The relationship between e-government system and government operation excellence in the Sultanate of Oman

Every government is seeking to provide the best services to demonstrate efficiency and excellence of performance. This goal could be achieved by improving the service performance of entire sectors in society. The government of Sultanate of Oman has realized the importance of moving towards information technology. Therefore, e-Government initiatives were launched in Oman as a part of overall country information technology in 1998. It was first established under the name “Digital Oman”. Every government sector has since upgraded the performance by having its own websites and e-services application. However, there are gaps and loose connections exist among the sectors, which has consequently tarnished the image of Omani E-government. This has led to important questions about the requirement of modification and improvement of such service. Hence, the purpose of this research is to investigate and explore the factors that drive the e-government implementation and affect the government performance as well as the government-citizen relationship in Sultanate of Oman. A survey was conducted among Omani citizens in order to have their feedback and overview of the current e-government in the Sultanate, their technological and behavioral intention in using the e-government system and the governmental operation excellence (GOE) of the system. The outcomes of the study indicate that the e-government system has a direct effect towards GOE. The ‘technology intention to use’ is found to have a mediating effect, while the ‘behavioral intention to use’ has a partially mediating effect on the e-government project approach from citizen's point of view. The study outcomes should offer guidance to conduct e-government projects, especially for the policy makers in the Sultanate of Oman for future researchers. It also can provide a foundation for future researches related to the issues of the government-citizen relationship

Optimized energy-aware cellular network planning with random waypoint user mobility

In this work, we aim to plan an energy-efficient cellular network that can take into account minimizing the cost and energy of the whole network and minimizing the distance between user and base station. Also, it takes the mobility of users into account using the random waypoint method to represent the user mobility. The design strategy depends on turning off as many base stations as possible to reduce the consumed power while keeping full or partial coverage and quality of service over the serviced area. We have implemented all work by using Matlab software

THE CORRELATED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC HELP-SEEKING AND ACADEMIC SELF-EFFICACY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The current research seeks to investigate the correlation  between academic assistance-seeking and academic self-efficacy and determine the prevalence of academic assistance-seeking among students at Prince Sultan University as well. Additionally, the research aimed to establish a formula for learning about academic self-efficacy utilizing academic assistance-seeking. The  sample of the study includes 218 participants at Prince Sultan University. The results of the research stated that  the percentage of  the students who demonstrated an increased  level of perceived forms of assistance request (henceforth AR), necessary (adaptive) AR, implemented(maladaptive) help-seeking, and avoidance of help-seeking was 51.4%, 50%, 6.8%, and 5.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the results indicated a considerable positive correlation between necessary assistance-seeking and self-efficacy, while a considerable negative connection was found between implemented AR and academic self-efficacy. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between avoidance of assistance--seeking and academic self-efficacy

Quantitative Study of the Evaluation of the Activity of Immune Cells in the Spleen of Diseased Mice with Cancer by Soft Laser

Background: Little informations have been published about the active role of soft laser in stimulation the immune cells, so, our work was conducted to examine experimentally the capacity of the immune cells such as macrophages of the spleen in reducing the tumor size of diseased mice with mammary gland carcinoma by soft laser.Materials and Methods: Fourty healthy female Swiss albino mice aged two months (weighing 45-48g) were used in the present experimental work. They were divided into five groups of six mice each. All the animals inoculated with mammary gland carcinoma. After successful inoculation, the animals were anaesthetized and irradiated with laser for 25 minutes with different time intervals and for ten days. The tumor size was measured before and after irradiation by vernier, daily, starting from tumor appearance until the last day of the experiment (10days). Sections of spleen were prepared and examined for histopathological study by light microscope.Results: The present experimental work showed reduction in tumor size of diseased mice with carcinoma irradiated with laser with the increasing of time interval for each experimental group of mice when compared to the tumor size of diseased mice with carcinoma not irradiated with laser. The histological examinations of the sections of the spleen of the diseased mice with carcinoma irradiated with laser showed abundant histological alterations in the structure of the macrophages such as increased size and multiplication of the nucleus when compared to the macrophages of the spleen of the diseased mice with carcinoma not irradiated with laser.Conclusion: The present experimental work proved that soft laser played an important role in activation the immune cells such as macrophages of the spleen and then decreased the tumor size of diseased mice with carcinoma and caused marked histological alterations in the structure of the macrophage due to laser action. Keywords: Soft laser, Laser in medicine

Saudi SCD patients’ symptoms and quality of life relative to the number of ED visits

Background Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) have significantly increased emergency department (ED) use compared to the general population. In Saudi Arabia, health care is free for all individuals and therefore has no bearing on increased ED visits. However, little is known about the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and frequency of acute care utilization in this patient population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 366 patients with SCD who attended the outpatient department at King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through self-administered surveys, which included: demographics, SCD-related ED visits, clinical issues, and QoL levels. We assessed the ED use by asking for the number of SCD-related ED visits within a 6-month period. Results The self-report survey of ED visits was completed by 308 SCD patients. The median number of SCD-related ED visits within a 6-month time period (IQR) was four (2-7 visits). According to the unadjusted negative binomial model, the rate of SCD-related ED visits increased by (46, 39.3, 40, and 53.5 %) for patients with fever, skin redness with itching, swelling, and blood transfusion, respectively. Poor QoL tends to increase the rate of SCD-related ED visits. Well education and poor general health positively influenced the rate of SCD-related ED visits. Well education tends to increase the rate of SCD-related ED visits by 50.2 %. The rate of SCD-related ED visits decreased by 1.4 % for every point increase in general health. Conclusion Saudi patients with sickle cell disease reported a wide range of SCD-related ED visits. It was estimated that six of 10 SCD patients had at least three ED visits within a 6-month period. Well education and poor general health resulted in an increase in the rate of SCD-related ED visits

An Outcome-Based Assessment And Improvement System For Measuring Student Performance And Course Effectiveness

The evaluation of students’ expected performance and course effectiveness play a vital role in determining the course contribution toward meeting the program’s learning objectives or outcomes. The success of any course not only requires a well-designed syllabus with clearly defined course learning outcomes and the use of appropriate outcome-based teaching and assessment methods, but also a systematic approach to document and analyze the entire assessment data and results. Such an approach will be helpful in providing a better insight and understanding of students’ competency levels achieved in all course learning outcomes which ultimately would facilitate course instructors in their efforts to improve course curricula and to introduce reforms in teaching and assessment processes. This paper presents a simple and easy-to-use system that aids course instructors in recording and analyzing the results of various assessment instruments administered in their courses. A detailed analysis provided by the system would also guide curriculum planners and assessors in suggesting reforms and improvements at the program level

EFFECTS OF TAMOXIFEN OR LETROZOLE ON LIPID PROFILE, VITAMIN D AND ESTRADIOL SERUM LEVELS IN OBESE POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMAN WITH BREAST CANCER

Objective: Obesity is associated with both increased breast cancer risk and poorer prognosis after disease onset. Women who are obese continue to have higher levels of estrogen than women of normal weight even after treatment with hormone-suppressing drugs, raising the possibility that they might benefit from modification or changes to their treatment. The aim of this work was to study the effect of letrozole compared to tamoxifen on serum estradiol and, vitamine D and metabolic profile in Iraqi obese postmenopausal women with breast cancer.Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was carried out at Baquba teaching hospital, Diyala, Iraq. The analyzed variables were: age, lipid profile including total cholesterol; triglycerides, HDL-C, blood sugar, estradiol, and serum vit D. Descriptive statistics and testing of hypothesis were used for the analysis using mean±SD test P≤0.05. Results: Lipid profile, serum estradiol showed significant variability among the studied group in this study and serum vit D show significant differences between groups in postmenopausal obese with breast cancer taking tamoxifen.Conclusion: Treatment of obese women with breast cancer with tamoxifen or letrozole had neglected effects on metabolic parameters including lipid profile and blood sugar, both agents decrease serum estradiol level in treated patients, and most importantly, the significant positive effect of tamoxifen on serum vitamin D level compared to negative effect of aromatase inhibitor drug letrozole

Big data analytics and innovation in e-commerce: current insights and future directions

Big data analytics (BDA), as a new innovation tool, played an important role in helping businesses to survive and thrive during great crises and mega disruptions like COVID-19 by transitioning to and scaling e-commerce. Accordingly, the main purpose of the current research was to have a meaningful comprehensive overview of BDA and innovation in e-commerce research published in journals indexed by the Scopus database. In order to describe, explore, and analyze the evolution of publication (co-citation, co-authorship, bibliographical coupling, etc.), the bibliometric method has been utilized to analyze 541 documents from the international Scopus database by using different programs such as VOSviewer and Rstudio. The results of this paper show that many researchers in the e-commerce area focused on and applied data analytical solutions to fight the COVID-19 disease and establish preventive actions against it in various innovative manners. In addition, BDA and innovation in e-commerce is an interdisciplinary research field that could be explored from different perspectives and approaches, such as technology, business, commerce, finance, sociology, and economics. Moreover, the research findings are considered an invitation to those data analysts and innovators to contribute more to the body of the literature through high-impact industry-oriented research which can improve the adoption process of big data analytics and innovation in organizations. Finally, this study proposes future research agenda and guidelines suggested to be explored further

Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Saudi Arabian Dermatology Patients : Cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among Saudi Arabian dermatology patients and to assess associations with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 consecutive dermatology patients visiting King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in August 2015. The Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale was used to screen for symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Results: A total of 254 dermatology patients participated in the study (response rate: 84.7%). The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was 12.6%, 22.1% and 7.5%, respectively. The presence of at least one of these negative emotional states was noted among 24.4% of the cohort (95% confidence interval: 19.3–30.2%). Depression was significantly higher among subjects who lacked family support (26.5% versus 10.7%; P = 0.006) while anxiety was less common among patients who engaged in physical exercise (14.5% versus 29.4%; P = 0.005). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, poor QOL and a lack of family support were significant predictors of a negative emotional state. Conclusion: Almost a quarter of the studied Saudi Arabian dermatology patients were found to suffer from at least one negative emotional state. A lack of family support and poor QOL were the primary factors associated with a negative emotional state. Interventional studies are needed to examine the effects of social and family support on psychological conditions among Saudi Arabian dermatology patients

Health Beliefs Related to Diabetes Mellitus Prevention among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia

 Objectives: The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is growing rapidly in the Saudi population. The purpose of this study was to assess the constructs of the health belief model (HBM) as they relate to T2DM lifestyle and prevention behaviours among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and October 2013 among 426 non-diabetic secondary school students from randomly selected schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An Arabic version of an adapted English language questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and attitudes related to the severity and prevention of T2DM. A preventative behaviour assessment was also conducted to assess physical activity and dietary habits. Results: The majority of the students (63.4%) had at least one diabetic family member. Obesity was more frequent in males compared to females (P = 0.013). Awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight to prevent T2DM was lower in males than females (P = 0.037), although males engaged in routine exercise more often (P = 0.001). Males were less likely than females to recognise the risks for T2DM, including obesity (P = 0.030), heredity (P = 0.013) and high fat intake (P = 0.001). Conclusion: An alarmingly high number of Saudi students were unaware of T2DM severity and associated risk factors. Female students were more aware of the benefits of T2DM preventative lifestyle behaviours than males, although males engaged in routine exercise more often. Raising adolescents’ awareness about the primary prevention strategies for T2DM should be a public health priority in Saudi Arabia. The HBM could inform further research on diabetes prevention among Saudi adolescents