Bayesian Inference on Finite Mixtures of Poisson Distributions

Mixed Poisson distributions are widely used in various disciplines to model data in which each observation is assumed to come from one of a number of Poisson distributions with different parameters. In this thesis, we investigate the Bayesian estimation for the finite Poisson mixture model using the Gibbs sampler as an important one of the MCMC methods. Our approach in this thesis depends on using the Gibbs sampler to simulate a Markov chain which has the posterior density as its stationary distribution. Then we use the resulting sample to make the suitable Bayesian computations and draw conclusion about the unknown parameters of the Poisson mixture model. We conclude this thesis by presenting a real data example to illustrate our methodology

Actin depolymerisation and crosslinking join forces with myosin II to contract actin coats on fused secretory vesicles

In many secretory cells actin and myosin are specifically recruited to the surface of secretory granules following their fusion with the plasma membrane. Actomyosin-dependent compression of fused granules is essential to promote active extrusion of cargo. However, little is known about molecular mechanisms regulating actin coat formation and contraction. Here, we provide a detailed kinetic analysis of the molecules regulating actin coat contraction on fused lamellar bodies in primary alveolar type II cells. We demonstrate that ROCK1 and myosin light chain kinase 1 (MLCK1, also known as MYLK) translocate to fused lamellar bodies and activate myosin II on actin coats. However, myosin II activity is not sufficient for efficient actin coat contraction. In addition, cofilin-1 and α-actinin translocate to actin coats. ROCK1-dependent regulated actin depolymerisation by cofilin-1 in cooperation with actin crosslinking by α-actinin is essential for complete coat contraction. In summary, our data suggest a complementary role for regulated actin depolymerisation and crosslinking, and myosin II activity, to contract actin coats and drive secretion

Applying the big bang-big crunch metaheuristic to large-sized operational problems

In this study, we present an investigation of comparing the capability of a big bang-big crunch metaheuristic (BBBC) for managing operational problems including combinatorial optimization problems. The BBBC is a product of the evolution theory of the universe in physics and astronomy. Two main phases of BBBC are the big bang and the big crunch. The big bang phase involves the creation of a population of random initial solutions, while in the big crunch phase these solutions are shrunk into one elite solution exhibited by a mass center. This study looks into the BBBC’s effectiveness in assignment and scheduling problems. Where it was enhanced by incorporating an elite pool of diverse and high quality solutions; a simple descent heuristic as a local search method; implicit recombination; Euclidean distance; dynamic population size; and elitism strategies. Those strategies provide a balanced search of diverse and good quality population. The investigation is conducted by comparing the proposed BBBC with similar metaheuristics. The BBBC is tested on three different classes of combinatorial optimization problems; namely, quadratic assignment, bin packing, and job shop scheduling problems. Where the incorporated strategies have a greater impact on the BBBC's performance. Experiments showed that the BBBC maintains a good balance between diversity and quality which produces high-quality solutions, and outperforms other identical metaheuristics (e.g. swarm intelligence and evolutionary algorithms) reported in the literature

Effect of ethnomedicinal plants used in folklore medicine in Jordan as antibiotic resistant inhibitors on Escherichia coli

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Escherichia coli </it>occurs naturally in the human gut; however, certain strains that can cause infections, are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Multidrug-resistant <it>E. coli </it>that produce extended-spectrum β lactamases (ESBLs), such as the CTX-M enzymes, have emerged within the community setting as an important cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bloodstream infections may be associated with these community-onsets. This is the first report testing the antibiotic resistance-modifying activity of nineteen Jordanian plants against multidrug-resistant <it>E. coli</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The susceptibility of bacterial isolates to antibiotics was tested by determining their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using a broth microdilution method. Nineteen Jordanian plant extracts (<it>Capparis spinosa </it>L., <it>Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Echinops polyceras </it>Boiss., <it>Gundelia tournefortii </it>L, <it>Varthemia iphionoides </it>Boiss. & Blanche, <it>Eruca sativa Mill</it>., <it>Euphorbia macroclada </it>L., <it>Hypericum trequetrifolium </it>Turra, <it>Achillea santolina </it>L., <it>Mentha longifolia </it>Host, <it>Origanum syriacum </it>L., <it>Phlomis brachydo</it>(Boiss.) Zohary, <it>Teucrium polium </it>L., <it>Anagyris foetida </it>L., <it>Trigonella foenum-graecum </it>L., <it>Thea sinensis </it>L., <it>Hibiscus sabdariffa </it>L., <it>Lepidium sativum </it>L., <it>Pimpinella anisum </it>L.) were combined with antibiotics, from different classes, and the inhibitory effect of the combinations was estimated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Methanolic extracts of the plant materials enhanced the inhibitory effects of chloramphenicol, neomycin, doxycycline, cephalexin and nalidixic acid against both the standard strain and to a lesser extent the resistant strain of <it>E. coli</it>. Two edible plant extracts (<it>Gundelia tournefortii L</it>. and <it>Pimpinella anisum L</it>.) generally enhanced activity against resistant strain. Some of the plant extracts like <it>Origanum syriacum </it>L.(Labiateae), <it>Trigonella foenum- graecum </it>L.(Leguminosae), <it>Euphorbia macroclada </it>(Euphorbiaceae) and <it>Hibiscus sabdariffa </it>(Malvaceae) did not enhance the activity of amoxicillin against both standard and resistant <it>E. coli</it>. On the other hand combinations of amoxicillin with other plant extracts used showed variable effect between standard and resistant strains. Plant extracts like <it>Anagyris foetida </it>(Leguminosae) and <it>Lepidium sativum </it>(Umbelliferae) reduced the activity of amoxicillin against the standard strain but enhanced the activity against resistant strains. Three edible plants; Gundelia <it>tournefortii </it>L. (Compositae) <it>Eruca sativa </it>Mill. (Cruciferae), and <it>Origanum syriacum </it>L. (Labiateae), enhanced activity of clarithromycin against the resistant <it>E. coli </it>strain.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study probably suggests possibility of concurrent use of these antibiotics and plant extracts in treating infections caused by <it>E. coli </it>or at least the concomitant administration may not impair the antimicrobial activity of these antibiotics.</p

Madaba: research of the urban and architectural development in the roman and late antique periods

MADABA: RESEARCH OF THE URBAN AND ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ROMAN AND LATE ANTIQUE PERIODS Madaba: research of the urban and architectural development in the roman and late antique periods / Abu Hamdah, Hala Husam Mahmoud (Rights reserved) (-

Madaba: Untersuchungen zur städtebaulichen und architektonischen Entwicklung in der römischen und spätantiken Zeit

The subject of the work “Madaba: Research of the Urban and Architectural Development in the Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic Periods” produces, at first, a scientific description of the history of the urban development and architectural morphology of downtown Madaba from its birth until nowadays, with a specific focus on the Roman, early, middle, late Byzantine, and Islamic periods, relatively to the timeline of Madaba. This is achieved based on the current situation of Madaba and its current map. Secondly, the study discusses a detailed list of individual architectural remains, chronologically categorized and functionally compared. Madaba, a multi-layered ancient town south of Amman capital, stands today as one of the twelve governorates in Jordan. To fulfill the aim of the study, the author relies on archival and literature research on the one hand, and on the other hand field research and mapping of the ancient remains in the context of the current built area. They both prescribed a deep understanding of their data, analyzing them, exploring new pieces of information, filling the gaps in many areas of research, and validating the previously produced information. The research has therefore a qualitative and quantitative character. Despite the abundance of research related to the city of Madaba, not to mention the well-known reputation of Madaba in Jordan and worldwide due to its magnificent Byzantine floor mosaics and their intensity in such a small area, no one ever attempted to pursue such a transformation in the urban and architectural morphology of the city. In other words, no one ever endeavored to bring all the previous studies to stitch the facts behind them by evaluating and analyzing them and, accordingly, transforming such data into knowledge that narrates the distinctive story that Madaba possesses. No one, accordingly, ever attempted to visualize these multi-layered historical epochs in separate strata presented by a unified scale that eases comparison towards all of them. The results of the study are visualized through the state-of-the-art reconstruction of layered urban and architectural building phases relative to the current situation of downtown Madaba. Also, a separate catalog and photographic documentation are attached, which aids in justifying and documenting the scientific monograph produced by the author. Therefore, the study initiated the birth of a pictorial encyclopedia and two-dimensional drawings of the architectural remains and the urban core of downtown Madaba, highlighting their multi-layered features.Das Thema der Arbeit „Madaba: Erforschung der städtebaulichen und architektonischen Entwicklung in der römischen, byzantinischen und islamischen Periode“ liefert zuerst eine wissenschaftliche Beschreibung der Geschichte der städtebaulichen Entwicklung und der architektonischen Morphologie des Stadtzentrums von Madaba von seiner Entstehung bis in die heutige Zeit, mit einem besonderen Schwerpunkt auf der römischen, frühen, mittleren, spätbyzantinischen und islamischen Periode, bezogen auf die Zeitlinie von Madaba. Dies geschieht auf der Grundlage der aktuellen Situation von Madaba und seiner aktuellen Karte. Zweitens werden in der Studie die einzelnen architektonischen Überreste detailliert aufgelistet, chronologisch kategorisiert und funktional verglichen. Madaba, eine vielschichtige antike Stadt südlich der Hauptstadt Amman, ist heute eines der zwölf Gouvernements in Jordanien. Um das Ziel der Studie zu erreichen, stützt sich die Autorin zum einen auf Archiv- und Literaturrecherchen und zum anderen auf Feldforschung und Kartierung der antiken Überreste im Kontext des heutigen bebauten Gebiets. Beide Forschungsansätze erfordern ein tiefes Verständnis der Daten, deren Analyse, der Erforschung neuer Informationen, die Schließung von Lücken in vielen Bereichen der Forschung und die Auswertung der zuvor erstellten Informationen. Die vorliegende Forschungsarbeit hat daher einen qualitativen und quantitativen Charakter. Trotz der zahlreichen Forschungsarbeiten über die Stadt Madaba und der Bedeutung der Stadt in Jordanien und in der ganzen Welt wegen ihrer großartigen byzantinischen Bodenmosaike, gibt es noch keine Studie, die die städtebauliche und architektonische Morphologie der Stadt und ihrer Veränderungen darstellt. Die Forschungsleistung dieser Arbeit besteht darin, alle früheren Studien zusammenzuführen, um die dahinterstehenden Fakten zu bewerten und zu analysieren und dementsprechend diese Daten in Wissen umzuwandeln, das die unverwechselbare Geschichte von Madaba erzählt. Ferner werden diese vielschichtigen historischen Epochen in separaten Schichten visualisiert, in einem einheitlichen Maßstab dargestellt, der den Vergleich mit allen Epochen erleichtert. Die Ergebnisse der Studie werden durch die zeitgemäße Rekonstruktion geschichteter städtebaulicher und architektonischer Bauphasen in Bezug auf die aktuelle Situation der Innenstadt von Madaba veranschaulicht. Außerdem sind ein separater Katalog und eine Fotodokumentation beigefügt, die zur Begründung und Dokumentation, der von der Autorin erstellten wissenschaftlichen Monographie beitragen. Die Studie hat somit die Entstehung eines Bildlexikons und zweidimensionaler Zeichnungen der architektonischen Überreste und des urbanen Kerns der Innenstadt von Madaba initiiert, die deren vielschichtige Merkmale hervorheben

al Fa`iq fi Fanni al Kitabah wa al Ta'bir

380 hal.; 24 c

Nurses’ experiences of providing nursing care to patients with suicidal behavior : a literature-based study

Background: Suicide is a global health problem. There are several risk factors that can trigger patients to commit suicide. The risk of suicidal behavior increases when multiple risk factors interact. At the same time, suicide prevention is crucial for individuals, families, and societal well-being. However, nurses feel unprepared and uncertain about providing suitable care for these patients. Aim: The aim of this literature-based study was to describe nurses' experiences of providing nursing care to patients with suicidal behavior. Method: A literature-based study was conducted based on an analysis of qualitative research. Nine scientific articles were analyzed, resulting in three themes and six sub-themes. Results: Three themes were identified which are insufficient time, lack of knowledge, and working in an unsuitable environment. Nurses faced several difficulties in caring for patients with suicidal behavior, which prevented them from establishing a therapeutic relationship and restricted them in suicide risk assessment. Conclusion: Lack of time, insufficient knowledge among nurses, and improper surroundings have unsatisfactory outcomes. These shortcomings result in feelings of insecurity, stress and anxiety among nurses. These aspects need to be addressed not only to create a better working environment for nurses but also to promote patients' recovery from mental illness