Entrepreneurial orientation, absorptive capacity, market orientation and technological innovation capabalities of SMEs in Kurdistan, Iraq

Innovation capabilities have become an important component for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the industrial sector to cope with intense competition and to meet customers’ needs. Due to inconsistency in the findings of previous studies on the antecedent factors that may influence these capabilities, this study intended to empirically examine the relationships between entrepreneurial orientation, absorptive capacity, market orientation, and technological innovation capabilities among the industrial SMEs in an unstable environment, and also to determine whether market orientation has a mediating role in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, absorptive capacity, and technological innovation capabilities . This study adopted the Resource-Based Theory as an underpinning theory for its assumptions and to develop its model. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the industrial SMEs owners in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. A total of 432 innovative enterprises were involved in this study, making an overall 63.9% response rate. This study utilized the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to establish the validity and reliability of the measurement model and to test the relationships. The outcomes of this study show that both absorptive capacity and entrepreneurial orientation have significant influences on technological innovation capabilities. Furthermore, the results indicate that market orientation has a partial mediating role in the nexus between absorptive capacity and technological innovation capabilities, but it has not been found to mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and technological innovation capabilities. This study offers theoretical and practical contributions for academics and professionals. The limitations of the study have been addressed and some valuable suggestions for future research work are offered

Hydro-Mechanical Analysis of Unsaturated Collapsible Soils andtheir Stabilization

Collapsible soils are defined as soil that has a low dry density, lowmoisture content and high capacity for applying a large vertical stress with a small compression at dry state, but then experience much larger collapses after wetting. To solve this problem, fly ash (a by-product from the burning of coal in the electric power plants) is currently in use for soil stabilization in some countries like USA, Japan, Scandinavian countries, India, and some other countries and has several recommendations and regulations. In Germany, however, fly ash is a variable material with large amount and low cost and still is not used for soil-stabilization very common. The present study is an attempt how the use of fly ash to improve the geotechnical properties of unsaturated collapsible soil. The experimental programs are consisting (i) physical and chemical properties tests (ii) hydro-mechanical properties tests (including oedometer test, unconfined compressive strength (qu), soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) and suction control-collapse test), (iii) electromagnetic properties tests (including permittivity and conductivity test for non/fly ash stabilized soil at different cases and (iv) seismic wave tests level (including Vs and Vp wave velocity test for non-stabilized soil and ultrasonic Vs and Vp wave velocity testing as non-destructive method for the fly ash-stabilized soils. The summary of the present study illustrated the following findings: The addition of fly ash to the natural collapsible soil led to a reduction of the plasticity index, an increase in the optimum moisture content and a decrease in the maximum dry density. This is due to the ionic exchanging between the free Ca+2 in fly ash and Na+1 in clay minerals of soil which caused a reduction in size of diffused water layer, flocculation and agglomeration of the clay particles..

Therapeutic approaches to prevent disease recurrence in uveitis

Uveitis is a significant cause of visual morbidity in the working-age population and has a high propensity to recur and cause damage to the ocular tissues which compromise the patient's sight and that can be irreversible. This dissertation addresses the question of how different treatment regimens influence disease recurrence, improve visual outcome and reduce the dose of concomitant immunosuppressive therapy in patients with sight-threatening ocular inflammatory conditions. Therapeutic agents targeting specific inflammatory mediators are playing an increasingly important role in the management of non-infectious uveitis. The first study examined the role of anti-TNFα drugs and rituximab (anti-CD20) in controlling ocular inflammation in 82 patients with non-infectious, intermediate posterior and panuveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppression. Treatment with these agents achieved better disease control manifested by significant reduction in concomitant immunosuppressive therapy, substantial decrease in disease relapse rate and stability in visual acuity. Both adalimumab and infliximab have similar efficacy and corticosteroids sparing effect; however, compared to infliximab, adalimumab was better tolerated and was associated with significantly lower drug discontinuation rate (treatment failure). Behcet's patients on TNFα blockers had 75% risk reduction in disease recurrence compared non-Behcet's disease subjects which point to the central role of TNFα in Behcet disease pathogenesis. Finally, treatment with TNFα inhibitors and rituximab was effective for extended follow-up periods (5 years and beyond). Statins used to reduce serum cholesterol and improve cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients was shown to have pleiotropic anti-inflammatory effects in several in-vivo and in vitro studies. The second study is a phase II, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, examined the effect of simvastatin (80 mg per day) on the amount of concomitant immunosuppressive drugs in 32 patients with non-infectious intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis, at one and two years follow-up visits. Analysing the mean prednisolone dose did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Therefore, there is no evidence to support the anti-inflammatory effect of simvastatin in uveitis. However, given the long-term exposure to corticosteroid-based immunosuppressive therapy, these patients were found to have high serum cholesterol. Our data shows that intensive lipid lowering with simvastatin significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL and thus reducing the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Ocular toxoplasmosis, the most common cause of infectious posterior uveitis, has drastic consequences on vision if it involves vision-sensitive structures. The third study looked retrospectively at the role of co-trimoxazole as a prophylactic agent in patients with recurrent sight-threatening disease. Prophylaxis course with co-trimoxazole treatment resulted in a substantial reduction in disease recurrence and significant improvement in vision in comparison to controls. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report improvement in visual acuity on prophylactic therapy, in a disease where no therapy, over the past two decades, was reported to achieve an increase in vision

Easy to use remote sensing and GIS analysis for landslide risk assessment

Many countries throughout the world suffered from the natural risks, they cause a large damage in property and loss in human lives, we cannot prevent the occurring of these hazards but, it is possible to reduce their affect in saving human lives and reducing the damage in properties. Several methodologies have been conducted to predict the suitable model for landslide assessment. The susceptibility maps of landslide hazard generated by combining the remote sensed data with the capability of GIS (geographic information system). We discussed different type of algorithms and factors for modeling the prediction of landslide risk assessment such as SVM (support vector machine), DT (decision tree), ANFIS (adaptive neural-fuzzy inference system), AHP (analytic hierarchy process), ANN (artificial neural network), probability frequency of landslides occurrence factors model and empirical model. The study evaluated various parameters that are responsible for landslide occurrence and the weighting for each parameter and its importance to probable of landslide activity. AHP method, Weights of evidence model, and back propagation method have been applied for weighting the factors. We found that using ANN algorithm with more than ten factors will give high accuracy result especially if the validation performs by field surveys data

Physiological Studies on Growth and Reproduction of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Causing White Rot on Eggplants under Laboratories Conditions

        هدف البحث دراسة أهمية بعض الظروف الفسيولوجية على نمو الفطر Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (مسبب العفن الأبيض على نبات الباذنجان) وأنتاجهُ للتراكيب التكاثرية (الأجسام الحجرية). إذ نفذت سلسلة من التجارب المختبرية حول الخصائص الفسيولوجية لهذا الفطر يإستعمال أنواع مختلفة من الأوساط الغذائية ودرجات الحرارة والحموضة والتراكيز الملحية.       اظهرت النتائج أن لنوع الوسط الغذائي تاثيراً معنوياً ( (0.05على معدلات نمو الفطر S. sclerotiorum وعلى قدرتهُ في تكوين الأجسام الحجرية، إذ أزداد نمو الفطر الممرض معنوياً في وسط أوراق المورنكا Moringa oleifera (Mo) لكنه انخفض معنويا في وسط المعدنوس Petroselinum crispum (Pc) بالمقارنة مع الوسط PDA. وفي المقابل فان تكوين الأجسام الحجرية تضاءلت معنويا في وسط Pc لتصل الى 4 جسم حجري/ طبق تلاه الوسط Mo (7 جسم حجري/ طبق) بالمقارنة مع الوسط PDA (25 جسم حجري/طبق). وبلغ اعلى معدل لنمو الممرض على وسط  PDA  في اليوم السابع على درجة حرارة 20 مْ ، تلاها النمو على درجة حرارة 25 مْ ثم 15 مْ وياتي بعدها 30 مْ واقلها نموا على درجة حرارة 35 مْ . كما ان مستوى الحموضة المثالي لنمو هذا الفطر هو 5.5، في حين انخفض تكوين الأجسام الحجرية بنسبة 44%  عند مستوى الحموضة 4.5 ومع أرتفاع قاعدية الوسط الى 8 أنخفض أعداد الأجسام الحجرية المنتجة بنسبة 84% بالمقارنة مع النمو على pH = 5.5.      ان التراكيز الملحية (NaCl) 4% و6% و8% كانت مثبطة لانتاج الأجسام الحجرية وتناقصت إعدادها وتشوهت اشكالها عند التركيز 4% وبعد هذا التركيز فشل الفطر الممرض في انتاج الأجسام الحجرية. نستنتج ان هذه الدراسة قد سلطت الضوء على عناصر الوبائية لهذا المرض والتي تكمن اساسا في تطبيق استراتيجية ادارة المرض.This study was aimed A series of laboratory experiments were carried out, including the study of the physiological characteristics of the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, especially the effect of type of medium, temperature, acidity and saline concentrations on the growth of the pathogen and on its production capability on reproductive structures (sclerotia). Results showed that the type of media had a significant effect (0.05) on growth average of S. sclerotiorum and on its ability to produce sclerotia. The growth of the fungus was significantly higher in Moringa oleifera leaves medium (Mo), but substantially decreased in Petroselinum crispum (Pc) compared to that in PDA. In contrast, the formation of sclerotia substantially decreased in Pc medium (4 sclerotia/ plate) followed by Mo (7 sclerotia/ plate) compared with PDA (25 plate / plate). The highest rate of growth of S. sclerotoirum was at 20 oC on the seventh day after inoculation, followed by growth at 25 oC  and at 15 oC followed by 30 oC and the lowest growth was at 35 oC. It was found that the optimum pH for growth of S. sclerotiorum was at 5.5, but when pH increased to 4.5 the production of sclerotia was minimized to 44%. Also, the increasing of alkalinity to 8% resulted in a decrease of fungal growth to about 84% compared to the growth at  pH = 5.5. Salt concentrations (4%, 6%, and 8%) were revealed inhibitory effect on sclerotia production by S. sclerotiorum, but this effect negatively correlated with increasing concentration of NaCl. The results also showed a reduction in their production and deformity in their shaps at 4% concentration. After this concentration, fungus failed to produce the sclerotia. It can be concluded that this study highlighted the epidemiological components of the disease, which lie mainly in the application of the disease management strategy. &nbsp

The Frequency of Malignancy in Nodular Thyroid Disease

The thyroid nodules occur quite frequent but, thyroid carcinoma is a relatively infrequent malignancy. Thyroid carcinoma is generally regarded as a condition of modest oncologic importance because it accounts for less than 0.5% of cancer deaths (less than 2% of all cancers). A sample of 196 patients with nodular thyroid enlargements who underwent thyroidectomies were included in this cross-sectional study. The diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma was confirmed in 18(9.2%) patients in this series. Most of the patients were presented with benign goiters, mainly nontoxic multinodular goiter. Cervical lymphadenopathy was present in 4(22.2%) at presentation. In ten patients out of the 18 patients (55.5%) diagnosed with carcinoma, it was possible to make a correct diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma before and at operation time. While in the remaining eight patients (44.5%) the diagnosis of carcinoma was made at a histopathological examination of the surgical specimens. In conclusion goiter affect female more than male. Nodular colloid goiter was the main pathology. Thyroid carcinoma reported in 9.18% of the sample with goiters. Papillary carcinoma was the commonest histopathological type among patients with carcinomas. Keywords: Goiter, multinodular goiter, carcinoma, ANF DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/66-04 Publication date:September 30th 201

A Comparative Study between Laser Hemorrhoidoplasty Procedure and Conventional Hemorrhoidectomy

      البواسير: هي من الأمراض الشرجية الشائعة جدا التي تصيب أي فئة عمرية ومن كلا الجنسين. هناك خيارات مختلفة وعديدة لعلاج المرضى الذين يعانون من البواسير. انطلاقا من العلاج التحفظي مع التعديلات الغذائية ، الربط باستخدام الشريط المطاطي ، حقن المعالجة بالتصلب ، التخثر الحراري ، أو عملية الجراحة المفتوحة ومؤخرا تم إدخال أنواع مختلفة من الليزر مثل ليزر ثاني أكسيد الكربون (CO2) ، والليوديميوم: الايتريوم والألومنيوم - العقيق (Nd: YAG).       في دراستنا ، اخترنا (1000 مريض) جميعهم كانوا خاليين من الأمراض الطبية ، وتكمن في مجموعتين رئيسيتين ، تم علاج 500 مريض (ذكور وإناث) مع فئات عمرية مختلفة باستخدام الجراحة التقليدية المفتوحة (ميليغان - مورغان) وتم علاج 500 مريض (ذكور وإناث) مع فئات عمرية مختلفة ايضا باستخدام تقنية ازالة البواسير بالليزر تستخدم تقنية ازالة البواسير بالليزر لعلاج المرضى الذين يعانون من البواسير من الدرجة الثانية والثالثة، كإجراء للمرضى في العيادات الخارجية دون التسبب في أي ضرر أو إصابات إضافية في الأنسجة الطبيعية (السليمة) المحيطة بها، ومضاعفات ما بعد العمليات الجراحية أقل بكثير مع وقت قصير جدا في الجراحة والعودة السريعة جدا إلى الأنشطة اليومية العادية.Hemorrhoids are very common anorectal diseases that affected any age groups and both genders.       There are different and several options for treatment of patients with hemorrhoids .ranging from conservative approach with dietary modifications ,rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy injection, diathermy coagulation, or minimal invasive procedures like; open surgical procedure and recently various types of laser was introduced such as carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, and the neodymium :yttrium – aluminum – garnet (Nd: YAG ) laser procedures.       In our study, we choose (1000 patients) all of them were free of  medical diseases, those lie into two main groups , 500 patients (males and females) with different  age groups  were  treated with conventional open surgical (Milligan – Morgan) hemorrhoidectomy operation ,and 500 patients (males and females) with different age groups were treated with minimally invasive diode laser hemorrhoidoplasty technique .       Laser hemorrhoidoplasty technique is used to treat the patients with 2nd and 3rd degree hemorrhoids, as an outpatients procedure without causing any additional harm or injuries to the surrounding normal (healthy) tissues, and significantly less post-operative complications with very short operative time and very rapid return to the normal daily activities

Reflection of Strategic Thinking in Activating Organizational Conflict Management Strategies

يهدف هذا البحث الى تحديد طبيعة دور التفكير الاستراتيجي وتأثيره في تحسين استراتيجيات ادارة الصراعات التنظيمية في منظمات الاعمال، اذ يشكل التفكير الاستراتيجي المحرك الاساسية لكافة التغييرات التي يمكن للمنظمة القيام بها للتكيف مع البيئة التي تعمل ضمنها، كما ان تحسين استراتيجيات ادارة الصراعات التنظيمية يمثل احدى التحديات التي تواجه الادارة العليا في المنظمة المعاصرة لمساعدتها على البقاء والاستمرار. وقد اشارت مشكلة البحث الى وجود قصور واضح في توظيف التفكير الاستراتيجي في تفعيل استراتيجيات ادارة الصراعات التنظيمية لدى المنظمة المبحوثة، واختيرت الشركة العامة للزيوت النباتية  ميدانياً للتطبيق، وتم اختيار عينة البحث بطريقة العينة العشوائية البسيطة والمكونة من (104) شخص، وقد اعتمدت الاستبانة كأداة للحصول على بيانات البحث التي تم اعدادها بالاستناد الى عدد من المقاييس الجاهزة بعد اخضاعها لاختبارات الصدق والثبات، وقد أسفرت الأدوات الاحصائية عن عدد من النتائج اكدت معظمها على وجود علاقة ارتباط وتأثير ذات دلاله معنوية للتفكير الاستراتيجي في تحسين استراتيجيات ادارة الصراعات التنظيمية وبناء على ذلك تم قبول الفرضيات الرئيسة والفرعية التي تضمنها البحثThis research aims to determine the nature of the role of strategic thinking and its impact in improving organizational conflict management strategies in business organizations. Strategic thinking is the key driver of all changes that the organization can make to adapt to the environment in which it operates. Improving organizational conflict management strategies is one of the challenges Which face the top management of the contemporary organization to help them survive. The research problem indicated that there is a clear lack of strategic thinking in improving organizational conflict management strategies. The General Company for Vegetable Oils was chosen as the field of application. The sample was selected in a simple random sample of 104 persons. The questionnaire was adopted as a tool for obtaining On the data of the research, which was prepared based on a number of ready-made measurements after being subjected to tests of honesty and consistency. The statistical tools resulted in a number of results, most of which confirmed the existence of a relationship of correlation and effect of significance to strategic thinking in the sense of Organizational Conflict Management Strategies therefore been accepted and the main sub-hypotheses contained in the research