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Different linguistic constructions, including comparative, superlative, similative, and equative constructions, are employed to convey the concept of comparison. Equative and similative constructions exhibit the highest semantic and structural resemblance out of all the specified constructions. In such constructions, two entities -referred to as the comparee and the standard- are compared based on a specific characteristic or quality. In equative constructions the comparison is based on a gradable property, where one of the referents has the property to a higher degree, while similative constructions compare the similarity in manner. This study explored the equative constructions in the Laki language by primarily relying on classification put forth by Haspelmath (2017). The data for the present study consists of 123 equative sentences taken from spoken interviews with twelve individuals residing in Noorabad city. The findings indicate that speakers mainly use seven strategies to convey the concept of equality in Laki. Furthermore, the data show that in numerous equative constructions in Laki, there is a preference for omitting the standard marker while retaining the degree marker

Groundwater is considered an important source of water supply in Iraq, but the poor quality of water makes it unsuitable for drinking purposes. To enhance the groundwater quality, River Bank Filtration (RBF) method was investigated. It is a natural process in which wells along a riverbank are pumped, causing some of the river water to flow toward these wells. With this technique, water coming from the river is filtrated by soil deposits and then mixed with groundwater, improving its quality. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the implementation of the RBF technique to improve the poor quality of groundwater and get potable water. A study area was selected in Al Hindiyah District within Kerbala City, Iraq. Four wells (W1, W2, W3, and W4) with different distances from the Euphrates River bank (450 m, 720 m, 800 m, and 1950 m), respectively, were selected to examine the groundwater quality. The results were then compared to those for the Euphrates River. In addition, two boreholes (B.H.1 and B.H.2) of about 15 m depth were drilled near the riverbank to assess the soil properties of the studied area. The results showed that the groundwater quality at a depth more than 12 m enhanced as the well’s distance from the river bank decreased and got closer to the river. It was found that the water quality at pumping wells (W1, W2, and W3) is slightly polluted, which makes this area more suitable for groundwater abstraction to provide the best water quality. The poorest water quality was for W4 at 1950 m from the riverbank, which indicates that at this distance the river bank filtration process is eliminated.

تأسس نظام الدولة الحامية بهدف تمكين الأطراف المتنازعة من مواصلة الحوار حول حماية سكانهما. وتنص الاتفاقيات، منذ بداية أي نزاع، على ضرورة التزام كل طرف بتعيين دولة حامية لضمان تنفيذ الاتفاقيات والبروتوكولات الإضافية. ويخضع مندوبو الدول الحامية المعينون لموافقة الأطراف المتنازعة التي يتعاونون معها في تنفيذ واجباتهم. تستند فكرة بحثنا إلى دراسة فعالية دور الدولة الحامية في تطبيق القانون الدولي الإنساني. وقد تناول البحث تعريف الدولة الحامية، وتحديد الأطراف المسؤولة عن مهامها، بالإضافة إلى توضيح مهام وصلاحيات الدولة الحامية، وعرض الحالات التطبيقية لدورها. في المطلب الأول، تم توضيح ماهية الدولة الحامية، بينما تم تناول مهامها وصلاحياتها والحالات التطبيقية لها في المطلب الثاني. كما اقترحنا لتحقيق الهدف المرجو من قيام الدولة الحامية، فصل عملها عن مبادرات الأطراف المتنازعة أو قبولها. بعبارة أخرى، نرى أنه من الضروري منح الدولة الحامية سلطات تفويضية لأداء مهامها عند الحاجة إلى خدماتها.

Background: Acute appendicitis is common in children, with appendectomy as the traditional treatment. Scoring systems like Alvarado and RIPASA help assess patient eligibility for conservative treatment, considering symptoms and additional factors like age, sex, and symptom duration. Recent studies recommend antibiotics as an initial treatment for uncomplicated cases, to avoiding surgery in many cases. Objectives: To evaluate non-operative management of appendicitis in pediatrics. Patients and methods: A cohort study done at pediatric surgery unit in Qena University Hospitals from Sep 2022 to Mar 2023 included children with acute uncomplicated appendicitis. Diagnosis was based on the available scores for diagnosis of appendicitis. Conservative management involved diagnosis antibiotics, clinical evaluation and radiological evaluation. Results: Thirty patients were included in this study. Common symptoms: abdominal pain (100%), appetite loss (56.67%), nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (60%). All diagnosed with appendicitis. Pediatric Appendicitis Score: tenderness (80%), leukocytosis (90%), cough/percussion (66.67%), nausea/vomiting (60%), anorexia (83.33%), pain migration (86.67%), median score 8. IV antibiotics: median 1.925 g (range: 0.35-5.9 g). Outcomes: 90% symptom resolution, median 4-day hospital stay (range: 2-7 days), 6.67% recurrence, 6.67% appendectomy. Post-intervention, significant improvement in signs/symptoms, ultrasonography, CRP; WBC count improved variably. Conclusion: Conservative treatment for uncomplicated pediatric appendicitis is safe, successful (90% cure rate), cost-effective, and efficient with short hospital stays. Although it has a high success rate but may require a few patients undergo appendectomy.

يهدف البحث إلى التعرف على الذكاء الاصطناعي بشكل عام، وضوابط استخدامه، ثم التعرف على مدى قدرته على خدمة الباحث الشرعي عند إنجاز أبحاثه في الإجابة عن الأسئلة المتعلقة بالثقافة الإسلامية والعلوم الشرعية، في سبيل الترقي بعمل الذكاء الاصطناعي من خلال التعاون المكثف بين المبرمجين من جهة وعلماء الشريعة من جهة أخرى، ولقد قام البحث على المنهج: الوصفي من خلال طرح أسئلة نوعية على الذكاء الاصطناعي في الثقافة الإسلامية، والتفسير والحديث والفقه، وتم تقسيم البحث إلى مقدمة ومبحثين، المبحث الأول: تعريف تقنية الذكاء الاصطناعي وأهميته في التعليم. المبحث الثاني: مدى إمكانية الذكاء الاصطناعي على تقديم الإجابات الصحيحة عن الأسئلة الشرعية. وخلص البحث إلى أن الذكاء الاصطناعي لا يزال قاصرًا عن تقديم إجابات نوعية للباحث الشرعي، وعليه يقع على عاتق العلماء اليوم العمل على تطوير الذكاء الاصطناعي لخدمة العلوم الشرعية.

Determination of mechanical state of thermal oxide growing during high temperature oxidation is a challenge. Fabrication of nanogauges for monitoring during high temperature oxidation was presently investigated up to 1000 °C. Several materials were tested in terms of mechanical behaviour and maximum working temperature for gauges used as markers during thermal loading under air. The experimental determination of the optimized gauges material for high temperature oxidation was validated. SiO2 offers particularly interesting features for gauges to determine the mechanical state of metal/oxide system. In this article, a special attention has also been paid to two nano-fabrication processes, as well as their limits. The standard electron beam lithography process is well suited to build gauges for oxidation applications, and can be improved by use of reactive ion etching process. The gauges can eventually reach several micrometers height such that the oxidation layer does not cover the gauges during thermal loading for relevant monitoring at short oxidation times. To illustrate, an application to a 17-4PH stainless steel oxidized at 480 °C is proposed and stress kinetics are deduced and related to an advanced thermomechano-chemical model, as well as identification of the numerical values of different thermomechano-chemical parameters associated to mechanisms of growth or relaxation.

The originality of this work is introducing a novel Improved Harbor Seal Whiskers Algorithm (IHSWA) as an innovative and improved optimizer for solving complex hybrid dynamic economic-environmental dispatch (HDEED) considering uncertainty of renewable energy generation (REG) and various system constraints. IHSWA is implemented by hybridizing opposition-based algorithm (OBA) and local search algorithm (LSA) approaches to enhance the algorithm's search efficiency and overcome the challenges of other counterpart approaches. IHSWA has an optimal balancing feature between searching modes (exploring and exploiting modes). This feature makes the proposed algorithms more advanced than their counterpart optimizing techniques. The HDEED is modeled using a non-convex and non-smooth objective function, considering various equality and inequality constraints such as ramp rate bounds (RRLs), valve-point effects (VPE), production limits (PL), spinning reserves (SRLs), prohibited operating zones (POZs), and power balance (PB). The proposed approach is verified on a hybrid modified IEEE 57-bus 7-unit power system incorporating solar and wind energy generation. The proposed approach is compared with various modern optimization techniques, such as the traditional Harbor Seal Whiskers Algorithm (HSWA), the Lemurs Optimization Algorithm (LOA), the Nutcracker Optimization Algorithm (NOA), and the Artificial Hummingbird Algorithm (AHA). The incorporation of REG sources produces a significant reduction in operative costs and a remarkable decline in emissions. The convergence rate of the proposed approach indicates that the novel hybrid algorithm converges rapidly towards the optimal solution, achieving the best global optimum solution. The ANOVA test and the Tukey test are used to analyze the results statistically. The IHSWA approach shows superior advanced features with a best fuel cost of 1640.5890 $ and a minimum std. value of 1708.4895. While for emission objective minimizing, IHSWA attained a minimum emission cost and std. value of 1080.1629 kg and 1777.0770, respectively. The statistical analysis of the results approves the stability, reliability, and consistency of the proposed strategy with significant convergence. The appreciated contribution of this work is introducing a novel hybrid approach for solving HDEED efficiently, incorporating REG, and considering various system constraints. IHSWA has advanced features over its counterpart approaches. The contribution holds specific importance for the economic development of countries. It creates the path for increased self-sufficiency by reducing their need for fossil fuels for energy production. The study emphasizes the transition from being reliant on fossil fuels to the development of sustainable urban economies.

In recent years, some illegal activities have emerged, enabling their owners to counterfeit billions of local and international currencies. Therefore, it is necessary to combat these activities by increasing insurance awareness among the public, and upgrading the level of the banknote and the elements included in its components and means of insurance. The problem of the research represented in the difficulty recognizing and distinguishing between original and counterfeit currencies for a large segment of Egyptian society and the absence of identifying the insurance components in Egyptian currencies and limiting them to a specific segment of specialists, whether in the field of their production or circulation, such as banks. The aim of the research is developing ways of dealing with the public through the Internet and smart phone applications, easily defining and educating the public about all insurance means, and identifying whether the currencies are valid or counterfeit. Raising public awareness of the visible and invisible insurance components in Egyptian currencies to support anti-counterfeiting and counterfeiting ways and devices through the application.

Stone boulders breakwaters are the most widespread and widely used type of breakwaters. if the foundations of these structures do not have sufficient bearing capacity, large settlements will await the structure. Since the construction of these projects is expensive, and the supply of suitable stone resources are essential for the construction of these projects, a relatively good prediction of the stone materials volume used in the project is important. Therefore, a research project was carried out at Siyadi Port breakwater, (Iran) utilizing geotechnical data and construction observations. The objective was to create a computer model to understand the response of the clay bed to the weight of the rocks. This analysis was done by Lagrangian equations and using FLAC software and led to the selection of characteristic of soil parameters that simulated the subsidence of materials on an elasto-plastic bed. Soil resistance parameters that could not be determined through standard tests were derived through a process of back analysis. The study also investigated the effects of the thickness of the loose layer, variations in sea water levels, and the use of geotextile in the project. A large rise in settling is anticipated as the muddy soil's depth increases. Results also confirms the effectiveness of using geotextiles for settlement management. Moreover, updated characteristics of soil from the previous step in order to comprehend the construction of an entire breakwater section on muddy soil seems crucial. With this method, long-term settlements and the stability of the breakwater section may be reliably predicted.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the nature of the political relationship that linked Gaza City to the state The neighboring Egyptian city during the period (1550 – 1200 BC). Since the military nature was an inherent characteristic of these relations most of the time, Gaza City, after political and military control over it, was made a center and capital of the Egyptian administration in the southern Syrian region and an advanced base from which to subdue any rebellion against Egyptian influence in the Syrian cities. It was also considered an advanced base for defending Egyptian lands. Against any external enemy who wants to invade it on the one hand Syria country .Method: To achieve the objectives of the study, the study relied on applying the analytical method in studying the events of the study phase and identifying the most important interactions that affected the history of the ancient East region through analyzing the information contained in the relevant sources. Re-reading the texts of these sources and examining them in a way that serves the objectives of the study.Results: The strategic and commercial location of Gaza City in southern Syria and on the border with Egypt caused the city to be exposed to many military campaigns with the aim of controlling it, as it served as a link between the three continents of the world, Asia and Africa, by land and by sea with the continent of Europe. Conclusion: It is necessary to verify the accuracy of reading the texts that were found, and to compare those texts that were found in different places with the historical information they contain; In order to form an idea somewhat similar to the political conditions that the residents of Gaza City experienced over a period of time the study.

This work synthesized a thermoplastic polymer with varying densities along one direction using additive manufacturing technology to study the dynamic and static characteristics of functionally graded viscoelastic materials (FGVMs). To describe the mechanical properties of FGVMs, an analytical formulation based on the sigmoid-law formulation was proposed. The experimental program is conducted on 3D-printed samples, and various tests are conducted to examine the performance of such materials. Furthermore, the finite element method was used to evaluate the structural system's flexural properties. The influences of FG parameters and geometrical properties on flexural and reverse bending fatigue life are analyzed. The results show that increasing porosity from 10% to 30% at a power-law index (k = 2) reduces bending strength by 31.25 percent and deflection by around 11.2 percent for VE samples. Changing the power-law exponent from 0.5 to 10 increases fatigue strength by 35 %.

تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى الوقوف على المعنى الذي يقصد إليه برغسون عندما يتصدى للحديث عن المشكلات الزائفة التي يتصدى لها الفلاسفة في حياتهم بوصفها مشكلات حقيقية الأمر الذي يدفعهم لصرف الكثير من الجهد والوقت من غير جدوى. ولذلك يسعى برغسون لتبيان أهمية الكشف عن هذه المشكلات ووضع منهج مناسب للتعامل معها ونقدها وذلك بغية تجاوزها والانتقال لمواجهة المشاكل الحقيقية التي تستحق العناية والاهتمام . ومن بين هذه المشكلات الزائفة بالنسبة لبرغسون هي مشكلة الحرية التي تختلط بغيرها من المشكلات التي تتطلب الدرس والتمحيص للكشف عن عناصرها الأساسية والوقوف على طبيعتها والطرق التي تتعين لها في الواقع.

Background and Objectives. Dental fear and anxiety are common causes of dental care avoidance especially in pediatric dentistry. Distraction is among the safest and cheapest techniques for behavioral guidance in children. Virtual reality (VR) can be used as a means of distraction. This study aimed to assess the effect of distraction by VR on the levels of pain and anxiety in 6–8-year-old patients requiring mandibular primary molar pulpotomy. Materials and Methods. This crossover clinical trial was conducted with eligible 6–8-year-old children requiring bilateral mandibular molar pulpotomy. At the first treatment visit, pulpotomy was performed for 15 children using VR glasses distraction while the other 15 children received a pulpotomy without any VR glasses; this trend was reversed at the second session and pulpotomy was performed for the contralateral tooth. Pulse rate (PR) and Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS) measured the anxiety levels. Wong–Baker Faces Pain Scale (WBFP) assessed the pain perception before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25 using the Mann–Whitney and χ2 tests. Results. The mean PR was not significantly different between the two groups. However, the test group showed significantly lower scores of MCDAS (P value = 0.02) and WBFP (P value = 0.001) compared with the control group. Conclusion. The present results suggest that VR headsets can decrease the level of pain and anxiety of patients during primary mandibular pulpotomy. This trial is registered with IRCT20200315046782N1.

Abstract Introduction Ivacaftor has shown to be effective in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with a G551D mutation. Objectives This work aims to evaluate ivacaftor's effectiveness and safety in the real world, over 5 years, in the West of Scotland CF population. Methods We evaluated ivacaftor's effect on pulmonary function, body mass index (BMI), hospital bed occupancy, and adverse effects in patients ≥6 years with at least one G551D mutation. Results Statistically significant increases from baseline were observed in mean per cent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) at year 1 (which was maintained at years 2 and 5) and BMI over 5 years in our adolescent/adult cohort. Improvements were observed in per cent predicted FEV1 within the paediatric cohort with a suggestion of a plateau effect. The increase in paediatric BMI z‐score was nonstatistically significant. There was a reduction in the number of pulmonary exacerbations requiring intravenous antibiotics and hospital bed occupancy. Ivacaftor was well tolerated. Conclusion Ivacaftor was effective in our population.

Background: Taxes are not only an important source of government revenue, but also one of the most important policy tools for tobacco control. The present study was designed to determine the optimal tax rate on cigarettes.Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was conducted using the survey data from the Statistics Center of Iran from 2015 to 2019. The survey is carried out every year at the national level and households are selected by three-stage stratified sampling method. The inclusion criteria for our study were based on household information in the study period and its completeness and legibility. The Poisson regression model was used to estimate the factors affecting the quantity of cigarette demand in households with smoker members. The optimal tax rate on cigarettes was calculated based on the concept of Laffer curve. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata version 15.1.Results: The study was performed on 191,648 Iranian households. The cigarette price elasticity of demand was around -0.24. There were statistically significant relationships between the cigarette demand and variables including having a member of 15-18 years in the family; having male member of 19-64 years; having a female member of 19-64 years old; the study periods; age, education level; and job status of the household head (P

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteases responsible for cleaving and rebuilding connective tissue components and also affect early carcinogenesis events, tumor development, growth, and neovascularization. The study aimed to evaluate the level of MMP-2 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in comparison with that in remission status, and healthy subjects, and to find its correlation with hematologic parameters. PATIENTS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: This study included sixty newly diagnosed AML patients. Remission status was assessed after induction chemotherapy. The overall survival (OS) was determined after 6 months. The plasma MMP-2 level was measured at diagnosis by enzyme immunoassay. Twenty-eight healthy individuals were recruited as a control group. RESULTS: Plasma MMP-2 was higher in AML patients than in healthy individuals (P = 0.005). The level of MMP-2 was much higher in the M5 subtype than in the other subtypes (P = 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the level of MMP-2 between patients who achieved complete remission and those who did not (P = 0.113). After 6 months, no significant difference in the initial MMP-2 levels was found between deceased and alive patients (P = 0.174). A positive correlation of MMP-2 level was found with white blood cell (WBC) count and hemoglobin (P = 0.0001 and 0.033, respectively) while insignificant with age, platelet count, and blast counts. CONCLUSIONS: The high MMP-2 level in AML patients suggests a possible role in the pathogenesis. However, it does not show any association with remission status or OS. The elevation was significantly associated with marrow monocytosis (M5) and correlated with a higher WBC count.