This paper introduces a non-conventional approach with multi-dimensional random sampling to solve a cocaine abuse model with statistical probability. The mean Latin hypercube finite difference (MLHFD) method is proposed for the first time via hybrid integration of the classical numerical finite difference (FD) formula with Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) technique to create a random distribution for the model parameters which are dependent on time [Formula: see text]. The LHS technique gives advantage to MLHFD method to produce fast variation of the parameters’ values via number of multidimensional simulations (100, 1000 and 5000). The generated Latin hypercube sample which is random or non-deterministic in nature is further integrated with the FD method to complete one cycle of LHS-FD simulation iteration. This process is repeated until [Formula: see text] final iterations of LHS-FD are obtained. The means of these [Formula: see text] final solutions (MLHFD solutions) are tabulated, graphed and analyzed. The numerical simulation results of MLHFD for the SEIR model are presented side-by-side with deterministic solutions obtained from the classical FD scheme and homotopy analysis method with Pade approximation (HAM-Pade). The present MLHFD results are also compared with the previous non-deterministic statistical estimations from 1995 to 2015. Good agreement between the two is perceived with small errors. MLHFD method can be used to predict future behavior, range and prediction interval for the epidemic model solutions. The expected profiles of the cocaine abuse subpopulations are projected until the year 2045. Both the statistical estimations and the deterministic results of FD and HAM-Pade are found to be within the MLHFD prediction intervals for all the years and for all the subpopulations considered.
The construction industry in Iraq suffers from many problems, perhaps the most important of which is the delay in time and the increase in costs. Therefore, it was necessary to try to adopt a new methodology that would help in overcoming these problems. It was suggested to combine building information modeling with the agile management approach because this technique and methodology is modern and helps in reducing time and cost and improving quality. This paper aims to know the status of using Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Agile Project management (APM) in Iraq and to shed light on the merging of this integration, explaining the benefits, difficulties, and workflow practices, finding the most influencing factors on the tim
... Show MoreThe main object of this study is to solve a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODE) of the first order governing the epidemic model using numerical methods. The application under study is a mathematical epidemic model which is the influenza model at Australia in 1919. Runge-kutta methods of order 4 and of order 45 for solving this initial value problem(IVP) problem have been used. Finally, the results obtained have been discussed tabularly and graphically.
Diode lasers are becoming popular in periodontal surgery due to their highly absorption by pigments such as melanin and hemoglobin their weak absorption by water and hydroxyapatite makes them safe to be used around dental hard tissues. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of diode laser in performing gingivectomy in comparison to conventional scalpel technique in patients with chronic inflammatory enlargement. Materials and methods: Thirty patients were selected for this study. All of them required surgical treatment of gingival enlargements and were randomly divided into two groups: Control group (treated by scalpel and include sixteen patients) and study group (treated with diode laser 940nm and includ
... Show MoreThe present work aims to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of the winglet cant angle of Boeing 737-800 wing numerically and experimentally. The wing contain two swept angles 38.3o and 29.13o respectively, taper ratio 0.15 and aspect ratio 8.04. The wing involves three types of airfoils sections. Four cant angles for blended winglet have been considered (0o, 34o, 60o, 83.3o). The winglet has been analyzed to find the best cant angle for the wing without and with winglet. These models have been tested theoretically at Reynolds number of 2.06 x106 in order to study the winglet aerodynamic characteristics which consist of coefficient of Drag, coefficient of lift and Lift to drag ratio, pitching moment coefficient and bending moment co
... Show MoreBP algorithm is the most widely used supervised training algorithms for multi-layered feedforward neural net works. However, BP takes long time to converge and quite sensitive to the initial weights of a network. In this paper, a modified cuckoo search algorithm is used to get the optimal set of initial weights that will be used by BP algorithm. And changing the value of BP learning rate to improve the error convergence. The performance of the proposed hybrid algorithm is compared with the stan dard BP using simple data sets. The simulation result show that the proposed algorithm has improved the BP training in terms of quick convergence of the solution depending on the slope of the error graph.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatic fat accumulation in individuals consuming little or no alcohol, has become highly prevalent globally. Oxidative stress plays a central role in instigating inflammation and cell death pathways driving NAFLD progression. This case–control study aimed to elucidate the association between circulating levels of the pivotal non-enzymatic antioxidants – coenzyme Q10 and vitamins E and C – and liver injury parameters among 60 Iraqi NAFLD patients versus 30 healthy controls. NAFLD diagnosis entailed over 5% hepatic steatosis on ultrasound excluding other etiologies. Patients spanned three age groups: 20–29, 30–39, an
Objective(s): This study aims at determining the effectiveness of an educational program on knowledge of high school students' knowledge about substance abuse and its health consequences, and to find out the association between students’ knowledge about substance abuse and its health consequences and their demographic data of age, socioeconomic status, and educational level of parents.
Methodology: A quasi-experimental study is conducted for the period of October 28th, 2019 to March 30th, 2020. The study sample included a nonprobability “purposive” sample of (124) male students (62) students for the control group and (62) students for the study group, aged (14-19) years who are selected from Al-Hikma High School for Boys in Kirk
Criticism is inherently impolite and a face-threatening act generally leading to conflicts among interlocutors. It is equally challenging for both native and non-native speakers, and needs pre-planning before performing it. The current research examines the production of non-institutional criticism by Iraqi EFL university learners and American native speakers. More specifically, it explores to what extent Iraqi EFL learners and American native speakers vary in (i) performing criticism, (ii) mitigating criticism, and (iii) their pragmatic choices according to the contextual variables of power and distance. To collect data, a discourse-completion task was used to elicit written data from 20 Iraqi EFL learners and 20 American native speaker
... Show MoreAdvances in gamma imaging technology mean that is now technologically feasible to conduct stereoscopic gamma imaging in a hand-held unit. This paper derives an analytical model for stereoscopic pinhole imaging which can be used to predict performance for a wide range of camera configurations. Investigation of this concept through Monte Carlo and benchtop studies, for an example configuration, shows camera-source distance measurements with a mean deviation between calculated and actual distances of <5 mm for imaging distances of 50–250 mm. By combining this technique with stereoscopic optical imaging, we are then able to calculate the depth of a radioisotope source beneath a surfa