Investigation of variations and trends in TSP concentrations in the Klang Valley region, Malaysia

Air pollution in the atmosphere by TSP is a problem that has been growing for the last few years due to rapid industrialization, population growth and urbanization in the Klang Valley Region. Suspended particle levels are monitored in ambient air quality network of their potential impact on human health, visibility and climate. The objective of this study is to investigate variations and trends in TSP in the Klang Valley Region and to identify the main factors affecting the variation in TSP concentrations. This analysis used daily data collected from Malaysian Meteorological Services for Petaing Jaya station monitoring TSP data for the period 1977-2002. On daily average basis, annual, seasonal, monthly and weekly variations and trends in TSP concentrations are presented. Linear regressions were performed of the annual average TSP over the 1977 through 2002. The slope of the regression line in annual average decreased in TSP in order of -0.977 and statistically significant at 0.05 level. This suggests that whatever control measures have been applied are effective in reducing TSP concentrations. TSP concentrations in the Klang Valley Region showed seasonal variation, with the higher concentration during southwest monsoon season (dry season) and lower concentrations during rainy season. The causes of highest TSP concentrations during southwest monsoon season due to lack of rainfall and the stable atmospheric conditions, which reduce the ability of atmosphere to disperse the pollutants. The weekly pattern of TSP concentration exhibits a downward trend from Tuesday (maximum) to Sunday (minimum). This weekly cycle in TSP gives the indication that the main sources of the particulates in this area are from human activities rather than natural source

The Satisfaction Level of the Undergraduate Female Students Towards Using E-Courses in Qassim University

 The purpose of this study was to reveal the students’ Satisfaction rate  in quality of  general courses across online learning (E. Course) provided to female students during second semester . the descriptive approach was used and a questionnaire on the quality standards of electronic courses was designed consisting of 52 items and targeted 282 students from different disciplines in the College of Science and arts  - Qassim University. Some statistical analyzes such as means, standard deviations, and ANOVA Tests were performed to analyze the questionnaire. The results indicated that the level of satisfaction with the use The e-learning and for science and arts female  students are generally medium , but to varying degrees of one Element to another. The Satisfaction rate  of students towards quality of e. Course , not reach the level of 80% in the level of the significance 5%.The study included several recommendations. The most important of them is a necessity of Providing training programs for all university professors and students on how to use e-learning efficiently to enhancing their competencies and skills in using these innovative application

A comparative analysis of the role of foreign aid in post-conflict reconstruction of Rwanda and Sierra Leone

Foreign aid is an essential policy instrument used to transform post-conflict countries. The purpose of this study is to measure the effectiveness of foreign aid in two post-conflict countries, Rwanda and Sierra Leone. The research seeks to deepen the knowledge of foreign aid and the structures of dependency and neoliberal policies. The study employed secondary sources of data to assess various variables such as poverty reduction, governance, education, and economic development to evaluate the effectiveness of aid. The issue of aid in post-conflict reconstruction is a complex; the management of the aid is contingent on both the donors and receipt, hence foreign aid does not automatically equate to economic growth and development. The findings of the study suggest political stability, foreign assistance, and investor-friendly policies have contributed to Rwanda’s reconstruction and economic growth. Nevertheless, Rwanda’s dependency on foreign aid remains a challenge. In contrast, Sierra Leone’s post-conflict reconstruction experience has been less successful, on one hand, foreign aid has played a positive role in the peacebuilding process, on the other hand, it has economically crippled the country and created a relationship of dependency. Foreign aid has failed to promote long-term sustainable development, and instead, has induced corruption and created a dependency syndrome. Political instability and years of prolonged war, ineffective economic policies, the mismanagement and exploitation of resources and funds, aid and the inefficiency of diversifying the economy have impaired economic growth and development. Keywords: Rwanda, Sierra Leone, foreign aid, development, exploitatio

Integration of remote sensing and GIS in studying vegetation trends and conditions in the gum arabic belt in North Kordofan, Sudan

The gum arabic belt in Sudan plays a significant role in environmental, social and economical aspects. The belt has suffered from deforestation and degradation due to natural hazards and human activities. This research was conducted in North Kordofan State, which is affected by modifications in conditions and composition of vegetation cover trends in the gum arabic belt as in the rest of the Sahelian Sudan zone. The application of remote sensing, geographical information system and satellites imageries with multi-temporal and spatial analysis of land use land cover provides the land managers with current and improved data for the purposes of effective management of natural resources in the gum arabic belt. This research investigated the possibility of identification, monitoring and mapping of the land use land cover changes and dynamics in the gum arabic belt during the last 35 years. Also a newly approach of object-based classification was applied for image classification. Additionally, the study elaborated the integration of conventional forest inventory with satellite imagery for Acacia senegal stands. The study used imageries from different satellites (Landsat and ASTER) and multi-temporal dates (MSS 1972, TM 1985, ETM+ 1999 and ASTER 2007) acquired in dry season (November). The imageries were geo-referenced and radiometrically corrected by using ENVI-FLAASH software. Image classification (pixel-based and object-based), post-classification change detection, 2x2 and 3x3 pixel windows and accuracy assessment were applied. A total of 47 field samples were inventoried for Acacia senegal tree’s variables in Elhemmaria forest. Three areas were selected and distributed along the gum arabic belt. Regression method analysis was applied to study the relationship between forest attributes and the ASTER imagery. Application of multi-temporal remote sensing data in gum arabic belt demonstrated successfully the identification and mapping of land use land cover into five main classes. Also NDVI categorisation provided a consistent method for land use land cover stratification and mapping. Forest dominated by Acacia senegal class was separated covering an area of 21% and 24% in the year 2007 for areas A and B, respectively. The land use land cover structure in the gum arabic belt has obvious changes and reciprocal conversions between the classes indicating the trends and conditions caused by the human interventions as well as ecological impacts on Acacia senegal trees. The study revealed a drastic loss of Acacia senegal cover by 25% during the period of 1972 to 2007.The results of the study revealed to a significant correlation (p ≤ 0.05) between the ASTER bands (VNIR) and vegetation indices (NDVI, SAVI, RVI) with stand density, volume, crown area and basal area of Acacia senegal trees. The derived 2x2 and 3x3 pixel windows methods successfully extracted the spectral reflectance of Acacia senegal trees from ASTER imagery. Four equations were developed and could be widely used and applied for monitoring the stand density, volume, basal area and crown area of Acacia senegal trees in the gum arabic belt considering the similarity between the selected areas. The pixel-based approach performed slightly better than the object-based approach in land use land cover classification in the gum arabic belt. The study come out with some valuable recommendations and comments which could contribute positively in using remotely sensed imagery and GIS techniques to explore management tools of Acacia senegal stands in order to maintain the tree component in the farming and the land use systems in the gum arabic belt

The Living Legends of Sholoukh – شلوخ الأساطير Facial Scarification in Sudan

Sholoukh — ritual face scarring—is a dying art form in Sudan. Used to distinguish members of one tribe from another, Sholoukh reflects the tribal pride of an individual. In the past, sholoukh was seen as important as having a passport for a tribe member, however, it was not always applied by choice. Using just a razor blade, the wisest, most senior tribal elder would scar the face of a child, initiating them into the tribe for life. As this tribal art form fades away, the dwindling Sholoukh-bearers have become living legends in Sudan. To honor them, I create a collage of images of these beautifully scarred individuals. To celebrate Sholoukh and its symbols while giving choice back to the individual, I create a set of facial tools that allow someone to experience the beauty of Sholoukh either temporarily or permanently, preserving this Sudanese cultural treasure and reviving it for future generations and using it to celebrate the diversity Sudan carries

Depicting Vocational Education and Training System in Computable General Equilibrium Models

Allgemeine Gleichgewichtsmodelle (Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models) werden oft genutzt, um Erkenntnisse über die gesamtwirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen bildungspolitischer Maßnahmen zu gewinnen. Eine Literaturrecherche zur Integration des Bildungs- und Ausbildungssystems in CGE-Modellen zeigt klare Limitationen bisheriger Studien bezüglich der Darstellung des Bildungs- und Ausbildungssystems und identifiziert damit eine wichtige Forschungslücke, der sich diese Dissertation widmet. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist das Hauptziel dieser Dissertation die Entwicklung eines neuartigen Ansatzes zur Einbeziehung der anerkannten Bildungs- und Berufsbildungssysteme in CGE-Modellen, einschließlich aller potenziellen Verbindungen zwischen diesen beiden Systemen. Das entwickelte Modell ermöglicht die Akkumulation von Arbeitskräften entsprechend der Veränderungen der Anzahl der Absolventen und Schulabbrecher eines integrierten Bildungs- und Ausbildungssystems. Es handelt sich um ein rekursiv-dynamisches Ein-Land-CGE-Modell (STAGE-Edu), das die mittel- bis langfristigen gesamtwirtschaftlichen Effekte verschiedener Bildungs- und Ausbildungspolitiken abbildet. Der Sudan gehört zu den Ländern der unteren mittleren Einkommensklasse, die bezüglich der Förderung der menschlichen Entwicklung vor zahlreichen Herausforderungen stehen. Aus diesem Grund werden in der vorliegenden Dissertation verschiedene bildungspolitische Maßnahmen analysiert und deren Auswirkungen auf das Wirtschaftswachstum und die Humankapitalbildung im Sudan bewertet. Der entwickelte Modellierungsrahmen leistet einen wichtigen Beitrag zur gesamtwirtschaftlichen Darstellung der durch Bildung und Ausbildung bewirkten menschlichen Entwicklung sowie der drauf abzielenden politischen Maßnahmen. STAGE-Edu bietet politischen Entscheidungsträgern ex-ante Erkenntnisse bezüglich der potenziellen Auswirkungen von Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Arbeitsqualifikation und letztlich zur Erhöhung des Lebensstandards der Bevölkerung.Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models have been widely used to generate insights into the economy-wide implications of education policy measures. A literature review on incorporating the education and training system in CGE models reveals explicit limitations of previous studies depicting vocational education and training system, hence, identifying a significant research gap, which shall be addressed in this dissertation. Against this background, the main objective of this dissertation is to develop a novel approach to incorporate the acknowledged education and vocational training systems in CGE models, including all potential exiting bridges between these two systems. The developed model enables labor force accumulation according to changes in the number of graduates and dropouts from an integrated education and training system. It is a recursive-dynamic single-country CGE model (STAGE-Edu), which depicts the medium- to long-run economy-wide effects of various education and training policies. The Sudan is one of the lower-middle-income countries that face numerous challenges in accelerating human development. For this reason, in the dissertation at hand different education and training policy measures are analyzed and their implications on economic growth and human capital accumulation in the Sudan are assessed. The developed modeling framework contributes to the field of economy-wide depiction of human development triggered by education and training as well as related policy measures. STAGE-Edu provides policymakers with ex-ante insights on potential impacts of measures for enhancing labor skills and ultimately for improving the livelihood of the population

Fault Diagnosis Of Sensor And Actuator Faults In Multi-Zone Hvac Systems

Globally, the buildings sector accounts for 30% of the energy consumption and more than 55% of the electricity demand. Specifically, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is the most extensively operated component and it is responsible alone for 40% of the final building energy usage. HVAC systems are used to provide healthy and comfortable indoor conditions, and their main objective is to maintain the thermal comfort of occupants with minimum energy usage. HVAC systems include a considerable number of sensors, controlled actuators, and other components. They are at risk of malfunctioning or failure resulting in reduced efficiency, potential interference with the execution of supervision schemes, and equipment deterioration. Hence, Fault Diagnosis (FD) of HVAC systems is essential to improve their reliability, efficiency, and performance, and to provide preventive maintenance. In this thesis work, two neural network-based methods are proposed for sensor and actuator faults in a 3-zone HVAC system. For sensor faults, an online semi-supervised sensor data validation and fault diagnosis method using an Auto-Associative Neural Network (AANN) is developed. The method is based on the implementation of Nonlinear Principal Component Analysis (NPCA) using a Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and it demonstrates notable capability in sensor fault and inaccuracy correction, measurement noise reduction, missing sensor data replacement, and in both single and multiple sensor faults diagnosis. In addition, a novel on-line supervised multi-model approach for actuator fault diagnosis using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) is developed for single actuator faults. It is based a data transformation in which the 1-dimensional data are configured into a 2-dimensional representation without the use of advanced signal processing techniques. The CNN-based actuator fault diagnosis approach demonstrates improved performance capability compared with the commonly used Machine Learning-based algorithms (i.e., Support Vector Machine and standard Neural Networks). The presented schemes are compared with other commonly used HVAC fault diagnosis methods for benchmarking and they are proven to be superior, effective, accurate, and reliable. The proposed approaches can be applied to large-scale buildings with additional zones

Weighted Composition Operators from Hardy Spaces to Weighted-Type Spaces on the Upper Half-Plane

Let the holomorphic mapping ?, and the holomorphic self-map ? are on the upper half-plane. We characterize bounded weighted composition operators between the Hardy space and the weighted-type space on the upper half-plane, and we study the special cases when which is the Hilbert space. Under a mild condition on ?; we also show the compactness of these operators and there special cases. Keywords: Weighted composition operators, Hardy spaces, weighted type spaces, upper half plane

Compact Composition Operators between Hardy Spaces

We characterise composition operators between Hardy spaces. Certain growth conditions for generalized Nevanlinna counting functions of the inducing map are shown to be necessary and sufficient for such operators to be bounded or compact. Under a mind condition we show that a composition operators Cj is compact on the Hardy spaces of the open unit ball in .   Keywords: Hardy Spaces, composition operators, boundedness, Compactness, Nevanlinna counting functions

Association between smoking and foot ulcer among patients with diabetes mellitus, Wad Medani, Sudan

Background: This study aimed to assess the relationship between smoking and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) among adult diabetic patients presenting to Aldarga Diabetic Center, Wad Medani, Sudan in 2020.Methods: This comprehensive study is based on primary data obtained via a longitudinal cross-section random sample of 400 patients with diabetes mellitus who presented to Aldarga Diabetic Health Center in Wad Medani Town, Gezira State, Sudan between September and December 2020. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The core questions included two main dimensions: sociodemographicvariables and smoking. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, v.20, using descriptive and inferential statistics, namely, frequency tables and graphs, showing the Chi-square test of the relationship between the dependent and the independent variables.Results: Of the 400 participants, 96 were clearly diagnosed with foot ulcer giving a proportion of 33% in the sample. There was a statistically significant relationship between smoking and DFU. A Chi-square test was done to measure the relationship between smoking and foot ulcer, which was significant at P = 0.043.Conclusion: Extensive awareness programs to control the negative effect of smoking in accelerating DFU and amputation are necessary