• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.2-11
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• 2020

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) merely depend on improving the oocyte maturation and their developmental competence to produce good quality embryos. Oocyte maturation passes through long and complex molecular steps starts from the early embryonic life and ends with sperm fertilization. Oocyte developmental competence can be attained by improving the nuclear and cytoplasmic mechanisms together with some epigenetic maturation. In this review, we highlight the cornerstones of oocyte maturation on both nuclear and cytoplasmic levels. Interfering or supporting these molecular mechanisms would help in the development of novel regulating agents for reproductive performance of humans and livestock species.

• International Journal of Reliability and Applications
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2001

Lifetesting problems have been the subject of investigations for over three decades. Most suggested approaches are markedly different from those used in the related but wider goodness of fit problems. In the current investigation, it is demonstrated that a goodness of fit approach is possible in many lifetesting problems and that It results in simpler procedures that are asymptotically equivalent or better than standard ones. They may also have superior finite sample behavior. Several perennial classes are addressed here. The class of increasing failure rate (IFR) and the class of new better than used (NBU) are addressed first. In addition, we provide testing for a newer and practical class of new better than used in convex ordering (NBUC) due to Cao and Wang (1991). Other classes can be developed similarly and this point is illustrated with the classes of new better than used in expectation (NBUE) and harmonic new better than used in expectation (HNBUE).

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.177-192
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• 2011

This research paper aims at computer based modeling of carbonation induced corrosion under extreme conditions and its experimental verification by incorporating enhanced electrochemical and mass balance equations based on thermo-hygro physics with strong coupling of mass transport and equilibrium in micro-pore structure of carbonated concrete for which the previous research data is limited. In this paper the carbonation induced electrochemical corrosion model is developed and coupled with carbon dioxide transport computational model by the use of a concrete durability computer based model DuCOM developed by our research group at concrete laboratory in the University of Tokyo and its reliability is checked in the light of experiment results of carbonation induced corrosion mass loss obtained in this research. The comparison of model analysis and experiment results shows a fair agreement. The carbonation induced corrosion model computation reasonably predicts the quantitative behavior of corrosion rate for normal air dry relative humidity conditions. The computational model developed also shows fair qualitative corrosion rate simulation and analysis for various pH levels and coupled environmental actions of chloride and carbonation. Detailed verification of the model for the quantitative carbonation induced corrosion rate computation under varying relative conditions, different pH levels and combined effects of carbonation and chloride attack remain as scope for future research.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.6 no.10
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• pp.2708-2730
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• 2012

The growing concern for the protection of personal information has made it critical to implement effective technologies for privacy and data management. By observing the limitations of existing approaches, we found that there is an urgent need for a flexible, privacy-aware system that is able to meet the privacy preservation needs at both the role levels and the personal levels. We proposed a conceptual system that considered these two requirements: a graph-based, access control model to safeguard patient privacy. We present a case study of the healthcare field in this paper. While our model was tested in the field of healthcare, it is generic and can be adapted to use in other fields. The proof-of-concept demos were also provided with the aim of valuating the efficacy of our system. In the end, based on the hospital scenarios, we present the experimental results to demonstrate the performance of our system, and we also compared those results to existing privacy-aware systems. As a result, we ensured a high quality of medical care service by preserving patient privacy.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.12
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• pp.869-875
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• 2020

As a basic element for sustainable development, the residential housing industry is vital and fundamental for every country in the world. Therefore, this study examines the impacts of financial considerations on house purchase decisions by housing investors in Auckland, New Zealand. 110 completed questionnaires were statistically analyzed. For testing the proposed hypotheses, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used. The results show that house prices, income, and credit accessibility significantly influence housing investors' purchase decisions in a positive direction. It appears that more expensive houses offer more promising returns such that housing investors having higher levels of income and access to loans are brave enough to invest in such houses. This study aims to present the key factors influencing house purchase decisions from the viewpoint of housing investors as fundamental groups of stakeholders in the property market, which is rarely examined in previous studies. The implication of this study is to provide guidelines for housing regulators in New Zealand to develop affordable housing prices through the availability of land banks. This study also offers practical contributions to housing investors, particularly by providing key guidelines to make effective investment decisions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 1989

Mutton was the meat of choice among the Saudi Arabian citizens in Riyadh Metropolitan area, 1986-1987, followed by chicken, camel meat, fish and beef. The desirable taste of mutton that represented 68% of the total respondents was the main reason for its preference to other meats. The study also showed that Najdi sheep, which is the predominant local breed, enjoy a priority in its meat consumption among the other indigenous and exogenous breeds of sheep in the central region of the Kingdom. A loyalty to the Najdi sheep was witnessed even when the unit price was assumed to be doubled. Purchasing Najdi sheep for non-family consumption had dropped, although still ranked first among the breeds of sheep readily available in the local markets. The results also showed that, 41% of the sample individuals purchased at least one sheep per family per month, and more consumption of mutton took place during the winter months than during the summer.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.301-319
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• 2010

The paper seeks to explore some aspects of the current state of knowledge on progressive collapse in the technical literature covering blast loads and structural analysis procedure applicable to reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. The paper describes the progressive collapse analysis of a commercial RC building located in the city of Riyadh and subjected to different blast scenarios. A 3-D finite element model of the structure was created using LS-DYNA, which uses explicit time integration algorithms for solution. Blast loads were treated as dynamic pressure-time history curves applied to the exterior elements. The inherent shortcomings of notional member removal have been taken care of in the present paper by simulating the damage of structural elements through the use of solid elements with the provision of element erosion. Effects of erosion and cratering are studied for different scenarios of the blast.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2016

Cancer is a major health problem in the Arab region including Iraq. An adequate database is essential for effective cancer control strategies. Such a database may be provided through cancer registration but supportive household surveys may be useful. This article reports selected results on the feasibility of household surveys to support and validate cancer registration in Basrah governorate - southern Iraq. A large scale multi-stage cluster sample household survey was carried out in Basrah during 2013. It covered 6,999 households and involved gathering data on demographic characteristics and both incident cancer cases and cancer-related deaths among members of these households during a three-year recall period (2010-2012). The data obtained yielded an average annual incidence rate of 91 per 100,000 population (age-standardized incidence rate of 148.8 /100,000) and cancer specific mortality rate of 68 per 100,000 population (age-standardized mortality rate of 126.3/100,000). The results showed an overall pattern of cancer similar to that reported according to cancer registration but the household survey results were consistently higher than those of the cancer registration by a margin of approximately 20- 30% with respect to incident cancer and about 70 % with respect to cancer-specific mortality. Household surveys on cancer, while costly and time consuming, are a very useful additional source of information on cancer at the population level. They can be performed for specific purposes with effective resource mobilization.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.9
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• pp.537-547
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• 2020

This study aimed to analyze evidence of the effect of perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, and perceived security on the citizen's intention to use e-Filing with information technology readiness as an intervening variable. This study used primary data collected from Civil Servants Taxpayers, Indonesian National Armed Forces, and State Police of the Republic of Indonesia in Semarang City. One hundred fifty questionnaires were distributed, and 126 were processed and analyzed. The multiple linear regression and path analysis were employed to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that perceived ease-of-use and perceived security had a positive effect on the use of e-Filing, while perceived usefulness has no effect on the use of e-Filing. In addition, readiness of information technology did not mediate the relationships among the perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, and perceived security on the use of e-Filing. This study implies that Directorate General of Taxes, as a provider of e-Filing services, may improve the quality of e-Filing, especially in terms of ease and security. It is because, based on the results of this study, both aspects have been empirically proven to be able to increase intention to use e-Filing in reporting the annual notification letter.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2013

Purpose: Demirjian's dental maturity scores and curves have been widely used for human age determination. Several authors have reported considerable differences between the true and estimated age based on the Demirjian curves, which have been accounted for by ethnicity. The purpose of the current study was to assess the role of ethnicity-specific dental maturation curves in age estimation of Saudi children. Materials and Methods: A sample of 452 healthy Saudi children aged 4 to 14 years were aged based on the original French-Canadian Demirjian curves and several modified Demirjian curves specified for certain ethnic groups: Saudi, Kuwaiti, Polish, Dutch, Pakistani, and Belgian. One-way ANOVA and a post hoc Scheff$\acute{e}$'s test were used to assess the differences between chronological age and dental age estimated by the different curves (P<0.05). Results: The curves designed for Dutch, Polish, Saudi, and Belgian (5th percentile) populations had a significantly lower error in estimating age than the original French-Canadian and Belgian (50th percentile) curves. The optimal curve for males was the Saudi one, with a mean absolute difference between estimated age and chronological age of 8.6 months. For females, the optimal curve was the Polish one, with a mean absolute difference of 7.4 months. It was revealed that accurate age determination was not related to certain ethnicity-specific curves. Conclusion: We conclude that ethnicity might play a role in age determination, but not a principal one.