Patterns of Interactions in a Synchronous Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) Collaborative Activity in the Saudi EFL Context

This study explored patterns of interaction in a synchronous Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) collaborative activity in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) setting in the Saudi Arabian context. The study focused on the use of synchronous Chat in teaching and learning. Collaborative learning is considered to lead to a deeper level of learning, enhanced critical thinking, shared understanding and long-term recognition of the learned material. A qualitative approach was used in the data collection process. Participants were 20 high school students, native speakers of Arabic, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study examined participants’ English usage in conversation, a quiz, and a discussion, all of which took place online, in a CMC format. There was also a paired work presentation of 25 minutes’ duration. Results revealed that CMC enabled learners to further their understanding of instructional content and to better apply what they had learned when they were placed in a group. The results from the online discussion showed that participants’ linguistic performance improved, including better utilization of words. Although grammatical usages lack certain accuracy, the use of CMC to a larger extent contributed to enhanced communication skills and autonomy. Based on the findings some suggestions and recommendations were provided as to aid teachers as well as students in implementing the Internet technology in EFL classrooms

Data mining and integration of heterogeneous bioinformatics data sources

In this thesis, we have presented a novel approach to interoperability based on the use of biological relationships that have used relationship-based integration to integrate bioinformatics data sources; this refers to the use of different relationship types with different relationship closeness values to link gene expression datasets with other information available in public bioinformatics data sources. These relationships provide flexible linkage for biologists to discover linked data across the biological universe. Relationship closeness is a variable used to measure the closeness of the biological entities in a relationship and is a characteristic of the relationship. The novelty of this approach is that it allows a user to link a gene expression dataset with heterogeneous data sources dynamically and flexibly to facilitate comparative genomics investigations. Our research has demonstrated that using different relationships allows biologists to analyze experimental datasets in different ways, shorten the time needed to analyze the datasets and provide an easier way to undertake this analysis. Thus, it provides more power to biologists to do experimentations using changing threshold values and linkage types. This is achieved in our framework by introducing the Soft Link Model (SLM) and a Relationship Knowledge Base (RKB), which is built and used by SLM. Integration and Data Mining Bioinformatics Data sources system (IDMBD) is implemented as a proof of concept prototype to demonstrate the technique of linkages described in the thesis.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Data mining and integration of heterogeneous bioinformatics data sources.

In this thesis, we have presented a novel approach to interoperability based on the use of biological relationships that have used relationship-based integration to integrate bioinformatics data sources; this refers to the use of different relationship types with different relationship closeness values to link gene expression datasets with other information available in public bioinformatics data sources. These relationships provide flexible linkage for biologists to discover linked data across the biological universe. Relationship closeness is a variable used to measure the closeness of the biological entities in a relationship and is a characteristic of the relationship. The novelty of this approach is that it allows a user to link a gene expression dataset with heterogeneous data sources dynamically and flexibly to facilitate comparative genomics investigations. Our research has demonstrated that using different relationships allows biologists to analyze experimental datasets in different ways, shorten the time needed to analyze the datasets and provide an easier way to undertake this analysis. Thus, it provides more power to biologists to do experimentations using changing threshold values and linkage types. This is achieved in our framework by introducing the Soft Link Model (SLM) and a Relationship Knowledge Base (RKB), which is built and used by SLM. Integration and Data Mining Bioinformatics Data sources system (IDMBD) is implemented as a proof of concept prototype to demonstrate the technique of linkages described in the thesis

Seam carving-based Arabic handwritten sub-word segmentation

Collecting, archiving, and analyzing handwritten documents are still indispensable acts as people continue to use paper documents. In addition, these archives are an endless source of information. Retrieving information from a handwritten document using automatic text queries as an alternative to manual search in a scanned image requires precise optical character recognition systems. However, properties of the Arabic handwriting such as cursive writing with characters overlapping and touching limit the recognition stages. Inspired by the use of the seam carving algorithm for image resizing and line segmentation, we propose a seam carving algorithm that aims to solve character overlapping and touching. We propose a new energy function for the seam carving algorithm to solve the overlapping problem. Furthermore, we designed a pre-processing stage that avoids generating seams that pass through inappropriate regions. Our proposed segmentation technique reached a 95.66% correct segmentation on IESK-ArDB and IFN/ENIT datasets. Furthermore, our method outperforms state-of-the-art techniques in resolving the overlapping issue

Perception of primary care physicians about guidelines of bronchial asthma

Background: Adopting clear guidelines for diagnosis and management of bronchial asthma could improve the medical care services administered to asthmatic patients. This can be reflected on amelioration of manifestations, decrease of attacks of asthma and hence decrease the medical burden of the disease. Objectives: The current study was designed to evaluate the adherence of primary health care physicians to the recommendations of the National Protocol for Management of Asthma in Kuwait and the factors affecting this adoption, reveal their knowledge, attitude and practices about bronchial asthma, and identify barriers for caring of asthmatic patients. Subjects and methods: The target population was primary health care physicians. All the primary health care physicians of two randomly selected health districts, out of five, were included. Out of 376 physicians available during the field period, 250 agreed to share in this study with an overall response rate of 66.5%. Results: The results showed that only 37.2% of the studied primary health care physicians were adhering to asthma guidelines. Level of education, Knowledge about asthma, and clinical practice proved to be significant predictors of adherence to asthma guidelines. Although physicians had a high positive attitude toward asthma yet, they have poor knowledge and practice scores. The most common institutional barriers were improper follow up system and lack of spirometers, while heavy workload and lack of training were the main barriers related to health staff. Non compliance of patients to management and follow up schedules were on the top of barriers related to patients. Conclusion: Physicians at the primary health care centers had a low adherence rate to asthma guidelines. Although they had high positive attitude toward asthma yet their knowledge and practice need improvement. To enhance adequate medical care to asthmatics; focus should be concentrated on increasing awareness and task based on job training of physicians as well as providing lung ventilation measuring equipment and improving the follow up system of bronchial asthma