Showing papers by "American University in Cairo published in 2010"

A Multi‐Dimensional Framework of Organizational Innovation: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract: This paper consolidates the state of academic research on innovation. Based on a systematic review of literature published over the past 27 years, we synthesize various research perspectives into a comprehensive multi-dimensional framework of organizational innovation - linking leadership, innovation as a process, and innovation as an outcome. We also suggest measures of determinants of organizational innovation and present implications for both research and managerial practice.

Spark plasma extrusion (SPE) of ball-milled aluminum and carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composite powders

Abstract: Ball-milled aluminum (Al) and Al–carbon nanotube (CNT) composite (2.5 wt.% CNT loading) powders have been consolidated using a spark plasma extrusion (SPE) process. Compared with spark plasma sintering (SPS), SPE has the added advantages of allowing the production of powder-based materials of extended geometries and bulk deformation under the influence of electric current which may yield materials with unique properties. The process is discussed in this short communication together with resulting microstructures and properties for the investigated materials.

Social networking and Web 2.0 in information literacy

Abstract: This paper discusses free online and Internet tools that can be adapted by librarians for use with library instruction and information literacy training, with a focus on social media and Web 2.0 technologies, including social networking websites Facebook and Twitter, blogs, RSS, wikis, and video sharing. Many students already use these technologies and are readily engaged with the library when the technologies are incorporated into library websites and classes. There are challenges in using these technologies, especially in countries with oppressive governments. This paper is based, in part, on a presentation the authors gave at the UNESCO Training the Trainers in Information Literacy Workshop at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt in November 2008.

Intelligent cross road traffic management system (ICRTMS)

Abstract: The aim of this research is to provide a design of an integrated intelligent system for management and controlling traffic lights based on distributed long range Photoelectric Sensors in distances prior to and after the traffic lights The appropriate distances for sensors are chosen by the traffic management department so that they can monitor cars that are moving towards a specific traffic and then transfer this data to the intelligent software that are installed in the traffic control cabinet, which can control the traffic lights according to the measures that the sensors have read, and applying a proposed algorithm based on the total calculated relative weight of each road Accordingly, the system will open the traffic that are overcrowded and give it a longer time larger than the given time for other traffics that their measures proved that their traffic density is less This system can be programmed with very important criteria that enable it to take decisions for intelligent automatic control of traffic lights Also the proposed system is designed to accept information about any emergency case through an active RFID based technology Emergency cases such as the passing of presidents, ministries and ambulances vehicles that require immediate opening for the traffic automatically The system has the ability to open a complete path for such emergency cases from the next traffic until reaching the target destination (end of the path) As a result the system will guarantee the fluency of traffic for such emergency cases or for the main vital streets and paths that require the fluent traffic all the time, without affecting the fluency of traffic generally at normal streets according to the time of the day and the traffic density Also the proposed system can be tuned to run automatically without any human intervention or can be tuned to allow human intervention at certain circumstances

Audit quality attributes, client size and cost of equity capital

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of certain audit quality attributes, namely auditor size, auditor industry specialization and auditor tenure on a client firm's cost of equity capital.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses empirical data to construct a measure of ex ante cost of equity capital for each firm and year using analyst forecasts. Independent audit quality measures used are auditor size, auditor industry specialization and auditor tenure. Firm cost of equity capital is regressed against the three independent variables and appropriate control variables.Findings – The paper finds that auditor size (auditor is a member of the BigX), auditor industry specialization and auditor tenure are negatively associated with the client firm's cost of equity capital. However, the paper finds that this effect is limited only to small client firms, potentially reflecting the poor information environment associated with such firms.Practical implications – The study highlights ...

Trafficking and Contract Migrant Workers in the Middle East

Abstract: The paper addresses a number of issues regarding the extent to which trafficking may be applied to migrant domestic workers who enter under the kafala system of sponsorship in the Middle East. Migrant domestic workers are the most numerous of those mentioned in reports on trafficking for labour exploitation in the region. The discussion seeks to determine whether "trafficking" can be ex post facto, rather than ex ante? In other words, can the label of trafficking be attributed only after the worker has arrived in the receiving country and is victimized according to the principles of trafficking protocols? In addition, must there be a proven intent to traffic by agents, or can employers who harm and/or exploit them be considered as traffickers alone? Should the harm done to workers on arrival at their place of work be classified (and assisted) as victims of trafficking, or as exploited workers?

KP-Miner: Participation in SemEval-2

Abstract: This paper briefly describes the KP-Miner system which is a system developed for the extraction of keyphrases from English and Arabic documents, irrespective of their nature. The paper also outlines the performance of the system in the "Automatic Keyphrase Extraction from Scientific Articles" task which is part of SemEval-2.

Properties of single and dual matrix aluminum–carbon nanotube composites processed via spark plasma extrusion (SPE)

Abstract: The interest in carbon nanotube (CNT) aluminum composites has been growing significantly over the past decade. Most work has focused on the generation of composite materials with homogeneously dispersed carbon nanotubes. On the other hand, the dual matrix composite microstructural design, where the matrix is selectively reinforced in localized regions within the microstructure separated by ductile unreinforced matrix, may present significant benefits. Primarily these benefits include an ability to tailor the properties of the final composite which may give rise to controlled properties and enhanced formability. This paper discusses dual- and single-matrix CNT–Al composites and milled aluminum processed via Spark Plasma Extrusion (SPE) and discusses the effect of the microstructural design on the mechanical properties.

Resonator with magnetically adjustable natural frequency for vibration energy harvesting

Abstract: The recent years have witnessed a wealth of research on energy harvesting technologies. To maximize the output power, vibration-based energy harvesters are normally designed to exhibit natural frequencies that match those of the excitation. This has spurred interest into the design of devices that possess tunable natural frequencies to cope with sources which exhibit varying frequencies. In this work, an energy harvester is proposed in the form of a base excited cantilever treated with a piezoelectric layer. The cantilever carries a tip mass in the form of a magnet which is placed in close proximity to a stationary magnet with opposite polarity. Different values of axial tensions, and hence different natural frequencies, are obtained by adjusting the gap between the magnets. A dynamic model to predict the system performance is presented and verified experimentally. Based on the findings of this paper, natural frequencies ranging from 3.19 to 12 Hz were achieved.

Transnational family networks in the Somali diaspora in Egypt: women's roles and differentiated experiences

Abstract: Diasporic Somalis are increasingly leading a transnational life in which family members are sustained through networks of relations, obligations and resources that are located in different nation-states. These networks and relations enable diasporic Somalis to seek safety for themselves and their relatives, minimize risks and maximize family resources. In this article, I examine three key dimensions of such a way of life, namely: migration; remittances; and transnational family care. I focus on the roles that women play in this family-based support system. For instance, women move and facilitate the movement of other family members; they remit to family members; and they provide care for children and sick relatives. But these transnational households are not free from tensions. Family members are placed in hierarchical relations shaped by age; parental authority; possession of western citizenship; financial resources; and bonds of familial reciprocity and gratitude. Women gain appreciation from relatives ...

Robot-Assisted Risky Intervention, Search, Rescue and Environmental Surveillance

Abstract: Technology has become the solution to many long-standing problems, and while current technologies may be effective, it is far from fully addressing the hug, complex, difficult and challenging tasks associated with disaster missions and risky intervention. The challenge is in finding creative, reliable and applicable technical solutions in such highly constrained and uncertain environment. In addition, it is necessary to overcome constrains on resources by developing innovative, cost effective and practical technology. Robotics can play important intelligent and technological roles that support first response equipment in harsh and dangerous environments while replacing rescue personnel from entering unreachable or unsafe places. Robotics solutions that are well adapted to local conditions of unstructured and unknown environment can greatly improve safety and security of personnel as well as work efficiency, productivity and flexibility. Solving and fulfilling the needs of such tasks presents challenges in robotic mechanical structure and mobility, sensors and sensor fusion, autonomous and semi autonomous control, planning and navigation, and machine intelligence. This paper categorizes the source of disasters and associated missions, and highlights the needs for suitable and reliable technology and technical and functional requirements of robotic systems to fulfill task objectives. In addition, it shows that robotic technologies can be used for disasters prevention or early warning, intervention and recovery efforts during disasters with all possible kinds of relevant missions while ensuring quality of service and safety of human beings. Some of these missions may include: demining, search and rescue, surveillance, reconnaissance and risk assessment, evacuation assistance, intrusion/victim detection and assessment, etc.

Global journalism research: Theories, methods, findings, future

Abstract: Notes on Contributors. Part I: Introduction to Journalism Research. 1. Questioning National, Cultural and Disciplinary Boundaries: A Call for Global Journalism Research: David Weaver (Indiana University, Bloomington) and Martin Loffelholz (Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany). Part II: Theories of Journalism Research. 2. Heterogeneous - Multi-dimensional - Competing: Theoretical Approaches on Journalism - an Overview: Martin Loffelholz (Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany). 3. Journalism in a Globalizing World Society: A Societal Approach to Journalism Research: Manfred Ruhl (University of Bamberg). 4. Journalism as a Human Right: The Cultural Approach to Journalism: John Hartley (Queensland University of Technology). 5. The Structure of News Production: The Organizational Approach to Journalism Research: Klaus-Dieter Altmeppen (Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany). 6. Factors Behind Journalists' Professional Behavior: A Psychological Approach to Journalism Research: Wolfgang Donsbach (Dresden University, Germany). 7. Jounalism as a Symbolic Practice - The Gender Approach in Journalism Research: Gertrude J. Robinson (McGill University, Montreal). Part III: Methodology and Methods of Journalism Research. 8. Comparing Journalism across Cultural Boundaries: State-of-the-art, Strategies, Problems, and Solutions: Thomas Hanitzsch (University of Zurich). 9. Methods of Journalism Research-Survey: David Weaver (Indiana University, Bloomington). 10. Methods of Journalism Research - Content Analysis: Christian Kolmer (Media Tenor Institute, Bonn). 11. Methods of Journalism Research: Observation: Thorsten Quandt (Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany). Part IV: Selected Paradigms and Findings of Journalism Research. 12. Journalism Research in the United States: Paradigm Shift in Times of Globalization: Jane B. Singer (University of Iowa). 13. Journalism Research in Germany: Evolution and Central Research Interests: Siegfried Weischenberg (Hamburg University, Germany) and Maja Malik (University of Munster, Germany). 14. Journalism Research in the UK: From Isolated Efforts to an Established Discipline: Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Bob Franklin. 15. South African Journalism Research: Challenging Paradigmatic Schisms and Finding a Foothold in an Era of Globalization: Arnold S. de Beer (Stellenbosch University, South Africa). 16. Journalism Research in Greater China: Its Communities, Approaches, and Themes: Joseph Man Chan (University of Hong Kong), Ven-hwei Lo (National Chengchi University, Taiwan), and Zhongdang Pan (University of Wisconsin-Madison). 17. Journalism Research in Mexico: Historical Development and Research Interests in the Latin American Context: Maria Elena Hernandez Ramirez (University of Guadalajara) and Andreas Schwarz (Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany). Part V: The Future of Journalism Research. 18. Re-Considering \"Journalism\" for Journalism Research: Ari Heinonen (University of Tampere, Finland) and Heikki Luostarinen (University of Tampere, Finland). 19. Theorizing a Globalized Journalism: Stephen D. Reese (University of Texas at Austin). 20. Going Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries in the Future of Journalism Research: Barbie Zelizer (University of Pennsylvania). 21. Journalism Education in an Era of Globalization: Mark Deuze (Indiana University, Bloomington). Part VI: Conclusions. 22. Journalism Research: Summing Up and Looking Ahead: Martin Loffelholz (Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany) and David Weaver (Indiana University, Bloomington). Index

An Empirical Investigation of the Use of ISA 520 'Analytical Procedures' Among Big 4 versus Non-Big 4 Audit Firms in Egypt

Abstract: This paper contributes to the understanding of the nature and uses of analytical procedures (APs) within the Egyptian culture and economic context by adapting relevant aspects of prior studies on APs to the Egyptian audit context. The study investigated the extent of use of the international standard on auditing (ISA 520) on APs in Egypt during the three main stages of an audit by different size of firms and different levels of staff. It examined auditors perceptions of the frequency and effectiveness of different types of APs techniques in achieving a selected set of audit objectives. The study also identified the types of assurance provided by APs and their influence on detailed testing as well as analyzing the role of auditing standards in the context of the use of APs. The design and research method are empirical using a questionnaire survey to collect information on actual uses of AP from 14 audit firms in Egypt which audit the 100 actively traded companies on the CASE 100 index. The survey was carried out between 2007 and 2008. The results of the study showed relatively low use of APs by Egyptian auditors with wide variations in its use by big 4 and other auditing firms. Auditors from big 4 firms are found to use APs to a greater extent than auditors from Non-big 4 firms. The study confirmed the use of APs at all stages of audit engagements. Also, the reliance on APs tends to differ by auditors rank and position. The majority of auditors consider APs useful in achieving audit objectives. Audit firms of all size continue to emphasize judgment-based compared to quantitatively based procedures. The results also indicated a lack of confidence in the use of APs as substantive procedures. Finally, the study confirmed prior research findings as auditing standards were regarded as most effective in codifying existing large firms practice. It was found that ISA 520 has been least effective in stimulating change in audit practice. The different economic, political, educational, culture environment in Egypt may restrict the generalisability of this study results. In order to increase the wide use of APs by Egyptian auditors in the various stages of the audit engagement, auditors must put a lot of efforts in understanding the requirements of the Egyptian Auditing Standards for APs use. Auditors must understand and apply various APs techniques especially those associated with statistics and mathematical models. Educational Institutions and the Egyptian Association of Accountants and Auditors must play significant role in educating auditors about APs techniques and their use in planning, testing and final review of the financial statements.

Characterization and Spark Plasma Sintering of Mechanically Milled Aluminum-Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Composite Powders

Abstract: Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced metallic composites have been recently gaining a significant amount of scientific interest. The promise of transmitting part of the remarkable and outstanding prope...

An accuracy-enhanced light stemmer for arabic text

Abstract: Stemming is a key step in most text mining and information retrieval applications. Information extraction, semantic annotation, as well as ontology learning are but a few examples where using a stemmer is a must. While the use of light stemmers in Arabic texts has proven highly effective for the task of information retrieval, this class of stemmers falls short of providing the accuracy required by many text mining applications. This can be attributed to the fact that light stemmers employ a set of rules that they apply indiscriminately and that they do not address stemming of broken plurals at all, even though this class of plurals is very commonly used in Arabic texts. The goal of this work is to overcome these limitations. The evaluation of the work shows that it significantly improves stemming accuracy. It also shows that by improving stemming accuracy, tasks such as automatic annotation and keyphrase extraction can also be significantly improved.

I Am Also of the Opinion That Materialism Must Be Destroyed

Abstract: This paper criticizes two forms of philosophical materialism that adopt opposite strategies but end up in the same place. Both hold that individual entities must be banished from philosophy. The first kind is ground floor materialism, which attempts to dissolve all objects into some deeper underlying basis; here, objects are seen as too shallow to be the truth. The second kind is first floor materialism, which treats objects as naive fictions gullibly posited behind the direct accessibility of appearances or relations; here, objects are portrayed as too deep to be the truth. One major thesis of this paper is that these two forms of materialism are parasitical on one another and need each other's resources to make sense of the world. The second major thesis is that both forms of materialism thereby stand condemned, and that philosophy must be rebuilt from the individual objects that the two forms of materialism disdain. These points are made through a detailed consideration of the book Every Thing Must Go ...

Impact of Increased Body Mass Index on Accuracy of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and N-Terminal proBNP for Diagnosis of Decompensated Heart Failure and Prediction of All-Cause Mortality

Abstract: Background: BNP and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) concentrations may be depressed in patients with increased body mass index (BMI). Whether increased BMI affects accuracy of these biomarkers for diagnosing decompensated heart failure (HF) and predicting outcomes is unknown. Methods: We measured BNP and NT-proBNP in 685 patients with possible decompensated HF in a free-living community population subdivided by BMI as obese, overweight, and normal weight. HF diagnosis was adjudicated by a cardiologist blinded to BNP and NT-proBNP results. We tabulated all-cause mortality over a median follow-up of 401 days and assessed marker accuracy for HF diagnosis and mortality by ROC analysis. Results: Of the 685 patients, 40.9% were obese (n = 280), 28.2% were overweight (n = 193), and 30.9% had normal BMI (n = 212). Obese patients had lower BNP and NT-proBNP compared with overweight or normal-weight individuals ( P < 0.001) and decreased mortality compared with normal-weight individuals ( P < 0.001). Both biomarkers added significantly to a multivariate logistic regression model for diagnosis of decompensated HF across BMI categories. NT-proBNP outperformed BNP for predicting all-cause mortality in normal-weight individuals (χ2 for BNP = 6.4, P = 0.09; χ2 for NT-proBNP = 16.5, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression showed that both biomarkers remained significant predictors of decompensated HF diagnosis in each BMI subgroup. Conclusions: In this study population, obese patients had significantly lower BNP and NT-proBNP that reflected lower mortality. BNP and NT-proBNP can be used in all BMI groups for decompensated HF diagnosis, although BMI-specific cutpoints may be necessary to optimize sensitivity.

Impact of a Service Provider Incentive Payment Scheme on Quality of Reproductive and Child-health Services in Egypt

Abstract: A case-control, quasi-experimental study was designed (post-test only) to investigate the effect of a performance-based incentive payment scheme on behaviours of public-sector service providers in delivering a basic package of maternal and child-health services in Egyptian primary healthcare units. The results showed significant improvements in the quality of family-planning, antenatal care, and child-care services as reported by women seen in clinics where the incentive payment scheme was in operation as measured by various indicators, including both technical and inter-personal communication content. An analysis of characteristics of the service providers and clients found no significant or meaningful differences between the study groups, and the facilities of both the study groups were essentially the same. Some findings are suggestive of other influences on behaviours of the service providers not captured by the data-collection instruments of the study. Subsequent to this study, the payment scheme has been rolled out to other districts in Egypt.

Quantitative Methods for Design-Build Team Selection

Abstract: The use of design/build (DB) contracting by transportation agencies has been steadily increasing as a project delivery system for large complex highway projects. However, moving to DB from traditional design-bid-build procurement can be a challenge. One significant barrier is gaining acceptance of a best-value selection process in which technical aspects of a proposal are considered separately and then combined with price to determine the winning proposal. These technical aspects mostly consist of qualitative criteria, thus making room for human errors or biases. Any perceived presence of bias or influence in the selection process can lead to public mistrust and protests by bidders. It is important that a rigorous quantitative mathematical analysis of the evaluation process be conducted to determine whether bias exists and to eliminate it. The paper discusses two potential sources of bias—evaluators and weighting model—in the DB selection process and presents mathematical models to detect and remove biase...

The Impact of Institutional Ownership and Dividend Policy on Stock Returns and Volatility: Evidence from Egypt

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of institutional ownership on stock volatility, returns, and dividend policy in Egypt. It also investigates the impact of dividend policy on the direction of the relation between institutional ownership and stock volatility and returns. Our main results show that private institutional ownership has significant and positive effect on stock volatility while it has no effect on returns. We find that private institutional ownership has negative effect on dividend payout ratio. Finally, we show that private institutional ownership significantly increases volatility for non-dividend paying stocks only because these stocks are more subject to institutional herding than dividend paying stocks.

Morphological Analysis and Generation of Arabic Nouns: A Morphemic Functional Approach

Abstract: MAGEAD is a morphological analyzer and generator for Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and its dialects. We introduced MAGEAD in previous work with an implementation of MSA and Levantine Arabic verbs. In this paper, we port that system to MSA nominals (nouns and adjectives), which are far more complex to model than verbs. Our system is a functional morphological analyzer and generator, i.e., it analyzes to and generates from a representation consisting of a lexeme and linguistic feature-value pairs, where the features are syntactically (and perhaps semantically) meaningful, rather than just morphologically. A detailed evaluation of the current implementation comparing it to a commonly used morphological analyzer shows that it has good morphological coverage with precision and recall scores in the 90s. An error analysis reveals that the majority of recall and precision errors are problems in the gold standard or a result of the discrepancy between different models of form-based/functional morphology.

An empirical investigation of the use of ISA 520 “analytical procedures” among Big 4 versus non‐Big 4 audit firms in Egypt

Abstract: – This study aims to examine the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) number 520 relating to analytical procedures (APs) and adapt relevant aspects of prior studies on APs to the Egyptian audit context. The study investigates the extent of use of APs in Egypt during the three main stages of an audit by size of firms and level of staff. It examines auditors' perceptions of the frequency and effectiveness of different types of APs in achieving a selected set of audit objectives. The study also identifies the types of assurance provided by APs and their influence on detailed testing as well as analyzing the role of auditing standards in the context of the use of APs., – The design and research method are empirical using a questionnaire survey to collect information on actual uses of APs from 14 audit firms in Egypt which audit the 100 actively traded companies on the Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX) as measured by the EGX 100 index. The survey was carried out between 2008 and 2009., – The results of the study showed relatively low use of APs by Egyptian auditors with wide variations in its use by Big 4 and other auditing firms. Auditors from Big 4 firms are found to use APs to a greater extent than auditors from non‐Big 4 firms. Also, the reliance on APs tends to differ by auditors rank and position. The majority of auditors consider APs useful in achieving audit objectives. Audit firms of all size continue to emphasize judgment‐based compared to quantitatively based procedures. The results also indicated a lack of confidence in the use of APs as substantive procedures. Finally, the study confirmed prior research findings in that auditing standards are regarded as most effective in codifying existing large firms practice. It was found that ISA 520 has been least effective in stimulating change in the Egyptian audit practice., – The different economic, political, educational, and culture environment in Egypt may restrict the generalisability of this study results., – In order to increase the use of APs by Egyptian auditors in the various stages of the audit engagement, auditors need to understand the requirements of the Egyptian Auditing Standards regarding their use. Auditors also need to be aware of the application of various APs techniques, especially those associated with statistics and mathematical models. Educational institutions and the Egyptian Association of Accountants and Auditors must play significant role in educating auditors about APs techniques and their use in planning, testing and final review of the financial statements., – This paper contributes to an understanding of the nature and uses of APs within the Egyptian culture and economic context. The study will stimulate further research in understanding the importance of the use of APs in audit engagements in different perspectives.

WiFi implementation of Wireless Networked Control Systems

Abstract: This paper studies a Wireless Networked Control System which utilizes the IEEE 802.11b protocol without modifications to communicate between sensors and actuators in a production line environment. OPNET simulations are used to measure the end-to-end delay from sensor to controller and then from controller to actuator. It is observed that the measured delays, including all types of data processing, encapsulation, decapsulation and propagation, meet real-time control network requirements while guaranteeing correct packet reception. The system is then subjected to noise and several worst-case scenarios are analyzed. Simulations indicate that the system is still able to meet the required end-to-end delays. All results are based on a 95% confidence analysis.

Emotion detection using noisy EEG data

Abstract: Emotion is an important aspect in the interaction between humans. It is fundamental to human experience and rational decision-making. There is a great interest for detecting emotions automatically. A number of techniques have been employed for this purpose using channels such as voice and facial expressions. However, these channels are not very accurate because they can be affected by users' intentions. Other techniques use physiological signals along with electroencephalography (EEG) for emotion detection. However, these approaches are not very practical for real time applications because they either ask the participants to reduce any motion and facial muscle movement or reject EEG data contaminated with artifacts. In this paper, we propose an approach that analyzes highly contaminated EEG data produced from a new emotion elicitation technique. We also use a feature selection mechanism to extract features that are relevant to the emotion detection task based on neuroscience findings. We reached an average accuracy of 51% for joy emotion, 53% for anger, 58% for fear and 61% for sadness.