Primitive Matrices with Combinatorial Properties

ABDULKAREM ALHURAIJI, for the master degree in ALGEBRA, presented on NOVEMBER 6, 2012, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: Primitive Matrices with Combinatorial Properties MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. R. Fitzgerald I present a proof of Wielandt’s theorem by using combinatorial properties of directed graph.

Improving modified cocomo ii artificial neural network using hyperbolic tangent activation function

Software cost estimation is a complex and critical issue in software industry but it is an inevitable activity in the software development process. It is one of important factors for projects failure due to the ambiguity and uncertainty of software attributes at the early stages of software development. The estimation of effort in COCOMO II depends on several software attributes namely software size (SS), scale factors (SFs) and effort multipliers (EMs). Several researchers integrate COCOMO II with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to overcome the ambiguous and uncertain of these attributes. However, ANN contributes to slow convergence caused by sigmoid function. Thus, this research proposes Hyperbolic Tangent activation function (Tanh) to be used in the hidden layer of the ANN architecture to produce faster convergence. Back-propagation learning algorithm is applied to the multilayer neural network for training and testing. The proposed activation function has been trained and tested using two different architectures of NN which are basic COCOMO II-NN and modified COCOMO II-NN that uses COCOMO II NASA93 dataset. The result has been compared to different activation functions namely Uni-polar sigmoid, Bi-polar sigmoid, Gaussian and Softsign. The experiment results indicate that Tanh with modified COCOMO II-NN architecture achieved 23.2780 % Mean Magnitude Relative Error (MMRE) for 19 testing projects and 9.8948 % MMRE for 9 testing projects which is the lowest MMRE among other activation functions. In conclusion, Tanh with modified architecture of COCOMO II-NN provides much better estimation results than other methods and can lead to improvement of software estimates

Indexing strategies of MapReduce for Information Retrieval in Big Data

In Information Retrieval (IR), the efficient strategy of indexing large dataset and terabyte-scale data is still an issue because of information overload as the result of increasing the knowledge, increasing the number of different media, increasing the number of platforms, and increasing the interoperability of platforms. Across multiple processing machines, MapReduce has been suggested as a suitable platform that use for distributing the intensive data operations. In this project, sensei and Per-posting list indexing (Terrier) will be analyze as they are the two efficient MapReduce indexing strategies. The two indexing will be implemented in an existing framework of IR, and an experiment will be performed by using the Hadoop for MapReducing with the same large dataset. In particular, this paper will study the effectiveness of two indexing strategies (Sensei & Terrier), and try to find and verify the better efficient strategy between them. The experiment will measure the performance of retrieving when the size and processing power enlarge. The experiment examines how the indexing strategies scaled and work with large size of dataset and distributed number of machines. The throughput will be measured by using MB/S (Megabyte per Second), and the experiment results analyzing the performance and efficiency of indexing strategies between Sensei & Per-posting list indexing (Terrier)

Analysis of a high pressure diesel spray at high pressure and temperature environment conditions

This paper illustrates the results of an experimental characterization of a high pressure diesel spray injected by a common rail (CR) injection system both under non-evaporative and evaporative conditions. Tests have been made injecting the fuel with a single hole injector having a diameter of 0.18 mm with L/D=5.56. The fuel has been sprayed at 60, 90 and 120 MPa, with an ambient pressure ranging between 1.2 to 5.0 MPa. The spray evolution has been investigated, by the Mie scattering technique, illuminating the fuel jet and acquiring single shot images by a CCD camera. Tests under non-evaporative conditions have been carried out in an optically accessible high pressure vessel filled with inert gas (N2) at diesel-like density conditions. The instantaneous fuel injection rate, obtained with a time resolution of 10 microseconds, has been also evaluated by an AVL Fuel Meter working on the Bosch Tube principle. Tests for the evaporative conditions have been conducted on a crank-case scavenged single cylinder 2-stroke direct injection Diesel engine at the rotational speed of 500 rpm. The engine provides a wide optical access and the gas velocity within the combustion chamber is low enough to assume that the fuel is injected under quiescent conditions as those reproduced for the experiments under high density gas chamber. Spray penetration and cone angle have been estimated at the same operative conditions as for the non-evaporative ones. Results have showed that the tip penetration, obtained by digital post-processing of the spray image sequence, increases with the injection time under non-evaporative conditions whereas, under evaporative conditions, it reaches a maximum early during the injection and remains constant or slightly decreases at later time up to the start of combustion. The cone angle, estimated under evaporative conditions, has given a decreasing profile along the injection interval. Applying the jet theory to a simplified model of fuel spray, the evaporated fuel mass has been estimated at the same gas density as that under non evaporative tests

Design and development of handover simulator model in 5G cellular network

In the modern era of technology, the high speed internet is the most important part of human life. The current available network is reckoned to be slow in speed and not be up to snuff for data transmission regarding business applications. The objective of handover mechanism is to reassign the current session handle by internet gadget. The globe needs the next generation high mobility and throughput performance based internet model. This research paper explains the proposed method of design and development for handover based 5G cellular network. In comparison to the traditional method, we propose to control the handovers between base-stations using a concentric method. The channel simulator is applied over the range of the frequencies from 500 MHz to 150 GHz and radio frequency for the 700 MHz bandwidth. The performance of the simulation system is calculated on the basis of handover preparation and completion time regarding base station as well as number of users. From this experiment we achieve the 7.08 ms handover preparation time and 9.98 ms handover completion time. The author recommended the minimum handover completion time, perform the high speed for 5G cellular networks

THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID19) PANDEMIC ON HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEIs) IN YEMEN: CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Since the beginning of this year, the world has lived in one of the most difficult stages since the Great Depression during the 1930s. All sectors have been affected significantly because of the suspension and other actions that have been taken, such as social distancing and self-isolation that has occurred because of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. This has affected the education sector, particularly Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the world in general and Yemen in particular. Universities in Yemen as a result, stopped their activities preventively to contain the spread of the novel corona virus among students. Each country reacted in a different way based on their capabilities. Some countries immediately shifted to online education and others faced obstacles however, country like Yemen is under great pressure from different aspects. As a result, this procedure caused many challenges for higher education institutions in Yemen which prevent an easy adaptation to the new situation such as: internet and infrastructure weaknesses, cope with change difficulties, academics career stability, university's financial stability, the complexity of some applied disciplines, student's mental health, and costs of fast transformation. As a result of the mentioned challenges, this study suggested some recommendations to overcome from this situation or any other urgent situations in the future that may shutdown the educational system. Finally, because of the complex and interrelated difficulties in Yemen, the authors suggested an implementation through a 5-year plan under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education in Yemen.  Article visualizations

Integration of Information Technology in Science Education at Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Investigations on the effects of Typha capensis on male reproductive functions

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDIntroduction: Typha capensis, commonly referred to as bulrush also called "love reed'' growing in Southern Africa's wetlands, is one of South Africa indigenous medicinal plants that are traditionally used to treat male fertility problems and various other ailments. Previous studies revealed that T. capensis has indeed a beneficial effect on male reproductive functions and aging male symptoms. The T.capensis rhizomes are used in traditional medicine during pregnancy to ensure easy delivery, for venereal diseases, dysmenorrhea, diarrhoea, dysentery, and to enhance the male potency and libido. Typha genuses contain flavones and other phenolic compounds, which exhibit anti-oxidative capacity. Materials and Methods: This study encompasses three parts (part 1: Exposure of different cell lines to crude aqueous extracts of T. capensis rhizomes; part 2: HPLC analysis of Typha capensis crude rhizome extract and exposure of different cell lines to the F1 fraction of the summer season; part 3: Compound identification by means of NMR spectrometric analysis and exposure of different cell lines to bioactive compounds (Quercetin and Naringenin) isolated from T. capensis rhizomes. Part 1: TM3-Leydig cells and LNCaP cells incubated with different concentrations of crude aqueous extract of T. capensis rhizomes (0.01, 0.02, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg/ml) and control (without extract) for 24 and 96 hours, after incubation. The following parameters were evaluated: cell morphology and viability (determined by means of MTT assay). Part 2: The crude extract HPLC profiles were obtained by preparing the extracts for different seasons (Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer). TM3-Leydig cells, LNCaP cells and PWR-1E cells incubated with different concentrations T. capensis rhizomes extract F1 fraction of the summer season (0.01, 0.02, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg/ml) and control (without extract) for 24 and 96 hours, after incubation. The following parameters were evaluated: cell morphology was observed and recorded, viability (determined by means of MTT assay), testosterone production (testosterone ELISA test), cell early apoptosis (determined by means of Annexin V-Cy3 binding), DNA fragmentation (determined by means of the TUNEL assay). Part 3: NMR spectrometric analysis was performed on a 13C spectra were recorded at 400 MHz. TM3-Leydig cells and LNCaP cells incubated with different concentrations of bioactive compounds (Quercetin and Naringenin) isolated from T. capensis rhizomes, for acute exposure (24, 96 hours) and chronic exposure (96 hours), after incubation, the following parameters were evaluated: cell morphology and viability (determined by means of MTT assay), testosterone production (testosterone ELISA test), cell early apoptosis (determined by means of Annexin V-Cy3 binding) and DNA fragmentation (determined by means of the TUNEL assay). Results: Part 1: for TM3-Leydig cells the results reveal no observable morphological changes and no significant influence on cell viability except at highest concentration indicating cellular stress. However, LNCaP cells showed a decline in cell viability at the incubation period 96 hours (-82.4%) more than 24 hours (-64.7%) indicating more cell death. Part 2: HPLC data showed that the most effective fraction was the F1 fraction from the summer harvest. Results revealed that the T. capensis rhizome extract F1 fraction of the summer season significantly enhanced testosterone production in TM3 cells and was more toxic towards cancer cells (LNCaP cells ) compared to the normal cell lines (TM3-Leydig, PWR-1E cells). Part 3: NMR data showed 2 bioactive compounds which were identified as Quercetin and Naringenin. The assays showed that LNCaP cells are more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects and apoptosis induction of both compounds, whereas, the assays resulted in weak effects toward TM3-Leydig cells. However, testosterone production in TM3-Leydig cells was significantly enhanced at low concentrations of Quercetin and Naringenin at all exposure types (acute and chronic) testosterone beak significantly at around 0.100 and 0.125 μg/ml (P<0.0001), stimulatory activity in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Typha capensis enhanced the production of testosterone and might be useful to treat male infertility and aging male problems. Results further reveal that the F1 fraction from the summer harvest had highest biological activity. This study, for the first time, investigated the effects of bioactive compounds (Quercetin and Naringenin) yeilded from aqueous extraction of Typha capensis rhizomes in cell lines investigating male reproductive functions. Active compounds present in the rhizomes have caused an increased production of testosterone level in TM3-Leydig cells. Furthermore, the active compounds of Typha capensis rhizomes in the high dose had a negative effect on the percentage of DNA fragmentation in LNCaP cells. When compared to the effect of the low dose, the two compounds induced significant apoptosis in cancer cell line (LNCaP) compared with the normal cell line (TM3-Leydig). The isolated compounds are significantly selective towards the cancer cells than the normal cell compared with the exposure of bioactive compounds used in this study

Correlation of the Socio-Demographic Variables to Travel Behaviour and Mode Choice in Cities of Least Developed Countries- Case Study, Urban Neighbourhoods in Aden, Yemen

This case study focuses on the city of Aden, Yemen, where a large segment of the population relies on the semi-formal public transportation due to various sociodemographic and economic factors. The study specifically investigates the inner urban area of Al Mansoura in Aden. To understand travel behavior and mode choice in this area, the research employs a mixed methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches through a case study design. Primary data about the area of interest were collected through field observations, interviews, questionnaires, GIS mapping, and street audits. In addition, a novel mapping of the semi-formal transportation lines was produced for the first time in the city. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using statistical analysis methods. The results indicate a correlation between sociodemographic variables and travel behavior and mode choice, particularly in terms of income and gender. Low-income individuals tend to use public transport, while those with higher incomes prefer private vehicles. Additionally, females generally drive less than males and generally have less mobility due to cultural and educational factors; fewer responsibilities outside the home. However, a small number of females who use private vehicles tend to work

Understanding the viral diversity of Hepatitis B virus in Saudi Arabia using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a powerful method for detecting the viral mutations. The aim of this study was divided into two main sections; initially developed a protocol for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) full genome sequencing using NGS and contributed to the development of in-house bioinformatics tools to analyze drug resistance and vaccine escape mutations in a cohort of HBV-positive samples from Saudi Arabia. Then, performed detailed functional analysis using either in vitro infection or replicon system, of selected mutation to gain insights into their role conferring resistance to currently available drugs. To examine circulating HBV genotypes in Saudi Arabia, 64 patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were enrolled in this study. Plasma samples with known viral load were collected retrospectively from two major hospitals in Saudi Arabia. We used two sequencing approaches: i) Metagenomic approach and ii) Target enrichment. The designed probes were validated using MiSeq® platform from Illumina®. We validated a whole-genome sequencing protocol for HBV using deep sequencing, which enabled us to characterize the prevalence of HBV genotypes. Our results suggest that HBV genotype D is predominant in Saudi Arabia, as observed throughout the Middle East. A transfection-based in vitro system was developed in second part of this study to investigate the effect of changes in the genomes on HBV replication. A variety of cell lines were tested, and protein expression and viral DNA were characterised using several techniques, including ELISA and western blotting. The Huh7 cell line was validated for expressing HBV antigens, and the assessment of several monoclonal antibodies was conducted using transfected cells. This system was used to explore the mutations associated with antiviral treatment resistance observed in our sequence. Two mutations from NGS outcome (rtD134E and rtD134N) utilized for in-vitro drug assays to evaluate the efficacy of antiviral drug. In this study, none of the above mutant strains conferred resistance to ADV and TDF, suggesting the good, sustained antiviral efficacy of these two drugs with regard to inhibiting viral replication. This would provide strong support for the two mutations having a clear role in resistance to these drugs. Lastly, expression of HBcAg was conducted to confirm if the inhibition of the drugs was linked to cell toxicity. The results support the initial finding with lack of core expression in ADV and TDF treated samples whereas LdT, LAM, and ETV did not demonstrate any effect on HBcAg expression