Using Branch and Bound Method to Minimize Bi-Criteria

This paper presents a branch and bound algorithm for sequencing a set of n independent jobs on a single machine to minimize sum of total late work and the number of tardy jobs, the type of the problem is NP-hard.Lower bounds were proposed and heuristic method to get an upper bound. Some special cases were proved and some dominancerules were proposed and proved, the problem solved with up to 40 jobs

Tobacco smoking and its impact on the expression level of sperm nuclear protein genes: H2BFWT, TNP1, TNP2, PRM1 and PRM2

The aim of this current study was to investigate the influence of tobacco smoke on sperm quality determined by standard parameters, on sperm DNA maturity tested by chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining, on sperm DNA fragmentation tested by TUNEL assay and on the transcript level of sperm nuclear proteins H2BFWT, PRM1, PRM2, TNP1 and TNP2 genes quantified by RT‐PCR. One hundred forty‐one (141) sperm samples (43 nonsmokers (G.1) and 98 heavy smokers (G.2)) of couples undergoing ICSI were enrolled in this study. In G2, a significant decrease in standard semen parameters in comparison with nonsmokers was shown (p < .01). In contrast, protamine deficiency (CMA3 positivity) and sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) were significantly higher in G2 than in G1 (p < .01). Furthermore, the studied genes were differentially expressed (p < .01), down‐regulated in the spermatozoa of G.2 compared to that of G.1 (fold change <0.5) and were significantly correlated between each other (p < .01). Moreover, in comparison with G1, the protamine mRNA ratio in G2 was significantly higher (p < .01). It can therefore be concluded that smoking alters mRNA expression levels of H2BFWT, TNP1, TNP2, PRM1 and PRM2 genes and the protamine mRNA ratio and consequently alters normal sperm function

New Rules in the Amended Jordanian Landlords and Tenants Act No 17/2009

The Jordanian legislature amended the Landlords and Tenants Act No 17, 2009; it includes new rules which represent a significant change in the relationship between landlords and tenants. In an analytical and critical approach, this research explores these new rules, especially the rules concerning the gradual termination of lease contracts concluded before 31/8/2000, in a period from 12/21/2010 to 12/31/2015. The rules also stipulate an increase in the rent ranging from 1% to 6%. The study furthermore discusses the landlords\u27 rights such as the new procedures set in the amended Tenant Act, by which the landlord can undertake in case of the tenant\u27s refusal to evacuate or hand over the leased property in the due time The study also points out as to how the lease contract is considered an executed document, and the right to proceed to interim relief

The Latent Tuberculin Test after 1-year Therapy with Anti-TNF in Babylon, Iraq

لمحة عامة: مرضى التهاب المفاصل الرثوي الذين يستخدمون ادوية مضادة لعوامل نخر الورم هم في حالة زيادة خطورة تحفيز إصابات التدرن الخامل. فحص التدرن الجلدي يستخدم بصورة واسعة للكشف عن التدرن الخامل ولأعطاء الادوية الوقائية , للوصول الى هدف منظمة الصحة العالمية بتقليل مرض السل الى 90% في سنة 2035. الأهداف: لتحديد نسبة تحول فحص التدرن الجلدي بين مرضى التهاب المفاصل الرثوي بعد سنة من استخدام ادوية مضادات عوامل نخر الورم وعلاقة فحص التدرن الجلدي الموجب مع الخصائص الاجتماعية والديموغرافية و التاريخ المرضي. الطريقة: هذه الدراسة مقطعية تم اجراؤها في قسم المفاصل في مستشفى مرجان التعليمي في العراق , لمدة سنة واحدة. المرضى الذين يعانون من التهاب المفاصل الرثوي واعتلال الفقار والذين يستخدمون ادوية مضادات عوامل نخر الورم لفترة اكثر من سنة, خضعو جميعا لفحص التدرن الجلدي. البيانات الديموغرافية والتاريخ المرضي تم اخذه أيضا . كل البيانات الإحصائية تم اخضاعها لبرنامج SPSS النسخة 20 واعتبرت قيمة اقل من 0.05 &nbsp;ذات قيمة ملحوظة. البيانات الماخوذة من الأساس وبعد سنة من المتابعة تم اخضاعها لفحص كولموكَوروف – سيمينوف لتحديد فيما اذا كانت البيانات تم توزيعها بشكل طبيعي . فحص مربع كاي استخدم لتقييم&nbsp; دقة فحص التدرن الجلدي بين علاج Etanrcept &nbsp;و Infliximab &nbsp;في نهاية الدراسة. النتائج: مجموع 96 مريض تم فحصهم والمتضمنين 55 (57.3%) رجال و 41 ( %42.3)&nbsp; نساء وبمعدل عمر 41.1 , و اغلبهم 68 ( 70.8 % ) من محافظة بابل – العراق . مجموع 40 (41.7%) من المرضى لديهم التهاب مفاصل رثوي فقط والبقية 56 (58.3%) لديهم عوامل خطورة الاعتلال الفقاري. اغلب المرضى 65 (67.7%) استخدمو العلاج البايولوجي Infliximab) &nbsp;&nbsp;(بينما 31 (32.3% ) من المرضى استخدمو علاج (Etanrcept) خلال فترة سنة واحدة . لوحظ وجود قيمة ملحوظة بين نقص معدل فحص ESR &nbsp;&nbsp;وفعالية المرض من خط الأساس الى نهاية الدراسة (اقل من 0.01) . لم يتم يكن هنالك فرق ملحوظ بين نتائج فحص التدرن الجلدي المعتمد على الجنس او العمر . كلا العلاجين لوحظ ارتباط ملحوظ بينهم وبين نقص الـ ESR &nbsp;و فعالية المرض. الاستنتاج: هذه الدراسة أظهرت وجود تحول طفيف لفحص التدرن الجلدي بين مرضى الروماتيزم الرثوي بعد سنة من العلاج بمضادات عوامل نخر الورم, وان العمر والجنس لم ترتبط بفحص التدرن الجلدي.Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving receive anti-TNF agents are at increased risk of reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The tuberculin skin test (TST)&nbsp;is widely used to screen LTBI and providing preventive treatment, in an effort to meet the WHO target of a 90% reduction in TB by 2035. Objectives: To determine the proportion of TST conversion among RA patients after 1&nbsp;year of anti-TNF treatment and association of positive TST result with patients’ socio-demographic characteristics and medical history. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Rheumatology of Marjan Teaching Hospital in Iraq, for a period of 1 year. Patients with RA/and spondyloarthropathy, and who received anti-TNF therapy for &gt;1 year, underwent TST. Their demographic data and medical history were also obtained. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Version 20) and, p &lt; 0.05 was considered as a sign. Data from the baseline and 1&nbsp;year follow-up was subjected to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to determine whether they were normally distributed. Chi-Square test used to test significance of TST among etanrecept and infliximab at the end of the study. Results: A total of 96 patients were enrolled, including 55 (57.3%) males and 41 (42.3%) females with an average age of 41.1, and mostly 68 (70.8%) from Babylon Governorate of Iraq. A total of 40 (41.7%) patients had rheumatoid arthritis alone, and the remaining 56 (58.3%) had a comorbidity of spondyloarthropathy. Majority of the patients 65 (67.7%) received the biological agent infliximab, while 31 (32.3%) patients received Etanercept for RA for a period of 1 year. There was a statistically significant decreasing in the median ESR and disease activity &nbsp;from the baseline to the end of the study (p-value &lt;0.01). There was no significant difference in TST results based on gender or age. Both infliximab and etanercept were significantly associated with a decreasing &nbsp;in ESR and disease activity Conclusion: This study has shown that there was very low TST conversion among RA patients after 1&nbsp;year of anti-TNF treatment and, age and gender were not associated with TST

Investigation of Cost Control Measures for Main Contractors in Construction Projects

استنادًا إلى بحث سابق للمؤلفين، تم تحديد (59) عاملاً من العوامل المؤثرة في كلف مشاريع التشييد، تتضمن (13) عاملا هي أكثر العوامل تأثيرًا منها (10) عوامل من المرجح أن يسيطر عليها المقاولون الرئيسيون. تم في هذا البحث تحري تدابير السيطرة التي يرجح أن تكون في أيدي المقاولين الرئيسيين وفقا لآراء (30) من المهندسين العراقيين من ذوي الخبرة العالية. تم اجراء مسح استباني يتضمن (55) اجراءً للسيطرة على العوامل الأكثر تأثيراً على الكلفة. وتم ترتيب هذه الاجراءات باستخدام مؤشر الأهمية النسبية. فتبين لأجل السيطرة على الكلفة بشكل أفضل، أن على المقاولين ضمان: استخدام تقنيات ووسائل حديثة لرفع إنتاجية العمال، ووضع قواعد ملزمة للأداء الحسن للمقاولين الثانويين، والالتزام بالصيانة الدورية لتحسين أداء المعدات، وإدامة التخطيط السليم للموقع باستخدام تقنيات دراسة العمل، واختيار مدراء مشاريع مؤهلين، واستخدام تقنيات تخطيط وجدولة حديثة، وتأمين مواقع مناسبة للخزين الاحتياطي للمواد خارج موقع العمل، والتخطيط المسبق لمواصفات المعدات ومهارات العمال، واختيار موردين موثوقينBased on previous research by the authors, (59) cost control factors in construction projects were identified in which (13) were considered as the most influential factors. In this research, control measures that are potentially within the hands of main contractors were investigated according to the opinions of some Iraqi professional engineers of high experience. A questionnaire survey consisting of (55) control measures for the (13) most influential factors were suggested. When ranking those measures, based on the highest (RII), it was found that contractors should focus on; using modern techniques and tools to improve labor productivity, using modern design programs to give clear visualization to the owner so changes is reduced, setting solid rules to attain good performance for contractors, ‎S/C and ‎suppliers, paying liabilities on time to avoid shortage of funding, insure periodical maintenance to enhance equipment performance and lower downtime, integrity and anti-corruption, using work study techniques to insure proper site planning,&nbsp; proper selection of project managers, using modern planning and scheduling techniques, prepare suitable safe off-site locations for backup material storage, insure previous planning for equipment specification and labor skills, insure selecting reliable suppliers

Criteria for designing pedestrian bridges to achieve the aesthetic value in Iraqi cities

The Aesthetic Value of pedestrian bridges is measured in the extent of the homogeneity and integration of the bridge with the surrounding Urban scene, which contains and Fulfills functional needs of users. Despite the tremendous technological progress, the design that comes to these bridges is limited to completing the functional aspect only as a means of crossing between two points, Therefore, the research studied these bridges and how to achieve the aesthetic value through the theoretical study in which the aesthetic aspect of these bridges is clarified, down to the practical aspect by evaluating the bridges that have been implemented in Iraq and the extent of the success of showing the aesthetic value to the results and recommendations

Comparison between smart and traditional building materials to achieve sustainability

Building materials have been leading architecture since its inception and with the development of building materials throughout history, gives architecture a broader scope for development, whether at the level of plans, facades or sections .From the first dwelling created by man to contemporary architecture, where the building is the true embodiment of building materials, and traditional building materials based on bricks, wood and iron have developed greatly in terms of appearance and efficiency of use in contemporary architecture, Man seeks when using building materials to reduce the amount of materials used and with the highest functional, structural and aesthetic efficiency, in order to invest them in an optimal manner, leading to the sustainability of building materials. Therefore, the research problem was (The need to know the difference between the sustainability of traditional and contemporary building materials in architecture) The research determined the hypothesis (there is a disparity between the sustainability of traditional and contemporary building materials in architecture) To reach the main objective (studying the sustainability of traditional and contemporary building materials and the construction capabilities of each). This will be done through the study of traditional building materials and contemporary and sustainability of each of them down to a comparison between them in terms of sustainability through the analysis of some architectural examples

Law in the Corona and post-Corona Era, Flexibility and Efficiency Test of the Qatari Laws: Horizontal Overview

Abstract Out of the sudden. Coronavirus – Covid-19 erupted few months ago to challenge all human traditions, health care systems, norms and life styles. Given the fact that the pandemic is still in the process of spreading, it seems early to predict the extent to which it will change human perspectives in dealing with universal crisis, and to say the least, Coronavirus pandemic will strictly tests human readiness and ability to foresee and face challenges presented by any factor threatening human beings worldwide. Despite the fact that Coronavirus pandemic is a global disaster that the world still struggling with, there is a story to tell about the State of Qatar legal response to the Covid-19 crisis. The Qatari experience in confronting Coronavirus crisis has many points of strengths and weaknesses. These strengths should be enhanced and adopted while weaknesses may be improved to ensure readiness, flexibility and efficiency while confronting challenges affecting society at large. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic presents tremendous challenges to the state and its legal framework; almost all branches of law face these challenges at different levels. Applying a horizontal overview, this Article will briefly present and critically assess the Qatari legal response to the crisis to draw the attention of competent authorities to enhance, strengths, and overcome weaknesses, which ultimately will improve flexibility as well as efficiency of its national legal frameworks in times of crisis. Keywords: Law, Crisis, Covid-19, Coronavirus, Flexibility and Efficiency test, Qatar Law

An Energy-Efficient Cross-Layer approach for cloud wireless green communications

In wireless sensor networks (WSN), energy consumption is one of the crucial issues. It is very important to conserve energy at each sensor node to prolong a network lifetime. The main challenge in WSN is to develop an energy efficient algorithm to minimize energy consumption during transmitting information from deployed sensors up to the cloud resources. Many researches have been studied the designing of energy efficient technique based on one-layer stack model approach. In this study, we propose Energy-Efficient Cross-Layer (EECL) approach by using the interaction of MAC layer and physical layer information to be exploited by a network layer to achieve energy efficient communication. More precisely, network layer could utilize the MAC layer and physical layer information to establish an energy efficient route path to be used in forwarding data. The proposed EECL approach uses X-MAC protocol in support of duty cycle which introduces short preambles that switches to wake-up/sensing mode only for nodes belonging to routing path while the other nodes set to be in sleep mode. The distance between nodes that influences energy consumption and Bit Error Rate (BER) are set to be the parameters which they are help in indicating the required power for each hop during route path selection in WSN and avoid the rely-hops that suffering from high average BER and with farther distance. We conduct the experiment using Matlab to evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed approach in terms of power consumption and obtained data rate. The results show that our proposed EECL approach outperforms its representatives in the ability of tuning the power utilized in respect with required data rate that could satisfy the desired Quality-of-Service (QoS)

Modeling the Completion Time of Public School Building Projects Using Neural Networks

The Ministry of Education in Iraq is confronting a colossal deficiency in school buildings while stakeholders of government funded school buildings projects are experiencing the ill effects of extreme delays caused by many reasons. Those stakeholders are particularly worried to know ahead of time (at contract assignment) the expected completion time of any new school building project. As indicated by a previous research conducted by the authors, taking into account the opinions of Iraqi experts involved with government funded school building projects, nine major causes of delay in school building projects were affirmed through a questionnaire survey specifically are; the contractor's financial status, delay in interim payments, change orders, the contractor rank, work stoppages, the contract value, experience of the supervising engineers, the contract duration and delay penalty. In this research, two prediction models (A and B) were produced to help the concerned decision makers to foresee the expected completion time of typically designed school building projects having (12) and (18) classes separately. The ANN multi-layer feed forward with back-propagation algorithm was utilized to build up the mathematical equations. The created prediction equations demonstrated a high degree of average accuracy of (96.43%) and (96.79%) for schools having (12) and (18) classes, with (R2) for both ANN models of (79.60%) and (85.30%) respectively. It was found that the most influential parameters of both models were the ratio of the sum of work stoppages to the contract duration, the ratio of contractor's financial status to the contract value, the ratio of delay penalty to the total value of contract and the ratio of mean interim payments duration to the contract duration