Time-varying correlation between islamic stock indices: evidence from the GCC countries based on MGARCH-DCC approach

The paper makes an attempt to investigate the portfolio diversification opportunities available within the Islamic stock indices in the GCC countries. That requires the estimation of the time-varying variances of and covariances between the daily returns of the GCC Islamic stock indices. Hence the method used is the recent multivariate GARCH-DCC which takes care of their time-varying relationships. The findings tend to indicate that the unconditional volatility of the GCC stock returns are very low which may indicate that the reruns are stable and the risk is very low. However, the VaR estimator shows that the risk was rising dramatically since 2011, probably due to the political instability during this period. The time-varying conditional correlation between the stock returns of these countries appears to be low in general which provides an advantage to the investors interested in investing in the GCC financial markets. That means it provides more stable returns with low correlation between the stock returns and thus less risky. The results also indicate lower level of integration between the GCC stock markets

Profitability Determinants of Commercial Banks in Malaysia After the 1997 Financial Crisis

This study is conducted to investigate the profitability determinants of the commercial banks in Malaysia after 1997 Financial Crisis. The study utilized the secondary data obtained primarily from the banks web sites for eight commercial banks i. e. CIMB, Public Bank, Maybank, Affin Bank, Am Bank, RHB Bank, Citi Bank and HSBC Bank during the period from 2004 to 2008.The study following to other similar studied; incorporates some of macroeconomic variables to examine their affect on the banks profitability. The study used ROA as a dependent variable to estimate the bank’s profit. The independent variables used in the study consisted of 10 variables namely capital ratio (CAR), expenses management (EXPS), interest coverage (INC), bank size(SIZE), total deposits (DEPOSITS), total loan (LONAS), total income (TI) Base Lending Rate(BLR) and two macroeconomic variables i. e. inflation rate (INFL), and gross domestic product(GDP).Multiple regression analysis has applied to examine the significance contribution of these variables in the bank’s profitability. The results however show that only EXPS, INC, LOANS,BLR and INFL are significant at the 5% and 10% confidence level

A pilot study on metabolic syndrome and its associated features among Qatari schoolchildren

Aim: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the individual features of the metabolic syndrome (MeS) and its frequency in Qatari schoolchildren aged 6-12 years. Background: MeS has a strong future risk for development of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Childhood obesity is increasing the likelihood of MeS in children. Methods: The associated features of MeS were assessed in 67 children. They were recruited from the outpatient pediatric clinic at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured and body mass index was calculated for each child. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) were measured. MeS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-III) which was modified by Cook with adjustment for fasting glucose to ≥ 5.6 mM according to recommendations from the American Diabetes Association. Results: The overall prevalence of MeS according to NCEP-III criteria was 3.0% in children aged 6-12 years. Overweight and obesity was 31.3% in children aged 6-12 years, according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. The prevalence of MeS was 9.5% in overweight and obese subjects. Increased TG levels represented the most frequent abnormality (28.4%) in metabolic syndrome features in all subjects, followed by HDL-C (19.4%) in all subjects. Conclusion: Increased TG levels and low HDL-C were the most frequent components of this syndrome. This study showed a significant prevalence of MeS and associated features among overweight and obese children. The overall prevalence of MeS in Qatari children is in accordance with data from several other countries. © 2011 Rizk et al.This work was supported by grant #CAS05001 from Qatar University, Qatar

Soft Skills Training Strategy and Its Effect on Nurse Interns' Civil Behavior

Contents: Soft skills are socio-emotional skills, essential for personal development and workplace success. While civility is defined as having respect for others, and it is necessary to bring attention to the importance of soft skills and civility and discuss its impact on teaching, learning, and patient outcomes.Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of soft skills training strategies on nurse interns' civil behavior. Methods: The study was conducted at Ain-Shams University Hospitals, where nurse interns have their training, namely; Ain-Shams University Hospital, El-Demerdash hospital, Pediatrics Hospital, and Cardiovascular Hospital using a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of this study included all available nurse interns having their training in the settings mentioned above during the data collection period (the academic year 2017-2018). The study sample was 90 nurse interns, 35 males, and 55 females. The data were collected by using two tools, namely the soft skills elements questionnaire and the workplace civility index. Results: The study revealed a highly statistically significant improvement in nurse interns' total knowledge in the post and follow-up phases p<0.01 as compared to the pre-intervention phase. Also, there was a highly statistically significant improvement in nurse interns' soft skills in the post and followed-up phases p<0.01 as compared to the pre-intervention phase. In addition to a highly statistically significant improvement in nurse interns' civil behavior in the post and follows up phases p<0.01 as compared to the pre-intervention phase. Conclusion: Implementing a soft skills training strategy for nurse interns is effective to improve their civil behavior. Based on the study findings, it was recommended that soft skills training strategy should be applied in all nursing curricula. The faculty of nursing should be supplied with all the learning resources needed in the educational system to support the students’ soft skills development, and further studies should be developed to handle the barriers of implementation of soft skills training strategy in nursing education

Evaluation of the Adherence of Obstetricians to International Guidelines for Dispensing Misoprostol and Oxytocin in Saad Abu Ella Maternity Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Background: Misoprostol and oxytocin are commonly prescribed drugs by obstetricians to induce labor and prevent postpartum hemorrhage. In Sudan, there is no national guideline for prescribing these drugs. Thus, the prescribers follow the international guidelines. Hence, our study aimed to evaluate the adherence of Sudanese obstetricians to the international guidelines for dispensing misoprostol and oxytocin. Methods: A retrospective descriptive hospital-based study was performed at Saad Abu Ella hospital through their medical files archived in 2018 using a checklist designed by the researcher. Collected data were analyzed and presented in frequency tables using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Results: A total of 357 medical files were evaluated, about 50% of cases examined was in the 25–35 years age range, multigravida pregnant ladies were 62%. General indications of oxytocin and/or misoprostol were induction of labor (17%), postpartum hemorrhage prevention (PPH) after normal vaginal delivery (NVD) (30%) and cesarean sections (32%), evacuation of incomplete miscarriage (20%), and termination of pregnancy (1%). Compared to the guidelines, only 14% were given the recommended regimens for labor induction; 9.4% of women who had undergone NVD were given the recommended regimen to prevent PPH. While, 57% and 43% of the cases with incomplete miscarriage and termination of pregnancy were given the recommended regimens, respectively. Based on the correct indication, total adherence was estimated to be 17%. Conclusions: Higher percentages of cases with incomplete miscarriage and intrauterine fetal death were given the recommended regimens to manage them. While, lower percentages of the participants were given the recommended regimens for labor induction and to prevent PPH.  Key words: misoprostol, oxytocin, obstetricians, adherence, international guideline

Investigation of in-plane moment connections of I-beams to square concrete-filled steel tube columns under gravity loads

AbstractThis paper focuses on experimental and analytical behavior of the ultimate moment of the connections of steel I-beams to square concrete-filled steel tube columns. External stiffeners around the columns are used at the beam flange levels. Five specimens are tested monotonically. The test parameters are the column stiffener dimensions and filling the steel tube column with concrete. Two types of failure modes are observed; beam flange failure and stiffener failure. The experimental results show that the ultimate moment of the connection is increased by increasing stiffener’s dimensions and filling the steel tube column with concrete. ANSYS finite element program is used to simulate the behavior, taking into account both geometric and material nonlinearities. Analytical results that are in fair agreement with the experimental ones are then used to discuss the influence of the main geometric parameters on the connection behavior. The parameters are the stiffener and column dimensions as well as filling the steel tube column with concrete. Different square column cross sections are chosen to cover the three classes of section classifications according to Egyptian code of practice, which are: compact, non compact or slender. The increase in the ultimate moment of the connections is based upon both column cross sections’ compactness and stiffener dimensions while the maximum advantages occur with slender columns

A study on Carbon Nanotube-Gene Interaction in Induction of Glial Cells to Neuron Cell

Introduction: Reprogramming different cell to neuron have yet remained attractive field in regenerative medicine, so discovery new methodsor improve existing methods could be helpful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Carbon Nanotube-Gene Interaction in Induction ofGlial Cells to Neuron Cell.Materials and Methods: Accordingly, we analyzed the transcriptome data of glial and neuron cells to determine thedifferent gene expression in both groups. Then, based on this transcriptome data, the gene chemical interaction was determined to find the mostimportant chemical structure which induces glial cell to neurons. Data extract from transcriptome database related rat cerebral cortex cellsgenerated by RNA sequencing transcriptomic (RNAseq) technique. By comparison neuron against glial cells (astrocyte, oligodenderocyte andmicroglia) determined different gene expression. In Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) determined the most important chemicalto interact with this gene set. Then by using genetrail2 database determined mechanism of gene set associated to chemicals and miRNA enriched.Results: Result determined different chemical with the risk factor and protective factor properties related to 500 genes that enriched in a neuronin comparison with glial cells. The carbon nanotube is the first important chemicals that interact with 75 genes of 500. Gene ontology analysisdetermined the carbon nanotube effect on genes that induce neurogenesis, neurodevelopment, and differentiation. Genetrail2 release the 29significant miRNAs enriched in gene interacts with carbon nanotube in which miR-34a and miR-449a are the most significant molecules.Network analysis of these genes represents KIT (tyrosine-protein kinase, CD117), Gria1, Syt1, Rab3c, and Tubb3 have central roles inneurogenesis by the carbon nanotube.Conclusion: In sum up, the carbon nanotube is an electrical stimulator that has biocompatibility toinduce glial cell to the neuron which applies as devise lonely or combination with a cell in damage part of the neural tissue

Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Egyptian Obese Women with Insulin Resistance

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major factor in the development of several sub-clinical anomalies. Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with obesity. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a significant role in inflammation and vascular neogenesis. However the precise relationships of its levels with clinical, lipid, and metabolic profiles are unknown. AIM: This study aimed to examine the association between serum VEGF concentrations with IR risk and metabolic and lipid parameters in obese women. METHODS: Serum VEGF, metabolic biomarkers and anthropometry were measured in 83 obese women with IR and 50 healthy women. Fat distributions in the abdominal, subcutaneous and visceral area were assessed. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. For analytical purposes, VEGF levels were categorised into three tertiles groups. RESULTS: Obese women with IR showed significantly higher levels of serum VEGF as compared with the control group. Moreover, obese women in the highest VEGF tertile had significantly higher values of obesity indices, visceral fat index, abnormal lipid levels and HOMA-IR compared to with those in the lower tertile. CONCLUSION: Elevated VEGF levels are associated with IR and high visceral fat index in obese women which in turn increased the risk for metabolic complications

Er:YAG Laser and Cyclosporin A Effect on Cell Cycle Regulation of Human Gingival Fibroblast Cells

Introduction: Periodontitis is a set of inflammatory disorders characterized by periodontal attachment loss and alveolar bone resorption. Because of deficiency in periodontitis mechanical therapy, this study was aimed to explore the molecular influence of the erbium-doped: yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser and cyclosporin A (CsA) on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) for improvement in periodontal diseases therapy.Methods: We focused on articles that studied the proteome profiles of HGFs after treatment with laser irradiation and application of CsA. The topological features of differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using Cytoscape Version 3.4.0 followed by module selection from the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using Cluster ONE plugin. In addition, we performed gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis for the densely connected region and key proteins in both PPI networks.Results: Analysis of PPI network of Er:YAG laser irradiation on HGFs lead to introducing YWHAZ, VCP, HNRNPU, YWHAE, UBA52, CLTC, FUS and IGHG1 as key proteins while similar analysis revealed that ACAT1, CTSD, ALDOA, ANXA2, PRDX1, LGALS3, ARHGDI and EEF1A1 are the crucial proteins related to the effect of drug. GO enrichment analysis of hub-bottleneck proteins of the 2 networks showed the different significant biological processes and cellular components. The functional enrichments of module of Er:YAG laser network are included as fatty acid transmembrane transport, cytokinesis, regulation of RNA splicing and asymmetric protein localization. There are not any significant clusters in network of HGF treated by CsA.Conclusion: The results indicate that there are 2 separate biomarker panels for the 2 treatment methods