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Through comprehensive data analysis, we demonstrate that a χ(2)-induced artifact, arising from imperfect balancing in the conventional electro-optic sampling detection scheme, contributes significantly to the measured signal in 2D Raman–THz spectroscopy of non-centrosymmetric materials. The artifact is a product of two 1D responses, overwhelming the desired 2D response. We confirm that by analyzing the 2D Raman–THz response of an x-cut beta barium borate crystal. We furthermore show that this artifact can be effectively suppressed by implementing a special detection scheme. We successfully isolate the desired third-order 2D Raman–THz response, revealing a distinct cross-peak feature, whose frequency position suggests the coupling between two crystal phonons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As manufacturers continue to provide new and unique products and services for their customers, we argue that warranty menus with differentiated options are an often-overlooked unique selling point. Meanwhile, there is a huge swathe of customers who own durable products which are still in use even after the expiration of a warranty. It is in this area that we develop a research perspective which urges customers to consider warranty plans and post-warranty maintenance strategies simultaneously when making a purchasing decision. In this paper, through the lens of a consumer, we propose an integrated model of warranty and post-warranty maintenance under a flexible renewable warranty. This model takes into account repair limits and multiple failure types with time-varying probabilities. As part of this, a new post-warranty maintenance strategy is designed, in which the repair time-based corrective replacement and the age-based preventive replacement are combined. The life cycle cost rate of the product is minimised by a synthetic decision-making about the consumer's warranty purchase and post-warranty maintenance strategy. Numerical studies show that there exists a joint optimal solution, which can help the customer to develop an optimal overall warranty-maintenance strategy under the warranty menu with minimised cost rate. An integrated model of warranty and post-warranty maintenance is developed. The warranty product has minor and catastrophic failures with time-varying probabilities. A flexible renewable warranty is considered for the consumer. A post-warranty maintenance strategy with the repair time limit is proposed. The optimal warranty-maintenance strategy is derived to minimise the Life cycle cost rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular strabismus, a common condition in the present generation is an absolute risk factor for amblyopia and blinding premorbid visual loss. Despite the availability of new optometry tools with eye-tracking data, the issues persist in attaining accuracy and reliability in diagnosing strabismus. These two concerns are specifically accommodated in this study by the proposed novel approach that involves CNNs with eye-tracking datasets from subjects. The presented work aims to improve the accuracy of diagnostics in ophthalmology utilizing the integration of the further proposed algorithms into an automatic strabismus detection system. For this purpose, the proposed FedCNN model combines the CNN with eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and uses the Gaze deviation (GaDe) images to capture dynamic eye movements. This method tries to make the feature extraction as accurate as possible in its best working state to enhance the diagnosis precision. The model proves to be accurate, reaching 95.2%, which is even more prominent because of the more or less detailed connection layer of the CNN, which is used for the selection of features designated for such tasks of strabismus recognition. The presented method has the potential of shifting the approach to diagnosing diseases of the eyes in more or less half of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In photocatalysis water treatments, Heteropoly acids impact is most used to realize effective separation of photogenerated carriers for active degrade organic pollutants. Here, a type of Heteropoly acids used as photocatalyst was prepared, (GHPT) consisted of phosphotungstic acid (PTA) with graphite prepared from a dry battery column and reactivated with hydrochloric acid (GH). Used assays (x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), BET surface area, energy dispersive x-ray (EDS) and element mapping images) were used to demonstrate the properties, composition, and components of the GHPT. To evaluate the catalytic activity of decomposition of methylene blue (MB) using LED light. The rate of MB decomposition can be affected by the type of catalyst, initial concentration of MB dye, removal time, catalyst dose, and pH. GHPT has many advantages for its practical application, through its properties as a photocatalyst in terms of composition and components in the presence of light. The best removal percentage under the best conditions was 99.74 and total organic carbon analysis (TOC) percentage was 88.12 the at a concentration of 1 g/L of catalyst, an initial concentration of 25 ppm MB of MB, an illumination time of 180 minutes and a pH of 10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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 Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

First, a Brønsted acid ionic liquid (BAIL) in the role of a double acid-base called 1,3-n-propyl-bipyridinium bisulfonic acid-ditrifluoroacetate (PBPBSDT) was produced, and its skeleton was determined via TGA, mass, 13C NMR, 19F NMR, 1H NMR and FT-IR data. Further, it was successfully applied in the preparation of dibenzo-chromeno-phenazine-dione derivatives (1a-12a, 9–15 min, 90–98%) via one-pot multicomponent domino reaction among 2 mmol 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione, 1 mmol benzene-1,2-diamine, and 1 mmol aldehydes under optimal conditions (5 mol% of PBPBSDT, solvent-free, 60 °C). The proper reproducibility of the PBPBSDT homogeneous catalyst (5 times), solvent-free medium, reasonable TON (Turnover Number) and TOF (Turnover Frequency) numbers, the non-metallic framework of the catalyst, and the formation of C-N, C = N, C-C, C = C, C-O bonds in a single operation are the distinct advantages of this protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting faulty pipelines in water management systems is crucial for ensuring a reliable supply of clean water. Traditional inspection methods are often time-consuming, costly, and prone to errors. This study introduces an AI-based model utilizing images to detect pipeline defects, focusing on leaks, cracks, and corrosion. The YOLOv8 model is employed for object detection due to its exceptional performance in detecting objects, segmentation, pose estimation, tracking, and classification. By training on a large dataset of labeled images, the model effectively learns to identify visual patterns associated with pipeline faults. Experiments conducted on a real-world dataset demonstrate that the AI-based model significantly outperforms traditional methods in detection accuracy. The model also exhibits robustness to various environmental conditions such as lighting changes, camera angles, and occlusions, ensuring reliable performance in diverse scenarios. The efficient processing time of the model enables real-time fault detection in large-scale water distribution networks implementing this AI-based model offers numerous advantages for water management systems. It reduces dependence on manual inspections, thereby saving costs and enhancing operational efficiency. Additionally, the model facilitates proactive maintenance through the early detection of faults, preventing water loss, contamination, and infrastructure damage. The results from the three conducted experiments indicate that the model from Experiment 1 achieves a commendable mAP50 of 90% in detecting faulty pipes, with an overall mAP50 of 74.7%. In contrast, the model from Experiment 3 exhibits superior overall performance, achieving a mAP50 of 76.1%. This research presents a promising approach to improving the reliability and sustainability of water management systems through AI-based fault detection using image analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphone-derived colorimetric tools have the potential to revolutionize food safety control by enabling citizens to carry out monitoring assays. To realize this, it is of paramount significance to recognize recent study efforts and figure out important technology gaps in terms of food security. Driven by international connectivity and the extensive distribution of smartphones, along with their built-in probes and powerful computing abilities, smartphone-based sensors have shown enormous potential as cost-effective and portable diagnostic scaffolds for point-of-need tests. Meantime, the colorimetric technique is of particular notice because of its benefits of rapidity, simplicity, and high universality. In this study, we tried to outline various colorimetric platforms using smartphone technology, elucidate their principles, and explore their applications in detecting target analytes (pesticide residues, antibiotic residues, metal ions, pathogenic bacteria, toxins, and mycotoxins) considering their sensitivity and multiplexing capability. Challenges and desired future perspectives for cost-effective, accurate, reliable, and multi-functions smartphone-based colorimetric tools have also been debated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety issue is becoming an international challenge for human health owing to the presence of contaminants. In this context, reliable, rapid, and sensitive detecting technology is extremely demanded to establish food safety assurance systems. MOFs (Metal-organic frameworks) are a new type of porous crystalline material with particular physical and chemical characteristics presented in food safety requirements. (Bio)sensors driven MOF materials have emerged as a promising alternative and complementary analytical techniques, owing to their great specific area, high porosity, and uniform and fine-tunable pore buildings. Nevertheless, the insufficient stability and electrical conductivity of classical MOFs limit their utilization. Employing graphene-derived nanomaterials with high functional elements as patterns for the MOF materials not only improves the structural instability and poor conductivity but also impedes the restacking and aggregation between graphene layers, thus significantly extending the MOFs application. A review of MOFs-graphene-based material used in food contamination detection is urgently needed for encouraging the advance of this field. Herein, this paper systematically outlines current breakthroughs in MOF-graphene-based nanoprobes, outlines their principles, and illustrates their employments in identifying mycotoxins, heavy metal ions, pathogens, antibiotics, and pesticides, referring to their multiplexing and sensitivity ability. The challenges and limitations of applying MOF-graphene composite for precise and efficient assessment of food were also debated. This paper would maybe offer some inspired concepts for an upcoming study on MOF-based composites in the food security context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internet and technological advancements have facilitated faster communication and information sharing. However, cybercrime, including malware, phishing, and ransomware, remains a severe problem despite technical progress. Detecting the intrusion via Intrusion Detection System IDS in network communication and wireless networks WSN is a big challenge that grown with the rapid development of the technologies. The detection accuracy of the IDS mainly depends on the relevant features of the incoming data from the internet. Selecting the most relevant features within the optimal attributes is one of the primary stage of the machine learning and pattern recognition modules. Finding the feature subset from the present or existing features that will improve the algorithms' learning performance in terms of accuracy and learning time is the main goal of feature selection. Therefore, this paper proposes an accurate approach for intrusion detection in the network and WSN using machine learning methods include Chaotic Maps, Nomadic People Optimizer (NPO), and SVM. The proposed approach has five main stages which are: data collection, pre-processing, feature selection, classification, and evaluation. An improved version of NPO based on chaotic map called CNPO is proposed. The proposed CNPO uses chaotic maps to initialize the population and solution distribution. Besides, a proposed fitness function for CNPO based on SVM is proposed. The CNPO is employed for feature selection task by selecting only the most relevant features from the input dataset. The proposed approach evaluated using two datasets and achieve accuracy 99.96% and 99.98 for NSL-KDD, and WSN-DS respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To model the fibre stress utilization in modified ring spun yarns, we developed an analytical formula from the experimental data. The development of empirical formulae is carried out by using two different techniques, i.e., Cubic Spline and Artificial Neural Network methods. The experimental data of stress-strain curves of fibre and yarn has a large variation. To cope this variability, we used the smoothing spline technique to find the best-fit curve with respect to a reasonable smoothness. The best nonlinear smooth fitting can be used to extrapolate the experimental data beyond the breaking point. The modified ring spun yarns (compact, SIRO and SIRO-compact) with 20/1, 30/1 and 40/1 English count, produced from viscose staple fibre, were used to predict fibre stress utilization up to the yarn break by extrapolating the mean stress-strain curves of fibre and yarn by using the artificial neural network. Moreover, a new distribution function of fibre distribution in yarn has been proposed and successfully implemented for the prediction of fibre stress utilization in yarn. The new formulation helps to compute the fibre stress utilization in the yarn analytically. The validation of the proposed methodology is presented by comparing the numerical results with the experimental data. The predicted fibre stress utilization was in good agreement with the experimental fibre stress utilization for all types of modified ring spun yarns. It has been observed that SIRO-compact yarn exhibits improved fibre stress utilization as compared to SIRO and compact yarns. Moreover, the new distribution functions Gamma and Gaussian distribution were introduced in parallel with the Dirac delta function. In previous similar studies on ring, rotor and air-jet spun yarns, the proposed model can only predict the fibre stress utilization before the breakage point whereas the modified model, in this study, can predict the fibre stress utilization up to the breaking point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of hydrophilic polymer membranes derived from nanocomposites for the treatment of industrial wastewaters has garnered significant attention lately. When producing membranes, the fouling problems of these membranes may be lessened by adding hydrophilic additives to the polymer solution. In order to create the membranes by the phase inversion approach, 0.8 weight percent of polyethersulfone (PES) solution was mixed with a combination (1:1) of graphene oxide:titanium dioxide nanoparticles (GO:TiO2 NPs) at various weight percentages (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0). The absence of spectral peaks at 899 and 1669 cm-1 in the completed membranes, as determined by FTIR studies, suggests that the GO:TiO2 NPs component's hydrolytic breakdown caused the membrane structure's pores to develop. The membrane topology was rough with a wider range of heights and abnormalities at low NP concentrations, as the histogram of the 3D AFM pictures illustrates. On the other hand, the 2D photos showed that the surface smoothed out and had fewer peaks and valleys at high NP concentrations, which decreased the surface's roughness. Surface scanning electron microscopy pictures demonstrated that when the membrane's structure evolved from narrow to broad porosity with uneven expansion of porous patches, adding more nanoparticles increased the water flow. However, cross-sectional SEM pictures showed that the membrane's constituent parts were a thick porous layer with micropores and elongated finger structures that resembled pores, and a thin skin layer. The membrane's porosity increased with increasing NP concentration, as demonstrated by porosity calculations and contact angle measurements. This improved selectivity, made the membrane less prone to fouling, and made cleaning safer and easier, particularly for hydrophilic foulants like proteins and polysaccharides. The addition of NPs resulted in an estimated 83% and 92% increase in the flow of pure water and bovine serum albumin (BSA), respectively. However, the BSA rejection initially dropped before increasing once again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, magnetic material was synthesized using iron salts, then silicon-specific material was used to gain porosity, straight-chain polyacrylamide (PAM) was modified to give the surface functional properties, and the final product synthesized Fe3O4/SiO2/PAM nanocomposite material. Heavy metal (Pb and Cd) removal studies were carried out with the synthesized composite material, considering the central composite design and response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) optimization model. The effects of various parameters, for example, the initial concentration, pH, adsorbent dose, temperature and contact time, were investigated as a part of this study. To optimize these parameters, the CCD-RSM model was applied to design the experiments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to evaluate statistical parameters and investigate interactions of variables. In the designed experimental set, the amount of adsorbent (30 mg), pH 7.0 value, temperature (40 °C), initial concentration of Pb (80 mg/L) and Cd (20 mg/L) and 90 min contact time were determined as the optimum conditions. The high coefficient of determination of both metals showed good agreement between experimental results and predicted values (R2 0.99; 0.95). TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR, BET and Zeta potential analyses were performed to characterize the structure and morphology of the adsorbent. In Pb2+ and Cd2+ heavy metal removal studies, maximum adsorption capacities were determined as 66.54 and 13.22 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic modeling studies were conducted. Features such as large surface area and high adsorption capacity of the synthesized nanoparticles were observed. In this study, Fe3O4/SiO2/PAM demonstrated its potential as an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions present in simulated wastewater samples. In particular, we can say that the material has a strong selectivity, as well as a high affinity for Pb(II) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a persistent metabolic illness causing elevated glucose levels due to insulin resistance. Social media has been found to positively impact diabetes management by boosting motivation, adherence, emotional support, and sharing evidence-based information, thereby enhancing patients' glycemic control efforts and achieving HbA1c targets. Primarily to examine the influence of social media within a random sample Iraqi population of T2DM patients on the control of diabetes, as measured by HbA1c levels. Methods: A multicentric cross-sectional study involves patients diagnosed with T2DM recruited between December 30, 2019 and November 8, 2023. Patients diagnosed with T2DM, who visited the outpatient clinic at least twice during the study period, were included. The sample size comprised 2921 patients. Various social media platforms available including, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Viber, were reported. Results: The study involves 2921 participants with a mean age of 53.3 years, 56% of them successfully reached their HbA1c target within a mean of 18.17 months. A significant correlation was found between achieving the target and using social media (P =.0001), with a shorter average duration among social media users compared to non-users. A family history of diabetes also significantly correlated with achieving the desired outcome, suggesting a probable positive correlation (P =.019). Conclusion: The study reveals a significant association between social media usage and glycemic control, introducing the importance of technology-based interventions in enhancing diabetes self-management, highlighting the relationships between social media engagement and HbA1c target achievement. Plain Language Summary: This study looked at how using social media might help people with Type 2 Diabetes in Iraq manage their blood sugar levels better. The researchers found that there is a strong connection between using social media and better blood sugar control. This means that people who engage more with social media tend to manage their diabetes more effectively. The study suggests that social media and other technology-based tools could be important for helping people with diabetes take better care of their health. This is especially important for patients and those who support them, as it highlights a new way to improve diabetes management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial dye effluent causes significant risks to the environment. The present study was focused on photocatalytic degradation of the dye Direct Red 28 using a ternary composite of graphitic carbon nitride, TiO2, and polyorthoanisidine (g-C3N4/TiO2/ POA), prepared by in-situ oxidative polymerization o-anisidine. The synthesized composite g-C3N4/TiO2/POA properties were characterized using different analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed the prominent pattern of TiO2 and g-C3N4 in the composite peak at 2θ° while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results provided the confirmation peaks for g-C3N4/TiO2/POA and POA at 1,110 cm-1 and 1,084 cm-1 for C-O-C ether. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated an increase in the average size of the composite up to 428 nm. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectrum provided the weight percentages of the C, O, and Ti in the composite were 8.5%, 45.69%, and 45.81%, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation of Direct Red 28 dye under UV irradiation using a composite showed that 86% Direct Red 28 dye was degraded by a 30 mg/L dose of g-C3N4/TiO2/POA in 240 min at pH 2. After four consecutive cycles, the utilized composite showed 79% degradation of Direct Red 28, demonstrating the stability and effectiveness of the g-C3N4/TiO2/POA photocatalyst. The high reusability and efficiency of the g-C3N4/TiO2/POA composite are due to increased light absorption range and reduced e-/h+ recombination rate in the presence of g-C3N4 and POA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) 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 holy province of Karbala is one of the promising provinces to achieve sustainable spatial development, the research presented the natural development possibilities available to achieve this. To demonstrate the natural foundations and their developmental effects in achieving sustainable spatial development in the study area. A set of scientific approaches used in geographical studies were relied upon, namely: 1) Descriptive approach: Describing the natural foundations and their developmental effects in achieving sustainable spatial development. 2) Analytical method: Analysis of natural foundations and their developmental role in achieving sustainable spatial development. 3) Electronic programs that have strengthened the scientific method, namely: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software for mapping that shows the distribution locations of phenomena. The geographical location of the study area provided the possibility of achieving spatial development, where easy communication with the rest of the governorates of Iraq, climatic conditions, the amount of solar radiation received and the prevailing winds, good development possibilities in the field of investment in providing clean and renewable alternative energy sources, especially temperatures for the cultivation of strategic crops, suitability of the prevailing climatic conditions for livestock breeding, diversity of geological structure accompanied by diversity of mineral wealth (metallic and nonmetallic), with the diversity of soils suitable for agricultural production, the availability of water resources (surface and groundwater) in terms of quantity and quality for the population to carry out various economic activities, which means that there are development possibilities that can be invested in enhancing the chances of achieving spatial development in the study area. Presentation and analysis of natural development pillars and the extent of their contributions to achieving comprehensive spatial development if appropriate development strategies are developed, in fact the situation indicates that the level of exploitation of these natural development pillars is not commensurate with what is available and with the requirements of achieving relatively balanced spatial development within the administrative units of the governorate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are five basic phases for construction projects: planning, design, tendering, construction and maintenance. The risks of each phase have an impact on time, cost, and quality. In this paper, the tendering phase of the residential complex project was investigated as a case study, and the creation of a fuzzy and grey correlation analysis model was examined using a fuzzy theory and a grey correlation theory to dispel the professional judgment around the project phase. Creating a comparison and a reference matrix based on grey theory and/by examining factors and their impact on duration, cost, and quality separately, gives the construction investors a scientific, direct, flexible, and adaptable technique to assess project risks. The described method categorized the tendering phase risk based on the three project determinants: duration, cost, and quality. The correlation degree is greater than 0.5, hence construction project duration risk is almost nonexistent. The project investor must also investigate risk assumption, reduction, diversion, and evasion tactics to handle cost and quality risks, which are between 0.2 and 0.5. This suggests that tender phase issues do not affect project length but do affect cost and quality, requiring attention and action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examines the utilization of negative mass and negative stiffness principles to enhance the effectiveness of Dynamic Vibration Absorbers (DVAs) for vibration attenuation developed in structures. The proposed idealized model aims to reduce the amplitude of resonance and expand the frequency stopband range to achieve vibration reduction by attaching two parallel dynamic vibration absorbers to the primary system. By incorporating stiffness, mass, and damping ratio for each one of the absorbers and in the presence of harmonic excitation, it is possible to expand the frequency range in which vibration may be suppressed, leading to a substantial decrease in the maximum vibration amplitude of the primary system and the stroke length of the absorbers. The Nelder-Mead method is successfully used as an optimization tool to obtain the best selection of the absorbers' design parameters that assure the best vibration attenuation and frequency stopband. The results indicate a strong association between the change in frequency and the decrease in vibration. In the instance of frequency response, the vibration amplitude decreased by an average of 91.46% across all three modes of the whole system. Another optimal selection exhibited the most significant enhancement, achieving an average reduction in vibration amplitude of 97.06% across all three modes. Finally, the results indicate that the suggested lumped parallel architecture of the absorbers with precisely adjusted negative mass and negative stiffness characteristics along with the presented optimization method, can greatly improve the effectiveness of reducing vibrations in various applications. The results illustrate a direct relationship between shifts in frequency and vibration. If the value of the shift is greater than 1 the vibration is decreased, while less than 1 means the worst form of reducing such magnitude. The most notable drop off in amplitude occurred when averaging a simple drop off of up to 91.46% for all three patterns where frequency shifts by Y=2.008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coverless steganography‏ ‏has received a lot of attention lately because it is a ‎technique that ‎completely defies ‎steganalysis detection by not modifying the ‎carriers.‎‏ ‏The majority of ‎currently used coverless steganography ‎algorithms, ‎however, use images as their carriers, and ‎there aren't many studies on coverless ‎video steganography. Actually, video is a more trustworthy and educational medium. In addition, most of covert ‎video ‎steganography techniques in ‎use today hide information in a specific video frame. These ‎techniques ‎are ‎insufficiently robust and do not take into account the distinct ‎sequential ‎characteristics of video carriers that set ‎them apart from images. This ‎research ‎proposes a coverless steganography scheme depend on the integer ‎wavelet ‎transform ‎‎(IWT) of video. At first, a new method is proposed to generate hash ‎sequences based on ‎IWT ‎coefficients. We take each frame in the video and divide ‎it into sub matrices(blocks). ‎After that, the coefficients of ‎each block are converted ‎into a bit sequence. Then, a video ‎index structure was created to expedite the ‎process of ‎finding matching blocks in the video. ‎The procedure of information ‎embedding involves segmenting the confidential ‎info‏ ‏into ‎binary segments (8 ‎bits) and choosing the blocks based on the video index structure whose ‎hash ‎sequence ‎matches the confidential information segment. Finally, all the chosen ‎blocks ‎and ancillary information are ‎transmitted to the recipient. The suggested ‎method outperforms ‎the most recent coverless steganography algorithms ‎in terms ‎of capacity, resilience, and safety, ‎according to experimental findings and analysis.‎ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of incorporating glass microspheres (GMSs) as fillers in carbon fabric–epoxy composites (CFECs) on their degradation behavior under environmental conditions such as moisture and ultraviolet rays. The GMS-filled composites were subjected to accelerated ageing and evaluated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), the Charpy impact test, and inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) tests. The results indicate that the addition of GMS fillers significantly improves the stiffness and viscoelastic behavior of the composites. However, the impact strength of the composites decreases with the addition of GMS fillers and accelerated ageing. The ILSS results demonstrate that the addition of GMS fillers improved the interfacial bonding between the carbon–epoxy matrix and fillers. This study provides insights into the mechanical properties of GMS-filled carbon–epoxy composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: As a primary source of mortality and disability, bacterial infections continue to develop a severe threat to humanity. Nuclear medicine imaging (NMI) is known for its promising potential to diagnose deep-seated bacterial infections. This work aims to develop a new technetium-99m (99mTc) labeled tigecycline radiopharmaceutical as an infection imaging agent. Methods: Reduced 99mTc was used to make a coordinate complex with tigecycline at pH 7.7–7.9 at room temperature. Instantaneous thin-layer chromatography impregnated with silica gel (ITLC-SG) and ray detector equipped high-performance liquid chromatography (ray-HPLC) was performed to access the radiolabeling yield and radiochemical purity (RCP). Results: More than 91% labeling efficiency was achieved after 25 min of mild shaking of the reaction mixture. The radiolabeled complex was found intact up to 4 h in saline. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection-induced rats were used to record the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical and its target specificity; 2 h' post-injection biodistribution revealed a 2.39 ± 0.29 target/non-target (T/NT) ratio in the E. coli infection-induced animal model, while a 2.9 ± 0.31 T/NT value was recorded in the S. aureus bacterial infection-induced animal model. [99mTc]Tc-tigecycline scintigraphy was performed in healthy rabbits using a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) camera. Scintigrams showed normal kidney perfusion and excretion into the bladder. Conclusion: In conclusion, the newly developed [99mTc]Tc-tigecycline radiopharmaceutical could be considered to diagnose broad-spectrum bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are frequently used as growth boosters in animal husbandry. Tetracyclines (TCNs) are among the most widely used antibiotics compared to others, leaving traces in animal‐based foodstuffs like milk and meat. Thus, monitoring of TCNs is paramount, especially in the feedstuff. In the present study, a green method is developed to synthesize magnetic Ag/GO‐Fe3O4 nanocomposites using Azadirachta indica leaf extract. The synthesized adsorbent (Ag/GO‐Fe3O4) was analyzed for the residual extraction of oxytetracycline (OTC) and chlortetracycline (CTC) from the fresh milk samples through the magnetic solid‐phase extraction principle. The extraction procedure involved the deproteinization of milk, spiking with antibiotics, followed by magnetic solid‐phase extraction and quantification of TCNs by HPLC with a UV detector. Different factors that affected the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent for the TCNs like pH, temperature, amount of nanocomposite, and time were studied. The inter‐day and intra‐day precision were calculated for OTC (4% and 6%) and CTC (3% and 4%), respectively. The limit of detection and quantification for OTC was 0.5 and 1.5 μgL−1 and for CTC was 0.2 and 0.6 μgL−1 respectively while the percentage extraction was 94%–96%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Broiler meat is widely consumed around the globe. To fulfill consumer demand, broiler farmers are using antibiotic growth promoters for improved efficiency. However, these antibiotics have been banned in developed countries due to antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, plant supplements in the form of essential oils (EOs) have gained acceptability due to their excellent antibacterial properties. The next step is to encapsulate the EO for better delivery to target organs in broilers, which was investigated in vivo. The novelty of this study is to encapsulate volatile compounds of EOs in nanoemulsion (NE). This study has observed a positive effect of NE in terms of broiler growth performance, suggesting that cumin EO NE (CEONE) can be used as a substitute for the prophylactic administration of synthetic antibiotics. This research characterized and explored the effect of cumin essential oil nanoemulsion (CEONE) on broiler growth performance, serum biochemistry, hematological parameters, and cecal microbial count. Day-old (n = 96) broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to six treatments with five replicates of three broilers each. The dietary treatments consisted of negative control (only basal diet), positive control (basal diet + 200 µL of enrofloxacin), 25 µL (basal diet + 25 µL of CEONE), 50 µL (basal diet + 50 µL of CEONE), 75 µL (basal diet + 75 µL of CEONE), and 100 µL (basal diet + 100 µL of CEONE). The broiler's body weight gain (BWG) after 42 days of treatment exhibited increased weight in the CEONE group (976.47 ± 11.82–1116.22 ± 29.04). The gain in weight was further evidenced by the beneficial microbe load (107 log) compared to the pathogenic strain. All the biochemical parameters were observed in the normal range, except for a higher level of HDL and a lower LDL value. This safety has been validated by pKCSM toxicity analysis showing a safe and highly tolerable dose of cuminaldehyde. In conclusion, this research observed the potential of CEONE as a multifunctional agent. It is a valuable candidate for further application in combating bacterial infections and enhancing animal health and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach to manage distributed DC microgrids (DCMG) by integrating a time-of-use (ToU) electricity pricing scheme and an internal price rate calculation mechanism. The proposed power-management system is designed to effectively handle uncertainties such as utility grid (UG) availability, fluctuating electricity prices, battery state of charge (SOC) levels, and frequent plug-ins and plug-outs of electric vehicles (EVs). Uncertainties in DCMG systems often lead to inefficiencies, power imbalances, and inexact voltage regulation issues within DCMGs. In addition, to maintain the power balance and constant voltage regulation under various operational states, the proposed scheme also incorporates secondary control into the DCMG power-management system. Unlike the existing approaches that often fail to adapt dynamically to changing conditions, the proposed method is the first approach to consider the concept of internal price rate in designing the DCMG power management. To address this challenge, this approach proposes a more resilient power-management strategy to enhance the efficiency and adaptability of DCMG systems. Extensive simulations and experimental validations demonstrate the practicality and adaptability of the proposed control strategy under diverse test conditions, including operation transitions between grid-connected mode (GCM) and islanded mode (IM), low battery SOC condition, operation transition from the current control mode (CCM) to distributed secondary control mode (DSCM), and EV plug-in scenarios. The test results confirm that the proposed method enhances the reliability, efficiency, and economic viability of DCMG systems, making it a promising solution for future smart grid and renewable energy integrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding photocatalytic oxidative desulphurization (PODS), titanium oxide (TiO2) is a promising contender as a catalyst due to its photocatalytic prowess and long-term performance in desulphurization applications. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of double-doping TiO2 in silver (Ag) and molybdenum (Mo) for use as a novel catalyst in the desulphurization of light-cut hydrocarbons. FESEM, EDS, and AFM were used to characterize the morphology, doping concentration, surface features, grain size, and grain surface area of the Ag/Mo powder. On the other hand, XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis, and PL were used for structure and functional group detection and light absorption analysis based on TiO2's illumination properties. The microscopic images revealed nanoparticles with irregular shapes, and a 3D-AFM image was used to determine the catalyst's physiognomies: 0.612 nm roughness and a surface area of 811.79 m2/g. The average sizes of the grains and particles were calculated to be 32.15 and 344.4 nm, respectively. The XRD analysis revealed an anatase structure for the doped TiO2, and the FTIR analysis exposed localized functional groups, while the absorption spectra of the catalyst, obtained via UV-Vis, revealed a broad spectrum, including visible and near-infrared regions up to 1053.34 nm. The PL analysis showed luminescence with a lower emission intensity, indicating that the charge carriers were not thoroughly combined. This study's findings indicate a desulphurization efficiency of 97%. Additionally, the promise of a nano-homogeneous particle distribution bodes well for catalytic reactions. The catalyst retains its efficiency when it is dried and reused, demonstrating its sustainable use while maintaining the desulphurization efficacy. This study highlights the potential of the double doping approach in enhancing the catalytic properties of TiO2, opening up new possibilities for improving the performance of photo-oxidative processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we illustrate the use of dimethylglyoximate (DMG) as shape directing agent for the synthesis of nickel oxide nanowires (NiONWs) via hydrothermal process followed by calcination at elevated temperature. As-prepared NiONWs were characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. The surface area of 27 m2 g–1 and pore diameter of 22 nm was true for the product. The prepared NiONWs were drop casted over the active surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to apply it for the electrochemical sensing of hydroquinone based on cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry techniques. The phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH 5.8 was used for the measurement of hydroquinone during electrochemical investigation. The developed sensor displayed a wide linear range of 0.5 to 11 µM for hydroquinone detection with sensitivity of 200 µA mM–1 cm–2 and limit of detection (LOD) equal to 0.01 µM. The sensor was further examined and found to be highly stable and extremely selective for the oxidation of hydroquinone. The sensor was successfully applied for amperometric detection of hydroquinone from water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is considered a modern technology used for treating wastewater and recovering electrical energy. In this study, a new dual technology combining MFC and a specialized biofilter was used. The anodic materials in the system were crushed graphite, either without coating (UFB-MFC) or coated with nanomaterials (nano-UFB-MFC). This biofilter served as a barrier to retain and remove turbidity and suspended solids, while also facilitating the role of bacteria in the removal of organic pollutants, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, oil and greases. The results demonstrated that both systems exhibited high efficiency in treating kitchen wastewater, specifically greywater and dishwashing wastewater with high detergent concentrations. The removal efficiencies of COD, oil and grease, suspended solids, turbidity, nitrates, sulfates, and phosphates in first UFB-MFC were found to be 88, 95, 89, 86, 87, 75, and 94%, respectively, and in Nano-UFB-MFC were 86, 99, 95, 91, 81, 88, and 95%, respectively, with a high efficiency in recovering bioenergy reaching a value of 1.8 and 1.5 A m−3, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate the potential for developing MFC and utilizing it as a domestic system to mitigate pollution risks before discharging wastewater into the sewer network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absract: Rawa Danau Volcanic Complex (RDVC) in the western part of Banten—Western part of Java Island, Indonesia, holds records and histories of past violent volcanic eruption. These past volcanic activities manifested as huge Rawa Danau caldera and massive Banten Tuff pyroclastic deposits that are distributed for more than ten kilometres away from the source and have played an important role in shaping the morphology of Banten. Previous studies suggest that Banten Tuff is composed of various pumiceous pyroclastic deposits presumably formed in Early Pleistocene. The deposits cover vast area of Banten, and their thickness exceeds 200 m. Despite their significance, there are no detailed studies that discuss the stratigraphic and eruption dynamics of the deposits. This paper provides new insight on the eruption dynamics based on fieldwork observation, volcanic stratigraphy, and petrologic interpretation. The study focuses on the eastern flank of RDVC, where the well-preserved stratified outcrops are located. Aligned with previous studies, the deposit can be divided into two major eruption sequences: 1) Lower Banten Tuff (LBT) and 2) Upper Banten Tuff (UBT). LBT is interpreted as lithic-bearing ignimbrite with accompanying surge deposit and considered as a single-phase eruption. Lithic-rich characteristics in this unit suggest that LBT might be related to the caldera-forming mechanism. On the other hand, UBT shows a more dynamic sequence. It is composed of two fallout units followed by an ignimbrite formed by the eruption column collapse. The appearance of banded pumice in UBT with contrasting andesitic and rhyolitic compositions suggests a mafic injection as the eruption trigger. Pumice and ash compositions are mostly in dacitic to rhyolitic range, with several samples in andesitic range. Componentry analysis suggests that all eruptions were magmatic in origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of Miao batik has a long history, and the Miao people, who do not have words, use batik patterns to write their history, which is why Miao clothing is called "history on the body". With the different geographical distribution of the Miao people, the narrative of batik patterns also has its own characteristics. Based on field research, interviews with folk artists and relevant literature review, this paper analyzes the themes and symbolic connotations of Rongjiang Miao batik fish motifs, reveals the historical and cultural connotations of Rongjiang batik motifs, and summarizes the visual aesthetic characteristics of Miao fish motifs. Another focus of this paper is to interpret the formal beauty of the patterns in depth by using the aesthetic analysis methods of compositional elements, compositional forms, laws of beauty and aesthetic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corosolic acid (CA) is a well-known natural pentacyclic triterpene found in numerous therapeutic plants that can exhibit many bioactivities including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor actions. The current investigation explores the chemoprotective roles of CA against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were grouped in 5 cages; Group A, normal control rats inoculated subcutaneously (sc) with two doses of normal saline and fed orally on 10% tween 20; Groups B-E received two doses (sc) of azoxymethane in two weeks and treated with either 10% tween 20 (group B) or two intraperitoneal injections of 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil each week for one month (group C), while group D and E treated with 30 and 60 mg/kg, respectively, for 2 months. The toxicity results showed lack of any behavioral abnormalities or mortality in rats ingested with up-to 500 mg/kg of CA. The present AOM induction caused a significant initiation of ACF characterized by an increased number, larger in size, and well-matured tissue clusters in cancer controls. AOM inoculation created a bizarrely elongated nucleus, and strained cells, and significantly lowered the submucosal glands in colon tissues of cancer controls compared to 5-FU or CA-treated rats. CA treatment led to significant suppression of ACF incidence, which could be mediated by its modulatory effects on the immunohistochemical proteins (pro-apoptotic (Bax) and reduced PCNA protein expressions in colon tissues). Moreover, CA-treated rats had improved oxidative stress-mediated cytotoxicity indicated by increased endogenous antioxidants (SOD and CAT) and reduced lipid peroxidation indicators (MDA). In addition, CA ingestion (30 and 60 mg/kg) suppressed the inflammatory cascades, indicated by decreased serum TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines consequently preventing further tumor development. CA treatment maintained liver and kidney functions in rats exposed to AOM cytotoxicity. CA could be a viable alternative for the treatment of oxidative-related human disorders including ACF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background One of the most prevalent long-term kidney disorders in high-blood-pressure patients is nephrolithiasis. This study involves collecting urine and renal stones from patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) to analyze how hospitalized patients with UTI contract community infections. The samples were collected at the Sulaimaniyah Surgical Teaching Hospital urology and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) staff. It is understood that UTIs contribute to the formation of kidney stones. Methods Screened and cultured urine requires careful collection, transport, and interpretation. Urine samples were collected from the patients with UTI at the Sulaimaniyah teaching hospital for culturing. Urine cultures containing pyuria and bacteria indicate UTIs. Microorganisms were studied, inoculated on blood, MacConkey, and mannitol salt agar, and biochemically identified. A bacterial and microbiological examination of kidney stones was conducted at the Sulaymaniyah Surgical Teaching Hospital's ESWL and urology departments. Clean renal stone samples with ethanol for 1 minute, crush using sterile tongs, then culture in 37°C thioglycolate broth for 48 hours. Specimens inoculated on blood, MacConkey, and mannitol salt agars resulted in isolation of staphylococci, streptococci, and Staphylococcus spp. Results In this study, 17 of 48 samples showed microbial growth. Each of Enterococcus and Micrococcus spp. comprised 12.5% of eight renal intact stone samples. Three of 14 renal intact stone samples showed microbial growth with 7 and 14% for Enterococcus and Escherichia coli , respectively. From eight urine samples before and after ESWL procedure, E. coli isolation incidents doubled from 12.5 to 25%, while Staphylococcus spp. remained the same at 12.5%. Out of 10 UTI urine samples, 20% Staphylococcus spp., E. coli , and 10% Pseudomonas spp. were isolated. Conclusion This study related renal stones to E. coli , enterococci, Micrococcus luteus , and staphylococci. After ESWL, the urine samples revealed E. coli growth, whereas comparable urine samples before ESWL did not. Thus, urinary infections can cause kidney stones. Eighteen of 48 kidney stone samples tested positive for E. coli , 22 for staphylococci, 11 for enterococci, 5 for Pseudomonas , 5 for Proteus , and 5 for micrococci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the two-dimensional (2D) nano-bands with graphene-like atom arrangement in the structure of the solar cells is of significant importance for the next generation of solar cells. In the present research, germanene (2D structure consisting of germanium atoms) was placed in ITO/germanene (1, 2, 3)/ MoS 2 (n)/a-SiGe: H (i)/c-Si (P)/Au heterojunction solar cell structures once as semiconductor layers with Al (germanene1), P (germanene2), and In (germanene3) dopant, separately. Then, the free-standing germanene was used as front contact in a structure consisting of germanene/ MoS 2 (n)/a-SiGe: H (i)/c-Si (P)/Au of the heterojunction cell. The impacts of different radiant intensities at 300 K temperature by the AM1.5 spectrum radiation were investigated using the AFORS-HET simulation tool. The highest efficiency was obtained in the presence of the germanene2 layer, which was 18.64%, 17.78%, and 19.56%, respectively, in 1 sun, 0.1 sun, and 100 sun radiant intensities. By applying the free-standing germanene in the structure of the proposed cell, the efficiency in radiant intensities of 1 sun, 0.1 sun, and 50 sun were 26.98%, 25.87%, and 27.99%, respectively. The results suggest that this 2D structure can improve the cell's output parameters, especially the efficiency, positively affecting the solar cell function due to its monoatomic thickness. Therefore, germanene can be an emerging competitor to other 2D structures used in the structure of solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasing train speed and passage tonnage, the repair and maintenance of ballasted railway tracks is essential. As a result of cyclic train loads on ballasted tracks, the ballast layer can deteriorate. When the ballast bed deteriorates, it can change the track geometry, which leads to uncomfortable ride and an increase in wheel-rail interaction. Tamping is one of the most widely used methods for filling the ballast layer gaps around sleepers and homogenizing ballast beds in order to align the track geometry. After passing the tamping machine, the dynamic stabilizing machine is utilized to improve the quality of the ballast bed. The rail support modulus is an essential parameter for analyzing ballasted railway tracks, and it can change after maintenance operations. This paper extensively discusses the effects of maintenance operations on rail support modulus as an essential safety factor in ballasted tracks. In this study, a series of field tests are planned and conducted at Karaj station in Iran to investigate the effects of passing tamping and stabilizing machines on the rail support modulus in ballasted tracks. In this regard, the rail support modulus of the ballasted track according to deflection basins was measured in three stages (before tamping, after tamping, and after stabilizing), and the results were analyzed to determine the effects of passing maintenance machines on ballast beds. Based on the results, the tamping operation results in a 75.5% reduction in the rail support modulus, and after stabilizing the railway track, the rail support modulus is increased by 35.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized data from the NASA Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) to examine the variability of the terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) in Iraq between 2002 and 2019. The analysis focused on six grid cells representing the Iraqi territory. The season trend decomposition (SLT) method was used to decompose the signal time series of TWSA to reveal the seasonality, trend, and random noise for the six GRACE blocks. Results proved that Block01 in northwestern side of Iraq, experienced a significant reduction in TWS between 2002 and 2009, followed by a negative linear trend until 2015, and then a positive trend. Block02 which is located in the northeastern part of Iraq showed a decreasing trend in TWS until 2008, after which it had a positive trend. Block03 in the western central side of Iraq reveals a decrease in TWS from 2002 to 2008, followed by a negative linear trend until 2016, and then a positive trend. Block04 in the eastern Mesopotamian plain had a minor increase in TWS until 2006, followed by a substantial decrease until 2016, before stabilizing and showing a positive trend. Block05 in the southwestern side of Iraq demonstrated a continuous decline in TWSA. In contrast, TWS increased in block6 on the southeastern side from 2002 to 2007, then decreased from 2007 to 2009. TWSA levels remained stable from 2009 to 2016, then increased from 2016 to the end of 2019. The seasonal fluctuations in TWS varied across the blocks, but generally, surpluses were observed in winter and spring, while deficits were observed in summer and autumn. The shortage in TWS is attributed to drought and excessive use of groundwater for irrigation. The recent positive trends in TWS in some blocks suggest that the drought may be coming to an end, but further analysis is necessary to reach a definitive conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations anticipates that by 2050, around two-thirds of the global population will reside in urban areas, necessitating a concerted effort to elevate the benchmarks guiding living standards in sustainable cities. The pursuit of sustainable urban development necessitates the identification of robust socio-ecological indicators to ensure the synchronous optimization of human well-being and environmental integrity. Therefore, the study explores the existing quality-of-life indicators grounded in ecosystem services within the urban parks of Lahore. For this, a field survey was conducted in the parks of Lahore, primarily focusing on identifying key measures to enhance living standards. The study was collected by identifying quality-of-life indicators from ecological, social, and economic perspectives and analyzed in MS Excel and ArcGIS version 10.8. The results illustrate that nearly all the examined parks contribute significantly to the quality-of-life key indicators by regulating the air quality and reducing noise and temperature. Jallo Park and Bagh-e-Jinnah have sufficient areas and are adequately maintained, which is a key indicator of the quality of life, but only Gulberg town aligns with global standards (9 to 50 m2) for per capita green space (25.523 m2). So, it is concluded that the urban parks of Lahore support sustainable living with their proper mountainous and sufficient green area. Therefore, a critical need for proactive green infrastructure initiatives is recommended, particularly addressing the shortfall in per capita green space. A strategic intervention in urban planning and green development is a key recommendation for policymakers for a sustainable future in Lahore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear fracture is a significant failure mechanism in particular disaster such as fault slips and rockbursts in deep rock engineering, which frequently involve in-situ stress and disturbance loads from earthquakes or blasting. Studying the dynamic shear fracture behavior of rocks under confining pressure is crucial for disaster prevention. This study performed a series of dynamic mode II fracture tests under different confining pressures using granite short core in compression (SCC) specimens via a modified triaxial split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system. It is discovered that (1) dynamic mode II fracture toughness increases as loading rate and confining pressure rise; (2) The Linear relationship between dynamic or static fracture toughness and confining pressure is independent of loading rate. An empirical equation was presented to quantify relationship between fracture toughness, confining pressure and loading rate. The final failure degree of SCC specimens aggravates as the loading rate increases or confining pressures reduce. The morphological features of fracture surfaces were quantitatively investigated using fractal and statistical theories. It was observed that roughness in dynamic fracture surfaces decreases with increased in confining pressures and loading rates. Statistical analyses on asperity height h and slope angle α indicate that the undulation of fracture surfaces decreases with confining pressure at a given loading rate, validating the fractal results. A new index, namely the number of dominant intervals (NDI), is proposed to quantify the degree of aspect orientation distribution concentration. Generally, there is a notable trend of reducing NDI with confining pressures and loading rates. Highlights: Conducting dynamic mode II fracture tests on granite short core in compression specimens under different confining pressures. Quantitatively obtaining the relationship between dynamic mode II fracture toughness and the confining pressure, loading rate and axial stress. The roughness of dynamic mode II fracture surface decreases with the increased confining pressures and loading rates. Investigating the morphological features such as asperity height and slope angle of dynamic shear fracture surfaces by using statistical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation of nature to convert energy to electrical power is the most important rule in power generation. Wind energy is one of the most important of those energies that are widely available, and its use does not affect the environment significantly compared to fossil energy. On the other hand, and in recent times, researchers have made great efforts in the field of intelligent control and optimization, which has led to great leaps in the development of these sciences. In this paper, a detailed study is proposed for filling the gaps and conducting an updating state-of-arts of the last pitch control methods in the wind turbine systems. The review is conducted by comparing the key requirements related to control, complexity, stability and speed rangeability. Furthermore, a new classification for the general controller is introduced according to the techniques. Several recommendations for future research related to the control and technical evaluation of wind energy are presented. In sum, the appropriate classification of such important issues and identification of their advantages and drawbacks may greatly contribute to find better solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing problem of unsolicited text messages (smishing) and data irregularities necessitates stronger spam detection solutions. This paper explores the development of a sophisticated model designed to identify smishing messages by understanding the complex relationships among words, images, and context-specific factors, areas that remain underexplored in existing research. To address this, we merge a UCI spam dataset of regular text messages with real-world spam data, leveraging OCR technology for comprehensive analysis. The study employs a combination of traditional machine learning models, including K-means, Non-Negative Matrix Factorization, and Gaussian Mixture Models, along with feature extraction techniques such as TF-IDF and PCA. Additionally, deep learning models like RNN-Flatten, LSTM, and Bi-LSTM are utilized. The selection of these models is driven by their complementary strengths in capturing both the linear and non-linear relationships inherent in smishing messages. Machine learning models are chosen for their efficiency in handling structured text data, while deep learning models are selected for their superior ability to capture sequential dependencies and contextual nuances. The performance of these models is rigorously evaluated using metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score, enabling a comparative analysis between the machine learning and deep learning approaches. Notably, the K-means feature extraction with vectorizer achieved 91.01% accuracy, and the KNN-Flatten model reached 94.13% accuracy, emerging as the top performer. The rationale behind highlighting these models is their potential to significantly improve smishing detection rates. For instance, the high accuracy of the KNN-Flatten model suggests its applicability in real-time spam detection systems, but its computational complexity might limit scalability in large-scale deployments. Similarly, while K-means with vectorizer excels in accuracy, it may struggle with the dynamic and evolving nature of smishing attacks, necessitating continual retraining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-fullerene organic compounds are promising materials for advanced photovoltaic devices. The photovoltaic and electronic properties of the derivatives (TTBR and TTB1-TTB6) were determined by employing density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) analyses using the M06/6-311G(d,p) functional. To enhance the effectiveness of fullerene-free organic photovoltaic cells, modifications were applied to end-capped acceptors by using strong electron-withdrawing moieties. The structural tailoring showed a significant electronic impact for HOMO and LUMO for all chromophores, resulting in decreased band gaps (3.184–2.540 eV). Interestingly, all the designed derivatives exhibited broader absorption spectra in the range of 486.365–605.895 nm in dichloromethane solvent. Among all derivatives, TTB5 was observed to be the promising candidate because of its lowest energy gap (2.54 eV) and binding energy (0.494 eV) values, along with the bathochromic shift (605.895 nm). These chromophores having an A–π–A framework might be considered promising materials for efficient organic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Science is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

Background: Moderate physical activity (MPA) has proven advantages for glycemic control, cardiovascular health, and functional independence. However, physical activity is not part of routine conventional physical therapy (CPT) in managing diabetic adhesive capsulitis patients. Objective: To determine the effects of moderate MPA on diabetic adhesive capsulitis (AC). Methodology: A randomized control trial was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Muzaffarabad, Pakistan from March 2022 to October 2022. A total of n = 44 patients with diabetic AC, aged 40 to 65 years, HbA1c > 6.5% were enrolled. Group A received MPA and CPT, while Group B only received CPT for six weeks. The upper extremity function, pain, and range of motion were assessed at baseline, third week, and sixth week through the disability of arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire, numeric pain rating scale (NPRSS), and goniometer respectively. Results: The NPRS score and ROMs showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in group A compared to group B with a large effect size. When comparing the mean difference of the DASH score (73 + 7.21 vs. 57.9 + 12.64, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.46) was significantly improved with large effect size in group A as compared to group B. Conclusion: MPA along with CPT has positive effects on patient pain, range of motion, and disability in patients with diabetic adhesive capsulitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of retrieving information in memory allows humans to recall and forget things. It is an active approach to determining our mutable identity, as memory never remains static. But what occurs if this dynamic process of iteration and interaction becomes fixed and fails to establish a rapport based on sympathy and solidarity with non- Western 'others?' This paper investigates the intricate relationship of language, memory, trauma, and power, particularly focusing on the precarity induced by the manipulation of language in the context of historical and political narratives. Apropos how such manipulation can also distort collective memory and ignite trauma; shaping perceptions and moulding societal narratives. Through an examination of Joy Kogawa's Obasan and by employing theoretical frameworks such as Freud's concept of "screen memories" and Deumert's notion of "scripts of supremacy," the paper examines the intersection of precarity and the politics of language. Additionally, it investigates the concept of "Historiographic Metafiction", as proposed by Hutcheon, highlighting the fusion of history and fiction in preserving collective memory and aiding in the process of healing from trauma. Thus, the main objective of this study is to critically examine how language manipulation distorts collective memory and triggers trauma, emphasising how literature functions as a corrective tool and a representation of cultural memory to counteract this precarity, navigate power dynamics, and preserve collective memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)