Assessment of skill and technology indicators at the macro-micro levels in Sudan

In this paper we examine skill and technology indicators at the macro and micro levels in Sudan. Different from the Sudanese literature, a novel element in our analysis is that we use new primary data from the macro and firm surveys and we provide a new contribution and fill the gap in the Sudanese literature by examining five hypotheses on the causes and consequences of low skill and technology indicators at the macro and micro levels in Sudan. We verify our first hypothesis that the interaction between the deficient educational system -caused by low quality of education- and the high share of unskilled workers leads to poor provision of training; low skill levels; skills mismatch; low transfer of knowledge/external schooling effect; weak technology indicators and dependence on foreign technologies at the micro level. We confirm our second hypothesis that the poor local technology indicators/indigenous capability to build the local technology and heavy dependence on foreign technology can be attributed to lack of R&D activities/efforts, due to a lack of funding, low skill levels, weak linkages, lack of networks systems and collaboration between universities and industry/firms, low transfer of knowledge and a lack of entrepreneur perspective. We support our third hypothesis that the transfer of knowledge/external schooling effects is successful at the micro level but unsuccessful at the macro level due to low educational qualifications and deficient educational and training systems. We confirm our fourth hypothesis that skill and technology indicators are significantly determined by firm size and industry. We support our fifth hypothesis concerning the consistency of upskilling plans at the macro-micro levels. Finally, one advantage and interesting element in our analysis is that we provide a new contribution to the Sudanese literature, since we explain the causes, consequences and interaction between the low skill and technology indicators and the transfer of knowledge. We recommend further efforts to be made to improve skill and technology indicators and transfer of knowledge at the macro and micro levels which are all essential for economic growth and development in Sudan.Skill, technology, firm size, industry, Sudan

Assessment of industrial performance and the relationship between skill, technology and input-output indicators in Sudan

This paper examines the industrial performance indicators and the relationships between skill indicators; between skill, upskilling, technology and input-output indicators in Sudan. Our findings are consistent with the stylized facts in the new growth literature, concerning the correlation between skill indicators: education, experience and wages and also concerning the positive complementary relationships between technology, skill and upskilling. Different from the Sudanese literature, a novel element in our analysis is that we use a new primary data from the firm survey (2010) and we provide a new contribution and fill the gap in the Sudanese literature by examining the industrial performance indicators defined by three different sets of economic and productivity indicators, activity indicators and profitability indicators in Sudan. One advantage and interesting element in our analysis in this paper is that we confirm three hypotheses on the relationships between skill indicators; between skill, upskilling, technology and input-output indicators and industrial performance indicators using new primary data from the firm survey (2010) in Sudan. We verify our first hypothesis that irrespective of the observed differences across the industrial firms, the low skill levels - due to high share of unskilled workers - lead to skills mismatch and most probably contribute to decline of labour productivity and industrial performance indicators. We confirm our second hypothesis that an increase in skill levels and firm size lead to improved relationships between actual and required education and experience; between actual education, experience and wages; and between skill, upskilling and technology (ICT) and also improved industrial performance indicators. We also support our third hypothesis concerning the inconclusive relationships between new technology (the use of ICT) and input-output indicators at the micro/firm level. Finally, we provide a new contribution to the Sudanese literature, since we explain that the performance of the industrial firms is most probably immensely undermined by the shortage of skilled workers and also by the lack of entrepreneur perspective. We recommend further efforts to be made to improve adequate availability of skilled workers and commitment to entrepreneur perspective for improvement of labour productivity, industrial performance and therefore, economic growth and development in Sudan.Industrial performance, skill, technology, input-output, firm size, industry, Sudan

Development and Social Justice: Education, Training and Health in Sudan

This paper discusses the importance of sound policies for achieving social development and social justice in provision of education, training and health services in Sudan. Different from Sudanese literature, we provide new contributions by explaining the low commitment to the standardized international equity criterion related to the supply-demand sides and provision of education, training and health services in Sudan. We fill an important gap in Sudanese literature by explaining that regional inequality in the demand for education (share in enrolment in education) is most probably due to economic reasons (per capita income and poverty rate), demographic reasons (share in total population) and other reasons (degree of urbanization) in Sudan. We find that the increase in the incidence of high poverty rates and low per capita incomes seem to be the most important factor limiting the demand for education, notably, demand for primary education, especially for females in Sudan. The major policy implication from our findings is that poverty eradication is key for the achievement of universal access to primary education, gender equality, equity, social justice and therefore, fulfilment of the second and third UN-MDGs in Sudan by 2015. We recommend further efforts to be made to improve equitable provision of education, training and health services to enhance social justice and social development in Sudan

ICT Opportunities and Challenges for Development in the Arab World

ICT diffusion, ICT market, ICT implications, Arab world

Assessment of the impacts of oil: Opportunities and challenges for economic development in Sudan

This paper provides an assessment of the impacts of oil and discusses the opportunities and challenges for enhancing economic development in Sudan. One advantage of our analysis in this paper is that we provide a more comprehensive analysis using the most recent secondary data to discuss the positive and negative impacts of oil for enhancing economic development in Sudan. We explain that the various positive impacts of oil and the opportunities for enhancing development in Sudan's economy include the impacts of oil in satisfying domestic consumption and achievement of self sufficiency, increasing government and public revenues, rapid and impressive economic growth as measured by the growth in the GDP and its composition and structure, increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) and increasing the volume of foreign trade as measured by the volume and structure of exports. We find that while oil has recently contributed to the improvement of economic performance in the country, the recent heavy dependence on it, may lead to negative impacts and serious challenges for the Sudan since oil is an exhaustible resource and because of the instability of oil prices in the international market the revenue from oil is uncertain and volatile and may lead to instability of economic growth. Moreover, the increasing dependence on oil leads to increasing debate for and against the incidence of the Dutch Disease in Sudan economy, the lack of diversification and the challenges related to potential north-south conflict and division of the country.oil economy, oil impacts, economic development, Sudan

Artificial Intelligence Investing in Academic Libraries: Reality and Challenges

This study deals with the changes that occur because of the artificial intelligence techniques in academic libraries, using the survey method (descriptive and analytical) in describing and analyzing the reality of employing and using artificial intelligence technology in Saudi academic libraries, and the extent of the libraries\u27 readiness to invest this technology and the challenges they face. The study concludes that there is a lack of physical equipment that is available inside the headquarters of academic libraries for technological development, and this explains the result related to the weak awareness of the concept of artificial intelligence among the majority of workers in those libraries by 69%

The spatial-temporal clustering of Plasmodium falciparum infection over eleven years in Gezira State, The Sudan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria infection and disease exhibit microgeographic heterogeneity which if predictable could have implications for designing small-area intervention. Here, the space-time clustering of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>infections using data from repeat cross-sectional surveys in Gezira State, a low transmission area in northern Sudan, is investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data from cross-sectional surveys undertaken in January each year from 1999-2009 in 88 villages in the Gezira state were assembled. During each survey, about a 100 children between the ages two to ten years were sampled to examine the presence of <it>P. falciparum </it>parasites. In 2009, all the villages were mapped using global positioning systems. Cluster level data were analysed for spatial-only and space-time clustering using the Bernoulli model and the significance of clusters were tested using the Kulldorff scan statistic.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over the study period, 96,022 malaria slide examinations were undertaken and the <it>P. falciparum </it>prevalence was 8.6% in 1999 and by 2009 this had reduced to 1.6%. The cluster analysis showed the presence of one significant spatial-only cluster in each survey year and one significant space-time cluster over the whole study period. The primary spatial-only clusters in 10/11 years were either contained within or overlapped with the primary space-time cluster.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of the study confirm the generally low malaria transmission in the state of Gezira and the presence of spatial and space-time clusters concentrated around a specific area in the south of the state. Improved surveillance data that allows for the analysis of seasonality, age and other risk factors need to be collected to design effective small area interventions as Gezira state targets malaria elimination.</p

Discovery of a novel cytokine signature for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in young Arab children in Qatar

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and the occurrence of stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. Several studies have reported altered cytokine profiles in ASD and hence may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers of the disorder. This study aims to identify diagnostic biomarkers for ASD in a well-defined study cohort in Qatar.MethodsWe measured the protein levels of 45 cytokines in the plasma samples of age- and gender-matched children (2–4 years) with ASD (n = 100) and controls (n = 60) using a Luminex multiplex assay. We compared the differences in the levels of these cytokines between the two study groups and then fitted the significantly altered cytokines into a logistic regression model to examine their diagnostic potential for ASD.ResultsWe found elevated levels of IFN-γ, FGF-2, IL-1RA, and IL-13 and reduced levels of eotaxin, HGF, IL-1 alpha, IL-22, IL-9, MCP-1, SCF, SDF-1 alpha, VEGFA, and IP-10 in the plasma of children with ASD compared to controls. Furthermore, we observed that elevated levels of IFN-γ (odds ratio (OR) = 1.823; 95% (confidence interval) CI = 1.206, 2.755; p = 0.004) and FGF-2 (OR = 2.528; 95% CI = 1.457, 4.385; p &lt; 0.001) were significantly associated with increased odds of ASD, whereas reduced levels of eotaxin (OR = 0.350; 95% CI = 0.160, 0.765; p = 0.008) and HGF (OR = 0.220; 95% CI = 0.070, 0.696; p = 0.010) were significantly associated with lower odds of ASD relative to controls. The combination of these four cytokines revealed an area under the curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.829 (95% CI = 0.767, 0.891; p &lt; 0.001), which demonstrates the diagnostic accuracy of the four-cytokine signature.ConclusionsOur results identified a panel of cytokines that could discriminate between children with ASD and controls in Qatar. In addition, our findings support the predominance of a Th1 immune phenotype in ASD children and emphasize the need to validate these results in larger populations