Among the metaheuristic algorithms, population-based algorithms are an explorative search algorithm superior to the local search algorithm in terms of exploring the search space to find globally optimal solutions. However, the primary downside of such algorithms is their low exploitative capability, which prevents the expansion of the search space neighborhood for more optimal solutions. The firefly algorithm (FA) is a population-based algorithm that has been widely used in clustering problems. However, FA is limited in terms of its premature convergence when no neighborhood search strategies are employed to improve the quality of clustering solutions in the neighborhood region and exploring the global regions in the search space. On these bases, this work aims to improve FA using variable neighborhood search (VNS) as a local search method, providing VNS the benefit of the trade-off between the exploration and exploitation abilities. The proposed FA-VNS allows fireflies to improve the clustering solutions with the ability to enhance the clustering solutions and maintain the diversity of the clustering solutions during the search process using the perturbation operators of VNS. To evaluate the performance of the algorithm, eight benchmark datasets are utilized with four well-known clustering algorithms. The comparison according to the internal and external evaluation metrics indicates that the proposed FA-VNS can produce more compact clustering solutions than the well-known clustering algorithms.
Natural settings make it challenging to identify facial expressions since head position, illumination level, and occlusion vary. Thus, developing a more generic model without front-facing images alone is quite crucial. This research proposes a facial expression recognition model based on pre-trained deep convolutional neural networks with transfer learning. The model was trained on several cases to classify face expressions into seven classifications efficiently. The proposed system used the EfficientNetB0 model that has one dense dropout layer. The model first rescales and norms the input dataset in the input layer that takes images of a larger resolution to get better results. After entering 7 blocks sequential
... Show MoreTelevision white spaces (TVWSs) refer to the unused part of the spectrum under the very high frequency (VHF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands. TVWS are frequencies under licenced primary users (PUs) that are not being used and are available for secondary users (SUs). There are several ways of implementing TVWS in communications, one of which is the use of TVWS database (TVWSDB). The primary purpose of TVWSDB is to protect PUs from interference with SUs. There are several geolocation databases available for this purpose. However, it is unclear if those databases have the prediction feature that gives TVWSDB the capability of decreasing the number of inquiries from SUs. With this in mind, the authors present a reinforcement learning-ba
... Show MoreThe research aims to identify the relationship between employing future skills during teaching from the viewpoint of students of Islamic studies at the Northern Border University, as well as their attitudes towards future professions. The researcher employed the correlational descriptive approach. The tools were a questionnaire for employing future skills, and a scale for the attitude towards the future profession. The two research tools were applied to a random sample of (242) male and female students from the department of Islamic Studies, College of Education and Arts. The findings showed that the total level of employing future skills and their three axes during teaching was average. It was also found that the attitude towards future
... Show MoreAllah, in his Holy Quran introduced great prophet stories so as to learn from. The greatness of these stories lies in Allah himself being the author. He portrays his characters, lays the plot, defines the tests and Al- Ibtilla, provides ways of being patient, using Duaa to end all hard tests and generously describing the greatness of his rewards to all those who are patient. The purpose of this research is to study selected English prophet stories for children on three levels, the stories ability to convey lessons and Islamic teachings to children who do not speak Arabic, the stories portray the Islamic concept of patience, the teaching and learning styles andstrategies that Allah uses with each prophet. The concept of patience is defined a
... Show MoreThe impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education models was mainly through the expansion of technology use in the different educational programs. Earlier impact of COVID-19 was manifested in the complete and sudden transition to distance education regardless of institution preparedness status. Gradually, many institutions are moving back to on-campus face-to-face education. However, others including all higher education institutions in Iraq are adopting the hybrid education model. This report presents part of the end of semester evaluation survey conducted at the University of Baghdad College of Pharmacy for the Spring 2021 semester. The survey aims to address points of strength and weakness associated with the hybrid education model and spe
... Show MoreThe increasing rates of consumption of cigarettes harmful, to health in the world in general, and in Iraq in particular, and because of the costs borne by individuals, and the state as a result of addressing its damage, as well as Iraq's commitment, to international conventions against cigarettes, and demands of the World Health Organization, to raise prices to reduce consumption. Therefore, the tax Selectivity is one of the most important ways of regulating the consumption of this commodity on the one hand and increasing the tax revenue on the other. The research aims to shed light on the issue of selective tax on cigarettes and the impact of their application in increasing tax revenues and identify the effectiveness of the application
... Show MoreEvaluation is one of the most important elements of teaching process. The recent trends in evaluation and educational reform movements have called for using alternative evaluation, which focuses on performance evaluation. Authentic assessment is usually described as formative, in which students participate in their acquisition, in addition to the fact that students are productive and active, which is reflected in the students' achievement and skill level. The study aims to reveal the degree of knowledge and use of alternative assessment tools by primary school teachers in Gaza -Palestine. To meet the objective of the study, the researchers used the descriptive-analytical method and the questioner as a study tool. The study sample c
... Show MoreThe paper studies the description of the colloquial and popular vocabulary used by wholesales tradesmen in Varonech before the Bolshevik Revolution . The vocabulary were used in the personal letters written by the poet and sent to famous poets and critics like Belenisky, kryvesky and Malsheve. And some were sent to his father and his sister. Not only did these letter bear the personal taste, but they represented a literary product reflecting on the poet's impressions, views, ambitions, and opinion in arts, poetry, prose, and theatre. The researcher used about thirty instances of various levels of grammar, style and phonology, all representing colloquial vocabulary used commonly at the time of Alexi 
... Show MoreIslamic manuscripts are considered an identity for the civilizational, cognitive and cultural development of nations and the Islamic world as a whole, and to identify this identity