Homogeneity in Social Groups of Iraq

Homogeneity in Social Groups of Iraqis Jon Gresham, Farouk Saleh, Shara Majid June 2006 With appreciation to the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies for initiating the Second World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies, this paper summarizes findings on homogeneity in community-level social groups derived from inter-ethnic research conducted during 2005 among Iraqi Arabs and Kurds living in the city of Basra, Iraq, and in the Netherlands. We found that perceptions towards out-groups were not based on religion, ethnicity, class, or location as in traditional individual-focused social networks. Patterns of perception towards out-groups seemed to be rooted in homogeneous social sub-groups with combinations of these factors. This research project used a 192-item survey of two hundred Iraqi business owners and managers in Iraq and in the Netherlands. It measured homogeneity of social group memberships. Survey elements included items drawn from the World Values Surveys (Inglehart), the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey (Roper Center), and the Social Capital Inventory (Narayan and Cassidy). Homogeneity, relationship segregation, social trust, and community influence in social networks were estimated through indices reflecting components of social relationships in priority in-groups emerging from factor analysis of survey responses. Other indices included civic participation (socialization), perceptions of threat from out-groups, ethnic and religious identity, social trust, personal security, and contribution to community-based resources. Uniformity of responses to certain items about out-groups corresponded to findings by other authors on segregation and membership in social networks (Burt 1997, Buskins 2005, Inglehart 2004, Narayan and Cassidy 2001, Putnam 1995). This work was an expansion on a study on perceptions of threat from out-groups among Iraqis in five locations conducted in 2003 (Gresham 2004). This paper presents the following major sections: I. Introduction II. Purpose III. Background IV. Methodology V. Results VI. Reporting Process VII. Conclusions VIII. Further Work IX. Appendix X. End Notes *Jon Gresham, European Research Centre On Migration & Ethnic Relations, University of Utrecht, Netherlands Farouk Saleh, University of Tilburg, Netherlands Shara Majid, Erasmus University, Netherlands See other reports at: http://www.CivilSocietyIraq.seedwiki.co

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy using a synthetic bioabsorbable staple line reinforcement material: Post-operative complications and 6 year outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Gastric leak after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a serious complication. Currently, the literature lacks long-term outcomes in LSG and leak rates after reinforcement of the staple line. The aims are two-fold: to present leak rates from using staple line reinforcement and six year outcomes of LSG in relation to resolution of obesity-related comorbidities and long-term weight loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a single-institution, retrospectively reviewed study of 204 patient case files. Data from all patients undergoing LSG between December 2007 and May 2013 was collected. RESULTS: The total complication rate was 6.9% (14/204), with no recorded staple line leaks. The mean postoperative Body Mass Index (BMI) at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, and 6 years was 39.3 ± 8, 38.7 ± 8, 40.4 ± 9, 40.5 ± 10, 43.0 ± 10, and 42.4 ± 7, respectively. The mean % excess weight loss at 1 year, 3 years, and 6 years was 48.4 ± 19, 51.7 ± 28, and 41.0 ± 21, respectively. There were no significant differences between follow-ups at year 1 and 3 (p > 0.05), and between year 3 and 6 (p > 0.05) for the mean % excess weight loss. The resolution rates for all patients were 74%, 61%, 79%, and 90% for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus type 2 and obstructive sleep apnea, respectively. CONCLUSION: The synthetic bioabsorbable reinforcement material shows no staple line leaks making it safe to use. LSG as a procedure had a high resolution of obesity-related comorbidities as well as sustainable long-term weight loss

Development of a 3D Printed Coating Shell to Control the Drug Release of Encapsulated Immediate-Release Tablets

The use of 3D printing techniques to control drug release has flourished in the past decade, although there is no generic solution that can be applied to the full range of drugs or solid dosage forms. The present study provides a new concept, using the 3D printing technique to print a coating system in the form of shells with various designs to control/modify drug release in immediate-release tablets. A coating system of cellulose acetate in the form of an encapsulating shell was printed through extrusion-based 3D printing technology, where an immediate-release propranolol HCl tablet was placed inside to achieve a sustained drug release profile. The current work investigated the influence of shell composition by using different excipients and also by exploring the impact of shell size on the drug release from the encapsulated tablet. Three-dimensional printed shells with different ratios of rate-controlling polymer (cellulose acetate) and pore-forming agent (D-mannitol) showed the ability to control the amount and the rate of propranolol HCl release from the encapsulated tablet model. The shell-print approach also showed that space/gap available for drug dissolution between the shell wall and the enclosed tablet significantly influenced the release of propranolol HCl. The modified release profile of propranolol HCl achieved through enclosing the tablet in a 3D printed controlled-release shell followed Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics with non-Fickian diffusion. This approach could be utilized to tailor the release profile of a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class I drug tablet (characterized by high solubility and high permeability) to improve patient compliance and promote personalized medicine

ANALISIS PENERAPAN SISTEM TANGGUNG RENTENG TERHADAP RISIKO PEMBIAYAAN BERMASALAH PADA BANK WAKAF MIKRO PONDOK PESANTREN MINHADLUL ULUM MENURUT PERSPEKTIF EKONOMI ISLAM

ABSTRAK Salah satu tugas bank syariah yaitu menyalurkan pembiayaan kepada masyarakat. Berdasarkan Pasal 37 ayat (1) Undang-Undang Perbankan Syariah bahwa setiap dana yang telah disalurkan kepada masyarakat yang menggunakan prinsip syariah mengandung risiko kegagalan atau macet dalam pelunasan pembiayaan yang pada akhirnya dapat mempengaruhi kinerja bank itu sendiri. Bank Wakaf Mikro Pondok Pesantren Minhadlul Ulum menggunakan sistem yang unik dan masih banyak yang belum menerapkan sistem ini untuk meminimalisir risiko pembiayaan yaitu menggunakan sistem tanggung renteng. Penelitian ini terdapat dua rumusan masalah, yaitu bagaimana penerapan sistem tanggung renteng terhadap risiko pembiayaan bermasalah pada Bank Wakaf Mikro Pondok Pesantren Minhadlul Ulum? Bagaimana penerapan sistem tanggung renteng terhadap risiko pembiayaan bermasalah pada Bank Wakaf Mikro Pondok Pesantren Minhadlul Ulum menurut perspektif ekonomi Islam? Tujuan dari penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengetahui penerapan sistem tanggung renteng terhadap risiko pembiayaan bermasalah pada Bank Wakaf Mikro Pondok Pesantren Minhadlul Ulum dan untuk mengetahui penerapan sistem tanggung renteng terhadap risiko pembiayaan bermasalah pada Bank Wakaf Mikro Pondok Pesantren Minhadlul Ulum menurut perspektif ekonomi Islam. Penelitian ini termasuk jenis penelitian kualitatif yang bersifat deskriptif. Data pada penelitian ini menggunakan data primer dan data sekunder. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan yaitu wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Prosedur analisis data yang digunakan bersifat induktif, yaitu pengambilan kesimpulan dari pernyataan yang bersifat khusus ke pernyataan yang bersifat umum yang berdasarkan pengalaman yang ditangkap oleh indra. Berdasarkan penelitian yang dilakukan oleh penulis, sistem tanggung renteng yang diterapkan oleh Bank Wakaf Mikro Pondok Pesantren Minhalul Ulum yaitu diterapkan dalam pengambilan keputusan untuk menetapkan status keanggotaan KUMPI, pengambilan keputusan untuk menetapkan jumlah pinjaman, dan menanggung utang anggota lainnya. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah sistem tanggung renteng yang diterapkan oleh Bank Wakaf Mikro Pondok Pesantren Minhadlul Ulum sudah baik, hal ini dibuktikan dengan NPF Per 31 Desember 2019 sebesar 0%. Selain itu, penerapan sistem tanggung renteng menurut perspektif ekonomi Islam sudah sesuai dengan rukun dan syarat Fatwa DSN-MUI No. 11//DSN-MUI/IV/2000 tentang Kafalah. Kata Kunci: Sistem Tanggung Renteng, Risiko Pembiayaa

Kinerja Pegawai Di Terminal Kayu Mangiwang Kabupaten Mamuju Tengah

Job Performance or achievement is a job or effort achieved by a person in carrying the duty assigned to him/her, based on the skill, quality, experience, willingness and time. The type of the research used is qualitative descriptive approach involving 10 informants such as Head of Department, Secretary, Head of Sub Division of Staffing and General, Head of Sub Division of Planning and Finance, Field of Traffic and Transportation, Vehicle Driver. The data were collected through interview and observation method.The results of this research reveal that the performance of the employees in Termina Kayu Mangiwang of Central Mamuju Regency has been optimal. It can be identified from the factors that affect the performance of the ability and motivation that significantly affect the performance of employees. The indicators of objectives, qualitative, quantitative,. ABSTRAK Kinerja atau prestasi kerja merupakan suatu kerja atau/usahayang dicapai seseorang dalam melaksanakan tugas yang dibebankan kepadanya, yang didasarkan atas kecakapan, kualitas, pengalaman, dan kesungguhan serta waktu..Jenis penelitian menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif dengan pedoman informan yaitu Kepala Dinas, sekertaris, kepala sub bagian kepegwaian dan umum, kepala sub bagian perencanaan dan keuangan, bidang lalu lintas dan angkutan, pengemudi kendaraan. Dengan metode wawancara dan observasi.Hasil penelitian yang diperoleh dalam penelitian iniadalah bahwa Kinerja Pegawai Di Terminal Kayu Mangiwang Kabupaten Mamuju Tengah sudah cukup baik. Hal itu dapat dilihat dari faktor yang mempengaruhi kinerja yaitu kemampuan dan motivasi yang berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai. Indikator tujuan, kualitatif, kuantitatif. Kata Kunci : kinerja, karyawan, termina

Biological explorations of Sinai: flora and fauna of Wadi Isla and Hebran, St Katherine Protectorate, Egypt

A comprehensive survey was accomplished for two of the most important and beautiful wadis in the Sinai, Wadi Isla & Hebran. The biodiversity of the two wadis are surveyed including plant species and their associated insects, spiders and scorpions. The list includes 20 plant families with 51 species, 8 insect orders with 54 families and 138 species, and 4 arachnid orders with 17 families and 23 species. The highest number of species recorded were Coleoptera and Hymenoptera.Keywords: Biodiversity, checklist, plants, insects, spider

Identifying leaf rust resistance gene Lr19 in durum wheat using simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks., is an important disease affecting durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean region. The disease can be controlled through the use of plant host resistance. Based on seedling resistance tests of 103 durum genotypes against a bulk of P. triticina, urediniospores were previously collected from Syria and Lebanon during 2007/08 and 2008/09 growing seasons. Percentage of resistance in the durum set tested was up to 52%. The resistant genotypes might have one of the following resistance gene(s): Lr15, Lr 19, Lr 24, Lr 25, Lr 27 +31, Lr 28 and Lr 29. Results revealed that the Gb/130-bp polymorphic band was linked to Lr19 and Sr25. In this study, twelve genotypes carrying resistance to Lr19 and Sr25 have been identified (Azeghar2, Rutucha1, Ammar9/Azeghar2, Ammar9/Terbol97-4, T.polonicum9/Ch1//Icamor-TA04-68/3/Icamor-TA04-69//(Lahn/ Ch1)2519, Arislahn5//Icamor-TA04- 63/Icasyr1, T.dicoccum1/Ch1//Ammar8/3/Bonadur/Icamor-TA04-63, Mrb3/ T. urartu500651/4/Icamor- TA04-63/3/Bcr/Gro1// Mgnl1, SwAlg/Gd1-81 //Ch1-48, Icamor-TA04-1//Mgnl3/Ainzen1, 319-ADDO/5/D68-1- 93A-1A//Ruff/Fg/3/Mtl5/4/Lahn, and Mrf1/Stj2/3/1718/BT24//Karim). Promising results on Gb/130-bp and genotypes carrying Lr19 and Sr25 will be used in a marker assisted selection of the durum breeding programs in the Mediterranean region.Key words: Puccinia triticina, durum genotypes, Syria, Lebanon, Lr19, Sr25, Gb primer

Implementation of Bootstrap ARIMA Method to Forecasting Gross Domestic Products (GDP)

This study examines the application of bootstrap ARIMA method to forecasting the GDP of West Sulawesi Province. GDP data is time series data so to predict GDP of West Sulawesi Province for some future period used time series analysis technique. One method often used in time series modeling in forecasting data is ARIMA Box-Jenkins. A nonparametric approach that is free of assumptions, one of which is the bootstrap method. The bootstrap method is a computer-based method that is very potential to be used on accuracy problems where the method is based on data simulations for statistical inference purposes. From result of research obtained that model of GDP data is ARIMA Bootstrap (0,2,1)

3D Printing of Dapagliflozin Containing Self-Nanoemulsifying Tablets: Formulation Design and In Vitro Characterization

The 3D printing techniques have been explored extensively in recent years for pharmaceutical manufacturing and drug delivery applications. The current investigation aims to explore 3D printing for the design and development of a nanomedicine-based oral solid dosage form of a poorly water-soluble drug. A self-nanoemulsifying tablet formulation of dapagliflozin propanediol monohydrate was developed utilizing the semisolid pressure-assisted microsyringe (PAM) extrusion-based 3D printing technique. The developed formulation system consists of two major components (liquid and solid phase), which include oils (caproyl 90, octanoic acid) and co-surfactant (PEG 400) as liquid phase while surfactant (poloxamer 188) and solid matrix (PEG 6000) as solid-phase excipients that ultimately self-nanoemulsify as a drug encapsulated nanoemulsion system on contact with aqueous phase/gastrointestinal fluid. The droplet size distribution of the generated nanoemulsion from a self-nanoemulsifying 3D printed tablet was observed to be 104.7 ± 3.36 nm with polydispersity index 0.063 ± 0.024. The FT-IR analysis of the printed tablet revealed that no drug-excipients interactions were observed. The DSC and X-RD analysis of the printed tablet revealed that the loaded drug is molecularly dispersed in the crystal lattice of the tablet solid matrix and remains solubilized in the liquid phase of the printed tablet. SEM image of the drug-loaded self-nanoemulsifying tablets revealed that dapagliflozin propanediol monohydrate was completely encapsulated in the solid matrix of the printed tablet, which was further confirmed by SEM-EDS analysis. The in vitro dissolution profile of dapagliflozin-loaded self-nanoemulsifying tablet revealed an immediate-release drug profile for all three sizes (8 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm) tablets, exhibiting >75.0% drug release within 20 min. Thus, this study has emphasized the capability of the PAM-based 3D printing technique to print a self-nanoemulsifying tablet dosage form with an immediate-release drug profile for poorly water-soluble drug