The effect of palm oil clinker powder and cockleshell powder as cement replacement to concrete durability properties

The concepts of eco-friendly building are getting more attention today. The standard materials of concrete that used are not totally environmentally friendly. Thus, many materials from natural sources can be an alternative to the realization of the green building concept. As a result, many researchers have devoted their attention towards identifying eco-friendlier substitutions to be used in concrete. This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of two different types of waste materials which are palm oil clinker (POC) and cockle shell (CS) as partial replacement of cement on durability aspects. The replacement of cement was at different levels (10% and 20%). Six mix proportions were made with different percentage of POC and CSP. The specimens were cured by immersing in water for 7 and 28 days. The tests that were conducted were acid resistance test and water absorption test. The POC and CSP were ground to achieve a small particle size to fit with the concrete mix as cement replacement. The experiment result showed that the POC had a negative impact to the concrete in both tests while the CSP proved it is resistance to acid. It was therefore concluded that the use of both POCP and CSP to produce cleaner and quitter pervious concrete, both mechanically and environmentally since it will reduce the emission of CO2

Oscillations of First Order Linear Delay Differential Equations with positive and negative coefficients

Oscillation criteria are obtained for all solutions of the first-order linear delay differential equations with positive and negative coefficients where we established some sufficient conditions so that every solution of (1.1) oscillate. This paper generalized the results in [11]. Some examples are considered to illustrate our main results

Derivation of new design rainfall in Qatar using L-moment based index frequency approach

AbstractFor stormwater system design, flood estimation and many other environmental assessment tasks, design rainfall is an essential input. Estimation of design rainfall is generally made using a regionalization technique based on a regional database of observed rainfalls. Many countries have derived their own generalized design rainfall data, which are generally expressed in the form of intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) curves. In Qatar, situated in an arid region, the existing IDF data were developed in 1991 using a limited data set. This paper presents the development of new IDF data for the State of Qatar using the method of L-moments and the index regional frequency analysis approach. The daily rainfall data from 32 stations located in Qatar and nearby Gulf countries have been used to form a homogeneous region. It has been found that the Pearson Type 3 distribution best fits the 24-h duration annual maximum rainfall data in the Qatar region. For the ungauged case, a prediction equation is developed where mean annual maximum rainfall is expressed as a function of climatic and physiographic characteristics. From a leave-one-out validation, it has been found that the developed prediction equation can estimate mean annual maximum rainfall with a median relative error of about 5.5%. Finally, an approximate method is used to obtain design rainfalls for other durations due to the limitations of continuous pluviograph data in Qatar. The new set of IDF curves is based on a much bigger dataset than the existing 1991 IDF curves. It is expected that the new IDF curves will have wider application in Qatar and will provide a statistically sound basis for storm water design, flood and environmental studies. The method can be applied to other middle-eastern states and similar arid countries in the world

Conceptualizing a model for Continuance Use of Cloud Computing in Higher Education Institutions

Resource management optimization is a key concern for educational establishments. Cloud computing as the next generation in computing technology has emerged as the main standard of service and resource delivery. As cloud computing has grown into a mature technology being rapidly adopted in many education institutions across the world, retaining customers of this innovation has become a challenge to the cloud service providers. Current research trends on cloud computing have sought to study the technology’s acceptance or adoption; however, little research attention has been given to the continuance use in an organizational setting. To fill this gap, we established a positivist quantitative-empirical study to investigate the antecedents of cloud continuance use in higher education institutions. Accordingly, drawing on prior literature in organizational-level continuance, this research developed a conceptual model that extends and contextualizes the IS continuance model. We structured our model based on the TOE framework, integrating the established theoretical lenses of the IS success model and the IS discontinuance model to explicate cloud computing continuance use in the context of Higher Education Institutions. To test this model, using a non-probability purposive sampling method, data was collected from the decision-makers of universities that have adopted cloud computing service. We used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on the Partial Least Squares (PLS) to analyze the data. The findings of a preliminary study, conducted through a survey with ICT decision-makers, and based on the proposed conceptual model, indicate that the research instrument is both reliable and valid, and so point the way towards further research. The paper closes with a discussion of the research limitations, contributions, and future directions

An Empirical Study on the Impact of Venture Capital Funding on Founders Financial Returns

Venture Capital (VC) finding and Initial Public offering (IPO) are amongst the most major financing events for highly growing companies and given also the importance of founders to the entrepreneurial process and the importance of their financial gain from the companies they founded, this research examined the impact that the VC and IPO amounts have on the founders’ financial gain and the imparity of that impact when compared to the effects on the companies as whole. This research selected 48 United States companies that went for an IPO in the year 2013 to be the sample of this empirical study. To select these 48 companies, all 220 companies that went for an IPO in 2013 had to be examined and pick the companies that had VC involvement, had identified individual founders that stayed until the IPO and were United States-based. Those were the only criteria of exclusion that led me to the sample of 48 companies. The results showed that the founders’ financial return has a negative relationship with the VC/IPO ratio but not significant relationship with the absolute amount of VC funding. The results also showed that for VC amount and VC/IPO ratio the impact on founders’ return were different from the impact on companies’ market capitalisation as a whole

Breast Tissue Classification via Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Logic Based Rough Set

BIRADS is a Breast Imaging, Reporting and Data System. A tool to standardize mammogram reports and minimizes ambiguity during mammogram image evaluation. Classification of BIRADS is one of the most challenging tasks to radiologist. An apt treatment can be administered to the patient by the oncologist upon acquiring sufficient information at BIRADS stage. This study aspired to build a model, which classifies BIRADS using mammograms images and reports. Through the implementation of type-2 fuzzy logic as classifier, an automatically generated rules will be applied to the model. Comparison of accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of the modal will be performed vis-à-vis rules given by the experts. The study encompasses a number of steps beginning with collection of the data from Radiology Department of National University of Malaysia Medical Center. The data was initially processed to remove noise and gaps. Then, an algorithm developed by selecting type-2 fuzzy logic using Mamdani model. Three types of membership functions were employed in the study. Among the rules that used by the model were obtained from experts as well as generated automatically by the system using rough set theory. Finally, the model was tested and trained to get the best result. The study shows that triangular membership function based on rough set rules obtains 89% whereas expert driven rules gains about 78% of accuracy rates. The sensitivity using expert rules is 98.24% whereas rough set rules obtained 93.94%. Specificity for using expert rules and rough set rules are 73.33%, 84.34% consecutively. Conclusion: Based on statistical analysis, the model which employed rules generated automatically by rough set theory fared better in comparison to the model using rules given by the experts.

FREQUENCY OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN IN IBB CITY-YEMEN

Objectives:  Intestinal parasitic infections are widely distributed and remain one of the most health problems in Yemen. This is a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and associated factors among schoolchildren in Ibb City, Yemen. Methods:  A total of 300 stool samples were collected from schoolchildren between January to April 2018 and examined by direct smear and formalin ether concentration techniques. Results:  The result showed that 62.7% were positive for intestinal parasites, with a higher frequency of single than multiple infections (85.1 vs. 14.36%, respectively). Also, 85.64% were infected by protozoa whereas 14.36% infected by helminths. The prevalence of infection was 61.70% for Entameba histolytica, 23.94% for Giardia lamblia, 7.45% for Ascaris lumbricoides, 4.3% for Hymenolepis nana, and 2.61% for Enterobius vermicularis. Moreover, the highest prevalence of E. histolytica, G. lamblia, and A. lumbricoides was within group aged 9-12 years. H. nana was between age groups of 9-12 and 13-16 years while E. vermicularis was found among 5-8 and 9-12 years. In addition, females were 69% infected significantly higher than males 54.55%. Besides, the various signs and symptoms associated with intestinal infections have been documented. Conclusion:  High prevalence of intestinal infection was documented among schoolchildren drinking from cistern water, poor hygiene practices, poor food sanitation, non-swimming, and non-previously treated for Schistosoma parasite. High frequency of intestinal parasitic infection between schoolchildren in the study area requires more effort to implement the appropriate programmers that warrant to control and prevention the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis.                         Peer Review History: Received 1 March 2020; Revised 7 April; Accepted 3 May, Available online 15 May 2020 Academic Editor: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia,  Indonesia, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Prof. Dr. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, [email protected] Hebatallaha A  Moustafa, Ain Shams University, Egypt, [email protected] Similar Articles: COCCIDIAN INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG CHILDREN IN AL-TORBAH CITY IN YEMEN: IN COUNTRY WITH HIGH INCIDENCE OF MALNUTRITIO

VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS PREVALENCE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN DIFFERENT HOSPITALS IN IBB, YEMEN

 Background and aims: Candida species are opportunistic yeasts that affect the genital urinary tract that causes vulvovaginal candidiasis in the most females, particularly in developing countries. This work aims to find the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis among pregnant women in Ibb, Yemen. Material and methods: Two hundred and eighteen samples of females attending outpatient obstetrics and gynecology clinics were chosen from several hospitals (Al-Thawra, Maternity and Childhood Center, Maternal Reproductive Health Center, and Nasser General Hospital) located in Ibb, from December 2019 to March 2020. The laboratory works were performed in the microbiology department of Al-Thawra Hospital, Ibb. Vaginal swabs were cultivated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, then the species of Candida identification and anti-fungal sensitivity tests were performed regarding the standard procedure of microbiology. Results: The findings revealed that out of 218 cases, 134 (61.5%) were infected with Candida species, and the rate of candidiasis was higher among women coming from rural areas than among women in urban areas; and in the age group 28-37 years. C. albicans (61.2%) were the most prevalent species followed by C. tropicalis (21.64%), C. glabrata (11.19%), and C. kefyr (5.97%). Susceptibility tests showed that the most isolated Candida species were sensitive to nystatin (94.8), fluconazole (91.04%), amphotericin B (88.80%), voriconazole (78.35%), clotrimazole (75.37%), ketoconazole (73.13%), and itraconazole (69.40%). Conclusion: It can be concluded that Candida vaginitis is very common among pregnant women, and the tested anti-fungal agents continue to be effective against all isolates of Candida species. In contrast, there was a slight increase resistant against itraconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole, and voriconazole which raises concern about a rise in Candida species that are resistant to these drugs.                    Peer Review History: Received 27 June 2020; Revised 15 July; Accepted 12 August, Available online 15 September 2020 Academic Editor: Dr. Muhammad Zahid Iqbal, AIMST University, Malaysia, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Ashwaq Ali Hezam Al-Arossi, Sana'a University, Yemen, [email protected] Prof. Dr. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, [email protected] Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] Similar Articles: PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS DURING PREGNANCY IN SANA'A, YEMEN TETANUS IMMUNIZATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN: COVERAGE RATE AND RATE OF PROTECTION AT TIME OF DELIVER

Machine Learning Methods for Breast Cancer Diagnostic

This chapter discusses radio-pathological correlation with recent imaging advances such as machine learning (ML) with the use of technical methods such as mammography and histopathology. Although criteria for diagnostic categories for radiology and pathology are well established, manual detection and grading, respectively, are tedious and subjective processes and thus suffer from inter-observer and intra-observer variations. Two most popular techniques that use ML, computer aided detection (CADe) and computer aided diagnosis (CADx), are presented. CADe is a rejection model based on SVM algorithm which is used to reduce the False Positive (FP) of the output of the Chan-Vese segmentation algorithm that was initialized by the marker controller watershed (MCWS) algorithm. CADx method applies the ensemble framework, consisting of four-base SVM (RBF) classifiers, where each base classifier is a specialist and is trained to use the selected features of a particular tissue component. In general, both proposed methods offer alternative decision-making ability and are able to assist the medical expert in giving second opinion on more precise nodule detection. Hence, it reduces FP rate that causes over segmentation and improves the performance for detection and diagnosis of the breast cancer and is able to create a platform that integrates diagnostic reporting system