69 research outputs found
Resting-State Network Topology Differentiates Task Signals across the Adult Life Span
No full textBrain network connectivity differs across individuals. For example, older adults exhibit less segregated resting-state subnetworks relative to younger adults (Chan et al., 2014). It has been hypothesized that individual differences in network connectivity impact the recruitment of brain areas during task execution. While recent studies have described the spatial overlap between resting-state functional correlation (RSFC) subnetworks and task-evoked activity, it is unclear whether individual variations in the connectivity pattern of a brain area (topology) relates to its activity during task execution. We report data from 238 cognitively normal participants (humans), sampled across the adult life span (20–89 years), to reveal that RSFC-based network organization systematically relates to the recruitment of brain areas across two functionally distinct tasks (visual and semantic). The functional activity of brain areas (network nodes) were characterized according to their patterns of RSFC: nodes with relatively greater connections to nodes in their own functional system (“non-connector” nodes) exhibited greater activity than nodes with relatively greater connections to nodes in other systems (“connector” nodes). This “activation selectivity” was specific to those brain systems that were central to each of the tasks. Increasing age was accompanied by less differentiated network topology and a corresponding reduction in activation selectivity (or differentiation) across relevant network nodes. The results provide evidence that connectional topology of brain areas quantified at rest relates to the functional activity of those areas during task. Based on these findings, we propose a novel network-based theory for previous reports of the “dedifferentiation” in brain activity observed in aging.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSimilar to other real-world networks, the organization of brain networks impacts their function. As brain network connectivity patterns differ across individuals, we hypothesized that individual differences in network connectivity would relate to differences in brain activity. Using functional MRI in a group of individuals sampled across the adult life span (20–89 years), we measured correlations at rest and related the functional connectivity patterns to measurements of functional activity during two independent tasks. Brain activity varied in relation to connectivity patterns revealed by large-scale network analysis. This relationship tracked the differences in connectivity patterns accompanied by older age, providing important evidence for a link between the topology of areal connectivity measured at rest and the functional recruitment of these areas during task performance.</jats:p
H∞-synthesis and control of uncertain fractional-order systems of commensurate type
No full textNew Linear-Matrix-Inequality (LMI) conditions are proposed for H∞ analysis and synthesis of uncertain fractional-order systems where the non-integer order of differentiation belongs to the set ]0 2[. The developed conditions are extended LMI conditions involving additional LMI variables needed for numerical calculation of the feedback gains. The stability conditions are embedded with the necessary H∞ LMI conditions leading to new formulation of the bounded-real-lemma result. The stabilizability conditions with H∞ performance are subsequently derived and tested with static-pseudo-state feedbacks and static-output feedbacks as well.The author thanks King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for supporting this research and acknowledge the support of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Technology Innovation Center (TIC) for Solid-State Lighting (SSL) grant EE002381, which is subawarded to KFUPM, from the primary grant KACST TIC R2-FP-008 awarded to King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Agency rescues competition for credit assignment among predictive cues from adverse learning conditions
No full textA fundamental assumption of learning theories is that the credit assigned to predictive 40 cues is not simply determined by their probability of reinforcement, but by their ability to compete with other cues present during learning. This assumption has guided behavioral and neural science research for decades, and tremendous empirical and theoretical advances have been made identifying the mechanisms of cue competition. However, when learning conditions are not optimal (e.g., when training is massed), credit assignment is no longer competitive. This is a catastrophic failure of the learning system 46 that exposes the individual’s vulnerability to form spurious associations in the real world. Here, we uncover that cue competition can be rescued when conditions are suboptimal provided that the individual has agency over the learning experience. Our findings reveal a new connection between agency over learning and credit assignment to cues, and open new avenues of investigation into the underlying mechanisms
Isma'il Fahd Isma'il: A thematic study of his novels.
No full textOf all Kuwaiti novelists, Isma'il Fahd Isma'il is the only one who has established himself as an important novelist among his generation in the Arab world. With his first novel Kanat al-Sama'Zarqa (The Sky Was Blue) in 1970, Isma'il Fahd Isma'il was introduced to the Arabic literary scene with great enthusiasm by the Egyptian poet Salah 'Abd al-Sabur. The novel was soon widely recognized for its importance. Since 1970 Isma'il Fahd Isma'il has published 11 novels. The most striking characteristic of these novels is their diversity of subject and theme. Beginning with the theme of Iraqi society in the 60s, he has dealt with such diverse themes as the Palestinian question, the issue of terrorism, Kuwaiti society and Egyptian history. To facilitate understanding and appreciation of this novelist and his work, this study begins with a historical background of Kuwait with special emphasis on the intellectual and fictional development. The second chapter presents a biographical sketch of the author's life and discusses the personal, political and intellectual factors which shaped his intellectual and artistic development. The third chapter deals with the aftermath of June 1967 which caused the author to change his political ideology in a radical manner. The fourth chapter touches the works written about Kuwaiti society, and the fifth chapter deals with the historical novel written about Egypt at the end of the eighteenth century. The aim of this study is to achieve two things, first to explain the underlying reasons for the diversity of subject matter in the author's work, and second to present a comprehensive thematic study of those works.PhDLanguage, Literature and LinguisticsMiddle Eastern literatureUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/128471/2/9023504.pd
Semantically Defined Subdomains of Functional Neuroimaging Literature and their Corresponding Brain Regions
No full textAbstractThe functional neuroimaging literature has become increasingly complex and thus difficult to navigate. This complexity arises from the rate at which new studies are published and from the terminology that varies widely from study-to-study and even more so from discipline-to-discipline. One way to investigate and manage this problem is to build a “semantic space” that maps the different vocabulary used in functional neuroimaging literature. Such a semantic space will also help identify the primary research domains of neuroimaging and their most commonly reported brain regions. In this work, we analyzed the multivariate semantic structure of abstracts in Neurosynth and found that there are six primary domains of the functional neuroimaging literature each with their own preferred reported brain regions. Our analyses also highlight possible semantic sources of reported brain regions within and across domains because some research topics (e.g., memory disorders, substance use disorder) use heterogeneous terminology. Furthermore, we highlight the growth and decline of the primary domains over time. Finally, we note that our techniques and results form the basis of a “recommendation engine” that could help readers better navigate the neuroimaging literature.</jats:p
Semantically defined subdomains of functional neuroimaging literature and their corresponding brain regions
No full textEnhancing sustainable passenger experience through duty-free shopping at King Fahd Airport: A multimodal perspective
No full textWith the increasing significance of travel retail within the global tourism industry, understanding the effects of duty-free shopping experiences on traveler well-being and brand perceptions has become crucial for enhancing customer satisfaction and engagement. This study examines the relationships between duty-free shopping experiences, traveler well-being, and brand perceptions at King Fahd International Airport. Utilizing a quantitative research approach, data were collected from 412 passengers who had recently engaged with duty-free shops. The study incorporated four key experiential dimensions—pragmatic, sociability, hedonic, and usability experiences—alongside well-being, brand engagement, brand experience, and word-of-mouth (WOM) advocacy. The findings indicated positive associations between well-being and pragmatic, hedonic, and usability experiences. Moreover, well-being significantly influenced brand engagement and brand experience, but not WOM. Brand engagement was found to be a significant predictor of brand experience, while it had no significant effect on WOM. Additionally, WOM did not significantly influence brand experience. These insights contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between shopping experiences, well-being, and brand-related outcomes, providing valuable guidance for airport retailers and marketers to optimize traveler satisfaction and engagement. © 2024 by author(s).Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research; Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University; King Faisal University, KFU, (5412); King Faisal University, KFUFunding: This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Grant No. 5412]
A one-step implicit iterative method for two finite families of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings in a hyperbolic space
No full textWe introduce a one-step implicit iterative method for two finite families of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings in a hyperbolic space and use it to approximate common fixed points of these families. The results presented in this paper are new in the setting of hyperbolic spaces. On top, these are generalizations of several results in literature from Banach spaces to hyperbolic spaces. At the end of the paper, we give an example to validate our results.The author H. Fukhar-ud-din is grateful to King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for supporting the research project IN121055 and the author A. Kalsoom is grateful to Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for financial support during this research.Scopu
Epidemiology and Clinical Impact of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (2015–2022): Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Mortality
No full textJawahir A Mokhtar,1– 3 Dalya Attallah,2 Mohammed W Al-Rabia,1 Mona Abdulrahman Alqarni,1 Khalil K Alkuwaity,3,4 Yousef Almoghrabi,5,6 Hussam Daghistani,5,6 Mazen A Ismail,7 Asim T Sharif,7 Bayan Redwan,7 Alyaa M Ajabnoor,8 Ohood S Alharbi,9 Ibrahim Mohammed Abu,10 Wafaa Alhazmi,4 Mohammed Mufrrih,4,11 Ahmad M Sait,4,6 Abdelbagi Alfadil,1,12 Yassir Daghistani,13 Hattan Jamal Momin,14 Karem Ibrahem1,2 1Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 3Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 6Regenerative Medicine Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of pharmacy practice, Faculty of pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 10Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; 11Special Infectious Agents Unit BSL-3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 12Centre of Research Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 13Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 14Medical Service Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Karem Ibrahem, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80205, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966562525685, Email [email protected]: Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are part of the human microbiota but pose significant risks in clinical settings due to increasing antimicrobial resistance. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a growing concern, linked to high morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients.Aim: This study is the first comprehensive investigation of VRE prevalence and associated risk factors at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) from 2015 to 2022.Methods: Clinical samples were collected, and VRE isolates were identified using VRE Card GeneXpert, BioFire PCR, and the VITEK 2 system. Descriptive statistical analysis with Stata version 17 summarized patient characteristics, including demographics, comorbidities, hospital exposure, and laboratory findings. Categorical variables were reported as frequencies/percentages, while continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD or median [IQR].Results: Among 254 adult patients with VRE infections, the median age was 61 years. The most common comorbidities were diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease. VRE infections peaked in 2021, with urine cultures being the most frequent source. Most patients had prior antibiotic exposure, particularly to vancomycin and carbapenems. Enterococcus faecium was the predominant species, with the VanA phenotype being most common. Alarmingly, 61.8% of VRE-infected patients died during the study period.Conclusion: These findings underscore the critical need for enhanced infection control measures and antimicrobial stewardship to combat VRE and improve patient outcomes.Keywords: vancomycin-resistant enterococci, AMR, mortality, risk factors, hospital infection
Implementation of ERP system in SMEs
No full textThis thesis tries to propose a list of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in the form
of CSFs framework for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system
implementation at Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).The research
describe in this thesis tries to test them by going through the experience of ERP
system implementation in SME called Hazelwood Sound & Vision Ltd (HSV).
In a first instance, the author compared implementation models and suggested
most appropriate model for HSV. Furthermore, literature search for critical
success factors of ERP implementation has taken place. This led to a general
CSFs framework for ERP system implementation. At later stage, CSFs were
classified into the phases of selected implementation model. This resulted in
integrated framework which later used for ERP system implementation called
Smart Office in HSV. Through this experience of implementing Smart Office in
HSV, the author determined factors which were critical for the success of the
ERP implementation in HSV and compared them with CSFs found in literature.
The study also examines, through the critical success factors, the impacts and
issues in implementation related to these factors. Findings include: an
increased emphasis upon the determination of clear goals and objectives at the
project outset, and, importantly, vendor support added value in terms of
specialist software knowledge and enhanced project team capability. Results
show that most of the success factors, found in the literature apply to HSV,
although change management, and communication among departments, don‟t
seems to be regarded as top CSFs for HSV.
Implementation is an expensive investment, and difficult to implement, due to
its complexity. It is hoped that knowledge and understanding of these factors
will assist SMEs in successfully implementing ERP and enable them to further
improve their systems in order to maximize returns. Furthermore, by identifying
relevant CSFs for SMEs, managers can better prioritize implementation efforts
and resources to maximize success of ERP implementations. One of the
outcomes of this research is implementation of Smart Office which fulfils the
business needs of the HSV
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