The Effect of Customer Profitability on Strategic Cost Choices for Iraqi Banking Institutions

Purpose: the aim of this research is to find out the extent of compatibility between the strategy adopted by the Iraqi private banks and the trends of the customers of these banks.   Theoretical Framework: Although the study was conducted in the Iraqi economic environment, its applications can be implemented in different environments, whether at the level of different countries or different sectors.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The data was collected through the establishment of two types of questionnaire, the first type is for banks, as 100 forms were distributed, and the second type is specific to the customers of those banks, as 1000 forms were distributed. And to conduct the necessary analysis, the researchers used the statistical analysis program SPSS V.24.   Findings: Through the statistical analysis of the questionnaire, it was found that there is a clear difference between the strategic orientations of the Iraqi banks that focus on the cost strategy on the one hand, and the orientations of the customers of those banks who prefer the differentiation strategy.   Research, Practical & Social implications: More future studies can be conducted to determine the extent of compatibility between the strategic directions of companies in different sectors with the orientations of the customers of those companies.   Implications/Originality/Value: The study provides a good way to identify the success of the company's strategy in achieving the desires of customers, and thus achieve a higher level of loyalty of these customers towards the company

Knowledge-based Intelligent Tutoring System for Teaching Mongo Database

Recently, Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) got much attention from researchers even though ITS educational technology began in the late 1960s and ITS is just embryonic from laboratories into the field. In this paper we outline an intelligent tutoring system for teaching basics of the databases system called (MDB). The MDB was built as education system by using the authoring tool (ITSB). MDB contains learning materials as a group of lessons for beginner level which include relational database system and lessons in the process to install and set up a database. MDB system has exams for each level of the Lessons. An evaluation was done to see the effectiveness the MDB among learners and instructors. The outcome of the evaluation was promising

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThe targeting of subcellular organelles offers an enhanced therapeutic effect for both small molecules and biologics. The main theme of this research is to use subcellular targeting to elicit or enhance a therapeutic effect, which leads to the hypothesis that targeting specific organelles in a cell will lead to better drug delivery and improvements in disease therapy. In this study, we focused on targeting the mitochondria, nucleus, and proteasome. A small molecule, vitamin E, was targeted to the mitochondria by conjugating it with a triphenylphosphonium cation (forming MitoE) taking advantage of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. MitoE was concentrated in the myocardial mitochondrial of treated mice. It also reduced oxidative stress in hyperglycemic endothelial cells. In addition, the adiponectin protein was used to reduce the oxidative stress in the mitochondria via cAMP/PKA pathway. A new formulation containing adiponectin was developed using a biodegradable triblock copolymer, which forms a hydrogel at body temperature. The goal was to maintain a controlled release of adiponectin from the hydrogel while preserving its antioxidant activity. The mitochondria were also targeted to deliver the tumor suppressor p53 to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells via binding to Bcl-XL. p53 was targeted to the outer surface of the mitochondria via fusing to the mitochondrial signal (MTS) from Bcl- XL (XL). It was also inserted into the outer membrane, inner membrane, and matrix by fusing the MTSs from TOM20 (TOM), cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), and ornithine iv transcarbamylase (OTC), respectively. The p53-XL construct was the most promising in inducing apoptosis through the p53/Bcl-XL pathway. In addition to the mitochondria, proteasomal targeting was explored taking advantage of the p53/MDM2 degradation pathway. The designed construct contained a nuclear export signal (NES), a nuclear localization signal (NLS), a ligand binding domain (LBD), and p53. The construct targeted the cytoplasm in the absence of ligand and translocated to the proteasome upon ligand induction. This proteasomal protein switch offers novel treatment therapies for diseases caused by cytoplasmic oncogenic/aberrant proteins. In summary, this dissertation offers a better understanding on subcellular delivery. The focus on targeting subcellular organelles takes therapeutic delivery to the next level, and may lead to improvements in disease therapy

Influence of Soil Plasticity on the Seismic Performance of Pile Foundations – a 3D Numerical Analysis

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the influence of plasticity on the seismic response of pile foundations. Since soils exhibit nonlinear and irreversible behaviour, it is of major interest to consider plasticity in the design of pile foundations for structures which may be subjected to severe earthquake loading. The study is carried out using a full three-dimensional finite difference modeling using a real earthquake record. The influence of soil plasticity is investigated on the seismic response of soil-pile-structure system for two idealized soil deposits: cohesive and frictional soils. Analyses provide valuable information on the influence of plasticity on the seismic response of soil-pile-structure systems. They show that the soil state in the vicinity of piles head dominates the piles response and may lead to higher deflection and bending stresses

Determinants of Bond Market Development in Emerging and Developing Economies

A study of local currency bond market development determinants in Emerging Market Economies (EMEs) is considered important when most EMEs and developing countries are shifting from issuing long-term debt securities in foreign currency denominations to their respective local currencies. This dissertation discusses key factors that influence the development of the local currency bond market (LCBM) in emerging developing economies. This study uses three different models to examine the importance of various factors. A total of 26 countries have been examined, and their data revealed several interesting results. The results show that larger economic size, larger banking systems, greater trade openness, larger stock market, lower inflation, fiscal deficit, and stable exchange rate promote LCBM development. The results of this study support most of the previous research findings on LCBM in EMEs. Further, capital controls in general and specific controls on bonds have a negative impact on the development of LCBM. In addition, a continuous supply of government local currency bonds supports the development of private sector LCBM. However, government foreign currency bonds were found to have a negative impact on private-sector LCBM growth

An investigation of the performance of photochromic dyes and their application to polyester and cotton fabrics

Six commercial photochromic dyes were applied to polyester and, to a lesser extent, cotton fabrics by different dyeing and printing methods. The photochromic performance of the dyed and printed fabrics was investigated in terms of the degree of photocoloration, background colour, fading characteristics, fatigue resistance and storage stability. A traditional aqueous-based disperse dyeing method was used to apply the photochromic dyes to polyester fabric. Solvent-based dyeing methods also were investigated for application of the photochromic dyes to polyester fabric. Solvent-based inks were formulated and applied to polyester and cotton fabrics by digital inkjet printing. The photochromic performance and colour fastness to light and washing of the photochromic fabrics were evaluated and comparison made. UV/visible spectra of the commercial photochromic dyes in a range of solvents were obtained and interpreted in terms of solvent polarity. On the basis of this study, the photochromic performance of the fabrics was improved by selecting the appropriate application solvents which transferred minimum background colours onto the fabrics. A new method of evaluating lightfastness of photochromic fabrics was established, aimed at replacing the conventional method by an instrumental method. This method was based on comparing the decrease in the degree of photocoloration of photochromic fabrics after light exposure with measured values of the colour differences of the blue wool references after fixed periods of light exposure. Two photochromic dyes were synthesized by azo coupling of a spironaphtho[2,1-b]oxazine with diazonium salts obtained from p-nitroaniline, and m-nitroaniline. Molecular modeling of the new photochromic systems, which are referred to as azospirooxazine dyes, showed that the dyes were predicted to have the potential to show photochromism. Thus, the photochromism of the azospirooxazine dyes in a range of solvents was investigated. The investigations showed that the dyes performed differently in different solvents in terms of the hue, the rate of the photochromic colour change and the colour reversibility

Using grounded theory as a method for system requirements analysis

Requirements analysis (RA) is a key phase in information systems (IS) development. During this phase, system analysts use different techniques and methods to elicit and structure the system's requirements. The current paper rationalises the use of grounded theory (GT) as an alternative socio-technical approach to requirement analysis. It will establish theoretically that applying grounded theory procedures and techniques will support and add value to the analysis phase as it solves some problems of the existing traditional and socio-technical system design methods. Furthermore, to validate this proposal, a case study applying GT on a real project will demonstrate its applicability and success for requirement analysis. Implications of its application are also discussed