Afghan EFL Lecturers’ Perceptions of Code-Switching

Code-switching is explained as switching between two languages at the same time while conversing in the same discourse. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of Afghan EFL lecturers toward code- switching. This study used a qualitative research approach in which the data was collected via semi-structured interviews with five EFL lecturers. The lecturers were interviewed to explore their perceptions and reasons for code-switching, and the extent to which they practice code-switching in their classrooms. The results revealed that the lecturers in the study had positive perceptions of code-switching and believed it as a beneficial strategy in facilitating the learning process. However, they also conveyed that an excessive practice of code-switching should be avoided. The study results also disclosed that the lecturers practiced code-switching for various functions such as explaining difficult concepts (translation), explaining complex grammatical points, clarifications, and giving instructions. Finally, the paper provides recommendation for further research

Contribution of rankl regulation to bone resorption induced by PTH receptor activation in osteocytes

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)PTH increases osteoclasts by upregulating RANKL in cells of the osteoblastic lineage, but the precise differentiation stage of the PTH target cell remains undefined. Recent findings demonstrate that PTH regulates gene expression in osteocytes and that these cells are an important source of RANKL. We therefore investigated whether direct regulation of the RANKL gene by PTH in osteocytes is required to stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption. To address this question, we examined bone resorption and RANKL expression in transgenic mice in which PTH receptor signaling is activated only in osteocytes (DMP1-caPTHR1) crossed with mice lacking the distal control region regulated by PTH in the RANKL gene (DCR -/-). Longitudinal analysis of circulating C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) in male mice showed elevated resorption in growing mice that progressively decreased to plateau at 3-5 month of age. Resorption was significantly higher (~100%) in DMP1-caPTHR1 mice and non-significantly lower (15-30%) in DCR -/-mice, versus wild type littermates (WT) across all ages. CTX in compound DMP1-caPTHR1; DCR -/-mice was similar to DMP1-caPTHR1 mice at 1 and 2 months of age, but by 3 months of age, was significantly lower compared to DMP1-caPTHR1 mice (50% higher than WT), and by 5 months, it was undistinguishable from WT mice. Micro-CT analysis revealed lower tissue material density in the distal femur of DMP1-caPTHR1 mice, indicative of high remodeling, and this effect was partially corrected in compound vi mice. The increased resorption exhibited by DMP1-caPTHR1 mice was accompanied by elevated RANKL mRNA in bone at 1 and 5 months of age. RANKL expression levels displayed similar patterns to CTX levels in DMP1-caPTHR1; DCR -/-compound mice at 1 and 5 month of age. The same pattern of expression was observed for M-CSF. We conclude that resorption induced by PTH receptor signaling requires direct regulation of the RANKL gene in osteocytes, but this dependence is age specific. Whereas DCR-independent mechanisms involving gp130 cytokines or vitamin D 3 might operate in the growing skeleton, DCR-dependent, cAMP/PKA/CREB-activated mechanisms mediate resorption induced by PTH receptor signaling in the adult skeleton

Bayesian Learning Networks Approach to Cybercrime Detection

The growing dependence of modern society on telecommunication and information networks has become inevitable. The increase in the number of interconnected networks to the Internet has led to an increase in security threats and cybercrimes such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Any Internet based attack typically is prefaced by a reconnaissance probe process, which might take just a few minutes, hours, days, or even months before the attack takes place. In order to detect distributed network attacks as early as possible, an under research and development probabilistic approach, which is known by Bayesian networks has been proposed. This paper shows how probabilistically Bayesian network detects communication network attacks, allowing for generalization of Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDSs). Learning Agents which deploy Bayesian network approach are considered to be a promising and useful tool in determining suspicious early events of Internet threats and consequently relating them to the following occurring activities.Peer reviewe

Hunayn: Elevating Translation Beyond the Literal

This project introduces an advanced English-to-Arabic translator surpassing conventional tools. Leveraging the Helsinki transformer (MarianMT), our approach involves fine-tuning on a self-scraped, purely literary Arabic dataset. Evaluations against Google Translate show consistent outperformance in qualitative assessments. Notably, it excels in cultural sensitivity and context accuracy. This research underscores the Helsinki transformer's superiority for English-to-Arabic translation using a Fusha dataset

Face recognition employees attendance system

Face recognition uses a variety of technologies and locations to carry out the attendance system. In order to recognise a face in real-time settings utilising a specific purpose device, attendance systems require accurate results. Video architecture is also achieved in our design by piercing the camera via a stoner- friendly interface. The Overeater (Histogram of Acquainted Grade) algorithm is used to recognise and segment the face from the VHS frame. Garbling a photo using the Overeater method to obtain a simplified interpretation of the image is the first phase, or pre-processing stage. Find the part of the image that most closely resembles a general Overeater encoding of a face using this simplified image. Also in the next step, figuring out the face's disguise by chancing the primary landmarks in the face. Once we've located those landmarks, we can utilise them to anchor the image such that the eyes and mouth are centred. Run the centred face image through a neural network that understands how to measure facial traits. Save those 128 measurements for later. Examine all of the faces we've measured in the past to find who has the most similar measurements to ours. That's the result of our match. Overall, we developed a Python programme that takes an image from a database and does all of the necessary changes for recognition, as well as checks the image in videos or in real time by accessing the camera using a Stoner-friendly interface. After a successful match is made, the name and time of the individual in attendance is recorded

Development Of A Sub-Surface Stormwater Storage-Infiltration System

Floodings due to the increase in impervious areas as a result of urbanization are still a main problem in many countries, including Malaysia. The lack of open space in urban areas may hinder the use of typical stormwater detention/retention systems, which are normally constructed above ground. Systems installed below the surface (subsurface) have great potential in such areas. Subsurface detention/retention systems such as pipe systems, arch chamber systems, and storage tanks systems are available in some countries abroad, such as Australia and the U.S.A, and importing such systems is not cheap and it involves the outflow of funds from the country. In this research a new subsurface detention/retention system has been developed for the purposes of reduction of volume and flow rate of stormwater runoff and recharging groundwater. It may also be able to minimise the environmental impact on water quality. Developing a new system that is manufactured locally and based on a readily available material in the local market also encourages the growth of local industry and faster achievement for the aim to reduce the flooding and pollution in urbanized areas in the country. The system that has been developed in this research is called the Stormwater Infiltration Block (SWIB)system and the following criteria have been considered in its development; the system is designed to be installed in subsurface, it has high structural strength and storage capacity, it allows water to infiltrate at high rates, it is light in weight and cost effective, it requires low maintenance, and it is simple and easy to install. The SWIB system is composed of the Stormwater Infiltration Blocks (SWIBs) to store and infiltrate stormwater runoff, geotextile, geogrid, adequate soil cover, and porous pavement surface. The SWIB is formed by nine hollow plastic pipes held vertically together by two plastic holders, one each at the top and the bottom. Both, the pipes and holders are made from rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U). The design of the holder takes into consideration the following criteria; the holder must be strong enough to sustain, transfer and distribute the loads applied on the holder to the pipes, it is able to allow for SWIBs to be stacked above each other to achieve the desired height and provide firmly connected SWIBs, it must hold the pipes tightly without fasteners, and it should have high percentage of open space to allow water to flow into the SWIB very easily. Experimental tests were carried out in the laboratory to investigate the structural and hydraulic performance of the SWIB system. A total of 20 experimental tests were carried out to investigate the structural performance of the SWIB system under different conditions. Some of these tests were done to evaluate the system ability to sustain the design axial compression load of 93 kN, which is the maximum load expected when the system is installed in a parking area and the results demonstrate that the system has the strength to sustain the load applied. Ultimate strength tests were also conducted and they proved that the SWIB has an ability for support the axial compression loads up to 486 kN, which is five times larger than the design load. No significant reduction in the SWIB strength was found when its height was increased from 348 mm to 648 mm. Lateral loads tests reveal that the SWIB has good ability for supporting lateral loads equivalent to the lateral soil pressure of up to 3 m depth below the ground surface without any damage observed in the SWIB system. For all the tests performed under the design load no critical stress that may lead to the SWIB failure occurred and no failure was observed in the SWIB geogrid or geotextile. Another 20 experimental tests were carried out to investigate the hydraulic performance of the SWIB system under different conditions. Some of these tests were done to evaluate the infiltration rate through the system which revealed that the system has high infiltration rate and demonstrates an excellent efficiency in preventing the ponding of water on the surface area even under high rainfall intensities that varied from 300 mm/hr to 420 mm/hr for 5 min and 10 min rainfall durations. The type of block pavement surface used on top of the system significantly affect its infiltration rate, therefore, the correct pavement surface should be selected. The block pavement type which can give the highest infiltration rate is the open-celled type. Evaluation of the system capacity to store water demonstrates that the system has high storage capacity that reaches a value of 93% of the total volume of the SWIB

APPLICATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY FOR HYDROGEOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER IN RAS ALKHAIMAH, UAE

Groundwater includes a certain concentration of natural radioactive isotopes of uranium (U) and its decay products (daughters) like radon (Rn). Defining the concentration levels, spatial distribution, and possible environmental impact of these isotopes in groundwater is vital for sustainable groundwater resources in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This dissertation focuses on documenting the distribution and determining the probable environmental impact and sources of Uranium-235 (235U), Uranium-238 (238U), and Radon-222 (222Rn) in groundwater in the Northern part of the UAE and specifically in the Wadi Al Bih aquifer in Ras Al Khaimah Emirate. The sampled wells occur at different distances from the coast, where some are very close to the coastal line, and some exist in the centre of Wadi Al Bih. A variety of techniques including ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and RAD7, were used for the analyses. The results reveal comparable activity concentration in the measured radioactivity in terms of spatial and local variability. All the 235U, 238U, and 222Rn concentrations in the measured groundwater samples are below the World Health Organization permissible limit for drinking water The occurrence of 235U, 238U, and 222Rn in the measured samples suggest a geochemical interaction between the aquifer’s lithology and water. In some wells, seawater intrusion is expected to be an additional source of uranium and elevated Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). The calculated radioactivity annual effective doses of inhalation and ingestion were below the maximum permissible annual dose limits defined by the WHO. The probable -uranium related- cancer mortality and morbidity were also calculated and found to be not hazardous following the permissible limits determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)

ABIOTIC STRESS EFFECT ON GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS IN EMIRATI DATE PALM VARIETIES

Plants are naturally exposed to various environmental stresses that affect their growth and development. As a desert plant, date palm has developed strategies to protect itself from most abiotic stresses. However, projected climate changes and the interaction between the various abiotic stressors will have profound effects on date palm adaptation and production. In the present study, five date palm cultivars, namely Chichi, Kalas, Nabt Saif, Sultana and Zamli, were initially evaluated for salinity tolerance by measuring the growth parameters such as plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of shoots and roots. Based on the obtained results, Sultana and Zamli cultivars were identified as salinity tolerant and selected to study the response to future climate scenarios such as eCO2, enhanced UVB radiation and the combined effect of UVB and eCO2 in open chambers. The response of the date palm cultivars studied was determined by analysing photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll \u27a\u27, \u27b\u27 and total chlorophyll, carotenoids), biochemical contents (proline, protein, amino acid), proline metabolising enzymes (γ-glutamyl kinase activity, proline oxidase activity, non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenols, α-tocopherol, reduced glutathione content) and antioxidant enzyme activities (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase) were analysed. The results also showed that the Sultana cultivar is tolerant to future climate scenarios. However, more biotic stress and yield parameters are needed for the identification of biotic stress tolerant date palm cultivars

Brachyuran crabs of the Yemeni coastal waters (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Socotra Isands)

The present study examined 2287 brachyuran crab specimens collected in Yemen and material from previous collections partially stored in museums. The specimens were collected from 58 sites along the Yemeni coastal waters at Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Socotra Islands. They were collected from different habitats ranging from sandy shore to mangrove flats and rocky habitats, including different depth zones from the supralittoral zone to 300 m water depth. The present study obtained the first CO1 sequences in the region for 95 brachyuran specimens that were collected from Gulf of Aden