Wt. for seven days. The length of gastric ulcer, volume of gastric juice, pH value and histopathological changes of gastric were examined. The results revealed that oral administration of RCP extract at 250, 500 and 750mg/kg B.Wt. reduced the length of gastric ulcer. On the other hand, all extracts increased pH value of gastric juice compared to control (-ve) group, meanwhile the volume of gastric juice decreased by plant extracts specially for rats feed on RCP at dose 750 mg\Kg B.Wt. Oral administration of water plant extracts decreased histopathological changes in the stomach layers and mucosa. The present study suggests that, Capsicum frutescence could be used for healing acute gastric ulcer disease and implemented for gastric ulcer patients. Key words: aqueous extracts, Capsicum frutecens, aspirin ulcer, stomach, histopathological changes, pH value and gastric juice

A Comparative Review of Binder-Containing Extrusion and Alternative Shaping Techniques for Structuring of Zeolites into Different Geometrical Bodies

Zeolites are crystalline metallosilicates displaying unique physicochemical properties with widespread applications in catalysis, adsorption, and separation. They are generally obtained by a multi-step process that starts with primary mixture aging, followed by hydrothermal crystallization, washing, drying, and, finally, a calcination step. However, the zeolites obtained are in the powder form and because of generating a pressure drop in industrial fixed bed reactors, not applicable for industrial purposes. To overcome such drawbacks, zeolites are shaped into appropriate geometries and desired size (a few centimeters) using extrusion, where zeolite powders are mixed with binders (e.g., mineral clays or inorganic oxides). The presence of binders provides good mechanical strength against crushing in shaped zeolites, but binders may have adverse impacts on zeolite catalytic and sorption properties, such as active site dilution and pore blockage. The latter is more pronounced when the binder has a smaller particle size, which makes the zeolite internal active sites mainly inaccessible. In addition to the shaping requirements, a hierarchical structure with different levels of porosity (micro-, meso-, and macropores) and an interconnected network are essential to decrease the diffusion limitation inside the zeolite micropores as well as to increase the mass transfer because of the presence of larger auxiliary pores. Thus, the generation of hierarchical structure and its preservation during the shaping step is of great importance. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive survey and detailed overview on the binder-containing extrusion technique compared to alternative shaping technologies with improved mass transfer properties. An emphasis is allocated to those techniques that have been less discussed in detail in the literature.</p

Epidemiological revision of high fertility behaviors among mothers in Mosul city, Iraq

Background and objective: Collective high fertility behaviors is a term that refers to mothers who had got married during their teenage and having parity of five or more living children with less than 24 months apart. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of collective high fertility behaviors among mothers in Mosul city, Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Inclusion criteria included mothers in child-bearing age who had at least two living children. The required data were collected by filling an especially structured questionnaire in the eligible primary health care centers over a period of ten months, from April, 1st 2011 to the end of January 2012. Results: Among 1302 participants, the prevalence of high fertility behaviors was 17.7% within all age groups. The prevalence was significantly higher among Muslim, low social classes (P ˂0.001), nuclear family structure (P ˂0.001), consanguineous marriage (P ˂0.001) and low educated mothers and husbands (P ˂0.001). Conclusion: The study found that collective high fertility behaviors are prevalent among almost two out of ten mothers of all age groups in Mosul city. Thus, effective engagement of all human resources is recommended for constructing healthy fertility behaviors and confirming the non-reproductive role of women