Niños fruto de violaciones a mujeres refugiadas, y apátridas, en Egipto

Es necesario simplificar el proceso de inscripción del nacimiento en el registro para los hijos nacidos a raíz de una violación —especialmente en el caso de mujeres refugiadas— para evitar la apatridia

Potential uses of public-private-people-partnerships for improving the health services in Egypt: A case study of Egypt free from virus C program

Egypt’s healthcare system focuses on providing treatment at the expenses of the strategies of prevention due to the budget limitations. This thesis studies the adopting of Public Private People Partnership (4Ps) model as people oriented development approach that evolved out of the Public Private Partnership (3Ps) approach to improve healthcare infrastructure and its services. The 4Ps model is a partnership that embraces collaboration between public sector and private sector; while engaging the people represented by civil society throughout strategy making and implementation. This approach was conducted through collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Population and Telecom Egypt, with civil society engagement through Misr El Kheir Foundation in “Egypt Free from Virus C” program that aims at reducing the percentage of Virus C infections. The thesis studies the potential of applying the 4Ps model adopted in this program in the healthcare sector in the Egyptian context. Based on both the literature and the case study, the thesis concludes that the 4Ps model can be used as a development model to upgrade and advance healthcare services in Egypt. Despite the challenges that faced implementing the program, the findings indicate that the (4Ps) model is a successful developmental approach for the developing countries to deal with their developmental challenges

Women\u27s expectations and experiences of childbirth in an Egyptian public hospital

This thesis seeks to understand women\u27s reasons for giving birth at a busy teaching hospital in Greater Cairo, and what their experiences of it have been. It asks whether women\u27s parity and the money paid upon admission to the hospital had an impact on their expectations and experiences. The thesis uses secondary data from interviews conducted in 2001 with mothers who had normal births, before they left the hospital. It is part of a larger project that investigated practices surrounding normal childbirth. The results are analyzed using the perspectives of critical medical anthropology, biomedicine and public health. Fear of the home setting with its lack of qualified personnel and equipment was the leading cause for not giving birth there, and mothers of lower parities were most likely to give this response. Comments concerning the delivering physician did not clearly show that women in the paying section would be more satisfied than those in the free section. Also, more women in the free section reported that they felt discomfort regarding the lack of pain relief. Negative feedback about the availability of pediatricians did not clearly show whether women were more satisfied in the paying section or not. The third hypothesis stated that women who had a higher parity reported a more positive birthing experience than first-time mothers. Comments regarding the nature of communication with the delivering physician support this hypothesis, and the same is true but to a lesser extent concerning the pediatrician. The same hypothesis is not clearly supported when we find that a minority of women across hospital sections and parity groups were given information about their own health or that of their babies and this has a negative impact on their health. Recommendations for improvement were focused on the delivering physician, the pediatrician, the nurses, and the general service level at the hospital. This project could be repeated every five years and include an in-depth ethnographic dimension, to measure improvements in health care provision and women\u27s perceptions throughout their pregnancy and after childbirth. Comparisons could be made between different socioeconomic classes and regions of Egypt

Discriminative Density-ratio Estimation

The covariate shift is a challenging problem in supervised learning that results from the discrepancy between the training and test distributions. An effective approach which recently drew a considerable attention in the research community is to reweight the training samples to minimize that discrepancy. In specific, many methods are based on developing Density-ratio (DR) estimation techniques that apply to both regression and classification problems. Although these methods work well for regression problems, their performance on classification problems is not satisfactory. This is due to a key observation that these methods focus on matching the sample marginal distributions without paying attention to preserving the separation between classes in the reweighted space. In this paper, we propose a novel method for Discriminative Density-ratio (DDR) estimation that addresses the aforementioned problem and aims at estimating the density-ratio of joint distributions in a class-wise manner. The proposed algorithm is an iterative procedure that alternates between estimating the class information for the test data and estimating new density ratio for each class. To incorporate the estimated class information of the test data, a soft matching technique is proposed. In addition, we employ an effective criterion which adopts mutual information as an indicator to stop the iterative procedure while resulting in a decision boundary that lies in a sparse region. Experiments on synthetic and benchmark datasets demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method in terms of both accuracy and robustness

Embed and Conquer: Scalable Embeddings for Kernel k-Means on MapReduce

The kernel $k$-means is an effective method for data clustering which extends the commonly-used $k$-means algorithm to work on a similarity matrix over complex data structures. The kernel $k$-means algorithm is however computationally very complex as it requires the complete data matrix to be calculated and stored. Further, the kernelized nature of the kernel $k$-means algorithm hinders the parallelization of its computations on modern infrastructures for distributed computing. In this paper, we are defining a family of kernel-based low-dimensional embeddings that allows for scaling kernel $k$-means on MapReduce via an efficient and unified parallelization strategy. Afterwards, we propose two methods for low-dimensional embedding that adhere to our definition of the embedding family. Exploiting the proposed parallelization strategy, we present two scalable MapReduce algorithms for kernel $k$-means. We demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithms through an empirical evaluation on benchmark data sets.Comment: Appears in Proceedings of the SIAM International Conference on Data Mining (SDM), 201

Role of Agricultural Cooperatives in Agricultural Development : The Case of Menoufiya Governorate, Egypt

The main objectives of the study are to identify the current status of agricultural cooperatives in Menoufiya Governorate in Egypt and determine the following items as well as the variables affecting them: (1) Agricultural cooperatives ability to mobilize resources for achieving its activities. (2) Agricultural cooperatives ability to employ the available resources. (3) Contribution of the agricultural cooperatives in agricultural development, (4) Organizational effectiveness of the agricultural cooperatives in agricultural development, (5) Benefit extent for farmers from the agricultural cooperatives activities, and thus (6) Farmers’ attitudes towards agricultural cooperatives. For realizing the research objectives, two questionnaires were designed and data were collected through personal interviews with 66 managers and 291 members of agricultural cooperatives. The research was carried out in two districts in Menoufiya Governorate. The Pearson simple correlation coefficient and step-wise multiple correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the collected data. Results show, that 73 % of agricultural cooperatives were found to have insufficient budgets for achieving their activities, 71,2% of them have a low capability of mobilizing resources, 48,5% of them have a low capability of employing resources and 87,9% of them have only limited contribution to agricultural development. In general, 69,7% of the agricultural cooperatives show a low organizational effectiveness in agricultural development. Additionally, the results of the study refer to a low benefit degree for farmers from agricultural cooperatives activities, a low farmers’ satisfaction degree related to the agricultural cooperatives activities, and a low percentage of farmers, who have positive attitudes towards the agricultural cooperatives. The step-wise multiple regression analysis reveals that: • Only two independent variables were found to have a significant and a positive effect on the agricultural cooperatives ability to mobilize the resources. These independent variables are the population number in the village with an agricultural cooperative and cultivated area in the villages, which are benefiting from agricultural cooperative activities. These variables could explain about 58% of the variance in the agricultural cooperatives ability to mobilize resources. • The cultivated area in the villages, which are benefiting from the agricultural cooperatives activities and the extent of agricultural cooperative building’s suitability for achieving their activities and functions could explain 14 % of variance in the agricultural cooperatives ability to employ the available resources. • There is a positive and a significant effect of cooperation level between agricultural cooperatives and governmental organizations, and the number of governmental organizations in the village on the level of agricultural cooperatives contribution in the agricultural development. The percentage of participation of these variables in explaining the total variance in the level of agricultural cooperatives contribution in the agricultural development reaches 39 %. • There are two independent variables that affect the organizational effectiveness of the agricultural cooperatives in the agricultural development. These variables are the number of population in the villages with an agricultural cooperatives and the total number of N.G.Os membership of managers. Both independent variables could explain together about 57% of the variance in the organizational effectiveness of the agricultural cooperatives. • The most independent variables affecting the benefit for farmers from agricultural cooperatives activities are the farmers’ attitudes towards agricultural cooperative, the informal social participation level of farmers, the total number of N.G.Os membership of the farmer, the type of voluntary participation of the farmer in developmental projects, and the main profession of the farmer. These independent variables could explain 78.3% of the variance in the extent of benefit for farmers from agricultural cooperatives activities. • There are four independent variables that affect the farmers’ attitudes towards agricultural cooperatives. These variables are the extent of benefit for farmers from agricultural cooperatives activities, the distance between farmers’ residence and agricultural cooperatives’ location, the type of voluntary participation of the farmers in developmental projects and type of N.G.Os-membership of the farmer. These variables could explain 65.3 % of the variance in farmers’ attitudes towards agricultural cooperatives. In conclusion, the study reveals, that most of the agricultural cooperatives in Menoufiya Governorate –Egypt are not playing their role in the agricultural development in the desired effectiveness. This fact makes it necessary, that these small cooperatives need to be modified in order to form more efficient, self-dependent economical bodies, which are capable to run themselves administrationally and financially. It is recommended also, that these cooperatives be given more economical and organizational freedoms to make them less dependent on the central cooperatives, especially in obtaining and distributing the production inputs. During planning of agricultural development, the government should activate the coordination and cooperation among the roles of both agricultural cooperatives and other organizations in the villages, in order to enhance their abilities and the organizational effectiveness in the agricultural and rural development. The agricultural cooperatives should be developed in order to provide activities and services which are adapted to farmers’ needs.Die Rolle von Genossenschaften in der landwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung - Der Fall Menoufiya Gouvernements in Ägypten Die Hauptziele dieser Studie sind: - Den derzeitigen gesellschaftlichen und wirtschaftlichen Status der Genossenschaften zu ermitteln - Die folgenden Merkmale und die sie beeinflussenden Variablen zu bestimmen. 1. Die Fähigkeit von Genossenschaften, ihre Betriebsmittel für das Erzielen ihrer Tätigkeiten zu mobilisieren 2. Die Fähigkeit von Genossenschaften, ihre vorhandenen Betriebsmittel einzusetzen 3. Der Beitrag von Genossenschaften zur landwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung 4. Organisatorische Effektivität von Genossenschaften in der landwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung 5. Der Nutzenumfang für Landwirte aus den Tätigkeiten der Genossenschaften 6. Die Einstellung der Landwirte zu den Genossenschaften. Um die Forschungsziele zu erreichen, wurden 2 verschieden Fragebögen entwickelt. Zur Datenerhebung wurden im Juli und August 2002 66 persönliche Interviews mit Managern und 291 Interviews mit Mitgliedern landwirtschaftlicher Genossenschaften in zwei Bezirken des Menoufiya Gouvernements durchgeführt. Die Datenanalyse fand mittels des einfachen Korrelationskoeffizienten nach Pearson sowie einer schrittweisen Mehrfach-Korrelations- und Regressions-Analyse statt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass - 73 % aller Genossenschaft über ein unzureichendes Budget zur Verwirklichung ihrer Aufgaben verfügen. - 71,2 % der Genossenschaften haben eine geringe Fähigkeit, ihre Betriebsmittel zu mobilisieren. - 48,5 % haben eine geringe Fähigkeit, ihre Betriebsmittel einzusetzen. - 87,9 % leisten einen beschränkten Beitrag zur ländlichen Entwicklung. Allgemein ist festzustellen, dass 69,7 % der Genossenschaften eine niedrige organisatorische Effektivität in der ländlichen Entwicklung haben. Zusätzlich zeigen die Ergebnisse der Studie, • dass die Landwirte einen geringen Nutzen aus den Genossenschafts-aktivitäten ziehen, • einen geringen Zufriedenheitsgrad der Landwirte mit den Genossenschafts- aktivitäten, • einen niedrigen Prozentsatz an Landwirten, die eine positive Einstellung zu den Genossenschaften haben. Die schrittweise Mehrfach-Korrelations-Analyse deckt Folgendes auf: • Es konnten nur zwei unabhängige Variablen gefunden werden, welche einen signifikanten und positiven Einfluss auf die Fähigkeit der Genossenschaften haben, ihre Betriebsmittel zu mobilisieren. Dieses sind: a) Einwohnerzahl der Dörfer mit landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften und b) Die landwirtschaftliche Nutzfläche in den Dörfern, welche von den Genossenschaftsaktivitäten profitieren. Diese beiden Variablen können 58 % der Varianz der Fähigkeit von Genossenschaften, ihre Betriebsmittel zu mobilisieren, erklären. • Die Variablen: a) Landwirtschaftliche Nutzfläche in Dörfern, welche von Genossenschaftsaktivitäten profitieren und b) Das Ausmaß der genossenschaftlichen Gebäudeeignung können 14 % der Varianz der Fähigkeit von Genossenschaften, ihre Betriebsmittel einzusetzen, erklären. • Es gibt einen positiven und signifikanten Einfluss a) des Kooperationsgrades zwischen landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften und Regierungsorganisationen und b) der Anzahl von Regierungsorganisationen im Dorf auf den Beitrag der Genossenschaften zur ländlichen Entwicklung. Diese beiden Variablen können 39 % der Varianz des Ausmaßes des genossenschaftlichen Beitrags zur ländlichen Entwicklung erklären. • Es gibt zwei unabhängige Variablen, welche die organisatorische Effektivität von Genossenschaften beeinflussen. Diese sind: a) Die Einwohnerzahl in den Dörfern mit landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften und b) Die Anzahl der Mitgliedschaften von Managern in NGOs. Beide Variablen zusammen können 57 % der Varianz der organisatorischen Effektivität von Genossenschaften erklären. • Unabhängigen Variablen, welche einen Einfluss auf den Nutzen haben, den die Landwirte aus den genossenschaftlichen Aktivitäten ziehen sind: a) Die Einstellung der Landwirte zu den Genossenschaften b) Das informelle soziale Engagement der Landwirte c) Die Anzahl der Mitgliedschaften von Landwirten in NGOs d) Die Art der freiwilligen Teilnahme von Landwirten an Entwicklungsprojekten und e) Der Hauptberuf des Landwirts. Diese unabhängigen Variablen können 78,3 % der Varianz im Nutzenumfang der genossenschaftlichen Aktivitäten für die Landwirte erklären. • Es gibt vier unabhängige Variablen, welche die Einstellung des Landwirts zu den Genossenschaften beeinflussen. Diese Variablen sind: a) Der Nutzenumfang für Landwirte aus genossenschaftlichen Aktivitäten b) Die Distanz zwischen der Wohnung der Landwirte und der Lage der Genossenschaften c) Die Art der freiwilligen Teilnahme der Landwirte an Entwicklungsprojekten und d) Die Art von NGO-Mitgliedschaften der Landwirte. Diese Variablen können 65,3 % der Varianz der Einstellung der Landwirte zu den Genossenschaften erklären. Die Studie hat zusammenfassend gezeigt, dass die meisten landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften im Gouvernement Menoufiya ihre zugeschriebene Funktion nicht mit der gewünschten Effektivität ausüben. Aus diesem Grund erscheint es sinnvoll, diese kleinen Genossenschaften zu modifizieren, so dass aus ihnen unabhängige ökonomische Einheiten werden, die in der Lage sind, sich selbst zu verwalten und zu finanzieren. Es wird zudem empfohlen, diesen Genossenschaften mehr ökonomische und organisatorische Freiheit zu gewähren, damit sie unabhängiger von den zentralen Genossenschaften werden. Dies gilt insbesondere für die Beschaffung und Verteilung des Produktionsinputs. Während der Planungsphase der ländlichen Entwicklung sollte die Regierung die Koordination und Kooperation zwischen Genossenschaften und anderen Organisationen in den Dörfern aktivieren, um ihre Fähigkeiten und ihre organisatorische Effektivität in der ländlichen Entwicklung zu stärken. Die landwirtschaftlichen Genossenschaften sollten weiterentwickelt werden, um Tätigkeiten und Dienstleistungen anzubieten, welche den Bedürfnissen der Landwirte entsprechen

Enterprise Resource Planning system and its impact on tourism companies' operational performance

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between applying the Enterprise Resource Planning system and operational performance, and to develop proposed framework to achieve the requirements of the ERP system, in addition, to measure its availability within tourism companies. Research methodology: The study design is a qualitative study. Data are presented in descriptive form, with in-depth and adaptable analysis. Sample Collection by intentional sampling, the sample chosen depends on the study objectives without regard to the ability of a generalist. The study was based on the distribution of a survey list on a random sample of employees of tourism companies in Egypt. Results: The structural equation modeling results indicate that all the employed dimensions to gauge the impact of ERP system (represented by the components of the system), have direct influence and an indirect impact on the operational performance and then access to the quality of tourism service provided. These findings help to explain the mixed discoveries in the literature concerning the pattern of the causal relationship between ERPs with operational performance and service quality. Limitation: The field study data were collected from survey forms from May to July 2019. Three hundred thirty questionnaire forms were distributed, 310 usable replies were received with a response rate of 93.9%. Contribution: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system has received considerable attention in the last years. Many organizations seek to integrate their IT infrastructures by implementing the Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP). So implementing ERP system helps tourism companies in raising performance rates through reducing the time to do more business, reducing cost, increasing productivity, which leads to higher performance rates. Keywords: Enterprise Resource Planning system, ERP business value, ERP benefits, Operational performanc