Normalization Through the Visual: How International Media Depicted the Abraham Accords

This study is concerned with understanding the political dimensions of the visual coverage of the Abraham Accords and the shift that might have occurred in the visual portrayal of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a result of that agreement. The study offers quantitative and qualitative contributions to examine how international news websites on the Google News platform used photographs to draw on and contribute to the narrative of Arab-Israeli relations in the wake of the Accords. By establishing operational definitions for positive, negative, anti-normalization, and pro-normalization visual frames, and exploring the use of the emphasis framing device, this study content analyzed 413 photographs in efforts to evaluate the international media’s visual portrayal of the Abraham Accords. The results of the visual framing analysis show that despite the cultural and editorial differences, the vast majority of photographs presented distinctly positive and pro-normalization frames while simultaneously de-emphasized negative frames. As a result, this visual coverage did not widen, but actually narrowed the coverage of the Accords. The study further applied semiotic analysis to investigate whether the visual frames and messages contributed to a broader understanding of the Abraham Accords. The findings suggest that news outlets are not simply carriers of news; rather, they have a substantial influence on the news events they cover through their publication of photographs and captions, which can anchor meaning for readers. This study further finds that captions can play an essential part in facilitating the decoding process of certain visuals because images are sometimes enriched with great meaning that is less easily accessed by those who lack a certain degree of cultural and contextual understanding

Numerical modeling of concrete masonry walls strengthened by fiber reinforced polymers under lateral loads

The use of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) for the seismic retrofit of masonry walls is on the rise. Design formulae are available to estimate the lateral load capacity of the strengthened walls. However, recent experimental data from tests conducted on full scale concrete masonry walls under cyclic lateral loads have shown that these design capacities have not been reached because of the occurrence of other failure modes not accounted for in the design formulae. The limiting failure mode in all test samples referred to in this work was due to premature compression failure of the masonry units at the wall toe. The main goal of the current study is to develop a simple numerical model that can be readily used by practicing engineers to predict accurate levels of design capacities for strengthened masonry walls subjected to lateral loading. The numerical model needs only be sophisticated enough to provide the necessary basic information required for design purposes. A simple and efficient finite element model of the masonry wall was devised using the software package ABACUS/STANDARD. In particular, the model uses a layered shell element which allows the modeling of the masonry in addition to the FRP laminates or strips. The analysis is performed under constant vertical gravity load with monotonically increased lateral load until wall failure. Appropriate mesh sizes, boundary conditions, restraints, modeling of steel reinforcement, and the no-compression criterion for the laminates are evaluated and their effects are illustrated. Finally, a comparison between the numerical lateral loads at failure of the walls with those observed experimentally, for the different strengthening models that were tested in the laboratory, is made. Having confirmed the validity of the theoretical model, other FRP retrofit techniques are also investigated. The simple finite element model provided lateral capacities, for the investigated type and configuration of the masonry walls, which are most consistent with the experimentally observed values, yet significantly lower than predicted by the design formulae currently in use by practicing engineers

The relationship between the performance of the economy and the costing of building projects : a case study of school buildings in Egypt

Cost estimating and cost modelling for building projects have attracted the attention of many scholars. Previous research has laid emphasis on the product physical variables and did not explicitly include the economic variables. This study aims at investigating the impact of the performance of the economy on the cost of building projects by explicitly considering the relevant economic indicators in the cost estimating process. The unique attributes of the National Project for Building Schools in Egypt that is running since 1992, provided the opportunity to focus the light on the economic variables due to the standard design applied to thousands of school buildings. The study started by reviewing the current practice in cost estimating for building projects in Egypt seeking to identify the influential cost factors and to further investigate the level of awareness of the impact of the economic changes on the cost of buildings as perceived by the experts. In addition, the study aimed at developing an explanatory cost model illustrating the relationship between the relevant economic indicators and the cost of school buildings in order to quantify the impact of the economic changes on the costing of buildings. This research adopted a mixed methodology in a triangulation approach that was conducted in two stages. A set of 18 interviews with experts from the industry was followed by a survey covering a sample of 400 schools. The results indicated that the quantity surveyor’s method is the prevailing cost estimating technique in Egypt. Practitioners in general, showed a blurred understanding of the fundamentals of economic and did not explicitly consider the economic indicators in the cost estimates for building projects. The cost modelling of the survey data adopted a multiple regression technique and factor analysis. Two sets of Cost Models including 6 economic indicators as independent variables, besides other product variables, were developed. The results indicated that the economic indicators were significant cost variables. Hence, the impact of the economic changes on the cost estimates of buildings can be quantified. The produced models indicated that the cost of school buildings, expressed in real terms, tend to increase during periods of economic recession. The produced model is useful to cost estimators working for government clients as well as contractors, given the rising application of standard design in various sectors within the construction industry in Egypt. Further work is required to gauge this impact across various sectors of the construction industr

Effects of Sugar Cane Filter Cake Compost on Selected Characteristics of BRIS Soils and Growth of Maize

Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS) soil usually poses a great challenge for water and nutrients management due to the relatively low water holding and nutrient retention capacities. Besides, high hydraulic conductivity, such soils can also contribute to high leaching. Addition of organic wastes to BRIS soil has beneficial effects upon soil structure and properties related to it. Incubation study and field lysimeter experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of sugar cane filter cake compost on selected physical, chemical and biological properties of BRIS soil and its effect on growth and yield of maize. In both incubation and field experiments, the BRIS soil was amended with 0, 3, 6, 8, 12 tonnes ha-1 of filter cake compost, arranged in completely randomized and lattice square designs, respectively.The amounts of OC, N, P, K, Ca and Mg in filter cake compost were 13.60%, 1.10%, 1.00%, 0.20%, 7.00%, 0.80%, respectively. The incubation study showed that the release of different nutrients varied according to treatments and the mean range of nutrients released at the end of incubation period were; 0.012-0.035 % N, 0.42-0.55 % OC, 33.80-60.20 ppm NO- 3, 20.40-66.97 ppm NH4 + , 0.06-3.19 cmol kg-1 Ca and 0.03- 0.08 cmol kg-1 Mg. Addition of 12 ton ha-1 of the filter cake compost significantly increased the total N and NH4 +contents of the soil compared with unamended control. The soil OC content responded as y = 0.42+0.01x (P = 0.036, R2 = 0.96). The soil OC showed linear increase with increasing rates of filter cake compost. Field study conducted for two consecutive seasons showed that the addition of the filter cake compost yielded no significant impact on the soil pH for the first season, but in the second season a significantly higher soil pH was obtained with addition of 12 t ha-1 of filter cake compost compared to the control and 3 t ha-1 treatments. Soil pH responded as quadratic relationship where y = 7.13 + 0.19x - 0.008x2 (P = 0.0144, R2=0.99). The available soil water responded as y = 2.08 - 0.17x + 0.03x2 (P = 0.00436, R2 = 0.96) in the first season and y = 2.5+ 0.12x (P = 0.0254, R2 = 0.85) in the second season. In the first season, soil N responded as linear relationship, where y = 0.022 +0.004x (P=0.0449, R2=0.78) up to 12 t ha-1, while in the second season, it responded as linear relationship, where y = 0.04 + 0.0003x (P=0.0452, R2=0.78) with the increment rate of filter cake compost up to 12 t ha-1. The soil Ca responded as y = 0.013 + 0.03x – 0.001x2 (P = 0.0148, R2 = 0.98) and y = 0.04 x – 0.002x2 (P = 0.0009, R2 = 0.99) during first and second season, respectively. Maximum Ca content was attained at 0.13 cmol kg-1 in the first season and 0.21 cmol kg-1 for season two due to filter cake compost rates at 10.50 and 10 t ha-1, respectively. There was no significant increase in microbial activity due to low fresh carbon sources in the compost. Although applying filter cake compost increases the physical and chemical condition of BRIS soil, further investigation on the economic implication of such organic amendment should be conducted. Keywords: Sugar canes filter cake compost, sandy soils, soil amendment, and plant growth

Socio-Demographic Factors Affecting Early Childhood Care and Education in Semi-Remote Areas of Egypt: A Study of Policy and Provision

Early childhood care and education (ECCE) provision is an underdeveloped service in the Egyptian context and predominantly an urban phenomenon, it is also one which has been markedly under researched. This thesis applies a mixed-method quantitative-qualitative sequential approach to identify and consider the relationship between socio-demographic factors and ECCE provision in the semi-remote setting of Egypt’s region of North Sinai. In addition, it seeks to uncover the perceptions of ECCE stakeholders (parents, care practitioners and policy makers) towards the existing ECCE policy and provision. The findings indicated that the socio-demographic characteristics of parents and their children, in addition to the economically disadvantaged condition of the semi-remote area affected the availability, accessibility and quality of ECCE. More specifically, children’s age and health alongside parental characteristics such as education, marital status, income, employment and family structure, significantly impacted childcare arrangements. Furthermore,localised contextual factors, such as neighbourhood poverty and infrastructure were also found to be affecting childcare provision. The data suggest that the top-down approach to ECCE policy design and implementation is to be rendered inappropriate and ineffectual in dealing with the socio-demographic realities associated with ECCE provision in North Sinai

Normal testicular tissue elasticity by sonoelastography in correlation with age

AbstractPurposeThis research aimed to study the correlation between the normal testicular tissue elasticity as detected by real time sonoelastography with the age.Materials and methodsThe study was conducted upon 63 adult healthy volunteers. Each volunteer was subjected to real time sonoelastography measuring the strain ratio of testicular tissues and their elasticity scores.ResultStrain ratios of the examined testes ranged from 0.27 to 0.38, with a mean strain of 0.33 and a standard deviation of 0.03. Elasticity score of the examined testes included ES1 in 62 testes (49%), ES2 in 58 testes (46%) and ES3 in 6 testes (5%). No ES4 or ES5 was elicited in this group. High negative correlation is found between the age and both the testicular volume and the strain ratio, while there is no correlation between age and the elasticity score of testes.ConclusionNormal testicular tissues as studies by sonoelastography show strong correlation between the age and the testicular volume as well as the strain ratio

Spectral clustering for TRUS images

BACKGROUND: Identifying the location and the volume of the prostate is important for ultrasound-guided prostate brachytherapy. Prostate volume is also important for prostate cancer diagnosis. Manual outlining of the prostate border is able to determine the prostate volume accurately, however, it is time consuming and tedious. Therefore, a number of investigations have been devoted to designing algorithms that are suitable for segmenting the prostate boundary in ultrasound images. The most popular method is the deformable model (snakes), a method that involves designing an energy function and then optimizing this function. The snakes algorithm usually requires either an initial contour or some points on the prostate boundary to be estimated close enough to the original boundary which is considered a drawback to this powerful method. METHODS: The proposed spectral clustering segmentation algorithm is built on a totally different foundation that doesn't involve any function design or optimization. It also doesn't need any contour or any points on the boundary to be estimated. The proposed algorithm depends mainly on graph theory techniques. RESULTS: Spectral clustering is used in this paper for both prostate gland segmentation from the background and internal gland segmentation. The obtained segmented images were compared to the expert radiologist segmented images. The proposed algorithm obtained excellent gland segmentation results with 93% average overlap areas. It is also able to internally segment the gland where the segmentation showed consistency with the cancerous regions identified by the expert radiologist. CONCLUSION: The proposed spectral clustering segmentation algorithm obtained fast excellent estimates that can give rough prostate volume and location as well as internal gland segmentation without any user interaction

Theory of diffusive light scattering cancellation cloaking

We report on a new concept of cloaking objects in diffusive light regime using the paradigm of the scattering cancellation and mantle cloaking techniques. We show numerically that an object can be made completely invisible to diffusive photon density waves, by tailoring the diffusivity constant of the spherical shell enclosing the object. This means that photons' flow outside the object and the cloak made of these spherical shells behaves as if the object were not present. Diffusive light invisibility may open new vistas in hiding hot spots in infrared thermography or tissue imaging.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure