Search

This paper examines the venture capital-driven process of making intangible assets in platform start-up firms. By examining the case study of the rise and fall of a venture capital-backed 'unicorn' firm developing a digital health platform, this paper argues that the process of real valorization of capital invested in platform start-up firms involves the making of algorithmic systems and data as intangible assets as well as the experimentation with strategies of exploitation and appropriation, which are inherently linked to the future-oriented financial valorization process of equity shares since unprofitable start-up firms continuously require outside capital to expand operations. While the fetish of 'artificial intelligence' posing the firm's chatbot for self-diagnosis as an intelligent 'doctor in your pocket' plays an important role in financial valorization, it is the failed real valorization process in making profits that ultimately leads to the platform start-up's financial collapse. The conceptual contribution of the paper centres on the contradictory nature of assetization processes which sheds light on how class domination operates in and through venture capital-driven accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we publish three fragments of a cuneiform tablet that, when complete, contained the dates and zodiacal positions of Saturn's synodic phenomena for roughly 60 years. The text is unique in containing comparisons of computed data with observations. Through an analysis of the preserved data we propose that the dates and positions were computed by an otherwise unknown two-zone System A-type scheme and show that the computed data in the tablet can be dated to the fourth century BC. This early date and the comparisons with observations suggest that the text was produced during the period of active development of the planetary systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from the marriage of paleomagnetism and archaeology (archaeomagnetism) are the backbone of attempts to create geomagnetic field models for ancient times. Paleointensity experimental design has been the focus of intensive efforts and the requirements and shortcomings are increasingly well understood. Some archaeological materials have excellent age control from inscriptions, which can be tied to a given decade or even a specific year in some cases. In this study, we analyzed fired mud bricks used for the construction of the Ishtar Gate, the entrance complex to the ancient city of Babylon in Southern Mesopotamia. We were able to extract reliable intensity data from all three phases of the gate, the earliest of which includes bricks inscribed with the name of King Nebuchadnezzar II (605 to 562 BCE). These results (1) add high quality intensity data to a region relatively unexplored so far (Southern Mesopotamia), (2) contribute to a better understanding of paleosecular variation in this region, and the development of an archaeomagnetic dating reference for one of the key regions in the history of human civilizations; (3) demonstrate the potential of inscribed bricks (glazed and unglazed), a common material in ancient Mesopotamia, to archaeomagnetic studies; and (4) suggest that the gate complex was constructed some time after the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, and that there were no substantial chronological gaps in the construction of each consecutive phase. The best fit of our data (averaging 136±2.1 ZAm2) with those of the reference curve (the Levantine Archaeomagnetic Curve) is 569 BCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper first examines surviving testimonies on the doctrine of the Great Year in Heraclitus and attempts to demonstrate the reliability of Aëtius' version handed down by the mss., according to which the Great Year is equal to 18,000 solar years. On the basis of such evidence it is also possible to newly examine Diogenes of Babylon's views about this topic. In the second part, the paper better defines the relationship between the Great Year and the theory of cosmic conflagration. It argues that in the sources at our disposal there are enough elements to credit Heraclitus with the doctrine of Ekpyrosis, although, in all probability, the philosopher never provided an in-depth description of it. Finally, the same problem is analysed in relation to Diogenes of Babylon. In the most mature phase of his career, this Stoic departed from the Ekpyrosis doctrine of the early Stoics and especially of his master Chrysippus. The paper formulates some hypotheses on the reasons for this choice (arguing that it most probably reflects an original attitude towards Heraclitus on Diogenes' part) and highlights that it was hardly an isolated, 'heterodox' stance during the final phase of the early Stoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Alustath 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.)

As the yoke of Babylon weighed on the exiled Judeans, music became one of the ways to let off their tension. Although they could not sing the joyful songs of the LORD, they composed lyrics about the depressing condition of being uprooted from their land of identity, Zion. Using the hermeneutics of identification, this article equates the experience of Judeans with the experience of many Zimbabweans in the diaspora, due to the worsening economy spanning from the Mugabe era up to the so-called ‘new dispensation’ under Mnangagwa. Just like the Judeans, some exiled Zimbabwean singers have also composed lyrics which express their pain in the diaspora and their longing to return to Zimbabwe. Despite having developed multiple roots in the diaspora, some still identify themselves with their rukuvute ‘umbilical cord’ back in their motherland, Zimbabwe. It is the argument of this paper that the loss of a structured, consistent and dependable world where cherished symbols of meaning are ridiculed and rejected and where value systems are diminished provides an important point of contact between the ancient texts (Psalm 137) and contemporary experience of diasporic Zimbabweans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Adab / Al-ādāb 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.)

The paper aims at analysing the existence, from Classical era to Late Antiquity, of the same and rather stereotypical conception regarding Chaldean (or Babylonian) culture - especially in the so-called Neoplatonic philosophers - despite the figure of Berossus, a native of Babylon and the author of a history of the region in Greek, who could have offered a reconstruction faithful to Babylonian tradition. Through an analysis of the fragments based also on the hermeneutical approach of Interpretivism, the paper will try to show how Berossus spontaneously adhered to the conception (if not the stereotypes) with which the Greeks used to portray the Chaldeans, and thus how he legitimized them in some ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shift towards renewable energies is driven by the shortage of fossil fuels for electricity generation and the associated harmful impacts. Grid-connected PV systems are a reliable and effective choice for power production across different uses, making them a key player in the global renewable energy landscape. Consequently, the careful selection of components for these systems is a crucial and widely studied aspect in this area of research. This paper introduced using gray wolf optimization algorithm GWO & whale optimization algorithm WOA for determining the optimal number of grid - connected bifacial photovoltaic PV systems in Babylon Hilla. The considered factors included available space, desired energy production, radiation, dihedral factor, budget constraints, and grid connectivity requirements. The mathematical formulation of the problem and implementation details of the algorithms are presented. In addition, two cases studied are performed one for a residential area, and the other for a single house. The results demonstrated the efficiency and effectiveness of both algorithms in identifying optimal solutions for determining the size of systems in the area under study. However, the WOA surpassed the GWO in meeting the optimization criteria. The proper selection of these systems resulted in higher power generation, lower costs, improved energy management, and the advancement of sustainable solar energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Magazine of Historical Studies & Archaeology 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.)

In Aëtius 1.7.8 Mansfeld–Runia, Diogenes, Cleanthes and Oenopides are said to have maintained that the deity is the world-soul. However, the identity of the Diogenes whom the doxographer mentions here has long been a matter of scholarly dispute. In response to attempts to ascribe the doxa to Diogenes of Apollonia, this paper reassesses old arguments and proposes new considerations to argue that a fundamental aspect of Diogenes of Babylon's theology is at stake here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Nabo 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.)

Our paper is proposing a futurological study on urban evolution between XXI-XXII centuries, within what we prefer to call "a global order of metropolises and megalopolises". We shall approach briefly, a typology of future cities, as based on mega-constructions and Vertical Architectonic Ensembles (VAAs) as groups of skyscrapers and, in a future improved scenario, made from thyssenkrupps (mega-buildings surpassing the present level of the highest skyscraper, inclusively Burj al-Khalifa). New technologies, new materials of buildings and new architectonic conceptions will begin to re-define the concepts of urbanism and city. Within the present paper, we shall try to define concepts as Urbanocene, global order of metropolises, the First Chain of Serenissimas, the Second Chain of Serenissimas, the orbital city, the hanged gardens, by using some references to historical periods of time (Babylon, getic antic cities- dava-, medieval castles). Perspectives about mobile and re-combining cities are spectacular, innovating on the "city" concept itself, abandoning the idea of a fixed, terrestrial city, in favor of detachable, re-composing, hybrid cities, a trend of XXII century that will redefine fundamentally the urban habitat, in our opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the epigram of Herodicus (apud Ath. 5.222a). First it is examined as a piece of Greek literature—with a history, a number of imitators, a Greek intellectual and scholarly context, and the expressive resources of the Greek language. Several cruces are discussed, but the meaning of the final two words of the poem—θεόπαις Βαβυλών—is of particular importance. The internal syntactic structure of the compound adjective θεό-παις is analysed using comparative evidence from Greek. But the actual comparandum that is argued to be crucial for establishing its meaning is an epithet of Babylon found in Akkadian and Sumerian. The basis for the relevance of this is the existence of Akkadian texts in Greek script (the 'Graeco-Babyloniaca'), which are reviewed in full as part of the evidence for cultural contact in Hellenistic Babylon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Babylonian Astronomical Diaries and related texts contain a large body of records of astronomical phenomena which were carefully and systematically observed between about 600 BC and 50 BC. Most of these observations are of regular (cyclical) astronomical phenomena such as passages of the planets past certain stars, the first and last appearances, stations, and acronychal risings of the planets, and eclipses of the sun and moon. However, a smaller number of observations of irregular, transient astronomical phenomena were also recorded. In addition to being of historical interest, records of certain transient phenomena have applications in modern science. In this paper, we provide a catalog of three types of transient phenomena observed by the Babylonians – haloes, meteors, and comets – as well as some basic analysis of the records and the necessary contextual information to facilitate their analysis and use by other scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past three decades have been witness to a nascent but compelling body of literature on lessons in leadership for business derived from biblical narratives. The aim of this paper is to advance that effort. Specifically, this study considers the leadership of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah who built the Second Temple on the ruins of the First, and that of Ezra and Nehemiah, who instituted reforms -- religious, financial, and agrarian. When Zerubbabel arrived in Judah from Babylon, the walls of Jerusalem were breached and the land was filled with people hostile to the construction of the Temple. This paper discusses mistakes made by Zerubbabel as a leader, how Ezra and Nehemiah rectified these errors, and demonstrates what leaders of today can learn from the issues pertaining to the Second Temple period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though Nabû is well known in Babylonian religion as the minister of its patron god Marduk, and Tašmētu as Nabû's wife, this paper argues that they were not originally envisioned as such. Instead, both the god and goddess seem to have been introduced into Marduk's circle over the course of the Old Babylonian period, having previously been venerated in independent cults. Unexpected appearances of Tašmētu within the ritual practices of Babylon also suggest that she was only recognized as Nabû's wife after they were both integrated into the Babylonian pantheon. Evidence of their early independence and subsequent assimilation is drawn from a wide pool of contemporary sources, including god lists, onomastics, and seal inscriptions, as well as descriptions of traditional ritual arrangements from later periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Historical & Cultural Studies an Academic Magazine 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.)

Nehemiah's style of leadership led to peace-building and progress during the post-exilic period in Israel. Drawing from this, the paper argued that Nehemiah's leadership motif expressed through incorruptibility and patriotism is the needed catalyst for purposeful administration in Nigeria and subsequent cessation of ethnic conflicts. Babylon defeated Israel in wars leading to captivity of many Jews. Consequently, the post-exilic period produced social cleavages that stressed group relations. Nehemiah managed the increasing intra and inter-ethnic contestations to develop Israel. Extant literature shows how violent ethnic clashes have undermined peaceful coexistence and development in Nigeria since the end of Nigeria/Biafra war. Using the theory of good governance which is consistent with Nehemiah's leadership, it appears that the consideration of Nehemiah's administrative model by Nigerian leaders is the basis for efficient leadership and consequent end to the lingering ethnic conflicts. Documentary research and unstructured interview methods were used to collect and analyse data for this study. The paper drew attention to the link between the enduring patriotism of Nehemiah and the end of ethnic conflicts in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many parts of the world, groundwater is considered to be a key source of fresh water for both the domestic and non-domestic sectors. Where groundwater extraction is implemented, systems to monitor water quality must ensure a safe and sustainable supply. Over the years, Iraq has suffered from surface water quality and supply problems, necessitating groundwater extraction in many regions. This study investigates groundwater quality in a region of central Iraq around Babylon city, covering an area of 5119 km2. The data gathered for this study included maps, well locations and water quality data and was sourced from the relevant governmental departments. A base map of the focussed region was initially prepared following data collection. The analysed water quality parameters were used as an attribute database to produce thematic maps using a geographical information system (GIS) environment. In this paper, the water quality index (WQI) and the irrigation water quality index (IWQI) were calculated for different groundwater samples using various parameters including the Electrical Conductivity (EC), Cl−, HCO3−, Na+ and pH. Moreover, the groundwater suitability for irrigation purposes has been assessed using indices such as Kelly's ratio (KR), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), soluble sodium percentage (SSP) and permeability index (PI). Water quality index maps have been developed using the GIS environment. The obtained results reveal that the groundwater in the study location requires specific treatments to be usable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hermeneus is the property of Revista Hermeneus 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 Antiguo Oriente is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina 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.)

Exctraction is a method for separation of biologically active substances from plant's (and animal's) cells by using of different solvents. The oldest variation of this method is a preparation of tea and coffee drinks via hot water. Exactly water was the oldest and the most common used solvent especially in the area of food preparation and folk medicine. In the present day inductriual extractions can be achieved by various technologies include maceration, infusion, percolation, digestion, decoction, hot continuous extraction (Soxhlet) and so on. The soap is one of the oldest chemical products in the human mankind dates back from the times of ancient Babylon. The soap has enormous influence on human society as major biocidal product against harmful microorganisms but also as one of the oldest pesticide in the world. During the resent years, there is a renew interest for the soaps as a natural friendly pesticides. Traditionally soaps are made by mixing organic acids (from petroleum, animal or plant origin) with sodium or potassium hydroxide, with or without heating. The study in this paper shows that there is yet another effective and cheap method for this, by maceration of different organic scraps with low concentrated water solutions of potassium or sodium hydroxide. The soaps produced by this method show excellent aphicidal activity against different aphid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycling is increasingly seen as a solution to a large variety of urban problems, and as such continues to inspire innovations that aim to upscale cycling to unprecedented levels. Taken to the extreme, these ideas promise a future 'Velotopia' in which cycling constitutes a dominant or single mobility mode. Focusing its attention on Dutch cycling innovations and two recently envisaged cycling utopias by Steven Fleming and Cosmin Popan, the present paper offers a critical exploration of current velotopian urban imaginaries. It does so by tracing their ideological ancestry back to two visionary urban designs of the 20th century: the dense city of speed and efficiency of Le Corbusier, and the endless Babylon of Constant where mobility is a means of discovery, play and human interaction. Our analysis shows that both Corbusian and Constantian understandings of mobility are reflected in current velotopian imaginaries, not only in opposition but also in combination with each other. This combination of Corbusian and Constantian velotopian imaginaries, we suggest, has largely become part of mainstream urban discourses instead of providing a radical alternative to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an edition of a Babylonian astronomical diary dated to the reign of Seleucus IV. The diary is dated on historic and astronomic grounds to 175 BCE and serves, thus far, as the earliest mention for the reinstatement of a royal representative over the Esagil temple in Babylon during the late Seleucid period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heroic economy of treasure subtends both the treasure plundered from the temple in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and the political structure of Babylon in the Old English Daniel. The golden idol that Nebuchadnezzar erects is a sign of the worldly glory and wealth that generates the flow of goods in the heroic economy of exchange of honour. The aim of the paper is to argue that the Daniel poet makes a contrast between the secular flow of treasure, at the foundation of Nebuchadnezzar's power, and the divine economy of grace, at the centre of the covenant between the Hebrews and God. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Nabo 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.)

In this study, the AquaCrop model was employed to analyze the impact of projected future climate changes on the water usage and biomass production of potato crops in Babylon, Iraq, under varying irrigation methods. The irrigation techniques evaluated included sprinkler irrigation, surface drip irrigation, and subsurface drip irrigation at depths of 10 cm and 20 cm. The study involved simulating and forecasting conditions for the year 2050, comparing them to current conditions. The model measured and predicted the evapotranspiration (ETa) and actual biomass of potato crops for 2050 using the RCP 8.5 scenarios, which outline different trajectories for greenhouse gas emissions. The AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated using statistical measures such as the R2, RMSE, CV, EF, and D, achieving a 99% accuracy level in its performance. The findings suggest that using drip irrigation systems and applying the AquaCrop model significantly mitigates the adverse effects of environmental stress on desert soils and enhances sustainable agricultural practices in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new speech feature extraction technique called moving average multi directional local features (MA-MDLF) is presented in this paper. This method is based on linear regression (LR) and moving average (MA) in the time–frequency plane. Three-point LR is taken along time axis and frequency axis, and 3 points MA is taken along 45° and 135° in the time–frequency plane. The LR captures the voice onset\offset, formant contour, while the moving average captures the dynamics on time–frequency axes which can be seen as voiceprints. The MA-MDLF performance is compared to commonly used speech features in speaker recognition. The comparison is performed in a speaker recognition system (SRS) for three different conditions, namely clean speech, mobile speech, and cross channel. MA-MDLF has shown better performance than the baseline MFCC, RASTA-PLP and LPCC. In clean and mobile speech, MA-MDLF feature performs the best and also in the cross channel task MA-MDLF performed excellent. We also evaluated the MA-MDLF using three speech databases, namely KSU, LDC Babylon and TIMITdatabases, and found that MA-MDLF outperformed the other commonly used features with speech from all the three databases. The first and second databases are for Arabic speech while third is for English speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the genealogy of Matthew, there is a numerical ‘discrepancy’ between the actual totals of generations (fourteen, fourteen, and thirteen) recorded in Matthew 1:12-16 and the stated totals (fourteen, fourteen, and fourteen) in 1:17. This paper argues that Matthew's genealogy is devised by inserting breaks based on the pattern and concept of Chronicles in order to convey the unique Matthean message. This argument will be defended by showing the similarities between Chronicles and Matthew: (1) Matthew follows the Chronicler by putting the genealogy at the beginning of the whole book as an introduction to convey the Matthean messages; (2) by combining concepts of kingship and priesthood; (3) by mentioning ‘the sons of Israel’ and ‘all Israel’; (4) by including Gentiles; (5) by using retribution theology; (6) by employing intensification in his chiastic genealogical structure; (7) Matthewâ..s omission of several kings is in line with the Chronicler's ideology of cultic-oriented kingship; (8) Matthew shares the Chronicler's point of view that Judah's deportation to Babylon does not invalidate Yahweh's promise for the Davidic kingdom. Thus, the apparent numerical ‘discrepancy’ is deliberately devised by the Matthean author, just as the Chronicler uses the numerical discrepancy to highlight his emphases in the genealogies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics, as plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters (mm), are a global environmental concern that can provide a primary risk related to food contamination. Shellfish are marine organisms that are commonly subjected to microplastic contamination. The objectives of this study were to investigate microplastic contamination in spotted babylon (Babylonia areolata) and green mussels (Perna viridis) from supermarkets, local markets, and wholesale shops in Lampang province, Thailand. The results showed that spotted babylon and green mussels from the wholesale shop had the highest number of contaminated microplastics, with 1.67 ± 2.89 and 0.67 ± 0.58 particles/g wet weight, respectively. The average number of microplastics in the spotted babylon and green mussels were 0.89 ± 0.69 and 0.44 ± 0.19 particles/g wet weight, respectively. However, the number of microplastics was not significantly different among supermarkets, local markets, and wholesale shops (p > 0.05), and there was no significant difference between spotted babylon and green mussels (p > 0.05). The average length of microplastic particles found in spotted babylon and green mussels was 0.13 ± 0.14 and 0.12 ± 0.07 mm, respectively. The predominant fragment shape of microplastics found in spotted babylon and green mussels were 100.00% and 66.67%, respectively. The dominant colors of the microplastics found in spotted babylon and green mussels were blue (50.00%) and black (66.67%), respectively. The major microplastics detected were polypropylene (PP) in spotted babylon; PP and polyethylene terephthalate in green mussels. These polymers are commonly used in protective packaging and containers. Therefore, the findings of this study recommended microplastic prevention policies, especially regarding fishing and aquaculture sources. These policies could include monitoring the concentrations of microplastics in both wild and farmed seafood, encouraging circular design for fishing, evaluating the hazards and effects of microplastics on consumers, marking and tracking fishing gear to discourage discarding and facilitating the recovery of missing gear, and requiring the reporting of lost fishing and aquaculture gear to public authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how English Catholics imagined Jerusalem and Israel in relation to themselves, their nation and their Church. While English Protestant uses of Jerusalem imagery have been well-studied, their inter-confessional context has received less attention, and yet it was crucial to shaping them. Catholic deployments of Old Testament images and typology were no less sophisticated and significant than Protestant ones; English Catholic texts show how multivalent imagery of Jerusalem and its antithesis, Babylon, could be used both to express and to attempt to resolve tensions between the officially Protestant nation and the "true" Church. Exploring Catholic conceptions of Jerusalem, England and the Church is valuable because it offers insight into the culture that formed English Catholic recusants, missionaries, exiles and politicians, but also because it is important to a properly integrated account of the religious politics of England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amoebiasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica), affecting various hosts, such as humans, birds, and pigs. This study aimed to investigate Entamoeba spp. in monkeys (Macaca spp.) diagnose them using molecular methods. A total of 33 fecal samples were collected from monkeys (Macaca spp.) aged 3-5 years in Babylon province to investigate a common and zoonotic parasitic disease. Initially, microscopic examination was conducted on all samples, and those yielding positive results were preserved for molecular study. The DNA was extracted, and conventional PCR was carried out with a pair of primers to detect the 857 bp fragment of E. histolytica SSU rRNA gene. PCR results for 19 fecal samples, previously identified as positive by the direct smear method, from monkeys in the reserves of Babylon province indicated that the presence of the SSUrRNA gene with an 857 bp was 45% in only 15 samples. Sequencing of the SSUrRNA gene revealed 98-100% similarity with E.histolytica sequences deposited in International GenBank, which have the sequence numbers OP522013, OP522014, OP522015, OP522016, OP522017, Op626161, Op626162, Op626163, Op626164, and Op626165. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most problematic and devastating diseases affecting cucumber production is Fusarium wilt (Cucumis sativus L.). The present study aimed to characterize Fusarium species isolated from three different regions of cucumber fields in Babylon province, Iraq and identify them based on morphological features and phylogenetic analyses. This study showed the presence of Fusarium incarnatum, F. solani and F. oxysporum in cucumber roots. Fusarium species were phylogenetically analyzed based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. All Fusarium isolates were pathogenic to cucumber cultivars but varied significantly in their growth and pathogenicity toward cucumber seeds during the experiment. F. solani-2 was greater in growth and pathogenicity than all other Fusarium species. In contrast, F. solani-1 was the lowest. The data obtained from morphological and molecular studies sufficiently supported each other, and the phylogenetic trees based on ITS were distinguished. Closely related species and distinctly separated all morphological taxa. These findings are reported for the first time for the cucumber plant in Babylon province. All these ITS sequences showed homologous to those of Fusarium species isolates in the GenBank database with a similarity percentage of 99%. To the best of present knowledge, this is the first molecular record of F. incarnatum on the cucumber plants in Iraq. The study concluded that F. incarnatum was reported for the first time in Iraq and worldwide as a causal agent of wilt disease in cucumber plants. The three species of Fusarium have different pathogenic abilities, highlighting their disease incidence, growth, and pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of conceptually different medical coding and classification systems are in use in medical practice, of which the most popular are ICD-9, ICD-10, and Read Codes. To achieve interoperability, a platform that enables translation between them is needed. In this paper we report on the progress of Babylon Health in developing such an interoperability platform. Based on state-of-the-art partial mapping approaches, we propose a methodology for integrating coding systems into Babylon's medical Knowledge Graph and propose a code translation algorithm in which this Knowledge Graph acts as a mediator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Igdir University Journal of Social Sciences / Iğdır Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Igdir University Journal of Social Sciences 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 Alustath 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.)

From time immemorial great empires, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greek and the Roman Empire have sustained themselves through an array of strategies to control smaller nations. The same has continued with modern empires, the West in particular. This paper discusses these strategies as presented in the Book of Daniel and some historical snippets from 2 Kings 24-25. From these texts valuable lessons are gathered about how Babylon conquered and controlled its subjects. 'Babylon' in this paper represents not only the historical Babylonian Empire of the 6th Century BCE but also the metaphoric one representing the Greek Empire of 2nd Century BCE as well as the West, the contemporary empire. The paper established that all empires, ancient and modern (represented by 'Babylon') were keen on disturbing the Human Factor qualities of the conquered peoples. They did so and continue to do so by imposing and promoting their cultures, languages, diets, worldviews and philosophies on conquered people. Using the theory of social death as propounded by Orlando Patterson (1982), it was argued in the paper that such initiatives had an adverse effect on the Human Factor qualities of the subjects whose languages, cultures, and worldviews are relegated and despised as it results in social death. The paper therefore called for Africans to learn from the attitude of Daniel and friends who refused to accept Babylonian diet and worldviews, for they realised that these would have a negative influence on their positive indigenous Human Factor qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to reconsider the final words of chapter 94 in Photius' Bibliotheca on Iamblichus" Babyloniaca ("with these facts book 16 ends"). Literary, codicological, and textual evidence concur to prove that Photius' summary of Iamblichus' novel is actually incomplete and his words do not refer to the Babyloniaca as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neosporosis is internationally documented as one of the most popular diseases in cattle that cause economic losses due to high levels of abortion cases. Although Neospora caninum has been recently classified as a new species, it is still sharing many features with Toxoplasma gondii. This study aimed to detect and Imaging N. caninum in the blood of aborted cows, and prevalence study of N. caninum infection based on age, region and month. Blood samples from 106 aborted cows were collected using the appropriate method. First, these samples were examined microscopically via blood smears using Giemsa dye to diagnose the N. caninum within RBC. A qPCR technique was carried out to detect accurately 18S rRNA gene accurately. The results revealed that 65% of total aborted cases were positive for 18S rRNA detection of N. caninum, although this parasite was found microscopically in 15% of blood smear samples. According to PCR results, the prevalence study showed that the highest rate of infection was signed in the Al-Qassim district (75%) followed by the Al-Mahaweel district (74%) and decreased in Western Hamza district (48%). According to study months, November recorded the peak of infection (88%), then August (71%), whereas July recorded the lowest percentage (50%). The statistical analysis revealed there was no significant difference between the subjected regions and study months based on (P<0.05). On the other hand, it was found that cows less than 3 years old were more susceptible to infection than those over 3 years old. the results revealed that 71% of infected cows were less than 3 years old, while 29% were at age over 3 years old with a significant difference (P<0.005). In conclusion, N. caninum can be detected through blood within RBC. Age and regional factors in cows play an important role in resisting infection with this pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal the acute toxicity and physiological changes of the spotted babylon (Babylonia areolata) in response to environmental manipulation, the spotted babylon was exposed to three pH levels (7.0, 8.0 and 9.0) of seawater and four concentrations of nitrite nitrogen (0.02, 2.7, 13.5 and 27 mg/L). The activities of six immunoenzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and peroxidase (POD), were measured. The levels of pH and nitrite nitrogen concentrations significantly impacted immunoenzyme activity over time. After the acute stress of pH and nitrite nitrogen, the spotted babylon appeared to be unresponsive to external stimuli, exhibited decreased vigor, slowly climbed the wall, sank to the tank and could not stand upright. As time elapsed, with the extension of time, the spotted babylon showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing ACP, AKP, CAT and SOD activities in order to adapt to the mutated environment and improve its immunity. In contrast, POD and GSH-PX activities showed a decrease followed by an increase with time. This study explored the tolerance range of the spotted babylon to pH, nitrite nitrogen, and time, proving that external stimuli activate the body's immune response. The body's immune function has a specific range of adaptation to the environment over time. Once the body's immune system was insufficient to adapt to this range, the immune system collapsed and the snail gradually died off. This study has discovered the suitable pH and nitrite nitrogen ranges for the culture of the spotted babylon, and provides useful information on the response of the snail's immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the two films of the Taviani brothers through which the Tuscan directors have narrated the early 20th century Italian diaspora in the United States: the first episode of Kaos, the 1984 film based partly on Pirandello’s Novelle per un anno, and the 1987 film Good morning, Babylon. Besides analyzing various sequences of the films, especially those related to the departure, arrival and pursuit of the American dream, in this paper I explain how both films aimed not only to recall the relevance of a social-historical phenomenon such as the great migration, but also by reflecting on the present and the future, the films force us to focus on the drama of those who today are forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pphr rubber with different Carbon percentage is extensively used in engineering applications such as tyres, in which it may be subjected to impact loading leading to high strain rate deformation. This causes large deformations to happen at a variety of strain rates of the material. For this reason, the Babylon industrial company in Iraq suggested a modification of the rubber material used in manufacturing tyres by using different percentages of Carbon black to study the mechanical properties of these materials over a range of loading conditions. Also, the high strain rate and with break strain dependent on their properties provides further reasoning for the research. As for this, the material being irradiated by five percentages of Carbon black makes it vital within the manufacturing process of specific tyres. This work aims to characterise the effects of Carbon percentage on the mechanical properties of pphr rubber. The material was irradiated by five different percentages of Carbon black of pphr rubber dose, Carbon black 30 pphr, Carbon black 40 pphr, Carbon black 50 pphr, Carbon black 60 pphr, and Carbon black 70 pphr. It is a mechanical response, which was studied with the help of uniaxial tensile tests with different strain rates. Previous experimental results are utilised within the Ogden's Model to obtain the parameters for the simulation of the material response using the finite element method (FEM) for comparison purposes. Ogden's Model with first, second, and third-order equations to provide the simulation of the tensile test curves is compared to the experimental curves. Ultimately, it was found that values up to N = 3 produced reasonable results with varying values of pphr and that any value higher only resulted in error within the simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anthropology of the Middle East is the property of Berghahn Books 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 main objective of this work is the modeling of a combined heat and power (CHP) system that transforms waste from manufacturing date molasses in the Babylon province in central Iraq into electrical and thermal energy. A compact CHP facility that uses date waste (pomace and pits) as a feedstock is the subject of theoretical modeling and simulation research. The planned power plant consists of a downdraft gasifier, a microturbine (MT), and an organic Rankine cycle engine (ORC) as a bottom unit to maximize electric generation by recovering the MT exhaust gas heat and achieving a maximum electric output. The net electric production is 361.68 kW (280 kW from the MT unit and 81.68 kW from the ORC unit). To determine the best‐working fluid for the ORC system as a whole, three working fluids, including isopentane, benzene, and R113, were investigated. The temperature difference between the heat source and the fluid's boiling point is a key factor in choosing a more appropriate ORC working fluid. Isopentane is the most suitable working fluid for CHP applications, according to the findings of the simulation. The electric efficiency achieved is 30%, and the overall efficiency of the CHP plant was 56.87% from the gasification of date pits. The simulation results showed a satisfactory producer gas lower calorific value of 3.92 MJ k‐g‐1 for date pomace and 4.65 MJ k‐g‐1 for date pits, and cold gasification efficiencies of 73% and 76% for pomace and pits, respectively. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [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.)

Simple Summary: Mints are aromatic herbs with a millenary tradition of use for diverse medicinal purposes since ancient civilizations, and they are still presently used in different clinical practices. Mints have been used since ancient Babylon, but it was in Classical Antiquity that their medical uses flourished, with major contributions from Pliny the Elder. In the Middle Ages, the increased knowledge surrounding mints came from Byzantine physicians, while, in the Modern Age, technological developments allowed the production of mint-based products, such as extracts and essential oils, which have become part of elaborate galenic formulas employed by an increasing number of physicians, and have also stimulated both scientific and artistic interests alike. In present-day medicine, several mints and mint-based products are being researched as potential therapeutic alternatives for many diseases, while also being vastly employed in food and cosmetic industries. Mints have been among the most widely used herbs for medicinal purposes since ancient civilizations. They are still presently used for numerous purposes, including non-medicinal, which makes them economically relevant herbs. Information regarding the medical and scientific uses given to mints throughout history are vastly scattered and/or incomplete. The aim of this paper is to provide an extensive descriptive overview of the medical uses given to these herbs, highlighting both the authors in medical culture responsible for their dissemination, as well as their major galenic formulations. Databases on medical science, reference textbooks on medical history, botanics (aromatic herbs), and pharmacognosy were consulted. The use of mints remotes to Classical Antiquity, with major contributions from Pliny the Elder. In the Middle Ages, the increased knowledge surrounding mints came from Byzantine physicians, while, in the Modern Age, technological developments allowed the production of mint-based products which have become part of elaborate galenic formulas employed by an increasing number of physicians, as well as have also stimulated both scientific and artistic interests alike. In present-day medicine, several mints and mint-based products are being researched as potential therapeutic alternatives for many diseases, while also being vastly employed in food and cosmetic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can objects be data? Under what conditions do they become data? Looking at the Prussian-led excavations in Babylon around 1900, this essay will investigate processes of knowledge production in relation to archaeological objects between their excavation and their incorporation in museum collections. It will focus on the nature of the connection between data and the physical objects they represent. How much data does an object yield when it is "found"? What role do epistemic practices, such as the application of visual media in the field and the museum, play in turning objects into data? And finally, will the data remain the same once the objects have reached their final destination? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Battle of Halule took place in 691 BC between the Assyrian Empire on the one hand and a large coalition of Elam and Babylonian kings and their allies on the other. The reports of Assyrian and Babylonian sources have contradictions in mentioning the events of this important battle, which makes conclusions about the hidden angles of this battle more complicated. Based on historical documents and reports and with a descriptive-analytical method, the present research tried to answer the main question of the causes of occurrence of the Battle of Halule, its results and consequences in the era of ancient times. The Assyrians bordered the Elamites after the capture of Babylon during the reign of Tiglath Pileser III. After that, the Elamites supported the Babylonian rebels against the Assyrians in order to prevent the Assyrian attacks on the Zagros. This brought about the Battle of Halule. The results of this research show that apart from the Assyrians' combative spirit and the achievement of Zagros region trophies, the direct or indirect domination of the parties over the land of Babylon caused the Battle of Halule. Although the Assyrians did not achieve their goals in this battle, after the war the policy of the Assyrian kings focused on capturing Babylon and destroying Elam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Euphrates River is one of the most important sources of running water in Iraq. In this study, the dissolved and suspended heavy metals in the Euphrates River are measured by taking water samples from four different sites between three provinces Babylon, Al-Najaf, and Al-Diwaniyah. The results of the samples, which were taken between May 2013 and April 2014, showed that the values of cadmium (imperceptible -0.075) ppm for the dissolved and (0.0043 to 0.2705) ppm for the suspended, while the values of lead ranged between (imperceptible - 0.0232) ppm for the dissolved and (0.0045-0.148) for the suspended and for zinc, recorded (imperceptible– 0.0168) ppm for the dissolved and recorded (0.0115 – 0.316) ppm for the suspended; for copper between (imperceptible – 0.0273) ppm for the dissolved and (0.0062 – 0.063) ppm for the suspended and for chromium between (imperceptible –0.0193) ppm for the dissolved and between (0.0043- 0.0449) ppm for the suspended and manganese between (imperceptible -0.0256) ppm for the dissolved and between (0.0085-0.0739) ppm for the suspended manganese. All the above confirms the pollution of the river water with heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]