Comparison of some artificial neural networks for graduate students

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is one of the important statistical methods that are widely used in a range of applications in various fields, which simulates the work of the human brain in terms of receiving a signal, processing data in a human cell and sending to the next cell. It is a system consisting of a number of modules (layers) linked together (input, hidden, output). A comparison was made between three types of neural networks (Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN), Back propagation network (BPL), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). he study found that the lowest false prediction rate was for the recurrentt network architecture and using the Data on graduate students at the College of Administration and Economics, University of Baghdad for the period from 2014-2015 to The academic year 2017-2018. The variables are use in the research is (student’s success, age, gender, job, type of study (higher diploma, master’s, doctorate), specialization (statistics, economics, accounting, industry management, administrative management, and public administration) and channel acceptance). It became clear that the best variables that affect the success of graduate students are the type of study, age and job

Laminar Forced Convection of Dusty Air through Porous Media in a Vertical Annulus

An experimental and numerical study has been carried out to investigate the forced convection heat transfer by clean or dusty air in a two dimensional annulus enclosure filled with porous media (glass beads) between two vertical concentric cylinders. The outer cylinder is of (82 mm) outside diameters and the inner cylinder of (27 mm) outside diameter. Under steady state condition; the inner cylinder surface is maintained at a high temperature by applying a uniform heat flux and the outer cylinder surface at an ambient temperature. The investigation covered values of input power of (6.3, 4.884, 4.04 and 3.26 W), Reynolds number values of (300, 700, 1000, 1500, and 2000) and dust ratio values (density number N) of (2, 4, 6 and 8). A computer program in MATLAB has been built to carry out the numerical solution by writing the governing equation in finite difference method. The local Nusselt number, the average Nusselt number, the contours of temperature field and velocity field were presented to show the flow and heat transfer characteristics. The results show that when clean air flow, the wall temperature gradually increases along the cylinder length in the direction of flow and decrease as Reynolds number increase while it increases with input power. For dusty air flow results show that the wall temperature gradually increases along the axial direction and increase with Reynolds number and with input power, and the maximum reduction in heat transfer will be 30 % for N=8 at Re=2000. Comparison was made between the present experimental and numerical results and it gives good agreement. The experimental and numerical Nusselt number follows the same behavior with a mean deviation of 12%.

Progress on the national action plan of Pakistan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) : a narrative review and the implications

Introduction: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to public health. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a global action plan to tackle AMR in the World Health Assembly. Pakistan’s national action plan (NAP) for AMR was released in May 2017 by the Ministry of National Health Services. Based on the NAP, strategies have been initiated on a national and provincial scale in Pakistan. Areas covered: This narrative review of the five components of the Pakistan NAP has been undertaken to discuss some of the challenges in implementation of the NAP for AMR in Pakistan including different opinions and views of key stakeholders, combined with suggestions on potential ways to reduce the burden of the AMR. Expert opinion: Going forward, healthcare authorities should focus on screening and monitoring of all the objectives of the NAP by establishing proper policies as well as promoting antimicrobial stewardship interventions and Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Overall, the comprehensive strengthening of the healthcare system is required to adequately implement the NAP, tackle continued inappropriate antimicrobial use and high AMR rates in Pakistan

The Epidemiology and Outcome of Biliary Atresia: Saudi Arabian National Study (2000–2018)

BackgroundThe epidemiology and outcomes of biliary atresia (BA) have been well-documented in national cohorts from two main ethnicities, namely, the Asian Orientals and Caucasians, with incidence ranging from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 9,000 live births in East Asia and 1 in 15,000 to 19,000 live births in Europe and North America.ObjectiveWe report the first nationwide BA study outside North America, Europe, and East Asia to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of BA in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA national database of BA cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 was analyzed. We assessed clearance of jaundice (bilirubin <20 μmol/L) in all cases that underwent Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE). We then estimated survival using the Kaplan–Meier method with endpoints of liver transplantation (LT), death, or survival with native liver (SNL).ResultsBA was diagnosed in 204 infants (106 females; 10% pre-term). The incidence of BA was 1 in 44,365, or 2.254 in 100,000 live births (range, 0.5–4 in 100,000). Polysplenia was diagnosed in 22 cases (11%). The median age at referral was 65 days. A total of 146 children (71.5%) underwent KPE at a median age of 70 days. Clearance of jaundice was achieved in 66 of the 146 (45%) infants. The 10-year SNL after KPE was 25.5%, and the overall 10-year estimated survival was 72.5%. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves for patients undergoing KPE at the age of <60, 61–90, and >90 days showed a SNL rate at 51.6, 33, and 12.5%, respectively, at 5 years (P < 0.001). The 2-, 5-, and 10-year post-LT survival rates were 92.5, 90.6, and 90%, respectively. Undergoing an initial KPE did not impact negatively on the overall LT survival rate when compared to BA cases that underwent primary LT (P = 0.88).ConclusionThe incidence rate of BA in Saudi Arabia is lower than the incidence reported elsewhere. Late referral of BA cases remains a problem in Saudi Arabia; as a result, the SNL rate was lower than reported by other national registries. Hence, national policies devoted to timely referral and earlier age at KPE are needed

The Value Relevance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Assurance

This dissertation examines the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) assurance and firm value. This study contributes to the understanding of the economic benefits inherent in CSR assurance by investigating the incremental value added to firms by assurance. This study also explores CSR assurance quality in both Australia and New Zealand, two countries that are rarely examined. The research adopts a signalling theory view of CSR assurance, where assurance acts as a signal of disclosure quality. The quality of assurance statements has been examined using a content analysis approach. Content analysis generates quality scores that enable quantitative analysis of the effects of CSR assurance quality on firm value. The results show that CSR assurance is value-relevant, but assurance quality is not. Results remained true even after controlling for CSR performance, country and industry effects. The current study also finds that CSR assurance quality is lower when produced by an accountant, and that better governance mechanisms increase assurance statement quality. In addition to the CSR assurance quality score, scholars associate several other attributes with assurance quality. These attributes include the level of assurance and the type of assurance provider. The level of assurance and the type of assurance provider constitute signals about CSR assurance quality. These attributes are also examined to determine their effect on firm value. The results do not show any significant effect of CSR assurance quality on firm value, either from the overall assurance quality score or from the attributes of quality. This research has implications for companies, standard setters and assurance providers. Companies may benefit from adopting CSR assurance. Since the quality of assurance does not communicate any effective signal, it may be important for companies, standard setters and assurance providers to collaborate to improve assurance standards to achieve higher quality, in order to minimise the possibility of falsified signalling through substandard reporting and poor assurance quality. There are many opportunities for future research on the economic benefits of CSR assurance. Future research should look into conducting a longitudinal study on CSR assurance quality. Future research should also examine the effect of assurance and its quality on firm value at different points of time and with various types of CSR disclosure

MiRNA-133a y MiRNA-25 3p y su relación con algunas variables en suero de pacientes con Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease characterized by bone fragility that results in fractures and a variety of miRNAs are involved in osteoclast differentiation therefore, the current case control study aimed to estimate miRNA-133a and miRNA-25 3p in osteoporotic patients and evaluate relationship of these miRNAs with some variables including (calcium, vitamin D, BMD, smoking,  history of previous fracture and gender, this study conducted on fifty patients suffering from osteoporosis with age range between 50-88 years, other group  consist of 45 healthy individuals with an age range between 55-87 years included in this study as a control group. Blood samples used to extraction of miRNA-133a and miRNA-25 3p from the serum of patients and healthy control as a biomarker for osteoporosis were quantitated by using RT-PCR. Results:  miR-133a fold change was significantly upregulated   in serum of   osteoporotic patients and highest in patients group compared with control group, miR-133a highly significant difference in miR-133 among study groups (P < 0.001); while no significant difference in miR-25 among study groups (P = 0.295); although the level of patients groups was higher than that of control group. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve  of  miR-133  was carried out and cutoff  value  was  >8.3  with  sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV)  and area under curve of 76%, 80%,82.6%, 72.7% and 0.815 (0.723- 906), while (ROC) curve analysis and  cutoff  value of miR-25 was >1.32  with  sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and Area under curve of 66%, 45%, 60%, 51.4% and 0.565 (0.444- 685).Conclusion: miRNA-133a is high sensitivity and Specificity in this study which was bushed to using them as a biomarker for osteoporosis diagnosis.   La osteoporosis es una enfermedad crónica caracterizada por la fragilidad ósea que resulta en fracturas y una variedad de miARN están involucrados en la diferenciación de los osteoclastos, por lo tanto, el presente estudio de casos y controles tuvo como objetivo estimar miARN-133a y miARN-25 3p en pacientes osteoporóticos y evaluar la relación de estos miARN. con algunas variables que incluyen (calcio, vitamina D, DMO, tabaquismo, antecedentes de fracturas previas y sexo, este estudio se realizó en cincuenta pacientes que padecían osteoporosis con rango de edad entre 50-88 años, otro grupo conformado por 45 individuos sanos con rango de edad entre 55-87 años incluidos en este estudio como grupo control. Las muestras de sangre utilizadas para la extracción de miARN-133a y miARN-25 3p del suero de pacientes y control sano como biomarcador de osteoporosis se cuantificaron mediante RT-PCR. Resultados: el cambio de miR-133a se incrementó significativamente en el suero de pacientes osteoporóticos y fue más alto en el grupo de pacientes en comparación con el grupo de control, miR-133a hi diferencia muy significativa en miR-133 entre los grupos de estudio (P <0,001); mientras que no hubo diferencias significativas en el miR-25 entre los grupos de estudio (P = 0,295); aunque el nivel de los grupos de pacientes fue superior al del grupo de control. Se realizó la curva de características del operador del receptor (ROC) de miR-133 y el valor de corte fue> 8,3 con sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP), valor predictivo negativo (VPN) y área bajo la curva de 76%, 80%, 82,6 %, 72,7% y 0,815 (0,723-906), mientras que el análisis de la curva (ROC) y el valor de corte de miR-25 fue> 1,32 con sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP), valor predictivo negativo (VPN) y Área bajo la curva de 66%, 45%, 60%, 51,4% y 0,565 (0,444- 685). Conclusión: el miARN-133a es de alta sensibilidad y especificidad en este estudio que se propuso utilizarlos como biomarcador para el diagnóstico de osteoporosis

Needle stick injury among the dental students in the Qassim University, KSA: It’s Prevalence, student’s Knowledge and attitude

Needle stick injuries (NSI) are the commonest route by which blood borne viruses and/or infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C are transmitted from patients to health care workers (HCW) dental students are also at risk of such infections and injuries due to accidental contamination during their practical occupational exposure. There is hardly any information regarding the knowledge and experiences of NSI among dental students in Saudi Arabia Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and prevalence of NSIs among dental students in Qassim university. Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: dental clinics of Qassim University. The population included undergraduate students (3rd ,4th,5th year) and intern’s dentists/College of Dentistry /Qassim University. Result: In the present study. A total number of 98 student participated 56.1% were female and 43.9% were male. A total of 27.6% participants had an NSI during their clinical training. Also, 83% of the students considered hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV to be transmitted by NSIs. Conclusion: Although the level of knowledge on the risk of cross-infection from NSI was high, there was decreased awareness on the means of prevention and protocol. Keywords: NSI, Awareness, cross infection, prevalence, hazard

Female entrepreneurship in Morocco: Which are the contextual variables that influence the entrepreneurship?

L’objectif principal de cet article est d’explorer les fondements de l’entrepreneuriat féminin au Maroc et de présenter les modèles existants. Ce qui nous amène à poser les questions suivantes : « Quels sont les variables contextuelles et socio-économiques qui influencent l’entreprenariat au Maroc ? » et « qui sont ses femmes qui ont choisi d’entreprendre au féminin, en bravant courageusement les différents obstacles socio-culturelles qui caractérisent la société marocaine? ». Présenté ainsi, notre recherche entend dresser un état de l’art des différentes variables pouvant expliquer les composantes de l’entrepreneuriat féminin au Maroc et de conceptualiser ses mécanismes opérationnels afin de proposer des pistes de réflexions adaptées au contexte marocain et applicables par les femmes entrepreneures

Les femmes coopérantes au Maroc

Dans l’accès aux activités génératrices de revenus, plusieurs femmes marocaines, notamment dans le milieu rural et péri-urbain, sont généralement marginalisées. Dans ce travail, notre objectif est d’identifier les avantages et les désavantages du modèle cooperatif pour les femmes coopérantes y impliquées. Pour la collecte des données, des entretiens individuels de 20 femmes coopérantes, ont été réalisés. Les données ont été analysées grâce à la méthode du contenu. Les résultats obtenus présentent une situation positive au niveau économique et sociale, néanmoins, certains obstacles persistes encore, ce qui explique la fragilité de plusieurs coopératives féminines et menace leur pérennité

The women business managers in Morocco

Cette étude qualitative descriptive de type exploratoire a pour but d’étudier la situation des femmes chefs d’entreprises au Maroc, à travers différents indicateurs: leur profil, les caractéristiques de leurs entreprises, leur style de gestion, leur choix de secteur, leur mode de financement ainsi que leur implication dans les réseaux professionnels. De même, d’autres éléments ont été analysés notamment au niveau des difficultés rencontrées en tant que femmes actives au sein d’une société caractérisée par certains facteurs contextuels spécifiques. Ces difficultés peuvent constituer un handicap sérieux face au développement de l’entrepreneuriat féminin au Maroc. Des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été réalisées auprès de 20 femmes chefs d’entreprises actives dans divers secteurs d’activité. Les résultats montrent que les femmes entrepreneures marocaines ont leur particularité. Celle-ci est souvent engendrée par des facteurs socioculturels liés à la société marocaine