Interest rates volatility and its consequences on stock returns: The case study from Amman Stock Exchange, Jordan

Abstract. This paper examines the special effects of interest rates on the stock market return by using monthly time series data for the economy of Jordan over the period of 2006 to 2016. An extensive variety of econometric procedures have been involved to analyze the relationship between the interest rate and stock market return. The study exposes a constant and significant long-run relationship between the variables. By using Cointegration methods the experimental in the long run represents that a one percent rise in interest rate causes (12.3459 %)reduction in market index. The assessed error correction coefficient highlight that (-0.678522) percent deviation of stock returns are corrected in the short run. Impulse response function of the study furthermore sustains the positive relationship between the variables. The result of Variance decompositions recommends that about (99.99705%) of the variation in stock market returns is referring to its own shock which denotes that stock market returns are mostly independent of the other variables in the structure. To go over the main points, Granger causality analysis yield that there is no presence of a unidirectional causality as of interest rate to the market index.Keywords. Stock market, Cointegration, Granger causality, Interest rate, ASE.JEL. E40, E43, G12

The impact of peripheral arterial disease on patients with mechanical circulatory support.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are indicated as bridging or destination therapy for patients with advanced (Stage D) heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Due to the clustering of the mutual risk factors, HFrEF patients have a high prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This, along with the fact that continuous flow LVAD influence shear stress on the vasculature, can further deteriorate the PAD. Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2002-2014) to identify the burden of pre-existing PAD cases, its association with LVAD, in-hospital mortality, and other complications of LVAD. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. Results: A total of 20,817 LVAD patients, comprising of 1,625 (7.8%) PAD and 19,192 (91.2%) non-PAD patients were included in the study. The odds of in-hospital mortality in PAD patients were significantly higher compared to non-PAD group (OR 1.29, CI, 1.07-1.55, P = 0.007). The PAD group had significantly higher adjusted odds as compared to non-PAD group for acute myocardial infarction (aOR 1.29; 95% CI, 1.07-1.55, P = 0.007), major bleeding requiring transfusion (aOR, 1.286; 95% CI, 1.136-1.456, P \u3c 0.001), vascular complications (aOR, 2.360; 95% CI, 1.781-3.126, P \u3c 0.001), surgical wound infections (aOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.17-1.94, P = 0.002), thromboembolic complications (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.36-2.10, P \u3c 0.001), implant-related complications (aOR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.19-1.80, P \u3c 0.001), and acute renal failure (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.12-1.43, P \u3c 0.001). Conclusion: PAD patients can have high LVAD associated mortality as compared to non-PAD

Examining Student Satisfaction Of Online Statistics Courses

This survey research of 55 participants was completed at a private university to determine students’ satisfaction of statistic online courses. The study explored the students’ satisfaction of course components: online statistics, online instruction, communication, assessment, and overall student satisfaction. The findings showed a positive satisfaction with overall means between 3.66 and 4.00 in a 5 point Likert-scale with a 5 meaning strong agreement with satisfaction of the course. The highest area of satisfaction was the category of assessment (M= 4.00) and the lowest area was the category of student overall satisfaction (M= 3.66). In addition, the study examined age, gender, teaching experience, and overall satisfaction of the course with the overall average of satisfaction

Decellularised extracellular matrix-derived peptides from neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium enhance the expression of synaptic markers and light responsiveness of human pluripotent stem cell derived retinal organoids

Tissue specific extracellular matrices (ECM) provide structural support and enable access to molecular signals and metabolites, which are essential for directing stem cell renewal and differentiation. To mimic this phenomenon in vitro, tissue decellularisation approaches have been developed, resulting in the generation of natural ECM scaffolds that have comparable physical and biochemical properties of the natural tissues and are currently gaining traction in tissue engineering and regenerative therapies due to the ease of standardised production, and constant availability. In this manuscript we report the successful generation of decellularised ECM-derived peptides from neural retina (decel NR) and retinal pigment epithelium (decel RPE), and their impact on differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to retinal organoids. We show that culture media supplementation with decel RPE and RPE-conditioned media (CM RPE) significantly increases the generation of rod photoreceptors, whilst addition of decel NR and decel RPE significantly enhances ribbon synapse marker expression and the light responsiveness of retinal organoids. Photoreceptor maturation, formation of correct synapses between retinal cells and recording of robust light responses from hPSC-derived retinal organoids remain unresolved challenges for the field of regenerative medicine. Enhanced rod photoreceptor differentiation, synaptogenesis and light response in response to addition of decellularised matrices from RPE and neural retina as shown herein provide a novel and substantial advance in generation of retinal organoids for drug screening, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Changing sea-level along the north coast of Kuwait bay

Field investigations have been carried out to study the changes of sea level-along the north coast of Kuwait Bay. Four zones have been studied in detail viz: Kathma, Ghidhai, Mudairah and Al-Bahra. The area is characterized by the existence of several terraces which lie between the Jal-Az-Zor escarpment and the coastline which may represent stages of changes in sea-level. Three techniques have been adopted to study the terraces: 1.Levelling, 2.Radiocarbon dating of shells, and 3. Sediment analysis by particle size analysis and scanning electron microscope. The results show that there are six terraces in the area. The highest levelled point for the First terrace was obtained from Ghidhai at 92.62 m. above Kuwait Datum, while the least elevation for a fragment of the lowest terrace was 5.99 metres above Kuwait Datum, at Al-Bahra the terraces, besides having a general tendency to decrease in height from west to east, also indicate local instability and warping. Although the upper terraces can be identified as conspicuous physiographic features, it has been difficult to correlate them according to their height. Radiocarbon dating of a small number of shell samples from the Third, Fourth and Fifth terraces gave a range of ages between >42,950 years BP. and 23,300+600 years BP.; no simple correlation between height and age is observable and the possibility of shell contamination cannot be excluded. The evidence as a whole suggests that these upper terraces are not younger than Pleistocene in age. Radiocarbon dating for the extreme lowest terraces gave an age range of between 4,570+70 years BP. and 3,560160 years BP. which suggests a time of formation in the Holocene. The sediment investigations confirm the existence of three depositional environments; fluvial, Aeolian and marine. The sediment analysis results together with their gemorphological character indicate that it is possible that the upper two or three terraces originated as a result of fluviatile as well as marine action and were affected by tectonic movements. The lowest terraces are likely to be of marine origin deformed by tectonic movements

Am I underpaid because I am an immigrant? Exploring the Lived Experiences of the Skilled Temporary Worker Visa Holders in STEM occupations in the American Workplace

Whether documented or undocumented, migrant workers have always been in the center of significant debate in the United States. The presence of high-skilled immigrant workers receives constant attention amid immigration policy discussions. In the United States, the demand for temporary workers has doubled since the 1990s, particularly in the wake of the technology boom. Many employers have found temporary worker visa programs useful for hiring foreign talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations. While skilled immigration provides benefits for the American workforce, there are concerns about the impact of skilled immigration on native workers and wage inequality.This study aims to investigate the experiences of skilled immigrants in STEM jobs regarding salary and immigration status. Contrary to previous research suggesting that foreign-born STEM professionals accept lower salaries and earn less than their domestic counterparts, this qualitative study found no evidence that temporary worker visa holders in STEM occupations earned less than their American counterparts

Perceptions Of Lakota Native American Students Taking Online Business Course At Oglala Lakota College (OLC)

This research examined the perceptions of Lakota Native American students taking a Business online course at the Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The study was conducted in the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011. The themes found in this study were flexibility, transportation, communication, and technical support. Furthermore, the study found some of the advantages for students taking online courses as well as some obstacles encountered by students on the reservation

Forecasting the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Qatar to 2050: A novel modeling approach.

AIMS: We developed and demonstrated a novel mathematical modeling approach to forecast the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to investigate T2DM epidemiology for the purpose of informing public health policy and programming. METHODS: A population-level compartmental mathematical model was constructed and applied to Qatar. The model was stratified according to sex, age group, risk factor status, and T2DM status, and was parameterized by nationally-representative data. RESULTS: T2DM prevalence increased from 16.7% in 2012 to at least 24.0% by 2050. The rise in T2DM was most prominent among 45-54 years old. T2DM health expenditure was estimated to increase by 200-600% and to account for up to 32% of total health expenditure by 2050. Prevalence of obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity was predicted to increase from 41.4% to 51.0%, from 16.4% to 19.4%, and from 45.9% to 53.0%, respectively. The proportion of T2DM incidence attributed to obesity, smoking and physical inactivity was estimated at 57.5%, 1.8%, and 5.4%, respectively in 2012, and 65.7%, 2.1%, and 6.0%, respectively in 2050. Exploring different scenarios for the trends in risk factors, T2DM prevalence reached up to 37.7% by 2050. CONCLUSIONS: Using our innovative approach, a rising T2DM epidemic is predicted to continue in the next decades, driven by population growth, ageing and adverse trends in risk factors. Obesity was the principal risk factor explaining two-thirds of T2DM incidence. T2DM must be a national priority addressed by preventive and therapeutic interventions targeting T2DM and its modifiable risk factors

Preparation for College and University Leadership before the Age of 40

The purpose of this study was to investigate the skills and competencies needed for candidates to be hired as a college or university president before the age of 40. Using a phenomenological approach, participants who first obtained the position as a college or university president before 40 were interviewed. Using Clark’s model of professional competencies as a conceptual framework, four themes were identified from the results. The themes include little to no mentoring at all, learn by either sinking or swimming; being in the right place, at the right time, with the right credentials; having the right education and experience matter for candidates seeking a college or a university president position; and having the interpersonal skills and the ability to work with others. The results of this study will help those seeking to acquire a position as a college or university president while under the age of 40 and for all others to better prepare future leaders in higher education

A Study of Daylighting Performance in Apartment Buildings with Reference to the Gaza Strip

Daylighting in residential buildings is an essential design parameter considering its impact on the visual comfort of users and energy efficiency of buildings. This is more challenging in apartment buildings, where collective residential configurations and deep plans are usually used. This is true in the case of the Gaza Strip, which makes daylighting quality in residential buildings a questionable issue. Thus, this study aims to examine daylighting performance in the Gaza Strip apartment buildings, and to propose some design recommendations to improve this performance. To achieve that, a simulation study has been carried out using Radiance program, where several cases have been examined. The study concluded that there is a direct relationship between the illuminance levels and space orientation, wall-to-window ratio, and reflectance of indoor surface materials. Also, light shelf has a crucial role in improving daylighting distribution in the space. The study therefore recommends applying these design strategies to improve daylighting performance and energy efficiency in the Gaza Strip apartment buildings. In this regard, a quantitative assessment may become part of the requirements of buildings licensing proces