Construction projects are complicated in nature and require many considerations in contractor selection. One of the complicated interactions is that between performance with the project size, and contractor financial status, and size of projects contracted. At the prequalification stage, the financial requirements restrict the contractors to meet minimum limits in financial criteria such as net worth, working capital and annual turnover, etc. In construction projects, however, there are cases when contractors meet these requirements but show low performance in practice. The model used in the study predicts the performance by training of a neural network. The data used in the study are 72 of the most recent roadwork projects in Bahrain. The results are shown in terms of the sensitivity of changing one variable on the performance of all the 72 projects. These results can reflect on the methods currently used on contractors’ assessments in the tendering stage and support decision-makers in assessing contractors and selecting the best bidders.
Continual learning on edge platforms remains challenging because recurrent networks depend on energy-intensive training procedures and frequent data movement that are impractical for embedded deployments. This work introduces M2RU, a mixed-signal architecture that implements the minion recurrent unit for efficient temporal processing with on-chip continual learning. The architecture integrates weighted-bit streaming, which enables multi-bit digital inputs to be processed in crossbars without high-resolution conversion, and an experience replay mechanism that stabilizes learning under domain shifts. M2RU achieves ∼13 GOPS at 16.76 mW, corresponding to 776 GOPS per watt, and maintains accuracy within 5 percent of software baselines on seque
... Show MoreBackground. Echinococcosis/ hydatitdosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the infestation of the larval form of the tapeworm of the genus Echinococcus .The Liver, lungs, and kidneys are the common areas of infestation.Objectives: To describe hydatid disease in hospitalized patients from a clinico-epidemiological perspectives.Methods:: A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 6 months extending from 15th of November 2011 to the 15th of May 2012 by reviewing records of 125 patients who were hospitalized at Baghdad Teaching Hospital during 2011and received medical and surgical treatment for hydatid cyst disease. The information covered the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patientsResults:.The presen
... Show MoreNowhere is American author Shirley Jackson’s (1916-1965) social and political criticism is so intense than it is in her seminal fictional masterpiece “The Lottery”. Jackson severely denounces injustice through her emphasis on a bizarre social custom in a small American town, in which the winner of the lottery, untraditionally, receives a fatal prize. The readers are left puzzled at the end of the story as Tessie Hutchinson, the unfortunate female winner, is stoned to death by the members of her community, and even by her family. This study aims at investigating the author’s social and political implications that lie behind the story, taking into account the historical era in which the story was published (the aftermath of th
... Show MoreBackground: Most adult smokers start smoking regularly some time before 18 years of age. Cigarette smoking is a major ‘preventable’ cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is well-known that smoking has hazardous effect on many systems like pulmonary and cardiovascular system.
Objectives: Study the prevalence of smoking among school pupils according to the mode of smoking, age, school grade, school environment and possible health risk associated with smoking. Type of the study: A cross-sectional study.
Methods: Study was conducted between 1st of March 2014 to 30th of May 2014 at Al-Doura/Al- Kurkh/Baghdad by using convenient sample, including all pupils from 6 schools. The schools were 2 secondary schools, 3 in
... Show MoreObjectives: to assess Socio Demographic, Reproductive Characteristics, and healthy dietary behaviors. among women with osteoporosis . To determine the relationship between the socio demographic characteristics, reproductive data and dietary related behaviors. Methodology: A descriptive analytic design was conducted on Non- Probability ( purposive sample) of (90) women who have suffering from osteoporosis attend to (DEXADual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) unit in Merjan Teaching Hospital in Hilla City. A questionnaire has been used as a tool of data collection and consists of three part ;including : Soci
Iraqi EFL college instructors, who supervise the teaching practice of EFL student teachers, commonly experience the inefficient teaching performance of prospective teachers. This inefficiency is usually due to their inability to make connections between the practical experience and the theoretical knowledge of TEFL. One of the reasons behind this inability may be the employment of traditional ways of training and instructing student teachers. Moreover, it is usually noticed that many Iraqi EFL student teachers have a negative attitude toward the teaching profession. They explicitly state that they would join the teaching force only if they fail to work in any other field.
... Show MoreDysmenorrhea is a common menstrual disorder among young women and is frequently associated with physical discomfort, emotional distress, and functional limitations. Among medical students, the demanding academic environment may further exacerbate its impact. However, data from Iraqi medical students remain limited, despite the potential academic and quality-of-life consequences. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, its impact on academic performance and quality of life, and associated coping strategies and health-seeking behaviors among female medical students.