The Reality of Implementing E-Governance in Jordanian Public Universities and its Relationship to Administrative Empowerment from the Faculty\u27s Perspectives

The study aimed at finding out the degree of applying Electronic-governance and its relationship to the degree of administrative empowerment practice in Jordanian public universities from the viewpoint of faculty members. The study sample consisted of (367) faculty members chosen by the convenience sampling method. The quantitative approach was used in the study in addition to a questionnaire distinctly developed for gathering data. Reliability and validity were checked. The results of the study indicated that the degree of applying e-governance and practicing administrative empowerment among faculty members in Jordanian public universities, from their viewpoint was medium. Also, there were no statistically significant differences in the application of e-governance and the practice of administrative empowerment attributed to the variables of gender and academic rank. Moreover, there are statistically significant differences attributed to the years of experience variable, in favor of (less than 5 years experience), and (more than 10 years experience) faculty members. The results also indicated a statistically significant correlation between the degree of e-governance application and its relationship to the degree of administrative empowerment practice

Heritage-led Urban Regeneration as a catalyst for Sustainable Urban Development

It is without doubt, the conservation of a nation’s cultural heritage is of crucial prominence, as it embraces the sense of belonging and is a major component of quality of life. It also plays a substantial role towards the foundation of the future. In the context of developing countries, large number of cities are enjoying significant cultural heritage embodied in their built environment, specifically within their urban heritage centers. However, such cities face the risk of losing their distinctive character while they strive to modernize, in order to overcome the multiplicity of pressures accompanied with different effects, notably as globalization on one hand and urbanization on the other. Whereas the conservation is an effort of utilizing the past for useful modern functions, different approaches are aiming to draw a balance between conservation and development through acceptable degrees of change, where heritage-led urban regeneration projects are considered as a category. In essence, interventions to conserve architectural landmarks and upgrade infrastructures in heritage cities facing urbanization challenges are of sound significance. Special attention is needed to conserve the urban tissues shaping unique sense of place and character. This research investigates the economic strategies for urban regeneration projects utilizing urban heritage centers to provide sustainable urbanization and inclusive growth. It highlights the role of urban heritage assets in differentiating cities along with their competition to mobilize investments and promote local economic growth. The paper investigates a framework of heritage economics that requires a holistic approach interpreting heritage as an asset, with the central question being about identifying the different values of such assets. Different valuation methods are introduced within the notion of total economic value, to assess the contribution of a heritage asset in investments regenerating the economic basis of old cities. A struggle between symbolic significance of heritage cities/towns, their urban form, and the distinctive spirit of place and the many economic and political agendas that are diminishing the heritage sites and sense of place is identified. The paper revitalizes the lost standing identity of old heritage cities, which would aid developers and stakeholders towards a more socioeconomic sustainable development strategy. In addition, supports sustaining, preserving and conserving the city’s symbolic significance of heritage buildings and distinctive sense of plac

Studies of some aspects of linear amplifier design in terms of measurable two-port and three-port scattering parameters

SIGLELD:D47803/83 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Statistical Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Recurrence of Urinary Bladder Cancer after Radical Cystectomy

Objective To evaluate the risk factors influencing the recurrence of urinary bladder cancer, and to predict the probability of recurrence within two years after radical cystectomy. Patients and Methods Between 1986 and 1994, 857 patients were admitted at the Urology and Nephrology Center of Mansoura University, Egypt, for treatment of bladder malignancy by radical cystectomy. The number of male patients was 682 (80%) versus 175 females (20%) with a mean age of 49 years (range 18 – 90 years). The median follow-up period was 38 months (range 0.03–138 months). Histopathology revealed squamous carcinoma in 440 patients (51%), transitional carcinoma in 223 patients (26%), adenocarcinoma in 94 patients (11%) and mixed (two or more) types in 100 patients (11.7%). Most of the patients presented with advanced-stage disease (defined as P3 or P4): 611 patients (71%) had stage P3, 68 patients (6%) stage P4. Bilharzial ova were seen in 80% of the specimens, while regional lymph nodes were involved in 16% of the cases. Results Cancer-related mortality was encountered in 199 patients (23.2%) and mortality from unknown causes in 54 patients (6.3%). Fifty-five patients (6.3%) were alive with recurrence. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the survival rates showed that lymph node involvement (P = 0.0000), tumor grade (P = 0.0017), pathological stage (P = 0.0008), sex (P = 0.0005), urinary diversion (P=0.0080) and histopathology (P=0.0253) significantly influenced the recurrence–free survival after radical cystectomy. The 5-year survival rate was 61.7%, and the 5-year hazard rate was 48.3%. Using the logistic regression model for estimating and predicting the probability of recurrence within two years after radical cystectomy, we found that only one variable (lymph node involvement) had a significant effect on the prediction of the probability of recurrence. Conclusion These findings suggest that positive lymph nodes, tumor grade, stage, sex, urinary diversion and histopathology of tumor cells are independent predictors of survival in patients with bladder cancer. Positive lymph nodes are the most important indicators for recurrence in general and especially for predicting the probability of recurrence within two years after radical cystectomy. Analyse Statistique des Facteurs Influençant la Récidive du Cancer de la Vessie après Cystectomie Radicale Objectifs: Evaluer les facteurs de risque influençant la récidive de cancer de vessie et prévoir la probabilité de récidive dans les 2 ans post cystectomie radicale. Patients et Méthodes: Entre 1986 et 1994, 857 patients avaient été admis pour traitement de tumeur maligne de vessie par cystectomie radicale au centre d'Urologie-Néphrologie de l'Hôpital Universitaire de Mansoura en Egypte. Le nombre d'hommes était de 682 (80%) contre 175 femmes (20%) avec une moyenne d'age de 49 ans (extrèmes de 18 et 90 ans). La durée médiane du suivi était de 38 mois (extrèmes de 0.03 et 138 mois). L'histopathologie avait révélé un carcinome à cellules sqameuses chez 440 patients (51%), un carcinome urothélial chez 223 patients (26%), un adénocarcinome chez 94 patients (11%) et un aspect mixte (2 ou plus de 2 types) chez 100 patients (11.7). La plupart des patients présentaient un stade avancé (défini comme P3 ou P4) : 611 patients (71%) avaient un stade P3 et 68 patients (6%) un stade P4. Des œufs de Bilharzie ont été retrouvés dans 80% des échantillons, tandis qu'un envahissement ganglionnaire régional a été retrouvé dans 16% des cas. Résultats: Le nombre de décés par cancer était de 199 cas (23.2%) et le nombre de décés de cause inconnue était de 54 patients (6.3%). Cinquante cinq patients (6.3%) étaient vivants avec une récidive. L'analyse univariée et multivariée du taux de survie avait montré que l'envahissement ganglionnaire (P = 0.0000), le grade tumoral (P = 0.0017), le stade pathologique (P = 0.0008), le sexe (P =0.0005), la dérivation urinaire (P = 0.0080) et l'histopathologie influençaient significativement la survie sans récidive après cystectomie radicale. Le taux de survie à 5 ans était de 61.7% et le risque de récidive à 5 ans était de 48.3%. En utilisant le model de régression logistique pour estimer et prédire la probabilité de récidive dans les 2 ans post cystectomie radicale, nous avons trouvé que seul l'envahissement ganglionnaire avait un effet significatif dans la prédiction de la probabilité de récidive dans les 2 ans post cystectomie radicale. Conclusions : Ces constatations suggèrent que l'envahissement ganglionnaire, le grade tumoral, le stade tumoral, le sexe, la dérivation urinaire, et l'histopathologie des cellules tumorales sont des prédicteurs indépendants de la survie dans le cancer de la vessie. L'envahissement ganglionnaire est le plus grand indicateur de récidive en général, et en particulier c'est le plus grand prédicteur de la probabilité de récidive dans les 2 ans après cystectomie radicale. African Journal of Urology Vol.9(4) 2003: 169-17

Preventing Interval-based Inference by Random Data Perturbation

Random data perturbation (RDP) method is often used in statistical databases to prevent inference of sensitive information about individuals from legitimate sum queries. In this paper, we study the RDP method for preventing an important type of inference: interval-based inference