Investigating grammatical complexity in Gulf Arabic speaking children with specific language impairment (SLI)

This is the first investigation of Specific Language Impairment (SLI) in Gulf-Arabic (GA) speaking children. The thesis consists of two main sections, in the first one, I discuss the definitions of SLI and the various theories put forward to account for the deficits seen in this population. I also discuss the importance of cross-linguistic investigations of SLI and why studying SLI in GA may prove useful in testing the accounts of SLI that argue for a general processing deficit vs. those that argue for a domain specific account of SLI. The remaining section of the first part is dedicated to describing the various language tests developed to identify children with SLI in GA. These tests were conducted with approximately 88 typically developing children and 26 children with SLI between the age of 4;6 and 9;4 years old. In the second part of the thesis, I report on two experiments investigating syntactic and phonological complexity in GA speaking children with SLI. The first experiment investigates the comprehension of three types of word orders: a canonical SVO, and two word orders that involve fronting of the direct object (OSV and OVS). Results showed that children with SLI differed from the TD groups on the sentences with fronted NP's, but not on the canonical word order. The second experiment involves a nonword repetition test where syllable length and consonant clusters are systematically controlled to contrast the influence of both phonological short-term memory and phonological complexity. The results are consistent with accounts that argue for a significant role of phonological complexity in NWR and question the “centrality” of phonological capacity in nonword repetition. The final chapter summarises the findings of the thesis and its contribution to theories of SLI in general, and to the study of SLI in Arabic in particular

Preparation, Spectroscopy, Biological Activities and Thermodynamic Studies of New Complexes of Some Metal Ions with 2-[5-(2-Hydroxy-Phenyl)- 1,3,4-Thiadiazol-2-Ylimino]-Methyl-Naphthalen-1-Ol]

تم في هذه الدراسة تحضير سلسلة جديدة من المعقدات ثنائية النواة رباعية السن (  (N2O2بصيغة M2L2.4H2O من عناصـر السلسلـة الانتقالية الأولى الكروم (III) الكوبلت (II) والنحاس (II) مع ليكند لقاعدة شيف (LH2) 2-[5-(2-Hydroxy-phenyl)- 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylimino]-methyl-naphthalen-1-ol], المشتقة من تفاعل 1-Hydroxy-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde مع 2-amino-5-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole. تم التحقق من الصيغ التركيبية لليكاندات المعقدات المحضرة بالطرائق الفيزيائية المعروفة مثل درجة الانصهار والتحليل الدقيق للعناصر (C.H.N.O), التوصيلية الكهربائية المولارية والحساسية المغناطيسية والتحليل الحراري (TGA) والأطياف الالكترونية وطيف الأشعة تحت الحمراء وتم تقدير نسبة الفلزات بطريقة الامتصاص الذري و ايجاد النسبة المئوية للكلوريد في المعقدات قياس طيف الكتلة (MS) و 1H-NMR لليكاندا المحضر على ضوء نتائج القياس اعلاه تم اقتراح شكل ثماني السطوح لجميع المعقدات من (Cr3+,Co2+,Cu2+). توضح قياس التوصيلة أن المعقــــــدات المحضرةCr3+,Co2+,Cu2+)  كانت غير إلكتروليت باستثناء Cr3+,. تم حساب الثوابت الديناميكية والثرموداينميكية مثل طاقة التنشيط Ea ، والانثالبية ΔH  ، الانتروبيا ΔS  والطاقة الحرة Gibbs ΔG  باستخدام معادلة Coats-Redfern بواسطة منحنى TGA. تم فحص النشاط الحيوي لقاعدة شيف والمعقدات المحضرة لأنواع من البكتيريا واظهرت نشاطًا كبيرًا ضد بعض والبكتيريا.This study describes the preparation of new series of tetra-dentate N2O2 dinuclear complexes (Cr3+, Co2+, Cu2+) of the Schiff base derived from condensation of 1-Hydroxy-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde with 2-amino-5-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole. The structures of the ligands were identified using IR, UV-Vis , mass,  elemental analysis and 1H-NMR techniques. All prepared complexes have been characterized by conductance measurement, magnetic susceptibility, electronic spectra, infrared spectrum, theromgravimatric analysis (TGA) and metal analysis by atomic absorption. From stoichiometry of metal to ligand and all measurements show a octahedral geometry proposed for all complexes of the (Cr3+, Co2+, Cu2+). conductivity measurement shows that of the prepared (Co2+, Cu2+) complexes were non electrolyte but (Cr3+) complexes were electrolyte. The parameters of thermodynamic, activation energy Ea , enthalpy ΔH, entropy ΔS and Gibbs free energy ΔG   were calculated using Coats-Redfern method by the TGA curve. The bioactivity of the prepared (LH2) and its complexes have been examined with antibacterial activity which shows significant activity against some fungi and bacteria

Optimizing The Global Performance Of Build-to-order Supply Chains

Build-to-order supply chains (BOSCs) have recently received increasing attention due to the shifting focus of manufacturing companies from mass production to mass customization. This shift has generated a growing need for efficient methods to design BOSCs. This research proposes an approach for BOSC design that simultaneously considers multiple performance measures at three stages of a BOSC Tier I suppliers, the focal manufacturing company and Tier I customers (product delivery couriers). We present a heuristic solution approach that constructs the best BOSC configuration through the selection of suppliers, manufacturing resources at the focal company and delivery couriers. The resulting configuration is the one that yields the best global performance relative to five deterministic performance measures simultaneously, some of which are nonlinear. We compare the heuristic results to those from an exact method, and the results show that the proposed approach yields BOSC configurations with near-optimal performance. The absolute deviation in mean performance across all experiments is consistently less than 4%, with a variance less than 0.5%. We propose a second heuristic approach for the stochastic BOSC environment. Compared to the deterministic BOSC performance, experimental results show that optimizing BOSC performance according to stochastic local performance measures can yield a significantly different supply chain configuration. Local optimization means optimizing according to one performance measure independently of the other four. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we test the impact of local performance variability on the global performance of the BOSC. Experimental results show that, as variability of the local performance increases, the mean global performance decreases, while variation in the global performance increases at steeper levels

Varietal mixtures in small grains

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1963 S52Master of Scienc

The Accounting Conservatism and Its Effect on the Quality of Financial Reporting and Supply Chain of Organization in the Financial Market

Accounting conservatism is one of the well-established accounting policies that is used in the field of accounting. In the past, it has been highly praised because conservatism increases the credibility and reliability of financial statements and helps to protect the stakeholders. The sound application of accounting conservatism leads to improve the quality of financial reporting through confessing and disclosing, in the appropriate time, the unwanted news that might face the company. But the company management can have an influence on practicing financial conservatism by intervening in the measurement and disclosure processes of the company results and its financial position, which aims to mislead financial statements users. Although accounting conservatism has been criticized severely due to its contradiction with certain qualitative standards of accounting information, it does not attract local (Iraqi) attention in which it has an important role to enhance financial reporting in the Iraqi environment. Because Iraq tries to attract foreign companies to work and invest in the country, which requires to provide sufficient information to helps them take sound decisions. The study aims to shed light on the relationship between accounting conservatism and the improvement of the quality of financial statements, and the effect of this relationship on the supply chain of the organization in the financial market. Conservatism can be used by the company management as a way of accounting alternatives in an opportunistic and practical way through some accounting policies that the companies apply. In order to reach the study goals, the necessary data and information have been gathered to test the study hypotheses. The study achieves statistically important indicators about the level of accounting conservatism in the financial statements issued by the joint- stock companies in Iraq stock exchange

Examining guided online peer feedback on L2 writing content and language via Edmodo

The present study investigated the nature of online peer feedback and the extent of incorporating peer revisions. In particular, it examined the comments and changes in relation to the guidance sheet and in terms of the writing features of idea development, organization, vocabulary and style, structure and mechanics. The study had an exploratory design leaning towards the applied end of research. The data were collected from a large class of 77 students both female and male in an Egyptian national university. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the frequency of the comments and revisions. A qualitative approach was employed to identify the patterns of online peer feedback. The results of the study showed that the participants were able to produce feedback that addressed varied writing features. They also revealed that idea development was the most targeted writing aspect in both comments and revisions which was in accordance with the guidance sheet. In general, there was an equal distribution of comments focusing on content (idea development and organization) and language (vocabulary and style, structure and mechanics). Revisions in the language, on the other hand, outweighed those in the content area. This implies that students have a tendency on respond to language issues even when they are not the focus of the sheet nor the peer feedback. The study offered a number of pedagogical implications for the implementation of online peer feedback in L2 classroom in general and ESP, large classes in particular

Essential aspects of power system planning in developing countries

AbstractIn developing countries, power system planning faces enormous challenges and problems as, for example, future load growth in the face of uncertainties, the constraints imposed on investment, the type and availability of fuel for the generating units, the need for consolidating the dispersed electric utilities in the isolated regions as a prerequisite for future interconnecting these regions via local national grids and with other neighboring countries. Also, how an optimal reliability level can be achieved that will guarantee a continuous power flow with a reasonable costs. All these obstacles made power systems planners and concerned agencies face tremendous difficulties in planning electric power facilities and making sound and appropriate decisions in constructing new power plants or adding new generating units or reinforcing the transmission and distribution networks. The proposed work attempts to display the most tedious and prominent problems and challenges that face the electric power systems in developing countries and influence the decision-making process which must be based on two major factors, namely, reliability and cost

Guanxi-type relationships (shabakat al-alakat) and relationship marketing : new linkages in the Egyptian SME sector

Establishing strong, high-quality relationships with customers can be an important element in conducting business throughout the world, particularly in complex and highly competitive markets. This study attempts to explore and examine the differences and possible linkages between two important approaches to building relationships: guanxi and relationship marketing. Guanxi-type relationships tend to work at the inter-personal level, whereas relationship marketing tends to operate at the inter-organisational level.Despite the fact that both concepts are well known individually, a dearth of critical comparison remains in academic literature, even though evidence suggests that managers can use the linkages between the approaches to improve customer recruitment and retention. More importantly, although prior research implies an association between guanxi and relationship marketing, to date, no studies have sought to link the two concepts, and therefore a unified model does not exist.Moreover, hardly any work has been done to explore guanxi-type relationships in the Arab world generally and the Egyptian context specifically, although Hutchings and Weir (2006a, 2006b) highlighted that networks, and in particular guanxi-type relationships, in the Arab world remain insufficiently researched and there is a dearth of literature exploring these. Furthermore, an informed body of knowledge, explaining guanxi-type relationships in the Arab world and comparing the networking styles of China and the Arab world, does not exist.Informed by these issues, this study attempted to address these research gaps by employing a mixed method design through two phases of research. In the first phase, twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with academics, experts and practitioners in the Egyptian SME sector. The aim of this phase was to explore the nature, meaning and variables of guanxi-type relationships in the Egyptian context, identify the variables of relationship marketing, and define the relationship between these two strands, and how organisations can link them and transform personal relationships into organisational relationships to retain their customers. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis and Nvivo9 software.This phase formed the foundation for the second phase, which employed a quantitative research design to collect primary data using 305 self-administered questionnaires from customers of SMEs in Egypt. The aim of the second phase was empirically to test a model that links guanxi-type relationships and relationship marketing and their association with relationship quality and customer retention. Through testing the research model, the study sought empirical evidence for building the organisational types of relationship involved in relationship marketing instead of the personal type of relationship involved in guanxi-type relationships, thereby enhancing customer retention and avoiding the problem of employees taking customers with them, when leaving the company. The data were analysed using SPSS19 and SPSS macros, employing multivariate data analysis techniques including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), multiple regression analysis, hierarchal multiple regression analysis, bootstrapping method and crosstabulation.The findings of the first phase revealed that guanxi-type relationships in Egypt stem from the principles of Islam and Christianity and have become rooted and embedded in the Egyptian culture. Moreover, the Egyptian type of social network (guanxi-type relationships in Egypt) can be called shabakat al-alakat (network of relationships). Eight characteristics of shabakat al-alakat have been determined: social, personal, intangible, transferable, contextual, emotional, of religious origin, and long-term. In addition, shabakat al-alakat is a multi-dimensional construct that can be measured through five variables affectional bonding, empathy, reciprocity, personal trust and face.Moreover, the findings of the second phase showed that shabakat al-alakat (guanxi-type relationships in Egypt), relationship investment programmes (financial and structural), relationship marketing and relationship quality have a significant positive relationship with customer retention. The results also highlighted that relationship investment programmes (financial and structural) and relationship marketing have a significant positive relationship with relationship quality. In addition, relationship quality mediates the relationship between relationship marketing and customer retention, as well as relationship investment programmes (financial and structural) and customer retention. Furthermore, the findings confirmed the interaction effect of shabakat al-alakat in the relationship between relationship marketing and customer retention. Overall, the proposed research model was validated.Three major contributions stem from this research. First, this study contributes to knowledge by establishing and providing a comprehensive framework of all aspects of the social network in Egypt (shabakat al-alakat or guanxi-type relationships in Egypt): its origin; meaning; name; characteristics; variables; advantages and disadvantages and its role in attracting new customers. The second contribution comes from the novel model, which links guanxi-type relationships with relationship marketing and the impact of this link on customer retention. The third contribution comes from introducing a way to transfer the personal type of relationship involved in guanxi-type relationships to the organisational type of relationship involved in relationship marketing and transferring guanxi-type relationships from the uninstitutionalised and interpersonal level to the institutionalised or organisational level.It is hoped that future research will build on these results so that further avenues can be explored

Narrative Identities of Teachers From the German Democratic Republic

Research carried out following the fall of the Berlin Wall was generally unable to produce a coherent picture of the impact that the German Democratic Republic (GDR) had on “ordinary” people’s lives and identities. In this study, we therefore examine life story accounts from teachers who spent the formative half of their lives in the GDR and the other half in a reunited Germany. We chose this group of professionals as they were representative of an educated class whose task it was to support the state. The focus of the study was the changing relationship between individuals and the political system and society in which they lived. Specifically, we focused on moral evaluations that participants engaged in as a method for exploring their narrative identities. Thematic analyses of 21 semistructured interviews, illustrated here by 3 case examples, revealed how positive and critical dispositions toward the GDR began to form in early adulthood. Critical individuals stressed the gap between the socialist rhetoric of the regime and reality of everyday life and reflected on forms of passive resistance that they engaged in out of personally held moral conviction. In contrast, those who were positively disposed toward the GDR did not exhibit profound political beliefs but described a past life submerged in their immediate world of work and family without feeling compelled to engage in moral justifications for the society in which they lived. The methodology used and the relevance of the findings are considered in relation to liberal capitalist democracies