The marketing of non-profit organisations, a study of the application of marketing techniques and practices in the Scottish arts organisations

Typescript.Marketing has always been regarded as an important activity in business organisations. The contribution which marketing discipline can make to improve performance in non-profit organisations has received limited attention, and is comparatively an unexplored field of research. This thesis analyses the extent to which the application of marketing techniques and practices, as they are practised in profitoriented firms, can improve performance in the Scottish Arts Organisations, as a particular type of non-profit organisations. It suggests that success and better performance can be derived from two major groups of factors. These are : First, the management commitment to marketing in terms of the emphasis it places on using marketing planning, dependence on formalised and structured marketing research, and the effort it devotes to identifying users' needs and wants. Second, the efficient use of the marketing principles related to the marketing mix elements, i. e., product, price, promotion and place. A thorough examination of literature pertaining to these factors has been carried out, based upon which specific hypotheses have been formalised and tested. The empirical investigation was carried out in the Scottish Arts Organisations where six matched pairs of arts organisations, half of them successful and half unsuccessful, have been chosen as a framework for the study. Personal interviews with a structured questionnaire was the method used for data collection from these organisations. The analysis of data was carried out using the method of paired comparison where a successful organisation is compared with an unsuccessful one as a basis for determining any diversity between the two. Comparison between each pair is made using marketing "variables" which, between them, provide the essential information concerning the management attitude towards the marketing concept, and the extent to which the marketing principles related to the marketing mix element, i.e. product, price, promotion, and place, are used efficiently. Also, frequency and cross-tabulation methods are used. The findings of the field research are inconclusive in terms of distinguishing between success and failure and a number of explanations for this are examined together with proposals for further research. In general it would appear that the management of the arts organisations investigated pay only limited attention to marketing and that there are a number of areas where marketing might make a useful contribution to improving the overall efficiency of such organisations.Marketing has always been regarded as an important activity in business organisations. The contribution which marketing discipline can make to improve performance in non-profit organisations has received limited attention, and is comparatively an unexplored field of research. This thesis analyses the extent to which the application of marketing techniques and practices, as they are practised in profitoriented firms, can improve performance in the Scottish Arts Organisations, as a particular type of non-profit organisations. It suggests that success and better performance can be derived from two major groups of factors. These are : First, the management commitment to marketing in terms of the emphasis it places on using marketing planning, dependence on formalised and structured marketing research, and the effort it devotes to identifying users' needs and wants. Second, the efficient use of the marketing principles related to the marketing mix elements, i. e., product, price, promotion and place. A thorough examination of literature pertaining to these factors has been carried out, based upon which specific hypotheses have been formalised and tested. The empirical investigation was carried out in the Scottish Arts Organisations where six matched pairs of arts organisations, half of them successful and half unsuccessful, have been chosen as a framework for the study. Personal interviews with a structured questionnaire was the method used for data collection from these organisations. The analysis of data was carried out using the method of paired comparison where a successful organisation is compared with an unsuccessful one as a basis for determining any diversity between the two. Comparison between each pair is made using marketing "variables" which, between them, provide the essential information concerning the management attitude towards the marketing concept, and the extent to which the marketing principles related to the marketing mix element, i.e. product, price, promotion, and place, are used efficiently. Also, frequency and cross-tabulation methods are used. The findings of the field research are inconclusive in terms of distinguishing between success and failure and a number of explanations for this are examined together with proposals for further research. In general it would appear that the management of the arts organisations investigated pay only limited attention to marketing and that there are a number of areas where marketing might make a useful contribution to improving the overall efficiency of such organisations

M2CIM-DSS: A Model for Measuring Continuance Intention in Decision Support Systems

Currently, the core trend of Higher Education Institutes (HEI) to invest in decision support systems (DSS) to improve their decision-making process. Due to technology emergence, HEI has been experiencing noteworthy changes. Many techniques such as DSS have adopted developed and implemented to support the educational process. Even though DSS has adopted and invested mainly in most sectors, a lack of research in investigating confirmed, the influencing factors on the intention of stakeholders to continue to use them. Consequently, the purpose of the study is to examine post-adoption users' satisfaction and users’ intention to continue using DSS. This study combining two theoretical models, the Technology Acceptance Model, and The Technology Organization Environment Framework, to examine users’ intentions to continue using DSS. The data collection process has conducted using 240 respondents, who belong to HEI institutions (Academia and management staff), who work on DSS. Structural Equation Modeling was utilized to analyze structural relationships among the proposed model’s factors. The authors used several methods such as hierarchical regression, one-way ANOVA, descriptive statistics, as well as t-test have applied to evaluate the model's components relevancy, understanding, and pertinence to each other. The result shows the proposed model fits the data and had a good explanation than the existing models. On the other hand, the results show the importance of equipping DSS with real-time support because they have positive repercussions in the decision-making process The implications as well as the limitations of this study have been extensively discussed

Improving collaborative filtering using lexicon-based sentiment analysis

Since data is available increasingly on the Internet, efforts are needed to develop and improve recommender systems to produce a list of possible favorite items. In this paper, we expand our work to enhance the accuracy of Arabic collaborative filtering by applying sentiment analysis to user reviews, we also addressed major problems of the current work by applying effective techniques to handle the scalability and sparsity problems. The proposed approach consists of two phases: the sentiment analysis and the recommendation phase. The sentiment analysis phase estimates sentiment scores using a special lexicon for the Arabic dataset. The item-based and singular value decomposition-based collaborative filtering are used in the second phase. Overall, our proposed approach improves the experiments’ results by reducing average of mean absolute and root mean squared errors using a large Arabic dataset consisting of 63,000 book reviews

Molecular investigation of cytolysin genes among bacterial isolates recovered from pyospermic patients in Hilla City, Iraq

Enterococcus faecalis and Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the most common causal agents of urinary tract infections (UTI) and infertility in humans. They secrete many cytolytic toxins that impact sperm functions and spermatogenesis. The current paper aimed to investigate the cytolysins among Bacteriospermia associated bacteria in pyospermic patients. 110 Seminal fluid swabs were collected from pyospermic patients (age Mean±SD, 35.5±2.12 years) from September 2020 to January 2021. All swabs were inoculated on UTI chromogenic medium for primary isolation of bacteria. Then the suspected Es. coli and En. faecalis have been confirmed by PCR using uidA and ddl genes, respectively. The results revealed that Es. coli compile 42.9% of bacteriospermia while En. faecalis 25.71%. Results of PCR for cytolysins reveal that all E. coli isolates have lta, hylA, sta, and stb (100%) genes, sheA (96.7%), stx2 (20%), and stx1(3.3%). All En. faecalis (100%) have Hyl, cylLS, cyILL genes. The current study concludes that both Es.  coli and En. faecalis have a set of toxins with possible damage to sperm function, causing indirect infertility.

Hypertension as a Risk Factor: Is It Different in Ischemic Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction Comparative Cross-Sectional Study?

Objective. To assess differences in age of onset, hypertension duration, type of drug, treatment compliance, and salt-free diet compliance between patients with stroke and myocardial infarction. Patients and Methods. The study was conducted in 3 hospitals in Baghdad between June 2010 and June 2011. First group includes 81 stroke patients (36 females and 45 males), age ranges between (33–82 years). Second group includes 110 myocardial infarction patients (46 females and 64 males), ages ranges from (23–76 years). Results. Salt-free diet noncompliance was seen in 69% and 62% of Myocardial infarction and stroke groups, respectively. Silent hypertension was seen in 6.3% and 19.7% of myocardial infarction and stroke groups, respectively. Noncompliant on antihypertensive therapy was seen in 61%, 71%, and 48% of the total, myocardial infarction, and stroke groups, respectively. The drug type was 24% angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, 18.8% combined drugs, 16.2% Beta Blocker, 11% angiotensin 11 receptor blocker, 10.4% calcium channel blocker and 7.3% diuretic. In stroke group, the commonest drug was 23% angiotensin converting inhibitor and the least (5%) was angiotensin receptor blocker. In myocardial infarction group, the commonest drug was 25% Angiotensin Converting Inhibitor and the least (8%) was diuretic. Discussion and Conclusion. Silent hypertension was high in Iraq. Salt-free diet noncompliance was high in both groups; drug noncompliance was significantly higher in patients with myocardial infarction. Angiotensin 11 receptor blocker use was associated significantly with myocardial infarction more than in stroke

Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Seasonal Flu among a Sample of Paramedical Staff in Holy Karbala City/ Iraq

A cross sectional study was carried out in Holy Karbala City/Iraq during the period from the 2st of  January 2015 to the end of April to assess knowledge and awareness  among a sample of paramedical staff regarding seasonal flu.The results of demographic data of the studied sample showed that there was a distinct males preponderance with mean ± SD of their ages was (35.21+10.09) years, the age range at the time of study was between (21-62) years , ( male : female ratio was 1.3:1) , more than half of the sample selected (57.4%) were males , (42.76%) falls in the age group of (20-29) years, and more than half were (54.51%) had Health Technical institute , (73.76%) from sample were married  , and more than three quarter of sample (76.15%) were resident in urban and about half of the sample (51.96%) were worked in hospitals.The study provident There is Significant association has been found between level of education and their knowledge.No significant association has been found between (age groups, Gender, marital status, residence and working institute ) of paramedical staff and their knowledge.Present study concluded that the knowledge and awareness by paramedical staff in  holy Karbala city regarding seasonal flu had good and acceptable score  .The study recommendation by important dependent general programmes for health  education additional training as intensive courses for short periods   about the disease , mode of transmission and prevention measures  with all available methods for all paramedical staff and other health staff

Econometric Techniques to Examine Volatility in PEX Bulls and Bears and the Causal Relationship between PEX, ASE and TASE

This study is empirically aimed at conducting three tests; testing volatility persistent in PEX bulls and bears, testing market efficiency for PEX, ASE, and TASE, and testing the causality relationship between the three markets. That is, it attempts to explore whether stock market volatility present a different behavior during PEX bulls and bears phases and explore whether PEX, ASE, and TASE are efficient at weak level. For this purpose, long memory measure is used to indicate volatility persistence and market efficiency. In order to define bull and bear phases, we employed the 200-day moving average, already used by practioners and we found three cycles including 3 bulls and 3 bears. Thus, the study employed Rescaled Range (R/S) to calculate the values of difference parameter d to find evidence of long memory behavior for the daily data observations from August, 1997 to March, 2012. In addition to a long memory measure, the study used nonparametric ADF and PP tests to test market efficiency of PEX, ASE, and TASE at weak level. According to Jarque–Bera test, the closing values of Al-Quds Index of PEX in each bull and bear don’t follow the normal probability distribution. So, the study used nonparametric tests of ADF and PP to determine whether the time series are stationary. The time series are found to be non stationary at level in each phase implying that PEX is efficient at weak level in each phase. Further, according to R/S results, the study found that the estimates of parameter d are above 0 and below 0.5 for bear phases, while the values are above 0.5 for the bull phases implying long memory stationarity for the volatility process. This means that volatility is more persistent in the PEX bears markets than in the PEX bull markets. Further, the PEX bears markets are longer than PEX bulls markets. As a result, volatility persistent in PEX bears and risk associated with it should be considered by investors. Added to this, the overall market-adjusted performance measurement indicates that PEX has average levels of returns and risk more than ASE and TASE. To avoid that, investors and other decision makers should consider both fundamental and technical analysis. For market efficiency test, ADF and PP test are also used to find whether time series data of Al-Quds index, ASE index and TA-100 index are stationarity. In the three cases, means and variances seem to be not constant. This indicates that the three indices are found to be nonstationary at level implying that the three markets are efficient at weak level. For further investigation, R/S statistic is used to calculate the difference parameter to indicate market efficiency. The estimates of d are above 0.5 for the PEX and TASE cases implying that time series data are non-stationary, and there is no evidence of long memory behavior (long range dependence) in the time series data. For ASE, the value of d is above 0 and below 0.5 implying that the time series has long memory behavior. This indicates that ASE isn’t efficient at weak level. So, we accept that PEX, and TASE are efficient at weak level but ASE isn’t. Therefore, regulators and policy makers should support market efficiency.The study further investigates correlation and causality relationship among PEX, ASE and TASE. It analyzes whether there is a long run linkage or interdependency between the three markets. The data sample includes daily observations for the January, 2000-March, 2012 time period. As mentioned before, the data are non-stationary at level, while the data are stationary at first difference and therefore conducting Granger causality tests isn’t restricted. The correlation matrix indicates that the three markets aren’t highly correlated. The correlation is verified for the direction of influence by the Granger causality test between the three markets. However, the study found that there is no significant causal relationship between the three markets except theunilateral causality relationship of ASE over PEX, and the relationship of TASE over ASE, whereas reverse causality doesn’t hold true. In general, the study finds that there is no multilateral causal relationship among the three markets and they are being highly correlated. Therefore, Palestinian investors don’t have to consider changes in TASE index, while changes in ASE index must be considered.This study is empirically aimed at conducting three tests; testing volatility persistent in PEX bulls and bears, testing market efficiency for PEX, ASE, and TASE, and testing the causality relationship between the three markets. That is, it attempts to explore whether stock market volatility present a different behavior during PEX bulls and bears phases and explore whether PEX, ASE, and TASE are efficient at weak level. For this purpose, long memory measure is used to indicate volatility persistence and market efficiency. In order to define bull and bear phases, we employed the 200-day moving average, already used by practioners and we found three cycles including 3 bulls and 3 bears. Thus, the study employed Rescaled Range (R/S) to calculate the values of difference parameter d to find evidence of long memory behavior for the daily data observations from August, 1997 to March, 2012. In addition to a long memory measure, the study used nonparametric ADF and PP tests to test market efficiency of PEX, ASE, and TASE at weak level. According to Jarque–Bera test, the closing values of Al-Quds Index of PEX in each bull and bear don’t follow the normal probability distribution. So, the study used nonparametric tests of ADF and PP to determine whether the time series are stationary. The time series are found to be non stationary at level in each phase implying that PEX is efficient at weak level in each phase. Further, according to R/S results, the study found that the estimates of parameter d are above 0 and below 0.5 for bear phases, while the values are above 0.5 for the bull phases implying long memory stationarity for the volatility process. This means that volatility is more persistent in the PEX bears markets than in the PEX bull markets. Further, the PEX bears markets are longer than PEX bulls markets. As a result, volatility persistent in PEX bears and risk associated with it should be considered by investors. Added to this, the overall market-adjusted performance measurement indicates that PEX has average levels of returns and risk more than ASE and TASE. To avoid that, investors and other decision makers should consider both fundamental and technical analysis. For market efficiency test, ADF and PP test are also used to find whether time series data of Al-Quds index, ASE index and TA-100 index are stationarity. In the three cases, means and variances seem to be not constant. This indicates that the three indices are found to be nonstationary at level implying that the three markets are efficient at weak level. For further investigation, R/S statistic is used to calculate the difference parameter to indicate market efficiency. The estimates of d are above 0.5 for the PEX and TASE cases implying that time series data are non-stationary, and there is no evidence of long memory behavior (long range dependence) in the time series data. For ASE, the value of d is above 0 and below 0.5 implying that the time series has long memory behavior. This indicates that ASE isn’t efficient at weak level. So, we accept that PEX, and TASE are efficient at weak level but ASE isn’t. Therefore, regulators and policy makers should support market efficiency.The study further investigates correlation and causality relationship among PEX, ASE and TASE. It analyzes whether there is a long run linkage or interdependency between the three markets. The data sample includes daily observations for the January, 2000-March, 2012 time period. As mentioned before, the data are non-stationary at level, while the data are stationary at first difference and therefore conducting Granger causality tests isn’t restricted. The correlation matrix indicates that the three markets aren’t highly correlated. The correlation is verified for the direction of influence by the Granger causality test between the three markets. However, the study found that there is no significant causal relationship between the three markets except theunilateral causality relationship of ASE over PEX, and the relationship of TASE over ASE, whereas reverse causality doesn’t hold true. In general, the study finds that there is no multilateral causal relationship among the three markets and they are being highly correlated. Therefore, Palestinian investors don’t have to consider changes in TASE index, while changes in ASE index must be considered

Arabic open information extraction system using dependency parsing

Arabic is a Semitic language and one of the most natural languages distinguished by the richness in morphological enunciation and derivation. This special and complex nature makes extracting information from the Arabic language difficult and always needs improvement. Open information extraction systems (OIE) have been emerged and used in different languages, especially in English. However, it has almost not been used for the Arabic language. Accordingly, this paper aims to introduce an OIE system that extracts the relation tuple from Arabic web text, exploiting Arabic dependency parsing and thinking carefully about all possible text relations. Based on clause types' propositions as extractable relations and constituents' grammatical functions, the identities of corresponding clause types are established. The proposed system named Arabic open information extraction(AOIE) can extract highly scalable Arabic text relations while being domain independent. Implementing the proposed system handles the problem using supervised strategies while the system relies on unsupervised extraction strategies. Also, the system has been implemented in several domains to avoid information extraction in a specific field. The results prove that the system achieves high efficiency in extracting clauses from large amounts of text

Low cost smart weather station using Arduino and ZigBee

This paper presents low cost-effective weather station with monitoring system by using ZigBee communication technique that serves as a communication channel by using hardware and sensors to transmit and receive data in the weather station system. Using ZigBee over the Bluetooth for the short coverage distance about (1-10 m) and over the (WLAN) (wireless local area network) or Wi-Fi, a WLAN has limitation like delay, lacking BW of the handover of a large amount of data, and some areas have no internet coverage. The system includes implementation and design for the weather station using Arduino Uno board and five sensors gives sixth reading data (rain state, wind level, air pressure, dust density, temperature and humidity). The data can be stored in SD card on receiving (clouding and main processing side) from more than one transmitter node (ZigBee Network). It can be retrieved the data in any time and date. Results showed the system has no delay and the data reputedly changing ever second with the new reading