Framework development for public private partnership in affordable housing delivery in Saudi Arabia

With the adoption of the new Saudi Vision 2030, interest in public private partnership (PPP) has increased and the Saudi Government is seeking to build up private sector involvement in the provision of social services and infrastructure. Within this new strategy, PPP has been adopted as a vehicle for the delivery of affordable housing for middle-income groups and to solve the current Saudi housing challenges. However, there is a lack of published evidence on how PPP could contribute to better delivery of affordable housing in Saudi Arabia. Thus, the aim of this research is to understand how PPP could contribute towards improving the delivery of affordable housing for middle-income households, and to develop a framework for utilising PPP arrangements in Saudi Arabia. In order to achieve this aim and gain an in-depth understanding of PPP in the housing sector, a critical review of the PPP literature in the housing sector was undertaken to identify which significant challenges are facing PPP implementation, leading to the formulation of the conceptual framework, which has been utilised as a guide to explore the challenge of the current implementation of Saudi PPP housing schemes. The Saudi Ministry of Housing has been used as a single case study and a qualitative research design has been employed, involving documentation and semi-structured interviews. Document review has been utilized to reflect the current practice of PPP in the Saudi housing sector. Data collection involved 14 interviews, which have been analysed to identify the significant challenges facing PPP implementation in the Saudi housing scheme. Findings of this study indicate that the implementation of PPP for the delivery of affordable housing for middle income households in Saudi Arabia is challenged by 24 factors across the following three categories: Actors, Network, and Project. Based on these findings, an Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) framework was developed and validated to contribute towards improving the implementation of PPP for the delivery of affordable housing for middle-income households in Saudi Arabia. This research makes three contributions: firstly, the study explores the current implementation of PPP in the delivery of affordable housing in Saudi Arabia. Secondly, the study provides the hierarchy and the relationship between the different factors that challenge the implementation of PPP in the housing sector. Thirdly, the study provides an ISM-based framework to help improve the efficiency of the implementation of PPP in the Saudi housing sector. Finally, this research makes recommendations for both academics and decision-makers in the Saudi housing sector

Is earnings management associated with corporate environmental disclosure? Evidence from Kuwaiti listed firms

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Purpose: This study investigates the association between corporate environmental disclosure (CED) and earnings management (EM) in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) emerging market, namely Kuwait. Design/methodology/approach: Using panel data from firms listed on the Kuwaiti stock exchange from 2010 to 2014, this paper applies a fixed-effects model to examine the CED-EM nexus. This analysis was supplemented with estimating a two-stage least squares (2SLS) model and a generalised method of moment (GMM) model to address any concerns regarding endogeneity problems. Findings: The results are suggestive of a significant and negative relationship between CED and EM in Kuwait. This implies that the environmentally responsible managers are less likely to be engaged in EM practices in Kuwait. Research limitations/implications: The theoretical implication of the results of this study is that managers in Kuwait seem to employ CED as a method to decrease the possibility of any formal or informal actions that could be imposed upon their activities. Originality/value: So far, a limited number of studies focused on examining the CED-EM nexus internationally. Furthermore, research carried out to examine the CED-EM link within a GCC market is virtually non-existent. This study, therefore, presents the first empirical analysis of this relationship in Kuwait. Also, this research is of a significant value stemming from the environmental challenges that are facing Kuwait as an oil-reliant economy coupled together with the crucial economic development in Kuwait and its critical contribution to the GCC economy

The Areas of Teacher Research in the Sultanate of Oman and the Reality of Benefiting from Them

The present study aims at understanding the reality of teacher research in the Sultanate of Oman, how to benefit from such research in the improvement of teacher development and the teaching-learning process, who should do that, as well as informing current literature with updates on teacher research, a topic that is not yet given adequate attention in Oman. The study implemented a qualitative approach for data collection and analysis of 50 researches done by school-teachers and 22 interviews with research teachers, school head-teachers and educational specialists. The study revealed that teachers are interested in doing research. Teachers, school administration and supervisors benefit from teacher research. Teachers use their own ways to take advantage from their own research and to share it with other teachers and help them value its results and recommendations. The study recommends that a culture of teacher research should be founded in schools, teachers should be supported to do research and more research should be done to explore the extent to which teacher research meets the  criteria of educational research so that it can be trustworthy and useable for schooling improvement

Pathology-MRI correlations in diffuse low-grade epilepsy associated tumors

It is recognized that IDH mutation negative, low-grade epilepsy associated tumors (LEAT) can show diffuse growth patterns and lack the diagnostic hallmarks of either classical dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNT) or typical ganglioglioma. “Nonspecific or diffuse DNT” and more recently “polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young” have been terms used for these entities. There are few reports on the MRI recognition of these diffuse glioneuronal tumors (dGNT), which is important in planning the extent of surgical resection. In 27 LEATs T1, T2, FLAIR, and postcontrast T1 MRI were evaluated and the pathology reviewed, including immunostaining for NeuN, CD34, MAP2, and IDH1. Each case was then independently classified by pathology or MRI as simple DNT, complex DNT, or dGNT. There was agreement in 23/27 (85%; Kappa score 0.62; p < 0.01). In 4 cases, there was discrepancy in the diagnosis of simple versus complex DNT but 100% agreement achieved for dGNT. DNT showed significantly more expansion of the cortex, cystic change and ventricle extension than dGNT. dGNT showed significantly more subcortical T2w hyperintensity and focal cortical atrophy which correlated on pathology with CD34 expression, cortical neuronal loss and white matter rarefaction. There was no distinct cortical dysplasia component identified by MRI or pathology in any case. This study highlights that dGNT can be reliably discriminated on MRI from DNT

Univalence criteria for linear fractional differential operators associated with a generalized Bessel function

In this paper our aim is to establish some generalizations upon the sufficient conditions for linear fractional differential operators involving the normalized forms of the generalized Bessel functions of the first kind to be univalent in the open unit disk as investigated recently by [{sc E. Deniz, H. Orhan, H.M. Srivastava}, {it Some sufficient conditions for univalence of certain families of integral operators involving generalized Bessel functions}, Taiwanese J. Math. {bf 15} (2011), No. 2, 883-917] and [{sc \u27A. Baricz, B. Frasin}, {it Univalence of integral operators involving Bessel functions}, Appl. Math. Letters {bf 23} (2010), No. 4, 371--376]. Our method uses certain Luke\u27s bounding inequalities for hypergeometric functions ${}_{p+1}F_p$ and ${}_pF_p$

RISK FACTORS OF PERIODONTAL DISEASES AMONG YEMENI YOUNG DENTAL PATIENTS

Periodontal diseasesare chronic infectious diseases that lead to the inflammation of specialized tissues that surround and support the teeth. Many risk factors and risk indicators, associated with increased risk of periodontal disease, have been identified. Gender, age, education, tooth brushing habit, smoking, khat chewing and shamaa use were associated with periodontal status in Yemen. Accordingly, the aim of our study is to assess the prevalence and related risk factors for periodontal diseases&nbsp; among Yemeni young dental patients in the faculty of dentistry Sanaa university.735 subjects (both males and females) and systemic free. Clinical examinations were performed including probing pocket depth, plaque index, gingival index and gingival recession. 110 Patients were less than 20 years and&nbsp; 9.1% healthy, 36.4% gingivitis, 22.7% generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP), 4.5% localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP), 27.3% generalized gingivitis with localized chronic periodontitis (LCP) and 0.0% generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP). 625 Patients were more than 20 years and less than 29 years and 13.6% healthy, 8.7% gingivitis, 29.1% generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP), 2.7% localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP), 45.6% generalized gingivitis with localized chronic periodontitis (LCP) and 0.2% generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP).Age, gender, education, tooth brushing habit, smoking, khat chewing and shamaa use habit were significantly (P&nbsp;≤ 0.05) associated with periodontal status. The study confirmed various socio‑demographic risk factors/indictors associated with increased risk of periodontitis among Yemeni young dental patients. Peer Review History: Received 9 October 2017; &nbsp;&nbsp;Revised 22 October; Accepted 28 October, Available online 15 November 2017 Academic Editor:&nbsp; Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Emmanuel O. Olorunsola, Department of Pharmaceutics &amp; Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Uyo, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. Sabah Hussien El-Ghaiesh ,&nbsp;Tanta University, Egypt, [email protected] Similar Articles: ETIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS OF STOMATITIS AMONG YEMENI DENTURE WEARER

Bayesian belief networks for fault detection and diagnostics of a three-phase separator

A three-phase separator (TPS) is one of the key components of offshore oil processing facili-ties. Oil is separated from gas, water and solid impurities by the TPS before it can be further processed. Fail-ures of the TPS can lead to unplanned shutdowns and reduction of the efficiency of the whole oil processing facility as well as posing hazards to safety of personnel. A novel fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) meth-odology for the TPS is proposed in this paper. The core of the methodology is based on Bayesian Belief Net-works (BBN). A BBN model is built to replicate the operation of the TPS: when the system is fault free or operating with single or multiple failed components. Results of the capabilities of the BBN model to detect and diagnose single and multiple faults of the TPS components are reported in this paper

Global status of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: a systematic review

Dromedary camels have been shown to be the main reservoir for human Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) infections. This systematic review aims to compile and analyse all published data on MERS-coronavirus (CoV) in the global camel population to provide an overview of current knowledge on the distribution, spread and risk factors of infections in dromedary camels. We included original research articles containing laboratory evidence of MERS-CoV infections in dromedary camels in the field from 2013 to April 2018. In general, camels only show minor clinical signs of disease after being infected with MERS-CoV. Serological evidence of MERS-CoV in camels has been found in 20 countries, with molecular evidence for virus circulation in 13 countries. The seroprevalence of MERS-CoV antibodies increases with age in camels, while the prevalence of viral shedding as determined by MERS-CoV RNA detection in nasal swabs decreases. In several studies, camels that were sampled at animal markets or quarantine facilities were seropositive more often than camels at farms as well as imported camels vs. locally bred camels. Some studies show a relatively higher seroprevalence and viral detection during the cooler winter months. Knowledge of the animal reservoir of MERS-CoV is essential to develop intervention and control measures to prevent human infections