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ART AND CLIMATE : A CREATIVE AWARENESS
Full text linkThe growing engagement of artists with ecological challenges is a significant trend in the Anthropocene era. Most often, some of them feel driven by a sense of responsibility regarding the impact of industry and consumer society on the environment. Their commitment becomes a form of activism, mobilization or even a simple commercial niche to exploit. By observing this enthusiasm in the art world for environmental issues, we can ask ourselves the following questions: despite their sometimes lack of in-depth knowledge, where does the role of artists begin and end in this complex universe? Does their commitment have real power to limit environmental damage? By opening the debate in areas that are not necessarily theirs (finance, industry, climatology, etc.), are they concretely contributing to raising public awareness and inspiring actions aimed at combating climate change
THE FAITHFULNESS OF AN EXTENSION OF LAWRENCE-KRAMMER-BIGELOW REPRESENTATION ON THE GROUP OF CONJUGATING AUTOMORPHISMS in the cases and
Full text linkLet be the group of conjugating automorphisms. V. Bardakov defined a representation of , which is an extension of Lawrence-Krammer-Bigelow representation of the braid group . Bardakov proved that the representation is unfaithful for . The cases remain open. M. N. Nasser and M. N. Abdulrahim made attempts towards the faithfulness of in the case . In this work, we prove that is unfaithful in the both cases and
ADOPTING ASSOCIATION RULE LEARNING FOR DETECTING AND RANKING INFLUENTIAL USERS ON HASHTAGS
Full text linkSocial Media platforms are networks of relationships in which users are considered as nodes in a graph and relationships between users are considered edges. These graphs symbolize online groups or communities. It has been a challenge for researchers to study the evolution of such communities due to their rapid and dynamic development. The contribution of our work is twofold: (i) studying the effectiveness of a set of Direct and Indirect Influence Measures that identify the factors that urges users to participate in certain communities; (ii) proposing an Association Rule Mining technique to identify influential users on a dataset of a number of trendy hashtags. As per the first contribution, the effectiveness of the above listed measures, is studied via different types of users’ participation whether being highly retweeted, active posting users, influencing their followers to post, or even socially connected among other users. For the latter, the identified influential users are then ranked based on the different Influence Measures to study the effect of these measures on studying the evolution of the hashtags. The results of this study indicate the effectiveness of identifying influential users through Association Rule Learning and identifying the most effective Influence Measures for different hashtags and different categories
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY ON LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTIONS OF IRAQI TYPE II DIABETIC PATIENTS
Full text linkBackground: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread across different age groups globally, linking to conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, and notably type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Investigating the impact of vitamin D on T2DM and associated kidney and liver functions has gained recent attention.
Objective: This study aimed to explore the effect of vitamin D deficiency on kidney and liver functions in T2DM Iraqi patients.
Methods: Fifty T2DM patients and 50 controls were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), vitamin D, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS 2012 software. Means were compared using t-tests.
Results: Diabetic patients exhibited elevated glucose and HbA1c levels, alongside decreased vitamin D levels. Notably, male patients showed higher creatinine levels. Additionally, urea, bilirubin, AST, ALT, and ALP levels were elevated in diabetic patients, with more pronounced increases in males. Correlation analysis revealed negative associations between vitamin D and liver function parameters in male patients, and between vitamin D and both kidney and liver function parameters in females.
Conclusions: This study emphasizes the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iraqi T2DM patients, linked with altered glucose, liver, and kidney function markers, highlighting the need for regular vitamin D monitoring and supplementation if necessary
ONLINE LEARNING TRANSITION: AN ANALYSIS OF PROACTIVE INSTITUTIONAL ASSISTANCE IN REDUCING DIFFICULTIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Full text linkThe COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in the education system, with a shift to online learning, and experience has shown that transitioning from face-to-face instruction is difficult. This study involved 80 academic staff members from Al-Baha University in Saudi Arabia to learn about the benefits, limitations, and institutional support of online education in the setting of an epidemic. The study answers two primary questions: The first study question was, What difficulties did instructors face when they switched to online instruction? While the second research question was, How did institutional support influence the transition to online instruction? The study’s research methodology involved qualitative research and the data was collected using semi structured interviews an open-ended survey. The hypothesis was that proactive institutional support, such as faculty training and technical help, would boost faculty confidence in implementing online teaching resources. The data indicated that faculty members encountered both considerable benefits and obstacles throughout the change. While online education boosted accessibility, flexibility, and the incorporation of multimedia resources, major hurdles were technological impediments, difficulty maintaining student interest, and a loss of face-to-face connection. The proactive institutional strategy at Al-Baha University, notably the early investment in faculty development initiatives as the Rafid Developer Program, was vital to the transition\u27s success. The respondents stated that they noticed the increase of their IT competence and the higher level of confidence in working with digital resources and tools supported by institutions and peers. However, lack of digital literacy among the students and the lack of engagement in an online learning platform posed a major challenge. The significance of customized professional development, continuous faculty cooperation, and strong institutional support networks in easing the shift to online learning is emphasized by this study. It also highlights the potential for more flexibility and engagement through blended learning approaches, which combine in-person and online training. The study adds to our understanding of how educational institutions may successfully integrate technology and pedagogy to enhance learning outcomes and resilience. Adopting hybrid teaching paradigms, addressing the digital literacy gap, and giving faculty development top priority are some suggestions for better preparing for upcoming disruptions in education
A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR ATTAINING GOLDEN LEED CERTIFICATION FOR RESORTS
Full text linkThe contemporary landscape of engineering is witnessing a pivotal shift towards sustainability, encapsulated in the catchphrase GO GREEN . This global trend underscores a strategic emphasis on sustainable design, where engineering projects prioritize a delicate balance among environmental, societal, and economic considerations.” However, a persistent challenge in construction projects lies in their tendency to neglect environmental impact, contributing to increased contamination levels. This paper aims to introduce the Lodge in the Green project, meticulously aligned with LEED Certification principles. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, stands as the foremost green building rating system, highlighting its relevance in contemporary sustainable engineering practices.” Employing a qualitative approach, this paper systematically explores various facades of the Lodge in the Green project, commencing with a thorough illustration of the strategic pathway to attain the looked-for LEED certification. Subsequently, performing a detailed examination of the fixtures strategically selected in the project to fulfill LEED criteria. Additionally, the analysis delves into the project\u27s quantifiable achievements in energy efficiency, water conservation, and overall environmental stewardship. As for the impact of applying LEED criteria, it led to a 30% increase in water efficiency. In turn, this got translated into a decreased pumping demand for the water network resulting in 35% less greenhouse gas emissions. The former offered 18% savings over a 30-year period after assessing the short-term financial costs and the long-term savings. Last but foremost, by implementing the outlined strategy, “Lodge in the Green” innovatively attains 78 LEED points through its infrastructure design, which aligns with a Gold-LEED certification
THE EFFECT OF ANNONA MURICATA LEAVES’ EXTRACT ON WNT SIGNALING PATHWAY IN INDUCED COLORECTAL CANCER IN MICE
Full text linkBackground: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health issue. The Wnt signaling pathway, activated by mutations in APC and β-catenin genes, plays a crucial role in CRC development, leading to the activation of inflammatory pathways involving COX-2 and iNOS, as well as the continuous transcription of cell cycle-related genes promoting CRC pathogenesis. Annona muricata (A. muricata), a tropical tree with various biological activities, including anti-cancerous properties, was investigated for its potential effect on mice induced with colon cancer using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH, 20 mg/kg) over 12 weeks, and treated with oral A. muricata extract (100 mg/kg, 5 days/week).
Methods: Histopathological analysis, qRT-PCR, ELISA and colorimetric assays were used to evaluate the effect of the extract on polyp counts, gene expression of key players of the Wnt pathway and COX-2 as well as iNOS activity, respectively.
Results: Our study found that DMH-induced CRC tissues exhibited increased levels of Wnt, β-catenin, Tcf, Lef, c-Myc, Cyclin D1, COX-2, and iNOS, along with decreased APC and GSK3β expression. A. muricata extract, administered before or after treatment, significantly reversed these levels. Histopathological analysis also showed improved colonic architecture and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration with extract treatment.
Conclusion: This study highlights A. muricata\u27s potential to inhibit CRC proliferation by deactivating the Wnt signaling pathway and regulating the expression of related genes. A. muricata may serve as both a chemopreventive and therapeutic natural product for CRC
THE CRIME OF FRAUD BY MISUSING THE RIGHT OF DISPOSITION OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY
Full text linkThe Lebanese Penal Code stipulates the crime of fraud within Chapter Eleven of Book Two, which includes monetary crimes; However, even though the legislator has defined the crime of fraud and defined its elements, his definition of fraudulent maneuvers in the second paragraph of Article 655 of the Penal Code and the addition of the case of disposing movable or immovable property by someone who has no right or capacity to do so or by someone who has the right or capacity to dispose of it and misusing his right in the aim of extorting money, has raised a legal issue and a difference of opinions about whether the abuse of the right to act in this case constitutes an element of the crime of fraud or an independent crime with its own elements. Therefore, when the transfer of ownership of a certain property from one person to another is subject to special conditions such as the necessity of registering real estate sales in the real estate registry in order for the sale to take its effects even between the contracting parties, the owner (seller) still has the right to dispose of the property sold from him as long as the transfer of ownership is not registered in the name of the buyer, which raises the question as to whether the owner’s abuse in using his right by selling the property for a second time from another person constitutes the crime of fraud or not
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SALT AND SUGAR COMBINATION ON MORTAR PROPERTIES
Full text linkThe most important engineering material nowadays, used in construction is concrete. Concrete consists mainly of sand, cement and aggregates. However, weather conditions play a crucial role in affecting concrete characteristics and its serviceability. Weather conditions could be the reason to delay or accelerate the setting time of the concrete. As a result, and in order to deal with weather conditions and its effect on the setting time of concrete, accelerators and retarders must be added to the concrete mix. This research paper focuses on the impact of the use of salt and sugar on the setting time of concrete. Accelerators, like salt, speed up the setting time, while retarders, like sugar, delay it. This paper specifically examines the effects of sugar and salt as separate materials on mortar mixes, with sugar and salt being cost-effective compared to traditional commercial admixtures in delaying setting time It also introduces a novel idea where the combined effects of salt and sugar on mortar is investigated. Different mortar mixes were prepared containing sugar or salt separate or combined. Tests included density, ultrasonic pulse velocity, compressive strength, and flexural strength. The dosages of sugar and salt are 0.15% and 0.3% by weight of cement. Tests are conducted at 7, 28, 56 and 90 days of curing where the water to cement ratio is set constant in all mixes at 0.5
ACCELERATOR BASED TECHNIQUES IBA TO CHARACTERIZE ARCHEOLOGICAL ARTEFACTS: CASE STUDY OF ANCIENT CERAMICS
Full text linkIon beam analysis techniques IBA, in particular proton induced X-ray emission PIXE, play an effective and efficient role in the characterization of cultural heritage objects. As early as the 1970s, PIXE technique was applied as reliable analytical technique to determine the elemental composition of archeological artefacts, where many accelerator laboratories worldwide are still involved in such applications. It has the advantage to be multi-elemental (Na to Pb) with major, minor and trace element analysis down to part per million or ppm, fast (few minutes per sample), non-destructive and its possible combination with other IBA techniques that can reveal other information. Thus, this can answer archaeological and conservation questions about provenance, authenticity, fabrication techniques and conservation issues. In this paper, it will be focused on the application of this analytical technique to study excavated ceramics from Tyre (Sour city), the prestigious city of antiquity. Several series of excavated pottery are analyzed in order to characterize the Tyre production, based on their elemental composition that is determined by PIXE technique. This can be used for the historical context in which they were produced and to compare with other objects excavated elsewhere as to determine possible ancient trade routes