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Background: The clinical learning environment (CLE) plays a crucial role in shaping the learning experiences and professional development of medical professionals. Understanding and optimising this environment is essential for improving doctors' knowledge acquisition, clinical skills, and overall well-being. The development of the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) and its translation to numerous languages has been a milestone in clinical education. Even though PHEEM was recently translated into Arabic, its psychometric properties in this form remain unevaluated. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive psychometric analysis of the Arabic version of the PHEEM questionnaire. Methods: This is a cross-sectional questionnaire survey validation study. The defined population were medical residents in Damascus, Syria. A paper-based survey as well as an online-based one were conducted using several non-probability sampling methods namely, convenience, river and, snowball sampling between June 15, 2023, and June 21, 2023. Both exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were conducted. Several psychometric criteria were applied including scree plot, eigenvalue > 1.5 and the 'proportion of variance accounted for' criterion. Results: A total of 543 participants completed the questionnaire (56.9% female). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure for sample adequacy was high (0.937) and the P-value for Bartlett's test was < 0.001. EFA revealed five meaningful factors which were labelled: perception of teachers, learner's engagement and social participation, external regulation, work culture, and living conditions. These factors had the following eigenvalues: 12.6, 2.18, 2.03, 1.86, and 1.41 respectively, with a total explained variance of 43.45%. Cronbach's Alpha was 0.938. CFA confirmed the model structure of EFA (SRMR = 0.067 and RMSEA = 0.066). The Average Variance Explained (AVE) value of any given factor was > 0.7. Discussion: The Arabic PHEEM inventory demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. The extracted domains are of theoretical relevance to the psychosocial-material conceptual framework for learning environment. Nonetheless, this validation was performed in the Syrian context; therefore, future studies in other Arabic countries are recommended to support the applicability of Arabic PHEEM in the wide Arab World. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a variationist analysis of patterns of speech accommodation by 40 Arabic-speaking children and adolescents (aged 3–17) experiencing dialect contact in a Bedouin speech community near Damascus, Syria. It examines participants' use of the phonological variables (θ), (ð), and (q), and the morphophonological feminine suffix (-a) in recorded sociolinguistic interviews and play sessions with two female fieldworkers, a local and an urban speaker, in order to investigate accommodation patterns across different interlocutors. Accommodation patterns were influenced by age, gender, and the linguistic variable under examination. Convergence to the urban interviewer was most evident in the realization of (q), whereas little convergence, and indeed variation, occurred in the realization of (-a), and more convergence occurred in the speech of girls and speakers younger than 15. Divergence and maintenance emerged in the speech of 15–17-year-old male speakers. These patterns are analysed in light of Accommodation Communication Theory and issues of identity and linguistic prestige in Arabic. Accommodative behaviour in the speech of participants exhibits their awareness of the social value of the phonological variables under investigation and demonstrates a high level of sociolinguistic awareness and competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new lattice-based password-authenticated key exchange protocol (PAKE) is proposed for the post-quantum era. The constructed Saber.PAKE is designed as a PAKE version of Saber (D'Anvers, in: International conference on cryptology in Africa, Springer, Cham, 2018), one of the finalist key encapsulation mechanisms of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's post-quantum secure standardization process. It is designed as a three-pass protocol and follows an explicit authentication approach. The hardness assumption is based on the module learning with rounding (MLWR) problem. To obtain post-quantum secure lattice-based PAKE, the password-authenticated key exchange (PAK) (MacKenzie, in: a P1363. submission to the IEEE P1363 Working Group, 2002) design idea is adapted to MLWR. To the best of our knowledge, Saber.PAKE is the first PAKE protocol based on (ring/module) learning with rounding ((R/M)LWR) problems. By considering the reconciliation bounds, the correctness analysis of Saber.PAKE is presented. The robustness against dictionary and common attacks are examined in the random oracle model. The proposed PAKE also provides perfect forward secrecy and mutual authentication. The experimental results show that it has the relatively smallest CPU cycles, message size, and runtime than the other lattice-based PAKE protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Mobile Communication and Internet Systems (MCIS) have rapidly developed, security issues related to MCIS have become increasingly important. Therefore, the development and research of security technologies for mobile communication and internet systems are actively being conducted. Hash-Based Signature (HBS) uses a hash function to construct a digital signature scheme, where its security is guaranteed by the collision resistance of the hash function used. To provide sufficient security in the post-quantum environment, the length of hash should be satisfied for the security requirement. Modern HBS can be classified into stateful and stateless schemes. Two representative stateful and stateless HBS are eXtended Merkle Signature Scheme(XMSS) and SPHINCS + , respectively. In this paper, we propose two HBS schemes: K-XMSS and K-SPHINCS + , which replace internal hash functions of XMSS and SPHINCS + with Korean cryptography algorithms. K-XMSS is a stateful signature, while K-SPHINCS + is its stateless counterpart. We showcase the reference implementation of K-XMSS and K-SPHINCS + employing Lightweight Secure Hash (LSH) and two hash functions based on block ciphers (i.e., CHAM and LEA) as the internal hash function. In addition, K-XMSS and K-SPHINCS + using Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2) have been provided, demonstrating that they can be optimized for better performance using advanced implementation techniques than previous approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantum computer capable of running the Grover search algorithm, which reduces the complexity of brute-force attacks by a square root, has the potential to undermine the security strength of symmetric-key cryptography and hash functions. Recently, studies on quantum approaches have proposed analyzing potential quantum attacks using the Grover search algorithm in conjunction with optimized quantum circuit implementations for symmetric-key cryptography and hash functions. Analyzing quantum attacks on a cipher (i.e., quantum cryptanalysis) and estimating the necessary quantum resources are related to evaluating post-quantum security for the target cryptography algorithms. In this paper, we revisit quantum implementations of CHAM block cipher, an ultra lightweight cipher, with a focus on optimizing the linear operations in its key schedule. We optimized the linear equations of CHAM as matrices by applying novel optimized decomposition techniques. Using the improved CHAM quantum circuits, we estimate the cost of Grover's key search and evaluate the post-quantum security strength with further reduced costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beamforming results depend on the spatial resolution of the microphone array used, which may lead to sources close to each other being considered as one. Deconvolution methods that consider all directions simultaneously, such as DAMAS, produce better results in these situations. However, they have a high computational cost, often lack sufficient speed to be used in real-time applications, and have limited accuracy at lower frequencies. This paper introduces a hybrid method to perform deconvolution using a neural network that can improve the speed of deconvolution on high-resolution grids by more than 2 orders of magnitude, while also generating sparser maps without sacrificing accuracy compared to the compressed DAMAS method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A considerable number of medical students experience musculoskeletal pain (MSP) during their academic years. In this study, we seek to determine the prevalence of MSP, as well as its associated risk factors, among a sample of medical students at two major universities in Damascus, Syria. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted in two universities, with a total of 2009 medical students participating in filling‐in the paper‐based questionnaire. A modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was utilized in this study. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 2009 medical students. The majority were between the ages of 21 and 25 years old, female (53%), and in their clinical years (55%). 1081 (54%) of all students had at least one MSP site in the previous week, while 1654 (82%) had at least one MSP site in the last year. MSP in the previous week was strongly linked with a history of trauma (odds ratio [OR] 2.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79–2.86, p = 0.001), as well as a family history of MSP (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12–1.76, p = 0.0029). MSP in the previous year was significantly associated with gender (OR 0.637, 95% CI 0.50–0.80, p = 0.0001), history of trauma (OR 4.59, 95% CI 2.93–7.17, p ≤ 0.001), and family history of MSP (OR 4.59, 95% CI 1.36–2.68, p = 0.0002). On multivariate analysis, factors associated with MSP in the previous week and last year were familial history of MSP (p = 0.0457) (p = 0.0024), respectively, and a history of trauma (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: MSP had a high prevalence among Syrian medical students, especially female students, those with history of trauma, and those with a family history of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). This major health problem should be known to medical institutions, and awareness programs are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. The entire Christian edifice represented and erected by the Church rests on the resurrection, while the church head is the resurrected Jesus Christ. This detail makes all the difference between Christianity and the other world religions. Jesus' resurrection is presented throughout the New Testament, however in this paper we propose a particular look upon it, namely through the images used by the apostle Paul to describe the resurrection of Jesus Christ that changed his life. The apostle's way of thinking is clearly influenced by his encounter with the resurrected and glorified Jesus on the road to Damascus. For Paul, the resurrection is a transformation, a form of integrity that leads to the immortality of the redeemed and their glorification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While milk is the most consumed human drink, industrial food processes exist everywhere. It consumes a massive amount of hot water at moderate temperature levels, essential to generating the final product. The integration of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with solar thermal systems creates noticeable savings in fuel and electricity. Identifying the integration system employed can be solved using innovative engineering simulation tools like T*sol. And the maximum points and configuration can be adjusted to achieve the maximum solar yield. This paper compares the middle east and central Europe for a medium-size pasteurising plant with an average daily consumption of 20 kWh and an annual energy requirement of 7.3 MWh. The processed heating system is supported parallelly with a 25 kW boiler for two main cities, Damascus and Budapest, with different standard collector types, FPC, ETC, and CPC. It shows that for a small-medium-sized pasteurising plant with 20 kWh daily consumption, a solar system consists of 30 m2 and 20 m2 for Budapest and Damascus. With the performance of annual solar fraction 64% and 82%, and total system efficiency 14.9% and 17.2%, respectively. It shows the importance of having solar thermal technologies in the abovementioned regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During five centuries (6th to 11th C.E.), the advancement of science in the Muslim world displayed Muslim civilization as the scientific Mecca. This era saw many other civilizations learning science from Muslims seen as exemplary in modernizing life and sharing guidance for moral conduct. This was accomplished by embedding norms and inventions and as a result of factors such as royal patronage and personal sacrifice. This paper seeks to reclaim historical data through reflection and contextualization. Analysis of relevant past contexts paves a path leading from romanticism and antiquanism into the contemporary world. Secondary resources, such as historical books and journals, reveal how science in Islam was developed and nurtured through patronage, institutional establishment, networking, and other factors, leading to valuable inventions. The Islamic Golden Era of science flourished because Muslims scientists had an ethos motivating them toward discoveries. Key innovating scientists made cities such as Nishapur, Alexandria, Jundishapur, and Damascus become preeminent in scientific invention. This brought rapid development to Muslim life, as well as to the surrounding nations, extending to Greece and India and China. This paper argues that Muslim scientists of today's world can benefit from the perspective that the Qur'an and hadiths are essential sources of general principles for conducting scientific and technological research. Both are key spirits for encouraging Muslim scientists to conduct rigorous studies. [ Selama 5 abad pertama, 6-11 Masehi, kemajuan ilmu pengetahuan di dunia muslim terwujud pada peradaban muslim di Mekkah. Era ini menunjukkan pelbagai peradaban lain belajar kepada muslim sebagai model kehidupan modern dan petunjuk kehidupan moral. Hal ini teruji oleh norma-norma dan penemuan-penemuan serta hasil akibat dari loyalitas dan keikhlasan. Artikel ini mencoba mengklaim ulang bukti historis melalui refleksi dan kontekstualisasi. Analisa konteks masa lalu yang tepat menghindari dari kecenderungan romantisme dan kekunoan dari pada dunia kontemporer. Sumber sekunder seperti buku dan jurnal, membuktikan bagaimana pengetahuan dalam Islam berkembang dan tumbuh melalui patronase, institusionalisasi, jejaring dan faktor lainnya yang mendukung penemuan baru. Keemasan ilmu masa Islam menjamur karena ilmuwan muslim mempunyai etos yang tinggi pada penjelajahan pengetahuan. Kunci inovasi para ilmuwan telah membuat kota-kota seperti Nishapur, Alexandria, Jundishapur dan Damaskus berkembang menjadi pusat pengetahuan. Perkembangan pesat kehidupan muslim ini akhirnya menyebar ke Yunani, India dan China. Artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa ilmuwan muslim saat ini dapat mengambil manfaat dari perspektif Qur'an dan hadits sebagai sumber utama dalam prinsip-prinsip penelitian ilmiah dan teknologi. Keduanya juga, Qur'an dan hadits, menjadi kunci semangat bagi ilmuwan muslim dalam kajian yang lebih maju.]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grover search algorithm reduces the security level of symmetric key cryptography with n-bit security level to O (2 n / 2) . In order to evaluate the Grover search algorithm, the target block cipher should be efficiently implemented in quantum circuits. Recently, many research works evaluated required quantum resources of AES block ciphers by optimizing the expensive substitute layer. However, few works were devoted to the lightweight block ciphers, even though it is an active research area, nowadays. In this paper, we present optimized implementations of every Korean made lightweight block ciphers for quantum computers, which include HIGHT, CHAM, and LEA, and NSA made lightweight block ciphers, namely SPECK. Primitive operations for block ciphers, including addition, rotation, and exclusive-or, are finely optimized to achieve the optimal quantum circuit, in terms of qubits, Toffoli gate, CNOT gate, and X gate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first implementation of ARX-based Korean lightweight block ciphers in quantum circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the process of transformation of a cultural quarter developed at al-Amin district inside the Old City of Damascus. In 2006, approximately 25–30 artists, moved to this historical neighbourhood and settled in its traditional houses, changing their function into studios/ateliers. One year later, the district was called "The Artists' Quarter" with the acknowledgment of local and international institutions. The presence of artists' studios and many cultural events in the area has contributed to the discovery of the rich architectural and cultural heritage of the neighbourhood and the development of a new sphere of public encounters. This quarter became a destination for tourists as well as for locals. Unfortunately, during the war in Syria, started in 2011, different negative changes have happened at al-Amin district. The study aims to (1) Highlight the origin and development of the quarter from the point of view of the artists and the dwellers; (2) Study the spatial and socio-economic effects caused by the "Artists' Quarter"; (3) Evaluate the changes in the traditional houses due to change of their function; (4) Investigate the actual situation due to the war. Information was collected mainly from interviews with several artists, with hotels' managers and shopkeepers in the quarter, in addition to literature review, consultation of maps and plans and on-site observation. Results of the study will help in understanding this model of urban development and try to set up recommendations for integrated development and heritage management of this neighbourhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of IoT and Cloud computing service technology, the size of user data to be managed and file data to be transmitted has been significantly increased. To protect users' personal information, it is necessary to encrypt it in secure and efficient way. Since servers handling a number of clients or IoT devices have to encrypt a large amount of data without compromising service capabilities in real-time, Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) have been considered as a proper candidate for a crypto accelerator for processing a huge amount of data in this situation. In this paper, we present highly efficient implementations of block ciphers on NVIDIA GPUs (especially, Maxwell, Pascal, and Turing architectures) for environments using massively large data in IoT and Cloud computing applications. As block cipher algorithms, we choose AES, a representative standard block cipher algorithm; LEA, which was recently added in ISO/IEC 29192-2:2019 standard; and CHAM, a recently developed lightweight block cipher algorithm. To maximize the parallelism in the encryption process, we utilize Counter (CTR) mode of operation and customize it by using GPU's characteristics. We applied several optimization techniques with respect to the characteristics of GPU architecture such as kernel parallelism, memory optimization, and CUDA stream. Furthermore, we optimized each target cipher by considering the algorithmic characteristics of each cipher by implementing the core part of each cipher with handcrafted inline PTX (Parallel Thread eXecution) codes, which are virtual assembly codes in CUDA platforms. With the application of our optimization techniques, in our implementation on RTX 2070 GPU, AES and LEA show up to 310 Gbps and 2.47 Tbps of throughput, respectively, which are 10.7% and 67% improved compared with the 279.86 Gbps and 1.47 Tbps of the previous best result. In the case of CHAM, this is the first optimized implementation on GPUs and it achieves 3.03 Tbps of throughput on RTX 2070 GPU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Church in the World / Crkva u Svijetu is the property of University of Split, Catholic Faculty of Theology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper suggests to locate the training ground (campus) of the legio X Fretensis in the shallow valley north of the Damascus Gate, perhaps where once the siege camp of Titus was built. Topographically it is the most level ground around Jerusalem, hence fitting for a campus. Furthermore, the area was devoid of structures between 70 CE and the 4th century, except for two monuments erected by legionary forces and dedicated to the emperors: one monument definitely dedicated to Hadrian (upon his visit) and the other either to Hadrian or less likely to Antoninus Pius. Positioning the campus in this area neatly explains why it was empty for centuries and why the cemetery of Aelia Capitolina was pushed north of the line of the “Third Wall”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessment of the clinical learning environment (CLE) is an essential step that teaching hospitals routinely undertake to ensure the environment is conducive, learning-oriented and supportive of junior doctors' education. The Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) is an internationally recognized tool for assessing the CLE with evidence of high reliability and validity. Translation of PHEEM into other languages such as Spanish, Japanese and Persian enabled wider adoption of the instrument in the world. However, in Syria and other Arabic countries, a validated Arabic translation of PHEEM is still not available, making it difficult to adopt it and use it in Arabic contexts. This study aims to translate and culturally adapt the PHEEM from English into Arabic. Methods: This study followed the structured translation and validation process guideline proposed by Sousa & Rojjanasrirat 2010. First, the PHEEM went through forward translation by three translators, then reconciled with the aid of a fourth translator. Afterwards, two professional bicultural and bilingual translators conducted back translation into English and compared it with the original version. This formed the Pre-final Version (PFV) which was then pretested for clarity on a sample of medical residents in Damascus, Syria. Following appropriate modifications, the PFV was sent to a panel of experts for a comprehensive review of language clarity and to assess content validity. Results: A total of thirty-five medical residents were recruited. Ten items with language clarity issues were identified and modified according to the elicited suggestions. Thereafter, the modified PFV was presented to ten subject experts who identified three items in need of revision. The item-content Validity Index (CVI) was over 0.78 for all of the 40 items; the calculated scale-CVI was 0.945. Discussion: This study provided the first linguistically valid Arabic translation of the widely used PHEEM inventory. The next step is to conduct a full psychometric analysis of the Arabic PHEEM to provide further evidence of validity and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of colleters in Rubiaceae is crucial for understanding their role in plant function. Analyzing colleters in Palicourea tetraphylla and Palicourea rudgeoides aims to deepen the understanding of these structures morphoanatomical and functional characteristics. The study reveals colleters with palisade epidermis and a parenchymatic central axis, classified as standard type, featuring vascularization and crystals. Colleter secretion, abundant in acidic mucopolysaccharides, proteins, and phenolic compounds, protects against desiccation. The ontogenesis, development, and senescence of the colleters are quite rapid and fulfill their role well in biotic and abiotic protection because these structures are present at different stages of development in the same stipule. Pronounced protrusions on the colleters surface, coupled with the accumulation of secretion in the intercellular and subcuticular spaces, suggest that the secretory process occurs through the wall, driven by pressure resulting from the accumulation of secretion. The microorganisms in the colleters' secretion, especially in microbiota-rich environments such as the Atlantic Forest, provide valuable information about plant–microorganism interactions, such as resistance to other pathogens and organisms and ecological balance. This enhanced understanding of colleters contributes to the role of these structures in the plant and enriches knowledge about biological interactions within specific ecosystems and the family taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the structure of quarters in traditional Arab Islamic cities. Previous studies have stressed the idea of an urban structure that corresponds to social groupings, in that it is seen as a collection of neighborhood quarters. This spatial model has often provided the rationale for the design of new housing layouts. The purpose of this study is to examine this issue and to argue that the structure of these cities presents a global whole. To achieve this purpose a general and a specific question are addressed. The general question is about the physically sub-areas within the city, and the specific question is about the issue of social groupings and the kind of relation that space has to society. The proposition thus invokes the idea of a physical structure which appears to correspond to a social pattern. The city of Damascus is used as a model of analysis in which the urban structure is described and characterised. The argument is advanced that the traditional Arab Islamic city has a sub-area structure which is historically generated, but whose morphological combination is fine-tuned and adjusted so that the whole comes to dominate and unify the parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the impact of war on medical residents' specialty choices and migration decisions is critical to ensure the sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Syrian crisis on specialty choices, related factors, and decisions to work in Syria among residents of six major university hospitals in Damascus. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire from 20/4/2022 to 20/5/2022, including all eligible residents with no missing data. The questionnaire was comprised of 68 items, and residents were divided into two groups: group 1 included residents who made their specialty choice after the end of the military war in Damascus 2018, while group 2 included residents who made their specialty choice (the point of submitting their lists and applying for residency) during the war. A total of 370 residents were included, with 38.4% females and 61.6% males. Our findings revealed that 30% of residents preferred working in Syria, while 43.5% preferred working abroad. The factor of a "safer and more stable life" was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (3.86>3.5, p-value = 0.026). Additionally, Group 1 residents were more likely to choose radiology, pathology, laboratory, and psychiatry specialization as their specialties, while choosing surgical specializations and hematology decreased compared to Group 2 (p-value<0.05). Factors related to social life were rated higher by group 1 (mean = 3.31) than by group 2 (mean = 2.27, Standard deviation = 0.19, p-value = 0.002). Moreover, the factor of "a specialization to facilitate traveling abroad" was significantly higher in Group 1 (2.69>2.21, Standard deviation = 0.22, p-value = 0.033). The Syrian crisis and its economic aftermath have influenced residents' specialty choices and practice locations. Even after the war's end, the high level of migration intentions could negatively affect the quality of provided healthcare services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Healthcare workers in particular frequently report Work‐related musculoskeletal diseases (WRMSDs). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and features of WRMSDs in residents from different specialties and trainee nurses from educational hospitals in Damascus, Syria. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was undertaken aiming at the medical residents and the trainee nurses working in the public health sector in 11 hospitals. The sample size was found to be 2016. In this study, a modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was employed. Results: After the inclusion and exclusion criteria was the number of the participants 1855. In general, musculoskeletal pain was in the past week (69%) and the past 12 months (85%). Musculoskeletal pain in medical care practitioners was found to be linked to higher mean age (p = 0.0053) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.0437) in the last year. Females had a higher prevalence of WRMSDs than males (p = 0.0036), and those who were married also had a higher prevalence (p = 0.0218). Working longer hours per week and per month were associated with musculoskeletal pain in the previous 7 days (p = 0.0043 and p = 0.0003, respectively). Conclusion: WRMSD prevalence was 85% among our study participants in the previous year. The most common complaint was lower back pain. Aging, female gender, and increasing BMI have been associated with higher reporting of WRMSDs. Our results suggested that doctors were twice as susceptible to developing WRMSDs as nurses. These results highlight the increasing urgency for ergonomics training programs and effective interventions to reduce WRMSDs and enhance working conditions for healthcare professionals in Syria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of information and communication technology, various types of Internet of Things (IoT) devices have widely been used for convenient services. Many users with their IoT devices request various services to servers. Thus, the amount of users' personal information that servers need to protect has dramatically increased. To quickly and safely protect users' personal information, it is necessary to optimize the speed of the encryption process. Since it is difficult to provide the basic services of the server while encrypting a large amount of data in the existing CPU, several parallel optimization methods using Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been considered. In this paper, we propose several optimization techniques using GPU for efficient implementation of lightweight block cipher algorithms on the server-side. As the target algorithm, we select high security and light weight (HIGHT), Lightweight Encryption Algorithm (LEA), and revised CHAM, which are Add-Rotate-Xor (ARX)-based block ciphers, because they are used widely on IoT devices. We utilize the features of the counter (CTR) operation mode to reduce unnecessary memory copying and operations in the GPU environment. Besides, we optimize the memory usage by making full use of GPU's on-chip memory such as registers and shared memory and implement the core function of each target algorithm with inline PTX assembly codes for maximizing the performance. With the application of our optimization methods and handcrafted PTX codes, we achieve excellent encryption throughput of 468, 2593, and 3063 Gbps for HIGHT, LEA, and revised CHAM on RTX 2070 NVIDIA GPU, respectively. In addition, we present optimized implementations of Counter Mode Based Deterministic Random Bit Generator (CTR_DRBG), which is one of the widely used deterministic random bit generators to provide a large amount of random data to the connected IoT devices. We apply several optimization techniques for maximizing the performance of CTR_DRBG, and we achieve 52.2, 24.8, and 34.2 times of performance improvement compared with CTR_DRBG implementation on CPU-side when HIGHT-64/128, LEA-128/128, and CHAM-128/128 are used as underlying block cipher algorithm of CTR_DRBG, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Syrian decade-long war has severely affected the healthcare system, including almost vanishing cancer screening practices, war-destroyed medical facilities, and lack of continuous medical education. This study aims to present data on the affected breast cancer screening practices, methods of diagnosis, and stages distribution in Syria. Methods: Medical charts of breast cancer patients treated at Albairouni University Hospital between January 2019 and May 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Eligible patients were women diagnosed with primary breast cancer. Exclusion criteria included females receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and incomplete charts. Data regarding the patient's age, city of residence, marital status, number of children, smoking habits, method of diagnosis, tumor size (T), lymph nodes (N), and distal metastasis (M) were collected. We used Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze data. Descriptive methodology (frequency [n], percentage) was used. Results: The number of charts reviewed was 4,500. The number of remaining charts after applying the exclusion criteria was 2,367. The mean age was 51.8 (SD = 11.3). More than half of the patients (58.3%) came from outside Damascus -where the hospital is located- and its suburbs. Less than 5% of the population detected cancer by screening mammography. Only 32.4% of patients were diagnosed by a biopsy, while surgical procedures (lumpectomy and mastectomy) were used to diagnose 64.8% of the population. At the time of diagnosis, only 8% of patients presented with local-stage disease (stages 0 & I), 73% had a regional disease (stages II & III), and 19% had metastatic breast cancer (stage IV). Conclusion: Our retrospective chart review analysis is the first comprehensive review in Syria for female breast cancer patients. We found a significant low percentage of patients diagnosed based on a screening mammogram, much higher surgical biopsies rather than a simple imaging-guided biopsy, and much lower than the national average of early-stage disease. Our alarming findings can serve as the base for future strategies to raise the population's health awareness, create more serious national screening campaigns, and adopt a multidisciplinary approach to the disease in Syria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal of Plant Protection is the property of Arab Society for Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Rank Decoding problem (RD) is at the core of rank-based cryptography. Cryptosystems such as ROLLO and RQC, which made it to the second round of the NIST Post-Quantum Standardization Process, as well as the Durandal signature scheme, rely on it or its variants. This problem can also be seen as a structured version of MinRank, which is ubiquitous in multivariate cryptography. Recently, Bardet et al. (in: Canteaut and Ishai, Advances in cryptology—EUROCRYPT 2020, Springer, Cham, 2020; Advances in cryptology—ASIACRYPT 2020, international conference on the theory and application of cryptology and information security, 2020. Proceedings, 2020) proposed attacks based on two new algebraic modelings, namely the MaxMinors modeling which is specific to RD and the Support-Minors modeling which applies to MinRank in general. Both improved significantly the complexity of algebraic attacks on these two problems. In the case of RD and contrarily to what was believed up to now, these new attacks were shown to be able to outperform combinatorial attacks and this even for very small field sizes. However, we prove here that the analysis performed in Bardet et al. (in: Advances in cryptology—ASIACRYPT 2020, international conference on the theory and application of cryptology and information security, 2020. Proceedings, 2020) for one of these attacks which consists in mixing the MaxMinors modeling with the Support-Minors modeling to solve RD is too optimistic and leads to underestimate the overall complexity. This is done by exhibiting linear dependencies between these equations and by considering an F q m version of these modelings which turns out to be instrumental for getting a better understanding of both systems. Moreover, by working over F q m rather than over F q , we are able to drastically reduce the number of variables in the system and we (i) still keep enough algebraic equations to be able to solve the system, (ii) are able to analyze rigorously the complexity of our approach. This new approach may improve the older MaxMinors approach on RD from Bardet et al. (in: Canteaut and Ishai, Advances in cryptology—EUROCRYPT 2020, Springer, Cham, 2020; Advances in cryptology—ASIACRYPT 2020, international conference on the theory and application of cryptology and information security, 2020. Proceedings, 2020) for certain parameters. We also introduce a new hybrid approach on the Support-Minors system whose impact is much more general since it applies to any MinRank problem. This technique improves significantly the complexity of the Support-Minors approach for small to moderate field sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Olive oil is known worldwide for its beneficial effects on human health. However, during its extraction, a great quantity of by-products is produced. Their utilization as a replacer of forage in goats could minimize the costs related to their management and result in their sustainable utilization as dietary ingredients. As shown in the present experiment, milk fat and protein percentages were gradually increased with increasing ensiled olive cake (OC) inclusion rates in the diets, while the milk yield was not affected. The concentration of milk mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) was also enhanced, while OC dietary supplementation was associated with the increased expression of specific genes in the mammary and adipose tissues of goats. As can be concluded, OC inclusion of up to 20% (DM) in goats' diets as forage is recommended since milk protein, fat, and MUFA contents are increased without adversely affecting milk yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of ensiled OC on milk yield, composition, fatty acid (FA) profile, and the expression of selected genes involved in lipid metabolism in the udder and adipose tissue of goats. Seventy-two Damascus dairy goats in mid-lactation were assigned randomly to three iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic diets containing 0, 10, and 20% of ensiled OC as a replacement of forage (OC0, OC10, and OC20, respectively) for 42 days. During weeks 5 and 6 of the trial, dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, and FA profiles were recorded, while mammary and perirenal adipose tissue samples were also collected from six animals per treatment from the OC0 and OC20 groups for gene expression analysis. No significant differences were observed among groups concerning milk yield, 4% fat-corrected milk, fat, or protein yield (kg/d). In contrast, the milk fat percentage was gradually increased with increasing OC inclusion rates in the diets, while milk protein percentages were elevated in both OC groups but significantly only in the milk of the OC20 group. The content of FA between C4:0 to C16:0 was reduced, while mono-unsaturated FA (MUFA) concentration was enhanced in the goat milk of OC groups. The OC feeding treatment was associated with the increased mammary expression of SLC2A1 (p < 0.05), VLDLR (p < 0.01), FABP3 (p < 0.01), and elevated SLC2A1 (p < 0.05) and FASN (p < 0.01) gene expression in the adipose tissue of goats fed the OC20 diet. Overall, OC can be used in goats' diets as a forage replacement, at least in the inclusion rate of 20% DM, since this could increase the milk protein and fat percentage and enrich its content with beneficial for human health lipids without adversely affecting milk production traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in using new technology to create high-quality 3D recordings of heritage sites at potential risk of damage from conflict or natural disaster. Project Anqa is a multi-partner initiative to digitally document and present seven such at-risk heritage sites, all of which are located in Damascus, Syria. Through a training program, we enabled Syrian locals to collect a variety of data from all seven sites. With this data - a combination of photographs, laser-scan data and audio interviews - we present a web-application that provides researchers and the public a visually rich experience that showcases these at-risk sites. We term this approach "digitally-assisted storytelling." Our goal is to raise awareness of the need to document and preserve at-risk heritage in the Middle East while providing local professionals in the region with the skills to carry out these tasks. Furthermore, Project Anqa aims to be an educational resource for both researchers and the public. By allowing all collected data to be downloaded at no charge through an open access platform, we encourage the transfer of knowledge and information while preserving the digital longevity of this endeavour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organ donation is vital to saving lives, but its success depends on people's willingness to donate organs. This descriptive cross-sectional survey aimed to investigate attitudes towards organ donation in Damascus, Syria. Understanding attitudes is crucial for the success of organ donation programs, especially in countries with similar settings. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey aimed at understanding patients' attitudes towards organ donation in Damascus, Syria. Data was collected through a carefully constructed validated survey through face-to-face interviews. 600 participants were randomly interviewed, 62.8% agreed to donate their organs after death, with helping others being the primary reason. Religious beliefs were the primary reason for organ refusal in males, while for females, it was lack of knowledge and religious beliefs. However, there were no significant differences between genders or educational level and age groups in the acceptance of organ donation. The percentage of those who agree to donate their organs after death encourages taking an effective step to build an integrated donation system, not just a center. Bearing in mind that there is no correlation with age, gender or even educational level, which means that the system may include different groups of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brachydin B (BrB) is a unique dimeric flavonoid extracted from Fridericia platyphylla (Cham.) LG Lohmann with different biological activities. However, the antitumoral potential of this flavonoid is unclear. In our study, we evaluated the effects of the BrB flavonoid on cell viability (MTT, resazurin, and lactate dehydrogenase assays), proliferation (protein dosage and clonogenic assay), and migration/invasion (3D ECM gel, wound-healing, and transwell assays) of metastatic prostate (DU145) cells cultured both as traditional 2D monolayers and 3D tumor spheroids in vitro. The results showed that the BrB flavonoid promotes cytotoxic effects from ≥1.50 μM after 24 h of treatment in DU145 cells in monolayers. In 3D prostate tumor spheroids, BrB also induced cytotoxic effects at higher concentrations after longer treatment (48, 72, and 168 h). Furthermore, BrB treatment is associated with reduced DU145 clonogenicity in 2D cultures, as well as decreased area/volume of 3D tumor spheroids. Finally, BrB (6 μM) reduced cell migration/invasion in 2D monolayers and promoted antimigratory effects in DU145 tumor spheroids (≥30 μM). In conclusion, the antitumoral and antimigratory effects observed in DU145 cells cultured in 2D and 3D models are promising results for future studies with BrB using in vivo models and confirm this molecule as a candidate for metastatic prostate cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty Damascus does aged 1.5-2 years and weighed 46.9±1.64 kg were used to define the influence of Origanum Vulgare oil or N-acetyl cysteine supplementation on reproductive performance, milk yield and composition, growth performance in addition to changes in some blood metabolites during late pregnancy and suckling periods of Damascus does. Does were randomly divided into three equal groups (10 each) and fed basal ration according to NRC (1981). The first group, acted as control (G1), received a basal diet made up of 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM), 20% berseem hay, and 20% rice straw. While the second (G2) and third (G3) groups consumed the same basic ration and supplemented daily with Origanum vulgare oil (OV oil) at a level of 1m. / kg concentrate (G2) and 0.3 gm / kg live body weight of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) after being dissolved in 200 ml of water and administered once daily for seven consecutive days during pregnancy and the same period after birth (Start before the first day of breastfeeding) (G3). Results indicated that both treated groups, during late pregnancy and suckling periods, showed improve in fecundity, prolificacy, kids born per does joined, kids born or weaned per does kidded and kg born and weaned per doe kidded, taking in consideration that the flock have history of high mortality rates and still birth which indicated in the values presented for the control group. The high mortality rate of control group (30%) efficiently reduced by NAC (6.67%) while lightly reduced by OV oil (22.22%). Daily milk yield of both treated groups were significantly higher than control group (G1). Fat, protein and lactose percentages for both treated groups also were significantly (P≤0.05) higher compared to the control group. Either Origanum Vulgare oil or N-acetyl cysteine supplement led to a significant increase in weaning weights, daily gain and total gain of kids, while birth weight value does not show any differences between treatments. The best weights occurred with N-acetyl cysteine. Origanum Vulgare oil or N-acetyl cysteine significantly (P<0.05) increased glucose, ALT and Vit C, while, the concentration of urea and AST significantly (P<0.05) decreased as result of Origanum Vulgare oil or N-acetyl cysteine treatment during late pregnancy and lactation periods as compared to the control does. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The decade-long Syrian armed conflict killed or injured more than 11% of the Syrian population. Head and neck injuries are the most frequent cause of war-related trauma, about half of which are brain injuries. Reports about Syrian brain trauma victims were published from neighboring countries; However, none are available from Syrian hospitals. This study aims to report war-related traumatic brain injuries from the Syrian capital. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study between 2014 and 2017 at Damascus Hospital, the largest public hospital in Damascus, Syria. Target patients were the victims of combat-related traumatic brain injuries who arrived alive and were admitted to the neurosurgery department or to another department but followed by the neurosurgery team. The collected data included the mechanism, type, and site of injury based on imaging findings; types of invasive interventions; intensive-care unit (ICU) admissions; as well as neurological status at admission and discharge including several severity scales. Results: Our sample consisted of 195 patients; Ninety-six of them were male young adults, in addition to 40 females and 61 children. Injuries were caused by shrapnel in 127 (65%) cases, and by gunshots in the rest, and most of them (91%) were penetrating. Sixty-eight patients (35%) were admitted to the ICU, and 56 (29%) underwent surgery. Neurological impairment was reported in 49 patients (25%) at discharge, and the mortality rate during hospitalization was 33%. Mortality and neurological impairment associated significantly with higher values on clinical and imaging severity scores. Conclusions: This study captured the full spectrum of war-related brain injuries of civilians and armed personnel in Syria without the delay required to transport patients to neighboring countries. Although the clinical presentation of injuries at admission was not as severe as that in previous reports, the inadequate resources (i.e., ventilators and operation rooms) and the lack of previous experience with similar injuries might have resulted in the higher mortality rate. Clinical and imaging severity scales can provide a handy tool in identifying cases with low probability of survival especially with the shortage of personal and physical resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genocide against the Yazidis by the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) in the Sinjar area of Northern Iraq has costed many lives and has also caused a psychological long-term impact in this minority. This impact can be seen among individual survivors. Additionally, there is a large number of direct and indirect victims and for this reason, the impact can also be observed on the level of the group and society in this region at large. Methodology: The research examines three different population groups (Yazidis members who had been exposed to violence by terrorist group actions, those not exposed to this experience as they were living in an area not directly exposed to ISIS violence, and a control group of non – Yazidi general population members). In total, 425 participants (age range 15–78) took part in the study and participated in interviews using standard scales to measure general physical and mental health. Results: The results demonstrate that psychological stress and suicidality are higher among the Yazidis survivors of violence than in the other Yazidi participants. Conclusion: Psychological disorders after a genocide and war in post-conflict populations should receive more attention in the planning of mental health care and prevention and should be seen as a major problem, especially in camp settings and displaced persons besides the usual increased prevalence of posttraumatic stress and other disorders covered by research so far in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the technology of Internet of Things (IoT) evolves, abundant data is generated from sensor nodes and exchanged between them. For this reason, efficient encryption is required to keep data in secret. Since low-end IoT devices have limited computation power, it is difficult to operate expensive ciphers on them. Lightweight block ciphers reduce computation overheads, which are suitable for low-end IoT platforms. In this paper, we implemented the optimized CHAM block cipher in the counter mode of operation, on 8-bit AVR microcontrollers (i.e., representative sensor nodes). There are four new techniques applied. First, the execution time is drastically reduced, by skipping eight rounds through pre-calculation and look-up table access. Second, the encryption with a variable-key scenario is optimized with the on-the-fly table calculation. Third, the encryption in a parallel way makes multiple blocks computed in online for CHAM-64/128 case. Fourth, the state-of-art engineering technique is fully utilized in terms of the instruction level and register level. With these optimization methods, proposed optimized CHAM implementations for counter mode of operation outperformed the state-of-art implementations by 12.8%, 8.9%, and 9.6% for CHAM-64/128, CHAM-128/128, and CHAM-128/256, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its complications may result in stigmatization of individuals who may carry the virus. This is of special concern to healthcare workers who tolerate additional physical and emotional stress at times of pandemic. The aims of this study are to (1) develop and validate the COVID-19 Stigma Scale (COVISS-HCWs) survey; and (2) investigate the experience of stigma among healthcare workers possibly dealing with COVID-19 patients in five major public hospitals in Damascus, Syria.Methods: We divided the sample into two parts and then underwent EFA on the first 350 participants, dividing the 14 questions into two dimensions. Furthermore, CFA was conducted on the other 350 participants to confirm how correctly a hypothesized model matched the factor structure by EFA, as described above. Moreover, the coefficient of determination (R2) and item-scale correlations (standardized factor loading) were estimated to establish the acceptability of the final structure of the COVISS-HCWs. Through a cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 700 healthcare workers participated in a self-administered questionnaire containing a section for demographic variables and another for newly designed COVISS-HCWs. The scale comprises 14 adapted and novel items that measure two subscales: feelings of perceived harm and inferiority, and avoidance. Descriptive statistics, reliability, and validity were evaluated.Results: The 14 COVISS-HCWs items were reduced to 11 items with a high Cronbach's α of 0.909. A significant correlation was observed between the responses to each COVISS-HCWs item and the corresponding subscale, and between each subscale and the overall scale. Feeling stigmatized was reported by 9.86% of the participants. Younger age, low socioeconomic status, and higher intensity of contact with COVID-19 patients significantly correlated with higher stigmatization.Conclusions: The novel COVISS-HCWs is a reliable and valid tool to evaluate stigma among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Stigma prevalence among healthcare workers was 9.86%. Therefore, this must be addressed to prevent possible psychosocial and public health repercussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lippia sidoides Cham. (Verbenaceae) is a species often mentioned in traditional medicine due to the medicinal properties attributed to its leaves, which include antibacterial, antifungal, acaricidal and antioxidant. Several of these actions have been scientifically proven, according to reports in the literature; however, little is known about toxicological aspects of this plant. This work included studies to determine the chemical composition and toxicity tests, using several methods aiming to evaluate the safety for use of the aqueous extract of L. sidoides leaves, in addition, the anxiolytic effect on adult zebrafish was investigated, thus contributing to the pharmacological knowledge and traditional medicine concerning the specie under study. The chemical profile was determined by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry-HPLC/MS with electrospray ionization. Toxicity was evaluated by zebrafish, Drosophila melanogaster, blood cells, and Artemia salina models. 12 compounds belonging to the flavonoid class were identified. In the toxicity assays, the observed results showed low toxicity of the aqueous extract in all tests performed. In the analysis with zebrafish, the highest doses of the extract were anxiolytic, neuromodulating the GABAa receptor. The obtained results support the safe use of the aqueous extract of L. sidoides leaves for the development of new drugs and for the use by populations in traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-war Residential Re-construction Projects (PRRP) are widely complex and have significant risks. It is necessary to address sustainability risks in PRRP in order to respond to the war disastrous consequences. Thus, reducing sustainability risks associated with PRRP Life Cycle (LC) phases is of absolute importance for each stakeholder to achieve sustainability within PRRP process and performance. How to effectively get different participants to manage risks in the context of PRRP LC is decisive to the project sustainability objectives. This study aims to identify how sustainability risk factors change during PRRP LC phases and how LC Sustainability Risk Management (LCSRM) is perceived by PRRP primary stakeholders. Data were collected through survey and interviews with different stakeholder groups in Damascus PRRP. The findings revealed the top five risks of: 'Poor constructability' (with a score of 0.44 at the construction phase), 'Delays due to poor contract management' (with a score of 0.44 at the pre-construction phase), 'Lack of availability of green materials and equipment' (with a score of 0.43 at the construction phase), 'Pollution' (with a score of 0.4 at the construction phase) and 'Being fined for failing to meet the project objectives' (with a score of 0.36 at the construction phase). The majority of risk responses were found to be more effective in the planning, design, pre-construction and construction stages. LCSRM is presented in a participatory manner involving key stakeholders. Practical recommendations for developer, consultants, designers, contractors, project managers and regulators were presented. The study's LCSRM approach offers stakeholders a novel approach to customize their own list of sustainability risks. The main benefit of LCSRM is in shifting construction management control from input oriented to a more output oriented one in order to respond to unforeseen risks encompassing PRRP performance, which often deviated PRRP sustainability objectives from reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plume rising height of a ship will directly affect the maximum ground concentration and distance from the source caused by flue gas emission. Ship movement has an important effect on plume rising, but it is often ignored in previous studies. We simulated the weakening effect caused by ship movement by considering the influence of four main parameters (wind speed, ship speed, flue gas exit velocity, and flue gas exit temperature) on the smoke plume rising height, using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model (PHOENICS version 6.0 CHAM, London, UK). The main parameters affecting the difference in plume rising height between stationary and moving sources for the same parameter settings are the wind speed and the ship speed. Therefore, we established two simplified calculation methods that corrected the flue gas exit velocity ( V e x i t ′ ) and the flue gas exit temperature ( T ′ ) for approximately simulating the smoke plume rising height of the moving ship using the formula of a stationary ship. Verification cases indicated that the corrected V e x i t ′   (the average of relative error is 5.48%) and the corrected T ′ (the average of relative error is 60.07%) not only saved calculation time but also improved the simulation accuracy compared with the uncorrected stationary source scheme (the average of relative error is 135.38%). Of these correction methods, the scheme with corrected V e x i t ′ is more effective. The intention is to provide some references for the field experimentation of moving ship plume rising in different ports in the future and to further study the mechanism of moving ship plume rising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prediabetes is a major risk factor for diabetes and many chronic complications, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD). Risk factors vary among races and demographics. This is the first study to assess prediabetes in Syria and its relevant risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a primary health clinic in Al-Mouwasat University Hospital, the major Hospital in Damascus, Syria. Interviews, examinations, and blood investigations were carried out by qualified physicians in the clinic. Results: This study included 406 participants, of which 363 (89.4%) were females, 43(10.6%) were males, 91 (22.4%) had prediabetes, 108 (26.6%) were overweight, and 231 (56.9%) were obese. Older age, positive family history of diabetes, obesity, abdominal obesity in females, high cholesterol, being married, and CVD were statistically significantly associated with prediabetes (p < 0.05). However, prediabetes was not associated with gender, living in the city or country, cigarette smoking, hypertension, diet, triglycerides, or polycystic ovary syndrome (p > 0.05). However, in the multivariable analysis, only high cholesterol, familial diabetes, and waist diameter had significant association. Conclusions: Prevalence of prediabetes in our study in Syria was higher than what was estimated by previous studies. While many risk factors were similar to other countries in the regions, other risk factors differed. These results were highly reflective of high burden of prediabetes and diabetes, mainly in relatively young females. Further studies are required to tackle this rising issue as it imposes major complications in the long term, and the high financial burden on the health care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following Bauschke and Combettes (Convex analysis and monotone operator theory in Hilbert spaces, Springer, Cham, 2017), we introduce ProxNet, a collection of deep neural networks with ReLU activation which emulate numerical solution operators of variational inequalities (VIs). We analyze the expression rates of ProxNets in emulating solution operators for variational inequality problems posed on closed, convex cones in real, separable Hilbert spaces, covering the classical contact problems in mechanics, and early exercise problems as arise, e.g., in valuation of American-style contracts in Black–Scholes financial market models. In the finite-dimensional setting, the VIs reduce to matrix VIs in Euclidean space, and ProxNets emulate classical projected matrix iterations, such as projected Jacobi and projected SOR methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted to the efficient simulation of large multi-physical networks stemming from automated modelling processes in system simulation software. The simulation of hybrid, battery and fuel cell electric vehicle applications requires the coupling of electrical, mechanical, fluid, and thermal networks. Each network is established by combining the connection structure of a graph with physical equations of elementary components and resulting in a DAE (differential algebraic equation). To speed up the simulation a non-iterative multirate time integration co-simulation method for the system of coupled DAEs is established. The power of the multirate method is shown via two representative examples of battery powered electric vehicle with a cooling system for the battery pack and a three phase inverter with a cooling system. This work is an extended version of (Kolmbauer et al. in Scientific Computing in Electrical Engineering (SCEE 2020), Springer, Cham, pp. 231–240, 2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extending the results of Kruk (Queueing theory and network applications. QTNA 2019. Lecture notes in computer science, vol 11688. Springer, Cham, pp 263–275, 2019), we derive heavy traffic limit theorems for a single server, single customer class queue in which the server uses the Shortest Remaining Processing Time (SRPT) policy from heavy traffic limits for the corresponding Earliest Deadline First queueing systems. Our analysis allows for correlated customer inter-arrival and service times and heavy-tailed inter-arrival and service time distributions, as long as the corresponding stochastic primitive processes converge weakly to continuous limits under heavy traffic scaling. Our approach yields simple, concise justifications and new insights for SRPT heavy traffic limit theorems of Gromoll et al. (Stoch Syst 1(1):1–16, 2011). Corresponding results for the longest remaining processing time policy are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a dimensionality reduction algorithm, aka. sketching, for categorical datasets. Our proposed sketching algorithm Cabin constructs low-dimensional binary sketches from high-dimensional categorical vectors, and our distance estimation algorithm Cham computes a close approximation of the Hamming distance between any two original vectors only from their sketches. The minimum dimension of the sketches required by Cham to ensure a good estimation theoretically depends only on the sparsity of the data points—making it useful for many real-life scenarios involving sparse datasets. We present a rigorous theoretical analysis of our approach and supplement it with extensive experiments on several high-dimensional real-world data sets, including one with over a million dimensions. We show that the Cabin and Cham duo is a significantly fast and accurate approach for tasks such as RMSE , all-pair similarity, and clustering when compared to working with the full dataset and other dimensionality reduction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study looks at the gender dimension in Iraqis' livelihood strategies in Syria in the period immediately before the present uprising and repression. It suggests that the lack of resources in Syria has meant that Iraqis have 'activated' resources elsewhere, outside Syria and outside the environment of institutional humanitarian assistance, and examines the implications of these transnational practices for Iraqi families and their networks. In the first part of this paper I analyse the characteristics of the host country, starting from the urban milieu in which the refugee communities are situated. I note the relative unimportance of ethnic and sectarian affiliation within the Iraqi diaspora in Syria, and focus on the more significant social and economic constraints on recent refugees following the enforcement by the Syrian government of stricter regulations on entry and stay, and the subsequent separation of families between Iraq and Syria. In the second part I examine the dependence of Iraqi refugees in Syria on family networks to cope with the restrictive measures of the host country on the one hand, and with the conflict in Iraq on the other, in order to comprehend how gender in the Iraqi diaspora in Syria constitutes a determining element with respect to livelihood strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper shows that the variations of the total and significant seasonal sea wave energy at al-Manara station in Tartous where we used the wind speed data from the General Metrological Administration located in Damascus for duration of 6 years from the beginning of 1998 until 2003. The measurements were taken each one hour. After the calculation of the total seasonal sea wave energy we noticed that the energy has the values between (811- 1608) J/m2 in al-Manara area,while the seasonal significant sea wave energy values ranged between (2424 - 3830) J/m2. The maximum sea energy was found in winter season. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Selcuk University Social Sciences Institute Journal is the property of Selcuk University Social Sciences Institute Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In 2005, in announcing the acceleration of the open-economy policy, Bachar al-Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, responded positively to the growing interest from Gulf region investors in regionally specific investment. Several laws were initiated to accompany a rapid increase in the number of investments in luxury property projects announced. This paper studies this process, the impacts on Damascus of the announcements and the (limited) realization of these prestige projects. It highlights the new dynamics produced to revitalize the city centre and to create new secondary urban centres. It also shows that this process induced the emergence of new urban planning practices, as well as the implementation of many other projects designed specifically for lower income categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposed Variscan basement in central Europe is well-known for its complex structural and lithological architecture resulting from multiple deformation phases. We studied the southwestern margin of the Bohemian Massif, which is characterized by major and long-lived shear zones, such as the Pfahl and Danube shear zones, extending over > 100 km and initiated during Variscan tectonics. We integrated Bouguer gravity anomaly and lidar topographic data analyses and combined our results with available data and observations from low-temperature thermochronology, metamorphic grades, and the exposed granite inventory to detect patterns of basement block segmentation and differential exhumation. Three NW–SE-striking basement blocks are bordered by the Runding, Pfahl, and Danube shear zones from the northeast to the southwest. Basement block boundaries are indicated by abrupt changes in measured gravity patterns and metamorphic grades. By applying high-pass filters to gravity data in combination with lineament analysis, we identified a new NNW–SSE-striking tectonic structure (Cham Fault), which further segments known basement blocks. Basement blocks that are segmented by the Cham Fault differ in the abundance and spatial distribution of exposed late Variscan granites and are further characterized by variations in apparent thermochronological age data. Based on our observations and analyses, a differential exhumation and tectonic tilt model is proposed to explain the juxtaposition of different crustal levels. Block segmentation along the NW–SE-striking Pfahl and Runding shear zones most likely occurred prior, during, and after late orogenic granite emplacement at ca. 320 ± 10 Ma, as some of the granites are cross-cut by the shear zones, while others utilized these structures during magma ascent and emplacement. In contrast, activity and block segmentation along the Cham Fault occurred after granite emplacement as the fault sharply truncates the granite inventory. Our study provides evidence of intense and continuous fault activities during late and post-orogenic times and highlights the importance of tectonic structures in the exhumation and juxtaposition of different crustal levels and the creation of complex lithological patterns in orogenic terrains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐neuronal cholinergic signaling, mediated by acetylcholine, plays important roles in physiological processes including inflammation and immunity. Our group first discovered evidence of non‐neuronal cholinergic circuitry in adipose tissue, whereby immune cells secrete acetylcholine to activate beige adipocytes during adaptive thermogenesis. Here, we reveal that macrophages are the cellular protagonists responsible for secreting acetylcholine to regulate thermogenic activation in subcutaneous fat, and we term these cells cholinergic adipose macrophages (ChAMs). An adaptive increase in ChAM abundance is evident following acute cold exposure, and macrophage‐specific deletion of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the enzyme for acetylcholine biosynthesis, impairs the cold‐induced thermogenic capacity of mice. Further, using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we show that ChAMs are regulated via adrenergic signaling, specifically through the β2 adrenergic receptor. These findings demonstrate that macrophages are an essential adipose tissue source of acetylcholine for the regulation of adaptive thermogenesis, and may be useful for therapeutic targeting in metabolic diseases. Synopsis: Immune cells secrete acetylcholine to activate beige adipocytes during adaptive thermogenesis, yet the identity of these acetylcholine‐secreting cells is unclear. This study shows that a subpopulation of adipose macrophages—named cholinergic adipose macrophages (ChAMs)—is responsible for β2 adrenergic receptor‐dependent secretion of acetylcholine upon acute cold to stimulate thermogenesis in neighboring beige adipocytes within murine subcutaneous fat. A non‐neuronal cholinergic circuitry consisting of ChAMs and beige adipocytes in subcutaneous adipose tissue influences both thermogenic response to cold and energy homeostasis in mice.Loss of acetylcholine production in macrophages compromises the adaptive thermogenic capacity of subcutaneous fat.The β2 adrenergic receptor mediates cholinergic macrophage activation in subcutaneous fat after cold exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ULUM Journal of Religious Inquiries is the property of ULUM Journal of Religious Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Marmara University Journal of Turkology / Marmara Türkiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi is the property of Marmara University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)