Pivot-based Statistical Machine Translation for Morphologically Rich Languages

This thesis describes the research efforts on pivot-based statistical machine translation (SMT) for morphologically rich languages (MRL). We provide a framework to translate to and from morphologically rich languages especially in the context of having little or no parallel corpora between the source and the target languages. We basically address three main challenges. The first one is the sparsity of data as a result of morphological richness. The second one is maximizing the precision and recall of the pivoting process itself. And the last one is making use of any parallel data between the source and the target languages. To address the challenge of data sparsity, we explored a space of tokenization schemes and normalization options. We also examined a set of six detokenization techniques to evaluate detokenized and orthographically corrected (enriched) output. We provide a recipe of the best settings to translate to one of the most challenging languages, namely Arabic. Our best model improves the translation quality over the baseline by 1.3 BLEU points. We also investigated the idea of separation between translation and morphology generation. We compared three methods of modeling morphological features. Features can be modeled as part of the core translation. Alternatively these features can be generated using target monolingual context. Finally, the features can be predicted using both source and target information. In our experimental results, we outperform the vanilla factored translation model. In order to decide on which features to translate, generate or predict, a detailed error analysis should be provided on the system output. As a result, we present AMEANA, an open-source tool for error analysis of natural language processing tasks, targeting morphologically rich languages. The second challenge we are concerned with is the pivoting process itself. We discuss several techniques to improve the precision and recall of the pivot matching. One technique to improve the recall works on the level of the word alignment as an optimization process for pivoting driven by generating phrase pairs between source and target languages. Despite the fact that improving the recall of the pivot matching improves the overall translation quality, we also need to increase the precision of the pivot quality. To achieve this, we introduce quality constraints scores to determine the quality of the pivot phrase pairs between source and target languages. We show positive results for different language pairs which shows the consistency of our approaches. In one of our best models we reach an improvement of 1.2 BLEU points. The third challenge we are concerned with is how to make use of any parallel data between the source and the target languages. We build on the approach of improving the precision of the pivoting process and the methods of combination between the pivot system and the direct system built from the parallel data. In one of the approaches, we introduce morphology constraint scores which are added to the log linear space of features in order to determine the quality of the pivot phrase pairs. We compare two methods of generating the morphology constraints. One method is based on hand-crafted rules relying on our knowledge of the source and target languages; while in the other method, the morphology constraints are induced from available parallel data between the source and target languages which we also use to build a direct translation model. We then combine both the pivot and direct models to achieve better coverage and overall translation quality. Using induced morphology constraints outperformed the handcrafted rules and improved over our best model from all previous approaches by 0.6 BLEU points (7.2/6.7 BLEU points from the direct and pivot baselines respectively). Finally, we introduce applying smart techniques to combine pivot and direct models. We show that smart selective combination can lead to a large reduction of the pivot model without affecting the performance and in some cases improving it

Improved confinement of reinforced concrete columns

AbstractTraditional steel ties reinforcement cannot provide superior confinement for reinforced concrete (RC) columns due to the constraints on tie spacing and disturbance of concrete continuity. This paper presents a practical confinement configuration consisting of single Expanded Metal Mesh (EMM) layer in additional to regular tie reinforcement. The EMM layer is warped above ties. The proposed transverse reinforcement, with various volumetric ratios of ties, was investigated in sixteen square short RC column specimens categorized in two groups according to their slenderness ratios. The specimens were cast in vertical position simulating the construction field and they were tested under concentric compression till failure. The results indicated that the columns, confined with proposed lateral reinforcement, revealed significant improvement in the strength and ductility. Also, high reduction in ties volumetric ratio with no loss in ultimate load could be achieved by installing the EMM layer

Skills of Employing Mobile Learning Applications Required for Faculty of Education Students in Light of their Training Needs

هدف البحث الحالي إلى تحديد مهارات استخدام وتوظيف تطبيقات التعلم النقال اللازمة لطلاب كلية التربية في ضوء احتياجاتهم التدريبية، وذلك لمحاولة تحسين كفاءة وآداء الطلاب المعلمين أثناء الإعداد بكليات التربية فيما يتعلق بمجال توظيف التكنولوجيا في التعليم، ولتحقيق هدف البحث تم الاعتماد على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، وإعداد قائمة عامة بمهارات استخدام وتوظيف تطبيقات التعلم النقال الواجب توافرها لدى طلاب كليات التربية، كذلك تم إعداد استبيان لتحديد احتياجات طلاب كلية التربية من مهارات توظيف تطبيقات التعلم النقال واللازم تنميتها لديهم، وبتحليل النتائج تم التوصل إلى قائمة بمهارات توظيف تطبيقات التعلم النقال تضمنت (9) مهارات رئيسية، و(64) مهارة فرعية مطلوب تنميتها لدى طلاب كلية التربية، وفي ضوء هذه النتيجة تم تقديم مجموعة من التوصيات البحثية.The current research aimed to identify the skills of using and employing the mobile learning applications required for the Faculty of Education students in light of their training needs. In order to improving the efficiency and performance of the teachers during the preparation in faculties of education regarding the field of employing technology in education. To achieve the research objective, the researcher was used the descriptive analytical methodology, and prepared a general skills list included the skills of employing m-learning applications. A questionnaire was also prepared to identify the students' needs from the skills of employing m-learning applications. After analyzing the results, a skills list of employing m-learning applications was obtained and included (9) main skills and (64) sub-skills required for Faculty of Education students. In light of this results, researcher presented some research recommendations

Breast Engorgement among Women with Caesarean Section: Impact of Nursing Intervention

Background: Breast engorgement is defined as enlarged & filling of breast with milk. It is one of the most significant problems confronting nursing women, especially primiparous, in the first week of motherhood. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of nursing intervention on relieve of breast engorgement among women with caesarean section. Design and setting an interventional study was conducted in postnatal unit of Beni-Suef University hospital. Sample was simple random sample comprised a total of 90 Primiparae’s cesarean section mothers; 45 in the interventional group & 45 in the control group. Tools of Data Collection were interview questionnaire sheet, knowledge assessment sheet and observational & Engorgement assessment scale. The study revealed that, the nursing intervention was more effective and contributed rapid recovery from breast engorgement especially among the older, educated, housewives, high social class's women and those who were rural dwellers. The study recommended that Prevention is a key element in reducing breast engorgement potentially among nursing mothers. So, primiparous mothers should learn about preventive measures for breast engorgement. Teaching mother how to express both breasts simultaneously to yield the most volume and to decrease time spend pumping each consecutively is the responsibility of health care providers

Breast Feeding Knowledge and Practices Among Primiparous Women with Caesarean Section: Impact on Breast Engorgement in Upper Egypt

Background: The benefits of breast milk are greatly enhanced if breastfeeding starts within one hour after birth. Hunan milk contains a host of dynamic and unique feeding properties. Breast engorgement is one of the most common minor discomforts confronting nursing women after delivery, especially Primiparous. The aim of the study was to investigate the breastfeeding knowledge and practices among primiparous women with a cesarean section and its impact on breast engorgement in Upper Egypt. The study was conducted in the postnatal unit of Beni-Suef University Hospital. The study design was a descriptive study. The type of sample was a simple random sample. The study comprised 90 Primiparous cesarean section mothers; suffer from breast engorgement. Tools of Data Collection were interview questionnaire sheet, knowledge assessment sheet, observational checklist, and engorgement assessment scale. The study revealed that the studied women’s knowledge and technique of breastfeeding were not adequate among the whole study sample. Breast engorgement was more prevalent among the younger, less educated, housewives, low social class's women and those who were rural dwellers. Recommendation: Providing the mother with guidance and support on positioning and latching and modification of hospital practices are effective in reducing breast problems

Fungal neonatal and infantile sepsis in Egypt: Risk factors and identification of fungal isolates

Background: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are opportunistic infections associated with significant mortality in paediatric patients, especially in those with compromised immune system and neonates with very low birth weight (VLBW). The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence, clinical features and fungi isolates of neonatal sepsis in three hospitals in Egypt. Methodology: The study is a cross sectional survey of 176 neonates with clinical sepsis admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of the three hospitals over a period of one year (February 2015 to January 2016). A minimum of two blood samples (collected within 24 hours) from each neonate were cultured for bacteria in automated BacT/AlerT and conventional culture bottles, while Saboraud-Brain Heart Infusion broth was inoculated for fungi culture. Positive growths from the broth were sub-cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plates for aerobic incubation at 25oC and 37oC for 2 weeks. Identification of fungi colonies on SDA was by conventional morphology and confirmation on chromogenic agar media. Phylogenetic analysis of representative fungi isolates was done by partial nucleotide sequencing of D1-D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene. Results: Of the 176 neonates, blood culture was positive for pathogens in 55 (31.3 %) samples and fungi were isolated in 26 (14.8 %); yeast (25) and mould (1). The commonly isolated yeasts were Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei representing 34.6%, 30.8% and 23.1%, respectively of the total fungi isolated. The phylogenetic analysis in comparison to Genbank data showed defined clades for Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans and Pichia kudriavzevii Conclusion: This current study highlights the changing pattern of neonatal infections in Egypt caused by Candida, with increasing incidence of infections caused by non-albicans Candida species. Key words: fungal infection, neonatal, risk factors, PCR, yeas

Experimental and numerical evaluation of compression confinement techniques for HSC beams reinforced with different ratios of high strength steel reinforcement

This work presents experimental and numerical research to evaluate the compression confinement techniques of HSC beams reinforced with different ratios of high-strength steel reinforcement. Twelve specimens of high-strength reinforced concrete beams with two different compression confinement techniques were tested experimentally. The first method is used carbon fiber reinforced polymers sheets (CFRPs) around the compression zone, CF, and the steel fibers reinforced concrete is used in the compression zone by 1% of volume fraction, SF, in the second case. A 3-D finite element analysis was done; using the ANSYS program to simulate and idealize all experimental specimens. The numerical and experimental results of the RC beams were validated and compared in this work. The results showed that there is a good idealization using 3-D finite element models with the experimental specimens. Also, it was found that using the suggested techniques can increase the strength ratio and increase the ductility index depending on the tensile reinforcement ratios. Moreover, the energy absorption and the mode of failure were enhanced

Indications and complications of first caesarean section in Tanta University Hospital Versus Sidi Salem Central Hospital a comparative prospective study

Background: Caesarean section (CS) is a surgical procedure in which obstetricians do incisions through the mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more viable babies. The present study was undertaken to determine the indications and complication of first CS. Methods: This prospective comparative study was done in Tanta university hospital and Sidi Salem central hospital, Egypt for one year in the gynecology and obstetrics department. It involved all females delivered by primary CS in the period from November 2020 to November 2021. Data was collected from the admission sheets of the patients and hospital record system.Results: The total number of cases delivered by primary CS was 317, 104 case that represented 14.91%, 11.72% from the total number of cases delivered by CS in Tanta and Sidi Salem hospitals respectively. The most common indication for primary CS in Tanta university hospital among studied group was preeclampsia and eclampsia 53 case (16.71%). While in Sidi Salem central hospital, the most common indication was Failure of labor progress 18 case (17.3%). In Tanta university hospital, the most common complication was post-operative shivering 14 case (19.71%). While in Sidi Salem central hospital, the most common complication was intra operative hemorrhage 17 case (28.33%). Conclusions: The incidence of primary CS in both hospitals was high, so intensive care units, blood banks, incubators with artificial respiration machines and expertise staff must be available at central hospitals in an attempt to decrease the incidence and complications