Revisiting Budget and Trade Deficits in Lebanon: A Critique

This study re-examines the relationship between the budget deficit and the trade deficit in Lebanon. In contrast to earlier studies, we start by testing for a unit root in the presence of structural change using the Innovational Outlier (IO) model. This study also utilizes the newly proposed autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to examine such a relationship. The results show that the endogenously determined times of the breaks coincide with observed real events occurring during the years of Civil War in Lebanon and especially after the Israeli invasion of Beirut in 1982. This study finds, as well, that the trade deficit in Lebanon has a long run impact on the budget deficit.Budget deficit, trade deficit, structural break, ARDL, Lebanon

Adaptive E-Learning Based on Learner's Styles

In this paper, a new model for adaptive e-learning based on learner's styles is presented. In the previous work, the dimensions of learner's styles given by Felder-Silverman did not consider some important issues of the learner himself. Here, new learner's parameters such as his social environment, health conditions, psychological and economical states are taken into account. Such parameters greatly affect the ability of student to learn and understand. Therefore, in order to perfectly recognize the ability of the student to be interactive in the leaning environment and accept information, new learner's styles are added to the dimensions of Felder-Silverman learning style model and our previous work [24]. The new proposed model is applied for logic gates and functions used in data encoding and computer networks. Such model presents suitable courses for each student in a dynamic and adaptive manner using existing database and workflow technologies. Furthermore, it is powerful, user friendly and easy to interpret. Moreover, it suggests a learning strategy and appropriate electronic media that match the learner’s preference

Gross, Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies on the Ampulla Ductus Deferentis of Dromedary Camel with Special Reference to its Seasonal Variations

The morphological structure and morphometrical features of the ampulla ductus deferens of the adult camels were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy to get better understand with its seasonal variations. The wall of ampulla was composed of mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa or adventitia. It was lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium containing intraepithelial glands. The lamina propria and tunica submucosa formed together the thickest part of the ampullary wall. The ampullary glands were branched tubulo-alveolar, with diverticulae-like appearance and occupied mostly the lamina propria- submucosa. Each gland consisted of peripheral wide and central narrow alveoli that were lined by simple low columnar or cuboidal epithelium and mostly contained spermatozoa and secretory materials. The gland opened in the ampullary lumen by short tubule, which was lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Histochemically, the epithelial cells reacted positively to Alcian blue, PAS and sudan black stains and negatively to the Best's carmine stain, indicating the presence of the acid, neutral glycoprotein and fatty droplet, as well as absence of the glycogen. Morphometrically, the height of the luminal and glandular epithelia, thickness of the lamina propria- submucosa and ratio of the glandular to the connective tissue showed seasonal variations. The height of the luminal and glandular epithelia reached their maximum values in winter and decreased gradually throughout spring and recorded the lowest values in summer. Scanning electron microscopy revealed various shaped openings in the luminal surface of the ampulla. The cells apices were studded with short microvilli and many secretory granules or vesicles. The ampullary glands appeared as a network of diverticulae-like structure, which occupied mostly the lamina propria-submuosa. The cells apices of the glandular epithelium were stereo-ciliated, microvilliated cells or showed central bleb-like protrusion surrounded by thin long microvilli. The glandular alveoli contained spermatozoa and secretory materials. In conclusion, the camel ampulla ductus deferentis performs a storage function in addition to its secretory one, where both are subjecting to seasonal variations

Crypto-Semantic Method of Text Data Protection

A method of text data protection called crypto-semantic is proposed. In order to implement the method within the formally defined restrictions of the selected sphere of applied uses, it is necessary to develop a corresponding lexicographical system in the form of an applied linguistic corpus and semantically structure the information using the constructed linguistic corpus so that the encrypted text message samples present semantically plausible text fragments. Under certain conditions the method provides absolute guarantee of text data protection from confidentiality compromise.

The Effect of Oral Magnesium Supplement on Pre-eclampsia and Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnancy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Magnesium is one of the most important nutritional factors that have a beneficial effect on pregnant women. Many studies evaluated the role of oral magnesium supplements as a non-pharmacological intervention for mother and neonatal protection in terms of these outcomes. There is a conflict between several clinical trials about the efficacy of oral magnesium supplements during pregnancy. Therefore, in this review, we represent class 1 evidence and address an unmet clinical need on the efficacy of different types of oral magnesium in pre-eclampsia, and prenatal outcomes in pregnant women. Method: During the preparation of this meta-analysis, we followed the PRISMA statement guidelines. A literature search of the Web of Sciences, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PubMed were conducted from inception until September 2022. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oral magnesium whether citrate, oxide, or aspartate hydrochloride with a placebo. The records of quality studies were screened and extracted. Additionally, the pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions data were pooled as odds ratio (OR) in a fixed-effect model using Review Manager (v.3). Subgroup analysis was performed to investigate the efficacy of each type of oral magnesium on the outcomes. Results: Five RCTs were included in this meta-analysis with a total of 2370 patients. The overall effect did not favor either of the two groups in terms of pre-eclampsia (OR= 0.99, 95% CI, [0.72, 1.37], p = 0.9), preterm birth (OR= 0.87, 95% CI, [0.62, 1.22], p = 0.4), and NICU admissions (OR= 1.37, 95% CI, [0.84, 2.22], p = 0.2). Based on the subgroup analysis findings, the use of oral magnesium supplements whether citrate, oxide, or aspartate hydrochloride in this population did not significantly increase or decrease the incidence of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and NICU admissions when compared with the control group. Conclusion: Ultimately, oral magnesium supplementation whether citrate, oxide, or aspartate hydrochloride may not have a beneficial effect on maternal and fetal outcomes during pregnancy. Therefore, the current evidence is insufficient to confirm the efficacy of oral magnesium for care practice among pregnant women. Despite that, these results need to be affirmed by major RCTs using magnesium supplements which have related to neonatal and maternal outcomes

An Interactive Automation for Human Biliary Tree Diagnosis Using Computer Vision

The biliary tree is a network of tubes that connects the liver to the gallbladder, an organ right beneath it. The bile duct is the major tube in the biliary tree. The dilatation of a bile duct is a key indicator for more major problems in the human body, such as stones and tumors, which are frequently caused by the pancreas or the papilla of vater. The detection of bile duct dilatation can be challenging for beginner or untrained medical personnel in many circumstances. Even professionals are unable to detect bile duct dilatation with the naked eye. This research presents a unique vision-based model for biliary tree initial diagnosis. To segment the biliary tree from the Magnetic Resonance Image, the framework used different image processing approaches (MRI). After the image’s region of interest was segmented, numerous calculations were performed on it to extract 10 features, including major and minor axes, bile duct area, biliary tree area, compactness, and some textural features (contrast, mean, variance and correlation). This study used a database of images from King Hussein Medical Center in Amman, Jordan, which included 200 MRI images, 100 normal cases, and 100 patients with dilated bile ducts. After the characteristics are extracted, various classifiers are used to determine the patients’ condition in terms of their health (normal or dilated). The findings demonstrate that the extracted features perform well with all classifiers in terms of accuracy and area under the curve. This study is unique in that it uses an automated approach to segment the biliary tree from MRI images, as well as scientifically correlating retrieved features with biliary tree status that has never been done before in the literature

Adoption of Improved Maize Production Technologies in Punjab Province, Pakistan

We assessed farmers’ awareness and adoption of maize production technologies in Punjab Province, Pakistan. A simple random sampling technique was used to collect data from 120 farmers in the study area through personal interview based on a questionnaire. We found that 48.3% of the respondents had obtained information about agricultural practices from extension agents and that 65% of the respondents regularly visited the agricultural extension department. Furthermore, 62.5% of the respondents had a high awareness about improved maize cultivation practices and 53% of them had already adopted these techniques. Farmers who visited the agricultural extension department had a higher awareness and were more likely to adopt improved maize cultivation practices compared with farmers who did not visit the agricultural extension department. The results of binary logistic modeling showed that farmers’ education level, cultivated area, and whether they visited the extension department were the key determinants of adoption of new technologies. Government policies in the province should aim to improve methods of extension delivery for the implementation of effective farming practices in small-scale farming systems. Governments should also formulate recommendations, which are easily understandable by illiterate or poorly-educated farmers and should support the formation of groups to facilitate information transfer

Adoption of Improved Maize Production Technologies in Punjab Province, Pakistan

We assessed farmers’ awareness and adoption of maize production technologies in Punjab Province, Pakistan. A simple random sampling technique was used to collect data from 120 farmers in the study area through personal interview based on a questionnaire. We found that 48.3% of the respondents had obtained information about agricultural practices from extension agents and that 65% of the respondents regularly visited the agricultural extension department. Furthermore, 62.5% of the respondents had a high awareness about improved maize cultivation practices and 53% of them had already adopted these techniques. Farmers who visited the agricultural extension department had a higher awareness and were more likely to adopt improved maize cultivation practices compared with farmers who did not visit the agricultural extension department. The results of binary logistic modeling showed that farmers’ education level, cultivated area, and whether they visited the extension department were the key determinants of adoption of new technologies. Government policies in the province should aim to improve methods of extension delivery for the implementation of effective farming practices in small-scale farming systems. Governments should also formulate recommendations, which are easily understandable by illiterate or poorly-educated farmers and should support the formation of groups to facilitate information transfer

Overview on Epidemiology and Management of Myxedema Coma or Crisis

The most severe type of hypothyroidism is known as myxedema coma, which can quickly lead to death if not identified and treated aggressively. The condition known as hypothyroidism is easily detected and treated. But if ignored, it might eventually progress to myxedema coma, the most serious form of hypothyroidism. Since the majority of patients do not initially appear in a coma, the term "myxedema coma" is usually regarded as misleading. Lethargy usually progresses to stupor, which then becomes a coma with hypothermia and respiratory failure. only clinical criteria are used for diagnosis because thyroid hormone assays are unable to distinguish between simple hyperthyroidism and thyroid storm. Apart from essential medical interventions, the treatment focuses on preventing thyroid hormone production and secretion as antithyroid medications, and preventing the peripheral effects of thyroid hormone as β-blocker, glucocorticoids. The diagnosis of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood is the same as that of simple hypothyroidism. As soon as a diagnosis is obtained, treatment should start right away. The majority of hospital and commercial laboratories can turnaround a TSH test in a matter of hours