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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the large intestine. This study was designed to Estimation of interleukin 8 and 10 in human suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and the relationship with age and period of disease. A total of 88 men participated in this study, including 57 men as patient, and 31 as healthy, who were collected from Al-Fayhaa Hospital in Basrah. The patients was classified according to age into (30-40), (41-50) and (51-60), and according to the disease period into (1-5) and (6-10) years. The healthy were aged (30-60 years).IL-8 and IL-10 were measured using ELISA technique and The data statistical analysis software (One-way Anova) and Mann-Watny test. The results showed a significant increase of interleukin-8 (IL-8) for patients at P≤0.001, while there was a significant decrease in the level of interleukin-10 (IL-10) at P≤0.001. Regarding the age groups, the results did not show variation of IL-8 levels .while, the level of IL-10 in the (41-50 years) was significantly lower. As for the relationship between the duration of the disease there is no significant differences. The study concluded that inflammations play a role in inducing irritable bowel syndrome and the age group (41-50) was more affected.

AbstractMonitoring and assistive technologies (MATs) are being used more frequently in healthcare. A central ethical concern is the compatibility of these systems with the moral preferences of their users—an issue especially relevant to participatory approaches within the ethics-by-design debate. However, users' incapacity to communicate preferences or to participate in design processes, e.g., due to dementia, presents a hurdle for participatory ethics-by-design approaches. In this paper, we explore the question of how the value preferences of users in the field of dementia care can be integrated into AI-based MATs. First, we briefly introduce different ethics-by-design approaches and explain the challenges they face in dementia care. Next, we introduce a novel approach for addressing these challenges. Through a qualitative content analysis of interviews with persons with dementia and their family caregivers (n = 27), we identified multiple ideal–typical value preference profiles. We then applied these profiles in a computer simulation, by which we also introduce the concept of ethical compliance quantification to scale the moral preferences of the interviewees for the simulation. Finally, we discuss study results, the advantages of using computer simulations, and general study limitations before drawing conclusions for further research. The study contributes to the ongoing debate on participatory ethics-by-design by defining on the basis of empirical data ideal–typical value preference frameworks that can be used to guide MAT actions and their outcomes. Going forward, MAT end-users with dementia and other communication-impaired persons could be enabled to choose a value profile that best fits their moral preferences.

AbstractThis research study conducted in Egypt focuses on addressing the issue of industrial water pollution and promoting sustainable water and environmental management practices. The study introduces a novel tool called the Industrial Wastewater Quality Index (IWQI) and utilizes two assessment methods to evaluate the extent of water pollution caused by industrial effluents. The IWQI takes into consideration both the environmental limits specified by Egyptian legislation and industry‐specific parameters, effectively condensing extensive water quality data into simplified categories. The IWQI model proves to be a dependable instrument for assessing the overall quality of groundwater intended for industrial use. It incorporates multiple water quality indices and employs multivariate statistical analysis techniques to determine the contribution of each parameter to industrial water quality. This comprehensive analysis enhances the reliability of the model, making it a valuable point of reference for similar locations worldwide, particularly those sharing similar climatic conditions. The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in regulating and mitigating industrial water pollution in Egypt. The findings also have relevance to other countries facing similar challenges, highlighting the importance of developing effective techniques for investigating pollution sources, monitoring water quality, and forecasting future trends. The study underscores the necessity of implementing proactive measures to address industrial water pollution and protect water resources and ecosystems. By emphasizing these aspects, the study emphasizes the importance of promoting sustainable water and environmental management practices. Overall, the IWQI and the study's findings contribute to the development of strategies to manage and control industrial water pollution and can guide policymakers and stakeholders in Egypt and other countries facing similar challenges.

The paper provides an analysis of one of the feeblest countries that were once one of the richest. The country is actually facing several economic and political crises. This crisis originated from the continuous communist economic system and its' heavy dependence on oil as a source of revenue. The dependence on oil and the absence of other sources put the country at high risk not for the country only but for the whole region. The paper provides an overview of the reasons for escalating the current situation and its implications on the neighbor countries and a conclusion reflecting the foreseen possible economic situations way out.

This paper contributes to the development of the field of international entrepreneurial activities by providing answers to the following questions. Is higher human development generates opportunities to entrepreneurial activities that yields economic growth? What is the effect of the level on economic development on the relationship between entrepreneurial activities and countries growth? Do economic policies generate opportunity that yields higher international entrepreneurial activities? The employed Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation methodology is selected based on the long term dynamic of the entrepreneurial activities. Analysis is employed using panel data across two groups of countries based on their stage of development during the period 2004 - 2008. Empirical results provide a positive significant evidence for the role of human development to accelerate entrepreneurial activities and growth in innovative driven countries. The outcomes point towards the role of policies supporting entrepreneurial activities as a vital tool to accelerate development and growth via channels such as: better education levels, enhancing research and development, attractive taxes policies and stable monetary policy. This paper provides a comparative analysis of the empirical results and presents prospective explanations for the observed relationships between different groups of countries to study the dynamics of change with relative short time series.

Electric power has become a vital element for life today. Despite this importance, electric power consumers in Iraq suffer from the problem of noncontinuity and daily electric power supply interruption. This problem led to the use of various sources of electric power as an alternative to compensate for the shortage of electric power provided by the Iraqi national grid. In this work, a smart wireless changeover device is designed using wireless sensor networks technology aiming to solve problem caused by the multiplicity of power sources received at home and governmental buildings in Iraq by controlling operation of some electrical devices (which consume high current) in the home or workplace automatically when changing source of electricity from one to another. This solution will help to ensure the continuity of electric current feeding from power sources of variable capacities, also, to rationalize power consumption by assigning an operation priority to electric devices. Furthermore, a statistical measurement as a case study was performed in a building with a total power consumption of 160.8 KW/h. The result showed that the device functions effectively and it is capable of achieving an average saving in power of about 50% to 86% depending on the applied priorities and case study scenario.

This article review provides an insight into the main signals that will be responsible for the coming recession that will start from developed countries and will reflect negatively on developing countries that witness a decreasing level of development. The paper starts with the main seven signals that will initiate the recession. The second section will provide an analysis of the applied procedures and the economic reform that the government adopted to attract investment to overcome the previous and the coming challenges. Finally, the paper provides future expectations and paths for developing countries to overcome the recession.

2D Electrical Resistivity has been applied at three selecting areas within the study area using Dipole-dipole and Wenner arrays with an a-spacing of 1 m, and the profile length was 120 m for both. The total data points were 4455 reads for Dipole-dipole, and the total data points for Wenner were 2340 reads, and the depth of each array was 15.4 m and 20.2 m, respectively. The 2D inverse results indicate the resistivity anomalies approximately at depth (2 - 7.8) m formed as a weakness zone lies within the quaternary and Injana Formation deposits and interbedded with secondary gypsum and gypcretes. Additionally, the inverse resistivity distribution model demonstrated that the area is impacted by groundwater that is interaction with sand, silt, and clay of the subsurface layers due to the gypsiferous and gypcrete deposits. They are distinguished by their ability to interact with water, whether it is surface or underground, and as a result, cause the emergence of a set of cavities and voids that may be filled with sediments that contain high levels of water and cause soil to wet. As well, the investigation gives the ideal array as Dipole-dipole rather than Wenner array due to its better in signal to noise ratio and provides the most suitable resolution for these applications, as well as the study, recommends conducting engineering and site investigations of the soil and determining the type of soil and the appropriate treatment methods that can overcome these problems.

AbstractSub‐Saharan Africa is considered one of the hotspots most likely to be affected by water problems due to the region's heavy reliance on agriculture. This study has three objectives. First, it aims to assess the driving factors that influence environmental performance in Sub‐Saharan countries. Second, it investigates the impact of water scarcity on sustainable development in sub‐Saharan nations by utilizing available data on the environmental performance index (EPI) from 2000 to 2010, which is the only complete and accessible time series. Third, it seeks to identify the effect of carbon dioxide emissions on the EPI. To achieve these objectives, the study employs an empirical dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach and a panel of selected countries in sub‐Saharan Africa to examine long‐term equilibrium and short‐term adjustments. The results indicate a positive correlation between population growth and EPI in Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, and South Africa. In the long term, the population coefficient exhibits a negative and significant relationship with EPI. Maternal mortality rates were found to have 1% relevance, while health spending was deemed irrelevant. Both carbon emissions and the proportion of the population with improved water sources had a negative and significant impact on the environmental index. The findings underscore the conflicts between water demand and other explanatory variables on water stress in sub‐Saharan countries. Thus, the study recommends the urgent formulation of regional policies to effectively safeguard future generations from the threat of water poverty.

The 2D resistivity imaging technique was applied in an engineering study for the investigation of subsurface weakness zones within University of Anbar, western Iraq. The survey was carried out using Dipole-dipole array with an n-factor of 6 and a-spacing values of 2 m and 5 m. The inverse models of the 2D electrical imaging clearly show the resistivity contrast between the anomalous parts of the weakness zones and the background resistivity distribution. The thickness and shape of the subsurface weakness zones were well defined from the 2D imaging using Dipole-dipole array of 2 m a-spacing. The thickness of the weakness zone ranges between 9.5 m to 11.5 m. Whereas the Dipole-dipole array with a-spacing of 5 m and n-factor of 6 allocated the geoelectrical stratigraphic layers sequence in low-accuracy of weakness zones, but deeper than the inverse model of 2 m a-spacing. This survey was made to explain the correlation between the weakness zone and the deeper layers in the study area. It points out that the deeper layers were not affected in the weakness zones. The inverse model was produced using the Standard Least-Squares Inversion Method and the Robust Inversion Model Constraints Method. The first method had a gradational boundary of the weakness zones and the second had sharper and straighter boundaries of fractures and voids within the weakness zones.

The presence of natural voids and fractures (weak zones) in subsurface gypsiferous soil and gypsum, within the University of Al-Anbar, western Iraq. It causes a harsher problem for civil engineering projects. Electrical resistivity technique is applied as an economic decipher for investigation underground weak zones. The inverse models of the Dipole-dipole and Pole-dipole arrays with aspacing of 2 m and an n-factor of 6 clearly show that the resistivity contrast between the anomalous part of the weak zone and the background. The maximum thickness and shape are well defined from 2D imaging with Dipole-dipole array, the maximum thickness ranges between 9.5 to 11.5 m. It is concluded that the 2D imaging survey is a useful technique and more effective for determining and mapping subsurface weak zones (voids, fracture and cavities), when taken in consideration using the suitable a-spacing and n-factor for each electrode array, especially with the Dipole-dipole array which provided the best imaging of thesubsurface shape of the weak zones.

Successful implementation of build-operate-transfer (BOT), infrastructure projects is dependent on a full and thorough analysis of factors that include social, economic and political, amongst others. Alongside the financially focused evaluations, qualitative factors will also have a strong impact on the project and so require specific techniques for the analysis. This paper presents a new evaluation framework, based on the analytical hierarchy process technique, for use in assessing the most common and significant decision factors relating to risks in BOT projects. Consultations with an expert group identified a series of risk decision factors. The results produced twenty-eight critical Risk Factors, which have a particular impact on the risks of BOT projects. The project risk framework was constructed by classifying the factors into five categories. The framework was successfully validated using a BOT project case study. This research seeks to make a valuable contribution to the field by having developed and validated a new risk evaluation framework, focused on BOT projects in Kuwait.